Comprehensive NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5600D2406 Data Recovery: Step-by-Step RAID Array Recovery

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 a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5600D2406 device's power management settings impact data availability and potential loss?

The power management settings of a NAS Buffalo TeraStation WS5600D2406 device can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss. Here are a few ways in which power management settings can affect the device:

1. Power outage: If the power management settings are not properly configured, the device may not be able to handle sudden power outages effectively. This can lead to data loss or corruption if the device is not able to save or synchronize data properly before shutting down.
2. Scheduled shut down: Power management settings often include options for scheduled shut down or sleep mode. If the device is set to shut down during specific times, it may not be accessible when needed, leading to data unavailability during those periods.
3. Drive spin-down: Some power management settings allow for drive spin-down, where the hard drives are powered off after a certain period of inactivity. While this can save power, it can also result in delays when accessing data as the drives need to spin up again. If critical data is needed immediately, this delay can impact data availability.
4. RAID rebuild and data integrity: In a NAS device with multiple drives configured in a RAID array, power management settings can affect the rebuild process in case of a drive failure. If the device is set to sleep or shut down during certain periods, the RAID rebuild process may be delayed, increasing the risk of data loss in case of multiple drive failures.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to configure the power management settings of the NAS device carefully. This includes setting appropriate power-off and sleep schedules, ensuring that critical data is always accessible, and balancing power-saving features with the need for data availability and protection. Regular backups and monitoring of the device's health and power status can also help mitigate potential data loss risks.

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

Although NAS TeraStation WS5600D2406 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 WS5600D2406. 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 WS5600D2406 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 WS5600D2406 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