While the RAID level of an array gets a lot of attention, and the drives used in the
array do too, the RAID controller often does not. This is unfortunate, because in
many ways your choices for implementing a RAID array are dependent on the type of
controller you use. The controller and related hardware also have a very important impact
on array capacity and performance.
In this section I take a look at the different options available for controlling a RAID
array, examining in particular the important matter of "hardware RAID vs. software
RAID". I also explain related issues such as the different interfaces that can be
used for RAID implementations, the use of multiple channels for increasing throughput, and
also some operating system concerns.
Next: Hardware RAID
