Third party software RAID for windows?

LeperousDust

LeperousDust

LeperousDust

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Does this type of software exist? I've got a spare XP licence flying around and i want to put that to use as a general backup server thing. I've got loads of similar hard drives laying about and i'd like to mount them as a RAID 5 array. I know windows XP can setup a RAID 5 array, but it's not expandable, and i definately need this. Is there any software out there that will do this for me? I can run windows and the software off another stand alone hard drive, maybe mirrored for security...

I know i can go down the Linux road, but i'd rather not it confuses the hell out of me, and if i did lose data i'd never manage to recover it!
 
Hardware RAID is expensive, i don't really want to spend any cash, and software will do me just fine :) For the amount of work the PC will be doing. Why is hardware safer anyway? I've heard if hardware cards fail they can be a right PITA to recover because they can be expensive and proprietary. Whereas software can be emulated?
 
You probably won't get mileage with software either (at least not free/cheap software - Linux excepted). Having an array support expansion is something you usually pay a premium for.

Is there any particular reason you need support for array expansion (you say you need it, but not why)?
 
I don't need it now, but i'd rather like to throw hard drives in when and if i can afford them later down the line and keep the same RAID 5 array, that is expanding right?
 
Yeah, it is, but you also need to be able to expand the file system as well as the array. More trouble than it's worth unless you're in big business and have the cash to splash (which I know doesn't apply to you). You don't have to have all the disks in one array, even with a NAS-type box.
 
Greyhole in linux will allow any number of discs, and you can set the number of copies of an item to keep (e.g. photos, you could have 4 copies, movies just 1 and documents 6 copies)
It is relatively easy to set up and does not require RAID or even the same sized discs
 
I'm not sure why you'd need RAID-5 if the server is *only* for backup purposes; you'd have the primary data elsewhere anyway. I guess it might add an extra layer of security of sorts, or be useful(ish) if you'll also be storing unique data on the server, but the usual caveats of "RAID is not a backup" apply.

If you just want to pool several disks of disparate sizes into one humonguous data store, with the ability to add or remove disks at will, have a look at Stablebit Drivepool (you can also duplicate your data either in its entirety or selectively on a folder-by-folder basis). I use it in my HTPC and it does everything it says on the tin. :)
 
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