WOODSTOCK, Ill. (September 17, 2026) — Other World Computing (OWC) has launched OWC SoftRAID 9, a new version of its RAID management software for Mac and Windows. The update adds RAID 6 and RAID 6+ support, along with additional storage management and cross-platform features.
RAID 6 Adds Dual-Drive Failure Protection
One of the main additions in SoftRAID 9 is support for RAID 6 and RAID 6+. Both configurations provide protection against the failure of two drives in an array.
According to OWC, RAID 6 allows volumes to remain intact and accessible after any two drives fail without data loss. The company says the configuration is intended for large arrays, long-term archives, and production environments.
RAID 6+ uses dedicated parity drives rather than distributing parity across every drive in the array. OWC says this configuration is suited to SSD arrays, where concentrating parity writes can help maintain performance.
Multiple RAID Configurations Supported
OWC SoftRAID 9 supports RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 6+, and 10. The company also notes that RAID 6 and RAID 6+ require macOS 27.
The software includes OWC SoftRAID Monitor, which can detect and warn about potential drive failures involving HDDs, SSDs, and NVMe storage.
Encrypted APFS Support for Mac and Windows
SoftRAID 9 also adds support for encrypted APFS volumes. This allows Mac-formatted storage to be accessed from Windows while retaining its encryption.
The software uses built-in OWC MacDrive technology to support sharing Apple-formatted APFS and HFS+ volumes between Mac and Windows systems.
OWC SoftRAID 9 Availability and Pricing
OWC SoftRAID 9 is immediately available. Three years of OWC SoftRAID Premium is included with most OWC RAID storage enclosures.
A standalone license is priced at $149.99, with an annual price of $79.99 after the first year.
