1. What is a RAID 6 Performance Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the read and write performance of a RAID 6 array based on the number of drives and their individual speeds.

Purpose: It helps IT professionals and system administrators plan storage configurations and understand performance expectations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses these formulas:

Where:

• \( N \) — Number of drives in the array
• \( \text{SingleSpeed} \) — Speed of an individual drive (MB/s)
• \( \text{ReadSpeed} \) — Theoretical maximum read speed (MB/s)
• \( \text{WriteSpeed} \) — Theoretical maximum write speed (MB/s)

Explanation: RAID 6 can read from all drives simultaneously but must write to all drives while maintaining two parity blocks, hence the (N-2) factor for writes.

3. Importance of RAID 6 Performance Calculation

Details: Understanding RAID 6 performance helps in capacity planning, budgeting, and ensuring the storage solution meets application requirements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of drives (minimum 3) and the speed of a single drive in MB/s. The calculator will show the expected read and write performance.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does write speed decrease with RAID 6?
A: RAID 6 requires writing two parity blocks for every write operation, which reduces available bandwidth for actual data writes.

Q2: What's the minimum number of drives for RAID 6?
A: RAID 6 requires a minimum of 3 drives (1 data + 2 parity), though practical implementations typically use 4+ drives.

Q3: Are these speeds guaranteed in real-world use?
A: These are theoretical maximums. Real-world performance may be lower due to controller overhead, system bottlenecks, and workload patterns.

Q4: How does drive speed affect the array?
A: The slowest drive in the array will limit overall performance, especially for writes.

Q5: Can I mix different speed drives in RAID 6?
A: While possible, it's not recommended as the array will perform at the speed of the slowest drive.