[Klug-general] Software Vs Hardware Raid

[Peter Frost]

Peter Childs wrote:
> I am trying to get the pros and cons straight in my mind.
> 
> Software Raid
> 
> Easy to configure
> Cheap Just put more drivers in your machine

  + Not tied to a single brand of RAID controller (you can replace your 
SATA controller/motherboard with a different one, put the array into 
another machine, etc.); my understanding is that with hardware RAID you 
generally have to stick to one chipset or set of chipsets, otherwise 
your array will stop working. I have always used software RAID though so 
I may be mistaken.


> Hardware Raid
> 
> Can be faster than software raid but with most modern process you will
> not notice the difference
> Some Hardware Raid is better than others (Easier to configure, Speed etc)
> Needs to be battery backed to really be worth it
> Just works even under Windows
> Limit on Raid Options with some Raid Cards
> 
>>From what I've read unless you using a Raid card with a Battery Backed
> Write cache (these are very expensive) you are acutally better of
> using Software Raid Drivers esspecally with a modern multicore
> processor.
> 
> I have used Hardware Raid with PATA drivers and yes its not bad
> (3Ware) but since SATA is Hot Swappable as standard it should not be a
> problem especially as most high end boards have 5 SATA sockets and
> more can be added relatively cheaply.
> 
> Does anyone want to argue?
> 
> Peter.
> 
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