The focus os this chapter of [[Windows Server 2008 Essentials]] is the configuration of striped or RAID 0 volumes on a Windows Server 2008 system. It is assumed in this chapter that the reader has a basic understanding of the difference between basic and dynamic disks wihtin the context of Windows Server 2008. For imformation on this subject the chapter entitled [[Creating and Managing Simple and Spanned Volumes on Windows Server 2008]] is recommended.

The focus of this chapter of [[Windows Server 2008 Essentials]] is the configuration of striped or RAID 0 volumes on a Windows Server 2008 system. It is assumed in this chapter that the reader has a basic understanding of the difference between basic and dynamic disks within the context of Windows Server 2008. For information on this subject the chapter entitled [[Creating and Managing Simple and Spanned Volumes on Windows Server 2008]] is recommended.

== An Overview of Striped (RAID 0) Volumes ==

== An Overview of Striped (RAID 0) Volumes ==

Striped (otherwise known as RAID 0) volumes consist of a stripe set comprised of two or more simialr sized disk drives (up to a total of 32 drives). When data is written to a striped volume the data is divided into a number of stripes equal to the number of disks in the striped set and a stripe is written to each disk. Similarly, when data is read from the volume each stripe of data is read from the disks in the striped set before being combined into its original form.

Striped (otherwise known as RAID 0) volumes consist of a stripe set comprised of two or more similar sized disk drives (up to a total of 32 drives). When data is written to a striped volume the data is divided into a number of stripes equal to the number of disks in the striped set and a stripe is written to each disk. Similarly, when data is read from the volume, each stripe of data is read from the disks in the striped set before being combined into its original form.

The primary purpose of striped volumes is performance. By dividing the read and write process over multiple disk drives any bottlenecks associated with using a single disk drive are avoided. The downside of disk striping is that the loss of a single disk in the striped array results in the loss of all the data since the data on the remaining drives in the striped array is of little use without the missing stripes residing on the failed drive.

The primary purpose of striped volumes is improved disk I/O performance. By dividing the read and write process over multiple disk drives any bottlenecks associated with using a single disk drive are avoided. The downside of disk striping is that the loss of a single disk in the stripe set results in the loss of all the data since the data on the remaining drives in the stripe set is of little use without the missing stripes residing on the failed drive.

== Creating a Striped (RAID 0) Volume using Disk Management ==

== Creating a Striped (RAID 0) Volume using Disk Management ==

In this section a striped volume will be created using two similarly sized disk drives connected to a Windows Server 2008 system (note that if the disks are of different sizes Windows will base the available volume size on the smallest disk drive in the striped set).  

In this section a striped volume will be created using two similarly sized disk drives connected to a Windows Server 2008 system (note that if the disks are of different sizes Windows will base the available volume size on the smallest disk drive in the striped set).  

Begin the process by invoking the Disk Management snap-in. This can be achieved by running compmgmt.msc in command prompt window or Run dialog and selecting Storage -> Disk Management.  The system used in this example contains three disks numbered 0, 1 and 2. Disk 0 is the system disk and disks 1 and 2 will be used to created a striped set.  

Begin the process by invoking the Disk Management snap-in. This can be achieved by typing '''compmgmt.msc''' at a command prompt window or Run dialog and selecting Storage -> Disk Management.  The system used in this example contains three disks numbered 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Disk 0 is the system disk and disks 1 and 2 will be used to created a striped set.