RAID (level 0) Performance or (level 1) Data Integrity
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RAID is an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. Raid configurations mostly benefit gaming, performance and media computers. They benefit business users in workstations and servers. A RAID system uses more than one hard drive for the benefit of increasing data integrity, fault tolerance, throughput or capacity. This does depend on the RAID configuration used such as RAID 0, or 1. At the very simplest level, RAID combines multiple hard drives into a single logical unit. Thus, instead of seeing several different hard drives, the operating system sees only one. What RAID is and what it does for you depends on what configuration you choose.
RAID 0
This level is for users of gaming, high-performance, multimedia computers and workstations. This level spreads or stripes data (data striping) evenly across two or more disks. RAID 0 is normally used to increase performance, although it can also be used as a way to create a small number of large virtual disks out of a large number of small physical ones. For example Windows will see a 360 GB hard drive if you RAID (5) 73GB physical hard drives together.
A RAID 0 can be created with disks of differing sizes, but the storage space added to the array by each disk is limited to the size of the smallest disk—for example, if a 120 GB disk is striped together with a 100 GB disk, the size of the array will be 200 GB.
RAID 0 configurations improve performance by allowing the controller to exploit the capabilities of multiple hard disks to get around performance-limiting mechanical issues that plague individual hard disks.
Cons
RAID O does double your chances of losing your data. If one drive fails you lose data on both drives. The defective drive will have to be replaced and the operating system re-installed.
RAID 1
This level is for business computers and servers RAID 1 creates an exact copy (mirror) of a set of data on two or more disks in real time. This configuration gives higher data security. This means that the data on the array can withstand even the complete failure of one hard disk without any data loss, and without requiring any data to be restored from backup. The computer or server will run on the good hard drive until the defective hard drive can be replaced. A RAID 1 can be created with disks of differing sizes, but the storage space added to the array by each disk is limited to the size of the smallest disk—for example, if a 120 GB disk is striped together with a 100 GB disk, the size of the array Windows shows will be 100 GB.
Cons
You should still backup your data because RAID level 1 does not protect from any data corruption, viral infection, spyware infection or accidental deletion. Since both drives have the same exact data in real time (mirror).
Should I Use Raid?
Gaming and High Performance Computers
For those individuals who are playing intensive games. These users should consider a RAID 0. It will provide the improved performance needed in many game applications.
Media Computers and Workstations
For those individuals who are doing intensive work such as video file editing, graphical design, CAD/CAM, and the like should consider a RAID 0 will provide the improved performance needed in many of these applications.
Business computers and servers
All but the smallest businesses should be running their critical data on RAID 1. Data is so important, and interruptions can be so crippling to most businesses.
Written by JR Computers Staff
From: http://www.jronsite.com/raid.htm
RAID is an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. Raid configurations mostly benefit gaming, performance and media computers. They benefit business users in workstations and servers. A RAID system uses more than one hard drive for the benefit of increasing data integrity, fault tolerance, throughput or capacity. This does depend on the RAID configuration used such as RAID 0, or 1. At the very simplest level, RAID combines multiple hard drives into a single logical unit. Thus, instead of seeing several different hard drives, the operating system sees only one. What RAID is and what it does for you depends on what configuration you choose.
RAID 0
This level is for users of gaming, high-performance, multimedia computers and workstations. This level spreads or stripes data (data striping) evenly across two or more disks. RAID 0 is normally used to increase performance, although it can also be used as a way to create a small number of large virtual disks out of a large number of small physical ones. For example Windows will see a 360 GB hard drive if you RAID (5) 73GB physical hard drives together.
A RAID 0 can be created with disks of differing sizes, but the storage space added to the array by each disk is limited to the size of the smallest disk—for example, if a 120 GB disk is striped together with a 100 GB disk, the size of the array will be 200 GB.
RAID 0 configurations improve performance by allowing the controller to exploit the capabilities of multiple hard disks to get around performance-limiting mechanical issues that plague individual hard disks.
Cons
RAID O does double your chances of losing your data. If one drive fails you lose data on both drives. The defective drive will have to be replaced and the operating system re-installed.
RAID 1
This level is for business computers and servers RAID 1 creates an exact copy (mirror) of a set of data on two or more disks in real time. This configuration gives higher data security. This means that the data on the array can withstand even the complete failure of one hard disk without any data loss, and without requiring any data to be restored from backup. The computer or server will run on the good hard drive until the defective hard drive can be replaced. A RAID 1 can be created with disks of differing sizes, but the storage space added to the array by each disk is limited to the size of the smallest disk—for example, if a 120 GB disk is striped together with a 100 GB disk, the size of the array Windows shows will be 100 GB.
Cons
You should still backup your data because RAID level 1 does not protect from any data corruption, viral infection, spyware infection or accidental deletion. Since both drives have the same exact data in real time (mirror).
Should I Use Raid?
Gaming and High Performance Computers
For those individuals who are playing intensive games. These users should consider a RAID 0. It will provide the improved performance needed in many game applications.
Media Computers and Workstations
For those individuals who are doing intensive work such as video file editing, graphical design, CAD/CAM, and the like should consider a RAID 0 will provide the improved performance needed in many of these applications.
Business computers and servers
All but the smallest businesses should be running their critical data on RAID 1. Data is so important, and interruptions can be so crippling to most businesses.
Written by JR Computers Staff
From: http://www.jronsite.com/raid.htm