Or, Understanding concepts behind RAID techniques Spanning, Stripping and Mirroring.
Stripping (RAID-0): RAID-0 is a performance oriented non-redundant data mapping technique. Stripping can be implemented in disks of different sizes but the storage space allocated to the disk array by each disk is limited to the total usable size of smallest disk in the array.
This type of RAID is not usually considered for business critical data or servers.
Example: If you have two disks which are using stripping technique for writing data, the data will be written like below:
Stripping
| |
Disk-0
|
Disk-1
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F…..
|
Mirroring (RAID-1): RAID-0 consist of at least two or more disks drive storing duplicate copies of the same data. In this mode, data is written simultaneously in to two disks. Array capacity is limited to smallest disk in the array.
This type of RAID is mostly used for business critical server’s OS disks. So that, if one disk fails another will help Server to be up and running.
Example: If you have two disks which are using mirroring technique for writing data, the data will be written like below:
Mirroring
| |
Disk-0
|
Disk-1
|
A
|
A
|
C
|
C
|
E
|
E
|
Spanning: Spanning provides another maximum capacity solution. Unlike stripping, spanning writes data to the first physical drive until it reaches its full usable storage capacity. When the first disk is reached to the full usable capacity, data writing starts in second physical disk.
Example: If you have two disks which are using spanning technique for writing data, the data will be written like below:
Mirroring
| |
Disk-0
|
Disk-1
|
A
|
D
|
B
|
E
|
C
|
F
|