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How do I setup a backup application to work with my Direct Attached Drobo (DAS)

Answer ID 608   |    Updated 04/18/2016 05:25 PM

There are different ways to setup/configure backup applications to work with Direct Attached Drobos such as the Drobo Mini, 5D and the new Drobo 3rd Generation. This KB will attempt to guide you through the features supported by your Drobo.

Drobo 3rd Generatiion, Drobo 5D and Drobo Mini

The new Drobo 3rd Generation introduced a special volume that can be created after the user has initialized the Drobo for the first time, named the Time Machine/Backup Volume. In order for this feature to be available on the Drobo 5D and Drobo Mini, firmware 3.1.1 and Drobo Dashboard 2.6.2 must be installed.

This volume allows users to dedicate such new space to better work with backup applications such as OS X Time Machine or Microsoft Windows Backup and Restore. Below is a list of benefits introduced with the new Backup Volume

  • It is no longer necesary to partition the main volume in order to reserve space for backups.
  • Eliminates the need of having to create special files onto which backups are to be stored, which is the case of sparse bundle files for OS X Time Machine.
  • Because the data is completely separate from the main volume, a user could start fresh with a new backup data set by deleting and re-creating the backup volume.
  • The size of this volume can be limited to a fixed size in order to limit how much space can the backup application use.
  • Encryption such as OS X FileVault or Microsoft BitLocker, are supported when used with the Backup Volume.
  • The wizard helps users to estimate the recomended size of such volume by figuring out the capacity of the host local drive.

Please note that Drobo Dashboard 2.6.2 or newer is required. Be sure to read the release notes and to stay up to date with the latest Drobo Dashboard software by visiting the Drobo Downloads page.

Drobo and DroboS (1st and 2nd Generations)

If you have an older Drobo, such as the Drobo and Drobo S (1st and 2nd Generations), and you want to use Time Machine on Mac OS X Lion and above, follow the steps below.

Warning! Reformatting a Drobo device with Drobo Dashboard erases all data. Be sure you either save your data to another location before following this procedure or that you perform this procedure on empty drives. (This applies even if you are adding additional drives to your Drobo device; there should be no data on the Drobo device.)

 

Important Notes!

  1. Open Disk Utility
  2. Click on "New Image"
  3. Populate the fields as described below
    1. "Save As" - type the name using the following format:
      • Name format: [Name of the Mac system you want to backup]_[Ethernet MAC address of the fixed port with no semicolons].sparsebundle
      • Example:
        • [Name of the Mac system you want to back up] = MyMac
        • [Ethernet MAC address] = 00:17:f2:00:ec:16
        • Result: MyMac_0017f200ec16.sparsebundle
      • Note: If your Mac has more than one Ethernet port, the primary first Ethernet port should be used (usually en0).
    1. "Where"
      • Select the Drobo, which should appear under Devices within the pull-down menu.
    2. "Name"
      • Type the name you want to give to the backup file. This name will show up when Time Machine is backing up.
    3. "Size"
      • Click on the pull down menu and select "Custom". Enter the size of the backup file (it should be 2 times the size of the local hard drive that you want to back up)
    4. "Format"
      • Use the default value "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"
    5. "Encryption"
      • Choose "none"
    6. "Partition"
      • Use the default value "Single partition - Apple Partition Map"
    7. "Image Format"
      • Use "sparse bundle disk image"
  4. Click "Create". At the end of this process, a Sparse bundle file will be created on your Drobo and Disk Utility will automatically mount this image.
  5. Go to Apple Finder and unmount the newly created image.
  6. Open Time Machine and point it to Drobo. Time Machine will see the sparse bundle image and will change the name to reflect the hostname of your Mac.

 

Note(s):

Warning! Reformatting a Drobo device with Drobo Dashboard erases all data. Be sure you either save your data to another location before following this procedure or that you perform this procedure on empty drives. (This applies even if you are adding additional drives to your Drobo device; there should be no data on the Drobo device.)

Please ensure that your Drobo is using the latest Dashboard and firmware

Using a sparse file bundle to setup Time Machine disables the abitility to "Enter Time Machine." This feature enables you to browse the backups within OS X.

To read and apply the actual how-to document, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

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The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

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