RAID question/scenario

[jonnyg]

Hi there,

Im planning a new system, and i wish to implement RAID. Firstly, can i have more than one RAID instance. i.e. Windows over 2 drives in RAID0, and then 3 drives in RAID5 as a storage drive (im aware of the RAID levels, but have i chosen correctly here?)

Im not too worried about a data backup on Windows, as i have a lot of files on my current storage drives and im looking to make sure they are in a position where they are relatively safe. I can always buy a ext. backup for my Windows RAID0 drive if needed.

Im just running this by you guys, making sure im on the right tracks. So, to summarise:

- Can i run more than 1 RAID array (RAID0 and RAID5 as separate)
- If i have x3 SATAII 320Gb drives in RAID5, is this a 480Gb drive?
- Have i chosen the right levels of RAID to use?
- Will i need a separate controller card for one of the arrays? If so, would putting the Windows RAID array on the controller card be beneficial for speed etc, as, from reading the sticky, buying a card that allows full 3Gbp/s on SATAII, will mean that it runs faster than a standard SATAII array.

I really hope this is right, cos im getting confused now!!!

Thanks

 

[smids]

- Can i run more than 1 RAID array (RAID0 and RAID5 as separate) - controller permitting, yes e.g. my nF4 controller allows this .
- If i have x3 SATAII 320Gb drives in RAID5, is this a 480Gb drive? - I think it is 640GB.
- Have i chosen the right levels of RAID to use? - Can't comment here without more knowledge but it would seem so.
- Will i need a separate controller card for one of the arrays? If so, would putting the Windows RAID array on the controller card be beneficial for speed etc, as, from reading the sticky, buying a card that allows full 3Gbp/s on SATAII, will mean that it runs faster than a standard SATAII array. - that only applies to RAID0 type array really which, when combined, rack up the read speed beyond 150MB/s as limited by SATA1 controllers.

 

[Sigg]

- Can i run more than 1 RAID array (RAID0 and RAID5 as separate)

yes

- If i have x3 SATAII 320Gb drives in RAID5, is this a 480Gb drive?

No - 640GB

- Have i chosen the right levels of RAID to use?

yep, RAID0 for speed, RAID5 for fault tolerance

- Will i need a separate controller card for one of the arrays?

probably - I don't know of any onboard controllers that will do hardware RAID5

If so, would putting the Windows RAID array on the controller card be beneficial for speed etc, as, from reading the sticky, buying a card that allows full 3Gbp/s on SATAII, will mean that it runs faster than a standard SATAII array.

I really hope this is right, cos im getting confused now!!!

Thanks

If your mainboard has an onboard RAID controller I'd use that for the RAID0 array & install the OS on it. If you use a PCI card it will limit the available bandwidth, PCI-X or PCIE would be better though.

 

[Rambaud]

My mobo has 2 x RAID Controllers (Intel and Promise), but I don't know if two different types of RAID arrays are supported at the same time.

I don't use the Promise Controller, as it prevents overclocking.

 

[smids]

My mobo has 2 x RAID Controllers (Intel and Promise), but I don't know if two different types of RAID arrays are supported at the same time.

I don't use the Promise Controller, as it prevents overclocking.

Almost certainly they will run at the same time but as you have stated, whether you'd want the Promise one running is another matter.

 

[jonnyg]

Wow, thanks guys!

Thing I dont get is, how does a 320Gb drive have enough parity information for 640Gb of files?! it doesnt seem to make sense... is there anyone with a link explaining how this works. Thanks.

But for the time being, for the sake of arguement, if i have a motherboard with 5+ SATA ports, then i can make these arrays work, yes?

Thanks very much for your help!

 

[Sigg]

is there anyone with a link explaining how this works. Thanks.

Lots of info at wikipedia

But for the time being, for the sake of arguement, if i have a motherboard with 5+ SATA ports, then i can make these arrays work, yes?

It depends what RAID levels are supported by your controller, normally onboard controllers can only do: 0, 1 & JBOD