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What is the optimal RAID1+RAID5 configuration and why?

My thinking is:

RAID 1 SAS 15k 146GB drives for the OS. RAID 5 SATA 7.2k 300GB drives for the data.

My opinion is that the OS partition should be as fast as possible, and that the data partition should have a compromise between high storage space and low cost as there will be several HDDs to purchase initially and possibly more if I need to expand the volume.

EDIT-- This is going to be an SBS server for a small business so blistering data throughput isn't as important as cost and efficient utilisation of the HDDs.

It will be running SBS 2011 with at least 15 concurrently connected AD users (SBS allows up to 75 connected users).

There will be a single exchange mailbox store with a 2GB mailbox per user. MSSQL 2008 will be running with at least 1 medium sized database (20 GB).

Sharepoint will be accessed concurrently by at least 5 users. There will also be file storage requirements: one home folder per AD user and I would estimate that each user would store at least 1GB of data in their home folder.

Also a couple of network shares accessed by no more than 2 users at a time.

Finally the server will be used for DHCP, DNS and WSUS.

EDIT-- Oracle is irrelevant. It will be storing files, and some databases under MSSQL.

Kryptonite
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2 Answers2

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Why should the OS partition be fast? Chances are everything that you need from it will be loaded in memory most of the time. The only thing that should be hitting the disk is the pagefile if you leave it on the OS volume. Seems like a waste of money to me.

As for the data volume, we can't answer that for you. You need to size your workload and get an idea of IOPS and throughput. After that it's just simple math to get the best disk configuration. If it's just a few users sharing files on it, then 7.2K drives should be fine for both arrays.

These are, of course, just guesses since you didn't provide any meaningful metrics for us to base a recommendation off of.

MDMarra
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  • I take your point. My only concern is that SBS/sharepoint/exchange and MSSQL like to eat up as much unused memory as they can. The RAM recomendation for SBS 2011 is (at least) 16GB because of this behaviour. I want the other services to have reasonable performance when they page fault and have to go to the HDD. – Kryptonite Nov 01 '11 at 14:59
  • @Kryptonite Where if your question do you state that you're going to be running SharePoint, Exchange, and MSSQL Server? These are **exactly** the kinds of details that I'm talking about. You need to update your question with the maximum number of expected concurrent users for each service and the total number of users for each as well as any other roles that the server will hold. If you want a meaningful answer, you need to provide us with meaningful details. – MDMarra Nov 01 '11 at 15:03
  • I said that it will be an SBS server: Exchange+MSSQL+Sharepoint = SBS. Sorry if this wasn't clear; I'll update the question. – Kryptonite Nov 01 '11 at 15:09
  • @Kryptonite I can run Hyper-V, DNS, WDS, DHCP, File & Print Services, IIS, and countless other roles on a single 2008 R2 Standard license, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to enable and use all of those roles. It's not safe to assume that just because something comes pre-packaged with an OS that a user is going to use it all. – MDMarra Nov 01 '11 at 15:12
  • Ok. I have edited my question. Bear in mind that I may add or remove roles from the server in future. – Kryptonite Nov 01 '11 at 15:26
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It depends on what you want to put in the data partition, Do you want to use the data storage partition for a database ?

The best and fastest solution should be a RAID 1 + 0, unless you are planning to use the data partition with a database server, in that case a RAID 5 could be better.

If you want OS partition as fast as possible with 2 disk, do a RAID 0 (and plan a disaster recovery on a network drive for example), if you can buy other 2 disk you can do a RAID 10 also for the OS .

aleroot
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    RAID-5 is never suited for databases. Ever. – adaptr Nov 01 '11 at 14:29
  • Are you sure ? watch this : http://spiralbound.net/blog/2006/09/08/why-modern-raid-5-is-ideal-for-oracle-databases – aleroot Nov 01 '11 at 14:32
  • An article from 2006 ? really ? :) – adaptr Nov 01 '11 at 14:37
  • http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-performance/2007-01/msg00258.php "I was somewhat surprised that the RAID 5 was equal or better on almost everything..." – aleroot Nov 01 '11 at 14:39
  • All kidding aside - the answer should be useful for the OP; look at what he is asking: we're talking about a small server with local storage. RAID-5, of any kind, and without knowing whether oracle or anything else is even relevant, is just plain Wrong advice at this juncture. – adaptr Nov 01 '11 at 14:42
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    Thank you for your input, but i think installing the OS on RAID0 is madness. True, RAID 0 is theoretically faster, but try to think of the practical implications of your answer when answering. – Kryptonite Nov 01 '11 at 14:47
  • @adaptr: We use RAID5 for our databases (and our log files) without problems. Remember that every scenario is a different scenario.. – pauska Nov 01 '11 at 15:36
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    @aleroot: RAID0 on important data: http://imgur.com/AqXQB.jpg – pauska Nov 01 '11 at 15:38
  • @pauska :=D :=D :=D fast as much as possible have some costs :=D – aleroot Nov 01 '11 at 16:00
  • @adaptr: "RAID-5 is never suited for databases" - nonsense. For OLTP, reducing access time will give the best perfromance boost (i.e. RAID1) but not *all* database are OLTP – symcbean Nov 01 '11 at 16:51