Yes you are taking a Performance Hit for this configuration but you get Redundancy which in most cases is the best option to save Data in the event of a Failure. The systems that I build & Maintain always have things set this way rather than running the risk of loosing Data.
One Doctors Surgery actually uses 160 GIG Drives to replace a 80 GIG Drive and isn't willing to risk using something like Partition Magic to enlarge the Partitions of their RAID in case of OS loss. Long story but the last time I was there being Blackmailed to fix this up well actually install a new Server Application I spent 5 days there between Christmas & New Year figuring out what had been done to make it work. I was really beginning to question my own sanity by the end of that lot but it was working fine when I eventually crawled out exhausted. :D
To improve Performance use a Stripped Array not a Mirrored Array as that has 2 HDD sharing the one data stream so it's much faster than having the 2 drives mirror each other. The down side is that maybe you will be unable to rebuild the RAID Array [b]when[/b] a HDD fails.
For reading on RAID Arrays look here
http://tinyurl.com/eyjql
[i]From your expert input, I take it I'll need to get a Vista disk that isn't branded Dell "Reinstallation DVD". So, do I call Dell for that? I wish I'd been paying more attention when I bought this system and noticed that the OS disk was neutered.[/i]
Well I'm not too sure about the Expert bit but I have had a bit of practice though very little with Vista as it's not useful to business yet if ever. Depends on what M$ ends up doing with Windows 7 that one.
Yes you'll need a M$ Branded Vista DVD as it has all the Windows Drivers and other bits and pieces which the Dell Slipstreamed Disc doesn't. But if you have the time and inclination you could try a Install from the Dell Disc and see if you have any options on setting up the RAID. I don't think you will but it's worth a try maybe.
Before starting anything you need to make a Backup of all your Data and Settings. Well the Settings bit is a Maybe depending on what the Computer has configured but the Data is a [b]Must Do.[/b] Loosing a few settings that take a few more minutes to configure isn't a big deal but loosing the Data is completely different. But you should be doing this before doing anything regardless.
As one other Peer has said this week there are 2 types of Computer User those that have lost their Data and those that are going to. While a Backup is no complete Guarantee it's a lot cheaper than requiring a HDD Recovery from a Data Recovery House. At present a HDD Backup is about $100.00 + depending on HDD size and a Data Recovery From a HDD costs 1 new HDD to replace the one removed at the very least + The cost of the Data Recovery. That's about $900.00 for the guesstimating and several thousand $ for the actual recovery from a working Drive and much more from a dead drive with no guarantee that all the data will be recoverable. Last time cost one company 46 K but the drive there was dead and they needed it urgently so it was pushed through in 24 hours.
As for Predictable Mistakes my first suggestion would be don't install Vista again but that's not always an option depending on the hardware and you may need Vista anyway. On the up side with Vista though any Vista Install Disc from M$ will do as they are all the same with the Product Key activating the different versions so you don't have to hunt around for the right Install Disc.
The only off the shelf systems that I deal with are the IBM 2,000 CPU Blade Servers and even those are not really Off the Shelf type things. So I'm not exactly sure what Dell put on this Recovery Disc but if past experience is any guide it will only be the bare minimum needed and it also has all the software that loads in the one hit so it's not really a Windows Install Disc.
Hope that is of some use to you.
Post back or Peer Mail me if you want to know any more.
Col
