Raid Advice

w1zard7 · 11-06-2007, 02:30 PM

Hi all. I would appreciate some input on a project I am planning.

I am in the process of setting up a server to better serve my clients backup and update requirements. I plan to use 5 x 250gig+ Seagate SATA drives and would like some input on which RAID array would be the most efficient as far as data safety is concerned along with the ease of replacing a crashed drive with a minimum of downtime. Any input would be welcome.

Ed Kummel · 11-07-2007, 04:05 PM

First, spend some time reading up on RAID levels
Here is a good start;
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/...evels/tech.htm

For maximum security and uptime, I personally recommend RAID 5 (this is the raid level used at every datacenter I have ever seen) you can make this more robust by going RAID 5+1. Unfortunatly, while RAID 5 can work with as few as 3 drives, for better efficiency, I would recommend 5 drives. 6 if you want to do 5+1

You will also want to go with a high-end dedicated RAID card...preferably something with dedicated onboard cache of at least 256mb or higher. Even better if the card has battery backup...

While the other raids (1+0 will work) I don't recommend it except if redundancy is your only goal.

Ed
web/gadget guru

w1zard7 · 11-09-2007, 09:34 AM

Thank you Ed, I will most certainly read a bit more on this subject. I had myself thought RAID 5 was the way to go but have read a few conflicting articles and was in need of some input to be in a more knowledgeable place before setting this system up.

Thanks again
Brian

kraftwerk · 11-09-2007, 03:02 PM

If you can have/afford it, consider building a server with hot-swap HDDs - if/when one of them dies, it's easier if you can swap a dead drive without having to shut the server down.

Other than that, I'd go for RAID 5+1 just as Ed said - you'll have speed and a mirror as a failback.

11-06-2007, 02:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
w1zard7 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Knysna, South Africa Posts: 17 OS: XP Pro SP2	Raid Advice Hi all. I would appreciate some input on a project I am planning. I am in the process of setting up a server to better serve my clients backup and update requirements. I plan to use 5 x 250gig+ Seagate SATA drives and would like some input on which RAID array would be the most efficient as far as data safety is concerned along with the ease of replacing a crashed drive with a minimum of downtime. Any input would be welcome.

11-07-2007, 04:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ed Kummel Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4 OS: All Windows all the time	Re: Raid Advice First, spend some time reading up on RAID levels Here is a good start; http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/...evels/tech.htm For maximum security and uptime, I personally recommend RAID 5 (this is the raid level used at every datacenter I have ever seen) you can make this more robust by going RAID 5+1. Unfortunatly, while RAID 5 can work with as few as 3 drives, for better efficiency, I would recommend 5 drives. 6 if you want to do 5+1 You will also want to go with a high-end dedicated RAID card...preferably something with dedicated onboard cache of at least 256mb or higher. Even better if the card has battery backup... While the other raids (1+0 will work) I don't recommend it except if redundancy is your only goal. Ed web/gadget guru

11-09-2007, 09:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
w1zard7 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Knysna, South Africa Posts: 17 OS: XP Pro SP2	Re: Raid Advice Thank you Ed, I will most certainly read a bit more on this subject. I had myself thought RAID 5 was the way to go but have read a few conflicting articles and was in need of some input to be in a more knowledgeable place before setting this system up. Thanks again Brian

11-09-2007, 03:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
kraftwerk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: East Sussex, UK Posts: 82 OS: Vista Home Premium 32-bit/Windows XP Pro SP2/Ubuntu 6.04 My System	Re: Raid Advice If you can have/afford it, consider building a server with hot-swap HDDs - if/when one of them dies, it's easier if you can swap a dead drive without having to shut the server down. Other than that, I'd go for RAID 5+1 just as Ed said - you'll have speed and a mirror as a failback. __________________ kraftwerk keeping local ict going