Encrypting Drives. Buffalo Tech TeraStation 5000

Encrypting Drives

Internal drives (and arrays) can be encrypted with 128-bit AES during formatting. Encrypted drives and arrays are then readable only from that specific TeraStation. To unencrypt a drive or array, uncheck “Encryption” and format it again.

Media Cartridges

If configured as a media cartridge, an internal drive can be used as a removable storage device in the same way as an external drive. Media cartridges can be unplugged and connected to a different TeraStation with all data intact.

To configure a drive as a media cartridge, check “Media Cartridge” during formatting. To return it to its original state, uncheck “Media Cartridge” and reformat the drive.

Media cartridges do not support:

• RAID arrays

• LVM volumes

• Access restrictions

• Direct connection to a Windows computer

Notes:

• Don’t configure the boot drives (drives 1 and 2) as media cartridges.

• Configure media cartridges from the bottom drive up. For example, if your TeraStation has 4 drives, make drive 4 a media cartridge first, then drive 3 next.

• If the TeraStation fails to boot after drive 1 or 2 is replaced, remove any media cartridges, then replace them after the TeraStation has booted.

Erase Data on the TeraStation Completely

Under some circumstances, data from formatted drives can be recovered. The disk erasure process in this section does

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a much more thorough job of erasing data. This procedure is recommended for removing all data from a drive in a way that makes it nearly impossible to recover with current tools. All data on the drives is completely erased. The TeraStation will then be in the following state:

• All drives in JBOD

• An empty shared folder on each drive

• All settings returned to their default values

• All logs deleted

If you remove a drive and then erase all data on the TeraStation, the LCD will show the error “HDx Error E22 HDx Can’t

Mount” where X is the hard drive you removed. You can still use the TeraStation.

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In Settings, click Management.

2

Select Restore/Erase.

3

Click Erase TeraStation.

4

The “Confirm Operation” screen will open. Enter the displayed number, then click OK.

5

All data on the TeraStation will be permanently erased.

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