RAID Rebuild Survival & URE Risk Calculator
Calculate RAID rebuild time, unrecoverable read error (URE) probability, and data loss risk for your RAID array.
Last reviewed: April 2026Array Configuration
Drive Reliability
Results
Comparison Charts
About the RAID Rebuild Survival & URE Risk Calculator
The Raid Rebuild Calculator is a powerful tool designed to help businesses understand the financial implications of RAID rebuilds. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a technology used to increase the reliability and availability of data by combining multiple hard drives into a single logical unit. While RAID provides redundancy, it also means that data loss can occur if one or more drives fail. When a drive fails, the RAID array must rebuild the data on a spare drive, which can be a time-consuming process that impacts business operations.
Real-World Applications
Consider a small business that has implemented RAID 5 for data protection. If one of the drives in the RAID array fails, the business must initiate a rebuild process. The rebuild process can take several hours, depending on the size of the data and the speed of the spare drive. During this time, the business may experience reduced productivity as employees must work around the downtime. The Raid Rebuild Calculator can help the business estimate the cost of the rebuild process, including the time lost and the potential impact on productivity. By understanding the financial implications of RAID rebuilds, the business can better manage its resources and minimize downtime.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake that businesses make when it comes to RAID rebuilds isn't having a clear understanding of the process and its potential impact. This can lead to costly downtime and lost productivity. By using the Raid Rebuild Calculator, businesses can gain a better understanding of the rebuild process and its financial implications, allowing them to make informed decisions about RAID configurations and data protection strategies.
Examples
Example 1: Estimating the Cost of a RAID Rebuild
Consider a business with a RAID 5 configuration consisting of 5 hard drives. If one of the drives fails, the business must initiate a rebuild process. The Raid Rebuild Calculator can help the business estimate the cost of the rebuild process, including the time lost and the potential impact on productivity. In this example, the business estimates that the rebuild process will take 10 hours, with a cost of $100 per hour in lost productivity. The total cost of the rebuild process is estimated to be $1,000.
Example 2: Evaluating the Impact of RAID Configurations
Consider a business that's considering upgrading its RAID configuration from RAID 5 to RAID 6. The Raid Rebuild Calculator can help the business evaluate the impact of the upgrade, including the potential cost savings and downtime. In this example, the business estimates that the RAID 6 configuration will provide better protection against data loss, with a reduced risk of rebuilds. The business also estimates that the upgrade will save $500 per year in lost productivity, resulting in a total cost savings of $5,000 over the life of the RAID array.
Example 3: Assessing the Impact of RAID Array Size
Consider a business with a RAID 5 configuration consisting of 5 hard drives. If the business decides to add an additional drive to the array, the Raid Rebuild Calculator can help the business assess the impact of the change, including the potential cost of the rebuild process. In this example, the business estimates that adding an additional drive will increase the size of the RAID array, resulting in a longer rebuild process. The business also estimates that the rebuild process will cost $100 per hour in lost productivity, with a total cost of $2,000 over the course of the rebuild.