Access RAID Data Without a Working NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS-WVH4.0TL/R1 Device

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-WVH4.0TL/R1 device's power management settings impact data availability and potential loss?

The power management settings of a NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS-WVH4.0TL/R1 device can impact data availability and potential loss in the following ways:

1. Sleep Mode: If the device is set to enter sleep mode after a certain period of inactivity, it can lead to data unavailability during that time. When the device is in sleep mode, it may not respond to network requests or access requests from connected devices. If critical data is needed during this period, it may not be accessible, leading to potential loss.
2. Drive Spin Down: The NAS device may have a setting to spin down the hard drives after a period of inactivity. While this can save power, it can also introduce delays when accessing data. When a drive is spun down, it takes time to spin up and become ready for data access. If data is needed urgently, this delay can impact availability and productivity.
3. Power Interruptions: Power management settings can also impact data availability during power interruptions. If the device is set to shut down or enter a low-power state during a power outage, data may not be accessible until power is restored and the device is fully operational again. This can lead to potential data loss if critical operations were ongoing during the power interruption.
4. Scheduled Power On/Off: Some NAS devices allow scheduling the power on and power off times. If the device is set to turn off during non-working hours, it can impact data availability during that time. If users or applications require access to data during the scheduled power-off period, it may not be available, leading to potential loss.

To mitigate the impact on data availability and potential loss, it is important to carefully configure the power management settings of the NAS device. It is recommended to balance power-saving requirements with the need for continuous data access. Regular backups and redundancy measures should also be implemented to minimize the risk of data loss during any potential downtime.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS-WVH4.0TL/R1 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-WVH4.0TL/R1. 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-WVH4.0TL/R1 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:

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-WVH4.0TL/R1 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