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Drobo 8D User Manual

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Drobo 8D User Guide

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Summary of Contents for Drobo 8D

  • Page 1 Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Installing Drobo Dashboard on Apple Mac™ ..........29 1.2.6 Registering the Drobo 8D ................... 37 1.2.7 Initializing and Updating the Drobo 8D to the Latest Firmware ....... 40 1.2.8 Formatting the Drives of Drobo 8D ..............43 Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 3 1.2.8.1 Turning On the Drobo 8D and Formatting the Drives ........ 44 1.2.8.2 Selecting a File System and Volume Size for the Drobo 8D ....... 48 Where To Go Next ....................49 1.3.1 Using Best Practices for Protecting Data ............50 1.3.2...
  • Page 4 1.4.7 Enabling or Disabling Menu Bar ................. 85 Modifying Device Settings for Drobo 8D ..............86 1.5.1 Enabling or Disabling Dual Disk Redundancy ............. 87 1.5.2 Enabling the Disk Drive Spin Down Time ............89 1.5.3 Dimming the Lights on Drobo 8D ............... 90 Managing Capacity (Drive Space) ................
  • Page 5 1.8.3 Disabling E-mail Alerts ..................130 1.8.4 Modifying When to Send On-Screen Alerts ............. 131 1.8.5 Disabling On-Screen Alerts ................133 Using Backup Volume with the Drobo 8D ............. 134 1.10 Intelligent Volume Management ................137 Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 6: Drobo 8D User Guide

    1 Drobo 8D User Guide Congratulations on your new Drobo! This Getting Started section will help you get the Drobo 8D set up and running in just a few steps. Related topics: Before You Begin Setting Up the Drobo 8D...

  • Page 7: Before You Begin

    1.1 Before You Begin Before you begin setting up the Drobo 8D, it’s a good idea to check system and hardware requirements. Related topics: Product Features at a Glance Checking Box Contents Checking System Requirements Checking the Hardware You Need...

  • Page 8: Product Features At A Glance

    1.1.1 Product Features at a Glance For a quick overview of features of the Drobo 8D, refer to the following images. Figure 1: Front of the Drobo 8D with the bezel (faceplate) removed. Figure 2: Back of the Drobo 8D...

  • Page 9: Checking Box Contents

    To connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices to Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, you must have a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. You can purchase it from here: Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter Drobo 8D supports only Apple Adapter. Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 10: Checking System Requirements

    1.1.3 Checking System Requirements Check to ensure your operating system and cable interface are supported. Related topics: Operating Systems Supported Connectivity Interfaces Supported for Drobo 8D Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 11: Operating Systems Supported

    1.1.3.1 Operating Systems Supported For the most current list of supported operating systems, check the specifications for your products online at www.drobo.com/products/index.php. Related topics: Connectivity Interfaces Supported for the Drobo 8D Before You Begin Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 12: Connectivity Interfaces Supported For Drobo 8D

    1.1.3.2 Connectivity Interfaces Supported for Drobo 8D Drobo 8D connects directly to your Apple Mac™ using Thunderbolt 3 interface. 8D has two Thunderbolt 3 ports. Figure 1: Back of the Drobo 8D Notes: Drobo provides Thunderbolt 3 cable with 8D. Depending on the model of your Apple Mac™, you may have to buy a Thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter.

  • Page 13: Checking The Hardware You Need

    Checking the Hardware You Need To use the Drobo 8D, you will need at least two drives. If you plan to use Dual Disk Redundancy, which protects your data against two simultaneous drive failures, you will need at least three drives.

  • Page 14: Selecting Drives

    The back slot SSD is not part of the disk pack of the Drobo 8D, allowing you to leave it installed even if you transfer drives from the drive bays to another Drobo device.
  • Page 15 Related topics: Determining Drive Space Requirements Checking the Hardware You Need Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 16: Determining Drive Space Requirements

    1.1.4.2 Determining Drive Space Requirements In order to protect your data from drive failure, the Drobo 8D requires more space than what you will use for your data- double or more 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.

  • Page 17: Using Power Protection

    1.1.4.3 Using Power Protection Drobo device has an internal battery to protect critical data during sudden or unexpected power failures. The device will shutdown without any loss of data, so UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is not required. We recommend using the following power protection with the Drobo device: ●...

  • Page 18: Setting Up The Drobo 8D

    Once you have unpacked the Drobo 8D from its box and ensured you meet all system and hardware requirements, it is time to set up the Drobo 8D for use. This can be done in just a few easy steps!

  • Page 19: Migrating A Disk Pack From Another Drobo Device

    Migration of data to Drobo 8D is a one-way operation. Once you have moved the data to Drobo 8D, you will not be able to use it on the source Drobo device you are migrating from. Do not migrate drives when either of the Drobo device is powered on. This can result in data loss.
  • Page 20 The Drobo 8D may take a few minutes to boot up. When finished, all the data and volumes will be available on the Drobo 8D as it was on the Drobo 5D3, Drobo 5Dt, Drobo 5C, Drobo Gen3, Drobo 5D or Drobo S.

  • Page 21: Inserting Drives

    1.2.2 Inserting Drives As a first step to set up the Drobo 8D, insert the drives into the Drobo. For more information on drive requirements, see Selecting Drives. Also, see this link on the Drobo website: Selecting Drives for the Drobo Warning: Any pre-existing data on the drives will be erased, as the drives will be formatted.
  • Page 22 Notes: Once you insert the drives into the Drobo 8D, they function as a unit or “pack.” To access the data on them, you will need the entire pack. The Drobo 8D supports migrating entire disk packs from other Drobo, preserving its data.

  • Page 23: Connecting Cables On The Drobo 8D

    After installing Drobo Dashboard and inserting the drives into the Drobo 8D, you are ready to connect the power and data cables on the Drobo device. You can connect the Drobo 8D directly to your Apple Mac™ using the Thunderbolt 3 port. For information on the connectivity interfaces available and their requirements, see...

  • Page 24: Connecting Directly To The Drobo 8D

    You can connect the Drobo 8D directly to your Apple Mac™ using the Thunderbolt 3 port. If you are using a Thunderbolt port and would like to connect the Drobo 8D in a daisy-chain, see Connecting the Drobo 8D in a Daisy-chain.

  • Page 25: Connecting The Drobo In A Daisy Chain

    Connecting the Drobo in a Daisy Chain With the Thunderbolt 3 port, you can connect the Drobo 8D directly to your Apple Mac™ or to another Thunderbolt-enabled device in a daisy-chain manner. The Drobo 8D performs best when it is the first in the daisy-chain, but it can also be in the middle or at the end.
  • Page 26 2. Do one of the following: ● Plug the other end of the cable into your host Apple Mac™, so that the Drobo 8D is the first peripheral in the daisy-chain. Be sure to connect the next Thunderbolt-enabled peripheral or non-Thunderbolt display monitor to the second port on the Drobo 8D, as needed to extend the chain.

  • Page 27: Powering On The Drobo 8D

    To power on the Drobo 8D: 1. Once you attach one end of the power cord to the Drobo 8D and the other end of the cord to a power source, turn on the Drobo using the power toggle button located on the back.

  • Page 28: Downloading And Installing Drobo Dashboard

    1.2.5 Downloading and Installing Drobo Dashboard The Drobo Dashboard application will help you to set up and manage the Drobo 8D. Drobo software and firmware updates for Drobo 8D can be downloaded and installed from Drobo 8D Product page. This section covers the following topics: ●...

  • Page 29: Installing Drobo Dashboard On Apple Mac

    3. A pop up will appear asking whether to open the Installer. Click Open. 4. The Install Drobo Dashboard page will appear. Click Continue to proceed to the next screen. 5. Next, the Installation Wizard page appears. Click Continue to proceed.
  • Page 30 6. The Software License Agreement page appears. From here, you can choose the language in which you want to proceed the installation process. 7. After choosing the desired language, Click the Continue button. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 31 8. A dialog box will appear asking you to Agree or Disagree the terms of the license agreement. Click Agree to proceed. 9. You will reach the Installation Type section. Click the Install button to proceed. 10. You will be prompted to enter the administrator password. Enter the password and click Install Software. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 32 11. Then, you will be prompted to restart your Apple Mac™ in order to complete the installation. Click Continue Installation to proceed. 12. When the installation completes, you will see the following screen. Click Close and launch the Dashboard application. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 33 Apple Mac™ to finish the installation. Click Restart. 14. Once the Apple Mac™ restarts, launch the Drobo Dashboard application. Note: You may have to allow Drobo Dashboard in System Preferences in order for the Dashboard to open. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 34 15. The application will prompt you to register the Drobo 8D. You can either register it or skip the step and register it later. Select an option based on you preference. Note: We highly recommend to register your product in order to obtain support.
  • Page 35 17. If you have no Drobo device connected to the Apple Mac™ or powered on, a "No Drobos Detected" message displays until you do. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 36 18. The Drobo 8D will not work until you upgrade the firmware. For information on updating the Updating the Drobo 8D to the latest firmware firmware to the latest version, see Related topics: Using Drobo Dashboard Touring Drobo Dashboard Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 37: Registering The Drobo 8D

    1.2.6 Registering the Drobo 8D If you did not register the Drobo device during initial setup, you can register the device from the Drobo Dashboard. You can also register from My Products page. Note: You will need to be connected to the Internet to perform this action.
  • Page 38 You can click the Forgot username or password link if needed. Continue with step 5. 5. Click the Next button. The connected Drobo devices, and their serial numbers will appear. 6. Select the Drobo device you would like to register. Enter its purchase date and select the region from where you purchased it.
  • Page 39 DroboCare page. Otherwise you can purchase DroboCare license from here DroboCare 9. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to register additional Drobo devices. 10. When finished, click the Done button. You will return to the Help and Support page. Related topic:...

  • Page 40: Initializing And Updating The Drobo 8D To The Latest Firmware

    1.2.7 Initializing and Updating the Drobo 8D to the Latest Firmware When you first receive a new Drobo 8D device, you must use the Drobo Dashboard application to update it to the latest firmware release. Note: Make sure that you have installed the Drobo Dashboard on your system before following the steps given below.
  • Page 41 If the Drobo Dashboard will still not detect the Drobo 8D and the lights remain solid red, please call our support line for assistance or open a ticket on your support account. For more...
  • Page 42 9. If the red drive lights reappear (e.g. "Unknown Disk Set"), please go to the Drobo Dashboard's Tools section and choose Drobo Reset. This process will erase all the data on the disk set. If the issue Getting Technical Support still continues, please contact support.

  • Page 43: Formatting The Drives Of Drobo 8D

    Drobo device and format the drives. Note: If you have migrated the entire disk pack from another Drobo device to this one, you do not need to format the drives as they have already been formatted. For additional...

  • Page 44: Turning On The Drobo 8D And Formatting The Drives

    To format the drives: 1. Open the Drobo Dashboard on your Apple Mac™ and press the power toggle button on the back of the Drobo device once. The Drobo device powers on and appears on the All Drobos page in Drobo Dashboard.
  • Page 45 5. 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 the Drobo device name. 6. Click the Next button. The Confirm Format page opens. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 46 7. Click the Format button. A message appears, informing you that it can take up to five minutes to format your drives, and that this may require rebooting the Drobo device. Afterwards, the Format dialog box opens. 8. Click the OK button. The volumes page of Drobo 8D will appear.
  • Page 47 Drobo Dashboard automatically assigns “Drobo” as the default name for your device, which you can rename later. To use the Drobo's Dual Disk Redundancy feature, you will have to enable the Dual Disk Redundancy checkbox in the General Settings page.

  • Page 48: Selecting A File System And Volume Size For The Drobo 8D

    Selecting a File System and Volume Size for the Drobo 8D When you turn on the Drobo 8D, you will be prompted to format the drives with a particular file system. The file system formats available to you depends on your operating system. (See the Figure below.)

  • Page 49: Where To Go Next

    1.3 Where To Go Next After you have set up the Drobo 8D, you are ready to store and back up data. Click on a topic below to learn more. Using Best Practices for Data Protection Using the Online User Guide...

  • Page 50: Using Best Practices For Protecting Data

    1.3.1 Using Best Practices for Protecting Data Although the Drobo 8D provides redundancy and automatically protects your data against a drive failure, it should only be one part of an overall digital asset management strategy. Best To better safeguard your valuable data, we strongly encourage you to review our guide on Practices Our guide offers strategies to protect data beyond drive failures.

  • Page 51: Using The Online User Guide

    Using the Online User Guide After you have set up the Drobo 8D, you are ready to use it to store and back up data. To learn how to manage and use the Drobo 8D refer to the Online User Guide for your product available at the Drobo 8D page.

  • Page 52: Using Context-Sensitive Help

    1.3.3 Using Context-Sensitive Help On the top right corner of the Drobo Dashboard, you will find the Help button (?). Click this button to view the context-sensitive help. The Help window opens in your Internet browser providing information particular to the page from which you clicked for help.

  • Page 53: Using Knowledge Base

    Help and Support page. 2. Under the Check Drobo online resources area, click the Search Knowledge Base link to open the Drobo Knowledge Base web page. From the page, you can search for topics related to you Drobo device.

  • Page 54: Registering The Drobo 8D

    1.3.5 Registering the Drobo 8D If you did not register the Drobo device during initial setup, you can register the device from the Drobo Dashboard. You can also register from My Products page. Note: You will need to be connected to the Internet to perform this action.
  • Page 55 4. Then, do one of the following: ● If you do not have a Drobo account, click the Create a new Drobo Support Account link. A one-page form opens in your web browser. Fill this in and click Create Account. Then return to the Registration page to log into your account.
  • Page 56 DroboCare page. Otherwise you can purchase DroboCare license from here DroboCare 9. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to register additional Drobo devices. 10. When finished, click the Done button. You will return to the Help and Support page. Related topic:...

  • Page 57: Getting Support

    You can also find support in Drobo Dashboard. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the Drobo device for which you need to get support, and then click the Help and Support option on the Navigation menu.

  • Page 58: Using And Managing The Drobo 8D

    1.4 Using and Managing the Drobo 8D Once you have set up the Drobo device, you are ready to use and manage it. Related topics: Using Drobo Dashboard Renaming the Drobo 8D Formatting the Drobo 8D Safely Shutting Down the Drobo 8D...

  • Page 59: Using Drobo Dashboard

    1.4.1 Using Drobo Dashboard Drobo Dashboard is the software companion of the Drobo 8D enabling you to easily set up, manage and use the Drobo device. Related topics: Installing Drobo Dashboard Keeping Your Software Up to Date Touring Drobo Dashboard...

  • Page 60: Downloading And Installing Drobo Dashboard

    1.4.1.1 Downloading and Installing Drobo Dashboard The Drobo Dashboard application will help you to set up and manage the Drobo 8D. Drobo software and firmware updates for Drobo 8D can be downloaded and installed from Drobo 8D Product page. This section covers the following topics: ●...

  • Page 61: Installing Drobo Dashboard On Apple Mac

    3. A pop up will appear asking whether to open the Installer. Click Open. 4. The Install Drobo Dashboard page will appear. Click Continue to proceed to the next screen. 5. Next, the Installation Wizard page appears. Click Continue to proceed.
  • Page 62 6. The Software License Agreement page appears. From here, you can choose the language in which you want to proceed the installation process. 7. After choosing the desired language, Click the Continue button. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 63 8. A dialog box will appear asking you to Agree or Disagree the terms of the license agreement. Click Agree to proceed. 9. You will reach the Installation Type section. Click the Install button to proceed. 10. You will be prompted to enter the administrator password. Enter the password and click Install Software. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 64 11. Then, you will be prompted to restart your Apple Mac™ in order to complete the installation. Click Continue Installation to proceed. 12. When the installation completes, you will see the following screen. Click Close and launch the Dashboard application. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 65 Apple Mac™ to finish the installation. Click Restart. 14. Once the Apple Mac™ restarts, launch the Drobo Dashboard application. Note: You may have to allow Drobo Dashboard in System Preferences in order for the Dashboard to open. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 66 15. The application will prompt you to register the Drobo 8D. You can either register it or skip the step and register it later. Select an option based on you preference. Note: We highly recommend to register your product in order to obtain support.
  • Page 67 17. If you have no Drobo device connected to the Apple Mac™ or powered on, a "No Drobos Detected" message displays until you do. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 68 18. The Drobo 8D will not work until you upgrade the firmware. For information on updating the firmware to the latest version, see Updating the Drobo 8D to the latest firmware. Related topics: Using Drobo Dashboard Touring Drobo Dashboard Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 69: Keeping Your Software Up To Date

    To ensure optimal performance, we highly recommend that you set the Drobo device to automatically check for software updates (you may have already done this during the initial set up). This feature keeps both the Drobo Dashboard and the firmware of the device up to date. You can also install updates from the Start 8D page.

  • Page 70: Checking For Software Updates

    Checking for Software Updates The following steps ensure that Drobo Dashboard and the firmware of the device are up to date. 1. In Drobo Dashboard, select the Drobo 8D device from the All Drobos page. 2. Click the Tools option on the Navigation menu to open the Tools page.

  • Page 71: Manually Updating Firmware From Drobo Website

    Manually Updating Firmware from Drobo Website To manually update the firmware from the website, take the following steps. 1. Launch the Drobo Dashboard and select Drobo 8D from the All Drobos page. Also, if applicable, log in to this Drobo device.

  • Page 72: Touring Drobo Dashboard

    1.4.1.3 Touring Drobo Dashboard In this topic, the two main areas of Drobo Dashboard are defined for the Drobo 8D: the All Drobos page and the Navigation menu. All Drobos Page When you first open the Drobo Dashboard, by default, the All Drobos page appears displaying all Drobo devices connected to your Apple Mac™...
  • Page 73 ● View as List – This button provides a view of the Drobo devices in table format. Information in the list includes total protected capacity available for data, used capacity, free capacity, your device’s serial number and whether you are currently logged in or out (if applicable). The currently selected Drobo device has a blue border.
  • Page 74 Menu options include the following: ● All Drobos (#), where # is the number of Drobo devices you have connected – Opens the All Drobos page. ● Status – Opens the Status page, where you can view a variety of status information for the selected Drobo device, such as drive information, device serial number and more.
  • Page 75 Drobo device name, which is in the upper-left corner of the page. For example, see the arrows in the following image: Related topics: Using Drobo Dashboard Using and Managing the Drobo 8D Adding Drives...

  • Page 76: Renaming The Drobo 8D

    Renaming the Drobo 8D To rename the Drobo 8D: 1. Open the Drobo Dashboard and select the Drobo device that you would like to rename from the All Drobos page. 2. Click the Tools option on the Navigation menu. The Tools page for that Drobo device opens.

  • Page 77: Formatting The Drobo 8D

    1.4.3 Formatting the Drobo 8D When you first set up the Drobo 8D, you are soon prompted to format the drives in your device. You may choose to re-format the drives at anytime thereafter. Warning: Any data on the drives will be lost when you re-format. Be sure to move the data to another location first.
  • Page 78 5. Select the appropriate file format for your operating system and click the Next button. The Volume Name page opens. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 79 8. Click the Format button. A message opens, informing you that it can take up to five minutes to format your drives, and that this may require rebooting the Drobo device. Afterwards, the Format dialog box opens. 9. Click the OK button. the Drobo device displays on the Tools page in Drobo Dashboard. Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 80: Safely Shutting Down The Drobo 8D

    1.4.4 Safely Shutting Down the Drobo 8D If you plan to shut down the Drobo 8D for any reason, it is very important that you always do so safely. Improper Drobo device shutdowns may cause file corruption and/or data loss.

  • Page 81: Safely Shutting Down The Drobo 8D Using Drobo Dashboard

    Lights). However, you can still safely shut down the Drobo 8D. 3. In the Drobo Dashboard, select the Drobo 8D that you would like to shut down from the All Drobos page, and click the Status option on the Navigation menu. The Status page opens.
  • Page 82 4. At the top right corner, select the Shutdown option. A message box opens, asking you to confirm the shutdown. 5. Click the Yes button. 6. It can take up to two minutes for the Drobo 8D to power down. Afterwards, the power light turns off, indicating the Drobo device has shut down. Note: Shutdown option can be selected from Volume page and under operations area in Tools page.

  • Page 83: Resetting The Drobo 8D

    4. If you are sure you would like to proceed, in the text box, type ERASE and click the Confirm button. 5. the Drobo device gets reset to its factory settings, which can take a few minutes. Once complete, this Drobo device will no longer appear in the Drobo Dashboard.

  • Page 84: Blinking Lights To Test Connectivity

    1.4.6 Blinking Lights to Test Connectivity A simple test to verify that the Drobo 8D is connected, directly or indirectly, to your host Apple Mac™, is to use Drobo Dashboard to blink the lights on the Drobo device. To make the lights blink: 1.

  • Page 85: Enabling Or Disabling Menu Bar

    ● Find out the version of Drobo Dashboard. ● Hide or show alerts for the Drobo device. You can choose to disable the Drobo shortcut in the menu bar and later enable it at any time. To enable/disable the menu bar: 1.

  • Page 86: Modifying Device Settings For Drobo 8D

    1.5 Modifying Device Settings for Drobo 8D You can modify various settings for your Drobo device. Related topics: Enabling or Disabling Dual Disk Redundancy Modifying the Disk Drive Spin Down Time Dimming the Lights on Drobo 8D Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 87: Enabling Or Disabling Dual Disk Redundancy

    Drive Bay lights turn solid green. To enable or disbale dual disk redundancy: 1. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the Drobo device for which you would like to enable or disable Dual Disk Redundancy. 2. Click the Drobo Settings option on the Navigation menu, and click General. The General Settings page opens.
  • Page 88 Redundancy. A message box automatically appears, asking you to confirm the change and letting you know that the protected capacity on the Drobo device will decrease (if enabling Dual Disk Redundancy) or increase (if disabling). 4. Click the Yes button in the dialog box to continue.

  • Page 89: Enabling The Disk Drive Spin Down Time

    When the disk drives spin down, it helps to save electricity and can prolong the life of the drives. Note, however, it will take the Drobo 8D a few moments to spin the drives back up again when accessed. The default setting for this feature is 15 minutes on most Drobo devices.

  • Page 90: Dimming The Lights On Drobo 8D

    1.5.3 Dimming the Lights on Drobo 8D On the Drobo 8D, you have the option to dim the lights on your device. To do so, follow these steps: 1. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the appropriate Drobo device.

  • Page 91: Managing Capacity (Drive Space)

    1.6 Managing Capacity (Drive Space) You should calculate how much capacity you need for the Drobo device in order to ensure your data is protected. This section includes the following topics: Calculating Capacity to Use Adding Drives Removing Drives Inserting a back slot SSD...

  • Page 92: Calculating Capacity To Use

    1.6.1 Calculating Capacity to Use Based on the number and capacity of the drives you use in the Drobo device, the best way to determine how much usable protected storage space will be available for data is to use our Capacity Calculator.

  • Page 93: Adding Drives

    Adding Drives When you find that the Drobo 8D is running low on space, you can easily add capacity by either replacing a smaller capacity drive with a larger one, or by inserting a new drive in an empty drive bay of the Drobo device.
  • Page 94 The Drobo uses largest drive in the disk pack to maintain data redundancy. Since Drobo uses largest size drive for redundancy, you will need to add a large drive in order to see more usable capacity.

  • Page 95: Removing Drives

    Drobo device is working to protect your data. Wait until the blinking stops. Warning: Removing a drive during data protection may result in loss of data. 2. If you are removing all drives from the Drobo device, first safely shut it down and unplug it from the power source. Warning: Not shutting down safely may result in loss of data.
  • Page 96 5. The drive ejects from the drive bay. Carefully remove it. 6. Repeat step 4 to remove additional drives. 7. Replace the bezel when finished. Related topics: Managing Capacity (Drive Space) Adding Drives Safely Shutting Down the Drobo 8D Understanding the Indicator Lights Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 97: Inserting A Back Slot Ssd

    To install a back slot SSD, perform these steps: 1. Gently turn the Drobo 8D to access the rear side of the Drobo 8D. In the rear side, you can find a slot to insert SDD, as depicted in the image below 2.
  • Page 98 ● Red: Indicates SSD is Incompatible or Failed. Figure 1: Status page of Drobo 8D indicating Good SSD Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 99 Figure 2: Status page of Drobo 8D indicating Failed SSD Related topic: Selecting Drives Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 100: Removing A Back Slot Ssd

    To remove a back slot SSD: 1. Gently turn the Drobo 8D to access the rear side of the Drobo 8D. In the rear side, you can find a slot in which SDD is inserted, as depicted in the image below 2.

  • Page 101: Checking Storage Usage And Device Status Information

    1.7 Checking Storage Usage and Device Status Information You can check how your storage is being used, the status of the Drobo 8D when in particular states, and other important information. The indicator lights on the Drobo device also provide important key information.

  • Page 102: Checking Storage Usage

    This page displays a capacity breakdown bar, which provides more detailed information about how your drive space is being used. It shows how much space on the Drobo device is available for data, used for data protection, reserved for expansion and used for overhead administration.

  • Page 103: Viewing Capacity Chart

    Drobo 8D. To view the capacity chart: 1. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the Drobo device whose capacity chart you would like to view. 2. Click the Capacity option on the Navigation menu. The Capacity page for the Drobo device opens.
  • Page 104 To view this information for other connected Drobo devices (if applicable), you can click the up or down arrow key that displays to the left of the Drobo device name, which is in the upper-left corner of the page. See the arrows in the image below.

  • Page 105: Viewing Storage Usage

    Drobo 8D. To view the storage usage: 1. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the Drobo device whose storage usage you would like to view, and click the Capacity option on the Navigation menu. The Capacity page for that Drobo device opens.
  • Page 106 To view this information for other connected Drobo devices (if applicable), you can click the up or down arrow key that displays to the left of the Drobo device name, which is in the upper-left corner of the page. See the arrows in the image below.

  • Page 107: Checking The Status Of Drobo 8D

    2. Click the Status option on the Navigation menu. The Status page opens. 3. From this screen, you can view the status of different aspects of the Drobo 8D, such as system information, drive information and performance information, by selecting one of the options in the drop-down list.
  • Page 108 To view this information for other connected Drobo devices (if applicable), you can click the up or down arrow key that displays to the left of the Drobo device name, which is in the upper-left corner of the page. See the arrows in the image below.

  • Page 109: Checking The Drobo 8D's Serial Number

    1.7.3 Checking the Drobo 8D's Serial Number You can check for the Drobo 8D’s serial number from the Status page of Drobo Dashboard. To view the serial number of the Drobo device: 1. In the Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the appropriate Drobo 8D.

  • Page 110: Checking The Drobo 8D's Firmware Version

    1.7.4 Checking the Drobo 8D's Firmware Version You can check for the Drobo 8D’s firmware version on the Status page in Drobo Dashboard. To view the firmware version of the Drobo device: 1. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the appropriate Drobo 8D.

  • Page 111: Checking The Current Version Of Drobo Dashboard

    4. A message box opens, showing the Drobo Dashboard version number. 5. Click the OK button to close the message box. To ensure optimal performance, we highly recommend that you set the Drobo device to automatically check for software updates. This feature keeps both the Drobo Dashboard and the firmware of your device up to date.

  • Page 112: Checking System Information

    The System Information view provides information such as the serial number, firmware version, and health of the Drobo 8D. If you use SSDs, their positions are identified in the image of the Drobo 8D. To check the system information of the Drobo 8D: 1.
  • Page 113 ● Firmware - The firmware version running on the selected Drobo 8D. ● Hot Data Cache - If the value for this is "on," it indicates that you have atleast one SSD present in the device. The SSD can be in standard drive bays and in back slot. The SSD is used as a cache for "hot"...

  • Page 114: Checking Drive Information

    Checking Drive Information To check the drive information of the Drobo device: 1. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the appropriate Drobo 8D. 2. Click the Status option on the Navigation menu. The Status page opens. 3. Select Drive Information from the drop-down list at the top.
  • Page 115 ● Serial # - The serial number of the selected drive. ● Firmware - The firmware version for the selected drive. ● Health - The health status of the drive, based on the errors identified by Drobo while using the drive. Values include: ●...

  • Page 116: Checking Performance Information

    1.7.8 Checking Performance Information 1. In Drobo Dashboard on the All Drobos page, select the appropriate Drobo 8D. 2. Click the Status option on the Navigation menu. The Status page opens. 3. Select the Performance option from the Status drop-down list to view the following information: ●...

  • Page 117: Getting Diagnostics On Drobo 8D

    Getting Diagnostics on Drobo 8D You can view and print an encrypted diagnostic file about the Drobo 8D. 1. In Drobo Dashboard, click the Help & Support option on the Navigation menu. The Help and Support page opens. 2. Select the appropriate Drobo device from the drop-down list at the bottom of the screen (not Drobo Dashboard) and then click the Get Diagnostics button.
  • Page 118 A copy of the zipped diagnostic file will be downloaded to the local Apple Mac™. If you cannot generate a diagnostics file because the Drobo device does not mount, see: What...
  • Page 119 Related topics: Checking Storage Usage and Device Status Information Understanding the Indicator Lights Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 120: Understanding The Indicator Lights

    1.7.10 Understanding the Indicator Lights The Drobo 8D is equipped with various indicator lights which provide valuable information. Refer to the image below. Figure 1: Front view of Drobo 8D Figure 2: Rear view of Drobo 8D Drive Lights Green: No action is required. All drives are healthy.
  • Page 121 Activity Light Blinking Green: Data is actively being transferred between your Apple Mac™ and the Drobo device. Do not remove or add drives during this process. Capacity Gauge Blue: Displays the percentage of the Drobo device that is full, in 10% increments.

  • Page 122: Using On-Screen And E-Mail Alerts

    In Drobo Dashboard, you can have e-mail alerts sent to one or more e-mail addresses with relevant information about all your connected Drobo devices. This helps you anticipate potential issues or critical situations that could arise with one or more of Drobo devices, such as the need to increase capacity. You can also set on-screen alerts.

  • Page 123: Setting Up Or Modifying E-Mail Alerts

    Setting Up or Modifying E-mail Alerts Enabling e-mail alerts in Drobo Dashboard keeps you informed of the status of all the Drobo devices, as well as critical issues such as drive failures, low capacity etc. Once you have set up e-mail alerts, you can also modify these settings.
  • Page 124 3. A message appears informing that you will receive a test email shortly. Click OK. 4. You will receive an email from Drobo in your mailbox which contains the Validation code. Enter the code in the text area and click Validate.
  • Page 125 Note: Once a key is generated, you can reuse it the next time. It is not possible to configure the Drobo Server using the same email-id if the validation code has already been sent to the email-id recently. Custom Server To configure the Custom Server, follow the steps given below: 1.
  • Page 126 (e.g., smtp.company.com) or a server’s IP address (e.g., 127.0.0.1). If you are unsure, contact your network administrator or your e-mail service provider. Note: If you are unsure, please contact your network administrator or e-mail service provider. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 127 ● When a situation is important – Alerts will be e-mailed only to warn of an important change to one or more of the Drobo devices that could lead to a critical situation in the near future. These are Drobo Warnings and can include, for example, when you convert to Dual Disk Redundancy on the Drobo device.

  • Page 128: Modifying When To Send E-Mail Alerts

    ● When a situation is important – Alerts will be e-mailed only to warn of an important change to one or more of the Drobo devices that could lead to a critical situation in the near future. These are Drobo Warnings and can include, for example, when you convert to Dual Disk Redundancy on the Drobo device.
  • Page 129 Related topic: Setting Up or Modifying E-mail Alerts Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 130: Disabling E-Mail Alerts

    1. From the Drobo Dashboard, click the Dashboard Preferences option on the Navigation menu. The Dashboard Preferences page opens. 2. In the Drobo Dashboard E-mail Alerts area, ensure the Send e-mail alerts check box is cleared. Related topic: Modifying When to Send E-mail Alerts...

  • Page 131: Modifying When To Send On-Screen Alerts

    ● When a situation is important – Alerts will display on your screen only to warn of an important change to one or more of the Drobo devices that could lead to a critical situation in the near future. These are Drobo Warnings and can include, for example, when you convert to Dual Disk Redundancy on the Drobo device.
  • Page 132 Drobo device doesn’t recognize one or more of the drives installed, when the Drobo device does not detect any drives or when too many drives have been removed. Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 133: Disabling On-Screen Alerts

    You can disable on-screen alerts at any time. To do so, follow these steps: 1. From the Drobo Dashboard, click the Dashboard Preferences option on the Navigation menu. The Dashboard Preferences page opens. 2. In the Drobo Dashboard Onscreen Alerts area, ensure the Show visual alerts check box is cleared. Related topic:...

  • Page 134: Using Backup Volume With The Drobo 8D

    1.9 Using Backup Volume with the Drobo 8D Drobo 8D has the ability to create a dedicated backup volume for use with OS X Time Machine or other backup software. The backup volume is allowed to be encrypted. Creating a backup volume These steps will create a fixed-size backup volume that will appear as a new disk, separate from your main Drobo volume.
  • Page 135 6. Click the OK button. 7. When you see the "Confirm Restart" dialog, take a moment to stop any activity on the Drobo 8D, because it must restart. When you are ready, click Yes to continue. 8. Wait until you receive the message that "Volume management changes have been made successfully,"...
  • Page 136 Drobo 8D User Guide...

  • Page 137: Intelligent Volume Management

    You can add multiple volumes to the Drobo 8D using Drobo Dashboard To add volumes: 1. Open the Drobo Dashboard on your Apple Mac™ and press the power toggle button on the back of the Drobo once. the Drobo device powers on and appears on the All Drobos page in Drobo Dashboard.
  • Page 138 5. You can choose the size of the volume as you like. A set of predefined values will be available. You can also create a custom size. 6. Select appropriate size and click Next button. The Volume Name page opens Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 139 7. In the Name text box, modify the default name for the volume as you like and click Next. New Volume will be listed in the Volumes page Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 140 8. Click on Apply button to apply the changes. This may require rebooting the Drobo and it will take some time. Drobo 8D User Guide...
  • Page 141 Note: Remove or Rename options are available in the Volumes page. Related topic: Where to Go Next Drobo 8D User Guide...

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