RAID Array Recovery from NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5810DN4804: Step-by-Step Data Recovery 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 regular system monitoring and alerting help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5810DN4804 devices?

Regular system monitoring and alerting can help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS5810DN4804 devices in the following ways:

1. Monitoring Disk Health: Regular monitoring of disk health can help detect any signs of impending disk failures. By using tools like SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) monitoring, administrators can receive alerts when the disks start showing signs of degradation, such as bad sectors or increased error rates. This allows them to proactively replace the failing disks before complete failure occurs.
2. RAID Array Monitoring: TeraStation devices support various RAID configurations for data redundancy. Monitoring the RAID arrays ensures that all disks are functioning properly and that the data is being correctly distributed across the drives. Alerts can be set up to notify administrators if any disks are offline or if the RAID array is degraded or in a critical state.
3. Network Monitoring: Monitoring the network connectivity and performance of the TeraStation device can help identify any issues that may lead to data loss. This includes monitoring network throughput, latency, and packet loss. Alerts can be configured to notify administrators of any network-related problems, allowing them to take appropriate actions to prevent data loss.
4. File System Monitoring: Monitoring the file system for any inconsistencies or errors can help detect potential data loss events. Regular file system checks can be scheduled to ensure the integrity of the file system structure. Alerts can be set up to notify administrators if any file system errors are detected, allowing them to take corrective actions promptly.
5. User Activity Monitoring: Monitoring user activity on the TeraStation device can help detect any unauthorized access or suspicious behavior that may lead to data loss. By monitoring file access logs and user permissions, administrators can identify any unusual activities and take necessary actions to prevent data breaches or accidental deletions.
6. Backup Monitoring: Regular monitoring of the backup process ensures that data is being successfully backed up to external storage or cloud services. Alerts can be configured to notify administrators if backups fail or if there are any issues with the backup process. This helps ensure that data can be restored in case of any data loss events.

By implementing regular system monitoring and alerting practices, administrators can proactively identify and address potential issues that may lead to data loss events on NAS Buffalo TeraStation devices, minimizing the risk of data loss and ensuring the availability and integrity of critical data.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS5810DN4804 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 TS5810DN4804. 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 TS5810DN4804 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• 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 TS5810DN4804 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