Raid (mirror) defrag?

I have 2 physical RAID's set up on my machine.  1 for XP and 1 for Vista.  I defrag them about every 1-2 weeks depending upon use and fragmentation.  I use O & O Defrag with no problems at all...

 

WW

Hi,

 

If you use Defrag tools like O&O Defrag or stuff like that,

make sure that you choose in the options to NOT defrag the MBR.

This is the most important reason while people say "dont defrag a raid".

 

But normaly there is no problem to defrag the raid.

I defrag my raid 0 (2x500GB = 1TB) one or two times a week.

 

cu 

dschieses

Defragging a RAID is just the same as defragging a normal 'single' HDD, since the Windows file system does not distinguish between the hardware components of the storage substem. That distinction is made at the hardware controller level (RAID controller in this case). As far as Windows/NTFS is concerned, it's just one 'logical' disk.

For more info on RAID defrag, see these useful documents

http://downloads.diskeeper.com/pdf/new-storage-technologies.pdf

http://files.diskeeper.com/pdf/FileFragmentation_SANsNASandRAID.pdf

hey guys

what's O and O ? ia never used anything else but the windows defrag. Currently using Visrta Premium... 

thanks

Hey,

 

read here:

http://www.oo-software.com/home/en/

 

cu

dschieses

Hey,

 

you should now that the software is not for free. You can use it for 30days as a trial version.

After that you need to bye a key for activate the product.

 

Using O&O Defrag is quit simple and it has a very good manual if you want to change the standard config.

 

cu

dschieses

ok, i am looking at the software's page. it looks like all the pros use it, i assume it's pretty safe to use then...

the website doesnt mention anything about raid or mirror. anything i should know before installing and using?

 

ok sorry to sound stupid. i need to clarify the raid/mirror issue.

I have drive c (system) and d (storage) both on the mirror inside the system.

An external drive, Lacie Biggest Quadra (raid + mirror) of 4x500GB drives = 1TB that is stripped and mirrored).

All those are safe to defrag?

I still want to know where is the option to defrag or not the MBR

 

Thank you

what does MBR mean and where do i make sure it's not being defrag...

Thanks dschieses!

So, straight out of the "box" install, i can just hit "defrag computer" (?)

 

Thanks again

---

@carish1 wrote:

ok sorry to sound stupid. i need to clarify the raid/mirror issue.

I have drive c (system) and d (storage) both on the mirror inside the system.

An external drive, Lacie Biggest Quadra (raid + mirror) of 4x500GB drives = 1TB that is stripped and mirrored).

All those are safe to defrag?

I still want to know where is the option to defrag or not the MBR

 

Thank you

---

No problem,there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers :-)

 

There is no issue to defrag both, the mirror inside and the Lacie drive, in my opinion.

The option to defrag the MBR you will find in the O&O defrag software after you have installed it.

But as i write here before, its disabled as standard configuration.

Vistas own defrag programm dont have the this option.

 

Hope this help´s :-)

 

cu

dschieses

thanks again. you made my life easier now... thank you!

Yes,

thats the way it works. :-)

I would suggest to run the complete defragmentation after you have finished your work.

Cause the first defragmentation needs a lot´s of time.

And a one TB miroor/stripe takes more than 2 hours to finish.

 

cu

dschieses

Youre welcome :-)