RE: RAID defrag utility

[rearden888]

I have a small RAID 0 array on my system. I usually defrag my drives pretty regularly, but have never done it on my array. Does anyone know if RAID array's need to be defraged? I don't really think it would make that much difference because defrag programs generally move data physically aroundon the drive, but I think a RAID controller presents a virtual file allocation table to the OS, so I'm not sure if defragging a RAID array would do any good, or even make it worse. Does anyone know anything about this for sure, or have a software utility that can defragment an array? Thanks

Mike

 

[Don66]

I defrag my raid about once a week and have never had any problems.
Using just what XP has.

 

[cbuchach]

I don't know of any special file allocation table that RAID controllers use. The data is pretty much just divided equally in alternating stripes between the two drives. A fragmented file of course has parts of it in two or more physically separate places on the hard disk. So defragmenting works the same in a RAID array--basically putting the file in contiguous clusters on the disk, which will translate into adjacent striped clusters on the array.

So yes, definately defrag you RAID0 array!