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RAID Levels Explained: Which One Should You Use?

Data reliability redefined, but only with the right level

11 min. read

Updated onOctober 23, 2023

updated onOctober 23, 2023

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A good hard drive disk does not come cheap, so it’s no surprise users would opt to create a RAID. The only issue is that there are different RAID levels. If you don’t understand the requirements, benefits, and drawbacks of using each, you may end up disappointed.

This doesn’t have to be you. We’ve compiled this article to debunk the different RAID levels so that you can configure the right one as per your hardware.

What is RAID?

This is a data redundancy technology that is frequently used to improve the performance of a hard drive. It does so by creating abackup solutionby mirroring your disks to cushion againsthard drive failure.

Since it creates multiple virtual hard disks, it also stretches your drive’s storage capacity with no performance degradation.

What are the different RAID levels?

Before we get to the RAID levels, you need to understand you can configure RAID in two ways: hardware or software.

1. RAID 0 (Striped Array)

Overview of RAID 0

In this array, each drive receives the same amount of data. This is done by striping the data across each drive, hence the nameStriped array. The result is that all of the drives can read and write at the same time, increasing performance.

If you’re looking to use this level of RAID, ensure it is for non-critical operations because of the data loss volatility issue.

Benefits of Using RAID 0

Drawbacks of Using RAID 0

2. RAID 1 (Mirrored Array)

Overview of RAID 1

This storage technology provides fault tolerance by using two or more disks to hold identical data.

When one disk fails, the other disk can continue to work seamlessly in its place. As long as at least one disk in the array continues to function properly, all data remains available.

You can easilyconfigure RAID 1from your Settings app hence it’s no surprise that it is the most popular RAID type used.

Benefits of Using RAID 1

Drawbacks of Using RAID 1

3. RAID 4 (Striping and parity)

Overview of RAID 4

RAID 4 is a bit like RAID 1 but with striping. The difference is that RAID 4 strips data across all drives in the array. This gives you more throughput than RAID 1.

If any one drive in the array fails, the other drives can be used to rebuild the data on a replacement drive. It is generally used in servers where high performance is required.

Benefits of Using RAID 4

Drawbacks of Using RAID 4

4. RAID 5 (Redundant Array)

Overview of RAID 5

RAID 5 is similar to RAID 4 but with a few differences. The array is comprised of multiple disks that are divided into blocks called stripes. The number of disks in an array and the amount of space allocated on each disk determines the array’s capacity.

It also provides for faster access times and more consistent performance. This is because all drives can be accessed at once instead of waiting for one drive to complete its operation before another can access it.

This is a common choice for servers that need high levels of data protection and increased performance.

Benefits of Using RAID 5

Drawbacks of Using RAID 5

5. RAID 6 (Double parity striping)

Overview of RAID 6

This type of RAID provides both data redundancy and performance benefits. It uses two parity disks to protect against the loss of data and can survive up to two simultaneous drive failures.

The extra parity information increases performance by allowing blocks to be read and written simultaneously instead of having to wait for parity calculations to finish first.

Benefits of Using RAID 6

Drawbacks of Using RAID 6

6. RAID 10 (Mirroring and striping)

Overview of RAID 10

RAID 10 is a RAID level that combines the performance and redundancy of RAID 0 with the mirroring of RAID 1. This means that data is written to multiple drives, but it’s also written as individual blocks stripes across all drives.

This way, if one drive fails, the other disks can continue functioning and allow you to rebuild the data from the remaining disks in the array.

It is an excellent choice for performance-sensitive applications where you need fast reads and writes without sacrificing protection against drive failure.

Benefits of Using RAID 10

Drawbacks of Using RAID 10

A summary of the RAID levels in tabular form:

What RAID level should I use?

Each RAID level offers different benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to understand the tradeoffs before you make a decision. Your answer should be guided by a few factors: cost, capacity, redundancy, and performance.

If performance is your primary concern, choose RAID 10, RAID 6 if data redundancy is more important, and RAID 5 if capacity is more important than either performance or data redundancy.

When selecting the safest RAID level, look for one with disk mirroring properties. Depending on your needs, you can go for either RAID 1 or RAID 10.

Ultimately, whichever RAID level you choose will depend on your specific needs. With the right selection, you canhave more storage spacewithout worrying about losing any of your data.

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand how the different RAID levels work, and you’ll feel up to the task putting these skills into practice.

We’d love to hear about your experience with any of the RAID levels mentioned above, so engage us in the comments section below.

RAID Levels Explained: Which One Should You Use?#

What are the different RAID levels?#

1. RAID 0 (Striped Array)#

2. RAID 1 (Mirrored Array)#

3. RAID 4 (Striping and parity)#

4. RAID 5 (Redundant Array)#

5. RAID 6 (Double parity striping)#

6. RAID 10 (Mirroring and striping)#

What RAID level should I use?#