software raid 5

[jackwhitter]

ok, win2k and xp support software raid 5 (albiet their server varients only), but if i have an install of windows and raid 5 across a few storage drives, but lose my primary install of windows will i lose the information on the raid 5 setup? my os install is on a completely separate drive, but do i still need to match it with the same OS installation? and if it is software raid 5, can i unraid it easily? or will i have to have a completely separate drive to which i can copy everything. thanks.

 

[Workin']

<< if i have an install of windows and raid 5 across a few storage drives, but lose my primary install of windows will i lose the information on the raid 5 setup? my os install is on a completely separate drive, but do i still need to match it with the same OS installation? >>

In that case you won't lose the data on the array, if your OS drive fails and you reinstall the OS on a new drive it will be able to use the original array.

<< and if it is software raid 5, can i unraid it easily? or will i have to have a completely separate drive to which i can copy everything. >>

You would need to have a place to copy everything if you want to "unraid". But that would be the case with hardware raid, too.

 

[jackwhitter]

thanks for the info, workin'.