RAID system
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Reliable, Expansive, and Secure
Discover a wide range of storage devices tailored to meet your growing digital needs. From high-speed external SSDs and portable hard drives to multiple options for your personal home office. Whether you’re backing up important files, expanding your device’s memory, or building a centralized storage hub, find the perfect solution to keep your data accessible and protected.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to your most common queries
What is a RAID system and what does ICY BOX offer?
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) combines multiple drives into one logical volume for speed, redundancy, or both. ICY BOX RAID systems are external USB enclosures for 2–5 SATA or M.2 NVMe drives, connecting via USB 3.2 or USB4 to any Windows, macOS, or Linux computer — no NAS software, server, or IT expertise required.
What is the difference between RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, and BIG modes?
RAID 0 (striping) combines drives for maximum speed and capacity but offers no protection — one drive failure loses all data. RAID 1 (mirroring) writes identical data to both drives for full redundancy. JBOD treats each drive independently as separate volumes. BIG (spanning) combines all drives into one large volume without striping. For data safety, RAID 1 is recommended. For maximum performance with separate backup, RAID 0 can be used.
Can I change the RAID mode without losing my data?
No — switching RAID modes (such as from RAID 0 to RAID 1) requires a full reformat, which permanently erases all data on the array. Always back up your data before changing the RAID configuration. ICY BOX RAID systems use hardware RAID set via a physical switch — no software is required, but the mode change is irreversible without data backup.
Do ICY BOX RAID systems require driver or software installation?
No — ICY BOX RAID systems use hardware RAID and present as a single external USB drive to your computer. They are fully plug-and-play on Windows®, macOS™, and Linux™ with no driver or software installation required. Format the RAID volume once using your OS disk management tool (Disk Management on Windows®, Disk Utility on macOS™) before first use.
What happens if one drive fails in an ICY BOX RAID system?
In RAID 1 mode, the system continues operating on the remaining drive — your data is fully preserved. Replace the failed drive with one of equal or greater capacity and the ICY BOX RAID system automatically begins rebuilding the mirror. A status LED indicates the rebuild process. In RAID 0 mode, a single drive failure results in total data loss — RAID 0 provides no redundancy.
Can I mix drives of different sizes or brands in an ICY BOX RAID enclosure?
You can mix brands, but mixing capacities has implications. In RAID 1, usable capacity is limited to the smaller drive — extra space on the larger drive is wasted. In RAID 0 and BIG, total capacities are combined. For best performance and compatibility, use matching drives of the same model, capacity, and speed. Mixing drive generations can cause the array to run at the speed of the slowest drive.
What transfer speeds can I expect from an ICY BOX RAID system?
In RAID 0 with two NVMe drives and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) connection, sequential read speeds exceed 1,800 Mbps. SATA RAID 0 via USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) delivers up to 900 Mbps. RAID 1 mirrors writes to both drives so write speed equals a single drive's performance. The IB-RD2818DK-40G with 2 NVMe SSDs and USB4 40 Gbps delivers up to 3,500 Mbps read.
Is an ICY BOX RAID system a substitute for a regular backup?
No — RAID is not a backup. RAID 1 protects against a single drive hardware failure but does not protect against accidental deletion, ransomware, fire, theft, or simultaneous drive failure. Always maintain a separate backup following the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different storage types, with one copy kept offsite or in cloud storage. RAID and backup serve different purposes and should be used together.
