If you have spent the time to increase your computer's performance by setting up a hardware RAID array, you owe it to yourself to invest a little extra time and effort in maintaining the hard disks in your setup. Following these tips will help limit the need for data disaster recovery in the future.

1. If you are copying information from an old harddrive onto those being used in your array, be sure to keep the old disk around for a while. That way, if you discover any faults or errors in your raid array, you will still have your original data to work with.

2. Make sure you choose the raid level that works best for your needs. If you are just in need of faster reads and basic redundancy, RAID Level 1 may be your ticket. This basic level Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks ensures against data loss by incorporating 2 drives - one mirroring the other. Although the cost per megabyte is higher, the increase in speed and protection against data loss are well worth it.

3. If you are setting up a multi-user enviroment, creating a 3 or 5 drive RAID-5 array may be your best choice for speed and data protection. Keep in mind though, if your requirements are write performance sensitive, there are better alternatives.

4. If you are trying to decide between a software based or hardware based RAID array, remember, hardware based arrays do not require software to boot, have the logic within them and as such are much more fault tolerant. Stick with a hardware array if you are concerned about disaster recovery planning!

5. Despite the increase in speed and performance using RAID arrays, files can still become disorganized and corrupted. Be sure to run your preferred software for scanning and checking your disks on a regular basis.

If you think taking the extra time to follow these tips and care for your RAID array sounds tedious, take a few moments to check out the cost of raid data disaster recovery. That alone should make you realize that your efforts are not in vain!