--- title: "What is RAID and how does it work in server storage | StreetHosting" description: "Learn what RAID is, how RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 differ, when each configuration makes sense and how RAID protects (or does not protect) your server data." url: "https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage" type: "page" language: "en-US" --- Infrastructure · 3 min · Beginner Published on Jun 18, 2026 · Updated on Jun 18, 2026 # What is RAID on a server: types, advantages and limitations RAID combines multiple disks to improve performance or redundancy. But RAID is not a backup. Learn about RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 and when each type makes sense for your server. By [Equipe StreetHosting](https://streethosting.com.br/en/autores#equipe-streethosting) · StreetHosting infrastructure and support team [Hardware and datacenter](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/hardware) [Backup and recovery](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/backup) Summarize with: [](https://chat.openai.com/?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Finfrastructure%2Fwhat-is-raid-server-storage.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "ChatGPT") [](https://claude.ai/new?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Finfrastructure%2Fwhat-is-raid-server-storage.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. 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RAID does not replace backups. ## What RAID is[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#o-que-e-raid) RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a technology that combines multiple storage disks so the operating system sees them as a single disk. Depending on the RAID level, the goal can be: * **Speed**: spread reads and writes across several disks in parallel * **Redundancy**: keep copies of the data so it survives a disk failure * **Capacity**: combine several smaller disks into one larger volume RAID is widely used on dedicated servers and in data centers. On a VPS and on cloud servers, storage redundancy is usually managed by the provider's infrastructure, not directly by the user. ## RAID 0: performance[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-0) RAID 0 spreads the data across all the disks in the array (striping). Each disk writes part of the data at the same time, which increases read and write speed. * **Advantage**: maximum I/O performance * **Disadvantage**: zero redundancy. If one disk fails, all the data is lost * **Capacity**: the total of all the disks (2 disks of 1TB = 2TB) * **Minimum disks**: 2 Use RAID 0 only when performance is critical and the data has a reliable external backup. Never for data without a backup. ## RAID 1: mirroring[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-1) RAID 1 mirrors the data on two disks at the same time. Everything written to disk A is automatically replicated to disk B. * **Advantage**: if one disk fails, the server keeps running on the other * **Disadvantage**: 50% of the capacity is used for redundancy * **Capacity**: the capacity of a single disk (2 disks of 1TB = 1TB usable) * **Minimum disks**: 2 RAID 1 is ideal for servers that need high availability with a simple setup. The failed disk can be replaced while the server is running (hot swap) on compatible hardware. ## RAID 5: striping with parity[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-5) RAID 5 spreads the data and the parity information across all the disks. With the parity, it is possible to rebuild the data of a failed disk using the remaining disks. * **Advantage**: survives the failure of one disk with good space efficiency * **Disadvantage**: rebuilding after a failure is slow and puts stress on the remaining disks * **Capacity**: (N-1) x disk\_size (with 4 disks of 1TB = 3TB usable) * **Minimum disks**: 3 ## RAID 10: performance and redundancy[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-10) RAID 10 (also called RAID 1+0) combines mirroring (RAID 1) with striping (RAID 0). The data is mirrored in pairs, and the pairs are striped for parallel reads. * **Advantage**: high read and write performance with strong redundancy * **Disadvantage**: 50% of the capacity is used for mirroring * **Capacity**: 50% of the total of all the disks * **Minimum disks**: 4 RAID 10 is the preferred choice for databases and applications that need both speed and fault tolerance. ## RAID is not a backup[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-nao-e-backup) This is the most important point about RAID: it only protects against a physical disk failure. It does not protect against: * Accidental file deletion * Ransomware (which encrypts the data on all the mirrored disks) * Data corruption caused by software * Fire, flooding or theft of the server * RAID controller failure For real data protection, implement the [3-2-1 backup strategy](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/3-2-1-backup-strategy): three copies of the data, on two different types of media, with one copy offsite. RAID and backups complement each other. Neither one replaces the other. In this guide * [What RAID is](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#o-que-e-raid) * [RAID 0: performance](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-0) * [RAID 1: mirroring](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-1) * [RAID 5: striping with parity](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-5) * [RAID 10: performance and redundancy](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-10) * [RAID is not a backup](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/what-is-raid-server-storage#raid-nao-e-backup) ## Frequently asked questions Does RAID replace backups? No. RAID protects against a physical disk failure. It does not protect against accidental file deletion, ransomware, a data center fire or data corruption. An off-server backup is essential regardless of RAID. Which RAID is safest for important data? RAID 10 offers the best combination of redundancy and performance: it mirrors the data and spreads the load across pairs of disks. RAID 1 is simpler and also safe for two-disk setups. Is RAID 0 faster? Yes, RAID 0 improves read and write performance because it spreads the data across multiple disks in parallel. However, if any one of the disks fails, all the data is lost. There is no redundancy. How many disks do I need for RAID 5? RAID 5 needs at least 3 disks. One disk worth of space is used for parity. With 3 disks of 1TB in RAID 5, the usable capacity is 2TB (one unit used for parity). Next step See dedicated servers Exclusive hardware in São Paulo with NVMe and Anti-DDoS. [See dedicated servers](https://streethosting.com.br/en/dedicated) [See VPS plans Root VPS in Brazil with NVMe and Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps) ## Related guides [Infrastructure Beginner The 3-2-1 backup strategy for servers The 3-2-1 rule is one of the most reliable ways to reduce data loss after a technical failure or a human mistake. 2 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/3-2-1-backup-strategy) [Infrastructure Beginner NVMe and game server performance: why disk speed matters CPU and RAM headline the plan page, but a slow disk turns into invisible stutter: the world takes longer to load, backups run late and the rollback fails when you need it most. 3 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/infrastructure/nvme-game-server-performance) [Infrastructure Intermediate Dedicated server vs VPS: cost and value in Brazil A dedicated server is not a status symbol: it is a tool for predictability under extreme load. 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