Is it possible to create RAID 0+1 like this?

[Capt_Caveman]

Currently, I have three hard drives: 80gb, 120gb, 160gb. I just picked-up for $30 another 80gb hdd (same model and brand as current 80gb).

Is it possible to create a RAID 0+1 w/ the 2x80gb hdd striped and partition the 160gb hdd as 2x80gb hdds and use them to the mirroring?

If not, is there a way to mirror the 2x80gb RAID 0 hdds w/ the 160gb hdd?

[Tebore]

Currently, I have three hard drives: 80gb, 120gb, 160gb. I just picked-up for $30 another 80gb hdd (same model and brand as current 80gb).

Is it possible to create a RAID 0+1 w/ the 2x80gb hdd striped and partition the 160gb hdd as 2x80gb hdds and use them to the mirroring?

If not, is there a way to mirror the 2x80gb RAID 0 hdds w/ the 160gb hdd?

It's up to the controller.
Won't help though. The 80gigs will be doing RAID 0 but then the RAID 1 kicks in knocking the RAID 0 Array in to the speed of the single 160. That's why in usual RAID 0+1s it's 4 drives.

[nicspits]

tebore is right on. I'd just regularly backup your raid 0 onto the 160 separately and restore from taht if your raid array falls apart. otherwise there's no point, sorry.

[ZL1]

Currently, I have three hard drives: 80gb, 120gb, 160gb. I just picked-up for $30 another 80gb hdd (same model and brand as current 80gb).

Is it possible to create a RAID 0+1 w/ the 2x80gb hdd striped and partition the 160gb hdd as 2x80gb hdds and use them to the mirroring?

If not, is there a way to mirror the 2x80gb RAID 0 hdds w/ the 160gb hdd?

I dont think the controller will play along


D

[mortimer]

It's up to the controller.
Won't help though. The 80gigs will be doing RAID 0 but then the RAID 1 kicks in knocking the RAID 0 Array in to the speed of the single 160. That's why in usual RAID 0+1s it's 4 drives.
Tebore is right. Consider using a software solution that is capable of doing a "clean" restore and stripe the two 80s.

[mortimer]

Just reread the original post. One problem with RAID is that you need to have identical drives in all respects from a performance perspective. By that I mean that an 80GB IBM (say) and an 80 GB Seagate (say) may not work in a RAID configuration at all. If they do work, performance will be at the slower of the two.

[Sonny]

Currently, I have three hard drives: 80gb, 120gb, 160gb. I just picked-up for $30 another 80gb hdd (same model and brand as current 80gb).

Is it possible to create a RAID 0+1 w/ the 2x80gb hdd striped and partition the 160gb hdd as 2x80gb hdds and use them to the mirroring?

If not, is there a way to mirror the 2x80gb RAID 0 hdds w/ the 160gb hdd?

No, not in RAID0+1. Partitioning the drive is will not make it look like 2 physically separate drives to a hardware controller. RAID0+1 requires that you have 4 physically separate, nothing less.

Unless the software you are using guarantees it can image a RAID0 Array & have a successful restore of that image do not trust imaging software.

It's up to the controller.
Won't help though. The 80gigs will be doing RAID 0 but then the RAID 1 kicks in knocking the RAID 0 Array in to the speed of the single 160. That's why in usual RAID 0+1s it's 4 drives.

Incorrect, what you are trying to describe with a 3 HDD RAID Array is not a irregular form of RAID0+1 nor is it the reason why RAID0+1 requires 4 drives.

[Tebore]

No, not in RAID0+1. Partitioning the drive is will not make it look like 2 physically separate drives to a hardware controller. RAID0+1 requires that you have 4 physically separate, nothing less.

Unless the software you are using guarantees it can image a RAID0 Array & have a successful restore of that image do not trust imaging software.



Incorrect, what you are trying to describe with a 3 HDD RAID Array is not a irregular form of RAID0+1 nor is it the reason why RAID0+1 requires 4 drives.

Sorry I meant to say most who run 0+1 with performance in mind would use four drive. I know some controllers allow a 3 drive array but I'm saying there's no point.

[Capt_Caveman]

Thanks for the info folks. Before creating a RAID 0, my mobo actually has 3 different RAID controls. I may play around with Intel Matrix Storage. Doing some research, it appears you can create a RAID 0 and separate RAID 1 on just two disk drives and then use a third disk as a swappable hot-back-up to the first two drives. Any experience with this? I'll let you know how it works-out.

I found some info on this:

http://techreport.com/reviews/2005q1/matrix-raid/index.x?pg=1
http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=matrixraid&page=1&cookie%5Ftest=1
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Features/intelmatrixich6r/index.html

[Sonny]

Sorry I meant to say most who run 0+1 with performance in mind would use four drive. I know some controllers allow a 3 drive array but I'm saying there's no point.

Don't apologize, if ever it was me who came off a bit rude. Most onboard 2 Channel PATA RAID Controllers allow for 2 - 4 drive arrays & some with a RAID BIOS update can support RAID5 with 3 HDD but it is true that there is a huge hit on CPU cycles making it a terrible choice when compared to a dedicated controller card with its own processor.

Thanks for the info folks. Before creating a RAID 0, my mobo actually has 3 different RAID controls. I may play around with Intel Matrix Storage. Doing some research, it appears you can create a RAID 0 and separate RAID 1 on just two disk drives and then use a third disk as a swappable hot-back-up to the first two drives. Any experience with this? I'll let you know how it works-out.

That’s possible with Intel's new tech. One thing you have to remember is that RAID0+1, 1 or what you’re planning to do offers no form of error correction. You get slower write performance when compared to RAID0 or single drive configuration & when slow corruption occurs over time, will happen with IDE HDDs (SATA & PATA are both IDE), your backup will have the same issues.