Software vs Hardware Raid

Today, RAID storage is used in homes, small and medium enterprises, and large corporations. RAID stands for “Redundant Array of Independent Disks”, a data storage virtualization that allows you to combine multiple storage drives to create one or more logical units for different purposes such as larger storage space, improved read/write performance, or a balance of both.

What are Options in RAID Storage?

There are two main RAID options today for professionals – software RAID and hardware RAID.Software RAID can be easily incorporated in an existing computer or server without the need of additional hardware. On the other hand, hardware RAID uses dedicated hardware to create RAID function in a computer or server.

If you are new to RAID storage systems, learn about the differences between the two options, its advantages and disadvantages in our simple comparison below.

Comparing Software RAID and Hardware RAID

Software RAID uses the computing power of the computer or server’s CPU which is shared with the operating system and other applications running in the background. This shared workload reduces the CPU’s computing performance for other tasks. Many operating systems support RAID configurations. However, partitions cannot be shared with other operating systems.

On the other hand, hardware RAID makes use of a RAID controller which has its dedicated processor. A RAID controller can be added to the motherboard or on a different server. Furthermore, dedicated RAID storage devices are also available which runs independently. Hardware RAID options have very little utilization on the computer or server’s CPU, offering better overall performance compared to software RAID options.

Here’s a simple comparison between software RAID and hardware RAID below.

Software RAID

Hardware RAID

Cost

Very low. Can be configured with existing computer/server

Dependent on RAID controller hardware for computer/server

Performance

Limited to CPU

Dependent on RAID controller

Security and Backup

Limited to software features

Available in software and hardware options

Scalability

Limited

Highly scalable

Compatibility

Limited to computer/server OS

Multiple OS compatibility

RAID Storage for Professional Content Creators

Most professionals like video editors, photographers, and other content creators opt for hardware RAID options for many reasons. It offers better performance having a dedicated RAID controller or dedicated RAID storage. It is highly scalable, easily allowing users to add more storage space by simply adding another RAID storage in the network. Dedicated RAID storage devices also have more robust security and backup features which come in both software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, RAID storage devices can be shared across different operating systems making collaborations easy.

So whats a good choice for your needs? Terramaster offers several products for different users categories