RAID or no RAID

[absolutiza]

I'm looking at getting a server but I have to agonize over getting RAID or not. Since everyone in this forum seems very smart, I was hoping I could get some help here.

I'm looking at a nice $1500 server, SCSI HHD, without RAID. If I were to get RAID-5 with 3 SCSI HDD's, it would cost $2600. I know that a RAID solution is the easiest way to recover form a HDD failure, but I don't know if my situtaion justifies the extra $1,100.

I have a database that I can't do without and it is being altered everyday. However, it is only about 100 MB in size. Without RAID, I was thinking that I could just back up this 100 MB every night. If the hard drive fails, then I could just get a new hard drive, install the OS, and place the database back in the computer.

So here's the scenario for the 2 types of set-ups:

With RAID:
a drive goes down, recreate system with RAID: ~1 hour

Without RAID:
drive goes down, get new HDD, install OS, copy back-up database into new HDD: ~1.25 hours

It looks like I don't need to shell out the extra $1,100 for a RAID set-up, but I just want to make sure my analysis is well thought out. Any thoughts?!!

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I would say save the money and just back up the DB.

 

[Vegito]

if no raid.

get server
install os
install apps

ghost boot image

backup sql db daily

if server fails, get new hdd, restore image, restore sql db

saves time reinstalling windows again

 

[knightace]

Originally posted by: forcesho
if no raid.

get server
install os
install apps

ghost boot image

I second that. Ghost is a very handy tool, I have used it before and it really does the trick. Then restoring your Database should be quite simple.

So yeah. Save the $1,100.

 

[Ausm]

RAID is a pain in the ass for the most part... I mean I can reinstall an OS in my sleep and I back up through my network so having the extra cost of a RAID is no advantage to me.


Ausm

 

[deathwalker]

The way i view raid....you have to have a need...don't just do it for grins.

 

[Vegito]

I actually use raid... to the point where almost all the desktop has it..

dont have time for drive failure, i only got about 8-10 min to restore a sql db.. i have it on emc replistor to another server.. both server's got 600 gb of storage. So restoring 300gb of data would take close to a day.. especially from tape..