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Storage

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

By scottlowemcse February 19, 2010, 3:16 AM PST

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Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

The DroboElite in all its glory.

The DroboElite in all its glory.

The DroboElite is Data Robotics’ latest foray into the SMB storage market. The DroboElite provides 16 TB of iSCSI-accessed storage with powerful BeyondRAID technology for less than $6,000.

The cover of the Drobo Elite is pretty reflective, and it smudges easily.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Five SATA disks

Five SATA disks

Data Robotics shipped me two boxes; one contained five SATA disks and the other contained the DroboElite. After unpacking the box with the disks, I arranged them neatly and took a picture. There are three 2 TB disks and two 1 TB disks.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Drive label for a 1 TB disk

Drive label for a 1 TB disk

Here’s a look at the drive label for one of the 1 TB disks.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Drive label for a 2 TB disk

Drive label for a 2 TB disk

Here’s a look at the drive label for one of the 2 TB disks.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

SATA disks

SATA disks

These are definitely SATA disks, as proven by both the labels and the connectors.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Unboxed

Unboxed

Data Robotics does a very nice job with the packaging, so that first impression is definitely a positive one.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Contents of DroboElite's accessories box

Contents of DroboElite's accessories box

The accessories box contains cables, documentation, and an installation CD.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Cables and a cord

Cables and a cord

Tthe box includes two Ethernet cables, a power cord, and a USB cable.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

DroboPro's cover

DroboPro's cover

The cover is removable and is held in place on the chassis with magnets.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Eight drive bays

Eight drive bays

Under the cover, you’ll find eight drive bays.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

DroboElite's product label

DroboElite's product label

The product label on the bottom of the unit.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Rubber feet

Rubber feet

The bottom of the unit has rubber feet; this helps reduce noise. Data Robotics advises against setting the DroboElite on its side, as this can affect the drive connections to the backplane.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Back of the DroboElite

Back of the DroboElite

The rear of the unit includes a USB port for administration, two iSCSI ports, a power connector, and a power switch.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Closer look at the back

Closer look at the back

This is another look at the back of the DroboElite.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Easy to slide drives into place

Easy to slide drives into place

Drives slide into place very easily.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Partially inserted drive

Partially inserted drive

Here’s another look at the partially inserted drive.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Five disks are installed.

Five disks are installed.

Data Robotics shipped me five disks. In this photo, all disks are installed.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Another look

Another look

Another look at the five installed disks.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

DroboElite is on.

DroboElite is on.

The unit is powered on.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

LEDs show space used

LEDs show space used

Notice the 10 blue LEDs along the side of the unit. This picture was taken during the device startup. During normal operation, these LEDs indicate how much space is being used. For instance, two LEDs lit = 20% of space is being used.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Starting up

Starting up

This is a front shot of the device starting up.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Another look at the front

Another look at the front

Another front shot of the DroboElite.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

LEDs come on when drives are initialized.

LEDs come on when drives are initialized.

Once fully initialized, the LEDs under each drive come on.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Dashboard: Disk usage

Dashboard: Disk usage

The DroboElite dashboard shows current disk usage.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Dashboard: Size of disks

Dashboard: Size of disks

The dashboard also shows you the size of the disks in each chassis slot.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

Spotlight: Data Robotics DroboElite

Administering the DroboElite

Administering the DroboElite

The dashboard includes a lot of other capabilities and is the primary location from which the DroboElite is administered.

Photo credit: Scott Lowe

For a complete review of the DroboElite, check out TechRepublic’s Servers and Storage blog.

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