The implementation of RAID can be achieved through two different methods: hardware and software. The hardware method is realized through a RAID controller, while the software method involves combining multiple disks within the server using software to achieve fast data storage striping and secure redundancy.
Hardware RAID typically uses either the RAID controller integrated into the server's motherboard or a separately purchased RAID control card to connect multiple independent disks. Nowadays, almost all server motherboards come with an integrated RAID controller capable of achieving basic RAID modes such as RAID 0/1, including database recovery. If more disks need to be connected for higher-speed data storage and redundancy, additional RAID control cards must be configured. Overall, hardware RAID offers better performance and is widely used, especially suitable for environments requiring high-speed data storage and secure redundancy, but it comes at a higher cost.
Software RAID is achieved using operating systems (such as Microsoft's Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003) and third-party storage software developers' applications. It doesn't require the purchase of a separate RAID control card and can also be implemented on motherboards without a RAID controller. This software-based RAID approach has a lower cost but is more complex to configure and offers lower performance, making it only suitable for small-scale data storage network applications.
Original article from Anhui Server Data Recovery Center: http://www.ahserver.com/plus/view-75-1.html