Should I Use Dynamicraid Or Traditional Raid; Raid Configuration - Overland Storage SnapServer Administrator's Manual

SnapServer GuardianOS 7.2 Administrator's Guide
• DynamicRAID is comparable to Traditional RAID for both file-level and block-level
access. All of its features apply equally to both file sharing and iSCSI volumes created
on the SnapServer NAS system. DynamicRAID uses clear visible indicators on the
drive bays to illustrate what can or cannot be done to that bay, thus reducing user
error and negating the need for any required skill set or training for operation. Anyone
can easily manage and maintain an expandable storage system.

Should I use DynamicRAID or Traditional RAID?

Use the following guidelines and the table on
is right for you.
Step 1: Determine how much time and effort you want to spend managing your

RAID configuration.

• If you have little or no time to manage your RAID solution, choose DynamicRAID.
• If you want to have more direct control over your storage configuration, conduct
manual tuning, and manually manage the RAID array, choose Traditional RAID.
Step 2: Determine what kind of storage configuration you need.
• Will storage requirements in your environment change over time?
If so, DynamicRAID provides you with the flexibility to respond to these changing
needs. For example, you can upgrade smaller drives to larger drives one by one. These
drives will be automatically incorporated and will share the same storage pool.
If you plan to add disk drives, you can take advantage of the ability to change parity
when you do so. You can optimize parity based on the number of drives inserted into
the system. You can either increase parity by adding a new drive, or decrease the
parity setting to expand storage space (and sacrifice redundancy).
• Do you want to aggregate all disk storage on the head unit and attached
expansions?
If you do, choose Traditional RAID.
• Do you need to use local or global spare drives?
If you do, choose Traditional RAID.
• Do you need to use user or group quotas?
If you do, choose Traditional RAID.
Step 3: Will you need to choose your RAID type?
If it is necessary for you to choose your specific RAID type, select Traditional RAID. For
example, you may want maximum speed but no redundancy, and thus want RAID 0.
For more information on RAID types, see
page 1-3, as well as
10400317-003 05/2012
"RAID Options with Traditional RAID" on
"Factors in Choosing a RAID Type" on page
©2010-12 Overland Storage, Inc.
page A-3 to help determine which RAID mode
5-2.
About DynamicRAID
 A-2