Many factors have helped RAID 5 gain public interest and demand. Speed and fault tolerance are among the major reasons users choose RAID 5. However, nothing lasts forever. The most advanced products and systems can go out of order. Unfortunately, RAID 5 is not an exception. If you own RAID 5 or planning to buy one, you should be informed about the main reasons for RAID 5 failure and how to fix them. This article highlights the three common ways that RAID 5 systems can fail.
RAID 5 Data Recovery
If the worst happened and the RAID 5 controller failed, don’t think all data stored on the disk is lost forever. Professional RAID 5 data recovery experts can help you restore all data and help you present the risk of losing precious files. However, to avoid the worst scenario, you’d better be informed about the most common causes of RAID 5 failure and solutions on how to avoid them.
3 Common Reasons & Solutions for RAID 5 Failure
RAID 5 systems should feature at least three drives. Data redundancy can be realized thanks to distributed parity. It means that if one drive goes out of order, the RAID controller will take care of rebuilding the array to ensure its smooth operation.
Many people get the wrong idea about RAID 5 data redundancy, assuming it’s equal to backups. However, it’s not true. RAID 5 is not error-proof, and you should consider using a reliable backup service that would help you prevent data loss.
RAID 5 can continue working smoothly if only one drive fails simultaneously. However, if two drives fail simultaneously, the whole array will be rendered unreadable. When one fails, other disks are subjected to huge pressures to rebuild RAID 5. The best solution for fixing this failure is to replace the corrupt drive ASAP. Otherwise, it can lead to the failure of other disks.
RAID controller issues are another reason for the system’s failure. The controller takes care of managing all drives in the system. It can result in a tremendous loss unless you notice something goes wrong. Sometimes the array can slow down a little bit. In the worst case, it can stop working and disable the RAID 5 system’s rebuilding feature. To prevent severe damage, it’s always a good idea to refer to professionals to check the RAID controller and other system components.
RAID 5 systems are sensitive to rebuilds. The whole array can be destroyed in case of a power outage and other horrible events. If this happens, power off the entire RAID 5 system and ask experts to take care of the recovery for you.
