Build a Raid for a Home PC
RAID, or Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives, is a method of combining hard drives together. RAID can provide increase speed or data redundancy depending on the RAID level you are using. Common RAID levels are RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 6. For a home PC the level of RAID used will depend on what you want to achieve with your RAID array. Hard drives in RAID 0 will combine their bandwidth to create a larger faster hard drive, while RAID 1 , 5 and 6 will provide data redundancy.
Instructions
Software RAID.
1. Turn off your computer, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and open the case. Check your motherboard manual and connect the hard drive to the RAID ports on your motherboard.
2. Close the case and plug back the power cord. Start your computer and to in your operating system. Check your motherboard manual to create a RAID array using the RAID software provided with your motherboard.
3. Go to the hard drive management tool of your operating system to create a partition on the RAID array created.
Hardware RAID
4. Purchase a hardware RAID card. Be sure to purchase a RAID card that is compatible with your motherboard.
5. Turn off your computer, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and open the case. Slide the RAID card in a compatible slot and secure it with a screw.
6. Connect the hard drives you want to use in your RAID array to that RAID card and to the power supply.
7. Close the case, plug the power cord to the outlet and boot your computer. After the BIOS (first thing to run when you boot your computer) you will see a new menu appear before your operating system starts loading. Check your RAID card manual or the screen and press the key to enter the menu.
8. Use your RAID manual to create a RAID Array of your choosing. Save your settings and exit the RAID menu. Go in your operating system hard drive configuration tool and create a partition on the RAID array.
Tags: RAID card, your computer, your motherboard, hard drive, operating system, power cord, your operating
