Thecus Technology N7700 Appendix C RAID Basics, Benefits, RAID Levels, Improved Performance

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Appendix C: RAID Basics

Overview

A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) is an array of several hard disks that provide data security and high performance. A RAID system accesses several hard disks simultaneously, which improves I/O performance over a single hard disk. Data security is enhanced by a RAID, since data loss due to a hard disk failure is minimized by regenerating redundant data from the other RAID hard disks.

Benefits

RAID improves I/O performance, and increases data security through fault tolerance and redundant data storage.

Improved Performance

RAID provides access to several hard disk drives simultaneously, which greatly increases I/O performance.

Data Security

Hard disk drive failure unfortunately is a common occurrence. A RAID helps prevent against the loss of data due to hard disk failure. A RAID offers additional hard disk drives that can avert data loss from a hard disk drive failure. If a hard drive fails, the RAID volume can regenerate data from the data and parity stored on its other hard disk drives.

RAID Levels

The Thecus N7700 supports standard RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD. You choose a RAID level when you create a system volume. The factors for selecting a RAID level are:

Your requirements for performance

Your need for data security

Number of hard disk drives in the system, capacity of hard disk drives in the system

The following is a description of each RAID level:

RAID 0

RAID 0 is best suited for applications that need high bandwidth but do not require a high level of data security. The RAID 0 level provides the best performance of all the RAID levels, but it does not provide data redundancy.

RAID 0 uses disk striping and breaking up data into blocks to write across all hard drives in the volume. The system can then use multiple hard drives for faster read and write. The stripe size parameter that was set when the RAID was created determines the size of each block. No parity calculations complicate the write operation.

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Contents Thecus N7700 About This Manual Limited WarrantyCopyright and Trademark Notice Safety Warnings Table of Contents User and Group Management System SettingsStorage Management Network ManagementPrinter Server Overview Login Using WebDisk Photo ServerFile Backup Overview FTP Server ITunes Server Media Server108 Problems with Time and Date Settings 102104 107Product Highlights IntroductionOverview Package Contents Solid green network link Front PanelFront Panel DescriptionHDD Hard Disk TraysRear Panel Hard Disk TraysBack Panel Before You Begin Hardware InstallationHard Disk Installation Cable Connections System Trouble Checking System StatusSystem Status Normal Thecus Setup Wizard First Time SetupPage LCD Controls Display ModeDisplay Mode LCD OperationUSB Copy Typical Setup ProcedureManagement Mode Management ModeStart Services Network SetupCreate Local Users or Setup Authentication Create Folders and Set Up ACLsPage Menu Bar Web Administration InterfaceSystem Management Menu BarProduct Information Language SelectionStatus Menu Product Information System/Service StatusService Status System InformationPrinter Status UPS SettingsPrinter Status System InformationWake-up On Lan Configuration Power ManagementEnable Schedule Power On/Off checkbox UPS SettingsExample Monday On Storage ManagementDisks Information Example Monday On 800 OffA.R.T. Information A.R.T. InformationFailed RAID Information RAID ConfigurationConfiguration screen RAID InformationRAID Levels RAID ConfigurationRAID Configurations RAID LevelCreating a RAID Press Apply to build the RAID storage volumeMigrating a RAID Expanding a RAIDSpace Allocation Allocating Space for iSCSI VolumeUnder the Volume Allocation List, click iSCSI Target Volume Allocation ListIQN Create iSCSI Volume screen appearsCreate iSCSI Volume RAID IDSnapshot Stackable NASACL Folder ManagementAdding Folders FolderEdit Folder Editing FoldersDeleting Folders Add FolderNFS Share Snap Snapshot configurationNFS Share Snapshot Clicking on Snap then screen appears as followingAccess Control List Folder Access Control List ACLFile System Check Page Advance Option File Access CacheISCSI Block Size Samba Anonymous Login AuthenticationSamba Recycle Bin ISCSI CRC/Checksum WAN ConfigurationWAN Configuration Network ManagementN7700 only LAN ConfigurationLAN Configuration Wlan Configuration Dhcp ConfigurationWlan Configuration Dhcp ConfigurationWEP KEY Web Services ConfigurationWlan Dhcp Configuration WAN LAN ExchangeApple Network Configuration AFP Apple Network SetupNFS Setup Web ServiceUser and Group Management Local User ConfigurationNFS Server Setting Local User ConfigurationDeleting Users Local Groups ConfigurationLocal Groups Configuration Modifying UsersModifying Groups Local Group Setting screen appears Enter a Group NameBatch User and Group Creation Adding GroupsADS/NT Support ADS/NT ConfigurationAD Domain Example Information System SettingsNotification Configuration System NotificationsInfo ErrorSystem Logs System LogsTime Time and Date SettingsSystem Configuration Backup and Restore System Configuration Download/UploadModule Management Reset to Factory Default SettingsModule Management Upgrading System Firmware Change Administrator PasswordFirmware Upgrade screen appears Change Administrator PasswordLogout Reboot and Shutdown SystemMB/s Additional Feature SetupFTP Server Selections include Unlimited, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 MB/sMedia Server ITunes ConfigurationITunes Server Go to My Media Connecting DMAs to the Media ServerMedia Manager Settings Adding Media Share FoldersClick on File Add Printer Printer ServerWindows XP SP2 Windows Vista Select or install a printer and then press OK Page Completed / Total download size Download ManagerDownload Tasks Adding an Http Task Page Page Adding an FTP Task Page Page Page Adding a BT Task Page Page ItemDescription Deleting TasksScheduling Downloads Download ScheduleUnder Download Schedule, set Scheduler to Enable User and Group Management Local User Configuration Using the N7700Login Using WebDiskButton Description Photo ServerWindows XP Publishing Wizard Folder Page ButtonsPage Page Page Page Page Photo Password Protecting AlbumsManaging Albums and Photos Creating AlbumsSlide Shows Uploading Pictures to AlbumsExif Information Apple OS Mapping a Client PC to the N7700Windows Windows 2000/XP Mapping the N7700 as an iSCSI DrivePage Page Page Page Nsync File BackupNsync Adding an Nsync TaskNsync Target Server Setting Thecus Backup UtilitySetting Up an Nsync Target on an Nsync Device Setting Up an Nsync Target on Another DeviceAdd New Task Apple OS X Backup Utilities Windows XP Data BackupAdding a Spare Disk Remote AdministrationTips and Tricks USB and eSATA Storage ExpansionPart III Setting up Virtual Servers Https Firewall Software ConfigurationPart I Setup a DynDNS Account Part II Enable Ddns on the RouterRAID Auto-Rebuild Replacing Damaged Hard DrivesHard Drive Damage Replacing a Hard DriveForgot My Network IP Address TroubleshootingRestoring Factory Defaults Problems with Time and Date SettingsPage Product Model N7700 Appendix a Product SpecificationsHardware Specifications Software SpecificationsLCD Appendix B Customer Support Thank you for choosing ThecusImproved Performance Appendix C RAID BasicsBenefits RAID LevelsJbod Stripe SizeRAID Level Percentage Used Disk UsageADS Benefits What is Active Directory?Appendix D Active Directory Basics Brand Series Model Appendix E UPS Compatibility List112 113 Copyrights Appendix F Licensing InformationSource Code Availability GNU General Public License Cgic License TermsPage Page Page 119