Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide  2 
Table of Contents 
 Before You Begin .............................................................................................................................. 4 
1 Product features at a glance .......................................................................................................... 4 
2 Checking box contents .................................................................................................................. 5 
3 Checking system requirements ...................................................................................................... 5 
4 Checking hardware requirements .................................................................................................. 6 
4.1 Selecting drives ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 
4.2 Recommended number and type of drives ................................................................................................. 7 
4.3 Determining drive space requirements .......................................................................................................... 8 
4.4 Using power protection........................................................................................................................................ 9 
 Setting Up Drobo B810n .................................................................................................................. 9 
1 Inserting drives ............................................................................................................................ 10 
1.1 How to insert the drives .....................................................................................................................................10 
2 Connecting Ethernet and power cables ....................................................................................... 11 
2.1 How to connect Ethernet and power cables .............................................................................................11 
3 Powering on the Drobo 810n ...................................................................................................... 12 
4 Downloading and installing Drobo Dashboard ........................................................................... 12 
4.1 How to download Drobo Dashboard application ...................................................................................13 
4.2 How to install Drobo Dashboard on Windows .........................................................................................13 
4.3 How to install Drobo Dashboard on Mac ...................................................................................................16 
5 Initializing and updating your Drobo B810n to the latest firmware ........................................... 21 
6 Registering your Drobo B810n .................................................................................................... 23 
7 Shares and Users ......................................................................................................................... 25 
8 Using Drobo B810n with Time Machine or backup software ...................................................... 26 
8.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................26 
8.2 Creating a backup volume ................................................................................................................................26 
9 Safely shutting down your Drobo B810n ..................................................................................... 28 
9.1 When to shut down your Drobo B810n ......................................................................................................29 
9.2 Shutting down your Drobo B810n using Drobo Dashboard .................................................................29 
 What To Do Next ............................................................................................................................ 30 

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide  3 
1 Using best practices for protecting data ..................................................................................... 31 
2 Keeping your software up to date ............................................................................................... 31 
2.1 Checking for software updates .......................................................................................................................31 
3 Using online user guide ............................................................................................................... 32 
4 Using context-sensitive help ........................................................................................................ 32 
5 Using knowledge base ................................................................................................................. 32 
6 Registering your Drobo B810n .................................................................................................... 32 
7 Getting technical support ............................................................................................................ 33 
8 Guide to meaning of indicator lights (LEDs) ............................................................................... 33 
8.1 Indicator light messages ....................................................................................................................................34 
 
 

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 4

1: Before You Begin

Before you begin to set up your Drobo B810n, 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 review of Drobo B810n hardware features, please review these images.

Figure 1: Front of the Drobo B810n with bezel (faceplate) removed

Figure 2: Front of the Drobo B810n with bezel (faceplate) removed

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 5

Figure 3: Rear panel of Drobo B810n

1.2 Checking box contents

Ensure that your product's box contains all the components listed below.

 Drobo B810n

 2 x 6 ft (1.8 m) Ethernet cables

 6 ft (1.8 m) Power Cord

 Quick Start Card

 International LED Labels for Front Panel (German, French, and Japanese)

Optional Accessories

Drobo 8-Bay Rack Mount Kit

1.3 Checking system requirements

This article provides the system requirements for using Drobo B810n.

Drobo System Requirements and Specifications

Operating systems

Operating systems supported for the Drobo B810n include:

 Apple® Macintosh® Mac OS X 10.8 or higher

 Microsoft® Windows®10 32- and 64-bit

 Microsoft® Windows® 8/8.1 32 and 64 bit

 Microsoft® Windows® 7 32 and 64 bit

 Microsoft® Windows® Server 2012 32 and 64 bit

 Microsoft® Windows® Server 2008 R2 32 and 64 bit

Note 1: For best performance and interoperability, ensure that you are

running the latest service packs for the appropriate Windows operating

systems.

Note 2: For the most current list of supported operating systems, check the

specifications for your products online at Drobo B810n Specifications.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 6

Drobo software

Drobo Dashboard 2.7.0 or later. To download the latest Drobo

Dashboard, see the Drobo B810n page on our website.

Connection (Gigabit

Ethernet)

To connect to your router, network switch, or computer, Drobo B810n

uses Gigabit Ethernet.

Drives

Drobo B810n requires at least two drives. It has eight 3.5-inch SATA drive

bays. SSDs can be used in addition to the minimum 2 HDDs to accelerate

the unit.

For more information on selecting drives for Drobo B810n, see Selecting

Drives.

Power protection

(optional)

Though not required, we recommend using the following power

protection with your Drobo B810n:

 An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which protects against

sudden losses in power

 A power surge protector to protect against power surges

Electrical / operating

environment

Power Supply: AC Input - 100-240VAC, 1.8/0.75 A, 50/60Hz

Operating Temperature: 10°C-35°C (50°-95°F)

Non-operating (storage): 10°-60°C (14°-140°F)

Operating Humidity: 5% - 80%

Dimensions: 12.17” wide x 5.46” tall x 14.1” long (309mm wide x 138.9mm

tall x 357.4mm long)

Weight: 16 lbs 3 oz

1.4 Checking hardware requirements

To use your Drobo B810n 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

1.4.1 Selecting drives

The Drobo B810n supports both standard 3.5” SATA III hard disk drives (HDDs) as well as SATA

solid-state drives (SSDs) for added performance.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 7

Warning:

When you insert drives into the Drobo B810n device, the pre-existing data on the drives will be erased.

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.

1.4.2 Recommended number and type of drives

Here are the recommended number and type of drives you can use with your Drobo B810n 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.

Configuration

Benefit

All HDDs (2 to 8 slots)

Highest capacity

6 HDDs + 2 SSDs

Best mix of capacity & performance

5 HDDs + 3 SSDs + DDR enabled

Best mix of capacity, performance & redundancy

For a performance comparison of these options, see the following illustration.

1.4.2.1 Additional SSD benefits

Adding SSDs to your Drobo B810n provides multiple benefits. Along with accelerating the IOPS

(Input/Output Operations Per Second) of the unit, SSDs also enable other advanced capabilities, such

as Hot Data Cache (requires 1 SSD) and Data-Aware Tiering (requires 2 SSDs in Single Disk

Redundancy mode, 3 SSDs in Dual Disk Redundancy mode). SSDs must be added in addition to the

minimum 2 HDDs.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 8

1.4.2.2 Drobo drive compatibility

This table describes Drobo B810n compatibility with specific types of HDDs and SSDs.

Drive

Type

Compatible

Incompatible

HDD

SATA I, II, and III

IDE

Any size

SCSI

Any manufacturer

PATA

Any performance classification. Choose based on

your usage demands.

SAS

SSD

To see which solid state drives are compatible with

Drobo B810n, please see a list of qualified drives at

What SSDs can I use with the Drobo B810n, Drobo

5D, Drobo Gen 3, Drobo 5N and Drobo Mini?

If an incompatible SSD is

inserted into the Drobo, the

drive light will blink red,

indicating the need to replace

that drive.

1.4.3 Determining drive space requirements

Your Drobo B810n automatically divides the total disk capacity of all its drives between data storage,

data protection, and expansion. We offer a tool for previewing that space allocation.

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, visit our Drobo Drive Capacity Calculator page.

Figure 4: Drobo Drive Capacity Calculator

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 9

A shortcut to estimate 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.

Single disk (default) redundancy

# Drives

Drive Capacity

Usable Protected Capacity *

6TB+6TB+6TB

= 12TB

4TB+6TB+6TB+6TB

= 14TB

4TB+6TB+6TB+6TB+6TB

= 22TB

Dual disk redundancy

# Drives

Drive Capacity

Usable Protected Capacity *

6TB+6TB+6TB

= 6TB

4TB+4TB+6TB+6TB

= 8TB

4TB+6TB+6TB+6TB+6TB

= 16TB

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 B810n.

- Your Drobo B810n enables you to easily increase storage capacity at any time by simply inserting

additional drives or replacing smaller drives with larger ones.

1.4.4 Using power protection

We recommend using the following power protection with your Drobo B810n:

 An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which protects against sudden losses in power.

 A power surge protector to protect against power surges.

2: Setting Up Drobo B810n

Once you have unpacked your Drobo B810n 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.

The Drobo B810n shipped out will not have the latest firmware. So, it is recommended to upgrade

the firmware to the latest version before using the device.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 10

You can perform the set up in just a few easy steps.

1. Inserting the drives

2. Connecting the data port of the Drobo to an Ethernet switch

3. Powering on your Drobo B810n

4. Downloading and installing Drobo Dashboard

5. Registering your Drobo B810n

6. Initializing your Drobo 810n and updating it with the latest firmware

7. Shares and Users

Other topics mentioned in this section are:

8. Using Drobo B810n with Time Machine or backup software

9. Safely shutting down your Drobo B810n

2.1 Inserting drives

Insert the drives into your Drobo B810n. For more information on drive requirements, see Selecting

drives.

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 B810n.

Note:

Once you insert the drives into your Drobo B810n, 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 B810n device:

1. Remove the magnetic front bezel (faceplate) from the front of your Drobo B810n 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.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 11

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 Step 2 to Step 4.

6. When finished, replace the faceplate right side up so that when your Drobo B810n 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 Ethernet and power cables

After inserting the drives into your Drobo B810n, you are ready to connect the power and Ethernet

cables to your Drobo B810n.

2.2.1 How to connect Ethernet and power cables

As you follow the steps below, refer to the following image.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 12

1. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the back of your Drobo B810n.

2. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into your router, switch, or computer.

3. Connect the power supply to the power connection at the back of your Drobo B810n.

4. Connect the other end of the power supply to a power source.

Note:

We recommend plugging into an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or surge protector. For more

information, see Using power protection.

2.3 Powering on the Drobo 810n

The next step is to power on the Drobo device. For this, you have to attach the power cord and then,

turn on the Drobo using the power switch located on the back. The Drobo will take several minutes

to complete the power on cycle. When the power on cycle is complete the Drobo will flash blue and

yellow lights.

Note:

If you need to assess that the process is moving smoothly, see Guide to meaning of indicator lights

(LEDs).

2.4 Downloading and installing Drobo Dashboard

The Drobo Dashboard application will help you to set up and manage your Drobo B810n. After

installing the Dashboard, you can configure the settings to automatically install version updates,

which is highly recommended. You can install the Drobo software and firmware updates from Start

Drobo B810n page.

This section covers the following topics:

 Downloading Drobo Dashboard

 Installing Drobo Dashboard on Windows

 Installing Drobo Dashboard on Mac

Note:

You need a full admin user account and Internet access on the computer on which you install the

Drobo Dashboard

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 13

2.4.1 How to download Drobo Dashboard application

Go to the Start Drobo B810n page and click the appropriate Drobo Dashboard installation file based

on the operating system (Windows/Mac) you are using. This downloads the Drobo Dashboard

Installer.

Now, let us see how to install the Drobo Dashboard.

2.4.2 How to install Drobo Dashboard on Windows

To install the Drobo Dashboard on a Windows machine:

Note:

If you are a first-time Drobo user, then simply install the latest version of the Drobo Dashboard.

If you are an existing Drobo user and have a Drobo Dashboard version earlier than 2.7.0 installed, then

you must uninstall the Drobo Dashboard prior to installing the latest version. For more information, see

What is the proper way to uninstall and re-install Drobo Dashboard on my Windows computer?

1. After downloading the Drobo Dashboard installation file for Windows, double-click the Drobo

Dashboard Installer to launch it.

2. A pop up will appear asking you to choose the language for installation. Select the language of

your choice and click OK.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 14

3. The Drobo Dashboard Installer (or Installation Wizard) will appear.

4. Click the Next button to proceed.

5. Follow the instructions of the Installation Wizard by clicking the Next button after each page.

6. Once you reach the installation page, click the Install button.

7. In some Windows operating systems, the Windows Access Control dialog box appears, asking

if you want to allow changes to your computer. Click the Allow or Yes button. This installs the

Drobo Dashboard.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 15

8. After the installation is complete, be sure the Launch Drobo Dashboard checkbox is selected

and then, click the Finish button.

9. The Drobo Dashboard application launches and you will be prompted to register your Drobo

B810n. You can either register the Drobo B810n or skip the step and register it later. Select an

option based on you preference. The serial number is printed on the compliance label at the

bottom of the device.

Note:

We highly recommend to register your product in order to obtain support.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 16

10. Click the Next button to view the All Drobos page. After a few seconds, Drobo "discovers" all

Drobo devices currently connected and displays them on this page.

Note:

After the Drobo Dashboard launches, you may be asked if Drobo can collect anonymous information

on your usage. Click Yes or No, as desired.

11. If you have no Drobo device connected to the computer or powered on, a "No Drobos

Detected" message displays until you do.

12. Your Drobo B810n will not work until you update the firmware. For information on updating

the firmware to the latest version, see Updating your Drobo B810n to the latest firmware.

2.4.3 How to install Drobo Dashboard on Mac

To install the Drobo Dashboard on Mac:

Note:

If you are a first-time Drobo user, then simply install the latest version of the Drobo Dashboard. If you

are an existing Drobo user and have a Drobo Dashboard version earlier than 2.7.0 installed, then you

must uninstall the Drobo Dashboard prior to installing the latest version. For more information, see

What is the proper way to uninstall and re-install Drobo Dashboard on my Mac?

1. After downloading the Drobo Dashboard installation file for Mac, double-click the Drobo

Dashboard Installer to launch it.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 17

2. A pop up will appear asking whether to open the Installer. Click Open.

3. The Install Drobo Dashboard page will appear. Click Continue to proceed to the next screen.

4. The Firewall Warning page appears. Click Continue.

5. Next, the Installation Wizard page appears. Click Continue to proceed.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 18

6. The Software License Agreement page appears. From here, you can choose the language in

which you want to proceed the installation process.

7. After choosing the desired language, Click Continue.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 19

8. A dialog box will appear asking you to Agree or Disagree the terms of the license agreement.

Click Agree to proceed.

9. You will reach the Installation Type section. Click Install to proceed.

10. You will be prompted to enter the administrator password. Enter the password and click

Install Software.

11. Then, you will be prompted to restart your computer in order to complete the installation.

Click Continue Installation to proceed.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 20

12. When the installation completes, you will see the following screen to restart the computer to

finish the installation. Click Restart.

13. The Drobo Dashboard installer will prompt you to restart your computer. When the window

pops up asking if you are sure you want to restart your computer, be sure to select the check

box next to Reopen windows when logging back in, so that you can continue you from the

same point in the online setup.

14. Once the computer restarts, launch the Drobo Dashboard application.

15. The application will prompt you to register your Drobo B810n. You can either register it or

skip the step and register it later. Select an option based on you preference.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 21

Note:

We highly recommend to register your product in order to obtain support.

16. Click the Next button to view the All Drobos page. After a few seconds, Drobo "discovers" all

Drobo devices currently connected and displays them on this page.

Note:

After the Drobo Dashboard launches, you may be asked if Drobo can collect anonymous information

on your usage. Click Yes or No, as desired.

17. If you have no Drobo device connected to the computer or powered on, a "No Drobos

Detected" message displays until you do.

18. Your Drobo B810n will not work until you upgrade the firmware. For information on updating

the firmware to the latest version, see Updating your Drobo B810n to the latest firmware.

2.5 Initializing and updating your Drobo B810n to

the latest firmware

When you first receive a new Drobo B810n device, you must use the Drobo Dashboard app to

update it to the latest firmware release.

Important Note:

The Drobo B810n device will not be usable until you upgrade the firmware.

If you are a first-time Drobo user, then install the latest version of Drobo Dashboard. If you are an

existing Drobo user and have a Drobo Dashboard version earlier than 2.7.0 installed, then you must

follow the instructions to uninstall Drobo Dashboard prior to installing the latest version.

For information on uninstalling or re-installing Drobo Dashboard on your Windows computer, see

What is the proper way to uninstall and re-install Drobo Dashboard on my Windows computer?

For information on uninstalling or re-installing robo Dashboard on your Mac computer, see What is the

proper way to uninstall and re-install Drobo Dashboard on my Mac?

If you are a first time user, please follow these steps to update the firmware of your Drobo B810n to

the latest one:

1. Connect the data port of the Drobo to an Ethernet switch.

2. Ensure that the Mac or PC you are using for this setup has a valid Internet/network connection.

3. If using a Mac, ensure that the Firewall (System Preferences > Security and Privacy) is set to

"allow incoming" for DD service (Drobo Dashboard).

4. Verify that the Drobo is powered off.

5. Insert the drives.

6. Turn on the Drobo B810n.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 22

Warning:

Powering on the Drobo will begin the disk format process. Please be aware that all data on the disks

will be erased.

7. Your Drobo B810n will appear with a yellow Drobo device icon on your main dashboard screen.

8. Click the Drobo device icon to begin initialization of your Drobo B810n. During this process

your Drobo will download the latest firmware from the internet.

9. Go to the Status page in the Dashboard which will show that the Drobo is initializing. While

initialization is taking place, all of the drive slot LEDs will be yellow, and the capacity LEDs will

blink blue. When initialization is complete, Drobo will restart to finish the firmware upgrade

process.

10. Your Drobo should begin updating to the latest firmware and automatically formatting the

disk. Please allow Drobo up to 20 minutes for the total initialization process.

Note:

If the Drobo Dashboard does not detect your Drobo 810n and initialization does not begin, please

disable any firewall and antivirus programs and ensure that your Drobo is connected directly to the

Ethernet port on your computer and not via an Ethernet switch. In this scenario, be sure that your

computer is set to get its IP address on that Ethernet port via DHCP.

If the Drobo Dashboard is still not detecting your Drobo 810n and the lights are remaining solid red,

please call our support line for assistance or open a ticket on your support account. For more

information, please see: How do I contact technical support?

11. If the red drive lights are seen again (e.g. "Unknown Disk Set"), go to the Drobo Dashboard's

Tools section and choose ERASE (reset), allowing the Drobo 810n to reboot.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 23

Note:

If you need to assess that the process is moving smoothly, see Guide to meaning of indicator lights

(LEDs).

12. Alternatively, you can use the pinhole method to erase data from the disk. For more

information, see How can I clear all my data off my Drobo storage device and start anew? This

is for new setups only where the drives have no data.

Warning:

This procedure will erase all data from all drives and return your Drobo 810n to default settings.

2.6 Registering your Drobo B810n

If you did not register your Drobo B810n during setup, then you can register it from the Drobo

Dashboard.

Note:

Make sure you are connected to the Internet before performing this action.

To register your Drobo B810n from the Drobo Dashboard:

1. From the All Drobos page, select Drobo B810n. Then, click the Help and Support option on

the Navigation menu.

2. The Help and Support page for Drobo B810n opens.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 24

3. In the Drobo Registration area, click the Register my Drobo devices link. This opens the

Registration page.

4. Do one of the following:

 If you do not have a Drobo account, click the Create a new Drobo account link. The

the Signup page. Enter the required information and create your account, and then return

to this step to log in to your account.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 25

 If you already have a Drobo account, then select the Register new Drobo with my Drobo

account option and enter your Drobo username and password. You can click the Forgot

username or password link if needed. Continue with step 4.

5. Click the Next button. The connected Drobo devices and their serial numbers will appear.

6. Select Drobo B810n and enter its purchase date. Then, select the region from where you

purchased it, as shown in the image below.

Tip:

You can click the Skip this step for now check box at any time.

7. Click the Register Drobo button. The next page shows with a check mark that your product

has been registered.

Note:

You can choose to purchase a DroboCare license by clicking on that link.

8. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to register additional Drobo devices.

9. When finished, click the Done button. You will return to the Help and Support page.

2.7 Shares and Users

To view the Share settings:

1. Select the Drobo 810n by clicking on the green Drobo device icon.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 26

2. Then, click the Shares option on the Navigation menu. This opens the Share Settings window.

3. You will see the Public share that is created automatically under the Select a share section and

ready to use.

4. You can setup additional shares and users from the Share settings window.

Now, you can start using your Drobo B810n.

2.8 Using Drobo B810n with Time Machine or

backup software

2.8.1 Overview

Drobo B810n introduces the ability to create a dedicated backup volume for use with OS X Time

Machine, Windows Backup and Restore, or other backup software. The backup volume is

compatible with encrypted backup options. This article will show you how to set it up.

2.8.2 Creating a backup volume

These steps will create a fixed-size backup volume that will appear as a new disk, separate from your

main Drobo volume. Having this dedicated, fixed-size backup volume will prevent backup software

from filling your main Drobo volume with daily backups.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 27

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Drobo Dashboard, and wait for your Drobo B810n to appear under in the All Drobos

page. Then, double-click the image of your Drobo B810n.

2. Then, click Volumes.

3. Click the Enable Backup button.

4. Enter a name for your backup volume and the desired size (GB).

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 28

5. Click the OK button.

6. When you see the "Confirm Restart" dialog, take a moment to stop any activity on the Drobo

B810n, because it must restart. When you are ready, click Yes to continue.

7. Wait until you receive the message that "Volume management changes have been made

successfully," then click the OK button.

8. Now you will see the backup volume you created listed under Volumes. You may now close the

Drobo Dashboard.

9. To finish the process, open the settings for your third-party backup software, such as Time

Machine, and select the backup volume that you created as the destination volume.

2.9 Safely shutting down your Drobo B810n

If you plan to shut down your Drobo B810n for any reason, it is very important that you always do so

safely. Improper Drobo device shutdowns may cause file corruption and/or data loss.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 29

This section covers the following topics:

 When to shut down your Drobo B810n

 Shutting down your Drobo B810n using Drobo Dashboard

2.9.1 When to shut down your Drobo B810n

It is a good idea to shut down your Drobo B810n before any of the following situations:

 Your Drobo will not be used for an extended time.

 You need to disconnect a cable or power supply.

 You want to move your Drobo to another location.

 You need to remove the entire disk pack.

 You are going to apply operating system updates.

2.9.2 Shutting down your Drobo B810n using Drobo Dashboard

This is the recommended method for safely shutting down your Drobo B810n.

1. Check that the activity light on your Drobo B810n is off, indicating that no data is actively being

transferred to or from your Drobo B810n.

Note:

If data is actively being transferred, the activity light will be blinking green.

2. Also check to ensure the drive bay action indicator lights are not blinking alternately between

yellow and green. This indicates that your Drobo B810n is busy working to protect your data.

Wait until these lights are a solid green.

Important Note:

If one or more drive bay lights are red, you need to add capacity or replace the current drive. However,

you can still safely shut down your Drobo B810n.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 30

3. From the Drobo Dashboard, select the Drobo B810n that you would like to shut down from

the All Drobos page.

4. Then, click the Tools option on the Navigation menu. The Tools page opens.

5. In the Drobo Operations area, select the Shutdown option.

6. A message box opens, asking you to confirm the shutdown.

7. Click the Yes button.

8. It can take up to two minutes for your Drobo B810n to power down. Afterwards, the power

light turns off, indicating your Drobo B810n has shut down.

3: What To Do Next

Once you set up the Drobo B810n device and start to use it, we recommend you to read the

following topics to understand the different ways to enhance the performance of the device.

 Using best practices for data protection

 Keeping Drobo Dashboard and Drobo B810n’s firmware up to date

 Using Online User Guide

 Using Context-Sensitive Help

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 31

 Using the Knowledge Base

 Registering your Drobo B810n

 Getting Technical Support

3.1 Using best practices for protecting data

While Drobo protects B810n your data from a single drive failure and concurrent 2 drive failures

(when used in Dual Disk Redundancy setting) our data can still be lost. Drive head crash, damage to

the whole B810n device and disk pack, files corrupted before being saved to the Drobo B810n,

unsafe shutdowns, and other traumatic events can result in data loss.

So to know more specific guidelines on how to best protect your data, please visit our Best Practices

page. For additional information for professionals (Photographers, Videographers, etc.), please see

Photographers, Here’s A Bulletproof Backup Method Using Drobo.

Important Note:

To help protect your data, if you are unsure on how to proceed when using your Drobo B810n, it is very

important that you review the Online User Guide for your product, review our Knowledge Base articles,

or contact Drobo Support.

3.2 Keeping your software up to date

To ensure optimal performance for your Drobo B810n, we highly recommend you set your device to

automatically check for software updates (you may have already done this during the initial setup).

For more information, see Updating your Drobo B810n to the latest firmware. This feature keeps both

the Drobo Dashboard and your device’s firmware up to date.

You can also install updates from Start Drobo B810n page. If you would like to install a firmware

update from the Drobo website, see Manually updating firmware from the website for more

information.

3.2.1 Checking for software updates

The following steps ensure that the Drobo Dashboard and your Drobo B810n’s firmware are up to

date:

1. In the Drobo Dashboard, select the appropriate Drobo B810n from the All Drobos page.

2. Click the Tools option on the Navigation menu to open the Tools page.

3. In the Software Updates area of the Tools page, click the Check for Updates option.

Note:

If needed, ensure that you are logged in to this Drobo B810n.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 32

4. If a software update is available, a dialog box opens, asking if you would like to install the

update. Click the Yes button and follow the prompts to install the update.

3.3 Using online user guide

After you have set up your Drobo B810n, you are ready to use it to store and back up data. To learn

how to manage and use your Drobo B810n, refer to the Online User Guide for your product available

at the Drobo B810n page.

You can also access the user guide from the Drobo Dashboard by clicking the Help & Support

option on the Navigation menu. This will lead to the Help and Support page. From here, click the

View Drobo User Guide link to open the Online User Guide in a web browser.

3.4 Using context-sensitive help

On the top right corner of the Drobo Dashboard, you will find the Help button (?). Click this button

to view the context-sensitive help. The Help window opens in your Internet browser providing

information particular to the page from which you clicked for help.

3.5 Using knowledge base

Our searchable knowledge base provides answers to almost any questions related to your Drobo

B810n related specific support needs.

To access our knowledge base follow the steps below.

1. From the Drobo Dashboard, click the Help and Support option on the Navigation menu. The

Help and Support page opens.

2. In the Check Drobo online resources area, click the Search Knowledge Base link to open the

Drobo Knowledge Base web page.

Note:

You can access our knowledge base from the Drobo Support page.

3.6 Registering your Drobo B810n

If you did not register your Drobo B810n during setup, you can do so from the Drobo Dashboard. For

more information on registering your Drobo B810n, see Registering your Drobo B810n.

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 33

3.7 Getting technical support

To get technical support from Drobo, make sure you have registered your Drobo B810n at the Drobo

You can also use the Help and Support page in the Drobo Dashboard for registration. The Help

and Support page opens and allows you to register your Drobo, access the online user guide and

knowledge base, contact the Drobo support team and create a diagnostics file.

You can also obtain additional hardware and phone support by purchasing DroboCare™. To know

more details on DroboCare™ and how to purchase it, visit the DroboCare page on our website. Also,

see our DroboCare FAQ.

3.8 Guide to meaning of indicator lights (LEDs)

Your Drobo B810n provides a variety of status information via its indicator lights, as described in the

table below.

Figure 5: Drobo B810n Indicator lights

Drobo B810n Getting Started Guide 34

3.8.1 Indicator light messages

Light

Color

Meaning

Drive Bay

Status

Indicator

Green (solid)

Drive is healthy. No action required.

Yellow (solid)

Add a drive or replace the current drive with a larger drive

soon. Your Drobo is running out of disk space. See Adding

disk capacity.

Yellow-Green

(alternating)

Do not remove these drives or power down. Your Drobo is

working to protect your data.

Red (Solid)

Add a drive or replace the current drive with a larger drive

immediately. Your Drobo is critically low on space. See

Adding disk capacity.

Red (blinking)

Replace this drive immediately. This drive has failed. See

Adding disk capacity.

Power

Green (solid)

The power is on and your Drobo is ready.

Yellow (solid)

Your Drobo is in the process of powering on.

Red (solid)

Your Drobo has overheated. Safely power down your Drobo,

disconnect the data cable and then the power cable. Let it

cool down and then restart.

Activity

Capacity

Gauge

Green (blinking)

Data is actively being transferred between your computer

and your Drobo.

Blue (on/off)

Shows the percentage of your Drobo that is full in 10 percent

increments. For example: if your Drobo is 30 percent full,

three blue lights are on.