RAID Calculator
Click a size to select drives for your RAID setup
JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks)
In Just a Bunch of Disks (JBOD), each disk operates independently without redundancy or striping. It is ideal to expand storage capacity by combining multiple hard drives into a single and larger logical volume. JBOD does not improve performance or provide fault tolerance. Data is just put on each disk in the order it was given. If one disk fails, only the data on that specific drive is impacted. JBOD is ideal for personal and low-priority storage needs.RAID 0 (Data Striping)
RAID 0 is all about splitting data evenly across two or more disks. This enables concurrent processing of data and improves read and write speeds. RAID 0 can significantly boost performance. It is used when high-speed data access is needed, like in video editing or gaming. RAID 0 is cost-efficient due to the lack of redundancy or parity. The trade-off is the risk of irretrievably lost data in case of a failed disk. This is why regular backups are a must-have for RAID 0.RAID 1 (Mirroring)
RAID 1 uses mirroring for data security. Every disk maintains full copies of the data in the array. Even if a drive fails, data can still be accessed from the mirrored copies. By accessing data from numerous drives at once, RAID 1 can improve read rates, but it doubles storage requirements since each bit of data is stored twice. If high availability and security are needed, RAID 1 is the perfect choice.RAID 1E (Enhanced Mirroring)
RAID 1E (Enhanced Mirroring) combines the redundancy of RAID 1 with aspects of data striping of RAID 0. Mirrored portions are distributed throughout all the array to tolerate the failure of any single disk. RAID 1E provides better performance than traditional mirroring and preserves data redundancy. It's ideal for resiliency and efficiency.RAID 4 (Block-Level Striping with Dedicated Parity)
RAID 4 stores redundant data on a separate parity disk while stripping data across many disks. Parity data allows for complete reconstruction in the event of a disk failure. RAID 4 offers quicker read rates and simultaneous access, but writing operations are slower.RAID 5 (Block-Level Striping with Distributed Parity)
RAID 5 spreads parity information and data among all array drives for balance between speed, capacity, and fault tolerance. Any single disk in the array can fail without losing data. The parity data helps reconstruct lost information. RAID 5's effective use of disk space and enhanced read operation performance are the main reasons for its popularity.RAID 5R (RAID 5 with Reserved Space)
RAID 5R incorporates reserved spaces on each disk or an additional disk for faster recovery processes. This reserved space often holds extra parity information.It enhances the array's overall resilience and reduces the time and stress associated with rebuilding a failed disk. While this configuration marginally reduces usable capacity, it presents an appealing option for environments where maintaining uptime and swift recovery are critical.RAID 5EE (RAID 5 with Extra Disk for Hot Spare)
RAID 5EE integrates an additional disk as a hot spare within the array itself. If a drive fails, the system rebuilds automatically. It minimizes downtime. The spare is inactive until needed. RAID 5EE is all about the array's redundancy and performance. It is ideal for environments where continuous operation is vital.RAID 6 (Block-Level Striping with Double Distributed Parity)
RAID 6 adds another layer of security by storing two parity blocks for each data block. This is why it can deal with two simultaneous disk failures without data loss. The additional storage space is needed. RAID 6's data protection makes it ideal for storing crucial large datasets over extended periods.RAID 10 (Stripe of Mirrors)
RAID 10 (RAID 1+0) integrates striping and mirroring. It creates multiple mirrored sets and then stripes data across them. RAID 10 offers both the performance benefits of RAID 0 and the reliability of RAID 1. Its fast read/write rates and data security make it ideal for databases and online transaction processing systems.RAID 0+1 (Mirror of Stripes)
RAID 0+1 mirrors two or more RAID 0 arrays. It presents the benefits of both high read/write speeds from data striping and data protection from mirroring. Its susceptibility to multiple disk failures under certain circumstances can be a downside. A single disk failure in each mirror pair can compromise the entire array. RAID 0+1 is often used in scenarios where capacity and performance take precedence, alongside a sound backup plan.RAID 50 (RAID 5 and RAID 0 Combination)
RAID 50 combines the striping of RAID 0 over several RAID 5 arrays with the distributed parity of RAID 5. By adding RAID 0's speed advantage, it improves both the performance and fault tolerance of the individual RAID 5 sets. RAID 50 offers resilience against a single disk failure per RAID 5 and is popular with large-scale operations where substantial capacity, efficient performance, and robust fault tolerance are needed.RAID 50r (RAID 50 with Reserved Space or Hot Sparing)
RAID 50r extends RAID 50's capabilities. It incorporates reserved spaces or a hot spare disk for fast data recovery. This minimizes the downtime and performance impacts. RAID 50r is popular in dynamic enterprise environments where preserving the balance between performance and rapid recovery is essential for maintaining operations.RAID 60 (RAID 6 and RAID 0 Combination)
RAID 60 combines the striping of RAID 0 over several RAID 6 arrays with the distributed parity of RAID 6. By adding RAID 0's speed advantage, it improves both the performance and fault tolerance of the individual RAID 6 sets.How to Use RAID Calculator
The RAID Calculator is a tool designed to help you determine the configuration and results of different RAID setups before implementation. Use 3 simple steps to assess the usable capacity, fault tolerance, and unused space of a RAID configuration. Enter your parameters; the calculator provides insights into how your selected RAID level will perform.
Select Drives and RAID Type
1. Choose Disk Size
Start by selecting the size of each disk you plan to use in your RAID array. The disk size is measured in terabytes (4 TB, 8 TB, 12 TB, 16 TB, 20 TB, 24 TB, 30 TB, or custom TB).
2. Choose Number of Drives
Next, input the total number of drives you intend to include in your RAID setup. Click the drive button again (4 TB, 8 TB, etc.) to add a disk. The number of drives impacts the RAID level's performance and fault tolerance.
3. Select RAID Level
Select the RAID level you wish to evaluate by opening the Select Type menu. RAID levels include RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1E, RAID 4, RAID 5, RAID 5R, RAID 5EE, RAID 6, RAID 10, RAID 0+1, RAID 50, RAID 50r, and RAID 60. Each RAID level offers different benefits in terms of speed, redundancy, and storage efficiency. You can view the characteristics of a specific RAID after calculating the configuration.
Results
Usable Capacity
The calculator will display the total usable capacity of your RAID array in TB (terabytes). It is based on your selected disk size, number of drives, and RAID level. This capacity represents the actual storage space available for data after accounting for redundancy.
Protection/Fault Tolerance
You'll receive information on the fault tolerance of your chosen RAID configuration. This indicates how many drives can fail before data loss occurs and how well your data is protected from hardware failures.
Unused Space (Overhead)
Learn about the overhead associated with your RAID configuration. Overhead refers to the portion of disk space reserved for data redundancy and parity, which is not usable for actual data storage.
Need to get your data back?
To start recovering your data, documents, databases, images, videos, and other files from your RAID 0, RAID 1, 0+1, 1+0, 1E, RAID 4, RAID 5, 50, 5EE, 5R, RAID 6, RAID 60, RAIDZ, RAIDZ2, and JBOD, press the FREE DOWNLOAD button to get the latest version of DiskInternals RAID Recovery® and begin the step-by-step recovery process. You can preview all recovered files absolutely for free. To check the current prices, please press the BUY NOW button. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact Technical Support. The team is here to help you get your data back!