Raid Set up

[Amitojc]

Well I am currently building a computer and wondering if I should set up a raid. Currently I have two drives, and one ssd. The ssd I am going to put my operating and other stuff. For the other two drives, I will use them for media mainly. I have a 750gb 7200 rpm, and 1.5 tb 7200 rb. Both are seagate models. Any suggestions on why first of all, i should do a raid. Second how to set it up. I have been reading tutorials but I dont seem to find the advantage of having them. Also it seems like I need two drives of the same size. Thanks!

 

[zi0n.]

Since you already have an SSD you wouldn't need performance out of the drives so what you would probably want is a RAID 1 to mirror the data between both drives to keep your data safe. However, having different HD sizes you would only be able to use the smallest size, in this case 750GB and It will be limited to that HD speed too. There's many type of raids and you could probably google and read a bit.

 

[dac7nco]

If you have to ask... (I was going to paraphrase). You don't need or want any form of RAID, trust me. You are not equipped for RAID. RAID sounds like a cool thing to have, but it's not for you. You posted "I have been reading tutorials but I dont seem to find the advantage of having them"... good call. Get another 1.5TB drive, and only use it for incremental backups from your "active" 1.5TB drive. Even RAID-1 can be a hassle, as both drives are spinning at once, which increases the probability of a failure. Install something like http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp and set a weekly/monthly backup schedule.

Daimon

 

[Amitojc]

Thanks. I just did that. I bought another harddrive, and going to use that as my back up. Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[Amitojc]

If you have to ask... (I was going to paraphrase). You don't need or want any form of RAID, trust me. You are not equipped for RAID. RAID sounds like a cool thing to have, but it's not for you. You posted "I have been reading tutorials but I dont seem to find the advantage of having them"... good call. Get another 1.5TB drive, and only use it for incremental backups from your "active" 1.5TB drive. Even RAID-1 can be a hassle, as both drives are spinning at once, which increases the probability of a failure. Install something like http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp and set a weekly/monthly backup schedule.

Daimon

Do you suggest using the windows back up or that software. What is more reliable because I have used the windows back up and it seems to work great and works just like that. Thanks.

 

[dac7nco]

Do you suggest using the windows back up or that software. What is more reliable because I have used the windows back up and it seems to work great and works just like that. Thanks.

I've never used windows backup. That being said, Replicator is small & customizable (and free); I have it set to backup my office documents nightly, and my media weekly, to two separate backup locations.

Daimon

 

[ch33zw1z]

Check out "Create Synchronicity" at SourceForge. I use it to mirror my main drive to the backup drive when i need to.

 

[mfenn]

Do you suggest using the windows back up or that software. What is more reliable because I have used the windows back up and it seems to work great and works just like that. Thanks.

I would avoid Windows backup if I were you. I bit me in the ass really badly when it refused to restore my HDD image because the new drive was larger.