- 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?
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 the number of drives in a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN0804W2 device's RAID array impact data recovery and potential loss?
The number of drives in a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN0804W2 device's RAID array can have an impact on data recovery and potential loss in the following ways:
- Data Redundancy: RAID arrays provide data redundancy by distributing data across multiple drives. The more drives in the array, the higher the level of redundancy, which means a lower risk of data loss. For example, a RAID 5 array with more drives can withstand the failure of multiple drives and still maintain data integrity.
- Rebuild Time: When a drive fails in a RAID array, the data needs to be rebuilt onto a replacement drive. The larger the RAID array, the longer it takes to rebuild the data onto a new drive. During this rebuild process, there is a higher risk of another drive failing, which could result in data loss.
- Failure Probability: With more drives in a RAID array, the probability of at least one drive failing increases. Each drive has its own failure rate, and as the number of drives increases, so does the likelihood of a failure occurring. If multiple drives fail simultaneously or in close succession, it can result in data loss.
- RAID Level: The number of drives can also impact the RAID level used in the array. Different RAID levels offer varying levels of data protection and recovery options. For example, RAID 0 offers no redundancy and is more susceptible to data loss, while RAID 6 provides dual parity and can tolerate the failure of two drives.
In summary, having more drives in a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN0804W2 device's RAID array generally increases data redundancy and protection against drive failures. However, it also increases the complexity of data recovery and the potential for data loss if multiple drives fail or the rebuild process encounters errors. It is essential to regularly back up data and ensure proper maintenance and monitoring of the RAID array to mitigate these risks.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS TeraStation WS5400DN0804W2 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN0804W2. 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 WS5400DN0804W2 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 WS5400DN0804W2 network-attached storage keeps Windows Storage Server 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
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, data recovery from a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400DN0804W2 device can still be possible even if the device is experiencing network congestion or bandwidth issues. In such cases, it is recommended to troubleshoot and resolve the network issues first to ensure a stable and reliable connection to the NAS device.
Once the network issues are resolved, data recovery can be attempted using various methods. One common approach is to connect directly to the NAS device using a computer or another device via Ethernet cable. This bypasses the network congestion and allows direct access to the data stored on the NAS.
If direct connection is not possible or does not resolve the issue, another option is to remove the hard drives from the NAS device and connect them to a computer using a compatible interface (e.g., SATA or USB). In this scenario, specialized data recovery software or services can be used to recover the data from the individual hard drives.
It is important to note that data recovery from a NAS device can be a complex process, and it is recommended to seek professional assistance from data recovery experts if the data is critical and valuable.