Subject:Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Posted by: Sparrow

Date:3/22/2004 8:00:10 AM

Happy spring..
Still running Windows XP pro-Pent 4 with an Adaptec Raid card.
system likes to burp..is there anyone doing the Raid thing, and is it
faster and worth the burping...any tech suggestions? We are using
Sound Forge 7.oa and Vegas 4 + DVD and CD archt..

sparrow

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: kbruff

Date:3/26/2004 5:24:05 PM

I have since removed my RAID card from MAXTOR - since I realized that it could have some potential harmful results. Especially with all the virus, and security issues. Furthermore I had occassional weird delays when handling and large audio files.

I decided to remove it and do manual backups with Veritas.

Good luck,
Kevin
***

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: Sparrow

Date:4/1/2004 2:17:54 AM

Thanks for the feedback...we actually did put in a new adaptec raid
card and it seemed to work for a while, I think we will have to pull it
out also, the problems, like you say, seem to be related to Windows XP
and security issues..

When we pull the card, if all returns to normal, we will let you know!

sparrow

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: farss

Date:4/2/2004 5:35:45 AM

For what its worth I've had several major disasters with RAID-0.
Depending on how smart the controller is you may also be trading CPU cycles for disk speed, hardly a plus for most media editing systems.
I've since ditched RAID and the same disks and controller have run fine ever since.

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: captn_spalding

Date:4/2/2004 6:27:40 AM

Briefly: Raid 1 and Raid 5 will protect you from hard drive failures. They are not going to protect you from your workstation "burping" if that means "blue screens" or power failures. If the data didn't get written it doesn't matter if it didn't get writtren to one drive or two drives or "n" drives. In fact no Raid configuration will protect you from that. Raid 0 will theoretically speed up drive performance, but you better have a controller per hard drive AND have the striping being done NOT by the worksation processor. Frankly Raid belongs on servers not on workstations. Get the fastest drive you can afford and keep it defragged. Then be disciplined in your backups and get a UPS for your PC.

..spalding

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: metrazol

Date:4/2/2004 12:52:13 PM

RAIDs are fun, but if they are improperly configured you can end up with NO data instead of all your data twice. Not good. It happened to a RAID I work on and boy is that not fun. Don't use a RAID in your workstation, just get a 15,000 RPM drive or somethin'.

If you want a RAID, make sure it's configured correctly and put it in a separate file server. Then you still have to copy files to your local machine, but what you store on the file server will be bulletproof and a great fast backup. Fast network and you've got a great setup and your fileserver can sit in a closet. It'll also take the load off your workstation. All the benefits (speed, size, redundancy) without the cons (overhead, physical space in your machine, noise, odd behavior while you're working, zombie attacks.)

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: Sparrow

Date:4/21/2004 2:41:44 AM

The performance with our Adaptec Raid seems to be stable,
but for some reason there are problems that "float" around..
it has been working for about 6 weeks, will let you know if it stays or is cut!
Thanks for your info..

sparow

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: Sparrow

Date:4/21/2004 2:46:37 AM

Thanks...
The information that you gave us is the first time that anyone has explained
why we are having problems, we will keep all of these points in mind and
your Raid-O overview is perfect...The defrag seems to help...
sparrow, from the old "analog" crew!

Subject:RE: Is Raid Worth It (Adaptec?)

Reply by: Sparrow

Date:4/21/2004 2:49:38 AM

Thanks..
I can see why we need to put the RAID in a file server...
There is not much info floating around about the use of
a RAID on a work station, and your feedback is very clear!

sparrow