i am wondering if software RAID is provided only with OS. eg. i use Windows 7 - i must use Win 7 to create RAID? or is there like a 3rd party tool? i heard Windows 7 does not support RAID5? is there a way to get RAID5 in Windows 7, or must i settle with RAID1
To get RAID 5 you would need a third party solution. The Windows 7 software RAID simply cannot setup and control RAID 5...but Windows 7 can use it when it's provided via some other method...such as;
- motherboard with RAID 5 capability
- add-on controller card for drives with RAID 5 (best performance)
when u say best performance, u mean windows 7 software raid included? say Win7 RAID1 vs Addon Controller RAID1?
Best performance via add-on card vs motherboard. If you use the motherboard, then some of the resources used to maintain the array come from the cpu. If you use an add-on card--a good one--then the card usually has its own processor to maintain the array, which would give you better performance over a motherboard based array.
so software RAID still give best performance overall (comparing sw, motherboard, addon)?
Quote