INTRODUCTION TO RAID

• RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disk) – to prolong and protect storage

→ Turns multiple physical hard drives into a single logical hard drive

• Types of RAID:
A. RAID 0 – Disk Stripping
➢ allows you to combine multiple hard drives of the same size into a big disk.
➢ It combines multiple hard drives into one logical hard drive, increasing
storage capacity.
➢ Data is written to all the drives sequentially, which improves read and write
speeds.
➢ The drawback is that if one hard drive in the array fails, all data on the RAID
0 is lost.
➢ It provides no redundancy.

B. RAID 1 – Disk Mirroring

➢ It involves creating identical copies of data on two hard drives.
➢ If one hard drive fails, the system can continue to operate with the other
drive.
➢ Hard drives in RAID 1 arrays are typically hot-swappable, allowing for easy
replacement.
➢ It doesn't provide extra storage capacity but offers redundancy.

C. RAID 5 – Disk Striping with Parity

➢ It requires at least three hard drives.
➢ Data is striped across the drives, and parity information is used for
redundancy.
➢ If one drive fails, data can be reconstructed from the remaining drives.
➢ RAID 5 provides both increased storage capacity and redundancy.
➢ Usable space in a RAID 5 array is calculated by adding up the capacity of
all drives and subtracting one for redundancy.

1|ERP 6-7
 D. RAID 6 – Striping with Double Parity
➢ Same as RAID 5 but with 2 redundancy
E. RAID 10 – Combining, Mirroring and Striping
➢ Mirrors of two RAID 5
F. RAID 51- Striping with Parity and Mirroring
G. RAID 61 -
Types of
Advantages
RAID
▪ Great performance in both read
and write operations.
▪ No overhead caused by parity
RAID 0 controls.
▪ All storage capacity is used.
▪ Easy to implement.
▪ Increased read and write
performance.
RAID1 ▪ Fault-tolerant with easy data
recovery in case of drive failure.
▪ Increased performance.
▪ Fault tolerance; can withstand a
single drive failure without data
RAID 5 loss.
▪ Increased read performance.
▪ Redundancy; can withstand the
failure of two drives.
RAID 6
▪ Fault-tolerant with fast recovery in
case of drive failure.
▪ Very high performance due to the
RAID 10
combination of mirroring and
striping.
Disadvantages
▪ Not fault-tolerant; if one drive fails,
all data in the RAID 0 array is lost.
▪ Not suitable for mission-critical
systems.
▪ Effective storage capacity is only
half of the total drive capacity.
▪ Hot-swapping of failed drives may
not be supported in some software
RAID 1 solutions.
▪ Drive failures have an effect on
performance.
▪ Read data transactions are very
fast, but write transactions are
comparatively slower due to parity
calculations.
▪ Slower write data transactions
compared to RAID 5.
▪ Rebuilding an array with a failed
drive can take a long time due to
the complexity of the technology.
▪ Lower usable capacity; half of the
storage capacity is used for
mirroring.
▪ Higher cost compared to larger
RAID 5 or RAID 6 arrays.
2|ERP 6-7
RAID – Not equal to backup

RAID ARRAYS – created using either a hard drive controller or software

A. Hardware RAID – allows you to install
B. Software RAID – good for storing data
➢ Should already have
➢ Can slow down computer
➢ Part of the operating system

Size of your RAID is bigger than the volume of it

Size of array – total space allocated for that array

Volume of array – amount of usable size

Tinkering with your RAID may destroy your data

➢ Better to be safe than sorry

RAID 0,1, and 5 – standard; most common type of RAID

Hardware RAID – can put OS

RAID Backup

Software RAID – not advisable;

no OS

Hot
Read
HDD
Storage Hardware
Cold
Write
SDP
Flash drive

DATA/INFO

Application RESTORE
Software

REBUILD

Applicating System
Software Software

3|ERP 6-7
4|ERP 6-7
5|ERP 6-7
6|ERP 6-7
7|ERP 6-7
 INCREMENTAL vs DIFFERENTIAL BACKUP

• Backup Types
→ Fault tolerance – is the prevention of data loss if a component fails.
➢ Virtual Machine; RAID System
→ Disaster recovery – is the process of rebuilding an organization's data after a
disaster has happened, such as data loss.
➢ Disaster – can be manmade or natural (fortuitous)

1. Full – backs up all the data

➢ simplest form of backup to perform because only one tape is used.
➢ longest to perform.
➢ data can be restored in one session.

2. Incremental – much faster than a full

➢ only data that is backed up, is that data that has been changed since the
last full or incremental it takes the longest when you have to restore the data
mental backup.
➢ you have to restore the full backup along with the incremental backups, and
you have to restore the incremental in the same order as you backed them
up.

3. Differential – faster than a full backup but it's not as fast as an incremental
backup.
➢ the data that is backed up is that data that has been changed since the last
full backup.
➢ Only need the last full backup and the last differential backup to completely
restore your data.

8|ERP 6-7
 Backup
BACKUP TYPE Description Restore Speed
Speed
1. Full ✓ Backs up all data
Slow Fast
✓ Simplest to perform
2. Incremental ✓ Backs up data changed Slow
since last full or Fast (must restore full
incremental backup. and incremental)
3. Differential Moderate
✓ Backs up data changed
Moderate (requires full and last
since the last full backup.
differential)

NAS vs SAN

• NAS (Network Attached Storage) – centralized storage for storing data on a

network.
→ Will have multiple hard drives in a RAID configuration.
→ Directly attach to a switch or router on a network.
→ Used in homes and they are also used in small to medium-sized businesses.
→ It has a single point of failure

• SAN (Storage Area Network) – a special high-speed network that stores and
provides access to large amounts of data.
→ Fault Tolerant
→ Data is also shared among several disk arrays.
→ Servers accesses the data as if it was a local hard drive.
→ Highly Scalable
→ Highspeed Network
→ Interconnected using Fiber Channel – Fiber Optics
➢ Speeds between 2 Gbits/s – 128 Gbits/s
➢ Expensive
→ Some SANs use iSCSI instead Which is a cheaper alternative to fiber channel,
but it's also not as fast as fiber channel.

9|ERP 6-7
→ Not affected by network traffic such as bottlenecks that can happen in a local
area network.
→ A network all by itself
→ Very redundant
→ Very expensive
→ Mainly used by large companies and large organizations.

Backup – hardware & software

NAS – storage device used for storing data.

SAN – dedicated network that's used for data storage and this network consists of
multiple disk arrays, switches, and servers.

IT Governance – sets the tone; standard; control; and service value delivery.

Mission + Vision = Governance

Response & Restrictions

DEV – Development > QAS – Testing > PROD – Application of DEV & QAS; Production –
UAT (User Acceptance Testing)

Data archiving – old files preservation

ERP – standard 3 servers

10 | E R P 6 - 7