Which RAID configuration requires at least three disks and provides data striping with parity?

Which RAID configuration requires at least three disks and provides data striping with parity?

• A. RAID 0
• B. RAID 1
• C. RAID 5
• D. RAID 10

Answer: (C)

The choice of RAID 5 is correct because this configuration requires a minimum of three disks to operate. RAID 5 utilizes data striping with parity, which means that data is split across multiple disks, enhancing performance while also providing redundancy. The parity information allows for data recovery in the event of a single disk failure, making it a balanced option for both speed and data protection. In RAID 5, data and parity are distributed across all disks in the array. Thus, if one disk fails, the data can be reconstructed using the remaining disks and the parity information, ensuring that no data is lost. This feature is what differentiates RAID 5 from other configurations such as RAID 0, which offers no redundancy; RAID 1, which mirrors data across only two disks; or RAID 10, which is a combination that requires a minimum of four disks and also provides redundancy via mirroring.

The choice of RAID 5 is correct because this configuration requires a minimum of three disks to operate. RAID 5 utilizes data striping with parity, which means that data is split across multiple disks, enhancing performance while also providing redundancy. The parity information allows for data recovery in the event of a single disk failure, making it a balanced option for both speed and data protection.

In RAID 5, data and parity are distributed across all disks in the array. Thus, if one disk fails, the data can be reconstructed using the remaining disks and the parity information, ensuring that no data is lost. This feature is what differentiates RAID 5 from other configurations such as RAID 0, which offers no redundancy; RAID 1, which mirrors data across only two disks; or RAID 10, which is a combination that requires a minimum of four disks and also provides redundancy via mirroring.