[mythtv-users] Fastest RAID for HD?

[David Brodbeck]

On Feb 14, 2008, at 12:44 PM, Lan Barnes wrote:
> I'm baffled by why anyone would consider RAID for a myth box. RAID  
> uses
> redundant HDs to decrease the likelyhood of data loss through drive
> failure. Expensive but worth it if the data is golden.

Actually, IMHO, the main purpose of RAID is to decrease *downtime*.   
It means a failed drive doesn't shut the machine down, so it improves  
overall reliability.  Protecting against data loss is what you have  
backups for.  RAID will protect your data if a drive fails, it's true,  
but it won't protect your data if the filesystem becomes corrupt, you  
delete the wrong file, or someone hacks your system.

So, RAID for reliability, backups for data integrity.  If you have  
backups, the main reason to use RAID is if you can't afford to have  
the machine out of commission when a drive fails.  (This becomes more  
important the more drives you have -- if you have three drives in your  
system, you've tripled the likelihood of one of them failing.)   
Generally I don't think this applies to Myth boxes, unless you have a  
very high WAF threshold. ;)