What are the performance issues with RAID 6 or dual-parity schemes?

However, as with RAID 5, there is a performance penalty on writes that is typically offset by cache, faster processors or hardware assists. Now you are doing two RAID calculations and two parity updates. That means you're doing twice the calculations and twice the work, so you need to have the performance to counter that.

RAID information RAID levels defined Do RAID levels still matter? How to calculate available disk space on a RAID 5

There are several ways to accomplish this. Some systems leverage hardware offloads to perform the extra calculations to assist with data movement. Some systems simply rely on software. Other systems use a combination of software and a hardware offload ASIC or assist. Some systems are optimized for large writes, others for small. Some are optimized for reads and writes. in any case, you need to understand how RAID 6 is implemented, how it is deployed and what tradeoffs come with it.

Check out the entire RAID FAQ guide.

BROWSE BY TAG Frequently asked questions,   Frequently asked questions,   RAID FAQ,   VIEW ALL TAGS

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Frequently asked questions When should I use the different levels of RAID? RAID is 20 years old. Is it as applicable today as it once was? With a shift toward solid-state disk and semiconductor memory-based storage, does that diminish the need for RAID to boost performance? With the advancements in RAID and storage systems, how come RAID still isn't a replacement for backup? Can you explain what dual parity, distributed parity and network RAID are, and why are they getting more and more attention? How can RAID be used to address green IT issues, and power and cooling challenges in the data center? Is RAID only relevant for the enterprise, or should SMBs and SOHOs be concerned with RAID? Where is the best place and best technique for implementing RAID? It seems like 'hybrid' drives will be here long before true 'solid-state' drives. How do hybrid drives play into RAID schemes and tactics? What's happening with disk rebuild times? How do 'preemptive rebuilds' work, and what other techniques are appearing, if any, to accelerate rebuild times?

RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary