How to Get Data from RAID Disks When NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5400R0804 Fails

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5400R0804
• 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 a NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5400R0804 device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5400R0804 device can significantly affect data transfer and potential loss in the following ways:

1. Transfer Speed: A higher network throughput allows for faster data transfer speeds between the NAS device and connected devices on the network. This means that large files or backups can be transferred more quickly, reducing the time required for data transfer.
2. Concurrent Users: A higher network throughput capacity enables the NAS device to handle multiple concurrent users accessing and transferring data simultaneously. If the network capacity is limited, it may result in slower transfer speeds or even network congestion, leading to potential data loss or corruption.
3. Backup and Recovery: Data backups and recovery processes can be time-consuming, especially when dealing with large amounts of data. A higher network throughput capacity can expedite these processes, reducing the time required for backup and recovery operations and minimizing the risk of potential data loss during these critical operations.
4. Streaming and Media Sharing: If the NAS device is used for streaming media content or sharing files over the network, a higher network throughput allows for smoother and uninterrupted streaming experiences. Insufficient bandwidth can lead to buffering issues, interruptions, or degraded video quality.
5. Remote Access: If the NAS device supports remote access, a higher network throughput capacity ensures that users can access their data and files remotely with minimal latency. Insufficient bandwidth can result in slow response times, making remote access cumbersome and potentially leading to data loss due to interrupted or failed transfers.
6. Redundancy and RAID: Many NAS devices, including the Buffalo TeraStation TS5400R0804, support RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection against drive failures. However, in RAID configurations, data is distributed across multiple drives, and the network throughput capacity affects how quickly the data can be rebuilt and synchronized in case of a drive failure. A higher network throughput can reduce the time required for data reconstruction, minimizing the risk of potential data loss during this critical process.

Overall, a higher network throughput or bandwidth capacity is crucial for efficient data transfer, reduced transfer times, and minimizing the risk of potential data loss or corruption during various operations on a NAS device like the Buffalo TeraStation TS5400R0804.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS TeraStation TS5400R0804 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 TS5400R0804. 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 TS5400R0804 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;

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 TS5400R0804 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