Windows Software Raid 5 : Which One ?

[dastral]

Hello

I'm looking to build a very cheap Raid 5 using old "spare parts"

Thus i have 3 questions :
-> Are there Free NAS/Raid5 Software that can run reliably with WinXP or Win2003 (for which i have licences) ?

-> Assuming i have a 5HDD Software Raid5, is it possible to add to add 2 more HDD
(thus going to a 7HDD Software Raid5) without losing everything ?

-> This is ONLY for data storage (divx / games / comics) will it be "reasonably fast" around 30-40MB/s ?
This test with 2MB/s is kinda discouraging http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windowsxp-make-raid-5-happen,925-8.html

The reason i'm talking about Windows Software raid is i have 0 experience with Unix/Linux and i have a lot of spare hardware laying around (CPU / Ram / Cases) and two "Non Raid Sata Controllers" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815280009 which surely need windows drivers to be detected.

My hope is with 400$ to get a 4TB Raid5 just buying 5x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152173 than can be expanded as needed.

Thank you

PS : Raid Newbie sorry

 

[TeedOff]

Forget RAID-5. Get Windows Home Server instead. Way less hassle than screwing around with RAID-5 and you'll get some other nice features to boot.

BTW, if I remember right (I gave up on Windows software RAID5 on 2K3 years ago)...there is no way to expand a Windows Software RAID-5 array without destroying the array and rebuilding, then copying your backup onto the array. You were planning for backup, right?

Always remember that RAID of any flavor is NOT a backup.

 

[mavalpha]

Technically speaking, there is a way to hack XP Pro to support OS-level RAID5. Tom's Hardware had a write-up on this several years ago, but it has since been retired.

Problems:
Already pointed out, lack of expandability.
Already pointed out, not a backup solution in itself.
Editing the Windows setup files can take a lot of work.
XP will not support more than 2TB per volume.

TeedOff, I don't think WHS is a cure-all. It has its applications for the light-hearted home user, but anyone who's asking questions about RAID5 is outside of that target audience IMO. I used WHS for an entire two weeks before saying screw it and going back to chipset-level RAID5.