Logical drives on a RAID 5 array

[Zucarita9000]

I'm setting up a new server with a 4 disk RAID 5 array (10k 146GB SAS drives). I was wondering if I should configure the array as a single logical volume (about 400GB in size) or create two volumes, one for the OS and another one for data.

Since data is split across all four drives, is there a reason I should create two volumes?

 

[taltamir]

in case of an OS reinstall the data does not need to be "Backed up"... you simply format and install to the OS partition... even though both are split accross 4 drives, that splitting just protects you from a single drive failure... and ONLY from a single drive failure... think of other sources of failure and protect against them as well.

 

[Zucarita9000]

I've already have a backup strategy in place. Depending on RAID5 is not enough. Thanks for your input

 

[Nothinman]

General consensus seems to be create a RAID1 for the OS and another RAID set of level 5, 10, etc depending on the usage patterns. But with only 1 disks that limits your options quite a bit.

 

[Zucarita9000]

I know, but since these damn SAS SFF drives are so damn expensive, I'll stick to a single RAID5 array. I do have a spare one (we bought 5), but I'll keep it as a hot spare o in a drawer just to be safe.

 

[Nothinman]

It's not a very hot spare if it's in a drawer, is it?

 

[Zucarita9000]

Sorry, I meant "hot spare OR in a drawer"