Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: nedkelly on August 26, 2010, 04:25:38 AM

Title: Raid setup help
Post by: nedkelly on August 26, 2010, 04:25:38 AM
I am looking to set 4 sata drives up in a RAID setup for backup purposes, I am however unsure what raid type to use.
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: soybean on August 26, 2010, 08:50:27 AM
I'm not a RAID expert by any means but RAID 0 is not what you should use since you mentioned "backup purposes".  RAID 0 uses "striping" only (no parity or mirroring), which is not what you want. You need one of the other types of RAID but, since I'm no RAID expert, I don't want to recommend a specific type. 

There are numerous references about RAID on the Internet.  Have you searched for them? 
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: nedkelly on August 26, 2010, 01:20:03 PM
Yes I have searched the internet but there are so many different opinions, can you have 4 drvies in RAID 0?
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: Computer_Commando on August 26, 2010, 01:58:23 PM
I am looking to set 4 sata drives up in a RAID setup for backup purposes, I am however unsure what raid type to use...
RAID 1 - Mirror
Don't know why you need 4 drives for RAID backup.
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: rthompson80819 on August 26, 2010, 02:04:17 PM
Check out this article.  It may help you make your mind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID)
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: nedkelly on August 26, 2010, 02:15:36 PM
@Computer_Commando: When first starting this I thought there was a RAID where you had data over all the drives and if one dies then you just stick in a new one it rebuilds and your data is still safe. Am I wrong?

Hmm does this sound like RAID 5?
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: rthompson80819 on August 26, 2010, 02:35:14 PM
I guess one of the first questions should have been what are you trying to do and what is your budget?  For a home system, raid 5 is over kill, but for a commercial system it may be what you need.
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: nedkelly on August 26, 2010, 02:43:10 PM
I am just going to get the drives as I get the money, I want a raid system that if one drive dies then my important family documents and movies are still safe, and want heaps of space to stick all my stuff
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: BC_Programmer on August 26, 2010, 02:46:20 PM
I am just going to get the drives as I get the money, I want a raid system that if one drive dies then my important family documents and movies are still safe, and want heaps of space to stick all my stuff

A RAID array, in any configuration, is a poor substitute for proper backups.
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: nedkelly on August 26, 2010, 02:55:23 PM
yeah but I have a lot of stuff
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: patio on August 26, 2010, 03:46:45 PM
Then you should have a lot of backups...

I have alot of stuff too...
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: nedkelly on August 26, 2010, 03:56:23 PM
patio = mod?
Well I already have the board the ram and the psu, just have to modify the case a bit.
Title: Re: Raid setup help
Post by: Computer_Commando on August 26, 2010, 04:22:32 PM
@Computer_Commando: When first starting this I thought there was a RAID where you had data over all the drives and if one dies then you just stick in a new one it rebuilds and your data is still safe. Am I wrong?

Hmm does this sound like RAID 5?
Not wrong, but maybe misguided.  I experimented with RAID 1 for a while.
RAID 1 with, for example, Drive A & Drive B.  Drive B is a mirror (exact duplicate) of Drive A, If you lose A, B is always there to take over; you then replace A as soon as you can.  Whatever is written to A is written to B, so writes are a bit slower, reads a bit faster, because it could read from A or B.  The RAID controller does everything, not Windows.  RAID is useful if you're running a server, or a computer that can never, ever be down.

Better to follow BC_P's & Patios's advice.