Freenas or alternative? - Page 2

Mark · 05-10-2010, 18:37

I've got a pair of Drobos and I've had data 'disappear' several times, but a quick reboot and it's back.

At least one of my Drobos seems to like hanging my Windows XP box, but then I've had that happen with other devices too so it may not be the Drobo's fault.

Best point - I recently did a disk upgrade, moving a 1TB drive from one to the other, and then adding two 2TB drives. Neither Drobo missed a beat.

Worst point - they're slow. Even over firewire they significantly underperform a USB enclosure containing a single Samsung F3.

Mondo · 05-10-2010, 19:39

Speed is not great significance for me. It is mainly a back up storage device, may use it to stream a movie or 2, that's it.

I can't wait !!!

Burble · 05-10-2010, 20:12

I've had plenty of problems with my Drobo - it's been replaced under warranty twice for starters. The DroboShare was replaced too, but that's such a piece of junk that I don't use it.

Software wise, every couple of months it will appear that the array has been lost and OS X will tell me that it's an unknown partition but 12 hours later it'll be mounted fine.

Shame, it could bee such a good product. Hopefully the newer ones are better.

Mark · 05-10-2010, 20:23

Sounds the same as the problem I get where one drive disappears. So far (touch wood) a reboot (of the Drobo) has sorted it every time.

Actually, one of mine went back too - it had a manufacturing defect. It wasn't obvious until you tried to insert a drive in that bay so I guess I can forgive them that one.

Burble · 05-10-2010, 20:27

With mine a reboot does nothing but that could be down to me using my Drobo on OS X as opposed to *nix or Windows.

Thinking about it, it hasn't done it since the last firmware update so maybe that's sorted it.

Mine went back the first time because the bearings in the cooling fan were shafted and then again when the firewire interface gave up the ghost.

Mondo · 05-10-2010, 21:13

The Drobo won't be my only back up solution, I will treat the Drobo as a SINGLE data storage even though it has it's own back up within itself. Which means even if the drobo fails, I have another copy physically on a different drive.

It is how I do things at the moment, and that won't change. I am just adding that extra layer of security, and expandability into my storage.

Burble · 05-10-2010, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondo

even though it has it's own back up within itself.

No it doesn't. RAID (or Above RAID or whatever they call it) is not a backup. If you delete something then it's gone.

Definitely a good idea to keep a backup elsewhere. I really should update my cloud based backup.

Edit - Reading that back it sounds quite blunt. Sorry, it isn't meant to.

Mondo · 05-10-2010, 23:37

What i mean is that the Drobo can allow a fail drive, though it doesn't mean i want to risk a failed drobo system itself.

Burble · 06-10-2010, 08:12

Yeah, so like I said, it isn't a backup

It this case it's a high availability setup.

The nice thing about the Drobo is that even if the Drobo itself fails you can shove the discs into a new Drobo and hey presto, there's your data.

Robert · 06-10-2010, 08:51

Personally looking at getting the Synology DS1010 - hope it's worth it.

Actually I'm in a bit of a dilema...do I just replace my dead drives with 2TB drives and stick them back into my case or get the NAS...

I must admit the NAS seems like the logical choice.

05-10-2010, 19:39	#12
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	Speed is not great significance for me. It is mainly a back up storage device, may use it to stream a movie or 2, that's it. I can't wait !!! __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog

05-10-2010, 21:13	#16
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	The Drobo won't be my only back up solution, I will treat the Drobo as a SINGLE data storage even though it has it's own back up within itself. Which means even if the drobo fails, I have another copy physically on a different drive. It is how I do things at the moment, and that won't change. I am just adding that extra layer of security, and expandability into my storage. __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog

05-10-2010, 23:37	#18
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	What i mean is that the Drobo can allow a fail drive, though it doesn't mean i want to risk a failed drobo system itself. __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog

06-10-2010, 08:51	#20
Robert Chump!!! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North West Posts: 993	Personally looking at getting the Synology DS1010 - hope it's worth it. Actually I'm in a bit of a dilema...do I just replace my dead drives with 2TB drives and stick them back into my case or get the NAS... I must admit the NAS seems like the logical choice. Last edited by Robert; 06-10-2010 at 09:01.

05-10-2010, 18:37	#11
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I've got a pair of Drobos and I've had data 'disappear' several times, but a quick reboot and it's back. At least one of my Drobos seems to like hanging my Windows XP box, but then I've had that happen with other devices too so it may not be the Drobo's fault. Best point - I recently did a disk upgrade, moving a 1TB drive from one to the other, and then adding two 2TB drives. Neither Drobo missed a beat. Worst point - they're slow. Even over firewire they significantly underperform a USB enclosure containing a single Samsung F3.

05-10-2010, 20:12	#13
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	I've had plenty of problems with my Drobo - it's been replaced under warranty twice for starters. The DroboShare was replaced too, but that's such a piece of junk that I don't use it. Software wise, every couple of months it will appear that the array has been lost and OS X will tell me that it's an unknown partition but 12 hours later it'll be mounted fine. Shame, it could bee such a good product. Hopefully the newer ones are better.

05-10-2010, 20:23	#14
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Sounds the same as the problem I get where one drive disappears. So far (touch wood) a reboot (of the Drobo) has sorted it every time. Actually, one of mine went back too - it had a manufacturing defect. It wasn't obvious until you tried to insert a drive in that bay so I guess I can forgive them that one.

05-10-2010, 20:27	#15
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	With mine a reboot does nothing but that could be down to me using my Drobo on OS X as opposed to *nix or Windows. Thinking about it, it hasn't done it since the last firmware update so maybe that's sorted it. Mine went back the first time because the bearings in the cooling fan were shafted and then again when the firewire interface gave up the ghost.

06-10-2010, 08:12	#19
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Yeah, so like I said, it isn't a backup It this case it's a high availability setup. The nice thing about the Drobo is that even if the Drobo itself fails you can shove the discs into a new Drobo and hey presto, there's your data.