Milton Keynes No.1 Data Recovery From NAS Specialist
25 Years of Expertise – Professional NAS Data Recovery Services
At Milton Keynes Data Recovery, we specialise in recovering data from all types of NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices. With over 25 years of experience, our expert engineers provide reliable, efficient, and professional recovery services for businesses, individuals, and organisations in Milton Keynes.
Different NAS Configurations and Their Applications
Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems offer a variety of configurations to suit different storage, performance, and redundancy needs. Below is an overview of the most common NAS configurations:
1. JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks)
- Description:
- Combines multiple drives into a single logical volume without redundancy.
- Each disk operates independently; failure of one disk only affects data stored on that disk.
- Use Cases:
- Ideal for users seeking maximum storage capacity with no need for redundancy.
- Pros:
- Maximum use of available storage.
- Affordable with no overhead.
- Cons:
- No data protection or redundancy.
2. Single Disk Configuration
- Description:
- Uses one hard drive as the sole storage medium in the NAS.
- Use Cases:
- Suitable for home users or light data storage with minimal budget.
- Pros:
- Cost-effective.
- Simple setup.
- Cons:
- No fault tolerance; failure results in complete data loss.
3. RAID 0 (Striping)
- Description:
- Data is split across multiple drives for improved speed, but without redundancy.
- Requires at least two drives.
- Use Cases:
- High-performance environments like video editing or gaming.
- Pros:
- High read/write performance.
- Maximum use of storage capacity.
- Cons:
- No fault tolerance; failure of one drive results in total data loss.
4. RAID 1 (Mirroring)
- Description:
- Data is duplicated across two or more drives for redundancy.
- Requires at least two drives.
- Use Cases:
- Critical data storage where redundancy is prioritized.
- Pros:
- Data remains safe if one drive fails.
- Easy recovery process.
- Cons:
- Half of the storage capacity is used for redundancy.
- No performance improvement.
5. RAID 5
- Description:
- Combines striping with parity for redundancy.
- Requires at least three drives.
- Use Cases:
- Small to medium businesses needing a balance between speed, capacity, and redundancy.
- Pros:
- Fault tolerance for one drive failure.
- Efficient use of storage space.
- Cons:
- Performance degradation during rebuilds.
- Slower write speeds compared to RAID 0 or RAID 10.
6. RAID 6
- Description:
- Similar to RAID 5 but with dual parity, allowing for two drive failures.
- Requires at least four drives.
- Use Cases:
- Environments needing high fault tolerance, like large-scale data storage.
- Pros:
- Protects against two simultaneous drive failures.
- Reliable for critical data.
- Cons:
- Reduced write performance.
- More storage capacity used for redundancy.
7. RAID 10 (1+0)
- Description:
- Combines mirroring and striping for high performance and redundancy.
- Requires at least four drives.
- Use Cases:
- High-performance applications like databases and virtualized environments.
- Pros:
- High fault tolerance.
- Fast read/write speeds.
- Cons:
- High cost due to the number of drives required.
- Half the storage is used for redundancy.
8. RAID 50 and RAID 60
- Description:
- Nested RAID configurations combining RAID 5 or RAID 6 with striping for improved performance and redundancy.
- Requires multiple drives (RAID 50: at least 6 drives, RAID 60: at least 8 drives).
- Use Cases:
- Enterprise environments with large datasets requiring scalability and fault tolerance.
- Pros:
- Improved performance and reliability compared to RAID 5/6 alone.
- Cons:
- Complex setup and higher cost.
9. SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID)
- Description:
- Proprietary RAID system by Synology that offers flexibility with mixed drive sizes.
- Use Cases:
- Users with drives of different capacities.
- Pros:
- Maximizes storage utilisation for mixed-capacity drives.
- Easy to expand by adding new drives.
- Cons:
- Limited to Synology NAS devices.
10. ZFS (Zettabyte File System)
- Description:
- Advanced file system supporting RAID-Z, compression, and snapshots.
- Requires more memory and CPU power.
- Use Cases:
- Enterprise and professional environments requiring high data integrity.
- Pros:
- Superior data integrity and features like deduplication.
- Supports self-healing data.
- Cons:
- Resource-intensive.
- Complex configuration.
11. iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface)
- Description:
- Configures NAS as a virtual SAN (Storage Area Network).
- Use Cases:
- Enterprise environments needing remote block storage.
- Pros:
- Allows remote storage management.
- High performance for enterprise needs.
- Cons:
- Requires network configuration expertise.
12. Software RAID
- Description:
- RAID managed via software instead of a dedicated hardware controller.
- Use Cases:
- Cost-effective RAID implementation for smaller setups.
- Pros:
- Flexible and low-cost.
- No reliance on specific hardware.
- Cons:
- Slower performance compared to hardware RAID.
Supported NAS Brands
We recover data from all major NAS brands and models, including:
- Synology
- Western Digital (WD)
- QNAP
- TerraMaster
- Asustor
- Buffalo
- NETGEAR
- LincStation
- SSK
- LaCie
Common NAS Hard Drive Faults We Recover From
1. Hard Drive Failure
- A single or multiple hard drives in the NAS fail, causing data inaccessibility.
2. RAID Array Failure
- RAID levels (e.g., RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10) become degraded or completely fail.
3. Multiple Drive Failures
- Simultaneous failure of multiple drives exceeds the RAID’s fault tolerance.
4. RAID Rebuild Failure
- A rebuild operation fails, resulting in data loss or corrupted arrays.
5. Logical File System Corruption
- The file system becomes corrupted, making data unreadable or inaccessible.
6. Accidental Deletion of Files or Volumes
- Files or entire volumes are accidentally deleted by the user.
7. Firmware Corruption or Update Issues
- Failed firmware updates or corruption prevent the NAS from booting correctly.
8. Power Surge or Electrical Damage
- Sudden power surges damage the NAS’s internal components or hard drives.
9. Water or Liquid Damage
- Exposure to water or other liquids damages the NAS device.
10. Overheating
- Prolonged heat exposure causes hardware malfunctions, including drive failure.
11. NAS Controller Failure
- The NAS motherboard or RAID controller card fails, leading to data inaccessibility.
12. NAS Operating System Corruption
- The embedded OS (e.g., Synology DSM, QNAP QTS) becomes corrupted or fails to boot.
13. Accidental Factory Reset
- Factory reset operations erase all configuration settings and stored data.
14. Drive Removal or Reordering
- Drives removed and reinserted into the wrong slots disrupt RAID configurations.
15. Unsupported or Proprietary File Systems
- NAS devices using proprietary file systems complicate recovery without specialized tools.
16. Encryption Issues
- Lost encryption keys or corrupted encrypted volumes prevent data access.
17. Bad Sectors on Drives
- Data becomes unreadable due to physical damage or wear on the drive platters.
18. Virus or Malware Infection
- Malware, ransomware, or viruses corrupt or encrypt the data on the NAS.
19. User Error
- Configuration mistakes, improper RAID setup, or accidental overwriting of data.
20. Physical Damage to the NAS Unit
- Damage to the NAS enclosure, ports, or components from drops or impacts.
Why Choose Us?
- Free Diagnostics: No-obligation assessment of your NAS device to determine the fault.
- Expert Engineers: Over 25 years of specialised experience in NAS data recovery.
- Advanced Tools: State-of-the-art recovery equipment for all types of NAS issues.
- Fast Turnaround: Minimised downtime with efficient recovery processes.
- Secure Handling: Data confidentiality guaranteed with industry-leading security protocols.
Our Recovery Process
- Diagnostics
- We analyse the NAS device to identify the problem and assess recoverability.
- Secure Recovery
- Using advanced tools, we safely retrieve your data without risking further damage.
- Data Verification
- The recovered data is verified and securely transferred to a new storage device.
- Return and Support
- Your recovered data is returned to you along with expert advice to prevent future issues.
Contact Milton Keynes Data Recovery Today
Don’t let NAS data loss disrupt your business or personal life. Trust our professional team to recover your valuable data quickly and securely.