Explaining RAID Disks

I hate acronyms.
Of course they’re impossible to avoid if you work in IT, but that doesn’t mean I have to like them.
RAID is one of those acronyms that really wrecks my head.
Not RAID itself which means simply Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks, but the different types of RAID array that can exist.
RAID, in case you didn’t know, is a way of improving redundancy and performance in servers by using multiple disks. Of course you don’t have to use multiple disks, but if you don’t you will run the risk of losing data.
A few months ago someone posted a very nice simple graphic that explained the differences between the various types of RAID arrays.

Taken from: http://www.epidauros.be/raid.jpg
One of our technical staff sent me a link earlier today to a bash.org quote which sums up the potential issues with single disk servers very nicely:

sterano: Whats the difference between Raid_0 and Raid_1?
Steve: In Raid_0 the zero stands for how many files you are going to get back if something goes wrong.

Moral of the story – use more than one physical disk 🙂

About the Author: Michele Neylon

Known for his outspoken opinions on technology and the Internet, Michele Neylon is the award winning author of several blogs and co-host of the Technology.ie podcast. A thought leader in the Internet community, Neylon is active within ICANN and an expert on policy, security, domains, ICANN, Nominet and Internet Governance. You can stalk him on various social media networks including Twitter and Instagram