Different RAID levels and when to use each levels?
RAID Recovery - Different RAID levels and when to use each levels?
RAID is used to enhance input/output performance of Operating systems in addition to providing a strong deterrence against data loss. There are various RAID levels that offer various facilities. For example, RAID 0 distributes data across multiple drives. It is faster and responsible for better performance in smaller server applications but not reliable for data availability in case any of the drives fails to function. RAID 1 mirrors data across various disks and provides maximum data availability with poorer performance in comparison to other RAID levels; moreover, it requires double space and power. RAID 2 spreads data across all the drives and allots high data security. But its cost is exorbitant for small arrays. RAID 3 is good for sequential bandwidth operations but not better for simultaneous access. RAID 4 is similar to RAID 3 with a couple of added features. RAID 5 is most commonly used; it gives good performance for all transaction processing systems and increases reliability as well as data availability. RAID 6 is popular for highest transaction rate among all RAID levels. RAID 10 and 01 combine striping as well as mirroring and provide better performance and good availability.
RAID is still applicable after 20 years.
RAID has come a long way in last 20 years; its popularity has not only increased but also taken a special place among users. RAID is equally important for small as well as big sized businesses where data worth millions is stored on a daily basis. RAID is now widely used out of the enterprises as well. The hype that it is useful only when drives fail no longer remains tenable. Be it software or hardware, internal RAID controller or a highly compact external RAID array, RAID seems to rule the marketplace. Moreover, many new forms of RAID are continuously emerging including distributed parity, local as well as remote parity, and duel-parity scheme.
