SuperTrak66™ User's Manual | Chapter 6 |
One solution is to create two (2) mirroring (RAID Level 1) arrays using four (4) drives (2 drives per array). Array 1 can be used for the bootable system files. Array 2 can be used for the user or data files. With SuperTrak66, Array 1 would consist of drives 1 and 3, while Array 2 would use drives 2 and 4. Such a mirroring array architecture effectively boosts the performance of each array as well as providing data redundant data storage. In this configuration, heavy swap file access on Array 1 under significant load will not affect the transfer performance of the user/data array (Array 2).
Mid-Sized Windows NT Application Server
As previously described, it is best to separate the system/boot drive from the user/data drive because of the intensive file swapping I/Os which the disk system is subjected to from normal operation of Windows NT under heavy loads. For an NT application server, there are three possible recommended configurations for performance and reliability:
1)Striping/Mirroring (RAID 0+1) - 4 drives total. Two (2) drives are striped together and mirrored to two other striped drives. This provides good performance for read/write operations as well as single drive fault tolerance.
2)Block and Parity Striping with "Hot" Spare (RAID 5) - 4 drives total:
3 drives striped with rotating striped parity, and 1 drive una ssigned as a "hot spare”. This provides performance similar to configuration #1 above, but also offers better drive fault tolerance with immediate drive rebuilds.
3)Block and Parity Striping (RAID 5) - 4 drives total: all drives striped with rotating striped parity. This provides excellent read performance and single drive fault tolerance.
Configuration #1 exhibits good reliability from fault tolerance and good data transfer performance. Configuration #2 yields excellent reliability and good data transfers (though slower on writes than #1). Configuration #3 offers excellent performance and good reliability. The choice of which configuration to use should be made based on your particular needs to balance performance with data protection.
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