Accessing RAID Disk Files Without NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5200D0402 Functionality

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5200D0402
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Buffalo often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS TeraStation TS5200D0402 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo TeraStation TS5200D0402. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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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;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison