| Author | Thread |
|
|
04/30/2008 04:53:38 PM · #1 |
| I was wondering if anyone has used the Drobo box for their backups? It looks interesting, even though it is a bit pricey. I really need to find an easy-to-use redundant backup system. Using DVDs right now, but it is so time-consuming that I put it off until I just can't sleep anymore. |
|
|
|
04/30/2008 05:19:24 PM · #2 |
I haven't tried it yet ... but I like the idea of "easy upgrading". When the system is getting full, you just pull out one drive and put in a bigger one. It'll automatically reapportion the space. That's a whole lot easier than the processed needed for a Raid-5 system (what I currently use, which is just about full).
I, too, would like to hear of anyone will real experience with it.
|
|
|
|
05/02/2008 05:41:14 PM · #3 |
Looks cool however, I have a couple of Q's.....
Can you load (say) Vista onto it?
If you had 3 250gb drives and a 1tb installed I guess the total capacity is 750gb? (and thats just if 1 drive goes?). I too am interested in hearing more about this. |
|
|
|
05/03/2008 02:18:30 PM · #4 |
|
|
|
05/04/2008 01:10:03 AM · #5 |
| I've been researching back up storage options and I too am intrigued by this Drobo. |
|
|
|
05/04/2008 01:10:49 AM · #6 |
Double post...
Message edited by author 2008-05-04 01:13:28. |
|
|
|
05/04/2008 02:00:48 AM · #7 |
I find it amusing that it comes with a '1 Year Limited Warranty'.
|
|
|
|
05/04/2008 02:06:08 AM · #8 |
| I have read some reviews on the Drobo at B&H. Most good but found several that stated that the way the system stored the files made it proprietary. Saying that if the Drobo failed you would not be able to recover your files unless you purchased another one. If true, thats scary! |
|
|
|
05/04/2008 06:18:22 AM · #9 |
A cheaper way is to just buy a couple of External hard drives. For instance Best Buy has 500GB Externals for as low as $169.00. Buy two and you pay $340.
Then go to and download this program: Syncback for FREE
Syncback is a great program and I have been using it for years. You set it up and it will automatically make a mirror copy of a drive, or just backup certain files you tell it to back up.
Then when needed just keep buying externals and add more.
My system right now is 2 80GB Internals, 1 80 GB External, and 1 500GB External. Syncback backs up all 3 - 80 GB drives on the 500GB.
Message edited by author 2008-05-04 06:26:57.
|
|
|
|
05/04/2008 08:50:21 AM · #10 |
I think I have 12 external drives right now ... ranging from 120Gb up to 500Gb each. I think they breed like rabbits during the night.
(trouble is, they're all pretty much full .... of pictures!)
|
|
|
|
05/05/2008 03:30:00 AM · #11 |
I've been hearing a lot about it and have heard nothing but great things about it. I'm about to purchase one so I'll let you know.
|
|
|
|
05/05/2008 07:25:58 AM · #12 |
| I bought one after a Maxtor 1 TB crash, and so far I couldn't be more pleased. I have it hooked up as a NAS on a wireless N system, and it it pretty quick. Of course, it was faster sitting on the USB 2 port, but I really have no complaints. I put 4 WD caviar 1 TB drives in it, and I have a ton of space for now. I had a question when I first started hooking it up and customer service was very fast to give me a call after I shot them an email. I don't know if you can put an OS on it, nor would I even know why I'd want to do it. Take a look at their forums. There are plenty of reviews and tests that the users run. It looks like most of the problems are from users trying to make it fail or from users that have Macs. I run it on a PC system with two Vista machines and one XP. Thus far, no issues or problems. |
|
|
|
05/05/2008 07:59:20 AM · #13 |
Things to consider for backup is why you're doing it? If you just want to safeguard against a bad drive then some RAID system would be the best route, or mirroring, etc, probably inside your current box as that will be the fastest read/write, and cheaper than external solutions.
If you want a second copy for backup purposes then a DVD is good, but not foolproof, and not fast to write or to access (if you've got it off in some file cabinet). DVD may not be permanent and can have issues, but are cheap and can be taken off-site - a very important consideration if fire, flood or electrical surges, virus', etc are a concern!
For most backup you don't need a RAID (like DROBO). DROBO and other NAS units are supposed to be your main data storage and access drive - lots of space, expandable, and with RAID they should be hardware safe. DROBO isn't network ready and that's my issue with it -too slow.
My problem with external drives is I need too damned many - they're too small. Now they make 1Tb units and that helps. My fear is if you fill one and take it offline and it sits it may not start backup...so I've been told by those they know, or claim to anyway.
Internet type backup works, but can be dead slow if you have a lot to back up...which I do. Heck, I just put 18Gb on my system from this past weekend, and those are RAW - so after some work I'll have 6 or Gb of JPG to go with it.
Later this year USRobotics (if i recall right) is coming out with a DROBO type device that takes 6 drives and costs less and is network ready. I'll be waiting for that, for now.
|
|
|
|
05/05/2008 10:44:05 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
For most backup you don't need a RAID (like DROBO). DROBO and other NAS units are supposed to be your main data storage and access drive - lots of space, expandable, and with RAID they should be hardware safe. DROBO isn't network ready and that's my issue with it -too slow.
My problem with external drives is I need too damned many - they're too small. Now they make 1Tb units and that helps. My fear is if you fill one and take it offline and it sits it may not start backup...so I've been told by those they know, or claim to anyway. |
The DROBO has a network option so I'm not sure what you mean by not network ready.
As for having too many external drives that is where the DROBO shines. You can start with a couple of 500Gb drives and has drive technology improves you can upgrade the DROBO. With external drives this is problematic because YOU have to copy all the files from one drive over to the other or if you are just leaving data on the old drive you have to spin up the old drive every 3 months or so. With the DROBO you just yank out an old drive and replace it with a newer, larger drive and DROBO automatically preserves all your old data that was on the old drive. That's a HUGE plus is my book. |
|
|
|
05/05/2008 11:21:29 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by Moose408:
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
For most backup you don't need a RAID (like DROBO). DROBO and other NAS units are supposed to be your main data storage and access drive - lots of space, expandable, and with RAID they should be hardware safe. DROBO isn't network ready and that's my issue with it -too slow.
My problem with external drives is I need too damned many - they're too small. Now they make 1Tb units and that helps. My fear is if you fill one and take it offline and it sits it may not start backup...so I've been told by those they know, or claim to anyway. |
The DROBO has a network option so I'm not sure what you mean by not network ready.
|
It is, but it costs $200 more. Again, it is worth it to me to have a very simple solution that I plugged in, loaded software and was up and running. No mirrors or RAID to set up, jut plug it in and it was ready. This version is expandable up to 32 TB as drives continue to grow. Right now I have 4 TB total and a smile knowing that everything is stored and backed up. That was worth the $1400 to me. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 12/28/2025 05:26:52 PM EST.
