RAID Flashcards
What is RAID?
RAID, redundant array of independent disks. This technology is pivotal in constructing
robust data redundancy and backup strategies, offering a blend of performance,
storage efficiency, and data protection. RAID is a method of storing the same data in different places on multiple hard disks to protect data in the case of a drive failure. By combining multiple physical disks into a single logical unit, RAID spreads data across the disks in various ways, referred to as RAID levels, each offering a different balance of protection, performance, and capacity. Understanding the different RAID levels is essential to appreciate how RAID technology can be tailored to meet specific data storage and protection needs.
What is RAID 1?
RAID 1, mirroring. RAID 1 duplicates the same data on two or more disks. It offers excellent data protection since data can be recovered from the other disk if one fails, but it reduces the available storage capacity by half.
What is RAID 5?
RAID 5, striped with parity. RAID 5 distributes parity information, which can be used to reconstruct data in case of a disk failure along with the data across three or more disks. It provides a balance between performance, storage capacity, and data redundancy.
What is RAID 10?
RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0. This level combines the mirroring of RAID 1 with the striping of RAID 0, offering both high performance and data redundancy. It requires a minimum of four disks and offers excellent fault tolerance.
What are the disadvantages of RAID?
RAID can protect against hardware failure, it does not guard against data corruption, accidental deletions, or site-wide disasters. Therefore, implementing RAID should be part of a broader data protection plan that includes regular backups, stored off-site, and possibly in the cloud.
What are some misconception of RAID?
One common misconception is that RAID can replace traditional backups. However, as previously mentioned, RAID does not protect against all forms of data loss.
Another misunderstanding is that all RAID levels provide redundancy. As illustrated with RAID 0, not all levels offer data protection in the event of disk failure. Understanding the specifics of each RAID level is essential for deploying the right RAID setup for your needs. When setting up a RAID system, you need to take several practical considerations into account.
First is hardware requirements. Depending on the RAID level, you may need a specific number of disks and possibly a RAID controller card to manage the RAID array. Following configuration, best practices is also crucial for maximizing the benefits of RAID. This includes selecting the appropriate RAID level based on the desired balance of performance, redundancy, and storage capacity. You should also ensure all disks are reliable and of similar size.
