What is the difference between SHR and RAID on a Synology NAS?
SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID) and RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) are both storage technologies used in Synology NAS systems. While they serve a similar purpose of providing data redundancy and storage efficiency, there are some key differences between the two.
SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID)
SHR is a proprietary RAID implementation developed by Synology for their NAS systems. It is designed to be more flexible and user-friendly compared to traditional RAID setups. SHR allows users to mix and match different drive sizes and types within a RAID volume, providing more flexibility when it comes to expanding storage capacities. This is particularly useful when adding new drives or upgrading existing ones.
SHR also includes a feature called "RAID Protection" which provides data redundancy by distributing redundant data across multiple drives within the volume. This helps protect against drive failures and allows for easier data recovery.
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)
RAID is a standardized technology that combines multiple physical drives into a single logical unit. It provides various RAID levels (such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, etc.) which offer different levels of performance, capacity, and data redundancy.
In a traditional RAID setup, all drives in the RAID volume need to be of the same size and type. This can limit the flexibility of adding or upgrading drives without rebuilding the entire RAID array. However, RAID offers better performance compared to SHR, especially in RAID levels that focus on striping data across multiple drives.
Comparison of SHR and RAID
| Feature | SHR | RAID |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Allows mixing different drive sizes and types | Requires all drives to be of the same size and type |
| Data Redundancy | RAID Protection distributes redundant data across drives for data recovery | Depends on the RAID level chosen |
| Expandability | Easier to add or upgrade drives without rebuilding the entire RAID array | May require rebuilding the entire RAID array when adding or upgrading drives |
| Performance | Slower in some RAID levels that use data mirroring | Can offer better performance, especially in RAID levels that focus on striping data |
Ultimately, the choice between SHR and RAID depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user. SHR offers greater flexibility with drive compatibility, while RAID may provide better performance in certain configurations.
