RAID Storage
Protecting Data using highly efficient RAID
Look no further than RAID storage if you looking for a reliable and efficient way to protect your valuable data from potential loss or corruption. RAID, which stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a technology that allows multiple hard drives to work together as a single system. With several levels available, each offering different benefits and drawbacks, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.
RAID storage products
We provide a complete range of RAID storage systems that are fully approved to work with the following Virtualisation technologies VMware, Hyper-V, Citrix as well as storage for Video, CCTV, Post Production, D2D, backup/archiving, The Cloud, Data centres and many other applications. Many of the RAID storage systems also have the ability to save energy by powering down individual spindles or volumes, they come with 3 years warranty and 5 years optional along with on-site support.
How can we help?
The storage systems we supply provide a huge range of host interfaces, drive support, application and operating system connectivity as well as providing:
- Great value for money
- Redundant features
- Reputable brands
- Performance/Reliability
- After sales support
We work with some of the world’s leading RAID storage companies to provide solutions to enable your organisation to grow, data delivered faster and reduce unnecessary expenditure.
The different types of RAID storage levels
There are different types of RAID levels that you can use to protect your data. Each type has its own way of distributing data across multiple hard drives, thus providing redundancy and improving overall performance.
The first type is RAID 0, which uses a technique called striping to distribute data evenly across all the disks in the array. This results in improved read and write speeds, but it offers no fault tolerance.
Next up is RAID 1, which mirrors data on two or more disks. In this setup, if one disk fails, you still have access to your data from the other disk(s). However, it's not as efficient as RAID 0 since only half of the total capacity is used for storing actual data.
RAID 5 uses block-level striping with distributed parity across all disks in the array. It offers both speed and redundancy benefits while also being cost-effective.
RAID 6 is similar to RAID 5 but with an additional parity block for extra protection against drive failures. It requires at least four disks to set up but provides better reliability than RAID 5.
There's RAID 10 (also known as RAID 1+0), which combines mirroring and striping techniques for optimum performance and fault tolerance. However, it requires at least four drives to set up and can be expensive.
Choosing a particular level depends on your needs regarding speed versus redundancy and how many drives you're willing to invest in setting up a system that works best for you.
The pros and cons of RAID
RAID storage is a reliable and efficient way of protecting important data. However, like most technologies, it has its advantages and disadvantages.
One of the main benefits of RAID is its ability to provide data redundancy. This means that if one disk fails, the other disks in the array can take over without any loss of data. Additionally, depending on the level of RAID used, performance can also be improved through striping techniques.
On the downside, setting up and maintaining a RAID system requires some technical know-how and effort. The initial cost may also be higher compared to single drives as multiple disks are needed for an array.
Another consideration is that while RAID provides protection against hardware failure or corruption within one drive in the array, it does not protect against natural disasters such as floods or fires which can destroy all drives simultaneously.
Alternatives to RAID
While RAID storage is an excellent option for data protection, there are alternatives that may better suit your needs. One alternative is Network Attached Storage (NAS), which allows you to store and access files from multiple devices on a network. NAS can also offer redundancy through mirroring or backup options.
You might also want to consider object storage as a viable alternative as this provides better scalability for very large datasets of information.
Another alternative is cloud storage, which offers offsite data protection and accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon S3 provide various pricing plans for different storage needs.
A third option could be using external hard drives for backups or archiving purposes. This method gives you physical control over your data while keeping it separate from the main system to prevent loss in case of hardware failure.
Software-based solutions such as Windows Storage Spaces or ZFS allow users to pool together several hard drives into one virtual drive with built-in redundancy features similar to RAID levels.
It’s important to consider all available options before deciding on the best solution for your specific needs.
Conclusion
RAID offers significant benefits in protecting data against failures and increasing system performance. The different levels of RAID offer varying degrees of redundancy and speed, allowing users to choose the best option for their specific needs.
However, setting up RAID can be complicated and requires technical expertise. It's important to carefully consider the pros and cons before deciding if a RAID setup is right for you or your business.
If you're not interested in setting up a RAID array, there are alternative options such as cloud storage or traditional backups that may better suit your needs. Ultimately, the most important aspect is ensuring that your data is protected and easily recoverable in case of any unforeseen events.
By understanding what RAID is, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to set it up properly, you can make an informed decision on whether it's the right solution for securing your valuable data.
We provide RAID storage systems that support multiple RAID controllers, Fibre Channel, SAS, iSCSI, Unified, hard disks, solid-state drives, NVMe and all flash systems.
If you need a quotation or more information please contact us using the details below.