What is RAID?

[CyrilC]

What is RAID?

RAID originally (Redundant array of inexpensive disks now commonly known as Redundant array of independent disks)
The term "RAID" was invented by David Patterson, Garth A. Gibson, and Randy Katz at the University of California, Berkeley in 1987.

RAID is a robust method of storing critical data where 2 or more disks are combined to form a single virtual disk and the data is distributed on the small stripes created on the disk.
Using the RAID ensures that the data on each independent disk is safe as it reduces the load on the disk as the data is distributed also enables the server to perform faster than normal to fetch data.
RAID is usually configured to ensure data loss due to disk failures.
RAID allows data to be replicated on one or more disks; the replica ensures that even if one disk fails the data can be fetched from the other disks while the administrator can resolve the disk failure minimizing the downtime.


Regards,
Cyril Clive

[techinfo]

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. That means that RAID is a way of logically putting multiple disks together into a single array. The idea then is that these disks working together will have the speed and/or reliability of a more expensive disk

[Naheed]

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. That means that RAID is a way of logically putting multiple disks together into a single array. The idea then is that these disks working together will have the speed and/or reliability of a more expensive disk

Yes, you are right. RAID helps in connecting numerous mass storage drives together
and having them appear like one disk. RAID also helps in improving the read speed.
All raids give good read speed and good redundancy too.

[Scott_H]

RAID, which stands for redundant array of independent disks, is a data storage virtualization system that combines many physical disk drive components into one or more logical units for data redundancy, performance, or both. RAID should not be considered as a substitute for data backup. If you're putting important data on a RAID array, make sure you back it up to another physical disk or logical group of drives. RAID levels refer to the many ways in which the disks can be combined into the array. Each RAID level has its own set of features such as Fault-tolerance, Performance, and capacity.