So...what Raid levels are you guys using.

[tonysathre]

You might want to have an identical spare RAID controller on hand, just in case your RAID controller fails. If your RAID controller fails, you will loose all your data unless you have a spare RAID controller, unless your data is backed up elsewhere, which is tough to do with many terabytes.

If the controller fails you lose all your data? That only applies to hardware RAID, correct? I thought with software RAID, the controller didn't matter because the RAID configuration was stored on the disks themselves, as opposed to hardware RAID storing it on the controller. Am I missing something here?

What happens with an unRAID RAID5 array, if you need to reinstall the unRAID OS? I would assume nothing, like in Windows software RAID, but I've never used unRAID or RAID5.

[davephan]

Originally Posted by tonysathre

If the controller fails you lose all your data? That only applies to hardware RAID, correct? I thought with software RAID, the controller didn't matter because the RAID configuration was stored on the disks themselves, as opposed to hardware RAID storing it on the controller. Am I missing something here?

What happens with an unRAID RAID5 array, if you need to reinstall the unRAID OS? I would assume nothing, like in Windows software RAID, but I've never used unRAID or RAID5.

I assumed that when your talking about using RAID, your talking about using a RAID adapter card or a system board RAID controller. If the RAID card fails and you don't have a spare card or if the on-board RAID fails and you don't have an identical system board, and your data isn't backed up elsewhere, then your data is gone.

If unRAID fails, you can use a backup unRAID flash drive with unRAID installed on the flash drive. If the system board fails, you can use another system board, which can be a different model. If the drive controllers fail, you can use different drive controllers. UnRAID is like RAID 4, not RAID 5 and is contained in a portable flash drive. So, a strong advantage for unRAID is it is hardware independent system.

Dave

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by tonysathre

If the controller fails you lose all your data? That only applies to hardware RAID, correct?

You don't "lose" the data, it's still there, you just need a compatible RAID controller to read it. I know with 3ware that just means as new or newer than your original RAID controller.

I thought with software RAID, the controller didn't matter because the RAID configuration was stored on the disks themselves, as opposed to hardware RAID storing it on the controller. Am I missing something here?

The "issue" with hardware RAID is that there's not a universal standard for array "formatting". I know 3ware stores the array info on the array so that it will be picked up by another 3ware controller.

What happens with an unRAID RAID5 array, if you need to reinstall the unRAID OS? I would assume nothing, like in Windows software RAID, but I've never used unRAID or RAID5.

unRAID isn't RAID 5, it's kinda like RAID-4 but without the striping. With unRAID the data drives are formatted with standard ReiserFS and can be ready by any OS (AFAIK) that can read ReiserFS.

The nice thing about hardware RAID though is that there's no mucking in the OS to get it to work, it's just there, install the RAID controller drivers and the array is there. Doesn't matter what the OS is, if you uninstall the OS, whatever.

[davephan]

Originally Posted by stanger89

With unRAID the data drives are formatted with standard ReiserFS and can be ready by any OS (AFAIK) that can read ReiserFS.

I am pretty sure that I read that the unRAID data drives could easily be read with any Linux computer. I'll have to check out the unRAID forum again to determine what it takes to read the data off the drives, other than the unRAID system.

Dave

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by davephan

I am pretty sure that I read that the unRAID data drives could easily be read with any Linux computer.

That's what I was trying to say, in a round about way

I'll have to check out the unRAID forum again to determine what it takes to read the data off the drives, other than the unRAID system.

Just plug them in and mount them.