Avoiding Data Loss on NAS WD ShareSpace and Recovering Deleted Files: Comprehensive Guide

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 WD also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

Are there any preventive measures to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS WD ShareSpace devices?

Yes, there are several preventive measures you can take to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS WD ShareSpace devices. Here are some recommendations:

1. Regularly backup your data: Implement a backup strategy to create regular backups of your important data. This can be done by using an external hard drive, cloud storage, or another NAS device.
2. RAID configuration: Configure your WD ShareSpace device in RAID mode. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) provides data redundancy and can help protect against data loss in case of a drive failure. Consult the device's user manual for instructions on setting up RAID.
3. Keep the firmware up to date: Regularly check for firmware updates for your WD ShareSpace device. Firmware updates often include bug fixes and security patches that can help prevent data loss due to software vulnerabilities.
4. Use UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply): Connect your WD ShareSpace device to a UPS to protect it from sudden power outages or voltage fluctuations. Sudden power loss can result in data corruption or loss.
5. Implement user access controls: Set up user access controls and permissions to restrict unauthorized access to your WD ShareSpace device. This can help prevent accidental deletion or modification of data.
6. Implement data encryption: Enable data encryption on your WD ShareSpace device to protect your data from unauthorized access. Encryption ensures that even if the physical drives are stolen, the data remains secure.
7. Regularly check drive health: Use the built-in diagnostic tools provided by WD ShareSpace to monitor the health of your hard drives. Replace any failing drives promptly to avoid data loss.
8. Implement a disaster recovery plan: Develop a disaster recovery plan that outlines the steps to be taken in case of data loss or device failure. This plan should include details on how to restore data from backups and rebuild the system.

By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of data loss on your NAS WD ShareSpace devices.

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

Although NAS ShareSpace 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 WD ShareSpace. 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 WD

ShareSpace has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 10;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• Ext2;
• Ext3;
• Ext4;

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 WD ShareSpace 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