How to Access RAID Disk Data Without a NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH Device

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH
• 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 regular disk health monitoring and analysis help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH devices?

Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH devices in the following ways:

1. Early detection of disk failures: Disk health monitoring tools can constantly monitor the health of the hard drives in the NAS device. They can detect early signs of disk failures such as bad sectors, high temperature, or abnormal noise. By identifying these issues early on, you can take preventive measures like replacing the failing disk before it completely fails and causes data loss.
2. Predictive analysis: Disk health monitoring tools often provide predictive analysis based on the collected data. They can estimate the remaining lifespan of the disks and warn you when they are likely to fail. This allows you to plan for disk replacement in advance, minimizing the risk of data loss.
3. RAID monitoring: If your Buffalo LinkStation NAS is configured with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), disk health monitoring can help in monitoring the status of the RAID array. It can detect any issues with the RAID configuration or disk synchronization, ensuring the data redundancy and integrity. This is crucial as RAID provides protection against disk failures and data loss.
4. SMART monitoring: Most modern hard drives support SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) which provides detailed information about the health and performance of the disks. Disk health monitoring tools can read and analyze the SMART data to identify potential issues. This can include analyzing parameters like read/write error rates, spin-up time, reallocated sectors count, and more.
5. Proactive maintenance: By regularly monitoring the disk health, you can proactively perform maintenance tasks like defragmentation, disk cleanup, or firmware updates. These tasks can optimize the performance and stability of the disks, reducing the chances of data loss due to disk-related issues.

Overall, regular disk health monitoring and analysis provide valuable insights into the status of the disks in your Buffalo LinkStation NAS. By taking timely actions based on the monitoring results, you can prevent potential data loss and ensure the reliability of your storage system.

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

Although the NAS LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH 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 LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH. 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

LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH 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 LinkStation LS-WS500GLR1WH 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