Physical Failures of NAS Storage Systems
Read about recovering data from a faulty network storage: the things you should and shouldn’t do. Can data recovery software help you? Information above applies to logical errors in external storage systems in a fully working state. But what if some component of your external storage system fails? Or what if your NAS storage is simply worn out? Problems with NAS storage are easy to overlook.
Many NAS devices (including most inexpensive models) are not smart enough to provide early warnings about upcoming failures. For most NAS models including RAID types reporting via the S.M.A.R.T. protocol is not available, so you cannot estimate how healthy or how worn out the internal hard drives are. This is why most NAS failures happen all over a sudden.
Rebuild Option
If your NAS device breaks down, giving you no meaningful way to extract information, avoid the temptation of using the “rebuild” option of your Seagate or WD NAS. This function will most likely mess up what’s left of your files, probably giving you a working but storage system that’s completely empty.
To recover data from a failed NAS, you’ll need to isolate the problem by taking the hard drive(s) out of the enclosure and connecting them directly to your computer via an appropriate cable (normally, a SATA connector and a power cable is all you need). This works great for single-disk enclosures, but things are not as rosy if you have an attached RAID other than a mirror. For recovering RAID arrays in the absence of the original RAID controller (such as the one built into a NAS device), you’ll need a different, highly specialized tool.
For mirrored storage, you can simply pull any disk out of the system, and run a data recovery tool on its surface to recover all the files. Mirrored storage system duplicate the content among all the disks in the system, making each hard drive contain exactly the same information as its counterparts.
Cloud Storage
Network Attached Storage was such a great idea that companies started offering external storage as a service, often free service for their customers. Apple iCloud, Dell, Google, Amazon and many other companies are happy to provide free storage space to their customers. Information is stored on their own servers that are managed by their employees.
Internal failures and errors are normally of very little concern compared to home-based NAS units. Indeed, information stored in reputable cloud services such as those provided by Apple, Google or Amazon is replicated, backed up and protected with multiple layers. This pretty much compensates for the complete inability of cloud users to do anything in regards to data recovery. No data recovery tool will work with a cloud storage system; if you delete a file, it’s gone forever – unless you have a backup or used a feature similar to Windows Recycle Bin. Contacting the service’s technical support ASAP is your best and only option.
Modern storage devices have gone a long way since the creation of floppy disks. And even though their reliability grows all the time, a NAS failure will cause the corruption of a great many of files.
How can physical damage to a NAS device lead to data loss?
Physical damage to a NAS device can lead to data loss in several ways. If the device is damaged, the hard drives may become inaccessible, preventing access to the data stored on them. Additionally, if the power supply or other components of the device are damaged, the device may not be able to power on, again preventing access to the stored data. In some cases, physical damage can also cause data corruption, which can lead to permanent data loss.
Can hard drives in NAS storage systems fail due to manufacturing defects?
Yes, hard drives in NAS storage systems can fail due to manufacturing defects. All hard drives have a certain failure rate, and NAS storage systems are no exception. It is important to ensure that the hard drives used in a NAS storage system are from a reputable manufacturer with a good track record for reliability. Additionally, it is important to regularly monitor the health of the hard drives in the system to ensure that any potential issues are addressed quickly.
What role does overheating play in causing physical failures in NAS storage systems?
Overheating can cause physical failures in NAS storage systems by damaging components such as the hard drives, fans, power supplies, and other hardware. When the system overheats, components can become damaged or fail due to excessive heat. This can lead to data corruption, data loss, and system downtime. Additionally, overheating can also cause system instability and reduce the overall performance of the NAS storage system.
How do power surges and outages affect NAS storage systems?
Power surges and outages can cause serious damage to NAS storage systems. Power surges can cause physical damage to the hardware components, such as the hard drives, and can also corrupt the data stored on them. Outages can cause NAS systems to become unresponsive or even crash completely, resulting in a loss of data. Additionally, if the NAS system is connected to other devices, such as a router or switch, an outage can cause those devices to become unresponsive as well.
What are the common causes of physical failures in NAS storage systems?
Read about physical failures of NAS storage systems. If you do have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our technical support service - we will be happy to help you.