Raid 0: Meaning, Setup, And Function
What is Raid?
RAID, an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a way of bringing together several single, small disks into one large storage. The disks that make up an array are combined in various ways which are known as RAID levels.
In data storage, the basic RAID levels are made up of RAID configurations that use methods of striping, mirroring, and parity to form a large reliable data storage from various independent computer hard disk drive (HDDs).
RAID however useful is one step in a much bigger plan to prevent data loss. Most RAID levels help to avoid data loss from hard errors like faulty hardware or defective sector/read malfunctions.
What RAID levels don’t provide is the prevention of data loss from factors like fire, water, malware infection, and other software errors.
The most popular RAID levels are RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 6. RAID levels and their related data formats are standardized by the association of producers and consumers of computer data storage networking products, SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association).
What is RAID 0?
RAID 0 is one of the standard levels in RAID configuration. It is also known as a striped volume or data stripping. RAID 0 scatters data equally across two or more disks.
It only provides data striping without other techniques like fault tolerance, parity information or redundancy. As a result, the failure of one drive in an array will lead to the failure of all other array members, and eventually a complete loss of data across all the drives.
A RAID 0 setup is usually done with speed in mind. This RAID level improves performance considerably.
How To Setup Raid 0
To setup RAID 0 you will need disks of different storage capacities, but ultimately the storage space you can add to an array is limited to the size of the smallest disk.
For instance, if you strip a 140GB disk with a 320GB disk, the size of the array will be 140GB x 2 = 280 GB. This is essentially the size you are limited to, but some RAID implementations allow you use the remaining data volume for other functions.
The data can be distributed in X number of stripes on two disks. For instance, BX stripes will be distributed as B1: B2 as one stripe, B3: B4 as the second stripes, and so on. But once the stripe size is determined at the creation, it must be maintained throughout.
Why RAID 0 is Important?
A RAID 0 setup improves performance significantly when compared to a single drive. For instance, an array of 6 drives will increase data read and write rates 6 times more than individual drive rates with zero data redundancy.