How to recover data from ZyXel NSA310s NAS

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 ZyXel 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 known limitations or performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for NAS ZyXel NSA310s devices?

There are a few known limitations and performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for NAS ZyXel NSA310s devices:

1. Hardware limitations: The ZyXel NSA310s is a relatively older NAS device with limited hardware capabilities. It has a slower processor and less RAM compared to newer models. This can result in slower data transfer speeds and may affect the overall performance of the device.
2. Limited storage capacity: The NSA310s has a limited storage capacity, typically up to 4TB. If the device reaches its maximum storage capacity, it may lead to data loss risks if there is no additional storage available for backups or expansion.
3. Lack of redundancy: The NSA310s does not offer built-in redundancy features like RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks). RAID provides data redundancy by storing data across multiple drives, ensuring that data is not lost if one drive fails. Without RAID or other redundancy mechanisms, a drive failure can result in data loss.
4. Limited backup options: The NSA310s may have limited backup options available, especially when it comes to offsite or cloud backups. This can increase the risk of data loss if there is a failure or disaster at the physical location where the NAS device is located.
5. Limited software support: As the NSA310s is an older model, it may have limited software support and updates from the manufacturer. This can result in potential security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues, which can increase the risk of data loss due to unauthorized access or software failures.

To mitigate these risks, it is recommended to regularly backup data to external storage or cloud services, monitor the device's storage capacity, and consider upgrading to a newer NAS device with better performance and more robust features.

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

Although NAS NSA310s 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 ZyXel NSA310s. 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 ZyXel

NSA310s has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• None 0;
• 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 ZyXel NSA310s 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