In the market to upgrade your RAID array? Or simply upgrade to a RAID array to enjoy all the performance and storage benefits available today?

You can learn more about the different types of RAID arrays (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, etc.) on our RAID data recovery pages.

But let's explore how to measure the performance of your RAID array, specifically when it uses wide striping, an advancement in RAID servers designed to increase I/O speeds. Wide striping changes the way data is stored on your RAID array, but it makes it more challenging to compare the performance of RAID arrays from different manufacturers.

Measuring I/O in RAID Arrays

Many IT professionals and manufacturers use the metric IOPS (Input/Outputs Per Second) to measure the performance of a Raid array. Since reads process faster than writes, the commands you're giving the computer will affect the performance, which is why some applications may run faster than others on the same system.  The amount of work a disk drive can do is proportional to the rotational speed of the drive.

Today's arrays use two types of drives: either SATA disk drives or Fibre Channel (FC) drives. The difference in IO speeds is dramatic; two FCs drives can do the same work as 5 SATA.

That's why it's important to compare the type of drive in the RAID array, the number of drives, and the overall performance speed in a real world situation before making your decision. Wide-striping can enhance performance.

RAID Arrays Need Professionals

As you can see, it's important to get guidance from your IT staff before making a decision when it comes to purchasing a new RAID array. It helps to understand the basics if you're signing off on the final buying decision.

It's equally important, should something happen to your RAID array, to call data recovery professionals. We can recover your lost data quickly and completely, so you can get back to your primary duties and keep your business running smoothly.