Getting Started Guide Drobo / DroboPro / Drobo S
Data Robotics, Inc. supports lawful use of technology and does not endorse or encourage the use of its products for purposes other than those permitted by copyright law. Copyright 2011 Data Robotics, Inc. Data Robotics, Drobo, DroboShare, DroboPro, DroboElite and BeyondRAID are trademarks of Data Robotics, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All other trademarks used are the property of their respective owners. Information supplied by Data Robotics, Inc.
Table of Contents BEFORE YOU BEGIN Checking Box Contents Drobo Drobo S DroboPro Checking System Requirements Operating Systems Supported for Drobo/Pro/S Cable Interfaces Supported Checking the Hardware You Need Selecting Hard Drives Determining How Much Hard Drive Space You Need Using a Router or Switch Using an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) or Power Surge Protector SETTING UP IN JUST A FEW EASY STEPS! Installing Drobo Dashboard Installing Drobo Dashboard from the Resource CD Installing Drobo Dashboar
Before You Begin Congratulations on your new Drobo/Pro/S! This Getting Started Guide will help you get your Drobo/Pro/S set up in just a few easy steps. Before you begin, it’s a good idea to check your system and hardware requirements. In this chapter, you will: t $IFDL CPY DPOUFOUT t $IFDL TZTUFN SFRVJSFNFOUT t &OTVSF UIBU ZPV IBWF UIF IBSEXBSF ZPV OFFE GPS ZPVS %SPCP EFWJDF Checking Box Contents Check your product’s box to ensure it contains all the components listed below.
Checking System Requirements Check to ensure your operating system and cable interface are supported. Operating Systems Supported for Drobo/Pro/S t 8JOEPXT 91 4FSWJDF 1BDL t 8JOEPXT 7JTUB 4FSWJDF 1BDL t 8JOEPXT t 8JOEPXT 4FSWFS 3 t 8JOEPXT 4FSWFS t .BD 04 9 PS HSFBUFS *OUFM 0OMZ t .BD 04 9 4FSWFS PS HSFBUFS *OUFM 0OMZ Notes: - For best performance, ensure you are running the latest service packs for the appropriate Windows operating systems.
If you are installing an add-on adapter card to use eSATA, check with your computer manufacturer to verify that both your computer and operating system support the eSATA card you plan to use. Also, make sure your eSATA card supports port multiplier (PM) functionality. For more information, visit our knowledge base at support. datarobotics.com/app/answers/list and enter the keyword, eSATA.
FireWire 800 Available on all three models: Drobo, DroboPro and Drobo S. FireWire is Apple Inc.’s branded name for data ports designed for high-speed data transfer. With data transfer speeds of 800 Mbit/s, FireWire 800 offers excellent performance with your Drobo device. If you are installing an add-on adapter card to use FireWire 800, for optimal performance, check with your computer manufacturer to verify that both your computer and operating system support the card you plan to use.
Notes: - DroboPro’s iSCSI connection supports gigabit Ethernet connections (1000 Mbit/s) for optimal performance. Although your DroboPro will auto-negotiate the highest connection speed available to your computer, router or switch, iSCSI does not perform well at slower speeds. - You can purchase an add-on gigabit Ethernet adapter card for your computer if needed. Note, however, that a regular network adapter card is required, as Data Robotics, Inc.
Determining How Much Hard Drive Space You Need In order to protect your data from hard drive failure, your Drobo device requires more space than what you will use for your data, sometimes as much as double or more the amount of space. The best way to determine how much usable, protected storage space you will have available for your data, based on the number and capacity of your drives, is to use our Capacity Calculator at www.drobo.com/calculator.
Setting Up in Just a Few Easy Steps! Once you have unpacked your Drobo device from its box and ensured you meet all system and hardware requirements, it’s time to set up your Drobo/Pro/S for use. This can be done in just a few easy steps! 1. Install Drobo Dashboard. 2. Insert the hard drives. 3. Connect the cables. 4. Turn on the power and format the drives. Note: If you are connecting a DroboPro via your iSCSI (Ethernet) connection, you will have a couple of extra steps.
3. A dialog box may appear, asking you to select your language from the drop-down list. After doing so, click the OK button. Note: If the User Account Control dialog box appears in Windows, click the Yes button to continue. The Drobo Dashboard Installation Wizard appears (in Windows or in Macintosh), preparing to install. 4. Click the Next button (Windows) or the Continue button (Macintosh), as appropriate.
Depending on your operating system, one of the following may result: t *O TPNF 8JOEPXT PQFSBUJOH TZTUFNT B 8JOEPXT "DDFTT $POUSPM EJBMPH CPY appears, asking if you want to allow changes to your computer. Click the Allow or Yes button, as appropriate. t *O UIF .BDJOUPTI ZPV XJMM CF QSPNQUFE GPS ZPVS BENJOJTUSBUPS QBTTXPSE &OUFS JU and click the appropriate button. Drobo Dashboard installs on your computer. 7.
Installing Drobo Dashboard from the Website You can install Drobo Dashboard from www.drobo.com/support/updates. Note, however, that the latest version may be released with new products (on a Resource CD) for a short period of time before being made available on this website. 1. Using your browser on an active Internet connection, navigate to www.drobo.com/support/updates. 2. Locate the link for the latest Drobo Dashboard software and click on it. 3.
1. Remove the face plate from the front of your Drobo/Pro/S by pulling it off. 2. With one hand, hold the hard drive so that its connectors are positioned at the device and toward the bottom for the Drobo and Drobo S (see Figure 1), or positioned toward the left, for the DroboPro (see Figure 2). Connectors Figure 1: Installing hard drives on a Drobo or Drobo S Connectors Figure 2: Installing hard drives on a DroboPro Warning: For optimal performance, keep the DroboPro in its normal horizontal position.
4. Slide the hard drive into the data bay, release the drive lock and push the drive into place until you feel it connect. The drive lock will snap behind the drive, securing it into place. 5. Insert additional drives in the same manner, following steps 2 through 4. 6. When finished, replace the faceplate right side up, so that when your Drobo device is turned on, you will be able to see the indicator lights. You are now ready to connect cables and power on your Drobo device.
Power Toggle Button Power eSATA FireWire 800 USB 3.0 Figure 4: The back of your Drobo S. USB 2.0 iSCSI FireWire 800 Power Power Toggle Button Figure 5: The back of your DroboPro Notes: - If your computer has a FireWire 400 port and you would like to use that interface, then you will need to purchase a FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 cable. - For information on the different cable interfaces available and their requirements, see “Cable Interfaces Supported” on page 4. Connecting to Your Computer 1.
Connecting to a Power Source 1. Connect the power supply to the power connection at the back of your Drobo device. 2. Connect the other end of the power supply to a power source. Important Note: The Drobo will start up immediately. (This is not so for the DroboPro or Drobo S, which can be turned on via their power toggle buttons.) When the Drobo starts up with Drobo Dashboard displayed, you will be prompted to format the drives.
File System Format Op. Sys. Compatible With Max Volume Size HFS+ NTFS /5'4 91 $PNQBUJCMF FAT32* .BD 04 9 Windows Vista, 7, Server 3000 (and later) All Windows "MM 8JOEPXT .BD 04 9 16TB 16TB 2TB 2TB Figure 6: Table of file system formats and maximum volume sizes * FAT32 is an older file system format that is generally less protective of your data than modern file systems. It also has slower performance and file size limitations.
Turning on Your Drobo Device and Formatting the Drives With Drobo Dashboard installed on your host computer and cables connected, you are ready to turn on your Drobo device and format the drives. 1. With Drobo Dashboard open on your computer, press the power toggle button on the back of your Drobo device once. Note: The Drobo does not have a power toggle button. If you are using a Drobo and you have connected the power cable, it will already be powered on.
t 'PS 8JOEPXT UIF GPMMPXJOH BQQFBST t 'PS UIF .BDJOUPTI UIF GPMMPXJOH BQQFBST drobo.
3. Select the appropriate file format for your operating system and click the Next button. The Volume Size page appears. 4. Click and drag to slide the pointer to the size of the volume you would like to create, and then click the Next button. Tip: We recommend that you select the largest size available, enabling you to increase the number and capacity of your drives without having to format an additional volume. The Volume Name page appears. 5.
6. In the Name text box, modify the default name for the volume as you like. Tip: We recommend using the word “volume” in the name so as not to confuse the volume name with your Drobo device’s name. 7. If you have more than one volume, repeat steps 5 and 6 for each volume, and then click the Next button. The Confirm Format page appears. 8. Click the Format button. A message appears, informing you that it can take up to 5 minutes to format your drives, and that this may require rebooting your Drobo device.
9. Click the OK button. Your Drobo device displays in Drobo Dashboard, as follows. Note: Drobo Dashboard automatically assigns “Drobo,” “Drobo S” or “DroboPro” as the default name for your Drobo device, which you can rename later. You are ready to manage and use your Drobo device. See “Where to Go from Here” on page 31. Note: If you will be connecting with DroboPro via its iSCSI (Ethernet) connection, see “Setting Up Your DroboPro with iSCSI” on page 22 for additional information and steps.
With iSCSI, you have the option to set up your DroboPro in one of three configurations: 1. Directly connect DroboPro via its iSCSI (Ethernet) connection to your computer’s Ethernet port for optimal performance. This assumes you have a second Ethernet port available on your computer which is being used to connect to your network. 2. Connect your DroboPro via its iSCSI (Ethernet) connection to a switch in which another Ethernet port on the switch is connected to your computer.
Notes: - All three configurations require initial setup with your USB connection. - DroboPro supports gigabit Ethernet connections (1000 Mbit/s) for optimal performance of iSCSI. Although your DroboPro will auto-negotiate the highest connection speed available to your computer, router or switch, iSCSI does not perform well at slower speeds. - You can purchase an add-on gigabit Ethernet adapter card for your computer if needed.
8. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable to the iSCSI (Ethernet) port on your DroboPro, and plug the other end into your Ethernet port on your computer. 9. Press the power toggle button on the back of your Drobo device once. Your DroboPro powers on. You are ready to manage and use your Drobo device. See “Where to Go from Here” on page 31.
When the process is complete, your DroboPro appears in Drobo Dashboard as follows. 6. To manually assign an IP address, from the Navigation menu at the left, click the Settings option, and then click Network. The Network (iSCSI) Settings page appears. 7. Select the Manually Assign an IP address option button. drobo.
8. In the IP Address text box, enter a unique IP address for your DrobPro. 9. If needed, also modify the address in the Subnet Mask text box. 10. When finished, click the OK button. The Confirm Restart dialog box appears, asking to restart your Drobo device in order to apply your setting changes. 11. Click the Yes button. After your Drobo device restarts with your new settings, it displays on the Capacity and Tools page in Drobo Dashboard. 12. Now safely shut down your DroboPro.
Connecting DroboPro to Your Network via a Router or Switch with iSCSI In this configuration, you connect your DroboPro via its iSCSI connection to a switch (or router) in which another Ethernet port on the switch (or router) is connected to your network. For this setup, you will need to manually assign an IP address to the DroboPro. Note: In this arrangement, your DroboPro can impact network performance, and performance of your DroboPro may be affected by network traffic. 1.
6. To manually assign an IP address, from the Navigation menu at the left, click the Settings option, and then click Network. The Network (iSCSI) Settings page appears. 7. Select the Manually Assign an IP address option button. 8. In the IP Address text box, enter a unique IP address for your DrobPro. Note: Be sure to use an IP address that is outside the range of IP addresses your router might assign with DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).
11. Click the Yes button. After your Drobo device restarts with your new settings, it displays on the Capacity and Tools page in Drobo Dashboard. 12. Now safely shut down your DroboPro. For steps, see “Safely Shutting Down Your Drobo/Pro/S” on page 32. 13. Unplug the USB cable from your DroboPro and computer. 14. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable to the iSCSI (Ethernet) port on your DroboPro, and plug the other end into your Ethernet port on your router or switch. 15.
Where to Go from Here After you’ve set up your Drobo/Pro/S, you’re ready to store and back up data onto your Drobo device.
1. Launch Drobo Dashboard and click your Drobo device on the All Devices page. 2. From the Navigation menu, click Dashboard Preferences, and click Dashboard Settings. The General Settings page appears. 3. Ensure that the Enable Auto Updates check box is selected, and then click the OK button. When one or more software updates are available, a message appears, asking if you would like to install the update(s). If so, click the Yes button and follow the prompts to install them.
Safely Shutting Down Your Drobo Device Using Drobo Dashboard This is the recommended method for safely shutting down your Drobo device. Note: For the Drobo, you will first need to put it in standby mode, and then remove the power supply in order to shut it down. 1. Check that the activity light on your Drobo device is off, indicating that no data is actively being transferred to or from your Drobo device. Refer to Figure 7 or 8, below.
3. In Drobo Dashboard, double-click the Drobo device that you would like to shut down from the All Devices page. The Capacity and Tools page appears. 4. Click the Tools drop-down list, and do one of the following: t *G ZPVS EFWJDF JT B %SPCP1SP PS %SPCP 4 TFMFDU UIF Shutdown icon. A message appears, asking you to confirm the shutdown. Click the Yes button. It can take up to two minutes for your Drobo device to power down, or go into Standby mode.
Using the Online User Guide After you’ve set up your Drobo device, you’re ready to use it to store and back up data. To learn how to manage and use your Drobo device, refer to the Online User Guide for your product, which can be found within your Drobo Dashboard software by clicking the Help option on the Navigation menu. The latest version can also be found at www.drobo.com/support/documentation.php.
Troubleshooting Your Setup If… You are on steps for “Turning on Your Drobo Device and Formatting the Drives” on page 16 and your computer appears to be hung while formatting the drives with the following dialog box displayed (and it has been more than twenty minutes)… Then… Use your operating system’s utility to force an end to the formatting process, power down your computer and restart it.
If… You would like to connect to your Drobo device using a different interface than the one you started with… Then… You will need to safely shut down your Drobo device, change the interface cable between your Drobo device and computer, and power on your Drobo device again. It is very important to shut down your Drobo device safely to avoid the risk of losing data. Steps 1.
Index best practices, 31 cables, connecting, 14 capacity, 7, 8 increasing, 8 Capacity Calculator, 8 configurations for DroboPro with iSCSI, 22, 23 connecting cables, 14 data bay, 13 data bay indicator lights, 13, 18 drive lock, 13 Drobo Dashboard, 9, 12 Dual Disk Redundancy, 8 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), 29 eSATA, 4, 14, 15 Ethernet, 6, 8, 22-25 file system format, 16, 17, 36 firewall, checking settings, 24 FireWire 400, 6, 15 FireWire 800, 6, 14 firmware, 9, 31 formatting the drives, 16, 18
