1. What is a RAID 6 Space Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the usable storage capacity in a RAID 6 array based on the number of drives and their individual size.

Purpose: It helps IT professionals and system administrators plan storage arrays by determining the actual available space in a RAID 6 configuration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{UsableSpace} \) — Available storage capacity (TB)
• \( N \) — Total number of drives in the array
• \( \text{DriveSize} \) — Capacity of each individual drive (TB)

Explanation: RAID 6 uses two drives worth of capacity for parity data, so the usable space is always the total number of drives minus two, multiplied by the drive size.

3. Importance of RAID 6 Space Calculation

Details: Proper capacity planning ensures you allocate sufficient storage for your needs while maintaining RAID 6's dual-parity protection against two simultaneous drive failures.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of drives (minimum 3) and the size of each drive in TB. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why subtract 2 drives in RAID 6?
A: RAID 6 uses two drives worth of capacity for parity information, providing protection against two simultaneous drive failures.

Q2: What's the minimum number of drives for RAID 6?
A: RAID 6 requires a minimum of 3 drives, though 4+ is recommended for practical use.

Q3: Does drive size need to be identical?
A: For best results, use identical drives. With mixed sizes, the array will use the smallest drive's capacity for all drives.

Q4: How does this compare to RAID 5?
A: RAID 5 only subtracts 1 drive for parity (single failure protection), while RAID 6 subtracts 2 drives (dual failure protection).

Q5: What about formatting overhead?
A: This calculates raw capacity. Actual formatted capacity will be slightly less due to filesystem overhead.