Question about RAID 1

[Magnusfarce]

I'm thinking about setting my main (OS) drive up with a second in a RAID 1
configuration. What actually happens if one of the drives goes bad? Does
the system detect this and just keep going off the hard drive that's still
good? Would you be able to replace the bad drive without restoring the
entire system?

I know the main purpose of RAID 1 is redundancy, but how does it actually
come into play? In the materials I've studied about RAID 1, I've never seen
this discussed.

- Magnusfarce

 

[Jim]

I'm thinking about setting my main (OS) drive up with a second in a RAID 1
configuration. What actually happens if one of the drives goes bad? Does
the system detect this and just keep going off the hard drive that's still
good?

Yes, the system typically keeps functioning. If you have the client
software installed for the hardware RAID, you'll probably receive some sort
of Windows message. At a minimum, when rebooting, the RAID hardware's BIOS
will report the failure, require you to acknowledge a message, and take
appropriate action (continue or replace the drive). On simple RAID
hardware, you'll need to shutdown to add a replacement drive. On more
sophisicated RAID hardware, you may be able to do a hot replacement. In
either case, you then instruct the RAID hardware to rebuild the mirror.

Would you be able to replace the bad drive without restoring the

entire system?

Not sure what you're asking. The "system" is duplicated across both drives.
When one fails, the system just keeps going, on the one remaining drive.
Only issue for you is to get a replacement HD ASAP so the mirror can be
rebuilt. During this period, you are vulnerable to failure of the second
HD, of course.

I know the main purpose of RAID 1 is redundancy, but how does it actually
come into play? In the materials I've studied about RAID 1, I've never seen
this discussed.

If one HD fails, the other takes over, not much more complicated than that.
Mirroring *is* redundancy, by definition.

Jim

 

[Magnusfarce]

Thank you, Jim. Exactly what I was looking for.

- Magnusfarce