- 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 a NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D device's caching policy impact data loss risks?
The caching policy of a NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D device can impact data loss risks in the following ways:
- Write Caching: If write caching is enabled, it means that data is temporarily stored in the device's cache memory before being written to the actual storage disks. While this can improve performance, it also introduces a risk of data loss in case of power failure or system crash before the data is written to the disks. If the cached data is not properly flushed to the disks, it may be lost permanently.
- Read Caching: Read caching involves storing frequently accessed data in the cache memory to improve read performance. However, if the cached data becomes corrupted or lost due to hardware failure or other issues, it can result in data loss when trying to retrieve that data.
- RAID Configuration: The TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D device supports various RAID configurations, such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD. The choice of RAID configuration can impact data loss risks. For example, RAID 0 offers high performance but has no redundancy, meaning that a single disk failure can result in complete data loss. On the other hand, RAID 1 provides mirroring, where data is duplicated on multiple disks, reducing the risk of data loss in case of a single disk failure.
It is important to carefully configure and manage the caching policy and RAID configuration based on the specific requirements and priorities of the data being stored. Regular backups, redundant storage, and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) can also be used as additional measures to mitigate data loss risks.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D 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 TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D. 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
TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D has 12 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- RAID 5;
- RAID 6;
- RAID 50;
- RAID 60;
- 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 TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D 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 |
Data recovery from a NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D device can be challenging if the storage disks have been overwritten or reformatted. When data is overwritten or formatted, it is typically erased from the disk, making it difficult to recover using conventional methods.
However, it is not impossible to recover data in such situations. There are specialized data recovery services and software available that can attempt to recover overwritten or reformatted data. These tools use advanced techniques to analyze the disk and try to reconstruct the lost data.
It is important to note that the success of data recovery in such cases depends on various factors, including the extent of the overwriting or formatting, the time elapsed since the incident, and the specific data recovery tools used. In some cases, it may not be possible to recover all of the lost data.
If you are facing data loss on your NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS-2RZH24T12D device, it is recommended to consult with a professional data recovery service or contact Buffalo's technical support for guidance on the best course of action.