- 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?
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 continuous data protection mechanisms help in minimizing potential data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH devices?
Continuous data protection mechanisms can help minimize potential data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH devices in the following ways:
- Real-time synchronization: Continuous data protection mechanisms constantly monitor changes to files and folders on the NAS device. Any modifications, additions, or deletions are immediately synchronized to a backup location, ensuring that the latest version of data is always available.
- Incremental backups: Instead of performing full backups every time, continuous data protection mechanisms only backup the changes made since the last backup. This reduces the backup time and minimizes the risk of data loss.
- Versioning: Continuous data protection mechanisms often maintain multiple versions of files, allowing users to restore previous versions if needed. This can be crucial in case of accidental file modifications, data corruption, or ransomware attacks.
- Quick recovery: In the event of data loss or system failure, continuous data protection mechanisms enable quick recovery by providing multiple restore points. Users can easily restore their data to a specific point in time, minimizing downtime and data loss.
- Redundancy: Some continuous data protection mechanisms offer redundancy options, such as storing backups on multiple devices or in different locations. This ensures that even in the event of hardware failure or physical damage, the data remains safe and accessible.
- Automatic backup scheduling: Continuous data protection mechanisms often allow users to schedule automatic backups at regular intervals. This eliminates the need for manual backups and reduces the risk of forgetting to back up important data.
Overall, continuous data protection mechanisms provide a proactive approach to data backup and recovery, significantly reducing the potential for data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH devices.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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.
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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH. 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.
How to recover data from a Buffalo
LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH 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
| Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted files from a NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS1.0TGLR1WH device. When a file is deleted from a NAS device, it is not immediately removed from the storage. Instead, the file system marks the space occupied by the deleted file as available for reuse. Until that space is overwritten by new data, the deleted file can potentially be recovered using data recovery software or services.
To increase the chances of successful file recovery, it is important to stop using the NAS device immediately after realizing that files have been deleted. Continuing to use the device or adding new data to it can overwrite the deleted files, making recovery more difficult or even impossible.
It is recommended to consult with a professional data recovery service or use specialized data recovery software specifically designed for NAS devices. These tools can scan the NAS storage and attempt to recover deleted files by searching for remnants of the deleted data.