Definition

software RAID (software redundant array of independent disk)

Software RAID is a form of RAID (redundant array of independent disks) performed on the internal server.

RAID is a data protection method that spreads data on multiple hard disks, balancing overlapping I/O operations, improving performance and increasing the mean time between failures. RAID can be in the form of hardware or software, depending on where the processing occurs.

For software RAID, data is configured in the host server CPU. Hardware RAID uses the internal motherboard or a separate RAID card.

Because it processes on the internal server, software RAID is slower than hardware RAID However, because hardware RAID requires purchasing additional hardware, software RAID costs less.

This was last updated in July 2015

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