What is RAID in Computer Hard Drives?

RAID arrays employ multiple hard drives to reduce the chance of data loss and improve performance.

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. It is a way to group hard drives together to either improve drive performance, streamline backup systems, or both. There are different kinds of RAID settings, each of which have different benefits.

Types of RAID

There are seven standard levels of RAID, numbered from 0 to 6. Each has its benefits and limitations. Additionally, there are the RAID multiple levels: RAID 1+0 and RAID 0+1, which combine features of different RAID setups.

Redundancy

Some RAID arrays offer an added level of redundancy, minimizing the risk of data loss. Each drive is an exact copy of another, which is updated in real time. If one drive should happen to go bad, the system is still secure and no data is lost. RAID 1 is the most basic RAID array deploying this setup.

Performance

Some RAID arrays put performance above redundancy. They employ a method called striping, which simultaneously divides data across multiple drives. This can dramatically speed up drive access time. RAID 0 is the basic array for this kind of setup, but it has no redundancy. In other words, if one drive fails, the whole system fails.

Performance and Redundancy

RAID arrays 3 to 5, as well as RAID 0+1 and RAID 1+0, employ varying methods to combine both aspects of RAID 0 and RAID 1. These are frequently used by professionals who store and edit very large files. They need the added redundancy and performance boost that both types of RAID systems offer.

References

• Gizmodo: Giz Explains: What a RAID Hard Drive Array Is (and Why You Want One)

Resources

• PC Stats: Beginners Guides: Installing RAID on Desktop PCs