In one embodiment, RAID-related metadata may be stored on a distributed database of a cluster (i.e., a cluster database), which is separate and apart from a storage array of SSDs configured to serve as main storage for nodes of the cluster. The RAID-related metadata may be embodied as RAID labels (or other data structures) having configuration information that identifies one or more RAID groups associated with an extent store and storage devices, e.g., SSDs, within each RAID group. Each SSD may be part of a RAID configuration topology tree structure that defines an extent store using a multi-level hierarchy (e.g., three levels), wherein the first level of the tree identifies the SSD, the second level identifies the RAID group to which the SSD belongs, and the third level identifies the extent store or storage container to which the RAID group belongs.