Comprehensive Guide to Recovering RAID Array Data from NAS Buffalo CloudStation CS-WV4.0/R1

Contents

• Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
• How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?

Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.

Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.

Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like Buffalo also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

How can hardware failure lead to data loss in NAS Buffalo CloudStation CS-WV4.0/R1 devices?

Hardware failure in NAS Buffalo CloudStation CS-WV4.0/R1 devices can lead to data loss in several ways:

1. Hard Drive Failure: NAS devices typically use multiple hard drives in a RAID configuration to ensure data redundancy and protection against drive failure. However, if one or more hard drives fail simultaneously or sequentially, it can result in data loss if the RAID array is not properly configured or if the failure occurs before data can be rebuilt onto a replacement drive.
2. Power Supply Failure: A faulty or failing power supply can cause the NAS device to shut down unexpectedly, potentially resulting in data loss if data is being written or read at the time of the power outage. Sudden power loss can corrupt data or cause incomplete writes, leading to file system errors and data loss.
3. Network Interface Failure: If the network interface card (NIC) or other networking components in the NAS device fail, it can result in the device being inaccessible over the network. This can prevent users from accessing or backing up their data, potentially leading to data loss if the device cannot be repaired or if the data cannot be recovered through other means.
4. Controller Failure: The controller in a NAS device is responsible for managing data transfer between the drives and the network. If the controller fails, it can result in data corruption or loss, as the device may not be able to properly read or write data to the drives.
5. Firmware or Software Issues: Hardware failures can sometimes be caused by firmware or software issues. If the firmware or software on the NAS device becomes corrupted or malfunctions, it can lead to data loss or inaccessibility of the data stored on the device.

To mitigate the risk of data loss due to hardware failure, it is important to regularly back up data stored on the NAS device to an external location or cloud storage service. Additionally, implementing a RAID configuration with redundancy and regularly monitoring the health of the drives can help minimize the impact of hardware failures.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS CloudStation CS-WV4.0/R1 can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:

1. Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.

   WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.

2. Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.

   Go to view

   

   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo CloudStation CS-WV4.0/R1. The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.

Go to view

How to recover data from a Buffalo

CloudStation CS-WV4.0/R1 has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

Safe recovery from disk images

This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Loss resulting from bad sectors;
• User mistakes.

To create an image, do the following:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.

   

4. At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.

   

Where are user’s files stored?

The Buffalo CloudStation CS-WV4.0/R1 network-attached storage keeps OS Linux operating system files on a separate RAID 1 (mirrored) array. Usually, all NAS systems create several volumes on every hard disk, and the first of them takes up to 2 Gb of space. This is where operating system files are stored. Other volumes are united into a RAID array where user’s data is written.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery