Linux supports software-based drive arrays, which can be configured through the mdadm utility. Most of the array options are designed to provide some level of data redundancy, but the exact benefits and trade-offs vary.
This RAID 0 mode offers NO redundancy - in fact, it puts your data at higher risk since it is split across multiple drives. Should any drive in the array fail, all of your data will be lost. The benefit, however, is a substantial increase in read and write speeds. It also provides a larger total storage pool than other array types, since the capacity is the sum of all of the drives together. Configuring this option requires two to four drives and is a viable option for niche situations where either speed or capacity is important while data safety is not a big concern.
This RAID 0 mode offers NO redundancy - in fact, it puts your data at higher risk since it is split across multiple drives. Should any drive in the array fail, all of your data will be lost. The benefit, however, is a substantial increase in read and write speeds. It also provides a larger total storage pool than other array types, since the capacity is the sum of all of the drives together. Configuring this option requires two to four drives and is a viable option for niche situations where either speed or capacity is important while data safety is not a big concern.
Basic stripe option - trading reliability for improved transfer speeds. Requires 2-4 drives. Set up through the mdadm utility.
