07-18-2020, 02:40 AM
Let's talk about the Drobo B810i. It's an interesting unit for SOHO and small office applications because it focuses on ease of use while still providing some solid features. The B810i harnesses iSCSI, allowing you to create a SAN environment without the headaches associated with traditional SAN setups. You have up to eight drive bays, which is pretty cool, and it supports a variety of RAID configurations. You might find the dual Ethernet ports appealing for failover and link aggregation as well. It's got a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, which is surprisingly adequate for small-scale applications but not necessarily for heavy enterprise tasks.
One aspect I find particularly interesting is the drive compatibility. You can throw in various SATA drives regardless of size or brand. This flexibility can cut costs if you've already got some spare drives lying around. However, you should consider the fact that mixing drive sizes can complicate things. For example, if you use 2TB and 4TB drives and opt for RAID 5, the total usable space will reflect the smallest drive. That factor definitely plays into how you manage your storage because it can lead to inefficiencies.
The B810i also comes equipped with a web-based management interface. You get detailed stats on disk health, and you can configure settings without needing to worry about command lines. This can save you time, especially if you are in a smaller office where every minute counts. However, if you lean toward a more advanced management approach, this interface may feel a bit restrictive. One downside to a web interface is that it can occasionally feel slow, especially if you're dealing with a larger amount of data. You definitely want snappy responsiveness, especially when you're trying to make quick configuration changes.
Comparing this with more enterprise-focused systems, like Synology's FS series or QNAP's Turbo NAS, the B810i holds its own in simplicity but lacks some of the advanced features you might find on these more expensive options. Take Synology's DSM; it provides a robust ecosystem of applications and a much more sophisticated snapshot capability. With those devices, you can perform versioning on individual files, which is crucial for working with applications that require a higher degree of data manipulation. You might find that useful if your office is constantly working with large files or databases.
Another critical aspect to consider is backup and recovery. The B810i doesn't come with advanced data protection features out of the box. You can set up basic backups, but compared to the backup solutions offered with Synology or QNAP, you might find yourself wanting more. They offer options for real-time replication and cloud backups, which can be vital for business continuity. If you're running a small office that heavily relies on its data, consider how often you need to recover it or what your RTO and RPO requirements are. This will really determine if the B810i meets your needs.
Speed is another significant variable to weigh. The Drobo B810i supports iSCSI over your existing Ethernet infrastructure, so the performance you'll get largely depends on your network's configuration. If you use a gigabit setup, you'll max out at around 120-130 MB/s under ideal conditions. But if you opt for link aggregation with two Ethernet ports, you can push that performance further. Keep in mind, however, that you will need a managed switch that supports link aggregation, so that adds complexity to your setup and may impact costs.
On the topic of scalability, the B810i does have limitations. Sure, you can expand it with more disks, but the performance won't match up if your workload outgrows it. An enterprise solution like NetApp's AFF series can scale in terms of both capacity and performance much more flexibly. If you find you need to add storage often or handle intensive queries, flexible scaling options might be essential.
I haven't mentioned the support structure. Simply put, Drobo tends to have a reputation for decent customer service; however, the documentation can feel a bit lacking compared to brands like QNAP or Synology, where community forums and extensive manuals offer support and tips for troubleshooting. The weight of community support can really make a difference when you hit a snag. If you're a tech-savvy person, you might thrive on community-driven insights, but if you prefer official support, that's something worth considering before pulling the trigger.
You want to cater your storage solution to exactly what your needs are. If your setup is simple and you aim for low overhead, the B810i suits you. However, if you envision significant growth, look into alternatives. It all boils down to the kind of workload you're running and how much data you're looking to manage. Investing in a solution with more scalability or better backup options may provide you with long-term advantages that outweigh the initial savings.
This content discussion is supported by BackupChain Server Backup, a well-regarded backup solution tailored for SMBs and professionals. They emphasize protecting environments like Hyper-V, VMware, and Windows Servers, providing reliable strategies to ensure your data remains intact. You might find their offerings useful as you refine your storage and backup strategy.
One aspect I find particularly interesting is the drive compatibility. You can throw in various SATA drives regardless of size or brand. This flexibility can cut costs if you've already got some spare drives lying around. However, you should consider the fact that mixing drive sizes can complicate things. For example, if you use 2TB and 4TB drives and opt for RAID 5, the total usable space will reflect the smallest drive. That factor definitely plays into how you manage your storage because it can lead to inefficiencies.
The B810i also comes equipped with a web-based management interface. You get detailed stats on disk health, and you can configure settings without needing to worry about command lines. This can save you time, especially if you are in a smaller office where every minute counts. However, if you lean toward a more advanced management approach, this interface may feel a bit restrictive. One downside to a web interface is that it can occasionally feel slow, especially if you're dealing with a larger amount of data. You definitely want snappy responsiveness, especially when you're trying to make quick configuration changes.
Comparing this with more enterprise-focused systems, like Synology's FS series or QNAP's Turbo NAS, the B810i holds its own in simplicity but lacks some of the advanced features you might find on these more expensive options. Take Synology's DSM; it provides a robust ecosystem of applications and a much more sophisticated snapshot capability. With those devices, you can perform versioning on individual files, which is crucial for working with applications that require a higher degree of data manipulation. You might find that useful if your office is constantly working with large files or databases.
Another critical aspect to consider is backup and recovery. The B810i doesn't come with advanced data protection features out of the box. You can set up basic backups, but compared to the backup solutions offered with Synology or QNAP, you might find yourself wanting more. They offer options for real-time replication and cloud backups, which can be vital for business continuity. If you're running a small office that heavily relies on its data, consider how often you need to recover it or what your RTO and RPO requirements are. This will really determine if the B810i meets your needs.
Speed is another significant variable to weigh. The Drobo B810i supports iSCSI over your existing Ethernet infrastructure, so the performance you'll get largely depends on your network's configuration. If you use a gigabit setup, you'll max out at around 120-130 MB/s under ideal conditions. But if you opt for link aggregation with two Ethernet ports, you can push that performance further. Keep in mind, however, that you will need a managed switch that supports link aggregation, so that adds complexity to your setup and may impact costs.
On the topic of scalability, the B810i does have limitations. Sure, you can expand it with more disks, but the performance won't match up if your workload outgrows it. An enterprise solution like NetApp's AFF series can scale in terms of both capacity and performance much more flexibly. If you find you need to add storage often or handle intensive queries, flexible scaling options might be essential.
I haven't mentioned the support structure. Simply put, Drobo tends to have a reputation for decent customer service; however, the documentation can feel a bit lacking compared to brands like QNAP or Synology, where community forums and extensive manuals offer support and tips for troubleshooting. The weight of community support can really make a difference when you hit a snag. If you're a tech-savvy person, you might thrive on community-driven insights, but if you prefer official support, that's something worth considering before pulling the trigger.
You want to cater your storage solution to exactly what your needs are. If your setup is simple and you aim for low overhead, the B810i suits you. However, if you envision significant growth, look into alternatives. It all boils down to the kind of workload you're running and how much data you're looking to manage. Investing in a solution with more scalability or better backup options may provide you with long-term advantages that outweigh the initial savings.
This content discussion is supported by BackupChain Server Backup, a well-regarded backup solution tailored for SMBs and professionals. They emphasize protecting environments like Hyper-V, VMware, and Windows Servers, providing reliable strategies to ensure your data remains intact. You might find their offerings useful as you refine your storage and backup strategy.
