RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) allows multiple physical drives to
be combined together in a logical drive. The operating system sees the logical
drive as a single storage device, and treats it as such. The RAID software and/or
controller handle all of the individual drives on its own. The benefits of a RAID
can include:
•

Higher data transfer rates for increased server performance

•

Increased overall storage capacity for a single drive designation (such as, C,
D, E, etc.)

•

Data redundancy/fault tolerance for ensuring continuous system operation in
the event of a hard drive failure

Different types of logical drives use different organizational models and have
varying benefits. Also see Choosing RAID Level on page 100. The following
outline breaks down the properties for each type of RAID logical drive: