How To Calculate RAID 6 Capacity
RAID 6 is a robust RAID configuration designed to provide exceptional fault tolerance and data protection. It expands on the concept of RAID 5 by incorporating dual parity information across multiple drives, allowing the array to withstand the failure of up to two disks without losing any data.
In this blog, we will talk about the mechanics of RAID 6 and learn how to calculate its storage capacity accurately.
Don’t like manual calculations? Use our Free RAID Calculator
RAID 6 Storage Capacity
The calculation of RAID 6 storage capacity is similar to RAID 5, but with an additional parity drive. To determine the total storage capacity of a RAID 6 array, we need to consider the total number of drives and the size of the smallest one.
RAID 6 Capacity Formula
The RAID 6 capacity can be calculated using a straightforward formula
C = (N — 2) * S
- N — Total number of all drives
- S — Size of the smallest drive
Let’s break down the formula to understand it better:
The “N — 2” term represents the number of data drives in the RAID 6 array, excluding the two parity drives. Since RAID 6 requires a minimum of four drives, we always have at least two data drives.
The “S” variable denotes the size of the smallest disk within the RAID 6 array. RAID controllers partition the hard disk space into arrays according to the capacity of the smallest drive present.
By multiplying (N — 2) by the smallest disk size (S), we arrive at the total storage capacity of the RAID 6 array.
Are you facing RAID Data Loss? Contact Our RAID Experts
RAID 6 Capacity Calculation Example
Let’s consider a practical example to illustrate the RAID 6 capacity calculation:
Suppose we have a RAID 6 array with 6 drives, and the smallest disk size (S) is 2 TB.
C = (6–2) * 2 TB = 4 * 2 TB = 8 TB
In this example, the total storage capacity of the RAID 6 array would be 8 terabytes.
Don’t like manual calculations? Use our Free RAID Calculator
RAID Available Capacity
- How To Calculate RAID 0 Capacity
- How To Calculate RAID 1 Capacity
- How To Calculate RAID 5 Capacity
- How To Calculate RAID 6 Capacity
