Topic: Question about RAID arrays

[RossRoy]

If you have read my thread «Crisis Averted!», you are aware that I've had quite a day today.

Now, I was thinking that since this situation happened once, what's to prevent it from happening again in the future, for any number of reasons?

I was therefore thinking of going to a RAID arrangement. Now, as you know, I've already bought a replacement drive to hold the data itself, but it is not the same make and model as the previous one, heck it's not even the same data interface (EIDE then, SATA now).

I just found out that the dead drive is actually still under warranty, so I can get a replacement. So what I was thinking is use the upgrade option to get a SATA drive of the same capacity as the one I bought today, and make them into a RAID array. Would the fact that they are not the exact same make and model degrade performance? Or is it as long as they have the same capacity, there shouldn't be any problems?

Also, how would I load the RAID drivers during the Windows XP installation procedure, since I have no floppy? (that, I can probably find the answer on my own - nLite I'm guessing would do the job)

[Najemikon]

RAID in my experience should be exclusively on identical drives, but in any case, are we talking PC level here? If so, I don't like or trust it. More trouble than it is worth.

RAID as a disaster recovery option, with possibilities of hot swap even, is only viable with four drives in my opinion. If you use a two drive mirrored RAID, your data is backed up perfectly of course. But if one drive should fail, you can't just boot from the second because it's only half an array and it's looking for its twin. So in the event of a hard drive failure, you will still need to replace it so the array can rebuild itself. Obviously it makes things easy, but you still need another backup method anyway to guard against other moments of Sod's Law. EDIT: Including the array failing and losing access to both drives, rendering them useless. That happened to me, then my foot happened to the PC...

Therefore, stick with what you have and look into the method I described in your other thread (which I carefully typed before seeing this!).

Two drives and Acronis True Image. Acronis can create a hidden partition on the opposite drive, containing an image of the other. You can schedule it to update this image, and it can also be written to a boot DVD. In the event of a hard drive going pop, replace it, boot and press f11, go make coffee. Acronis will find your backup on the slave drive and reimage your new drive. 

[RossRoy]

Two drives and Acronis True Image. Acronis can create a hidden partition on the opposite drive, containing an image of the other. You can schedule it to update this image, and it can also be written to a boot DVD. In the event of a hard drive going pop, replace it, boot and press f11, go make coffee. Acronis will find your backup on the slave drive and reimage your new drive. 

That's an interesting idea. I'll have to look into that.

I've never really liked RAID actually to be honest, but you know how it is when you've just been through a close call possible data loss