Storage Devices and RAID Configurations Flashcards
(18 cards)
What are Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)?
Traditional storage using magnetic platters
HDDs have higher capacity at lower cost than SSDs but slower access times.
What are Solid State Drives (SSDs)?
Uses NAND flash memory with no moving parts
SSDs have faster read/write speeds than HDDs and are more resistant to physical shock.
What does NVMe stand for?
Non-Volatile Memory Express
NVMe is a protocol designed specifically for SSDs that connects directly to the PCIe bus.
What is the purpose of M.2 Drives?
Small form factor for laptops and desktops
M.2 Drives can use SATA or NVMe protocols and come in various sizes.
What types of external storage are mentioned?
- USB drives (flash/thumb drives)
- External HDDs and SSDs
- Network Attached Storage (NAS)
- Storage Area Networks (SAN)
These are common external storage options for data management.
What is RAID?
Redundant Array of Independent Disks
RAID combines multiple physical disk drives into a single logical unit for data redundancy or performance improvement.
What is Hardware RAID?
Uses dedicated RAID controller
Hardware RAID offers better performance and works independently of the OS.
What is Software RAID?
Implemented at OS level
Software RAID is lower cost and dependent on OS stability.
How does RAID 0 function?
Data is split evenly across two or more disks
RAID 0 provides excellent performance but no redundancy.
What is the minimum number of drives required for RAID 1?
2
RAID 1 provides full redundancy by mirroring data on two drives.
What is the capacity percentage for RAID 5?
(N-1)/N of total capacity
RAID 5 can survive single drive failures and balances performance, capacity, and redundancy.
What distinguishes RAID 6 from RAID 5?
Uses two independent parity calculations
RAID 6 can survive two simultaneous drive failures.
What is the minimum number of drives required for RAID 10?
4
RAID 10 combines RAID 1 and RAID 0 for both performance and redundancy.
How does RAID 1 improve read performance?
Reads can come from either drive
This potential for increased read performance is due to simultaneous access.
True or False: RAID 0 provides redundancy.
False
RAID 0 has no redundancy; if one drive fails, all data is lost.
What is a common problem with RAID arrays?
Drive failure detection
Other common issues include degraded array performance and failed rebuilds.
What are the steps for recovering from RAID failures?
- Identify failed components
- Replace failed drive(s)
- Monitor rebuild process
- Verify successful completion
Specific recovery steps vary based on the type of RAID and failure.
Fill in the blank: RAID 6 can survive ______ drive failures.
two
This feature provides higher fault tolerance compared to RAID 5.
