Best products from r/drobo
We found 10 comments on r/drobo discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 8 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Certified Cable Matters 20 Gbps Thunderbolt 3 Cable (USB C Thunderbolt Cable) in Black 6.6 Feet Supporting 100W Charging
- Data & 4K video & power over this high performance USB-IF certified USB C Thunderbolt 3 cable that supports a 20 Gbps bi-directional data transfer rate when connecting Thunderbolt 3 devices Up to 100W of power to a charge a laptop or deliver 15W to bus-powered devices
- 2x USB 3.1 Gen 2 performance with the same reversible connector as a USB-C; Thunderbolt 3 USB C cable can deliver double the bandwidth of a USB Type-C cable and include power delivery, full 4K @ 60Hz Video resolution support, and Gigabit Ethernet networking
- Dell companion Thunderbolt USB C cable for Dell XPS 12 9250, 13 9350 / 9360 / 9365, 15 9550 / 9560, Latitude 5480 / 5580 / 7275 / 7280 / 7370 / 7480 / 7520 / 7720 / E5570, Precision (certain configurations) 3520 / 15 3510 / 5510 / M7510, 17 M7710, Alienware 13 / 15 / 17
- USB-C & Thunderbolt 3 port compatible with the 2016/2017 MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Aspire Switch 12 S/R13, V15/V17 Nitro, TravelMate P648, Predator 15/17/17X, ROG GL/G5/G7/GX/Strix, ZenBook Pro UX501VW, ZenBook 3 Deluxe/Pro, Transformer 3 Pro, Schenker XMG, Q524UQ 2-in-1 15.6, Gigabyte Aorus X5 15, X7 DT 17, BRIX/BRIX S, Razer Blade/Stealth/Pro, Samsung NP900X5N, Notebook Odyssey, Notebook 9 15 Inch, FUJITSU Workstation CELSIUS H760
- HP Elite X2 1012 G1/G2, Z1 Workstation G3, Spectre 13.3/x360, EliteBook X360 G2/X 360 1030 G2/Folio G1, ZBook 17 /15 /Studio, Legion Y720, IdeaPad Y900, Miix 720, Thinkpad P 50/70, T 470/470S/570, X1 Carbon, X1 Yoga, Yoga 370/720/920, MSI Phantom Pro, Ghost Pro, Stealth Pro, Titan Pro, Dominator Pro, Vortex G65, LG Gram 15Z970, Intel NUC6i7KYK/NUC7i5BNH/NUC7i5BNK, Toshiba Portege X20W, Sony VAIO S11, Clevo P 750DM/770DM/870DM
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions2. WD 20TB My Book Duo Desktop RAID External Hard Drive - USB 3.1 - WDBFBE0200JBK-NESN,Black
- Massive capacity storage with auto and system backup
- RAID-0 ready out of the box
- USB 3.1 Gen 1-ready, USB 3.0 compatibility
- 2x USB 3.0 hub ports
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions3. (OLD MODEL) Crucial MX200 500GB mSATA Internal Solid State Drive - CT500MX200SSD3
- Sequential reads/writes up to 555 / 500 MB/s on all file types
- Random reads/writes up to 100k / 87k IOPS on all file types
- Up to 5x more endurance and over 2x more energy efficient than a typical client SSD
- Dynamic Write Acceleration delivers faster saves and file transfers
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions4. WEme USB 3.0 to SATA Dual-Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station with Offline Clone/Duplicator Function for 2.5 & 3.5 Inch HDD SSD SATA (SATA I/II/III) Support 2X 8TB & UASP, Tool-Free
- Usb 3. 0 external, SATA-III internal, especially made for 2. 5 inch and 3. 5 inch SATA HDD/SSD, USB 3. 0 SuperSpeed & supports UASP, even faster data transfer
- Integrated safeguards preventing overvoltage, leak currents, short circuits and peak voltage, interference and disturbance, safer data transfer and access
- Support 2x 8TB hard drive; Support offline Clone, no drivers needed, easy installation; cloning can only be done from a drive to B drive, make sure the memory capacity of B drive is larger than a drive; not support online Clone
- Stable and reliable DC power source: The power supply is highly efficient (12V, 3000mA), so that a stable energy supply is ; entering sleep mode without operation in 30 minutes
- Package includes: 1 x USB3. 0 to SATA Dual bay docking station; 1x USB 3. 0 cable; 1x 12V/3a power adapter; 1x manual
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions5. Crucial m4 64GB mSATA Internal Solid State Drive CT064M4SSD3
Powerful SSD performance in a tiny mSATA form factorUltrathin form factor provides lightweight mobilityFeatures blazing-fast speeds - up to 500MB/s sequential readsTreats compressed and uncompressed files the same, resulting in consistently fast speeds. Validated for Intel Smart Response technologyA...
▼ Read Reddit mentions6. Seagate (STEB8000100) Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop
- Enjoy enormous desktop storage space for years to come for photos, movies, music, and more
- Designed to work with Windows computers, this external USB drive makes backup easy with a simple drag and drop
- Setup is easy; Just connect the external hard drive to your Windows computer for automatic recognition no software required
- Includes an 18 inch USB 3.0 cable and 18 Watts power adapter
- Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 1 year limited warranty.Please refer user guide below for better use.Built-in power management automatically ensures energy-efficient operation
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions7. Seagate IronWolf 8Tb NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6GB/S 7200 RPM 256MB Cache for Raid Network Attached Storage (ST8000VN0022),Silver
- IronWolf internal hard drives are the ideal solution for up to 8-bay, multi-user NAS environments craving powerhouse performance
- Store more and work faster with a NAS-optimized hard drive providing 8TB and cache of up to 256MB
- Purpose built for NAS enclosures, IronWolf delivers less wear and tear, little to no noise/vibration, no lags or down time, increased file-sharing performance, and much more
- Easily monitor the health of drives using the integrated IronWolf Health Management system and enjoy long-term reliability with 1M hours MTBF
- Three-year limited warranty protection plan included
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions8. AmazonBasics Foam Yoga Blocks - 4 x 9 x 6 Inches, Set of 2, Black
- Set of 2 yoga blocks help promote better balance, proper alignment, and deeper poses
- Made of durable, high-density foam for reliable support and long-lasting performance
- Slip-resistant surface help ensure a secure hold; round edges for a comfortable, steady grip
- Lightweight and modular; use separately or stacked together in a variety of configurations
- Large enough to comfortably sit on; measure 4 by 9 by 6 inches each (LxWxH)
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentionsTop comments mentioning products on r/drobo:
Summary
1. Certified Cable Matters 20 Gbps Thunderbolt 3 Cable (USB C Thunderbolt Cable) in Black 6.6 Feet Supporting 100W Charging
- Data & 4K video & power over this high performance USB-IF certified USB C Thunderbolt 3 cable that supports a 20 Gbps bi-directional data transfer rate when connecting Thunderbolt 3 devices Up to 100W of power to a charge a laptop or deliver 15W to bus-powered devices
- 2x USB 3.1 Gen 2 performance with the same reversible connector as a USB-C; Thunderbolt 3 USB C cable can deliver double the bandwidth of a USB Type-C cable and include power delivery, full 4K @ 60Hz Video resolution support, and Gigabit Ethernet networking
- Dell companion Thunderbolt USB C cable for Dell XPS 12 9250, 13 9350 / 9360 / 9365, 15 9550 / 9560, Latitude 5480 / 5580 / 7275 / 7280 / 7370 / 7480 / 7520 / 7720 / E5570, Precision (certain configurations) 3520 / 15 3510 / 5510 / M7510, 17 M7710, Alienware 13 / 15 / 17
- USB-C & Thunderbolt 3 port compatible with the 2016/2017 MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Aspire Switch 12 S/R13, V15/V17 Nitro, TravelMate P648, Predator 15/17/17X, ROG GL/G5/G7/GX/Strix, ZenBook Pro UX501VW, ZenBook 3 Deluxe/Pro, Transformer 3 Pro, Schenker XMG, Q524UQ 2-in-1 15.6, Gigabyte Aorus X5 15, X7 DT 17, BRIX/BRIX S, Razer Blade/Stealth/Pro, Samsung NP900X5N, Notebook Odyssey, Notebook 9 15 Inch, FUJITSU Workstation CELSIUS H760
- HP Elite X2 1012 G1/G2, Z1 Workstation G3, Spectre 13.3/x360, EliteBook X360 G2/X 360 1030 G2/Folio G1, ZBook 17 /15 /Studio, Legion Y720, IdeaPad Y900, Miix 720, Thinkpad P 50/70, T 470/470S/570, X1 Carbon, X1 Yoga, Yoga 370/720/920, MSI Phantom Pro, Ghost Pro, Stealth Pro, Titan Pro, Dominator Pro, Vortex G65, LG Gram 15Z970, Intel NUC6i7KYK/NUC7i5BNH/NUC7i5BNK, Toshiba Portege X20W, Sony VAIO S11, Clevo P 750DM/770DM/870DM
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions2. WD 20TB My Book Duo Desktop RAID External Hard Drive - USB 3.1 - WDBFBE0200JBK-NESN,Black
- Massive capacity storage with auto and system backup
- RAID-0 ready out of the box
- USB 3.1 Gen 1-ready, USB 3.0 compatibility
- 2x USB 3.0 hub ports
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions3. (OLD MODEL) Crucial MX200 500GB mSATA Internal Solid State Drive - CT500MX200SSD3
- Sequential reads/writes up to 555 / 500 MB/s on all file types
- Random reads/writes up to 100k / 87k IOPS on all file types
- Up to 5x more endurance and over 2x more energy efficient than a typical client SSD
- Dynamic Write Acceleration delivers faster saves and file transfers
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions4. WEme USB 3.0 to SATA Dual-Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station with Offline Clone/Duplicator Function for 2.5 & 3.5 Inch HDD SSD SATA (SATA I/II/III) Support 2X 8TB & UASP, Tool-Free
- Usb 3. 0 external, SATA-III internal, especially made for 2. 5 inch and 3. 5 inch SATA HDD/SSD, USB 3. 0 SuperSpeed & supports UASP, even faster data transfer
- Integrated safeguards preventing overvoltage, leak currents, short circuits and peak voltage, interference and disturbance, safer data transfer and access
- Support 2x 8TB hard drive; Support offline Clone, no drivers needed, easy installation; cloning can only be done from a drive to B drive, make sure the memory capacity of B drive is larger than a drive; not support online Clone
- Stable and reliable DC power source: The power supply is highly efficient (12V, 3000mA), so that a stable energy supply is ; entering sleep mode without operation in 30 minutes
- Package includes: 1 x USB3. 0 to SATA Dual bay docking station; 1x USB 3. 0 cable; 1x 12V/3a power adapter; 1x manual
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions5. Crucial m4 64GB mSATA Internal Solid State Drive CT064M4SSD3
Powerful SSD performance in a tiny mSATA form factorUltrathin form factor provides lightweight mobilityFeatures blazing-fast speeds - up to 500MB/s sequential readsTreats compressed and uncompressed files the same, resulting in consistently fast speeds. Validated for Intel Smart Response technologyA...
▼ Read Reddit mentions6. Seagate (STEB8000100) Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop
- Enjoy enormous desktop storage space for years to come for photos, movies, music, and more
- Designed to work with Windows computers, this external USB drive makes backup easy with a simple drag and drop
- Setup is easy; Just connect the external hard drive to your Windows computer for automatic recognition no software required
- Includes an 18 inch USB 3.0 cable and 18 Watts power adapter
- Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 1 year limited warranty.Please refer user guide below for better use.Built-in power management automatically ensures energy-efficient operation
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions7. Seagate IronWolf 8Tb NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6GB/S 7200 RPM 256MB Cache for Raid Network Attached Storage (ST8000VN0022),Silver
- IronWolf internal hard drives are the ideal solution for up to 8-bay, multi-user NAS environments craving powerhouse performance
- Store more and work faster with a NAS-optimized hard drive providing 8TB and cache of up to 256MB
- Purpose built for NAS enclosures, IronWolf delivers less wear and tear, little to no noise/vibration, no lags or down time, increased file-sharing performance, and much more
- Easily monitor the health of drives using the integrated IronWolf Health Management system and enjoy long-term reliability with 1M hours MTBF
- Three-year limited warranty protection plan included
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions8. AmazonBasics Foam Yoga Blocks - 4 x 9 x 6 Inches, Set of 2, Black
- Set of 2 yoga blocks help promote better balance, proper alignment, and deeper poses
- Made of durable, high-density foam for reliable support and long-lasting performance
- Slip-resistant surface help ensure a secure hold; round edges for a comfortable, steady grip
- Lightweight and modular; use separately or stacked together in a variety of configurations
- Large enough to comfortably sit on; measure 4 by 9 by 6 inches each (LxWxH)
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions
I'd be happy to offer advice going forward. there are options that won't be too painful. something like this
https://www.amazon.com/16TB-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBFBE0160JBK-NESN/dp/B074R34DD3/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1519847058&sr=8-4&keywords=16%2Btb%2Bexternal%2Bhard%2Bdrive&th=1
will get you a backup cheaply you can then get a better main unit, use the hard drives from the drobo re-format them in a real raid 6 and then move them back over.
I finally just got everything connected up to the network and configured last night and the 500GB mSATA drive does work just fine. This is the model I'm using Crucial MX200.
As far as your other questions, which are very good by the way, I haven't had enough usage to determine how much hot data is kept in the cache as I've only transferred over some software and a VMWare fusion VM (Win server 2003). I did fire up the VM from the Drobo and was able to run it, although there was some noticeable latency it was still usable.
I'm not sure about drives spinning up but I do hear the soft hum of the Drobo fans which I don't believe is any quieter than a Drobo without a mSATA. Hopefully over time the full 500GB will be utilized and reduce the frequency of the drives spinning up (I haven't noticed any hard drive sounds, just the fan). I'm running 2 WD Red 6TD drives at the moment.
Edit: a word
You have to make sure you buy a data cable and not just a charging cable. I tested two cables before finding the right one. I found this cable to work out for data transfer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AS8U9KE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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My computer still thinks the Drobo is a power source though!
I had a 5D and a 5C. Got so fed up with the exact type of issues you are taking about that I just sold both on eBay and went with OWC Thunderbays. The SoftRAID is so much better. Also it’s super standard. So if an enclosure ever died, I could literally put all the drives in several of these at once, and be back up and running. All the information needed to run the RAID 5 is on the drives.
This is the one I was looking at long ago. Crucial m4 64GB mSATA
Edit: New Egg is cheaper for ~$93, as of post.
All hard disk boxes are noisy. I put mine over a yoga block to reduce vibrations. https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Yoga-Blocks-Set-2/dp/B01FN7X7KE/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=yoga+block&qid=1554896322&s=gateway&sr=8-8