How to Create RAID 5 Volume | Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Definition and Concept of RAID 5 Volume

RAID 5 Volume

We can define RAID 5 Volume as an acronym for Redundant Array of Inexpensive (or Independent) Disks. RAID 5 volume existing on three to 32 disks. RAID 5 volume can offer better performance for reading process. In Windows Server 2003 RAID 5 volume is not expandable or mirrored, and RAID 5 volume does not have concern with the boot and system partitions. RAID 5 volume is fault tolerance but the fault tolerance is provided by equality information. As with a striped volume, data is written regularly across all disks in 64-KB chunks. Unlike with disk striping, the available space (the stripe) on one disk is used for equality information. To enhance performance, the equality information is split across all the disks in the volume, written in stripes like the data. Writing performance is inferior, because the equality must be calculated during the writing process. If most processes are read-oriented, RAID 5 volume provides noteworthy performance advantages.

How many disks is part of the RAID array defined the utilization of disk. The equivalent of one disk is used for writing the equality information. If we have three disks, one-third of the total disk space is used for equality information, so we will be able to use two-thirds of the space we purchase for data. If we have 10 disks in the array, only one-tenth of the total space will be utilized for equality. However, when we use more disks we can get more excellent disk usage.

Advantages & Disadvantage of RAID 5 Volume

RAID 5 Volume provides fault tolerance by calculating equality information, which recreates the data on the other disks. Equality information is written to one disk in each stripe, because data is striped across all the disks in a volume. If one disk is failed then the equality information regenerates the lost data. But if we have found the breakdown of more than one disk then all of our data will be lost.

When To Use RAID 5 Volume?

We can deploy the RAID 5 in the given conditions:

• If enhanced read performance of a striped volume is required.
• If fault tolerance with the most proficient level of disk operation possible.
• When we are using too many disks to use a mirror and we required fault tolerance.

How To Create & Deploy RAID 5 Volume?

Step 1: Right-click the unallocated space and Click New Volume on the menu. The New Volume Wizard will start and Click Next to continue.

Create a RAID 5 Volume

Step 2: Select Volume Type as RAID 5 and Click Next to continue.
Step 3: Select the Disks, we have to use for RAID 5 and assign the space to be used for the striped volume and click Next to continue.
Step 4: Select a Drive Letter or Mount to an NTFS folder.

Selecting to Create a RAID 5 Volume

Adding Disks to the RAID 5 Volume

Assigning a Drive Letter or Path

Step 5: Format the new RAID 5 Volume and Click Next.
Step 6: The Completing the New Volume Wizard will appear, now click Finish to complete.

Formatting the RAID 5 Volume

Finishing the New Volume Wizard

Posted by Fahad Bin Ali KhilGi - You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can also leave a response or trackback to this entry. - Thank You - | - ALLAH HAFIZ