RAID Calculator
Calculate total capacity and redundancy for different RAID configurations. Perfect for planning your storage array.
RAID Levels
RAID 0 (Striping)
Maximum performance and capacity, but no redundancy. Data is striped across all disks.
RAID 1 (Mirroring)
Complete data redundancy. All data is mirrored to a second disk. Requires even number of disks.
RAID 5 (Parity)
Good balance of performance and redundancy. Uses parity for data protection. Requires minimum 3 disks.
Quick Examples
RAID 5 with 4x4TB
- Total capacity: 16 TB
- Usable capacity: 12 TB
- Redundancy: 1 disk
RAID 10 with 6x2TB
- Total capacity: 12 TB
- Usable capacity: 6 TB
- Redundancy: 2 disks
About This Tool
The RAID Calculator is an essential tool for efficiently planning your storage arrays and data protection strategies. It provides accurate calculations for capacity, redundancy, and helps you make informed decisions about RAID configuration that best suits your needs.
Key Features:
- Real-time calculations for all major RAID levels
- Capacity and redundancy analysis for optimal planning
- Support for custom disk sizes and configurations
- Performance and reliability comparisons
Perfect for: System administrators planning server storage, IT professionals designing data centers, small business owners protecting critical data, and home users building NAS systems.
How it helps you:
- Capacity Planning: Calculate exact usable storage before purchasing disks
- Redundancy Analysis: Understand protection levels for different RAID configurations
- Cost Optimization: Balance storage needs with budget constraints
- Performance Planning: Choose the right RAID level for your workload
- Risk Assessment: Evaluate fault tolerance for critical data
- Infrastructure Design: Plan scalable storage architectures
Technical Considerations:
Our calculator uses industry-standard RAID algorithms to compute capacity utilization, redundancy levels, and fault tolerance. Results help you design robust storage systems that meet both performance and reliability requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RAID and why should I use it?
RAID combines multiple disks for improved performance, data redundancy, or both. Essential for data protection and can significantly boost read/write speeds.
Which RAID level should I choose?
RAID 0 for maximum performance, RAID 1 for maximum safety, RAID 5 for balanced performance/redundancy, RAID 6 for extra protection, RAID 10 for both speed and redundancy.
How does RAID affect storage capacity?
RAID 0 uses 100%, RAID 1 uses 50%, RAID 5 uses ~75-90%, RAID 6 less due to double parity, RAID 10 uses 50%.
Minimum disks needed?
RAID 0: 2 disks, RAID 1: 2 disks, RAID 5: 3 disks, RAID 6: 4 disks, RAID 10: 4 disks (even numbers).
Can I lose data with RAID?
RAID 0 offers no protection. Other levels provide fault tolerance, but RAID is not a backup substitute. Always maintain separate backups.
How to choose disk size?
Consider storage needs, budget, and performance. Larger disks reduce drive count but increase rebuild times. Use identical disks for best results.
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