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How to best RAID a Windows Server 2012 Essentials?
Posted on 2013-01-06
Box has 4*300GB 10k disks.
The server will mainly function as a file-server.
First install - the HP server autoconfigured itself as one big array (raid5) over all the 4 drives (837GB)
What is the best way of building this and why?
The server will mainly function as a file-server.
First install - the HP server autoconfigured itself as one big array (raid5) over all the 4 drives (837GB)
What is the best way of building this and why?
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13 Comments
Normally, if you have a 5 disk configuration, people will split into a mirror os drive (2 disk) and use the remain 3 as data disk using RAID 5.
Since you have only 4 disks, do RAID 5 at the hardware level. However, split the volume into two partitions one for the OS and one for DATA. The idea is that you want to be able to restore your data without destroying your OS and vice versa.
Good luck.
Since you have only 4 disks, do RAID 5 at the hardware level. However, split the volume into two partitions one for the OS and one for DATA. The idea is that you want to be able to restore your data without destroying your OS and vice versa.
Good luck.
4 Disks in Raid 5 will give you 900 GB (1 disk will be used as parity) less the formatting losses hence the 837 GB you first encountered.
I would allow 80-100GB for the OS create this as a partition, and leave the remaining amount as another partition for data.
You should really have a spare disk in the raid set, so buy another disk and allocate it as spare.
I would allow 80-100GB for the OS create this as a partition, and leave the remaining amount as another partition for data.
You should really have a spare disk in the raid set, so buy another disk and allocate it as spare.
Active 4 days ago
Best is subjective. Basically it is a performance vs. reliability/availability issue vs capacity.
If one cares about performance above all else, go RAID10. If you care about data availability and redundancy WHEN a HDD fails or has unrecoverable read errors, then go RAID6.
a 4-disk RAID5 has less performance and less data redundancy than RAID10, but the gain is capacity.
RAID6: Wins reliability/availability, last in performance, ties for last in capacity w RAID10
RAID5: wins capacity 2nd place in performance, 2nd in reliability/availability
RAID10: wins performance, 2nd in reliability/availability, ties for last in capacity w RAID6
If one cares about performance above all else, go RAID10. If you care about data availability and redundancy WHEN a HDD fails or has unrecoverable read errors, then go RAID6.
a 4-disk RAID5 has less performance and less data redundancy than RAID10, but the gain is capacity.
RAID6: Wins reliability/availability, last in performance, ties for last in capacity w RAID10
RAID5: wins capacity 2nd place in performance, 2nd in reliability/availability
RAID10: wins performance, 2nd in reliability/availability, ties for last in capacity w RAID6
I agree with traoher regarding a raid 5 configuration. We use raid 5 on all servers for 50 or less users. I also suggest adding one drive as a Global Hot Spare. If one drive goes bad, it's quick and safe to have a spare already inplace to replace a failing drive.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
Active 4 days ago
One can still have data loss in a RAID5 configuration if a disk fails. All it takes is one unreadable block in the surviving drives (or another HDD failure). Remember, you are exposed for a good half day, or longer if system is busy. With larger drives, you could be sweating out a week-end.
RAID6 provides a 2nd parity drive to protect against data loss. A hot spare just saves you the time it takes to kick off a rebuild.
No matter what, RAID-anything is also no substitute for backup or archiving offsite.
RAID6 provides a 2nd parity drive to protect against data loss. A hot spare just saves you the time it takes to kick off a rebuild.
No matter what, RAID-anything is also no substitute for backup or archiving offsite.
Yes, that is why we use a Global hot Spare. if you setup notifications of specific HOT situatins like an email and text sent to you if a disk problem occurs, you can respond promptly and activate the hot spare.
Thanks everyone! :)
So after adding a spare drive I would not use Win but HP raid software (HP ML350p Gen8) to configure it as a spare right?
Tips on how to spread out the points for this question is greatly appreciated....is there a "best practice" on how to divide the points in cases like this?
So after adding a spare drive I would not use Win but HP raid software (HP ML350p Gen8) to configure it as a spare right?
Tips on how to spread out the points for this question is greatly appreciated....is there a "best practice" on how to divide the points in cases like this?
Appointing points can only be decided by you. After determining who provided the most usefull information, you award or divide as you think.
I'm glad I could help! Good luck with your new server.
I'm glad I could help! Good luck with your new server.
So after adding a spare drive one would not use Windows Server but HP raid software (HP ML350p Gen8) to configure it as a spare right?
Yes, you would use the raid software - either via the BIOS menu, or download the HP Array Configuration utility (ACU) to do the operation from within Windows.
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