3.3 Multiple disks

For efficiency and flexibility, you should consider using multiple disks for your server. Although Linux runs well off of one single hard disk, there is much to gain from multiple disks.

First, with multiple disks, the average seek time can be improved because each disk has its own head. This is especially true with SCSI and SATA.

Second, you have flexibility with multiple disks. For example, if you use an external disk rack for web content, you can easily reattach that disk to another server to continue service even when the original server requires off line maintenance or repair.

Third, it is easier to expand a system with multiple disks. Using our last example, if you run out of space for web content, you can acquire a larger disk rack, copy content from the original disk rack to the new one, then reattach the larger rack to the server. There is no need to repartition, or any danger to harm the rest of the system.

For home use, external disk rack often means USB external disk enclosure. For server use, however, you need to consider the performance and reliability of disk racks. Read the next section for more information!