A GUIDE TO RAID PT.

2: RAID LEVELS
EXPLAINED
September 1, 2023

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In today's fast-paced digital landscape, data storage is crucial for
safeguarding critical information. RAID technology has revolutionized
data storage, offering improved performance, increased data
redundancy, and optimized capacity. However, with various RAID levels
available, selecting the ideal configuration can be challenging.

In this comprehensive article, we demystify RAID technology, guiding you

through the intricacies of RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, and
more. By exploring their characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks, we
empower you to make informed decisions that align with your specific storage
demands. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, system administrator, or
business owner, this guide equips you with the expertise to fortify your data
infrastructure effectively.

RAID 0

RAID 0 diagram

RAID 0 encompasses a configuration wherein all drives are merged into a

single logical one. This level delivers exceptional performance at a reduced
cost. However, it lacks data protection mechanisms, rendering it highly
susceptible to data loss in the event of a drive failure. Consequently, the
adoption of RAID 0 is not recommended for mission critical data.

Advantages:

 Offers high-speed performance and availability while maintaining a cost-

effective approach.
 Utilizes the entire capacity of each individual drive.
 Configuration is straightforward and user-friendly.
Disadvantages:

 RAID 0 lacks any form of data protection.

  In the event of a single drive failure, all data becomes irreversibly lost,
with no possibility of recovery.
Areas of application

This RAID level is advisable for implementation in non-mission-critical

scenarios. RAID 0 is suitable for purposes where the primary concern is
maximizing performance and data read/write speeds. It is commonly used in
scenarios where data redundancy (fault tolerance) is not a critical
requirement, and the main focus is on improving the system's overall data
processing capabilities.

RAID 1

RAID 1 diagram

RAID 1, also known as "mirroring," is a method in which all data is duplicated

on two separate drives, with one set of data appearing as a logical drive.
RAID 1 is primarily focused on providing data protection rather than improving
performance or increasing storage capacity. Because data is replicated over
2 drives, the usable capacity is 50% of the total available drives in the RAID
array.

Advantages:

 High levels of redundancy - each drive is an exact copy of another.

 If one drive fails, the system continues to function normally with no data
loss.
Disadvantages:

 Usable capacity is limited to 50% due to the need to store complete

duplicates of data.
 RAID 1 performance does not significantly exceed that of a single drive.
Areas of application

This RAID level finds frequent utilization in scenarios where storage capacity
and cost are not a concern, yet the imperative requirement lies in the ability to
fully recover data in the event of a drive failure. It's commonly used for booth
drives, small business applications, and personal data storage, ensuring
continuous access to information even if one drive fails.

RAID 5
 RAID 5 diagram

RAID 5, widely regarded as the most prevalent and versatile RAID level,
employs a technique known as data block striping across the entirety of
drives within the array (comprising 3 to N drives). It further distributes parity
information evenly across all drives. In the event of a single drive failure, the
system utilizes the parity information from the functioning drives to recover
lost data blocks.

Advantages:

 Strikes a favorable balance between cost and performance

considerations.
 Capability to recover data in the event of a single drive failure.
 Enhanced data read performance.
 Scalability: RAID 5 facilitates effortless expansion of storage capacity
by incorporating additional drives without system interruption.
Disadvantages:

 Parity storage leads to a reduction in individual drive capacity.

 data loss in case 2 drives fail in the array.
Areas of application

This RAID level enjoys widespread adoption across diverse environments,

including file servers, general-purpose storage servers, backup servers, and
streaming data applications, among others. It offers superior performance
while maintaining an optimal price-performance ratio.

RAID 6

RAID 6 diagram

RAID 6, also known as "double-parity interleaving," is a data storage and

recovery technique that distributes data across multiple drives while utilizing
double-parity for enhanced fault tolerance. While RAID 6 performs similarly to
RAID 5 in terms of performance and capacity, it offers an advantage by
distributing the second parity scheme across different drives, allowing it to
withstand the simultaneous failure of two drives within the array.
Advantages:

 RAID 6 provides a reasonable price-quality ratio with good overall

performance.
 The array can endure the simultaneous failure of two drives or the
failure of one drive, followed by the subsequent failure of a second drive
during data recovery.
Disadvantages:

 RAID 6 incurs higher costs compared to RAID 5, as it sacrifices the

capacity of two drives for parity data.
 In most scenarios, RAID 6 performs slightly slower than RAID 5.
Areas of application

RAID 6 is highly recommended for applications such as file servers, shared

storage servers, and backup servers. It strikes a favorable balance between
cost and performance, offering reliable and versatile operation. The key
advantage of RAID 6 lies in its ability to tolerate the failure of two drives
simultaneously or the failure of one drive followed by a second drive during
the data recovery process.

RAID 7.3

RAID 7.3 diagram

To increase the reliability of the data warehouse, XINNOR engineers have

developed and introduced to the market a new triple-parity RAID level, known
as RAID 7.3. This level was designed with a unique erasure coding
technology, which allows to perform checksum calculations at high speed.
Thus, RAID 7.3 achieves performance comparable to RAID 6.

Advantages:

RAID 7.3, with triple parity, is ideal for use with high-capacity drives, where
the recovery process can take long time. This is especially true in conditions
of intense workload, where a long rebuilding process increases the risk of
subsequent drive failure and potentially threatens data security.

The use of RAID 7.3 in combination with hard drives or hybrid solutions
significantly reduces storage costs by reducing the number of drives used,
meeting customer requirements for reliability and performance.
In addition, RAID 7.3 provides extensive capabilities for managing the
infrastructure of your data centers. It offers a convenient and reliable
technology for organizing a storage array.

RAID 10

RAID 10 diagram

RAID 10, also known as "striping and mirroring", combines the benefits of
RAID 1 and RAID 0 by creating multiple mirrored sets that are interleaved.
RAID 10 provides high performance, good data protection, and does not
require parity calculations.

RAID 10 requires at least four drives, and the usable capacity is 50% of the
total drive capacity. However, it is worth noting that RAID 10 can use more
than four drives, which must be a multiple of two. For example, a RAID 10
array of eight drives provides high performance on both spinning and SSD
drives because data reads and writes are split into smaller chunks on each
drive.

Advantages:

 High speed and reliability through a combination of striping and

mirroring.
Disadvantages:

 Expensive configuration because it requires the use of more drives to

achieve usable capacity.
 Not recommended for large capacities due to cost constraints.
 Slightly slower than RAID 5 in some streaming scenarios.
Areas of application

This RAID level is well-suited for databases, as it offers elevated read and
write performance, and for virtualization, providing servers with both high
performance and reliability. It is particularly relevant in domains such as video
editing and multimedia applications, where RAID 10 can efficiently manage
substantial data volumes. Additionally, it is recommended for mission-critical
applications due to its robust data protection and recovery capabilities in the
event of drive failure. Moreover, in the context of high-traffic file servers,
RAID 10 adeptly handles heavy network traffic while delivering remarkable
file system responsiveness.
 RAID 50 diagram

RAID 60 diagram

There are also RAID 5+0 (RAID 50) and RAID 6+0 (RAID 60), which are
hybrid RAID configurations that combine the features of multiple RAID levels
for improved performance and fault tolerance. RAID 5+0 uses multiple RAID 5
arrays interleaved with RAID 0, providing faster data access and the ability to
tolerate a single drive failure per RAID 5 array. RAID 6+0 combines multiple
RAID 6 arrays interleaved with RAID 0, providing even better fault tolerance
by tolerating two-drives failures per RAID 6 array. These configurations are
suitable for situations requiring both high performance and enhanced data
protection.

RAID N+M

RAID N+M diagram

RAID level N+M is a data block allocation system using M parity distribution.
This level allows the end user to independently determine the number of
drives that will be used to store checksums. RAID N+M is supported by
xiRAID. This is an innovative technology, thanks to which it is possible to
restore information in the event of a failure of up to 32 drives (depends on
how many drives are used to store checksums).

How to Choose the RAID Level

Choosing the right RAID level depends on your specific storage needs,
performance requirements, data redundancy preferences, and budget
constraints. Here are the key factors to consider when making this decision:

1. Performance Requirements: Different RAID levels offer varying levels

of performance. RAID 0, for example, provides excellent performance
by striping data across multiple drives, but it lacks data redundancy. On
 the other hand, RAID 5 and RAID 6 offer both performance and
redundancy but are not as fast as RAID 0. Consider the speed at which
you need to access and transfer data, as well as the workload demands
of your system.
2. Data Redundancy and Fault Tolerance: If data protection is a top
priority, RAID levels with redundancy are essential. RAID 1 mirrors data
across drives, providing a high level of fault tolerance, while RAID 5 and
RAID 6 use distributed parity to protect against drive failures. RAID 10
combines mirroring and striping, offering both speed and redundancy.
Assess the criticality of your data and how much protection you need
against potential drive failures.
3. Drive Utilization: Different RAID levels use drives in various ways,
impacting overall storage capacity. RAID 0 utilizes all drives for data
storage, providing maximum capacity but no redundancy. In contrast,
RAID 1 uses half the capacity for mirroring, reducing usable storage but
ensuring complete redundancy. Evaluate how important drive utilization
is for your setup.
4. Number of Drives Available: Some RAID levels require a minimum
number of drives to function effectively. RAID 5, for instance, needs a
minimum of three drives, while RAID 6 typically requires at least four
drives. If you have limited drive slots or a specific number of available
drives, this will influence your RAID level choice.
5. Cost Considerations: RAID configurations come with varying costs
based on the number of drives needed and the drive types used (HDDs
or SSDs). RAID 0 and RAID 5 might be more cost-effective due to their
lower drive requirements, while RAID 1 and RAID 10 could be more
expensive due to the need for mirroring. Balance your budget
constraints with the level of performance and redundancy required.
6. Complexity and Manageability: Some RAID levels, like RAID 0 and
RAID 1, are relatively simple to set up and manage, making them
suitable for less experienced users. In contrast, RAID 5 and RAID 6
configurations involve distributed parity, which adds complexity but
provides more redundancy. Consider the level of expertise and effort
required for configuring and maintaining your chosen RAID level.
7. Specific Use Cases: Certain RAID levels excel in particular scenarios.
For instance, RAID 0 is ideal for temporary data storage or high-
performance applications where redundancy is not a concern. RAID 5
and RAID 6 are well-suited for data-centric environments that require
both performance and fault tolerance. Identify your specific use case to
align it with the RAID level that best suits your requirements.
By carefully evaluating these factors and understanding the strengths and
weaknesses of each RAID level, you can confidently select the right RAID
configuration that aligns with your storage needs and ensures the optimal
balance between performance, data protection, and cost-effectiveness.