3Ware 9650SE-2LPB-10 CLI Guide - Page 16

Understanding RAID Levels and Concepts, RAID Concepts

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Chapter 1. Introduction to the 3ware Command Line Interface Understanding RAID Levels and Concepts 3ware RAID controllers use RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) to increase your storage system's performance and provide fault tolerance (protection against data loss). This section organizes information about RAID concepts and configuration levels into the following topics: • "RAID Concepts" on page 10 • "Available RAID Configurations" on page 11 • "Determining What RAID Level to Use" on page 17 RAID Concepts The following concepts are important to understand when working with a RAID controller: • Arrays and Units. In the storage industry, the term "array" is used to describe two or more disk drives that appear to the operating system as a single unit. When working with a 3ware RAID controller, "unit" is the term used to refer to an array of disks that is configured and managed through the 3ware software. Single-disk units can also be configured in the 3ware software. • Mirroring. Mirrored arrays (RAID 1) write data to paired drives simultaneously. If one drive fails, the data is preserved on the paired drive. Mirroring provides data protection through redundancy. In addition, mirroring using a 3ware RAID controller provides improved performance because 3ware's TwinStor technology reads from both drives simultaneously. • Striping. Striping across disks allows data to be written and accessed on more than one drive, at the same time. Striping combines each drive's capacity into one large volume. Striped disk arrays (RAID 0) achieve highest transfer rates and performance at the expense of fault tolerance. • Distributed Parity. Parity works in combination with striping on RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 50. Parity information is written to each of the striped drives, in rotation. Should a failure occur, the data on the failed drive can be reconstructed from the data on the other drives. • Hot Swap. The process of exchanging a drive without having to shut down the system. This is useful when you need to exchange a defective drive in a redundant unit. 10 3ware Serial ATA RAID Controller CLI Guide

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Chapter 1. Introduction to the 3ware Command Line Interface
10
3ware Serial ATA RAID Controller CLI Guide
Understanding RAID Levels and Concepts
3ware RAID controllers use RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks)
to increase your storage system’s performance and provide fault tolerance
(protection against data loss).
This section organizes information about RAID concepts and configuration
levels into the following topics:
•
“RAID Concepts” on page 10
•
“Available RAID Configurations” on page 11
•
“Determining What RAID Level to Use” on page 17
RAID Concepts
The following concepts are important to understand when working with a
RAID controller:
•
Arrays and Units
. In the storage industry, the term “array” is used to
describe two or more disk drives that appear to the operating system as a
single unit. When working with a 3ware RAID controller, “unit” is the
term used to refer to an array of disks that is configured and managed
through the 3ware software. Single-disk units can also be configured in
the 3ware software.
•
Mirroring
. Mirrored arrays (RAID 1) write data to paired drives
simultaneously. If one drive fails, the data is preserved on the paired
drive. Mirroring provides data protection through redundancy. In
addition, mirroring using a 3ware RAID controller provides improved
performance because 3ware’s TwinStor technology reads from both
drives simultaneously.
•
Striping
. Striping across disks allows data to be written and accessed on
more than one drive, at the same time. Striping combines each drive’s
capacity into one large volume. Striped disk arrays (RAID 0) achieve
highest transfer rates and performance at the expense of fault tolerance.
•
Distributed Parity
. Parity works in combination with striping on RAID 5,
RAID 6, and RAID 50. Parity information is written to each of the striped
drives, in rotation. Should a failure occur, the data on the failed drive can
be reconstructed from the data on the other drives.
•
Hot Swap
. The process of exchanging a drive without having to shut
down the system. This is useful when you need to exchange a defective
drive in a redundant unit.