How to recover data from Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN4804 NAS

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.

Are there any recommended practices for protecting NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN4804 devices against physical theft or unauthorized access that can lead to data loss?

Yes, there are several recommended practices for protecting NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN4804 devices against physical theft or unauthorized access. Here are some of them:

1. Physical Security: Keep the TeraStation in a secure location, such as a locked server room or a locked cabinet, to prevent physical theft.
2. Access Control: Implement strong user authentication mechanisms, such as unique usernames and complex passwords, to restrict access to the TeraStation. Avoid using default credentials and regularly update passwords.
3. User Permissions: Assign appropriate user permissions to limit access to sensitive data. Only grant access to authorized users who require it for their work.
4. Firewall and Network Segmentation: Configure a firewall to restrict incoming and outgoing network traffic to the TeraStation. Additionally, consider segmenting your network to isolate the TeraStation from other devices.
5. Encryption: Enable encryption on the TeraStation to protect data stored on the device. This ensures that even if the device is stolen, the data remains unreadable without the encryption key.
6. Firmware Updates: Regularly update the firmware of the TeraStation to address any security vulnerabilities and ensure you have the latest security patches.
7. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Implement a regular backup strategy to ensure data is securely backed up and can be restored in case of data loss or theft.
8. Surveillance and Alarms: Consider installing surveillance cameras and alarms in the vicinity of the TeraStation to deter theft and unauthorized access. This can also help in identifying perpetrators if an incident occurs.
9. Regular Auditing: Conduct regular audits of user access logs and system logs to detect any suspicious activity or unauthorized access attempts.
10. Training and Awareness: Educate users about best practices for data security, including password hygiene, phishing awareness, and physical security measures.

By implementing these recommended practices, you can significantly enhance the security of your NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN4804 and protect against physical theft or unauthorized access that can lead to data loss.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS6400DN4804 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.

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo TeraStation TS6400DN4804. 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.

TeraStation TS6400DN4804 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 TS6400DN4804 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