RAID Technology for Central LAN File-Servers

The Computer Centre has recently employed the RAID technology for the centrally managed LAN file-servers so as to increase the reliability and availability of the heavily used file-servers.

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. It is a technology that offers data protection through the storage of redundant information across an array of disks. Even if one of the RAID disks fails, the LAN file-server employing RAID disks will be able to run without interruption because data integrity is guaranteed by other non-faulty disks. The faulty disk can be removed from the RAID cabinet and replaced with a new disk, without shutting down the non-faulty disks or the LAN file-server.

The RAID software and hardware sub-system will regenerate the data on the new disk within a few hours with the redundant information stored across the RAID disks. As long as a second disk does not fail during the restoring process, the RAID disks will function as if no failure had occurred. Since many cases of LAN file-server crashes are due to disk failures and large volumes of data of LAN file-servers take many hours to restore from backup tapes, the down time of our LAN file-servers could be reduced with the introduction of the use of RAID disks.

The following LAN file-servers have been installed with RAID disks as of November 1997:

HKUPC1	serving the PC Laboratories in Run Run Shaw Building, Knowles Building, and Tsui Long Sing Amenities Centre
HKURM1	serving departments in the Runme Shaw Building
HKUKK2	serving departments in the K. K. Leung Building
HKUHW1	serving departments in the Haking Wong Building
HKUQP1	serving departments in the Queen Mary Hospital

Tony F.K. Lai
Tel: 2859 7976
E-mail: lfk@cc.hku.hk

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