Can someone give me a good explanation of RAID and what it does and do i need it, what kind of sites would it be used for. I have a social networking website and its free with my dedicated server but i never requested it so now i just want to know if i really need it.
RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. Currently available RAID is RAID 0 to RAID 6. It is advisable to implement RAID for the server so that in case of your Drive fails then you can replace another Drive. And apparently you can avoid any data lose as well as you will not face much more down time to replace the Drive. Kailash
RAID stands for a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. Basically it is when a computer has two hard disks. These hard disks both mirror the contents of each other. This way, if one hard disk fails so the data can't be recovered, the data can then be got from the other hard disk and no data is lost.
I would think you already actually have it on your dedicated server. I have never heard of anyone requiring you to ask to have it installed.
Yes, I would also assume that since replacing a normal disk with a RAID disk involves completely replacing the old disk and moving over all the files, and RAID disks seem standard now. If possible, then just ask your provider if your server has RAIN hard disks, you might find it already does.
I suggest you contact your host, find out about backup option first, then look at raid for redundancy and performance.
You say it was free with your dedicated server. i.e on the list of things you get. You probably don't need to request it. Its something that is done automatically and you can't see if its done or not. It helps them as well as you because they have a liabilty to protect your data.
In a non-server related experience, I had a desktop PC with RAID and when one of its HD failed, the other as well and I suffered a massive data loss that never experienced before with any other computer in which RAID was not installed
Raid is not always installed automatically regardless if it is free or not, our data center offers this free as will but you must request it on the order form, other wise it will not be implicated.
Not very popular for home unless its included in the build you bought, none critical workstations don't have it because its on the network server where everyone saves their work, I guess it depends on the work being done at the desktop/workstation level.
Not True, cat /proc/mdstat via SSH would show you For example it would output: # cat /proc/mdstat Personalities : [raid1] md0 : active raid1 sdb1[1] sda2[0] 244091520 blocks [2/2] [UU] unused devices: <none>
I always wondered as I once bought a motherboard with it on and wondered whether I should be using it or not. I guess by not, i made the right decision.
I run (2) 500GB Raid-1 on my system and I know developers who run raid-10 (nested raid level) on sata drives. Only true on software raid which is absolute garbage anyways. The performance difference compared to raid cards is huge! Example: cat /proc/mdstat Personalities : unused devices: <none> /usr/StorMan/arcconf getconfig 1 Logical device name : Raid10 RAID level : 10 Status of logical device : Optimal Size : 478398 MB Read-cache mode : Enabled Write-cache mode : Enabled (write-back) Write-cache setting : Enabled (write-back) when protected by battery Partitioned : Yes Number of chunks : 4 Stripe-unit size : 256 KB Stripe order (Channel,Device) : 0,1 0,0 0,2 0,3 Bad stripes : No Code (markup):