what is the best RAID type to use for SQL server?

Question

I am planning to setup 2 SQL server and cluster both servers, i wanted to know which RAID type can maximize the the ability of both clustered server with regards to data accessing and i want to make sure that the data will be safe in case any trouble arise

Answer 1

Don't hold me to this now, but i think your going to want to go with Raid 5. In your example you want speed, reliability, and ease. Raid 5 is your man. Raid 5 is a great choice but you may also look into Raid 3, it performs much the same way as Raid 5 however if one drive fails, they will not all receive a performance hit like in raid 5, however all drives must be spinning in sync... You may be wondering what the advantage of Raid 5 is then ey? Well, With Raid 5 you can specify the Physical Block size and it uses an "interleave" data method to write and read on that block specified, were as Raid 3 uses parity methodology. I don't know too much else about raid systems.

- hope i helped some... -

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Answer 2

You can check this video tutorial on

SAN SQL Server Cluster Sizing and How to Plan Implementation

at

http://wtv.watchtechvideos.com/topic216.html



You will get complete picture on RAID, Sizing etc

Answer 3

How much money do you have to spend?

Go for a Hardware Raid Controller with hot spare configured.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID for more info.

I have only used adaptec controllers in the past.

RAID can involve significant computation when reading and writing information. With traditional "real" RAID hardware, a separate controller does this computation.