When it comes to information storage and security, it is impossible not to come across RAID types and how they can improve performance in terms of data protection in companies. Understanding how this mechanism works will contribute to greater efficiency in the digital world.
As we know its importance, we prepared this post to explain what RAID is, what it is for and its types. In addition, we’ll cover how each one works in detail so you know the benefits and stay on top of the subject. Let’s go?
What is RAID and what is it for?
The term RAID is an acronym that comes from English which means Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. In short, it is a combination of several hard disks (HDs) thus forming a logical unit. Thus, the information that is stored on disk and available to others.
Therefore, several HDs work as if they were just one and so, in case of failure, the others will continue to work, preventing the total loss of files. It is a very useful preventive measure for today’s companies. It can even work as a redundancy mechanism.
What are the types of RAID and how do they work?
There are several types of RAID for daily use on a daily basis, however, each one has its specific purpose — there are models more focused on safety and others on performance, for example. In these cases, the choice will depend on your need. Check with details and differences about each one, now.
RAID 0
It is the model also known as “fractionation” and the Available data is divided into small pieces and distributed on disks. This type of RAID has no redundancy, so failures are not allowed. That is, if there is a problem, there may be total loss of files, however, its main advantage is fluidity — it increases the computer’s performance to access data faster.
Its main advantages are the low cost of implementation and maintenance for memory expansion, in addition to the speed in accessing information. The disadvantage is that there is no mirroring, no data parity and in case of failures, the file may become unrecoverable.
RAID 1
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It is the model that has mirroring from one disk to another, that is, there is a guaranteed copy on more than one HD. It is more secure than the previous option and there is no loss of performance, being one of the most used options by servers. The main advantages are security against unforeseen loss of information and in case of failure, you can recover the data on another hard drive. The disadvantages are issues like mirroring, longer writing and higher implementation cost compared to RAID 0.
RAID 2
It’s a model that is increasingly becoming obsolete because current HDs already have similar mechanisms from the factory. In short, this type of RAID detects problems with hard drives and starts working on fixing errors, known as ECC technology, as a form of monitoring.
RAID 3
This is one of the types of RAID that has data speed and all the information is divided on the drive disk and allows a large transfer volume and greater reliability in the security of important files. main advantages are error control and speed in readings. However, it presents a more complex software assembly.
RAID 4
This type is similar to RAID 3, however, the data is split between disks. With it, it will be possible to reconstruct data through the mechanism called parity and thus guarantee greater information integrity, especially for larger files. The main advantages are the speed of reading and being able to increase the area of physical disks.
However, the downside is that it has a slower write rate, disk failure reconstruction is more complex and its technology is becoming outdated.
RAID 5
It represents the natural evolution of the previous models 2, 3 and 4 , where the space is equivalent to an entire disk and storing information with parity. Its system is complex and parity makes the storage alternately on many disks and if there is a problem on any of them, just activate the rebuild mode to recover all the data. The main advantages are fast reading and great error detection capability, and the main disadvantage is that writing becomes slower.
RAID 6
Known as Dual Parity, it is similar to RAID 5, but with twice as many parity bits. In short, even if two hard drives fail, the information will not be lost. It is one of the safest alternatives on the market. However, it needs more cost in the implementation, since 3 HDs are needed because of their parity, in addition to the data being more complex.
RAID 10
This model has similar characteristics between 0 and RAID 1. In it, only 4 more disks can be used, always in an even number, because half of the disks stores the information and the other half performs the copy. It is considered the safest of all, as it can fail one or two hard drives at the same time without problems, in addition to helping to avoid problems with a slow server. However, it requires high expansion costs.
Why is RAID indispensable in today’s market?
Knowing the available RAID types will allow you to choose the ideal for your company and having protection of sensitive data against hardware and software failures. Thus, your institution will be able to recover old records quickly, without complications, in addition to providing greater fluidity and guarantee in the day to day of your company. It is also crucial for beginners, who opt for a reseller hosting service and don’t want to lose important records.
Understanding well the mechanisms and types of RAID on the market will be crucial when choosing the right model for your needs. After all, each one has its advantages and disadvantages that directly reflect the cost-benefit of the entire company.
Was the content enlightening on this indispensable topic in the security of your company’s information? So to understand all the details, check out the complete manual we prepared on what RAID is and what its benefits are for the system and master the subject once and for all!
