RAID Array Recovery Guide for NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5410DN0802 Data: Step-by-Step Recovery

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 storage tiering or caching strategies impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5410DN0802 devices?

Storage tiering and caching strategies can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5410DN0802 devices. Here's how:

1. Improved data availability: By implementing storage tiering, you can ensure that frequently accessed data is stored on faster and more reliable storage tiers, such as solid-state drives (SSDs). This improves data availability as users can access their data quickly and without any interruptions. In case of a drive failure, data redundancy mechanisms like RAID can help maintain data availability by rebuilding the data from the remaining drives.
2. Reduced potential data loss: Caching strategies, such as read and write caching, can enhance data protection and reduce the potential for data loss. Read caching stores frequently accessed data in a fast cache, reducing the need to retrieve data from slower storage tiers. Write caching buffers data writes, allowing for faster acknowledgment to the user while ensuring data durability by committing writes to the underlying storage.
3. Faster data access and performance: By utilizing storage tiering and caching, the Buffalo TeraStation NAS device can deliver faster data access and improved overall performance. This is achieved by leveraging the high-speed storage tiers, such as SSDs, for frequently accessed data, while slower storage tiers, such as traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), can be used for less frequently accessed data. Caching further accelerates data access by keeping frequently accessed data in a fast cache.
4. Data loss risks: While storage tiering and caching strategies can enhance data availability and performance, there are potential risks of data loss. If the caching mechanism is not properly configured or managed, there is a chance of data loss in case of power outages or system failures before the writes are committed to the underlying storage. It is crucial to ensure proper backup and redundancy mechanisms are in place to mitigate these risks.
5. System complexity and management: Implementing storage tiering and caching strategies can introduce additional complexity to the NAS device's management. Administrators need to carefully configure and monitor the caching and tiering settings to optimize performance and data availability. Regular monitoring, maintenance, and firmware updates are essential to ensure the system operates reliably and that the data is adequately protected.

Overall, storage tiering and caching strategies can significantly impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5410DN0802 devices by improving performance, reducing data access latency, and enhancing data durability. However, proper configuration, monitoring, and backup mechanisms are essential to mitigate potential risks and ensure data protection.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS5410DN0802 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 TS5410DN0802. 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 TS5410DN0802 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 TS5410DN0802 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