RAID Stripe Size

Hi,

 

As far as RAID configuration is concerned in Dimension 8400, YES setting stripe size is possible and it allows you to choose between 4K, 8K, 16K, 32K, 64K, and 128K stripe size.

 

Now regarding what stripe size size should you choose. It actually depends on the type of data to be stored on the computer. If you have to store large sized files, it is recommended you choose a large stripe size and if the files are smaller and more in number it is recommended you set the stripe size to be lower. To explain this, consider the example given below.

 

We will be comparing two raid systems configured on raid 0 both with 2 hard drives each, one with stripe size of 4K and other with stripe size of 128 K and also two different files file A of size 8K and file B of size 1MB. Consider if file A has to be written on the system with 4K stripe size, in this case the file would broken down into two and then written on both the hard drives. This will take less time and also while reading the performance would be very high. Now if the file A has to be written on the system with 128K stripe size, only one of the drive would be used and the performance both while reading and writing would be halved. However if we consider the case with file B, the scenario totally changes. If the file B has to be written on the system with 4K stripe size, it would take a aweful lot of calculation and also a lot of drive activity in the sense of actuating the arms again and again and again just to write each stripe and thus the speed would be low and same while reading, the address calculation overheads would be really high and thus the speed would be pathetic while reading too. Consider the same file B on system with 128K stripe size. In this case comparitively less calculation is required, and also much less drive activity is required and thus higher throughput would be achieved.

 

Rather in a practical system you have to choose if the system is going to have large files like full length movies or small files like word documents and presentations. If you are using the system for a blended kind of use i.e. you are using large files and at times small files that is actually the most common scenario in case of home systems, use stripe size which is not too large and at the same time, not too small. I would recommend a stripe size of 128K if the system is going to be used primarily for games, 64K if for moderate use and 32 K if just for internet music and downloads.

 

Check the following links

 

http://www.adriansrojakpot.com/Speed_Demonz/IDE_RAID/RAID_03.htm

 

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic1596.html

 

http://www.storagereview.com/guide2000/ref/hdd/perf/raid/concepts/perfStripe.html

Wow,

Thanks heaps for that post.  Looks like i have a bit of reading to do.

Thanks Again!!