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nas:qnap:recover_raid_or_move_data_from_broken_nas

NAS - QNAP - Recover RAID or move data from broken NAS

Most NAS brands run Linux as a backbone, so it is usually easy to recover data by connecting the disks from the NAS to a system running Linux.


Remove the drives from your NAS

IMPORTANT: Remember the order in which the disks were arranged in the NAS; as this may be needed for the recovery process.

  • It is usually good to place a sticker with the drive number onto each disk.

Connect the disks from the NAS to a PC running Ubuntu

Prepare a PC with enough hard drive slots available to install the hard drives from your NAS.

  • For RAID or SHR configurations, connect all the hard drives (excluding hard drives used as hot spares) to your computer at the same time.

NOTE: Ensure the file system running on the hard drives of your NAS are EXT4 or Btrfs.

  • If the computer does not have enough SATA ports or power connectors; then use some power splitter adapters and expansion cards as needed.

If the NAS only had a single disk, then this disk should be immediately accessible and no further steps in these instructions are needed.


Install mdadm

sudo apt-get install mdadm

NOTE: When prompted for Postfix Configuration.

  • Select No configuration and complete the installation.

Install lvm2

sudo apt-get install lvm2

NOTE: This is needed for vgchange.


Mount all of the hard drives

sudo mdadm -Asf && vgchange -ay

NOTE: The files on the hard disks should be accessible.

  • mdadm -Asf: Assemble a pre-existing array. Scan config file or /proc/mdstat for missing information. Insist that mdadm accept the geometry and layout specified without question.
  • vgchange -ay: To activate all known volume groups in the system.
nas/qnap/recover_raid_or_move_data_from_broken_nas.txt · Last modified: 2021/10/07 23:21 by peter

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