Re: RAID & Backups
alain williams <addw@phcomp.co.uk> writes:
> RAID gives you time to fix/replace the failed drive. That time < forever.
And even if you react immediately, this time can be too short for a
rebuild, because of what you write next:
> When you set up a new RAID-1 system you have to buy drives of the
> same size. Avoid the temptation to buy two of the same disk, ie
> same model/manufacturer. They will prolly be from the same batch if
> you buy them together and so may have the same failure
> characteristics. You use them in an identical way (that is what
> RAID-1 means), they are in the same machine (so same temperature,
> etc) and so you can get both drives fail within a few days of each
> other.
This is exactly what happened to me with RAID-1 on my home server with
two identical drives bought together. After returning from vacation I
noticed one drive has failed about 1 or 2 weeks ago. Since both
drives were the same age, I bought two new drives and started the
rebuild with one new drive. This caused some extra stress for the
still operational but old drive and less than 24 hours after the
successful rebuild this second drive died too.
> So: I will buy 2 disks from different manufacturers in the hope that
> they will fail at different times.
I strongly second this. And keep an eye on RAID and SMART messages.
urs
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