Synology Recovery Quick Notes
- Additional Synology IT resources can be found here.
- The time it takes for this whole process to complete tends to be the biggest issue when migrating data to a flashy new upgrade Synology NAS chassis. Restore process of 1TB of data took approximately 6 hours. The very first thing I recommend is run updates on packages and the Synology OS itself. A mismatch of these items can only complicate the recovery process.
- Hyper Backup is the cleanest way for backing up not only your data but your applications, file permissions, and user/group settings. Here are the steps towards backup
- Document apps on Synology: Glacier, Cloudstation, Photostation, DS Get, etc. Note: All these applications at this time do not backup their configuration except for PhotoStation.
- Glacier: Make sure you have the Access Key ID and the Secret Access Key or delete the backup because it will be useless for any disaster and recovery of those files. Use these credentials after you restore your data to continue incremental backups.
- DS Get: The configuration does not get backed up
- CloudStation: The configuration does not get backed up
- Continue running your current Synology in the meantime with a broken mirror if you plan to repurpose the drive for the new unit and you can’t afford down time while the Hyper Backup recovery process is being run.
Hyper Backup Recovery
Open and cancel backup wizard. Then select restore button, restore from existing repositories, and choose “usbshare” for the backup destination shared folder followed by the Directory “DiskStation_Name”
- System Configuration
– Restore System Configuration - Data Restoration
- Select all shared folders to be restored
- Application Restoration
- Select applications
Hyper Backup Application Restoration
Hyper Backup Restoration Process
Alternative Migration of Data or Recovery Method
Alternatively, below are some messy steps to transfer data without the use of Hyper Backup for recovery. This may decrease time but it’s definitely not as user friendly restoration process. Who knows maybe you just need the data? This may be your answer.
Migration of Data from old file format and chassis to another
1) Make sure you have latest updates to your Synology
2) Backup applications, data, and configuration using Hyper Backup
***This process alone could take several days depending on the amount of data that needs to be backed up
3) Break mirror by taking one hard drive from the old volume if you plan to recycle the drives and repurpose for the new Synology NAS chassis.
4) Pop in the hard drive from the old unit to the new Synology NAS chassis
5) Reset to reinstall the Operating System or continue with migration; and remove and recreate the new volume with BTRFS in Storage Manager
*The Clean Installation option takes five to ten minutes and only retains your data.
About Step #5
The reset option to reinstall the OS does not work always. This is why we provided an alternative route with pictures about to walk you through the process. Again, we have one hard drive in the system if it is a 2 bay and we will eventually use the other drive once we are confident that data was fully recovered. But first, we must wipe the drive by eliminating or remove the volume so we can create a new BTRFS volume.
Pro Tip! The configuration file magically restores itself when you insert the old drive or volume into the Synology chassis. You will still need yet if you have an old volume to migrate. Otherwise, you will have Shared Folders competing for the same name when the old hard drive is added.
Two Options for Transferring Data without using Hyper Backup
- Do not restore configuration
This allows you to go into the “Shared Folder” under control panel and change the location from one volume to the other.
ProTip! This is like “move” command in Windows. Don’t do unless you absolutely prepared for the consequences. Ie the power goes out half way through transferring data. Again, a working/recoverable Hyper Backup will help your confidence.
2. Restore the old configuration file
Pop in the old hard drive volume and highlight all contents with each shared folder and paste in each recreated shared folder in the new BTRFS volume.
Delete Old Volume
Delete the old volume once you are confident that all the data has been copied or restored safely.
Add Drive
“Manage” gives you the option to add the drive you just removed to the existing for volume for a mirror or RAID 1 setup.
Synology Best Practices for Migrating, Restoring, or Recovering data Summary
Synology Hyper Backup file recovery is by far the best way to restore data after trying several options here. Try it and see it for yourself.
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