RAID 6 vs RAID 10 on Synology in Australia: Which layout to choose
Overview
Pick the layout that matches your drive count, workload, and risk tolerance.
RAID 6 tolerates two drive failures using dual parity. RAID 10 mirrors pairs and stripes across them for performance and fast rebuilds.
Table of Contents
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Browse SynologyHow each layout works
Understand the mechanics before you size capacity.
- RAID 6 uses dual parity across all disks to protect against two failures
- RAID 10 mirrors pairs then stripes across the mirrors for speed and resilience
- Both require backups because parity or mirrors cannot protect against deletion or malware
Pros and cons side by side
| Aspect | RAID 6 | RAID 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Drive failure tolerance | Two simultaneous | One per mirror pair |
| Usable capacity with 8 drives | Approx 6 drives worth | Approx 4 drives worth |
| Random I O performance | Good | Very good |
| Rebuild speed | Slower on large disks | Faster per mirror pair |
| Drive size mixing | Prefer uniform sizes | Prefer uniform sizes |
Capacity and performance
Capacity and speed trade off differently on each layout.
- RAID 6 offers higher usable capacity than RAID 10 for the same drive count
- RAID 10 often delivers lower latency for random I O
- For very large arrays consider 10 GbE or faster paths to see gains
Rebuild time and risk
Bigger drives increase rebuild times. Keep backups and spare drives ready.
- RAID 6 protects against a second failure during rebuilds
- RAID 10 rebuilds a single mirror which is usually faster
- Keep free space and healthy thermals to reduce stress during rebuilds
Use case recommendations
Simple mapping for common workloads.
- RAID 6 for large capacity arrays and archival with many bays
- RAID 10 for latency sensitive workloads and mixed small files
- Consider SHR 2 on Synology when you need flexibility with mixed sizes
Decision checklist
Answer these questions to choose with confidence.
- How many bays and what drive sizes are planned
- Is your workload more sequential or random I O
- What rebuild window is acceptable for your site
- Do you plan to expand capacity gradually
Need technical support or more detailed guidance? Please contact Synology via our Synology Support – Australia page. It includes ticket, Live Chat, warranty and downloads links.
