Setting up a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configuration can be a great way to improve performance, data redundancy, or both for your storage setup. This blog post will walk you through two common methods for creating RAID arrays: using SoftRAID and Apple Disk Utility.
Whether you're looking to speed up your video editing workflow, create a robust backup solution, or simply consolidate your drives, RAID offers compelling advantages. Let's explore how to get started with two popular options.
SoftRAID is a highly regarded, powerful software RAID solution that offers a wider range of RAID levels and advanced features compared to built-in utilities.
1. Acquiring SoftRAID:
Purchase: You can buy SoftRAID directly from OWC. They often bundle SoftRAID with their external drive enclosures, making it a convenient option if you're also in the market for new hardware.
Bundled Licenses: Keep an eye out! Some OWC devices or other compatible hardware might include a SoftRAID license. This license is typically found on a sticker or label on the bottom of the device. Make sure to check thoroughly before purchasing a separate license.
2. Steps to Create a RAID with SoftRAID:
Before you begin, ensure your drives are properly installed in your enclosure or connected to your computer, and SoftRAID is installed and licensed on your Mac.
Launch SoftRAID and Initialize Disks:
Open the SoftRAID application from your Applications folder.
In the SoftRAID window, navigate to the "Disks" tab. You should see all the physical disks you intend to use for your RAID listed. They will likely appear as "Uninitialized" or similar, indicating they are not yet formatted for use by SoftRAID.
Select all the disks you plan to include in your RAID array. You can do this by clicking on the first disk and then Shift-clicking on the last disk, or Command-clicking each disk individually.
Right-click on any of the selected disks (or go to the "Disk" menu in the SoftRAID menu bar).
Choose "Initialize..." from the context menu.
A warning will appear stating that initializing the disks will erase all data. Confirm that you wish to proceed. This prepares the disks for SoftRAID's use.
Crucial: Certify Your Disks: This is a mandatory and highly recommended step for SoftRAID to ensure disk reliability. Do not skip this!
After initializing, the disks will still be selected. If not, select all your disks again in the "Disks" tab.
Right-click on one of the selected disks (or go to the "Disk" menu).
Choose "Certify..." from the context menu.
A dialog box will appear with certification options.
Number of passes: SoftRAID recommends at least one full pass (random data write/read verification). For critical data, consider 2 or 3 passes. More passes mean more thorough testing but significantly longer times.
Write zeroes on last pass: This option is usually selected by default and is good for ensuring a clean slate.
Random access test: You can enable this for additional testing.
Click "Start Certify" (or a similar button).
Be prepared for this to take a very long time. For mechanical hard drives, a rule of thumb is approximately one day per 2TB of capacity. For multiple large drives, this could be several days.
Do not interrupt the certification process. Let it run to completion. SoftRAID will show the progress for each disk.
Once certification is complete for all disks, SoftRAID will confirm their health.
Create Your RAID Volume:
Once all your disks have been successfully certified, they should still be selected in the SoftRAID window. If not, select all your certified disks again.
Right-click on one of the selected disks (or go to the "Disk" menu).
Choose "New Volume..." from the context menu.
The "New Volume" wizard will appear:
Volume Name: Give your RAID volume a descriptive name (e.g., "My Fast RAID," "Redundant Archive").
RAID Level: This is where you choose your RAID type. SoftRAID offers a wide range, including:
RAID 0 (Striped): Maximum speed and capacity (combines all disk capacities), but no redundancy. If one drive fails, all data is lost. (Requires at least 2 drives)
RAID 1 (Mirrored): Excellent redundancy. Data is duplicated across drives. Capacity is limited to the smallest drive. (Requires at least 2 drives)
RAID 1+0 (RAID 10): Excellent performance and redundancy. Requires an even number of drives (e.g., 4, 6, 8). You lose half your total capacity to mirroring, but you can lose one drive from each mirrored pair without data loss.
RAID 5: Good balance of performance, capacity, and redundancy. You lose the capacity of one drive for parity information, meaning you can lose one drive and still recover your data. (Requires at least 3 drives)
RAID 6: Even greater redundancy than RAID 5. You can lose two drives and still recover your data. (Requires at least 4 drives)
Choose the RAID level that best fits your needs for speed, capacity, and data protection.
File System: Choose your desired file system.
APFS: Apple File System (modern macOS standard, good for SSDs and HDDs on macOS).
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) / HFS+: Older macOS standard, still widely compatible.
If you plan to use the RAID with Windows as well (via SoftRAID's cross-platform capabilities), consider the implications of your file system choice. SoftRAID can manage APFS/HFS+ volumes on Windows.
Volume Size: Set the size of your RAID volume. For most cases, you'll want to use the maximum available capacity.
Optimize for: SoftRAID allows you to optimize the RAID for specific workloads (e.g., "Video Editing," "Database," "General Purpose"). Choose the option that best matches your primary use case. This optimizes stripe unit size for better performance.
Click "Create" (or similar).
SoftRAID will present a summary of your choices. Review them carefully.
Click "Create Volume" to confirm.
SoftRAID will now create the RAID array. For redundant RAID levels (like RAID 1, 5, 6, or 10), there will be an initialisation process where parity information is written. This can take some time.
Once the process is complete, your new RAID volume will appear on your desktop (or in Finder under Locations) and will be ready for use.
Important Considerations After Creation (SoftRAID):
SoftRAID Monitor: Keep the SoftRAID application running (or the SoftRAID Monitor active in your menu bar). This is essential for real-time monitoring of your RAID array and individual drive health. It will alert you to potential issues like drive degradation or failure.
Backups: As reiterated in the blog post, a RAID array provides redundancy (for RAID 1, 5, 6, 10), but it is not a backup solution. Always have a separate, independent backup of your critical data.
Performance Monitoring: SoftRAID provides tools to monitor your RAID's performance. Test your read/write speeds to ensure they meet your expectations.
Here's a video on How to create a RAID using OWC SoftRAID: Click here
For macOS users, Apple's built-in Disk Utility offers a free and straightforward way to create basic RAID configurations.
1. Accessing Disk Utility:
Open Finder, navigate to "Applications," then "Utilities," and launch "Disk Utility."
2. Starting the RAID Assistant:
From the menu bar in Disk Utility, go to "File" > "RAID Assistant...".
3. Choosing Your RAID Type:
Disk Utility offers a more limited selection of RAID types compared to SoftRAID, typically including:
Striped RAID Set (RAID 0): For maximum performance, combining the capacity of all drives. Data is split and written across all drives simultaneously. Note: No data redundancy. If one drive fails, all data in the array is lost.
Mirrored RAID Set (RAID 1): For data redundancy, duplicating data across drives. Every piece of data written to one drive is also written to the other (or others). Capacity is limited to the smallest drive. If one drive fails, the data is still accessible from the mirror drive.
Concatenated Disk Set (JBOD - Just a Bunch Of Disks): Combines drives into one larger volume without performance or redundancy benefits. Data is written sequentially to each drive until it's full, then moves to the next.
4. Selecting Your Disks:
Drag and drop the disks you want to include in your RAID array from the sidebar into the RAID Assistant window.
5. Naming and Formatting:
Give your RAID array a name and choose the desired format (e.g., APFS, Mac OS Extended (Journaled)).
6. Creating the RAID:
Click "Create" to finalize the process. Disk Utility will then format the drives and create your RAID array.
While both tools can create RAID configurations, they cater to different needs and offer vastly different capabilities. Understanding these distinctions is key to choosing the right solution for you.
| Feature/Aspect | SoftRAID | Apple Disk Utility |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid software, often bundled with OWC hardware. | Free, built into macOS. |
| RAID Levels | Much wider range, including RAID 0, 1, 1+0 (10), 4, 5, 6, and JBOD. Offers flexibility for various performance and redundancy needs. | Limited to basic RAID 0 (Striped), RAID 1 (Mirrored), and JBOD (Concatenated). Suitable for simple setups. |
| Disk Certification | Mandatory and thorough. Pre-tests drives for errors, significantly reducing the risk of failure within the array. This proactive health check is a major advantage for data integrity. | None. Relies on the drives being in good working order. Potential for issues if a drive has hidden sectors or early signs of failure. |
| Monitoring & Alerts | Comprehensive real-time monitoring of drive health, temperature, and performance. Provides detailed alerts for potential issues, allowing for proactive intervention. | Minimal to no active monitoring of RAID health. You'd typically only know about an issue if the array fails or a drive drops out. |
| Performance | Generally offers superior performance due to optimized algorithms and fine-grained control over RAID parameters. Can unlock the full potential of high-speed drives and controllers. | Performance is adequate for general use but may not be as optimized as SoftRAID, especially for demanding workloads. |
| Rebuild Times | Often features faster and more efficient rebuild processes for redundant arrays (e.g., RAID 1, 5). | Rebuild times can be slower and less optimized. |
| Disk Compatibility | Supports a wide range of internal and external drives, including SSDs and HDDs. | Generally compatible with most drives, but some users report better stability with specific drive combinations. |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface with extensive features. While powerful, it remains accessible for users willing to learn its capabilities. | Very simple and intuitive for basic RAID setups. Ideal for beginners or those needing a quick solution. |
| Target User | Professionals (video editors, photographers, audio engineers), small businesses, or anyone requiring high performance, critical data redundancy, and advanced control over their storage. | Casual users, students, or those with non-critical data who want basic performance gains or simple mirroring without additional software costs. |
SoftRAID: Recommended for users who need advanced RAID levels, superior performance, more robust monitoring, and comprehensive disk health checks. It's an investment, but for professional workflows or mission-critical data, the features, reliability, and the crucial disk certification process often justify the cost. If your data is valuable and your workflow demands high performance and resilience, SoftRAID is the clear winner.
Apple Disk Utility: A great free option for users who need basic RAID 0 or RAID 1 configurations for everyday use. It's simple, readily available, and gets the job done for less demanding scenarios. However, it lacks the advanced features, diagnostic tools, and proactive health checks that SoftRAID provides. For quick, non-critical setups, Disk Utility is a convenient choice.
No matter which method you choose, remember that RAID is not a substitute for a comprehensive backup strategy. While some RAID levels provide redundancy, accidental deletion, software corruption, or a catastrophic event affecting multiple drives can still lead to data loss. Always back up your important data to a separate location (e.g., cloud storage, external hard drive) to ensure true data security.