RAID Disk File Access When NAS Uniview VX3060-V2@S is Not Working: Practical Steps

Contents

• Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
• How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?

Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.

Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.

Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like Uniview also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

How can RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Uniview VX3060-V2@S devices?

RAID configurations can have a significant impact on data loss in NAS Uniview VX3060-V2@S devices. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 or RAID 5, provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. In case of a disk failure, the data can be reconstructed from the remaining disks. This helps to minimize data loss and ensures high availability.
2. Fault tolerance: RAID configurations with parity, like RAID 5 or RAID 6, can tolerate the failure of one or more disks without losing data. The parity information is used to rebuild the data on the failed disk(s). This fault tolerance protects against data loss due to disk failures.
3. Performance impact: Some RAID configurations, like RAID 0, offer improved performance by striping data across multiple disks. However, RAID 0 does not provide redundancy, so if one disk fails, all data on that RAID set will be lost. Therefore, the choice of RAID configuration should consider the trade-off between performance and data protection.
4. Rebuilding process: When a failed disk is replaced in a RAID configuration, the rebuilding process starts to restore the data onto the new disk. During this time, the RAID set is vulnerable to further disk failures. If another disk fails before the rebuilding process completes, data loss can occur. It is crucial to monitor the rebuilding process and ensure backups are available during this time.
5. RAID controller failure: The RAID controller in a NAS device manages the RAID configuration and disk operations. If the RAID controller fails, it can lead to data loss or corruption. Regular backups and redundant RAID controllers can mitigate this risk.

It is important to note that while RAID configurations can provide protection against certain types of data loss, they are not a substitute for regular backups. Backing up important data to an external storage or cloud-based solution is always recommended to ensure data integrity and availability.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS VX3060-V2@S can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:

1. Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.

   WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.

2. Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Uniview VX3060-V2@S. The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Uniview

VX3060-V2@S has 60 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

Safe recovery from disk images

This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Loss resulting from bad sectors;
• User mistakes.

To create an image, do the following:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.

   

4. At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.

   

Where are user’s files stored?

The Uniview VX3060-V2@S network-attached storage keeps OS Linux operating system files on a separate RAID 1 (mirrored) array. Usually, all NAS systems create several volumes on every hard disk, and the first of them takes up to 2 Gb of space. This is where operating system files are stored. Other volumes are united into a RAID array where user’s data is written.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery