Hello, I currently have a r610 setup as a web server with windows 2003 server. We are upgrading the server os to windows server 2016. I have purchased an identical r610 for the new build. The new server will replace the old server. The server will be running 2 websites, not heavy traffic/ sql server 2016/ coldfusion 2016 and ipswitch imail 2016 with around 10 mail boxes.

specs
dual intel L5520
48gb ram
PERC 6/i 256mb bbwc
5 - 300gb 15k sas drives
idrac 6 express

The server has cloud backup for data multiple times per day.

My question is which raid setup would you recommend? Raid 1 with hot spare, raid 5, raid 6, or raid 10? I see where raid 6 has a disc failure tolerance of 2. Storage space is not an issue. My current server has 3 - 73gb 15k sas drives in it. Total capacity is 135gb, we are using 94gb at this time. This 94gb including os and apps has accumulated over the last 17 years. So I don't see storage as being a big issue. How much will I notice the write performance decrease of raid 6?

I have 5 - 300gb 15k sas drives. Should I put 4 in the server and keep one on the shelf in case of failure or use all 5? How many drives should I install and in which raid configuration would you recommend? Should I use a hot spare or not?

Thank you,

 

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/sln292050/dell-servers-what-are-the-raid-levels-and-their-specifications-?lang=en