Quick Answer
The answer is RAID 10, as it delivers the best RAID level for performance and redundancy for a database. RAID 10 combines RAID 0 striping for high read/write throughput with RAID 1 mirroring for fault tolerance, ensuring no single disk failure causes data loss and avoiding the write penalty of parity calculations found in RAID 5 or RAID 6. On the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator LFCS exam, this scenario tests your ability to balance speed and safety under real-world constraints, especially when using Linux software RAID for flexibility. A common trap is choosing RAID 5 for its space efficiency, but databases with heavy write workloads suffer from its parity overhead, while RAID 10 scales cleanly by adding mirrored pairs. Remember the mnemonic: “Mirror for safety, stripe for speed—RAID 10 is all you need.”
This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of storage management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A system administrator is tasked with setting up a new 2TB disk for a database server. The database requires high read/write performance and redundancy. The server has a hardware RAID controller, but the administrator wants to use Linux software RAID for flexibility. Which of the following RAID levels should the administrator choose to maximize performance while providing fault tolerance, assuming the disk will be part of a larger array in the future?
RAID 5
Why wrong: RAID 5 has write performance penalty due to parity calculation.
RAID 0
Why wrong: RAID 0 offers no fault tolerance, data loss if one disk fails.
RAID 6
Why wrong: RAID 6 has even greater write penalty than RAID 5.
RAID 10
RAID 10 combines mirroring and striping for performance and redundancy.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
RAID 10
RAID 10 (striping of mirrors) provides both high read/write performance and fault tolerance by combining the speed of RAID 0 striping with the redundancy of RAID 1 mirroring. Since the administrator plans to add more disks to the array in the future, RAID 10 scales well with additional pairs, maintaining performance and redundancy without the parity calculation overhead of RAID 5 or RAID 6.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
RAID 5
Why it's wrong here
RAID 5 has write performance penalty due to parity calculation.
RAID 0
Why it's wrong here
RAID 0 offers no fault tolerance, data loss if one disk fails.
RAID 6
Why it's wrong here
RAID 6 has even greater write penalty than RAID 5.
RAID 10
Why this is correct
RAID 10 combines mirroring and striping for performance and redundancy.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose RAID 5 or RAID 6 thinking they offer a good balance of performance and redundancy, but they overlook the significant write penalty and the fact that RAID 10 actually provides superior performance for write-intensive database workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
In Linux software RAID (mdadm), RAID 10 can be configured with different layouts (e.g., 'near', 'far', 'offset') that affect read performance and fault tolerance. The 'near' layout (default) mirrors chunks on adjacent disks, providing good performance for most workloads. A real-world scenario: a database server with high transaction rates benefits from RAID 10 because it allows concurrent reads from multiple mirrors and writes without parity overhead, unlike RAID 5/6 which suffer from the read-modify-write cycle.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LFCS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Storage Management — This question tests Storage Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: RAID 10 — RAID 10 (striping of mirrors) provides both high read/write performance and fault tolerance by combining the speed of RAID 0 striping with the redundancy of RAID 1 mirroring. Since the administrator plans to add more disks to the array in the future, RAID 10 scales well with additional pairs, maintaining performance and redundancy without the parity calculation overhead of RAID 5 or RAID 6.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LFCS exam.
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