RAID 1,5 or 6 (Basic question)

[cbn]

I am thinking of using either RAID 1,5 or 6 for data back-up purposes.

Just wondering how will I know if one of the disks fails?

Are there any good software programs for managing RAID 1,5 or 6 in the event of a failure?

 

[RebateMonger]

None of those arrangements are "backups". They are disk arrays with redundancy to keep the array running if a hard drive fails. Despite sounding wonderful, it's entirely possible to lose data or have corrupted data on a redundant RAID array. I've seen it many times.

Getting a warning of a drive failure is one of the issues. Cheap built-in and add-in RAID cards don't have audible warnings. And they don't have built-in SMTP mail servers to send warning emails, either. Expensive RAID controllers will have audible and emailed alarms available if configured correctly.

There's also the distinct possbility of having more than one drive fail at a time, which I've seen three different times in three years.

If all you want is backups, then set up an automated backup system for important data. There's lots of good software and hardware for doing that nowadays. Preferably, keep more than one set of backups and keep a set offsite (either physically, or via web-based backup services).

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

If all you want is backups, then set up an automated backup system for important data. There's lots of good software and hardware for doing that nowadays. Preferably, keep more than one set of backups and keep a set offsite (either physically, or via web-based backup services).

Thanks for the really good answers.

What do you recommend for this purpose? (What hardware and software for physical back-up)

 

[LokutusofBorg]

Originally posted by: Just learning

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

If all you want is backups, then set up an automated backup system for important data. There's lots of good software and hardware for doing that nowadays. Preferably, keep more than one set of backups and keep a set offsite (either physically, or via web-based backup services).

Thanks for the really good answers.

What do you recommend for this purpose? (What hardware and software for physical back-up)

You could just buy two hard drives, and one of these or an equivalent SATA enclosure of some kind (there are lots of good cheap ones). Just make sure to buy hard drives big enough that each can store a few backups (say one month's worth). You then keep one hard drive off-site (at work or something) and once a month swap them. Have your computer(s) back up to the external drive on a regular basis, and you have a *very* robust backup solution (IMO) for a small amount of money and a little bit of manual labor.

This has been heavy on my mind lately and the above is what I'm tentatively planning to do. Though I just placed an order to upgrade my and my wife's computers, so I'll have some spare parts and I'm thinking of using them to build a WHS box. If I go that route, then I'll probably include something like this to do the same basic hard-drive-swap I outlined above.

I don't have a good answer for the software side, other than Windows Backup or whatever WHS has built in...

 

[Blain]

For drive redundancy, RAID 6 with 4 drives wins. But it would cost you an arm & a leg.
The crap-matic RAID controllers on MBs don't support RAID 6, which means you'd need a good RAID controller card.