How to Recover a Damaged RAID Array on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 with Several Faulty Disks

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 TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 device's cache settings impact data loss risks?

The cache settings on a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the Buffalo TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 can impact data loss risks in a few ways:

1. Write caching: NAS devices typically use write caching to improve performance by temporarily storing data in cache before writing it to the hard drives. However, if the cache is not properly managed or if power is lost suddenly, data that is still in the cache may not be written to the drives, leading to potential data loss.
2. Read caching: Read caching is used to improve read performance by storing frequently accessed data in cache for faster retrieval. While read caching does not directly impact data loss risks, it can affect data integrity if the cached data becomes corrupted or outdated. This can happen if the NAS experiences a hardware failure or if the cache is not properly managed.
3. RAID configuration: The TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 supports RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations, which can provide data redundancy and protection against drive failures. However, certain RAID levels like RAID 0 (striping) do not offer any redundancy and can increase the risk of data loss if a drive fails. On the other hand, RAID levels like RAID 1 (mirroring) or RAID 5 (striping with parity) provide varying degrees of data redundancy and can mitigate data loss risks.

To minimize data loss risks on a NAS device, it is important to:

• Ensure proper power backup and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to prevent sudden power loss.
• Regularly backup data from the NAS to an external storage or cloud service.
• Monitor the NAS for any hardware failures or issues and promptly address them.
• Choose an appropriate RAID configuration based on the desired level of redundancy and performance.
• Regularly update the NAS firmware and software to ensure any security vulnerabilities are patched.
• Implement proper data management practices, including regular data integrity checks and periodic data scrubbing.

It is also recommended to refer to the manufacturer's documentation and guidelines for specific cache settings and best practices for the Buffalo TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 device.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 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 TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5. 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

TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 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 TeraStation TS-RI2.0TGL/R5 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