What is RAID?

RAID, or Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a method for storing data on multiple hard disks, then linking those disks together. So, the operating system on your server read them as a single entity. At Go4hosting, we offer RAID for both SATA and SCSI hard drives in 3 different configurations with our Dedicated Servers:

RAID-0: This type of RAID uses a method of data storage known as striping. The technology divides the data into several pieces, and places each piece on a different drive. For instance, data piece A may be stored on Drive 1, while data piece B goes to Drive 2 and C is on Drive 3, and so on. As the data is divided, RAID-0 offers the top level of performance for disk IO. This method is useful for multimedia applications such as video editing and so on. It is the best option where data loss is not as much important as is speed.

However, RAID-0 does not offer redundancy and therefore all data can be lost if any one of the drives fails. We strongly recommend that daily backups are required if you choose this RAID level.

RAID-1: This type of RAID is a method of data storage known as mirroring. This refers to the fact that every piece of data is written to at least two disks. As a result, RAID-1 offers a high degree of data security. It has a minor bump that points towards the slightly decreased performance due to the capturing of data on two disks.

RAID-5: This type of RAID is the most widely used because it offers a useful combination of protection and speed. It works by making enough of the data redundant so that even if a drive fails, it's still possible to recreate and retrieve the information. Offering the best performance with data protection, this solution is ideal for high performance databases and sites that require high disk throughput.

RAID-1 + Hot Spare: This type of RAID is useful in the event that one of your drives fail. RAID-1 + Hot Spare allows the drive to be replaced or rebuilt without powering down the system. The Hot Spare offers additional redundancy by ensuring that you have two good drives at all times.

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