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General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Octavius on March 22, 2004, 04:45:58 PM

Title: Twin WD WD800JB 80gb HDs in RAID 0
Post by: Octavius on March 22, 2004, 04:45:58 PM

I have two Western Digital 80gb HDs and I'd like to set them up in a RAID 0 config.  I understand and am willing to accept the speed tradeoff for data security.  I often back up any important files onto CD-RWs so losing data should one drive die would not be that big of a loss.  However, is it possible to partition the HDs and setup a RAID for only one identical partition across the HDs (as a 'just in case' measure).  

If it's possible, how would I go about doing that?

[edit]Western Digital even acknowledges (http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=913&p_created=1047068027&p_sid=kPDhC-6h&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PWRmbHQmcF9ncmlkc29ydD0mcF9yb3dfY250PTI1JnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9cmFpZCZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPXNlYXJjaF9mbmwmcF9wcm9kX2x2bDE9JnBfcHJvZF9sdmwyPSZwX2NhdF9sdmwxPSZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=) there might be a problem with the setup... :( [/edit]

Title: Twin WD WD800JB 80gb HDs in RAID 0
Post by: blackfalcon4 on March 23, 2004, 04:47:05 PM

In a raid0 config the OS sees only 1 HDD as in your case would be 160gb.
Partition them as you like. I use R0 and run 4 different os's w/each OS on a different partition and only seeing that 1 as C:/

I recommend using partition magic, never had a problem w/it.

Good luck

Title: Twin WD WD800JB 80gb HDs in RAID 0
Post by: Connection on March 23, 2004, 10:16:21 PM

Actually, with Raid 0 you would be gaining speed and losing security. Both drives are combined into one huge drive. If one of the drives fail, its all gone. And since there are two drives, you double your chances of failure.

If you want security, try Raid 1. Both 80gb drives mirror each other, and if one dies, the other still has the data intact. The tradeoff is you will only get 80gb.

Title: Twin WD WD800JB 80gb HDs in RAID 0
Post by: Octavius on March 24, 2004, 01:19:22 PM

Right, well data security isn't a big problem at all.  I'm willing to take the risk for a speed boost.  However, I learned my motherboard does not support any RAID configurations... so I'll just have to wait a while :)

Title: Twin WD WD800JB 80gb HDs in RAID 0
Post by: 2bighorn on March 24, 2004, 03:16:46 PM

If you have windows 2K or XP Pro you can create a striped volume. You will gain read/write performance, since Windows writes/read to all disks at the same time. (similar to raid 0)

If one of your harddrives fail, all data will be lost. (not fault tolerant)

Since it's 100% software solution, it doesn't matter if your motherboard supports raid or not.

Title: Twin WD WD800JB 80gb HDs in RAID 0
Post by: blackfalcon4 on March 24, 2004, 08:30:28 PM

Doesnt matter if your mobo supports raid or not. You can install a raid card that will do the job. Usually better to use a card than the onboard chip, cards get better performance.