Drobo
Encyclopedia
Drobo is a family of external storage devices for computers. They are made in a variety of types including DAS, SAN
, and NAS
appliances made by Drobo, Inc. Drobo devices can house up to four, five, eight, or twelve 3.5" Serial ATA
hard disk drives and connect with a computer or network via USB 2.0
, USB 3.0
, FireWire 800
, eSATA, or Gigabit Ethernet
. Drobo devices are primarily designed to allow installation and removal of hard disk drives without requiring manual data migration
, and also for increasing storage capacity of the unit without downtime
.
, which offered a faster core processor, optimized firmware, better USB 2.0 performance and a pair of FireWire 800 ports, which are compatible with FireWire 400-to-800 cables and adapters.
Firmware is available to support drives in excess of 3TB (firmware v1.4.0.).
. The DroboPro has the increased capacity of 8 drive bays rather than 4 in the original model, giving a 16 TB theoretical maximum with the current 2 TB drives. It also adds "Dual Disk Redundancy" akin to RAID 6. iSCSI
via Gigabit Ethernet
has been added alongside existing USB and FireWire 800/400 interfaces. However, the iSCSI implementation currently only supports connection to a single server and unlike the Drobo FS, the Ethernet interface cannot be used for other networking protocols such as NFS, FTP
, or SMB
.
in May 2010. The key difference with the 'S' models as well as the 'first' and 'second' generation models is the LAN port i.e. Ethernet RJ45 (without the requirement of a Drobo network interface).
5 HDD slots available.
It provides up to 7.26TB of storage when using 5 HDDs of 2TB. This is less than the sum of the drives because of fault tolerance.
Dual disk redundancy will reduce the possible storage capacity to 5.44TB.
HDD's with a higher storage capacity than 2TB will be supported through firmware updates.
BusyBox v1.14.2 (2009-07-29 17:47:47 PDT) multi-call binary
Current DroboApps on the official website:
Perl is the underlying programming language for the DroboApps.
All apps are specific for each type of Drobo.
ISO spec extension, it does provide for using up to 12 SATA hard drives in the devices and consolidating them into one big pool of storage. It has the advantage of being able to use multiple disk sizes at once, much like a JBOD unit, while providing redundancy for all disks and allowing a hot-swap upgrade at any time. Internally it uses a mix of techniques similar to RAID 1 and RAID 5. Depending on the amount of data stored on the unit in relation to the installed capacity, it may be able to survive up to 3 drive failures, if the "array" can be restored onto the remaining good disks before another drive fails. The amount of usable storage in a Drobo unit can be approximated by adding up the capacities of all the disks and subtracting the capacity of the largest disk. For example, if a 500, 400, 200, and 100 GB drive were installed, the approximate usable capacity would be 500+400+200+100-(500)=700 GB of usable space. Internally the data would be distributed in two RAID 5-like arrays and one RAID 1-like set:
With the introduction of the DroboPro, a RAID6 like feature was also introduced. BeyondRAID also has the ability to perform hash-based compression using 160-bit SHA1 hashes to maximize storage efficiency.
Detailed technical information about BeyondRAID, including how it handles adding and removing drives, can be found in the patent application at the US Patent Office, .
port, preventing it from being used as a self-contained NAS
appliance. These complaints have been addressed with the release of the DroboShare physical add-on, and the release of the Drobo FS and DroboPro FS, dedicated NAS versions.
Some reviewers complained about speed and reliability issues of the 2nd generation Drobo when connected to a Windows PC using FireWire 800.
Storage area network
A storage area network is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices...
, and NAS
Network-attached storage
Network-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements...
appliances made by Drobo, Inc. Drobo devices can house up to four, five, eight, or twelve 3.5" Serial ATA
Serial ATA
Serial ATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives...
hard disk drives and connect with a computer or network via USB 2.0
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
, USB 3.0
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
, FireWire 800
IEEE 1394 interface
The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, frequently used by personal computers, as well as in digital audio, digital video, automotive, and aeronautics applications. The interface is also known by the brand...
, eSATA, or Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second , as defined by the IEEE 802.3-2008 standard. It came into use beginning in 1999, gradually supplanting Fast Ethernet in wired local networks where it performed...
. Drobo devices are primarily designed to allow installation and removal of hard disk drives without requiring manual data migration
Data migration
Data migration is the process of transferring data between storage types, formats, or computer systems. Data migration is usually performed programmatically to achieve an automated migration, freeing up human resources from tedious tasks...
, and also for increasing storage capacity of the unit without downtime
Downtime
The term downtime is used to refer to periods when a system is unavailable.Downtime or outage duration refers to a period of time that a system fails to provide or perform its primary function...
.
Overview
| Drobo (1st) | Drobo (2nd) | Drobo S | Drobo S (2nd) | Drobo FS | DroboPro | DroboPro FS | DroboElite | B800fs | B800i | B1200i | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | |||||||||||
| Status | |||||||||||
| Type | DAS | DAS | DAS | DAS | NAS Network-attached storage Network-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements... |
DAS | NAS Network-attached storage Network-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements... |
SAN Storage area network A storage area network is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices... |
NAS Network-attached storage Network-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements... |
SAN Storage area network A storage area network is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices... |
SAN Storage area network A storage area network is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices... |
| Drive Bays | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Redundancy | Single drive | Single drive | Single or dual drive | Single or dual drive | Single or dual drive | Single or dual drive | Single or dual drive | Single or dual drive | Single or dual drive | Single or dual drive | |
| Hosts | Single | Single | Single | Single | Up to 32 | Single | Up to 32 | Up to 16 | |||
| USB Universal Serial Bus USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices.... |
|||||||||||
| FireWire 800 IEEE 1394 interface The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, frequently used by personal computers, as well as in digital audio, digital video, automotive, and aeronautics applications. The interface is also known by the brand... |
|||||||||||
| Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second , as defined by the IEEE 802.3-2008 standard. It came into use beginning in 1999, gradually supplanting Fast Ethernet in wired local networks where it performed... |
|||||||||||
| eSATA |
2nd Generation
In July 2008, Drobo announced a 2nd generation model, which offered a faster core processor, optimized firmware, better USB 2.0 performance and a pair of FireWire 800 ports, which are compatible with FireWire 400-to-800 cables and adapters.
Firmware is available to support drives in excess of 3TB (firmware v1.4.0.).
Technical Specifications
- Marvell 500 MHz System-on-a-chip (SOC) processor (Marvell 88F5281-D0)
- Includes support for PCI-X, PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, DDR2 32bit 200mhz
- Based on Marvell Feroceon RISC core (ARMv5TE)
- Same processor used in the Apple Time CapsuleTime Capsule (Apple)The Time Capsule is a wireless network-attached storage device combined with a wireless residential gateway router made by Apple Inc. It is described as a "Backup Appliance", designed to work in tandem with the Time Machine backup utility, introduced in Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard".The device includes a...
and in several other NAS devices
- Marvell PCI-X 4-Port SATA-II Controller (Marvell 88SX6042-BCZ1)
- 1 GB RAM (2x Hynix H5PS5162FFR 512Mb DDR2 SDRAM 2-5-5-5)
- 128 Mb NOR flash memory (Spansion GL128P90FFIR2 90 nm, 25ns page access, 90ns random access)
- 64 Macrocell PLD (Programmable Logic Device - XILINX XC2C64A
- 3 Port Firewire 800 (1394b) controller (TI XIO2213AZAY - PCI Express)
- 45 mAh Manganese rechargeable lithium NVRAM battery (ML2020 - 3V)
- DC cooling fan (2-wire brushless)
DroboPro
In early 2009, Drobo announced a new model called the DroboPro which is physically larger than the Drobo and offers the option of being mounted in a 19-inch rack19-inch rack
A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.-Overview and history:Equipment designed...
. The DroboPro has the increased capacity of 8 drive bays rather than 4 in the original model, giving a 16 TB theoretical maximum with the current 2 TB drives. It also adds "Dual Disk Redundancy" akin to RAID 6. iSCSI
ISCSI
In computing, iSCSI , is an abbreviation of Internet Small Computer System Interface, an Internet Protocol -based storage networking standard for linking data storage facilities. By carrying SCSI commands over IP networks, iSCSI is used to facilitate data transfers over intranets and to manage...
via Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second , as defined by the IEEE 802.3-2008 standard. It came into use beginning in 1999, gradually supplanting Fast Ethernet in wired local networks where it performed...
has been added alongside existing USB and FireWire 800/400 interfaces. However, the iSCSI implementation currently only supports connection to a single server and unlike the Drobo FS, the Ethernet interface cannot be used for other networking protocols such as NFS, FTP
File Transfer Protocol
File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
, or SMB
Server Message Block
In computer networking, Server Message Block , also known as Common Internet File System operates as an application-layer network protocol mainly used to provide shared access to files, printers, serial ports, and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network. It also provides an...
.
DroboElite
On 23 November 2009, Drobo added a new model to its product line, called DroboElite. Its main difference versus the DroboPro is that it allows simultaneous access for up to 16 hosts, via two iSCSI ports. The Elite version also supports up to 255 volumes (vs. 16 in the Pro version).Drobo FS
Drobo FS launched at Tech Field DayTech Field Day
Tech Field Day is an independently-organized conference series centered on enterprise IT infrastructure. Organized by Gestalt IT, the Field Day series is intended to bring together product vendors and independent bloggers, freelance writers, speakers, and leaders of online communities...
in May 2010. The key difference with the 'S' models as well as the 'first' and 'second' generation models is the LAN port i.e. Ethernet RJ45 (without the requirement of a Drobo network interface).
5 HDD slots available.
It provides up to 7.26TB of storage when using 5 HDDs of 2TB. This is less than the sum of the drives because of fault tolerance.
Dual disk redundancy will reduce the possible storage capacity to 5.44TB.
HDD's with a higher storage capacity than 2TB will be supported through firmware updates.
Software
Kernel :Linux Drobo-FS 2.6.22.18BusyBox v1.14.2 (2009-07-29 17:47:47 PDT) multi-call binary
Current DroboApps on the official website:
| Application | Version |
|---|---|
| DroboAdmin | 1.3 |
| Apache HTTP Server Apache HTTP Server The Apache HTTP Server, commonly referred to as Apache , is web server software notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web. In 2009 it became the first web server software to surpass the 100 million website milestone... |
1.3.41_1 |
| CTorrent | dnh3.3.2_1 |
| Dropbear Dropbear (software) Dropbear is a software package written by Matt Johnston that provides a Secure Shell-compatible server and client. It is designed for environments with low memory and processor resources, such as embedded systems.- Technology :... |
0.52_1 but D/L file is _2 |
| Firefly Media Server Firefly Media Server Firefly Media Server is an open-source media server for the Roku SoundBridge and iTunes. It serves media files using Roku Server Protocol and Digital Audio Access Protocol .-Features:Its features include:... |
0.2.4.2_2 |
| Fuppes | r578_1 |
| lighttpd Lighttpd lighttpd is an open-source web server more optimized for speed-critical environments than common products while remaining standards-compliant, secure and flexible... |
1.4.26_1 |
| Pure-FTPd Pure-FTPd Pure-FTPd is a free FTP Server with a strong focus on software security. It can be compiled and run on a variety of Unix-like computer operating systems including Linux, OpenBSD, NetBSD, FreeBSD, DragonFly BSD, Solaris, Tru64, Darwin, Irix and HP-UX. It has also been ported to Android... |
1.0.28_1 |
| rsync Rsync rsync is a software application and network protocol for Unix-like and Windows systems which synchronizes files and directories from one location to another while minimizing data transfer using delta encoding when appropriate. An important feature of rsync not found in most similar... |
3.0.7_1 |
| Unfsd | 0.9.22_1 |
| Wake-On-LAN | 1.09_1 |
| Perl Perl Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular... |
v5.10.0 |
Perl is the underlying programming language for the DroboApps.
All apps are specific for each type of Drobo.
Features
- Data protection for all drives, as Drobo controls any access to the data.
- Recognizes and utilizes newly added storage devices on the fly.
- Hard drives do not need to be matched in terms of capacity, speed, or manufacturer.
- The drives appear as one unified drive to the host operating system without requiring the installation of the management software on the host.
- Supported file systemFile systemA file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...
s: HFS PlusHFS PlusHFS Plus or HFS+ is a file system developed by Apple Inc. to replace their Hierarchical File System as the primary file system used in Macintosh computers . It is also one of the formats used by the iPod digital music player...
, NTFSNTFSNTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
, ext3Ext3The ext3 or third extended filesystem is a journaled file system that is commonly used by the Linux kernel. It is the default file system for many popular Linux distributions, including Debian...
and FAT32 - File system redundancy is managed by a virtualization layer which lays data out in a proprietary Drobo format.
- Second FireWire port allows a user to daisy-chain multiple Drobos up to a computer. Each Drobo mounts as a separate system on the computer.
- With the addition of the Drobo FS network-attached storageNetwork-attached storageNetwork-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements...
(NAS) add-on, functionality can be added via open-source software. Examples are iTunes music server functionality, UPnP/DLNA support, and FTP access.
BeyondRAID
Drobo, Inc. implements a storage technology that they call BeyondRAID in their Drobo storage devices. While not a true RAIDRAID
RAID is a storage technology that combines multiple disk drive components into a logical unit...
ISO spec extension, it does provide for using up to 12 SATA hard drives in the devices and consolidating them into one big pool of storage. It has the advantage of being able to use multiple disk sizes at once, much like a JBOD unit, while providing redundancy for all disks and allowing a hot-swap upgrade at any time. Internally it uses a mix of techniques similar to RAID 1 and RAID 5. Depending on the amount of data stored on the unit in relation to the installed capacity, it may be able to survive up to 3 drive failures, if the "array" can be restored onto the remaining good disks before another drive fails. The amount of usable storage in a Drobo unit can be approximated by adding up the capacities of all the disks and subtracting the capacity of the largest disk. For example, if a 500, 400, 200, and 100 GB drive were installed, the approximate usable capacity would be 500+400+200+100-(500)=700 GB of usable space. Internally the data would be distributed in two RAID 5-like arrays and one RAID 1-like set:
Drives
| 100 GB | 200 GB | 400 GB | 500 GB |
----------
| x | unusable space (100 GB)
----------
-------------------
| A1 | A1 | RAID 1 set (2× 100 GB)
-------------------
-------------------
| B1 | B1 | RAID 1 set (2× 100 GB)
-------------------
----------------------------
| C1 | C2 | Cp | RAID 5 array (3× 100 GB)
----------------------------
-------------------------------------
| D1 | D2 | D3 | Dp | RAID 5 array (4× 100 GB)
-------------------------------------
With the introduction of the DroboPro, a RAID6 like feature was also introduced. BeyondRAID also has the ability to perform hash-based compression using 160-bit SHA1 hashes to maximize storage efficiency.
Detailed technical information about BeyondRAID, including how it handles adding and removing drives, can be found in the patent application at the US Patent Office, .
Criticism
The Drobo was initially criticized for lacking an EthernetEthernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
port, preventing it from being used as a self-contained NAS
Network-attached storage
Network-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements...
appliance. These complaints have been addressed with the release of the DroboShare physical add-on, and the release of the Drobo FS and DroboPro FS, dedicated NAS versions.
Some reviewers complained about speed and reliability issues of the 2nd generation Drobo when connected to a Windows PC using FireWire 800.