Best RAID Type for SQL Server 2

[OUCATS]

I am preparing to purchase a new server that will be used exclusively as a SQL Server data warehouse. I understand that their are options when choosing a RAID type. Some have faster read times, some have faster write times, etc. Does anyone have any recommendation on what type of RAID array to use that would be best for SQL Server?

Thanks

 

[Corran007]

For a datawarehouse that is almost entirely read only, i would recomend raid 5. its good for reads but slow for writes and ok fault tolerance and is fairly econominal.

 

[MaYHeM24]

I believe you would want RAID 5 regardless for this type of server setup. I would choose a RAID Controller that has speed in mind (Cache) like the Adaptec SCSI RAID 2200S that has up to 64MB Cache and battery backup. But with speed comes a price! Approx: $600.00 Put this card with several (Min 3) Ultra 320 SCSI-III 15k 8mb cache Drives and there ya have it! -=MaYHeM=-
-=IS MGR=-

 

[SemperFiDownUnda]

If you don't need the fault taulerance (which if you are primarily reading suggesting you have the data on another server) go RAID 0. Read/Write performance is better. Data Warehouse I would use this if I didn't need the system to have a high fault tolerance. If you need the higher fault taulerance then go RAID 5. RAID 0 tends to be cheeper as you don't have to take in account the need for hotswapping disks thus don't need all the supporting equipment for it.

 

[tlbroadbent]

We use RAID 5 for data and RAID 1 for the transaction logs on our newer servers. Older servers use RAID 5 for both data and logs.

Chapter 6 of the SQL Server 2000 Operations Guide has some information about RAID.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/maintain/operate/opsguide/sqlops6.asp

Other resources include:

RAID Levels and SQL Server

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/optimsql/odp_tun_1_87jm.asp

Know Your RAID Levels

http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=9697

If you want to get the best answer for your question read faq183-874 and faq183-3179.
Terry L. Broadbent - DBA
SQL Server Page:

http://tlbroadbent.home.attbi.com/sql/sql_articles.htm

 

[OUCATS]

Thanks for all the great help!! Our current system is about 25 GB and is primarily used for analysis and reporting. So I agree that the read speed is more imporant than the write.

Thanks again for the posts and the help.