Improve Server Performance with a RAID Array

While redundancy may be annoying when it comes to storytelling and instructions, when it come hard drives, redundancy is great! The more places your data is backed up to, the better your security. There is a common hard drive formatting procedure called RAID that redundantly copies your data in order to back it up and boost performance.

RAID is an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. RAID formatting stores data in different locations on multiple hard drives. These extra copies of data are not just strewn about randomly for redundancies sake; in contrast, RAID is a precise procedure that syncs all the data on both drives. With the data accurately synced, the server will see one hard drive when there are really two. This will boost performance because needed files can be retrieved faster by the RAM.

Setting up your server for RAID formatting is a little bit more involved than going to the C: Drive and clicking RAID. It takes a process called disk striping. With disk striping, your data is spread out evenly across your different hard drives in a striping pattern. These stripes will be different sizes based on how many different users access the RAID array, along with the size of the files.

There are a total of 10 different ways that these data stripes can be laid out; each one of these different stripes is a unique RAID array. Every RAID array is uniquely formatted to boost a user's drive in terms of reliability or performance. You can think of the 0-8 RAID arrays as a sliding scale that will emphasize either reliability or performance. You will want to review each RAID array to pick the one that is right for your needs.

RAID-0 is an example of one array that is formatted for maximum performance because it doesn't have any redundant data backup. RAID-0 formatting is a great choice to boost your hard drive performance. Although, with RAID-0, it's highly recommend that you have a separate data backup solution in place, like a BDR from Computerware, just in case your drive crashes.

The most popular RAID formatting is RAID-1. With RAID-1, the data written on each drive mirrors itself identically in what's called a "mirrored set." Because the data is mirrored, RAID-1 formatting improves the speed at which the computer reads data, however, a mirrored drive provides no benefit in regards to write performance (the speed at which your computer stores data on your hard drive).

There are other types of RAID arrays that can be used to increase your server's hard drive performance and improve reliability. To learn more about the different RAID arrays and to find out which ones are the best for your business, call Computerware at (703) 821-8200. In the IT world, RAID formatting is an exciting way to get the most out of your hard drive; and it gets better, we have only looked at RAID formatting in regards to using two hard drives, you can actually format additional drives for even more performance enhancing possibilities! Call Computerware to learn more about the exciting world of RAID!