Need help in setting up RAID

[getstarted]

My system build is going to be:

GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3P Rev. 2.1
Intel Quad Q6600 Processor
Antec 300 Case
Antec 430 EA Power Supply
4GB RAM
1TB Hard disk
Windows 2008 server (Heroes Happen here copy)

My questions are:
1. I heard Windows 2008 wont expire after one year, is that true?
2. I am new to RAID setup, I read somewhere software RAID is better
3. Do I need two similar hard drives for setting up RAID?
4. Any good step by step instruction guide to setup RAID?

Thank you,

 

[Sam25]

Here's a guide for setting up a RAID Array:

http://www.pctechguide.com/tutorials/RAID.htm

 

[mc866]

It looks like you are new to RAID, are you certain that's the way to go? Which Raid are you looking to use? What benefits are you looking for for the setup? What are you going to primarily using this machine for?

 

[getstarted]

I primarily use it to protect my software projects, web sites(No, I dont host from this server) and videos. I am not sure what type RAID i need also. I have just started reading about RAID.

If my MB support basic RAID, that would be enough probably.

 

[mc866]

Well depending on what your needs are there are different benefits to each level of RAID, here is a good read for more info.

 

[Nothinman]

I primarily use it to protect my software projects, web sites(No, I dont host from this server) and videos.

That's what backups are for, not RAID.

 

[corkyg]

RAID 1 is not a backup - but it does provide for system and data redundancy. RAID 1 backed up to an external drive is redundancy plus backup.

A RAID 1 array (mirror) does provide redundancy in that failure of one of the HDDs can be overcome. The remaining HDD can be rebuilt into another RAID 1 array when the bad drive is replaced.

But - keep in mind that any error or corruption, to include a virus attack or malware, is replicated on all of the mirrored drives.

 

[getstarted]

Thank you all. Yes, I need RAID 1 for protecting sensitive data from hard drive failures. or Is it simpler to attach external hard drive and do daily backups?

Can I setup RAID 1 after the configuring the system? Or Do i have to do it before installing the operating system? I dont need my OS to be protected, but the data.

Thank you,

Edit: I have 1TB Hard drive and 200GB hard drive. Sensitive data will not be more than 200GB at any time, so protecting 200GB data is perfectly fine.

Can i configure RAID 1 using these two disks? So that I dont have to buy another hard drive. Thanks,

 

[getstarted]

any help?

 

[dguy6789]

I would say it's easier to deal with just backing up data to an external drive than it is to mess with Raid 1. I have a 500GB external and I just throw everything that I want to keep on it.

 

[mc866]

Personally I think RAID is more trouble than it's worth for basic home use, if you are in an enterprise work environment that's a different story. Like suggested I would use what you have and dedicate one just for backups. You could even have two tiers of fail over, you could run your OS on the 1tb drive, keep backups on the 200gb and possibly get an external drive to keep a copy on just in case also. I'm not positive because I haven't spent the time to setup raid cause like I said earlier it seems to be more work than it's worth, but you need to set up the array before or while you install the OS. Also if you have a 1tb and a 200gb drive if you wanted to do raid 1 you could only do 200gb of data from the 1tb in raid one, because this type of array can only be as big as the smallest member disk, so you are losing out on 600gb of storage. Another thing to remember is depending on how you are setting this array up and your hardware/software, RAID can be pretty volatile which may defeat the purpose of having a valid backup anyway.

 

[getstarted]

Thanks for the suggestions. For now I will go with external drive back up for my web sites and projects.

I am sure windows support automated backups on particular folders.. I will take a look at that.
Thanks,