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RAID Vs. JBOD Vs. Standard HDDs
Ravengbc writes "I am in the process of planning and buying some hardware to build a media center/media server. While there are still quite a few things on it that I haven't decided on, such as motherboard/processor, and windows XP vs. Linux, right now my debate is about storage. I'm wanting to have as much storage as possible, but redundancy seems to be important too." Read on for this reader's questions about the tradeoffs among straight HDDs, RAID 5, and JBOD.
At first I was thinking about just putting in a bunch HDDs. Then I started thinking about doing a RAID array, looking at RAID 5. However, some of the stuff I was initially told about RAID 5, I am now learning is not true. Some of the limitations I'm learning about: RAID 5 drives are limited to the size of the smallest drive in the array. And the way things are looking, even if I gradually replace all of the drives with larger ones, the array will still read the original size. For example, say I have 3x500gb drives in RAID 5 and over time replace all of them with 1TB drives. Instead of reading one big 3tb drive, it will still read 1.5tb. Is this true? I also considered using JBOD simply because I can use different size HDDs and have them all appear to be one large one, but there is no redundancy with this, which has me leaning away from it. If y'all were building a system for this purpose, how many drives and what size drives would you use and would you do some form of RAID, or what?
At first I was thinking about just putting in a bunch HDDs. Then I started thinking about doing a RAID array, looking at RAID 5. However, some of the stuff I was initially told about RAID 5, I am now learning is not true. Some of the limitations I'm learning about: RAID 5 drives are limited to the size of the smallest drive in the array. And the way things are looking, even if I gradually replace all of the drives with larger ones, the array will still read the original size. For example, say I have 3x500gb drives in RAID 5 and over time replace all of them with 1TB drives. Instead of reading one big 3tb drive, it will still read 1.5tb. Is this true? I also considered using JBOD simply because I can use different size HDDs and have them all appear to be one large one, but there is no redundancy with this, which has me leaning away from it. If y'all were building a system for this purpose, how many drives and what size drives would you use and would you do some form of RAID, or what?
Nothing can possibly go wrong. Especially if you use, like, 10 disks.
You can just download them again, right?
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
Out of all the details you're still working on, you decided to ask Slashdotters about storage?
Why not the "windows XP vs. Linux" bit? Do you want 100 responses or 1000?
Media Server: n. A euphamism for digital porn storage.
Actually, the failed hard disk will personnaly walk to you.
No sig for now.
Raid 0 won't protect you, man!
Seriously though, how hard is it to type "RAID" into Google?
Not hard at all...
This guy's the limit!
Hell yeah.
Cool but untested tech is always best recommended to others before you try it. Preferably LOTS of others.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
Nonsense! Everything you need to know is in the RAID 5 song:
(My friend Rich actually came up with this. I like him too much to slashdot him, though.)
Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
You're telling me. Any topic that generates 380+ comments worth of discussion is obviously a wasted endeavor.