4
NVIDIA RAID User’s Guide
– Version 2.0 A
C
HAPTER
1
About NVIDIA RAID
RAID 0
How RAID 0 Works
In a RAID 0 array, the controller “stripes” data across multiple drives in the RAID
subsystem. RAID 0 breaks up a large file into smaller blocks and then performs disk reads
and writes across multiple drives in parallel. The size of each block is determined by the
stripe size parameter, which you set during the creation of the RAID set based on the
system environment. This technique reduces overall disk access time and offers high
bandwidth.
Figure 1.1
RAID 0 Array Diagram
RAID 0 involves no parity calculations to complicate the write operation. This makes
RAID 0 ideal for applications that require high bandwidth but do not require fault
tolerance. RAID 0 has the best performance and capacity of any RAID level, but the lowest
availability (no fault tolerance). If one drive fails, the entire array fails because part of the
data is missing with no way to recover it other than restoring from a backup.
Summary of Features and Benefits
•
Benefits:
Provides increased data throughput, especially for large files.
•
Drawbacks:
Does not deliver any fault tolerance. If any drive in the array fails, all data
is lost.
•
Uses:
Intended for non-critical data requiring high data throughput, or any
environment that does not require fault tolerance.
•
Drives:
Minimum: 1. Maximum: Up to 6 or 8, depending on the platform.
•
Fault Tolerance:
No.