Adaptec 133U2 User Guide - Page 138

Selecting a RAID Level for an Array

Page 138 highlights

Adaptec CI/O Management Software User's Guide Selecting a RAID Level for an Array The term RAID means Redundant Array of Independent Disks. An array is a grouping of disks that, by means of array management software, appears to the computer's operating system as one large disk. Part of the storage capacity of most kinds of arrays contains redundant information about the user data on the array1. If an array disk fails, the contents of the disk can be regenerated on a new disk from the redundant information on the other array disks. Note: It is strongly recommended that you consistently and regularly backup your disk array to tape so that you may recover your data due to failure events other than disk drive failure. Compared with single disks, arrays can provide one or more of these desirable properties: s Improved Read and Write performance by striping data across the disks in the array. This allows data to be read from or written to two or more disks simultaneously. s Improved data reliability by storing redundant data to regenerate a failed array disk, as described above. This is especially important for servers, where arrays are most often used to store large amounts of mission-critical data. s Improved capacity utilization by allowing you to manage a large number of disks as if they were one large disk. This makes it easier to back up data, create directories, etc. All disks of an array (including spares) must be connected to the same array controller, though they can be connected to different channels. You can create dedicated spare disks for each RAID 1, RAID 0/1, and RAID 5 array. You can also create a pool of spares that can be used by any RAID 1, RAID 0/1, or RAID 5 array on the array controller.2 1 RAID 0 arrays, which do not store redundant data, are an exception to this definition. 2 A disk in a spare pool can only be used to replace a failed disk in an array if it is at least as large as the smallest disk in the array. 10-14

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10-14
Adaptec CI/O Management Software User’s Guide
Selecting a RAID Level for an Array
The term RAID means Redundant Array of Independent Disks. An
array is a grouping of disks that, by means of array management
software, appears to the computer’s operating system as one large
disk. Part of the storage capacity of most kinds of arrays contains
redundant information about the user data on the array
1
. If an array
disk fails, the contents of the disk can be regenerated on a new disk
from the redundant information on the other array disks.
Note:
It is strongly recommended that you consistently and
regularly backup your disk array to tape so that you may
recover your data due to failure events other than disk drive
failure.
Compared with single disks, arrays can provide one or more of
these desirable properties:
Improved Read and Write performance by striping data across
the disks in the array. This allows data to be read from or
written to two or more disks simultaneously.
Improved data reliability by storing redundant data to
regenerate a failed array disk, as described above. This is
especially important for servers, where arrays are most often
used to store large amounts of mission-critical data.
Improved capacity utilization by allowing you to manage a
large number of disks as if they were one large disk. This
makes it easier to back up data, create directories, etc.
All disks of an array (including spares) must be connected to the
same array controller, though they can be connected to different
channels. You can create dedicated spare disks for each RAID 1,
RAID 0/1, and RAID 5 array. You can also create a pool of spares
that can be used by any RAID 1, RAID 0/1, or RAID 5 array on the
array controller.
2
1
RAID 0 arrays, which do not store redundant data, are an exception to this
definition.
2
A disk in a spare pool can only be used to replace a failed disk in an array
if it is at least as large as the smallest disk in the array.