Redundant array of independent disks (RAID), which was first created more than 20 years ago as a better way to safely store data, is still alive and well in data storage environments, and is being used in many small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Although RAID storage devices are popular, choosing the right RAID level for your organization can be confusing. "Choosing the right RAID level for your SMB depends on performance, availability, capacity, economics and quality of service, or other service requirements," writes Greg Schulz, founder and senior analyst of the StorageIO Group.
"For an SMB environment, multiple RAID levels -- similar to having multiple tiers or types of storage -- may be applicable. You need to look at your specific environment to find out what RAID level is right for you," Schulz added.
In this guide on RAID storage devices, we've gathered our best content on RAID for beginners. Learn about how to choose a RAID storage system in our RAID primer. Next, read our tip on RAID levels and download our free RAID level comparison chart. Then take our quiz on RAID and see how much you learned.
RAID DATA STORAGE GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS
How RAID storage systems protect your application data
RAID has become a ubiquitous feature in storage systems. But because RAID is everywhere, it's no longer considered a cutting-edge technology. But this doesn't mean RAID isn't as important as it once was, storage pundits say. RAID remains relevant in the sophisticated storage market because as we gather, save, and rely on more and more data, the risk and consequences of losing that data increases as well. RAID has continued to evolve with new storage technologies. Some vendors have even moved in a different direction and are developing "post-RAID" products. For more information on RAID disk arrays and how to choose the right one for your needs, read our article on RAID storage systems.
RAID level comparison chart: A free download
RAID performance is just one of the factors to be considered when evaluating RAID for your business. There are six basic RAID levels, and many more combinations available from most storage array vendors. Choosing the right RAID level depends on the application data type, the criticality of that data and the number of users. For example, for applications that need a good read performance, little write activity, and where there is a need to reduce costs, RAID 5 (stripe with rotating parity) is a good fit. But you might find RAID 6 works for your business.
Having trouble keeping track what type of data protection each RAID level offers? Read this article and then download our chart. This free chart defines the basic RAID levels, along with information about their performance, what applications are best for each RAID level, and the pros and cons of each. Click here to read the article and download our chart comparing RAID levels.
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