SnapRAID

SnapRAID: Open-Source Disk Array Backup and Recovery

An open-source backup program for disk arrays protecting data with parity information, supporting recovery from up to six disk failures without creating file copies.

What is SnapRAID?

SnapRAID is an open-source backup program designed for disk arrays. It protects data on physical hard drives by generating and storing parity information that allows recovery of data in case of up to six concurrent disk failures.

Unlike traditional RAID systems, SnapRAID does not create redundant copies of files across disks. Instead, it relies on the user to create regular block-level snapshots using an external utility. These snapshots provide point-in-time history of the file system that can be referenced in case data needs to be recovered.

When used together with a disk snapshot tool, SnapRAID offers a balance of data redundancy and flexibility for media storage arrays. It supports combining disks of different sizes into one array and adding/removing disks easily. The parity files generated are also stored independently and do not occupy a fixed percentage of disk space.

Some key features of SnapRAID include:

• Protects against up to 6 disk failures by striping parity data
• Supports disks of varying sizes in one array
• Easy to increase or decrease capacity by adding/removing disks
• Block-level snapshot integration for version history
• Scheduled parity syncing to minimize performance impact
• Data recovery tool for failed disk rebuild

SnapRAID can benefit home media servers and small businesses looking for an affordable backup solution for large storage arrays. An independent disk scrubbing utility is also recommended to detect silent data errors.

SnapRAID Features

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