Requirements for setting up RAID:
- For RAID configuration, it is imperative that both the motherboard and BIOS support this functionality.
- Ensure the motherboard has at least 2 or more available slots for SATA protocol SSD/HDDs, including MSATA, M.2 SATA, and 2.5-inch SATA hard drives. It's advisable to use hard drives with matching capacities to optimize storage space.
- Prior to setting up RAID, it's essential to back up any important data stored on the hard drives, as this process will result in the deletion of all existing data.
- Please note that operating systems installed in AHCI or other modes cannot function in RAID mode. You'll need to reinstall the operating system in RAID mode to ensure proper functionality.
- Following RAID setup, only UEFI mode is supported for the installation of the operating system.
1.Press the Del key rapidly after pressing the computer's power button to enter BIOS Setup.
2.In the BIOS, select to Chipset > PCH-IO Configuration > SATA And RTS Configuration > Set the "SATA Mode Selection" to "Intel RST Premium with Intel Optane System Acceleration." > Press the Esc key on the keyboard to exit the current page. Finally, select "Save & Exit."
3.After restarting, quickly press the Del key to enter the BIOS. Select to "Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology" > "Create RAID Volume" > RAID level, such as RAID 0, RAID 1, or RAID 5 (Note: RAID requires at least three SATA hard drives for setup). In this tutorial, we will use RAID 0 as an example, but you can choose according to your needs. Select the disks by using the spacebar and then click "Create Volume."
- Introduction to RAID0, RAID1, and RAID5:
RAID 0 is a straightforward data striping technology without redundancy. Unlike traditional RAID configurations, RAID 0 lacks redundancy mechanisms. It aggregates multiple disks into a larger storage volume by distributing data across them. Data is accessed and distributed independently across all disks, enabling parallel I/O operations and efficient utilization of bus bandwidth. Due to its omission of data parity calculations, RAID 0 boasts the highest performance among RAID levels. In theory, a RAID 0 setup comprising n disks can achieve read/write speeds that are n times faster than a single disk. However, practical performance gains are often lower than theoretical values due to constraints like bus bandwidth limitations.
Despite its lack of data redundancy, RAID 0 presents several advantages, including affordability, high read/write performance, and full utilization of available storage capacity. Nonetheless, data corruption in RAID 0 can lead to permanent data loss since there's no redundancy for recovery. Hence, RAID 0 is best suited for applications prioritizing performance over data security and reliability, such as video and audio storage, temporary data caching, and similar scenarios.
RAID 1, or mirroring, duplicates data simultaneously on both the primary disk and its mirror counterpart. This setup yields a disk space utilization rate of 50%. While RAID 1 may marginally affect response time during data writes, it leaves data read operations unaffected. With RAID 1, data protection is paramount. In the event of a primary disk failure, the system seamlessly retrieves data from the mirror disk without disrupting user activities. The operational principle is illustrated in the accompanying diagram.
In contrast to RAID 0, RAID 1 prioritizes data security by maintaining identical data copies on two disks. This configuration enhances security, simplifies technology, and streamlines management processes. RAID 1 offers complete fault tolerance capabilities but typically entails higher implementation costs. It finds application in scenarios necessitating high sequential read/write performance and emphasizing data protection, such as safeguarding data within email systems.
RAID 5 operates by simultaneously storing both data and parity information across the disks. Each data block and its corresponding parity information are distributed across different disks. In the event of a disk failure, the system utilizes the remaining data blocks and corresponding parity information from the same stripe to reconstruct the lost data. However, like other RAID configurations, the performance of RAID 5 is notably affected during the data reconstruction process.
This RAID level strikes a balance between storage performance, data security, and storage costs. It can be viewed as a middle ground between RAID 0 and RAID 1, offering optimal overall performance for data protection. RAID 5 is widely applicable and meets the storage needs of most applications. It is commonly deployed as a data protection solution in data centers.
