

- SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID INSTALL
- SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID PRO
- SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID SOFTWARE
- SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID PROFESSIONAL
- SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID MAC
And whether you decide that software RAID or hardware RAID is right for you, SoftRAID and have the solutions you need.RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is a technology that allows combining multiple disk drives into arrays or RAID volumes by spreading (striping) data across drives. When using RAID, the bottom line is to get what best suits your needs and desires. The processing is broken up into the same number of chunks as there are cores in your Mac’s CPU to affect the machine as little as possible. Reading from the volume takes even less time. When SoftRAID does the calculations needed to write to a RAID volume, it uses all the cores in your CPU simultaneously, for mere microseconds. With a software RAID solution such SoftRAID, this isn’t true. In fact, expensive hardware RAID solutions are not automatically superior (especially since the chip in even fairly low end laptops is usually more powerful than the chip in an expensive hardware RAID controller).ĭoes software RAID drain your CPU? You may hear people say software RAID drains your computer’s processing power. While this causes a hardware RAID solution’s price to increase, it also means that that there is a dedicated RAID controller chip meaning it won’t be a burden on your computer’s CPU.Ĭost: Many people wrongly view software RAID as a cheap solution that’s not powerful, even though it can compete on speed and outperform on safety when compared with hardware RAID. While this might seem inconvenient, it does guarantee that the HDDs you add to your RAID solution are the right size.Īdditional hardware: As the name indicates, hardware RAID features additional hardware. This means you can only purchase replacement HDDs from them. Guaranteed disk compatibility: Some hardware RAID vendors use proprietary connectors to attach HDDs to their drive sleds.
SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID INSTALL
With software RAID, you must run an installer program to install the driver before you start using it. Just plug and play: With hardware RAID, you can just connect the storage solution and start using it.
SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID MAC
For example, with a SoftRAID volume, you can only use it with computers running Mac OS. With software RAID, you must have a driver for your disks for each operating system. Operating System Agnostic: A hardware RAID solution will work on any operating system.
SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID PRO
The Mercury Elite Pro Qx2 with hardware RAID can be configured in Span, 0, 1, 5, 10, and JBOD/Independent drive modes. In this way you can be assured of always having the best and most current software controlling your RAID system and take immediate advantage of all the improvements SoftRAID consistently makes. These updates can be easily downloaded and installed using the SoftRAID application. Whereas SoftRAID constantly improves its software, providing its users with upgrades, new features, and bug fixes. Keeping Your System Current: Upgrading firmware in a hardware RAID box can be hard and you might need to send your box back to the factory. Software RAID doesn’t use proprietary firmware, and components can be upgraded to take advantage of advances in CPU and other technology. Upgrading: When you buy a hardware RAID solution, the components in the hardware RAID box may be top of line when you buy them but As technology advances, you can quickly be left with hardware that becomes obsolete.


And with software RAID you can easily take advantage of improvements in chip technology by moving your RAID array to a new computer with a newer, faster CPU. To maximize read/write speeds, SoftRAID harnesses the power of your computer’s powerful CPU, but only for mere microseconds at a time so other running applications aren’t impacted. Speed: Software RAID, such as SoftRAID, can provide incredibly fast read and write speeds. The OWC ThunderBay 4 RAID 5 Edition features SoftRAID technology. Safety: With software RAID your data can be split across different enclosures for complete redundancy – one can completely stop working and your data is still ok. What you might not know is RAID can come in the form of hardware or software, which begs the question of which of these is right for your workflow. To help differentiate between the two, we’ve outlined some of the advantages of software and hardware RAID, so you can decide which is best for your workflow. You can read much more about RAID and what it can do here. Another way to keep your data secure is through RAID. Computers are replaceable but once your intangible data is lost, it is gone forever.įortunately, there is a wide range of great backup solutions to help protect your data.
SOFTRAID VS HARDWARE RAID PROFESSIONAL
While you might think the computer you are using is the most important part of your everyday and professional workflows, there is something even more important: your data.
