MBR or GPT

[bgstcola]

So which one should I choose for my WD20EARS drives? From what I've understand GPT supports partitions larger than 2TB MBR provides better compatibility. I've read conflicting information about performance and reliability differences.

Is there any advantage to GPT besides the support of larger partitions?

Thanks

 

[bgstcola]

Ah it seems like GPT has some data integrity advantages so I chose that.

 

[gramboh]

There is no reason to use MBR if the drive is for data storage purposes in Windows.

 

[taltamir]

GPT is a successor of MBR and is better in every way shape and form. Much safer for your data too.

MBR is compatible with more software. Windows can only be installed on a drive that is MBR at the moment; but can use GPT for storage drives

 

[Nothinman]

So which one should I choose for my WD20EARS drives? From what I've understand GPT supports partitions larger than 2TB MBR provides better compatibility. I've read conflicting information about performance and reliability differences.

Is there any advantage to GPT besides the support of larger partitions?

Thanks

Larger drives you mean, MBR is limited to 2TB total, not per-partition.

And the main problem with GPT is that many partitioning tools don't support GPT yet so if something goes wrong you'll be in much deeper shit. If you're comfortable using diskpart and/or Linux partition tools you should be fine.

 

[taltamir]

Larger drives you mean, MBR is limited to 2TB total, not per-partition.

And the main problem with GPT is that many partitioning tools don't support GPT yet so if something goes wrong you'll be in much deeper shit. If you're comfortable using diskpart and/or Linux partition tools you should be fine.

if something goes wrong then such tools will not be able to save you 99% of the time... you need backups for that kind of stuff.

 

[Nothinman]

if something goes wrong then such tools will not be able to save you 99% of the time... you need backups for that kind of stuff.

Depends on the problem, I've seen many times where recovering/recreating the partition table fixed most or all of the issue.

But that extends to maintenance like resizing and such too, a lot of tools don't support GPT yet because it hasn't taken off on Windows yet. I believe Linux things like gparted do, so if you stick to them you should be fine.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Does WHS v1 support drives larger than 2TB, as GPT, as long as you don't add them to the storage pool? Thinking of maybe a pair of Hitachi 5K3000 disks.

Does WHS v1 support software RAID for non-pool disks? It is Server 2003 underneath, as I understand it.