Synology NAS supports different types of RAID levels, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10. Synology RAID 10 is popular among users as it combines the benefits of both RAID 1 and RAID 0. There are at least four drives required to set up RAID 10 - two for RAID 0 and two for RAID 1. This nested or hybrid RAID offers high read and write performance. This RAID type can sustain failure of single drive and even two drives if they are from the same mirrored set. In addition, there are various scenarios that can lead to loss of data from Synology RAID 10. In this article, we will discuss the reasons that can result in data loss from Synology RAID 10 and some possible methods to recover data from Synology RAID 10 drives.

Reasons for Data Loss from Synology RAID 10

There are many reasons that could lead to data loss from Synology RAID 10. Some common reasons include:

• Incorrect RAID array setup
• Accidental data deletion
• Controller malfunction
• Corrupt firmware
• Improper shutdown
• Abrupt power outage
• Failure of one or more drives

Methods to Recover Data from Synology RAID 10 Drives

Follow the methods given below to recover data from Synology RAID 10 drives.

1. Restore Data using Hyper Backup

Hyper Backup is a solution provided by Synology that helps take back up of folders, system settings, etc. on local drives, external media, servers, or even public cloud services. So, if you've taken the backup of Synology RAID 10 using the Hyper Backup solution, you can restore the data by following the given steps:

• Access Hyper Backup and click Restore.
• Next, select Data or LUN.
• Select the backup task from which you want to restore your data.
• Depending on the backup task selected, you'll see different options, such as System Configurations and Different Versions of Backup Data.
• Enter the password if your backup is encrypted.
• Then, follow the wizard to recover the data.

Refer to the Hyper Backup Guide to learn more.

2. Hot-swap the Failed Drive

In case of a drive failure, you can hot-swap the failed hard drive to recover the data. Follow the given steps to hot-swap the defective drive with a new one:

Note: The new drive should be of same storage capacity as the other drives in the RAID 10 array. Also, ensure that your RAID controller is working properly.

• Open the Synology RAID 10 controller and note down the failed drive from the RAID configuration.
• Turn off the Synology RAID setup using the DSM web interface or the Power button.
• Replace the damaged or failed drive in the array with a spare or new one.
• Power on your Synology RAID setup and check the status of your RAID configuration.
• If it is in the ‘Rebuilding' state, let the process complete and then use the backup to recover the data on the newly added drive in the array.

If the RAID 10 array status appears as ‘Degraded,' this method will not work.

3. Use a Synology NAS Data Recovery Software

If the above-stated methods didn't work for you, then the only option is to use an advanced NAS data recovery software, like Stellar Toolkit for Data Recovery. This advanced RAID data recovery software efficiently recovers data from failed, broken, or inaccessible RAID 0, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60, and SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID) drives. When recovering data from traditional RAID drives, it rebuilds the RAID array virtually and helps retrieve the data. However, the software makes data recovery from Synology RAID 10 easier by showing it as one logical unit.

Follow the below steps to recover data from Synology RAID 10 using the software:

• Connect all the Synology RAID 10 drives with USB to SATA converter cables to a Windows system.
• Download, install, and run Stellar Toolkit for Data Recovery on your system.
• On the main screen, click All Data, and then click Next.
• Select Synology Disk under Connected Drives and click Scan.

• The software will initiate the scanning process.

• Once the scanning is completed, the software will show you all the recoverable files on the screen. You can also preview them to ensure their quality.
• Choose the files you want to retrieve and click Recover to proceed.

• Select Browse to choose a desired storage location to save the files. (Choose a different drive volume or an external drive.)
• Select Start-Saving to save the recovered files.

The data will be saved at the chosen location.

Tips to Prevent Data Loss from Synology RAID 10

Here are some best practices that you can follow to avoid data loss from Synology RAID 10.

Data Backup: Regularly back up your RAID data. Having a data backup helps retrieve data easily. It is recommended to always take at least three copies of your data and save them at different locations - onsite and offsite.

Ensure Drive Handling: Be careful while handling the physical drives. Improper drive handling may damage the drives and complicate the recovery process.

Software and Firmware Updates: Ensure that the Synology NAS and DSM are updated to the latest version. Firmware updates may resolve specific issues and improve the chances of data recovery in case of data loss.

Conclusion

Synology RAID 10 is built with the combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0. Sometimes, you lose data from Synology RAID 10 due to accidental deletion, software issues, drive failure, and various other reasons. In such cases, you can recover the data by following the methods discussed in this article. However, the best option is to use an advanced NAS data recovery software, such as Stellar Toolkit for Data Recovery. This software can recover all file types and formats from RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR). It can also recover data from virtual machine and all types of storage drives, such as HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, and others. You can free download the software on your Windows system to evaluate its functionality.