Recover Your Data from RAID 5 & 6 on Thecus N7700Pro NAS
May 17
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In today's environment, when data is vital, losing information can have serious consequences. That is why recovering data from various types of disk arrays is always important.
Thecus N7700Pro is a network-attached storage device (NAS) that offers a variety of RAID configurations to store and safeguard data.
RAID technology is a means of combining multiple physical hard disks into a single logical unit in order to improve performance, reliability, or both at the same time. Redundant Array of Independent Disks allows you to distribute data as well as read and write activities across multiple disks, increasing data access speed and protecting you from data loss if one or more of the disks fail.
RAID systems are noted for their increased reliability, although there is always the possibility of data loss. Accidents, storage management errors, and even technology breakdowns can all render your important files inaccessible.
We will go over in detail how to recover data from two RAID systems based on the same NAS with seven hard disks of varying sizes.
What should I do if my Thecus N7700Pro NAS fails and valuable data is stored on the RAID?
If your Thecus N7700Pro NAS fails and includes valuable disk array data, cease using it right away to prevent additional data loss. If feasible, back up accessible data and seek advice from data recovery experts who specialize in data storage arrays. If you're not sure in your abilities, do not attempt to rebuild the RAID or recover data on your own, as this can result in permanent data loss. Seeking experienced assistance increases the chances of recovering your essential files.
How to set up several RAID arrays on Thecus N7700Pro
To have a better knowledge of how the disk redundancy system technology works, let's look at the process of combining hard disks into a single array system on this specific device, as well as how to establish various arrays of varying levels on a NAS that supports working with multiple hard drives.
To manage the storage, launch the administrative panel. To do this, open a web browser and enter your NAS's IP address.
Log in with your username and the administrator's password. They are set to admin / admin by default.
When you go to the main control panel, click RAID Management.
Alternatively, choose the Storage tab - RAID Management.
If this is your first time creating an array, or if you need to add another RAID, click the Create button.
Now, select the disks for your array and click Next.
Select a RAID level. In my case, I already have one RAID 5, and I'd like to establish another, RAID 6 - Next.
The following stage allows you to adjust the RAID ID and configure encryption - Next.
Change the RAID ID and enable encryption.
After that, proceed with RAID System Setup, including strip size, file system, and so on.
Finally, examine the setup and click Submit to begin building the array, then Yes to confirm your selection.
It begins the process of formatting the disks and configuring the RAID.
After this RAID has been established and activated, you will be able to create another array by simply pressing the addition button in RAID Management.
As a result, we have two disk arrays at different levels on the same network-attached storage device. In my instance, they are RAID 5 and 6.
Two disk arrays with various levels on the same network-attached storage
You must bear in mind, however, that while disk array setups provide some data security, they cannot replace the traditional backup. Remember to back up essential files on a regular basis to an external storage device to avoid data loss in the event that your hardware breaks or another emergency arises.
How to restore data from a non-functioning NAS
If you are unable to access a network drive or lose vital files as a consequence of mistakenly deleting or formatting hard drives, incorrect configuration, or damage to the Data storage array, you will only be able to recover information using a specialized data recovery software.
Most NAS devices use Linux-based operating systems, and their hard disks are formatted for the Ext or Btrfs file systems, with RAID array management based on two technologies: mdadm and LVM. When such disks are directly attached to a Windows machine, their contents cannot be accessed without the use of third-party software.
In this instance, we propose using the tried-and-true data recovery solution for NAS systems, BLR RAID Recovery. It supports the majority of popular file systems, technologies, and RAID types, and in most circumstances, it can instantly reconstruct the broken RAID array.
Recover data from broken RAID arrays that are no longer accessible via PC.
Take away disks from a non-operational NAS
To recover data from the disks, remove them from the inoperable NAS system and connect them to a Windows PC.
Connect a disk to a Windows PC.
If your storage system includes a large number of hard drives and the computer's motherboard lacks connections to connect them all at once, save the disks as images and then recover data from these image files.
It is critical to note that this technique demands enough disk space to save the disk images: you should have as much free space as the aggregate size of all those hard disks.
If your NAS has many RAID systems and you know which disks were used to create a certain RAID, you can connect only those disks, scan them, and recover the data. This allows you to recover data from one array first, then link the remaining disks to recover data from the other array.
If you don't know which disks were used to form a certain RAID, you can find out by running the recovery program. When the disks are connected, this utility will display the RAID, even if only one drive is connected.
This software will show the RAID even if only one drive is plugged in.
To determine which disks were included, open the disk array properties. Following that, use the serial number to locate a specific disk and determine which array it belongs to.
In addition, depending on their level, some RAID kinds can continue to function even after losing one or more disks. In this instance, you can eliminate one or more disks as long as the others are healthy and operational.
To achieve the best results, we recommend connecting all of the disks that your disk array system previously included. There are specific expansion cards and adaptors available to assist you in connecting more disk drives.
To save a disk as an image, pick it and then click Save Disk.
Use this approach to produce pictures of all disks that were previously connected to the network-attached storage. To get information, mount disk images in the utility. To do so, navigate to the main window and click on Mount Disk.
Give the path to the image folder, then click Open.
As a result, the list will include all disks.
When connected or mounted, the software will automatically recreate the crashed storage array using the available disks. As you can see, it recreated the RAID 5 and RAID 6 arrays, which I had previously constructed on the NAS, as soon as the photos were inserted.
BLR NAS Recovery Software will automatically detect the disks, read their service information, and recreate the failed RAID system. When you select a volume, you may view extensive information about the array below and determine whether the program accurately identified it.
When you're satisfied that everything is in order, you may begin looking for files. Right-click on a disk and select Open.
Choose a scan type: for beginners, we recommend doing a Fast scan, which will take less time.
We recommend performing a fast scan first.
When the scan is finished, open the folder that previously contained the missing files.
Open the folder that previously contained the missing files.
If the tool failed to locate the required files, perform Full analysis. To do so, return to the main window, right-click on the disk, and select Analyze again -> Full analysis.
After that, access the folder and retrieve the files you're looking for.
As you can see, the program effortlessly repaired the broken storage array using disk images and found all of the files I had put there. If you want to find deleted files, search for red crosses.
Select all of the things you want to recover, then click the Recovery button.
Select all the objects you want to recover, and then click Recovery.
Choose where to save the files (disk and folder), then click Recovery again and Finish.
All of the files you've selected will be saved to the folder you've specified.
In the same way, examine each array and retrieve the files you require.
If you can connect all of the disks at once, the software will use them to automatically recreate arrays, allowing you to begin scanning and recovering your contents.
How to rebuild a failed RAID manually. RAID Builder
When disks are destroyed or service information is erased, BLR RAID Recovery may struggle to automate the array reconstruction process. If the application fails to reconstruct the RAID using the available hard disks but you know its properties, you can do it manually using the RAID Constructor.
The array can be rebuilt with the assistance of RAID Constructor.
Fill out all of the RAID properties you know in the following window, including the RAID type, block order, and size.
Add the previously included disks and specify their order using the arrows. Clicking the addition button allows you to add empty disks to fill in the missing slots.
You can also specify an offset to help pinpoint the disk's start point. When the application is unable to recognize it automatically, you must enter the offset value manually.
You may see the manually constructed array in the Drive Manager once you click Add and define every property you are aware of.
Next, initiate the scan, locate the data you wish to recover, and then proceed with the restoration process.
Within the Drive Manager, the array that you manually constructed will exist.
In conclusion
The main procedures for data recovery from RAID 5 and RAID 6 based on Thecus N7700Pro have been covered in this article. Keep in mind that data rescue from a disk redundancy system is a crucial step that needs to be done with caution and careful planning.
Because every circumstance is different, there may be slight variations in the effective recuperation strategies. Never underestimate how crucial it is to periodically backup your data. These backups might serve as your information's safety net in an emergency.
Also Read : How to Recover Data from a Seagate Central Drive (NAS Device)
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