Paul Martin
Dabbler
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2013
- Messages
- 10
It is time for me to build a new storage server and I have purchased 10x3TB WD RED drives for the setup. I want to end up with 18-25TB of usable storage but I also want to have the highest possible protection against data loss (within reason). While I will back up important data to my old FreeNAS server, losing the array in my new server will still be inconvenient enough to warrant spending extra money upfront to minimize the chance of failure.
From searching these forums I see that RAID-Z3 is acceptable on storage arrays of up to 12 disks but I am not clear on whether a 2x6 Drive RAID-Z2 has a lower probability of failure than an 11 drive RAID-Z3 given that if one of the stripes fails on the 2x6 Drive RAID-Z2 then the entire array is toast.
I have worked out the following options:
10 Drive RAID-Z3 (21TB)
11 Drive RAID-Z3 (24TB)
2x5 Drive RAID-Z2 (18TB)
2x6 Drive RAID-Z2 (24TB)
2x6 Drive RAID-Z3 (16TB) (Least preferred option unless there is compelling evidence that this is not actually overkill)
What I am trying to figure out is which option gives me a minimal probability of data loss while maximizing storage space. Also, am I good with just using the RAM recommendations as outlined in the hardware recommendations guide? I have 72GB ECC RAM I can put in the new storage server but I will use whatever is leftover in the virtualization server that I am also building.
From searching these forums I see that RAID-Z3 is acceptable on storage arrays of up to 12 disks but I am not clear on whether a 2x6 Drive RAID-Z2 has a lower probability of failure than an 11 drive RAID-Z3 given that if one of the stripes fails on the 2x6 Drive RAID-Z2 then the entire array is toast.
I have worked out the following options:
10 Drive RAID-Z3 (21TB)
11 Drive RAID-Z3 (24TB)
2x5 Drive RAID-Z2 (18TB)
2x6 Drive RAID-Z2 (24TB)
2x6 Drive RAID-Z3 (16TB) (Least preferred option unless there is compelling evidence that this is not actually overkill)
What I am trying to figure out is which option gives me a minimal probability of data loss while maximizing storage space. Also, am I good with just using the RAM recommendations as outlined in the hardware recommendations guide? I have 72GB ECC RAM I can put in the new storage server but I will use whatever is leftover in the virtualization server that I am also building.
