This article provides detailed information about RAID 50 and information about its individual and combined functions and components.
The RAID array definition remains a reliable means of protecting and storing data on multiple storage devices. For this purpose, different RAID levels like RAID 5, RAID 1 and RAID 2 identifies and used to improve data storage. One of these types of RAID levels discuss in this article.
This article provides detailed information about the components of RAID 50 and information about the individual and combined functions of RAID 50. It also tells you how to configure the RAID level and its advantages and disadvantages.
INTRODUCTION TO RAID 50
What is RAID 50? It is a RAID level that merges two different RAID levels, RAID 5 and RAID 0. It combines two RAID levels’ features and benefits to provide users with an improved presentation with their storage units. RAID 50 is a nested RAID level. It combines two different arrays.
RAID 50 COMPONENTS
RAID 50 is the combination of RAID 5 and RAID 0. It takes advantage of the striping capacity of RAID 0 drives along with the distributed parity feature of RAID 5 to ensure that your drives are performing at peak condition. RAID 0 array is used to provide better read and write performance with storage devices. It is the result of distributing the data over several hard drives in the array. The RAID 5 array is used to improve fault tolerance and data redundancy derived from the RAID 5 feature inherent in distributed parity.
By combining these two RAID arrays (RAID 5 and 0), you can benefit from the functions of both types of RAID and thus increase the overall performance of the disks. A minimum of six hard drives requires for the RAID 5 array because it distribute data across multiple RAID 5 hard drives. Though, a minimum of two requires for RAID 0.
CONFIGURATION – READ AND WRITE PERFORMANCE
The exceptional application of RAID 50 increases the read and write capacity of your disks. Indeed, it can combine the RAID 0 array, known for its quality RAID function. This functionality combines with the distributed parity of RAID 5 to make the RAID 50 array one of the most powerful RAID arrays available.
It is noted that RAID 50 is not the only nested or normal RAID level with improved read and write performance. Others comprise RAID 5, RAID 10, RAID 2, RAID 15, and others. Your preference and that of your association will control the most appropriate of these RAID levels.
In this case, comparisons like RAID 5 with RAID 10, RAID6 with RAID5, RAID 10 with RAID 6, etc., can be considered. In addition to the performance level, these RAID arrays have several features that determine their suitability for your business.
HARD DISK STORAGE
In terms of storage space, RAID 50 requires less storage space than other RAID levels, including RAID 5. It can be attributed to the presence of RAID 0 in the RAID 50 array. With data, you can assign a disk to each variety for parity data. Therefore, the storage space to be used is minimizes.
Storage space can be an important factor in determining which RAID array to use. As much as RAID 10 is among the top-performing RAIDs, you will find that RAID 50 outperforms RAID 10 in terms of storage space. RAID 10 uses mirroring that halves usable space compared to it, which uses data striping. Data corruption is inevitable but can be avoided. Contact our RAID recovery experts to learn more about how to protect your drive from failure.
ADVANTAGES
The first notable advantage of RAID 50 is the optimization of storage space. While more hard drives than RAID 5 are used, RAID arrays like RAID 10 use more than RAID 50. Another benefit worth mentioning is the improved reading and writing data derived from RAID 50. It is a performance RAID upgrade using only a RAID 5 array.
RAID also provides data protection in the event of a drive failure. It is better than RAID 5, which only protects its data from hard drive failure and makes RAID 50 a better choice over RAID 5.
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DISADVANTAGES
Arguably, It is expensive because it is expensive with a minimum of six drives. It requires more hard drives than the RAID 5 array.
Another drawback to be mention is the need for sophisticated hardware in the form of a RAID controller. This requirement, which is also observes in RAID 5, requires synchronization of the hard disks. It, in turn, limits the number of hard drives that uses because not all hard drives can be synchronizes.
The last-mentioned disadvantage is the loss of disks. It answers the question, “How many disks can you lose in it?” The modest answer to this question is that you might lose a disk in each sub-array. However, it notes that this disk loss can be accompanies by data loss. If this happens, call a data recovery expert immediately to protect yourself from many headaches.