NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2 Data Recovery: Step-by-Step RAID Array Tutorial

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Buffalo often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

How can storage tiering or caching strategies impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2 devices?

Storage tiering and caching strategies can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss on NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2 devices. Here's how:

1. Improved Data Availability: Storage tiering allows the NAS device to intelligently distribute data across different storage tiers based on its importance and usage patterns. Frequently accessed or critical data can be stored on faster and more reliable storage tiers, ensuring faster access and higher availability. This reduces the chances of data unavailability or downtime.
2. Enhanced Performance: Caching strategies, such as read and write caching, can improve the performance of the NAS device. By temporarily storing frequently accessed data in high-speed cache, the device can serve read requests faster, reducing latency and improving overall performance. This ensures that data is readily available when needed, minimizing potential loss due to delays or unavailability.
3. Reduced Risk of Data Loss: Storage tiering can also help mitigate the risk of data loss. By implementing redundancy across different tiers, such as using RAID configurations, the NAS device can protect against drive failures and data loss. In case of a drive failure, the redundant data stored across multiple tiers can be used to reconstruct the lost data, ensuring data availability and minimizing potential loss.
4. Data Protection and Recovery: Caching strategies, particularly write caching, can impact data availability during power outages or unexpected system failures. If write caching is enabled, data may be temporarily stored in the cache before being written to the underlying storage. In such scenarios, it is crucial to have mechanisms in place, such as battery-backed cache or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), to ensure that data in the cache is not lost and can be written to the storage upon recovery.
5. Proper Configuration and Monitoring: It is important to configure and monitor storage tiering and caching strategies appropriately to ensure optimal performance and data availability. Regular monitoring of the NAS device, including the health of drives, cache utilization, and tiering efficiency, can help identify any potential issues or bottlenecks that may impact data availability or increase the risk of data loss.

Overall, implementing storage tiering and caching strategies effectively on NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2 devices can significantly enhance data availability, reduce potential loss, and improve overall system performance.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Buffalo TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Buffalo

TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2 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;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The Buffalo TeraStation WS5400RN0804S2 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison