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Dear List,

If you are intending to re-use the DVD media often in your lab you should
be aware that the older DVD-RAM cartridge based standard is slower than
its rivals but can be written to around 100,000 times verses only 1,000
times for the rivals. Although 1,000 cycles seems large, you must remember
that the starting sectors will be written/ erased more frequently and once
the 1000 cycles have passed a defect management feature of the +RW
standard prevents the sector from being used.
The -RW & +RW disks are however half the price of DVD-RAM.

I would be slightly cautious at the moment because it looks like the
standards fight will go on for a while. The only way to be sure that you
have a supported standard is to make it standard throughout your lab.

Regarding RAID set ups, most motherboard RAID devices only have RAID
levels 0 and 1. An easy to use stepped guide on RAID and the different
levels and options is available at:
     http://www6.tomshardware.com/storage/02q3/020830/index.html

     Best Regards
     Chris Power