What type of fault tolerance does RAID 1 provide?

RAID 1 provides fault tolerance through mirroring, where data is duplicated across multiple disks. This means that if one disk fails, the identical copy on the other disk continues to function, allowing the system to maintain operational integrity without data loss. The primary advantage of RAID 1 is its ability to withstand a single disk failure. As a result, it enables continuous access to data and system functionality, ensuring that users can operate normally despite one disk's failure.

This capability is crucial for environments where reliability and data integrity are paramount. In contrast, RAID configurations that offer support for dual or multiple disk failures, such as RAID 5 or RAID 6, utilize different methods, such as parity information and additional redundancy, which are not applicable to the mirroring approach of RAID 1. Therefore, the identification of RAID 1 as providing fault tolerance for a single disk failure accurately captures its primary function.