There are two very similar ways of defining what a RAID array is. This RAID acronym stands for redundant array of inexpensive (or independent) drives (or even disks). Basically RAID arrays are used for data storage and retrieval using several hard drives which share or duplicate the data on them. There are different ways to build a RAID array.

The benefits to a RAID storage array include that there is some room for fault tolerance, capacity and even integrity of the data. And while your operating system may see only one hard drive, you would actually have more than one in your RAID array. This is where the redundancy in the name comes from. Basically, RAID 1 and 5 are the most popular of the RAID arrays. And when the “mirroring” technique is used, the primary and secondary RAID arrays act as the first drive and the mirror drive in which the data is duplicated.

Because of this built-in redundancy, RAID array recovery is data is relatively minor, unless of course all the drives go bad at the same time! Luckily, RAID array troubleshooting is relatively easy to do. You can isolate which disk drive is causing the problems and then add a drive to a RAID 5 array or any array for that matter. This addition of a disk to a RAID 5 array is also simple as well.

When you get any RAID array errors, diagnosing the problem is half the battle. If you understand RAID storage array topology, you would know all about the connectors, switches and software issues that could crop up with certain problems. You would also want to check your RAID storage array connections as well for any problems.

Part of the back-up and data recovery process sometimes is something called a ghost RAID array. Basically this is similar in cloning. You make a mirror copy of another disk drive, an exact match, and then copy it onto a new disk drive. You could complete a ghost raid array on a Compaq or other machine. You could also create the largest RAID array for XP users as well. All you need is chipsets for your computer’s mother board in order to expand.

While the RAID array is not very popular with home users, there is a small but growing segment that are looking to protect their documents, downloading music and even images. The RAID array helps solve that problem. Sure it has a few redundant qualities to it, but would you have rather lost your files?