| Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) was | | | | Improved performance can be found in specific |
| introduced to increase the level of storage, | | | | versions of RAID and this performance depends |
| redundancy and augmented performance in | | | | upon the number of drives used in the array and the |
| enterprises and server markets, but now have | | | | controller. Different RAIDs when implemented provide |
| become much common with an end user over the | | | | superior performance in their own way and up to |
| past 5 years. | | | | different levels, but all improve in some way or the |
| In simple terms, RAID can be defined as a | | | | other. |
| combination of number of low cost hard drives linked | | | | Lower Cost |
| together to form a single large capacity storage | | | | When RAIDs were introduced, the cost of |
| device with improved performance, high storage | | | | implementing them became a key issue. The |
| capacity and reliability of data storage. Use of RAID | | | | invention of RAID was to provide greater storage |
| storage technology came into significance in late | | | | capacity as compared to use individual high storage |
| 1980s and has marked its presence as the in-demand | | | | capacity device. Difference in the cost of high and |
| data storage medium for corporates, professionals, | | | | low capacity drives can be analyzed with a good |
| manufacturing units and individual users for their need | | | | example where three drives of small size cost less |
| of high capacity data storage device. | | | | than an individual high capacity drive which provides |
| Generally three forms of RAID are used for desktop | | | | more capacity. |
| computer systems - RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 5. | | | | Data Security |
| RAID 0 is the lowest level of RAID. This level fails to | | | | The data which is stored on array is completely |
| provide any level of redundancy for the data stored | | | | secured as RAID provides complete security and |
| in array. If any of the drive fails, all the data is | | | | competence to protect the data. This security is |
| damaged. | | | | followed even if the complete hard disk fails without |
| RAID 1 provides simple form of redundancy for data | | | | any data loss or performing the restoration process |
| with the help of mirroring process. This RAID level | | | | of the backed up data. All RAID levels provide same |
| has two individual drives with same capacity. One is | | | | degree of data security. |
| the active drive and the second is secondary drive | | | | Improved Accessibility |
| termed as mirror. When data is written to the active | | | | Accessibility refers to availability of data. RAID |
| drive, it automatically gets copied to the mirror drive. | | | | provides its users to recover data from hardware |
| RAID 5 is the most powerful and effective level of | | | | faults without any problems. |
| RAID used on desktop computer system. It requires | | | | Disadvantages of RAID: |
| hardware controller card to manage the array but in | | | | RAIDs do give an assured security to the computer |
| some desktop operating system it can be done | | | | systems but this security cannot be relied upon for |
| through software. | | | | long time. If your PC gets attacked by virus, or files |
| A minimum of three drives are required to build RAID | | | | and folders are deleted or your PC hits the floor or is |
| 5 array with similar drives for best performance. | | | | affected by the fire - water damage leads to such |
| Other levels of RAID levels are RAID 0+1, RAID 10 | | | | situations where you don't have any other option |
| or 1+0, software and hardware RAIDs which are | | | | other than opting for RAID data recovery services. |
| used for the storage of data. | | | | There have been many cases when more than one |
| Advantages of RAID: | | | | drive has failed causing an expensive RAID data |
| Redundancy | | | | recovery. |
| Redundancy becomes the most important feature | | | | Like such cases, anything is possible and constant |
| while developing the RAID server environment. | | | | backups should be maintained to avoid data loss |
| Redundancy is required in means of performing | | | | situations even if you are using any reliable storage |
| backup of data in situations of drive failure in the | | | | medium. |
| array. | | | | Conclusion: |
| Capacity | | | | It is agreed that RAID provides PC users with a |
| By combining multiple small drives into a large array, | | | | number of benefits depending upon the version |
| capacity to store large amount of data increases. | | | | implemented. High storage capacity, security, |
| The data storage capability of the operating system | | | | accessibility, performance are the key features which |
| increases as the RAID server is installed thus | | | | attract users to opt for RAID. The advantage of one |
| providing you the freedom to store any amount of | | | | RAID level over the other cannot be measured as |
| data which gets restricted while using the limited size | | | | for some applications RAID 5 is better than RAID 0 |
| drives. | | | | and for some RAID 0 would be superior to RAID 5. |
| Enhanced Performance | | | | |