Drobo 5C User manual

Drobo 5C Getting Started Guide

Drobo 5C Getting Started Guide 2
Table of Contents
1: Before You Begin ..............................................................................................................................4
1.1 Product features at a glance ..........................................................................................................4
1.2 Checking box contents ..................................................................................................................5
1.3 Checking system requirements......................................................................................................5
1.3.1 Operating systems supported ........................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.2 Connectivity interface supported ..................................................................................................................... 6
1.4 Checking hardware requirements..................................................................................................6
1.4.1 Selecting drives ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.4.2 Recommended number and types of drives ...............................................................................................7
1.4.3 Determining drive space requirements..........................................................................................................8
1.4.4 Using power protection........................................................................................................................................8
2: Setting Up Drobo 5C.........................................................................................................................9
2.1 Inserting drives ..............................................................................................................................9
2.1.1 How to insert the drives.......................................................................................................................................9
2.2 Connecting USB and power cables ..............................................................................................10
2.2.1 How to connect USB and power cables ......................................................................................................10
2.3 Installing Drobo Dashboard.........................................................................................................11
2.3.1 How to install Drobo Dashboard on Windows.........................................................................................11
2.3.2 How to install Drobo Dashboard on Mac...................................................................................................15
2.4 Updating your Drobo 5C to the latest firmware .........................................................................19
2.5 Registering your Drobo 5C ..........................................................................................................21
2.6 Formatting drives.........................................................................................................................24
2.6.1 Selecting a file system and volume size ......................................................................................................24
2.6.2 Formatting drives for your Drobo 5C ...........................................................................................................25
2.7 Using Drobo 5C with Time Machine or backup software ...........................................................28
2.7.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................28
2.7.2 Creating a backup volume................................................................................................................................28
2.8 Safely shutting down your Drobo 5C...........................................................................................30
2.8.1 When to shut down your Drobo 5C..............................................................................................................30
2.8.2 Shutting down your Drobo 5C using Drobo Dashboard........................................................................30

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3: What To Do Next ............................................................................................................................31
3.1 Using best practices for protecting data .....................................................................................32
3.2 Keeping your software up to date ...............................................................................................32
3.2.1 Checking for software updates.......................................................................................................................32
3.3 Using online user guide...............................................................................................................33
3.4 Using context-sensitive help........................................................................................................33
3.5 Using knowledge base.................................................................................................................33
3.6 Registering your Drobo 5C ..........................................................................................................34
3.7 Getting technical support ............................................................................................................34
3.8 Guide to meaning of indicator lights (LEDs) ...............................................................................35
3.8.1 Indicator light messages....................................................................................................................................35

Drobo 5C Getting Started Guide 4
1: Before You Begin
Before you begin to set up your Drobo 5C, it is recommended to check the operating system and
hardware requirements.
This section covers the following topics:
Product features at a glance
Checking box contents
Checking system requirements
Checking hardware requirements
1.1 Product features at a glance
For a quick overview of the features of Drobo 5C, refer to the following images.
Figure 1: Front view of Drobo 5C with the bezel (faceplate) removed.

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Figure 2: Back view of Drobo 5C
1.2 Checking box contents
Ensure that your product's box contains all the components listed below.
Drobo 5C
3.3 ft. (1 m) USB Type A to Type C cable
6.6 ft. (1.8 m) power cord with power adaptor
Quick Start Card
Safety and Warranty Guide
1.3 Checking system requirements
Check to ensure whether your operating system and cable interface are supported.
This section covers the following topics:
Operating systems supported
Connectivity interface supported

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1.3.1 Operating systems supported
Operating systems supported for Drobo 5C device are as follows.
Apple® Macintosh® 10.9 or later
Microsoft® Windows® 7 Service Pack 1 or later
Microsoft® Windows® 8/8.1
Microsoft® Windows® 10
Notes:
- For best performance and interoperability, ensure that you are running the latest service packs for the
appropriate Windows operating systems.
- For the most current list of supported operating systems, check the specifications for your products
online at http://www.drobo.com/storage-products/5c/#specification.
1.3.2 Connectivity interface supported
Your Drobo 5C device has USB 3.0, Type C interface. Drobo provides USB Type A to Type C cable with
the device.
Depending on the model of your computer, it may have USB Type A or Type C interface. You have to
buy a Type C to Type C cable if your computer has a Type C interface. Speed of data communication
is limited by the slowest interface of your computer and the Drobo 5C.
Note:
If your computer has only a USB 2.0 connection, then the Drobo 5C will operate at USB 2.0 speeds.
1.4 Checking hardware requirements
To use your Drobo 5C device, you will need at least two drives. If you plan to use Dual Disk
Redundancy, which protects your data against two concurrent drive failures, you will need at least
three drives.
This section covers the following topics:
Selecting drives
Determining drive space requirements
Using power protection

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1.4.1 Selecting drives
The Drobo 5C supports both standard 3.5” SATA III hard disk drives (HDDs) as well as solid-state
drives (SSDs) for added performance. You can choose HDDs from any manufacturer and with any
capacity. For choosing SSDs, please visit our web page to view the compatible drive options.
Note:
Even though Drobo 5C supports SDDs, we do not recommend using them.
Warning:
When you insert the drives into Drobo 5C, the pre-existing data on the drives will be erased.
1.4.2 Recommended number and types of drives
Here are the recommended number and types of drives you can use with your Drobo 5C device. Note
that you need at least two drives in the drive bays to ensure your data is protected in the event of
drive failure.
2 to 5 Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) in the main drive bays enables you to maximize capacity.
For a performance comparison of these options, see the following illustration.
Notes:
- If an incompatible SSD is inserted into the Drobo 5C, the drive light will blink red, indicating the need
to replace that drive. Please refer to our web page on compatible drive options for more information.
- Drobo 5C is not compatible with IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics), SCSI (Small Computer System
Interface), PATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment) or SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) drives.

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1.4.3 Determining drive space requirements
In order to protect your data from drive failure, your Drobo 5C requires more space than what you
will use for your data. It may, sometimes, use as much as double or more the amount of space.
1.4.3.1 Capacity calculator
The best way to determine how much usable and protected storage space is available for your data,
based on the number and capacity of your drives, is to use our Capacity Calculator. To view the
Drobo Drive Capacity Calculator page, go to http://www.drobo.com/storage-products/capacity-
calculator/.
A shortcut for estimating the capacity available for your data is to omit the largest drive and then,
add the capacity of the remaining drives. If you plan to use Dual Disk Redundancy, then omit the
largest two drives.
For example:
Single disk (default) redundancy
Dual disk redundancy
Notes:
- Actual capacity is often less than what is shown in the examples above due to the different systems
used for rating capacity. This has nothing to do with the Drobo 5C.
- Your Drobo 5C enables you to easily increase storage capacity at any time by simply inserting
additional drives or replacing smaller drives with larger ones.
- In the Drobo 5C device, 64TB space is available for storage.
1.4.4 Using power protection
We recommend you to use the following power protection with your Drobo 5C:
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which protects against sudden losses in power.
A power surge protector to protect against power surges.

Drobo 5C Getting Started Guide 9
2: Setting Up Drobo 5C
Once you have unpacked your Drobo 5C device from its box and ensured that you meet all the
operating system and hardware requirements, it is time to set up your device for use. You also need
to upgrade the firmware to the latest version before using the Drobo 5C device, as the device
shipped out will not have the latest firmware.
Note:
-The Drobo 5C device will not be usable until you have upgraded the firmware.
You can perform the setup of Drobo 5C in few steps by:
1. Inserting the drives to your Drobo 5C
2. Connecting USB and power cables
3. Installing the Drobo Dashboard on your computer
4. Turning on the power and updating your Drobo 5C with the latest firmware
5. Registering your Drobo 5C
6. Formatting the drives
If you need to assess that the setup process is moving smoothly, see Guide to meaning of indicator
lights (LEDs).
2.1 Inserting drives
With the Drobo 5C in powered off state, insert the drives you plan to use in the device. For more
information on drive requirements, see Selecting Drives. Also see this link on the Drobo website:
http://www.drobo.com/storage-products/choose-drive/.
Warning:
Any pre-existing data on the drives will be erased, as the drives will be formatted. If you wish to keep
the data, copy it to another drive or medium before using with your Drobo 5C.
Note:
Once you insert the drives into your Drobo 5C, they function as a unit or “pack.” To access the data on
them, you will need the entire pack.
2.1.1 How to insert the drives
To insert the drives to your Drobo 5C device:

Drobo 5C Getting Started Guide 10
1. Remove the magnetic front bezel (faceplate) from the front of your Drobo 5C by pulling it off.
2. Hold the HDD with its connectors positioned at the device and toward the left (usually the
labels will be on the top). Refer to the images below.
3. With your other hand, use your thumb to depress and hold open one of the drive locks to a
selected drive bay. Refer to the image below.
4. Slide the drive into the drive bay, release the drive lock and push the drive into place until you
feel it connect. The drive lock snaps behind the drive, securing it into place.
Note:
If you are inserting an SSD (Solid State Drive), ensure that it is compatible by visiting our web page on
compatible drive options.
5. Insert additional drives in the same manner, following steps 2 through 4.
6. When finished, replace the faceplate right side up, so that when your Drobo 5C is turned on
you will be able to see the indicator lights. For more information on Indicator lights, see Guide
to meaning of indicator lights (LEDs).
2.2 Connecting USB and power cables
After inserting the drives into your Drobo 5C, you are ready to connect the power and data cables on
your Drobo 5C.
2.2.1 How to connect USB and power cables
You can connect the Drobo 5C directly to your computer using the USB port.
As you follow the steps below, refer to the following image.