1. What is RAID 6 Write Speed Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the write speed performance of a RAID 6 array based on the number of drives and single drive write speed.

Purpose: It helps IT professionals and system administrators predict storage performance for RAID 6 configurations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{WriteSpeed} \) — RAID 6 array write speed (MB/s)
• \( N \) — Total number of drives in the array
• \( \text{SingleWriteSpeed} \) — Write speed of an individual drive (MB/s)

Explanation: RAID 6 uses two drives for parity, so write speed is calculated based on the remaining drives (N-2) divided by 2 due to the double parity calculation overhead.

3. Importance of RAID 6 Write Speed Calculation

Details: Understanding RAID 6 write performance helps in capacity planning, performance tuning, and setting realistic expectations for storage systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of drives (minimum 3) and the write speed of a single drive. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does RAID 6 have slower write performance?
A: RAID 6 requires calculating and writing two sets of parity data, which creates additional overhead compared to RAID 5 or RAID 0.

Q2: What's the minimum number of drives for RAID 6?
A: RAID 6 requires at least 4 drives (though some implementations work with 3), as it needs two drives for parity.

Q3: How does this compare to RAID 5 write speed?
A: RAID 5 write speed is typically (N-1) × SingleWriteSpeed, as it only uses one parity drive.

Q4: Does drive type affect the calculation?
A: The formula works for any drive type (HDD, SSD), but actual performance may vary based on controller and implementation.

Q5: Is this theoretical or actual performance?
A: This is theoretical maximum. Real-world performance may be lower due to controller limitations, system overhead, and other factors.