Selecting Data Recovery Software for Recovering NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400RN3204 Data: Essential 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 TS6400RN3204 devices?

Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation TS6400RN3204 devices in the following ways:

1. Early detection of disk failures: Disk health monitoring tools can regularly check the SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) status of the hard drives in the NAS device. This allows for the early detection of any potential issues or signs of impending disk failure. By identifying these problems early on, you can take preventive measures such as replacing the failing disk before it completely fails and causes data loss.
2. Predictive analysis: Advanced disk health monitoring tools can analyze historical data and provide predictive analysis on the health of the disks. By studying the trends and patterns of disk behavior, these tools can estimate the remaining lifespan of the disks. This information can help you proactively replace disks that are likely to fail soon, reducing the risk of data loss.
3. RAID array monitoring: NAS devices like Buffalo TeraStation TS6400RN3204 often use RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology for data redundancy and protection. Disk health monitoring tools can monitor the RAID array and alert you if there are any issues with the array, such as a degraded or failed disk. Promptly addressing these issues can prevent data loss and ensure the integrity of your data.
4. Temperature monitoring: Overheating can be a common cause of disk failures. Disk health monitoring tools can monitor the temperature of the disks and alert you if they are running too hot. By addressing any cooling issues or ensuring proper ventilation, you can prevent overheating-related disk failures and potential data loss.
5. Proactive maintenance and backups: By regularly monitoring the disk health and analyzing the data, you can schedule proactive maintenance tasks such as disk defragmentation or firmware updates. Additionally, it reminds you to regularly back up your data to external devices or cloud storage. Having up-to-date backups is crucial in case of any unforeseen disk failures or data loss incidents.

Overall, regular disk health monitoring and analysis provide valuable insights into the status of the disks in your NAS device, allowing you to take proactive measures to prevent potential data loss and ensure the reliability and availability of your data.

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

Although NAS TeraStation TS6400RN3204 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 TS6400RN3204. 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 TS6400RN3204 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 TS6400RN3204 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