Choosing the Right Data Recovery Software for NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS3410RN0804: Complete 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 TeraStation TS3410RN0804 device's caching policy impact data loss risks?

The caching policy of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the Buffalo TeraStation TS3410RN0804 can impact data loss risks in several ways:

1. Write Caching: Write caching is a feature that allows the NAS device to temporarily store data in its cache before writing it to the underlying storage drives. This can improve performance by reducing the number of disk writes. However, if a power outage or system failure occurs before the data is written to the drives, there is a risk of data loss. To mitigate this risk, the NAS device should have a battery backup or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to ensure that the cached data is safely written to the drives in case of power failure.
2. Read Caching: Read caching is a feature that stores frequently accessed data in the NAS device's cache, allowing for faster retrieval. However, if the cached data becomes corrupted or the cache fails, there is a risk of data loss or data inconsistency. It is important to regularly monitor the health of the cache and ensure that it is properly functioning. Some NAS devices offer redundancy in their cache systems, such as mirroring or parity, which can help protect against data loss in case of cache failure.
3. Cache Synchronization: In a multi-NAS environment, where multiple NAS devices are connected and share data, cache synchronization becomes crucial. If the caching policy is not properly configured or synchronized across the NAS devices, there is a risk of data inconsistency or loss. It is important to ensure that the caching policy is correctly set up and synchronized across all NAS devices to avoid any data integrity issues.
4. Cache Size: The size of the cache can also impact data loss risks. A larger cache can improve performance by accommodating more data, but it also means that more data is at risk in case of a cache failure or power outage. It is important to strike a balance between cache size and data protection, considering factors such as the importance of the data, available backup solutions, and the reliability of the NAS device.

Overall, understanding and configuring the caching policy of a NAS device is crucial to minimize data loss risks. It is recommended to consult the manufacturer's documentation and best practices, and to regularly monitor and maintain the NAS device to ensure optimal performance and data protection.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS3410RN0804 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 TS3410RN0804. 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 TS3410RN0804 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 TS3410RN0804 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