RAID Array for work

[mrmagoo_83]

I am searching for a small, yet expandable rack mount RAID configuration for work. My current 500GB file server has zero backup, and has already crashed recently, its a quad core machine running XP Pro.

I need an array that I can connect to this machine and both increase our capacity, as well as give us the safety of not losing data when one drive fails. I was looking at Sun, but wondering if there are any other reliable companies to buy from these days.

[Lazn_Work]

First off, RAID is not backup. So no matter what RAID setup you decide on, still implement a backup strategy in addition to this.

Second, are you building a replacement server? Because XP Pro is not really a server OS, yes it can share files, but isn't really the right way to do it.

What is your budget? And how much space do you need?

[mrmagoo_83]

By backup I simply meant if its mirrored I wouldn't lose all my data if one drive crashed.

I shouldn't really say server, I think thats too large a word. We store test documents on this drive, a few application install files (by few I mean a ton), and some other odds and ends that we use in our every day job tasks. This allows us to keep the data off our laptops, and allows us to easily access it when traveling via VPN. I use the Sharing & Security windows has to simply allow users outside our immediate team to download certain files from a certain directory I create, and then I delete their access. The system is buried deep within the companies main security system, so I am not worried about any of that. Our IT department has their own huge array that keeps most everyone's prudent data, my team just needs a little more control over our own stuff, we do not need to ask IT to open/close folders, or grant/remove access to this setup.

As far as price, under $5k. Right now I have a 500GB Drive, total data on that drive, probably around 100GB, growing slowly every day, but its only growing in KB, maybe MB; so I dont expect to overrun it any time soon, I like overhead, just in case, we never know what we will get tasked with, and I always need the room. I was thinking an array capable of 5TB to 10TB. And I only say that big because as I said I like overkill on the overhead, and our data keeps growing, including small video files of testing procedures and what not.

[Lazn_Work]

Well I just went on Dell's site and configured a Quad Core Xeon PowerEdge 2950 III with 4 250GB drives in RAID 10 a SAS RAID Perc6 controller and 2GB of RAM and a 1500ah UPS for just over $3k.

So with a $5k budget you can build an overkill of a server.

I would recommend a new with warranty server from somewhere like Dell, and Server 2003 R2 Standard. Yes it's overkill, but it will be under support etc and if a drive fails you just call Dell and they ship you another.

If you want to go cheap, get a 2nd 500GB drive and mirror it in your current system for under $100.