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[SOLVED] RAID for Home Server

2K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  System10 
#1 ·
I have four hard disks in a home media server to store data such as photos, music and films. I want to ensure the safety of this data so want to implement some kind of RAID solution.
What do people suggest would be the best RAID solution to use?
 
#2 ·
Re: RAID for Home Server

The purpose of RAID is not to ensure safety of your data but to ensure accessibility in the event of drive failure. With RAID 5 if one drive fails you can continue operating and replace the drive at a convenient time. For a busy server in a business environment this can be a major advantage. For a home server it will be less so.

No form of RAID will eliminate the need for regular backups. Data can be lost due to hardware failure, malware, accidental or malicious deletion, etc. RAID only protects you from drive failure. Backups ensure the safety of your data.
 
#3 ·
Re: RAID for Home Server

Raid 1 is mirroring it provides a mirror copy of all data and OS in the event a drive fails you still are operational. The drives have to be the same size so you give up an entire drive for the safety and like lmiller posted above you still need to have backups.
 
#4 ·
Re: RAID for Home Server

The main device for data safety for a home server is an uninterrupted power supply unit. If it's already on place, then a RAID is a second thing to think about.
If there is a hardware RAID controller in the server, a RAID 5 of 3 disks is a good trade-off between hardware cost, data safety, fast access, disk space, and maintenance easiness. You may use the 4-th disk to backup the most important data from the server automatically.
If there is no hardware controller in the server, the only reasonable RAID layout is a software RAID1 (mirror) to increase data safety.
But still, do remember: a backup a day keeps data recovery away.
 
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