If you have spent the time to increase your computer's
performance by setting up a hardware RAID array, you owe it to
yourself to invest a little extra time and effort in maintaining
the hard disks in your setup. Following these tips will help
limit the need for data disaster recovery in the future.
1. If you are copying information from an old harddrive onto
those being used in your array, be sure to keep the old disk
around for a while. That way, if you discover any faults or
errors in your raid array, you will still have your original
data to work with.
2. Make sure you choose the raid level that works best for your
needs. If you are just in need of faster reads and basic
redundancy, RAID Level 1 may be your ticket. This basic level
Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks ensures against data loss
by incorporating 2 drives - one mirroring the other. Although
the cost per megabyte is higher, the increase in speed and
protection against data loss are well worth it.
3. If you are setting up a multi-user enviroment, creating a 3
or 5 drive RAID-5 array may be your best choice for speed and
data protection. Keep in mind though, if your requirements are
write performance sensitive, there are better alternatives.
4. If you are trying to decide between a software based or
hardware based RAID array, remember, hardware based arrays do
not require software to boot, have the logic within them and as
such are much more fault tolerant. Stick with a hardware array
if you are concerned about disaster recovery planning!
5. Despite the increase in speed and performance using RAID
arrays, files can still become disorganized and corrupted. Be
sure to run your preferred software for scanning and checking
your disks on a regular basis.
If you think taking the extra time to follow these tips and
care for your RAID array sounds tedious, take a few moments to
check out the cost of raid data disaster recovery. That alone
should make you realize that your efforts are not in vain!
James B. Allen blogs regularly about disaster recovery
planning. To learn more about data recovery and
other aspects of disaster recovery, visit James at:
DisasterRecoveryData.com