Netgear RN528X Software Manual - Page 22

Basic Volume and RAID Concepts, Volumes, RAID

Page 22 highlights

ReadyNAS OS 6.7 Basic Volume and RAID Concepts To get the most out of your ReadyNAS storage system, it is helpful to understand the basics of volumes and RAID. Understanding these concepts is the first step to making good decisions about how to configure, manage, and use your ReadyNAS storage system. Volumes In the most general sense, volumes are data storage devices. Your computer treats an internal hard drive as a volume. It also treats a portable USB thumb drive as a volume. Volumes can be either physical or logical. Usually, the term physical volume refers to a hard disk drive. When this term is used in this way, a two-bay storage system can be made up of up to two physical volumes (hard disk drives). A four-bay storage system can be made up of up to four physical volumes. A six-bay storage system can be made up of up to six physical volumes. The term logical volume refers to the way that you divide, or partition, your storage space. For example: • Each logical volume can correspond to a hard disk drive. • A logical volume can be made up of more than one hard disk drive. In this manual, the term volume refers to a logical volume. The terms hard disk drive and disk refer to a physical volume. RAID Your ReadyNAS storage system allows you to configure your hard disks using one of the many RAID technologies. RAID is short for redundant array of independent disks. RAID is a storage technology that balances data protection, system performance, and storage space by determining how the storage system distributes data. Many different ways of distributing data are standardized into various RAID levels. Each RAID level offers a tradeoff of data protection, system performance, and storage space. For example, one RAID level might improve data protection but reduce storage space. Another RAID level might increase storage space but also reduce system performance. Your ReadyNAS storage system supports X-RAID™ mode, a proprietary single-volume RAID architecture that is easy to administer, and Flex-RAID mode, which allows you to format your disks in a variety of industry-standard RAID levels. When you power on your system for the first time or if you reset your system to its factory default settings, the optimal RAID mode and level are automatically selected for you based on the number of disks that are installed. You can also configure the RAID settings manually (see Change RAID Mode on page 26). RAID Group In ReadyNAS OS, a large RAID volume can be organized into RAID groups. RAID groups can improve performance by distributing I/O across more of the disks. During the process of creating a volume large enough to support RAID groups, ReadyNAS OS selects an appropriate RAID group structure for you. You can override this automatic structure before the volume is actually created. Volume Configuration 22

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Basic Volume and RAID Concepts
To get the most out of your ReadyNAS storage system, it is helpful to understand the basics of volumes
and RAID. Understanding these concepts is the first step to making good decisions about how to configure,
manage, and use your ReadyNAS storage system.
Volumes
In the most general sense, volumes are data storage devices.Your computer treats an internal hard drive
as a volume. It also treats a portable USB thumb drive as a volume.
Volumes can be either physical or logical. Usually, the term
physical volume
refers to a hard disk drive.
When this term is used in this way, a two-bay storage system can be made up of up to two physical volumes
(hard disk drives). A four-bay storage system can be made up of up to four physical volumes. A six-bay
storage system can be made up of up to six physical volumes.
The term
logical volume
refers to the way that you divide, or partition, your storage space. For example:
Each logical volume can correspond to a hard disk drive.
A logical volume can be made up of more than one hard disk drive.
In this manual, the term
volume
refers to a logical volume. The terms
hard disk drive
and
disk
refer to a
physical volume.
RAID
Your ReadyNAS storage system allows you to configure your hard disks using one of the many RAID
technologies.
RAID is short for redundant array of independent disks. RAID is a storage technology that balances data
protection, system performance, and storage space by determining how the storage system distributes data.
Many different ways of distributing data are standardized into various RAID levels. Each RAID level offers
a tradeoff of data protection, system performance, and storage space. For example, one RAID level might
improve data protection but reduce storage space. Another RAID level might increase storage space but
also reduce system performance.
Your ReadyNAS storage system supports X-RAID
mode, a proprietary single-volume RAID architecture
that is easy to administer, and Flex-RAID mode, which allows you to format your disks in a variety of
industry-standard RAID levels.
When you power on your system for the first time or if you reset your system to its factory default settings,
the optimal RAID mode and level are automatically selected for you based on the number of disks that are
installed.You can also configure the RAID settings manually (see
Change RAID Mode
on page 26).
RAID Group
In ReadyNAS OS, a large RAID volume can be organized into RAID groups. RAID groups can improve
performance by distributing I/O across more of the disks. During the process of creating a volume large
enough to support RAID groups, ReadyNAS OS selects an appropriate RAID group structure for you.You
can override this automatic structure before the volume is actually created.
Volume Configuration
22
ReadyNAS OS 6.7