Software Raid combined with hardware Raid - raid 11?
I have a Dell server with a perc controller.
I has 8 drives, with 4 Raid1 configurations.
In Windows Server 2008R2, it views each hardware raid1 as a single volume.
(drives C,E,F,G)
Can I use Windows software to create a software Raid1 with 2 of the drives (let's say F and G) of the hardware Raid 1 volumes?
Neither would hold an OS, just data files.
If no, why not?
If so, are there cautions, or is it generally a bad idea?
I know that some view Windows software raid to be 'not ideal' but aside from that opinion, what are your thoughts?
this is only for redundancy, and not performance...and just wondered if it can/should be done.
thanks
I has 8 drives, with 4 Raid1 configurations.
In Windows Server 2008R2, it views each hardware raid1 as a single volume.
(drives C,E,F,G)
Can I use Windows software to create a software Raid1 with 2 of the drives (let's say F and G) of the hardware Raid 1 volumes?
Neither would hold an OS, just data files.
If no, why not?
If so, are there cautions, or is it generally a bad idea?
I know that some view Windows software raid to be 'not ideal' but aside from that opinion, what are your thoughts?
this is only for redundancy, and not performance...and just wondered if it can/should be done.
thanks
Of course that's possible. Also, OS Software RAID isn't inferior to real hardware RAID. But you'll have to be aware that you loose a lot of disk capacity with a double RAID 1 array (all you get is the capacity of 1 physical HD, you loose 3 of them). Do you really need that much redundancy? Wouldn't a standard RAID 1 with hotspare suite you fine?
Besides, even with 3 redundant disk, you wouldn't be spared from creating regular and good backups, as lots of problems with data loss isn't caused by hardware disk-failures, which is what RAID protects against.
Besides, even with 3 redundant disk, you wouldn't be spared from creating regular and good backups, as lots of problems with data loss isn't caused by hardware disk-failures, which is what RAID protects against.
ASKER
yes..
recently I had both drives fail in a hardware raid 1 config.
this dell server has some extra drives I won't be using, so I wondered if I could use software raid to mirror the hardware mirrors.
the drive usage isn't a concern as they are just sitting there for now.
is that what you mean by 'losing a hdd, not 2' ?
and yes, I keep backups religiously. Just wondering if it's been done, and if there are any issues.
recently I had both drives fail in a hardware raid 1 config.
this dell server has some extra drives I won't be using, so I wondered if I could use software raid to mirror the hardware mirrors.
the drive usage isn't a concern as they are just sitting there for now.
is that what you mean by 'losing a hdd, not 2' ?
and yes, I keep backups religiously. Just wondering if it's been done, and if there are any issues.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
increase possibility of data corruption due to introducing the software raid component?
if so, (or if not), please explain
if so, (or if not), please explain
You have 2 controllers (one HW, one SW), so 2 points that can introduce corruption.
ASKER
ok, that's what I assumed was meant.
thanks Gentlemen.
thanks Gentlemen.
You're better off keeping a spare hdd for each mirror. In that case you're only losing a hdd, not 2.
HTH,
Dan