Comments on: Drobo For Pros But Not Me http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/ Understanding the accumulation of data Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:58:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: from DATABASED society to DATAERASED society is just a matter of time « the limping messenger http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-15173 from DATABASED society to DATAERASED society is just a matter of time « the limping messenger Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:56:41 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-15173 [...] Just looked at a 8 or 16 Terrabyte DROBO box… but I am hesitating… because of the limits of the connecting data transport devices... while looking at this one realises the fragility of our whole society based on data… Over [...] [...] Just looked at a 8 or 16 Terrabyte DROBO box… but I am hesitating… because of the limits of the connecting data transport devices… while looking at this one realises the fragility of our whole society based on data… Over [...]

]]> By: sfoskett http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-15086 sfoskett Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:04:00 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-15086 I have consolidated my work onto a single powerful computer - a Nehalem iMac - and have 12 TB of storage connected, including a 4-bay Drobo (FireWire), a 4-bay Iomega ix4 (iSCSI) and an eSATA port. I don't recommend any part of this except the Drobo, which has served me well through two disk drive failures. I have consolidated my work onto a single powerful computer – a Nehalem iMac – and have 12 TB of storage connected, including a 4-bay Drobo (FireWire), a 4-bay Iomega ix4 (iSCSI) and an eSATA port. I don’t recommend any part of this except the Drobo, which has served me well through two disk drive failures.

]]> By: Adam http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-15080 Adam Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:15:00 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-15080 I'm curious, you had a number of reasons that you wouldn't use it. (That resonate with my situation) Do you mind my asking you what you do use? Thanks, Adam I’m curious, you had a number of reasons that you wouldn’t use it. (That resonate with my situation) Do you mind my asking you what you do use?

Thanks,
Adam

]]> By: Stefan Zurich http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-14138 Stefan Zurich Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:03:28 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-14138 But can a single computer or a server connect to multiple DroboPro's? We're currently investigating using Drobo as an archive device for Final Cut Server. And we'd like to use two: One as the archive device and one as backup for the archive using a rsync command. But can a single computer or a server connect to multiple DroboPro's? We're currently investigating using Drobo as an archive device for Final Cut Server. And we'd like to use two: One as the archive device and one as backup for the archive using a rsync command.

]]> By: Stefan Zurich http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-13737 Stefan Zurich Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:03:28 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-13737 But can a single computer or a server connect to multiple DroboPro's? We're currently investigating using Drobo as an archive device for Final Cut Server. And we'd like to use two: One as the archive device and one as backup for the archive using a rsync command. But can a single computer or a server connect to multiple DroboPro's? We're currently investigating using Drobo as an archive device for Final Cut Server. And we'd like to use two: One as the archive device and one as backup for the archive using a rsync command.

]]> By: Eddie11 http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-13696 Eddie11 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:18:38 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-13696 "You see, Drobo can still only be connected to a single computer."<br>This is why I will probably not buy it. However, if I do, will this be a firmware/software upgrade to this? Is there anything to make this work for different computers on Windows (and Mac perhaps). This is what I saw for Macs though - Editing over IP on Shared Storage <a href="http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_drobopro.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_drobopro....</a> “You see, Drobo can still only be connected to a single computer.”
This is why I will probably not buy it. However, if I do, will this be a firmware/software upgrade to this? Is there anything to make this work for different computers on Windows (and Mac perhaps). This is what I saw for Macs though – Editing over IP on Shared Storage http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_drobopro….

]]> By: sfoskett http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-13681 sfoskett Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:09:17 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-13681 You are both partly right: Travis is right that DroboPro cannot present storage using iSCSI, USB, or FireWire to more than one server. This is a massive limitation, and stands in contrast to just about every other iSCSI storage system on the market. Even if it is attached to an Ethernet switch, and even if more than one server can "see" the Drobo, only one server will be able to DIRECTLY access ANY of its storage using iSCSI.<br><br>Chris is right (as is the Drobo documentation) that this switch could also allow other servers to access capacity on the Drobo THROUGH THAT ONE SERVER using a protocol like SMB or AFP. This is no different than sharing FireWire or USB storage in this way, and is in fact exactly how I share my non-Pro Drobo using a Mac Mini.<br><br>Only one server can directly interact with a Drobo, but that server can then do what it wants with the storage, including sharing it with other servers.<br><br>I will be talking to Data Robotics' executives tomorrow about this very topic and will be posting a follow-up here on my blog by the weekend! You are both partly right: Travis is right that DroboPro cannot present storage using iSCSI, USB, or FireWire to more than one server. This is a massive limitation, and stands in contrast to just about every other iSCSI storage system on the market. Even if it is attached to an Ethernet switch, and even if more than one server can “see” the Drobo, only one server will be able to DIRECTLY access ANY of its storage using iSCSI.

Chris is right (as is the Drobo documentation) that this switch could also allow other servers to access capacity on the Drobo THROUGH THAT ONE SERVER using a protocol like SMB or AFP. This is no different than sharing FireWire or USB storage in this way, and is in fact exactly how I share my non-Pro Drobo using a Mac Mini.

Only one server can directly interact with a Drobo, but that server can then do what it wants with the storage, including sharing it with other servers.

I will be talking to Data Robotics' executives tomorrow about this very topic and will be posting a follow-up here on my blog by the weekend!

]]> By: chris1776 http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-13680 chris1776 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:00:45 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-13680 Drobo says it does work. You can see their discussion if you look at the drobo link I listed via iSCSI. One part specifically mentions multiple computers having access to the DroboPro ["If you have a 1 Gbps switch, you can connect DroboPro and your designated host computer (in other words, the mount point) to the same switch, along with ***any other computers which will need to access DroboPro**** (see below under "Important Notes")]<br><br>Likewise, it works fine with TimeMachine with multiple computers. I have done it. Drobo says it does work. You can see their discussion if you look at the drobo link I listed via iSCSI. One part specifically mentions multiple computers having access to the DroboPro ["If you have a 1 Gbps switch, you can connect DroboPro and your designated host computer (in other words, the mount point) to the same switch, along with ***any other computers which will need to access DroboPro**** (see below under "Important Notes")]

Likewise, it works fine with TimeMachine with multiple computers. I have done it.

]]> By: Travis http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-13679 Travis Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:34:58 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-13679 This does not work. Only one client per target is permitted.<br><a href="http://support.datarobotics.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/303/kw/iscsi%2520multiple/r_id/100004" rel="nofollow">http://support.datarobotics.com/app/answers/det...</a> This does not work. Only one client per target is permitted.
http://support.datarobotics.com/app/answers/det…

]]> By: chris1776 http://blog.fosketts.net/2009/04/09/drobo-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-13566 chris1776 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:15:06 +0000 http://blog.fosketts.net/?p=1692#comment-13566 Hi,<br>I had a couple of comments.<br>1. If you wish to use the Pro with multiple computers, you can attach it to a gigabit ethernet SWITCH and then plug the spare ethernet port from each of them into it for multiple targets. I have not tried this, just read about others doing it. (And Drobo mentions it on their web site, see <a href="http://support.datarobotics.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/243" rel="nofollow">http://support.datarobotics.com/app/answers/det...</a>).<br>2. If you are using Time Machine, you can connect it to an Airport Extreme Base station (or a Time Capsule) as a USB drive and then it can be the target for multiple Macs. I have a 1st gen Drobo connected to my old Airport Extreme Base station and use it that way.<br><br>I have a Drobo Pro connected via iSCSI to a Mac Pro - this should be available to other machines as a Time Machine target also, but I don't need it so haven't look at it.<br><br>:-)<br><br>Just FYI. Hi,
I had a couple of comments.
1. If you wish to use the Pro with multiple computers, you can attach it to a gigabit ethernet SWITCH and then plug the spare ethernet port from each of them into it for multiple targets. I have not tried this, just read about others doing it. (And Drobo mentions it on their web site, see http://support.datarobotics.com/app/answers/det…).
2. If you are using Time Machine, you can connect it to an Airport Extreme Base station (or a Time Capsule) as a USB drive and then it can be the target for multiple Macs. I have a 1st gen Drobo connected to my old Airport Extreme Base station and use it that way.

I have a Drobo Pro connected via iSCSI to a Mac Pro – this should be available to other machines as a Time Machine target also, but I don't need it so haven't look at it.

:-)

Just FYI.

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