What type of raid for identical redundant drives?

[Jumpem]

I just got an HD camcorder and want to have two 1TB drives to safeguard it, and a separate OS/program drive.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Ok, so you have

2x1TB drives in RAID
1 separate drive

RAID 1 is the right one for your application.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Ok, so you have

2x1TB drives in RAID
1 separate drive

RAID 1 is the right one for your application.

Okay, thanks.

Another newb question... how is the data duplicated to the second drive. Does the OS automatically copy the data to it?

 

[MustISO]

Raid 1 (mirroring) is done automatically by the OS. You can use hardware or software raid. For a software solution, you would create dynamic disks and then create a mirror set using the two disks.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Another newb question... how is the data duplicated to the second drive. Does the OS automatically copy the data to it?

Google

Use 2 x 1TB WD RE3 drives for your RAID 1 array.

 

[Nothinman]

Raid 1 (mirroring) is done automatically by the OS. You can use hardware or software raid. For a software solution, you would create dynamic disks and then create a mirror set using the two disks.

Except that client versions of Windows won't let you create redundant arrays so he either needs server or to use a controller. Of course he's using pretty much any other OS like Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, etc you can create arrays with any level of RAID that they support with no restrictions.

 

[Jhhnn]

Most modern SATA chipsets/drivers allow for the creation of RAID arrays in software, which both XP and Vista accept readily, showing them as scsi array devices or somesuch in device manager...

 

[Nothinman]

Most modern SATA chipsets/drivers allow for the creation of RAID arrays in software, which both XP and Vista accept readily, showing them as scsi array devices or somesuch in device manager...

And most of them suck because you're tied to that motherboard or at least that chipset.

 

[DSF]

Keep in mind that if this is critical data you're still going to want to have backups. RAID1 won't stop an event that knocks out the whole system like a flood or theft.

 

[darkenedsoul]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Most modern SATA chipsets/drivers allow for the creation of RAID arrays in software, which both XP and Vista accept readily, showing them as scsi array devices or somesuch in device manager...

And most of them suck because you're tied to that motherboard or at least that chipset.

Which is a reason to look into Acronis True Image bundled along with Universal Restore. I have not had to use this yet but it allows for additional drivers to be loaded if needed during a restore and *supposedly* allows you to move between different hardware/chipset configurations on a restore. That's a reason I bought it (plus my friend uses it as well and recommended it).

But to be OTP: RAID 1 as suggested and get a backup solution product to do images of your OS partition/drive to an external source for safe keeping/restore needs.

 

[leward]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Another newb question... how is the data duplicated to the second drive. Does the OS automatically copy the data to it?

Google

Use 2 x 1TB WD RE3 drives for your RAID 1 array.

You don't have to use the more expensive RE versions of WD hard drives. The main difference between RE and non-RE is that RE drives have the Time Limited Error Recovery disabled while regular drives have it enabled.

Look at this thread about it and the links to download the WDTLER program are there as well.

All you have to do is run the program and disable TLER on the drives.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

I'm not sure why you'd want to use RAID for this. RAID is about uptime. Using RAID 1 would guarantee that you'd be able to always access your data. It doesn't provide a safe backup.

If you already have your 3 drives, you have all you need without buying more harddrives. You use one drive for OS/Apps, one drive for movies and data, and one drive for backups. Use an external enclosure or something like this.

 

[aka1nas]

You could always do an online backup service to get the data offsite. Mozy Home is like 4.95/month per PC with unlimited storage. Initial backup will take a few weeks with that much data(even on broadband), but after that having it backup differentials and new content shouldn't take very long.

Restore time probably isn't a huge issue with this kind of data, as you really just want to not permanently lose it in case of a drive dying or your house burning down, etc.

 

[Peter Trend]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
I just got an HD camcorder and want to have two 1TB drives to safeguard it, and a separate OS/program drive.

I wouldn't use RAID 1 to "safeguard it", nothing is safeguarded without backups anyway.
I'd only use RAID for extra bandwidth really.

I strongly agree with what LokutusofBorg and aka1nas said.