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What are RAID 5 arrays?

RAID 5 arrays are the type of RAID, striping parity and data across its disks. They can be made with minimum 3 hard disks. It has many characteristics similar to RAID 4 array.

How can the RAID 5 array be set up?

A software RAID uses a standard operating system as a Windows XP, in which it is built into. As the software RAID is using the memory and CPU of the host computer, it delays all applications.

There are two ways in which they can be set up-hardware and software. Hardware RAID requires a good controller such as a RAID 5 JBOD, SATA RAID 5 controller or PCI RAID 5 controller to be inserted on the RAID 5 motherboard. In a hardware RAID set up there is no strain on the memory or CPU cycle of the computer.

Where RAID 5 arrays most applicable?

RAID 5 arrays are best used to counter fault tolerance. It has a fairly good read performance while its write performance is not credible. Hence, it cannot be used in application requiring a speedy writing rate. Though for applications such as email servers requiring high reading performance can work with RAID 5. In relational databases, the potential of RAID 5 can be exploited.

Advantages of RAID 5 arrays

  • It has high fault tolerance. A single disk failure can be tolerated.
  • Good read performance.
  • Cost-effective

Disadvantages of RAID 5 arrays

  • Write performance is bad because of overhead created by error correction bits.
  • Require special controllers.

    • RAID 5 arrays and recovery

    RAID 5 failures occur for a host of reasons such as bad sectors, virus attack, hard disk error, etc. When such errors occur in only one disk, then it can be quickly recovered by RAID 5 XOR of the data of the remaining disks. But the problem arises when multiple disk failures occur. RAID 5 hot spare disks can to an extent manage the problem but it is always better to keep the number of disks in an array below 14 to avoid multiple disk errors.

    RAID recovery can be done in a number of ways. If it is a system RAID error like a missing partition, it can be solved by software or by an online recovery company. Whereas in case there is a problem in the disks, it should be recovered by the skilled technicians in the recovery laboratories.

    for more information see article about RAID 5 Recovery.