Drobo Roboticsl User Manual page 19

Drobo gives you the option to use USB 2.0 to connect to your computer.
While not as fast as FireWire 800 or eSATA, it is found on every
computer made in the past few years.
FireWire 800 will give you excellent performance with your Drobo. If
your computer does not have a FireWire 800 port, then please contact
your computer manufacturer for a compatible add-on card. (Make sure
that you select a card that fully supports your computer and operating
system since not all FireWire cards provide optimal performance.) If
your computer only has a FireWire 400 connector then you will need to
purchase a FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 cable.
Note: Windows based computers will not get optimal performance with the
standard Microsoft FireWire drivers. Visit our support knowledgebase at
www.drobo.com/support for details on how to optimize performance with
FireWire on Windows (search keywords "FireWire performance").
With Drobo S, you can transfer your data at even faster speeds. eSATA is
nearly twice as fast as FireWire 800. You will need an eSATA interface
on your computer in order to take advantage of eSATA technology. If
you do not have such an interface on your computer, you can purchase
an add-on card and install it on your computer. Consult the
documentation for your computer and www.drobo.com to find a
compatible eSATA card.
Note: We recommend that you connect and power on your Drobo S before you
start your computer as some eSATA cards do not handle hot plugging of eSATA
drives well.
Once you have connected Drobo to your computer, the next step is to
connect it to an AC power source. Simply connect the power cord to the
back of the Drobo and to your power source. If you are setting up a
Drobo S, there is a toggle power switch on the back of the unit. You will
need to toggle this switch to turn your Drobo on.
Note: As with all electronic equipment, we recommend connecting your Drobo
to a surge protector or uninterruptible power supply (UPS), designed for
electronics.
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