Summary of Hard Disks for Web Servers
by Jimmy Martin
Depending on the type of web server you wish to buy or rent, you will have to choose different types of hard disk storage.
Low-end web server - Runs sites that have outgrown shared or VPS hosting. This would probably have a PATA or SATA hard drive with a relatively small capacity of 40 or 80GB. It would not provide the ultimate in performance or reliability, but it is a cost effective way of moving into the realm of dedicated servers. It is not advisable to run business-critical websites on a low-end server due to the lack of reliability.
Mid-range web server - Runs sites that require more speed or reliability than a low-end server can provide. Will use a RAID array. RAID 1 is the cheapest, giving good reliability. RAIDs 1+0 and 5 are more expensive due to the larger number of drives required, but give excellent speed and reliability. Which type of RAID depends on the exact use of the server. One which is used to stream video files will benefit from a different type of RAID than one which is used to maintain a database of small pieces of information. You should always take expert advice on which type of RAID array to use in your server.
High-end web server - Runs business-critical websites with a large amount of traffic, especially sites that require intensive disk access. This will use SCSI hard drives in a RAID array. It may also use a RAID array of SATA drives for bulk storage. Which hard disk interface and type of RAID array will depend on the server's exact use. Expert advice should always be sought to make sure you have the best solution for your site.