RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) allows multiple physical drives to
be combined together in a disk array. Then all or a portion of the disk array is
formed into a logical drive. The operating system sees the logical drive as a
single storage device, and treats it as such.

The RAID software and controller manage all of the individual drives. The
benefits of a RAID can include:

•

Higher data transfer rates for increased server performance

•

Increased overall storage capacity for a single drive designation (such as, C,
D, E, etc.)

•

Data redundancy/fault tolerance for ensuring continuous system operation in
the event of a hard drive failure

Different types of logical drives use different organizational models and have
varying benefits. Also see “Choosing a RAID Level” on page 168. The following
outline breaks down the properties for each type of RAID logical drive: