- 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 data redundancy techniques such as mirroring or replication enhance data availability and protect against loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5200D0402 devices?
Data redundancy techniques such as mirroring or replication can enhance data availability and protect against loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5200D0402 devices in the following ways:
- Mirroring: Mirroring involves creating an exact duplicate copy of data on another storage device. In the case of TeraStation TS5200D0402, you can set up RAID 1 (or RAID 10) configuration, which mirrors the data across multiple hard drives. This ensures that if one drive fails, the mirrored drive(s) can take over seamlessly, providing uninterrupted access to data. Mirroring enhances data availability as it eliminates single points of failure.
- Replication: Replication involves creating and maintaining multiple copies of data on separate devices or locations. With TeraStation TS5200D0402, you can use its built-in replication feature to replicate data to another TeraStation device in real-time or on a scheduled basis. This provides an additional layer of protection against data loss. In case the primary device fails, the replicated data can be accessed from the secondary device, ensuring data availability.
- RAID Levels: TeraStation TS5200D0402 supports various RAID levels, including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10. Each RAID level offers different levels of data redundancy and performance. By choosing an appropriate RAID level, you can enhance data availability and protect against loss. RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 10 (striping with mirroring) provide the highest level of redundancy and data protection.
- Hot-Swap Functionality: TeraStation TS5200D0402 devices often come with hot-swap functionality, allowing you to replace failed drives without shutting down the system. This ensures continuous operation and minimizes downtime, thereby enhancing data availability.
- Backup and Disaster Recovery: While mirroring and replication provide redundancy within the NAS device, it is still important to have a backup strategy in place. Regularly backing up data from the TeraStation TS5200D0402 to external storage or cloud services adds an extra layer of protection. In case of catastrophic events or complete NAS failure, having off-site backups ensures data can be restored.
By implementing these data redundancy techniques, TeraStation TS5200D0402 devices can significantly enhance data availability, protect against loss, and minimize the impact of hardware failures or other data-related issues.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS TeraStation TS5200D0402 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 TS5200D0402. 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 TS5200D0402 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:
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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 TS5200D0402 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 |
Yes, data recovery from a NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5200D0402 device can still be possible even if the device is experiencing network congestion or bandwidth issues. In such cases, the data recovery process may take longer due to the slower transfer speeds and potential interruptions in the network connection.
However, it is important to note that network congestion or bandwidth issues may not directly affect the device's internal storage or the data stored on it. Data recovery typically involves accessing the internal storage of the NAS device, and as long as the storage drives are functioning properly, the data can still be recovered.
If you are experiencing network congestion or bandwidth issues, it is recommended to troubleshoot and resolve those issues first to ensure stable and reliable data transfer during the recovery process.