How to Recover Data from NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN0802: Advanced Step-by-Step RAID Array 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 disk health monitoring and analysis help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN0802 devices?

Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN0802 devices in the following ways:

1. Early detection of disk failures: By regularly monitoring the health of the disks, you can identify any signs of potential failure such as bad sectors, high temperature, or abnormal noise. This early detection allows you to take necessary actions, such as replacing the failing disk, before it completely fails and causes data loss.
2. RAID array maintenance: NAS devices like Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN0802 typically use RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection. Monitoring disk health helps in identifying any issues with individual disks in the RAID array, allowing you to replace the faulty disk and rebuild the array to ensure data integrity.
3. Predictive failure analysis: Some disk health monitoring tools provide predictive failure analysis, which uses various algorithms and statistical models to estimate the likelihood of a disk failure. By analyzing these predictions, you can proactively replace disks that are at a higher risk of failure, reducing the chances of data loss.
4. Monitoring disk usage and capacity: Regular monitoring of disk usage and capacity helps you identify situations where the storage is approaching its maximum limit. This allows you to take timely actions such as expanding the storage capacity or archiving old data to prevent data loss due to insufficient space.
5. Monitoring environmental factors: Disk health monitoring tools can also monitor environmental factors like temperature and humidity. Excessive heat or moisture can negatively impact the disks' performance and lifespan. By monitoring these factors, you can take steps to maintain an optimal environment for the NAS device and prevent potential disk failures.
6. Regular backups: Disk health monitoring should be complemented with regular backups of the data stored on the NAS device. Even with preventive measures, disk failures can still occur. Having up-to-date backups ensures that you can recover your data in case of any unforeseen data loss events.

Overall, regular disk health monitoring and analysis provide crucial insights into the status of the disks in a NAS device, allowing you to proactively address any potential issues and minimize the risk of data loss.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS6400DN0802 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 TS6400DN0802. 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 TS6400DN0802 has 2 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:

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 TS6400DN0802 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