RAID Failure Prevention Tips

There are several ways in which you may prevent failure of your RAID disk or array. Before you prevent this, though, you must exercise caution so that if failure does occur, you are not left without extra copies of your original data. So that means…

Rule #1: Always keep backups of your original data on a separate disk from your current disk or array and preferably in a completely different location. The reason for the different location is in case of fire, flooding, power surges, etc. which can damage all the information in one place.

Rule #2: Test your disks often. Test fault tolerance of disks before uploading important data, and check the SMART status of all of your drives on a regular basis. This monitoring is important so that you are aware of potential hard drive failures before they become a much larger problem. It is also recommended to label all of your drives correctly and thoroughly so that if one does experience failure, you remove the correct drive.

Rule #3: Learn how to replace a faulty drive correctly. When attempting to replace a faulty or failed drive in order to restore your system to complete health, the rebuild is incorrectly initiated or completed, which can result in overall system failure or severe weakening of the system.

Rule #4: Install comprehensive virus protection. RAID does not protect itself from viral infections, and malicious code can cause extensive damage, which may result in the necessity to replace the entire array. Make sure that your virus protection is regularly (and automatically) updated so that your computer is not affected.

Rule #5: Consider multiple manufacturers. RAID disks are often purchased at the same time and from the same manufacturer. This means that any inherent weakness in a line of disks will be multiplied by putting them together in the same array. Avoid this by implementing some sort of variety in your purchasing.

Remember that prevention of RAID failure is significantly cheaper than fixing a problem after it occurs. Keep this in mind when implementing steps to prevent failure. It may seem tedious, but it is far more financially efficient in the end.

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Posted in: Failure,Prevention