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Thread ID: 136974 2014-05-08 03:01:00 RAID Mirror - home use? Nomad (952) Press F1
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1374445 2014-05-08 03:01:00 Any of you guys using this layout?

My next system in some yrs might use it . For now, not redoing the software . I would have also a external drive in case eg . . I accidentally deleted a file or I get a virus to the other HD is replicated . The thing minimal downtime and fuss . No need to wait a day for the new HD to arrive, plug it in, reload the image before I can boot into Windows . I also don't need to resync some folders manually by running the software .

In 4 or 5yrs do you think small capacity PCIe SSD and larger capacity normal SSD be available? Something like 2 faster SSDs for the OS (mirror) and 2 slower SSDs for the data (mirrored) . Or alternatively 2 standard SSDs and 2 rotary HDs .
Nomad (952)
1374446 2014-05-08 03:21:00 I run RAID1 on my NAS, yes. I used to run a RAID5 on my desktop, more just to play with. The thing about RAID is you need a good controller, most built in ones are pretty average. Yes of course storage will get cheaper, not that I think $150 for 240GB of very fast storage is exactly expensive. Alex B (15479)
1374447 2014-05-08 03:50:00 I use software (for windows) called drivebender - $15USD for software that will let you take a bunch of drives (I have 4x2TB, 1x3TB and about to replace one of the 2s with a 4TB) and make them into one big drive.....then for folders at any level - or everything if you prefer - turn on replication - which essentially mirrors content.

Great for drive failures - the 2TB drive I'm replacing was starting to cause issues, so I just set it for removal and will just add the 4TB tonight. I've found it much easier than RAID5 as the controllers - the good, interchangeable ones are pretty expensive....and the inbuilt ones if you change motherboard, its potentially a different chipset and therefore breaks the raid. This just uses the individual drives on the sata ports, and will even accept USB connected drives into the pool
psycik (12851)
1374448 2014-05-08 04:14:00 I accidentally deleted a file or I get a virus to the other HD is replicated.
You don't want RAID then, quite the opposite
If you use RAID, then if one drive gets infected, the other is a 1:1 constant mirror. A RAID is designed to protect against hardware failure, not virus infection or a software issue.

What you actually want is regular backups using something like Norton Ghost.
Chilling_Silence (9)
1374449 2014-05-08 04:23:00 I have external drives too. .. so if I get a virus with raid that's ok. I use windows image backup, used acronis and Norton in the past. Want minimal downtime and the auto rebuild once a new drive is attached. Nomad (952)
1374450 2014-05-08 09:48:00 In that case a RAID mirror isn't what you want, but a RAID for striping, for faster speeds. Better still, flag that and just get a SSD.

A RAID (Mirrored) will 100% purely protect you from a HDD failure. Anything else, it's absolutely pointless and you're wasting your time IMO. Just stick with system images and backups.
Chilling_Silence (9)
1374451 2014-05-08 10:49:00 I don't think RAID is something most home users really need. A regular backup is good enough. How often would a RAID mirror have saved you time so far?
But then if a 2nd drive is cheap enough for your budget and you want the peace of mind then go for it.
dugimodo (138)
1374452 2014-05-08 12:24:00 I just replaced a hd think software provided cautionary. Within 5yrs 3 hdd replaced under warranty excluding this maybe one. But it took 2hr format 1-2hr resync my files. Those 3 hdds when it was the boot drive. I needed to wait a day for delivery so out of action. I did have external via dock I wasn't prepared to wipe and use that.

Thinking 2 ssd and 2 rotary hdd for larger capacity for data. Still have images too shoved into a folder then mirrored and also in the external drive.
Nomad (952)
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