Fixing a Damaged RAID Array on NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1 with Several Faulty Drives

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Buffalo often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

How can RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1 devices?

RAID configurations can have a significant impact on data loss in NAS Buffalo Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1 devices. Here are a few ways how:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 (mirroring) or RAID 5 (striping with parity), provide redundancy by storing multiple copies of data across different drives. In case of a drive failure, the redundant copies can be used to rebuild the data without any loss. This helps protect against data loss due to drive failures.
2. Fault tolerance: RAID configurations with parity, like RAID 5 or RAID 6, can tolerate the failure of one or more drives without losing data. The parity information allows for the reconstruction of the lost data from the remaining drives. This enhances the device's ability to withstand drive failures and reduces the risk of data loss.
3. Hot swapping: Many NAS devices, including the Buffalo Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1, support hot swapping, which means you can replace a failed drive while the system is still running. This feature minimizes the downtime and reduces the chances of data loss during drive replacement.
4. Data recovery: In case of data loss due to accidental deletion or corruption, some RAID configurations, like RAID 1, can aid in data recovery. Since the data is mirrored across multiple drives, you can retrieve the lost data from the remaining drives.

However, it's important to note that RAID configurations alone cannot guarantee complete protection against data loss. They primarily address drive failures and provide some level of fault tolerance. Other factors like human error, malware attacks, or natural disasters can still lead to data loss. Therefore, it is recommended to have additional backup strategies in place, such as regular backups to external storage or cloud services, to ensure comprehensive data protection.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Buffalo

Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1 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;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The Buffalo Drive Station HD-WL6TU3R1 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison