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What is RAID 0? A Complete Guide
What is RAID 0 and how does it work? RAID 0 is a type of disk striping. It stores data by dividing it into data blocks. Let's find out more!
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What is RAID 0? A Complete Guide
RAID 0 is popular for its use of inexpensive drives.
In a RAID 0 with two hard drives, half of your data will be stored on one drive, and the other half on the other.
What is RAID 0’s strong suit? The benefits of RAID 0 are its fast Read and Write performance. RAID 0 does not have parity. Meaning it does not require overhead. This is a good thing. All capacity is used because there are no parity controls.
Let’s dive deeper and discuss what is RAID 0 – the good and the bad. Here are some important questions you need to answer before deciding to use RAID 0 for your data storage needs.
RAID 0 : What you need to know
Why Should I Use RAID 0 and How is it Faster?
What is RAID 0 best known for is its speed. You should use RAID 0 when your main priority is speed and cache. RAID 0 is ideal for photo and video storage.
It has fast Read and Write functions. A single file, like a raw video file, can use all the speed and capacity of all the drives of the array. These are just a few of the benefits of RAID 0.
In RAID 0, uploading and downloading files is very fast. Maybe one of the fastest of all RAID levels. So, if speed is your main concern, this RAID type may be for you.
Can I run RAID 0 on SSDs?
Yes, you can use SSDs in a RAID 0 setup. What is RAID 0 like on an SSD? In fact, it runs better with SSDs than with hard disk drives.
Unlike SSDs, HDDs are not fast enough for the bandwidth increase. So, using SSDs in your RAID 0 array works well.
Is RAID 0 Good for Gaming?
RAID 0 increases the loading time of the game, but it does not improve performance of the gamer. And since it has zero fault tolerance, you are at risk of losing your gaming data.
Is SSD RAID 0 Ideal for Gaming?
A RAID 0 array using SSDs has a faster READ/WRITE operation, increasing the load time on games. But you are still at risk of losing all your data when one of the drives fails. We highly recommend you back up all your files if you decide to use a RAID 0.
How Reliable is RAID 0?
RAID 0 may be efficient in terms of speed, but it is not the most reliable RAID type. Because RAID 0 splits all data into blocks and spreads them across all disks in the array, experiencing a loss of just one drive is detrimental.
So, What is RAID 0 most vulnerable for?
Data loss! It is vital to back up for RAID 0 to a more reliable source.
How Many Failures Can RAID 0 Withstand and Remain Functional?
What is RAID 0’s limit for failure? The answer is zero. RAID 0 also means zero failure tolerance.
One disk failure causes a total loss of data and will require professional data recovery to salvage the data. Check out our RAID Data Recovery Services.
Why Use a RAID 0 Disk Configuration?
Using a RAID 0 disk configuration is helpful in improving the overall disk performance so you can enjoy the highly fast and efficient benefits of RAID 0. RAID 0 arrays are great for those who require a quick READ/WRITE operation for faster data access and load time.
How Do I Setup a RAID 0?
Before you start, make sure you backup your important data files. As mentioned above, RAID 0 has zero fault tolerance, so, back up is vital. In fact, we recommend you make three files.
The original copy, the backup file, and the backup of the backup.
How to Setup RAID 0 in Windows 10:
Windows 10 has made it easy to set up a RAID 0 array. Just follow these easy steps:
- Install two or more drives in your computer and let it boot into Windows 10.
- Open “Storage Space.” It is easier if you just type “Storage Space” in Search Windows.
- Select “Create A New Pool and Storage Space.”
- Click on the drop-down menu under “Resiliency” and choose RAID 0.
- Set the drive size under “Size” if necessary, otherwise, it should default to the right setting.
- Select “Create Storage Space.” This will take a few seconds to complete the process.
- When done, you should be able to see a single disk with the correct size in Windows Explorer.
- Search for “Manage Storage Spaces” in the search bar to monitor the array.
How to Setup RAID 0 on Windows 7:
- Open your start menu. Right click on Computer, choose “Manage.”
- Click on “Disk Management.”
- Right-click on any unallocated drives and choose “New Striped Volume” from the drop-down.
- This will open a “New Striped Wizard.” Click “Next” and select the disks you want included in your new volume.
- Assign a mount letter or mount point.
- Name and format the volume. And then click next.
- A review of all your settings, click on “Next.”
- You will receive a warning. Click on “Yes”
How to Setup RAID 0 SSD:
- Install SSDs into your computer.
- Go into the bios to set up the proper SATA mode under peripherals.
- Select “SATA Configuration.
- Click on “SATA mode Selection” and enable “RAID.”
- After reboot, press CTRL+I.
- Select “Create RAID Volume.”
- Name the volume and select RAID level. In this instance, RAID 0.
- Choose the disks you want to use
- Set the strip size.
- Leave “Capacity” to default.
- Click on “Create Volume.”
Hopefully this article has given you a better understanding of What is RAID 0, its benefits, uses, and its faults.
RAID 0 is not for everyone, there may be other RAID levels that will better fit your needs. Make sure to weigh the benefits and risks of using a RAID 0 before you determine if it’s the right RAID for you. And don’t forget to keep multiple backups of your important data.
