For best data protection: Raid 1 or Raid 5?

[ahthurungnone]

Ok, I am a lazy data protector. If I have multiple drives set in RAID 1 I probably won't even replace a defective drive until I'm down to one left.

That being said, will the performance increase with RAID 5 make moving to RAID 5 worth it? If I have a drive failure, will the RAID 5 still work so I can grab the data and then replace a drive?

 

[tecmo34]

They both have their upside and their downsides... IMO If you have low failure rates of drives, I would go with RAID 5.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels#RAID_5
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc938485.aspx

 

[FireWire2]

Ok, I am a lazy data protector. If I have multiple drives set in RAID 1 I probably won't even replace a defective drive until I'm down to one left.

That being said, will the performance increase with RAID 5 make moving to RAID 5 worth it? If I have a drive failure, will the RAID 5 still work so I can grab the data and then replace a drive?

Yes, RAID5 will give you more speed... It's a function of spindles more drive more speed - that is the general.

Raid5 utilize space more efficient than RAID1 or RAID10. If you have a hot spare, then the RAID will grab that drive and rebuilt immediately.

Or of course you can just HOT-PLUG ( this works best) a replace drive, it will rebuilt

 

[tokencode]

As far as data protection, RAID1 absolutely offers better data protection than RAID5. With RAID 1 you will have 2 fully independent copies of your data, where with RAID 5 it has to be calculated across the remaining drives. Remeber also that performance will become awful if 1 of the drives in RAID 5 is dead (OP stated he probably won't replace a drive).

 

[ahthurungnone]

Best answer selected by ahthurungnone.

 

[WyomingKnott]

Allow me to shout: RAID IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR BACKUPS. DO BACKUPS ANYWAY.

 

[ahthurungnone]

Always do.