RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a separate set (array) of physical data storage devices with data virtualization technology that combines logical hard drives into logical volumes.
This concept is characterized by a large number of different variations and modifications, it is used to increase the resistance of data storage systems (DSS) to failures and in order to increase their performance.
In practice, RAID can be found in the following specifications: RAID 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, DP, 10, 50, 60. Some of these specifications are used for commercial purposes, some for industrial purposes (for example, in user PCs).
NetApp hardware
What is RAID TEC?
TEC stands for Triple Erasure Coding, and RAID TEC itself is a new, recently registered type of RAID, which is distinguished by three parity disks:
- Row Parity (“horizontal parity”);
- DP (Diagonal Parity or Double Parity);
- AP (Anti-Diagonal Parity).
The maximum length of a group of disks used in a RAID TEC array can include 29 devices. At the same time, they can be of any type. Compared to RAID DP, RAID TEC’s resistance to failures and failures is 100 times higher.
RAID TEC is a triple—parity disk array from the FAS line of solutions owned by NetApp. This type of disk arrays is designed for use in cases where they work with slow data (for example, in the process of restoring it from a backup) and it is necessary to ensure stable system performance.
RAID TEC arrays are recommended for NL-SAS OR SATA drives with a volume of 6 TB or more. According to the recommendations of the NetApp manufacturer itself, the optimal size of the RAID TEC group is 20-29 drives.
Positive aspects of the solution and disadvantages
The solution differs in the following positive aspects:
- provides high speed of information reading (when comparing the solution with drives that are not combined into RAID TEC);
- It has a high degree of reliability and efficiency in terms of data storage (approximately 90% with RAID TEC in a group of 29 disks).
One of the main disadvantages of the new RAID TEC solution from NetApp is the limited practical application, since they can be used exclusively in NetApp arrays from the line of FAS devices.