How to Recover Data from NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS441DE: A Detailed RAID Array Recovery Guide

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 a NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS441DE device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS Buffalo LinkStation LS441DE device can have a significant impact on data transfer and potential loss. Here's how:

1. Data Transfer Speed: The network throughput determines how quickly data can be transferred between the NAS device and other devices on the network. A higher throughput means faster data transfer speeds, resulting in quicker backups, file transfers, and access to stored data. Conversely, a lower throughput will slow down data transfer, leading to longer wait times and reduced productivity.
2. Potential Loss: If the network throughput is insufficient for the amount of data being transferred, it can result in data loss or corruption. When the network is congested or the bandwidth is limited, data packets may be dropped or delayed, leading to incomplete or corrupted files. This can be particularly problematic for critical data, such as important documents or database files, where any loss or corruption can have severe consequences.
3. Network Congestion: If the NAS device's network throughput is not capable of handling the data transfer requirements of all connected devices simultaneously, network congestion can occur. This can lead to slower transfer speeds, increased latency, and potential data loss. Network congestion can be especially problematic in environments with multiple users accessing the NAS device simultaneously, such as in an office or a shared network.

To mitigate these issues, it is important to ensure that the NAS device's network throughput matches the requirements of the network and the data transfer needs. This can be achieved by upgrading the network infrastructure, such as using faster Ethernet connections (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet), optimizing network settings, or using link aggregation techniques to increase bandwidth capacity. Additionally, monitoring network traffic and identifying potential bottlenecks can help identify areas where improvements can be made to avoid data transfer issues and potential loss.

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

Although NAS LinkStation LS441DE 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.

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   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 LinkStation LS441DE. 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.

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How to recover data from a Buffalo

LinkStation LS441DE has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• 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 LinkStation LS441DE 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