User Guide

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Drobo5N2 User Guide 2

Contents

1 Drobo 5N2 User Guide .................................................................................................................. 6

1.1 Before You Begin ...................................................................................................................... 7

1.1.1 Product Features at a Glance ...................................................................................................................... 8

1.1.2 Checking Box Contents ................................................................................................................................10

1.1.3 Checking System Requirements...............................................................................................................11

1.1.3.1 Operating Systems Supported .............................................................................................................12

1.1.3.2 Connectivity Interfaces Supported for the Drobo 5N2 ..............................................................13

1.1.4 Checking the Hardware You Need ..........................................................................................................14

1.1.4.1 Selecting Drives ..........................................................................................................................................15

1.1.4.2 Determining Drive Space Requirements ..........................................................................................18

1.1.4.3 Using a Router or Switch with the Drobo 5N2 ..............................................................................19

1.1.4.4 Using Power Protection ..........................................................................................................................20

1.2 Setting Up Your Drobo 5N2 ................................................................................................... 21

1.2.1 Overview of First Time Setup ....................................................................................................................22

1.2.2 Downloading and Installing Drobo Dashboard .................................................................................24

1.2.2.1 Installing Drobo Dashboard on Windows .......................................................................................25

1.2.2.2 Installing Drobo Dashboard on Mac .................................................................................................30

1.2.3 Connecting Cables and Powering On Your Drobo 5N2 .................................................................36

1.2.4 Inserting Drives ...............................................................................................................................................39

1.2.5 Setting Administrator Username and Password ...............................................................................41

1.2.6 Understanding the Indicator Lights ........................................................................................................43

1.2.7 Migrating a Disk Pack from Another Drobo Device ........................................................................45

1.2.8 Using Drobo 5N2 with Time Machine ...................................................................................................47

1.3 Where to Go Next ................................................................................................................... 54

1.3.1 Using Best Practices for Protecting Data ..............................................................................................55

1.3.2 Keeping Your Software Up to Date ........................................................................................................56

1.3.2.1 Checking for Software Updates ...........................................................................................................57

1.3.3 Using Online User Guide .............................................................................................................................58

1.3.4 Using Context-Sensitive Help ...................................................................................................................59

1.3.5 Using Knowledge Base .................................................................................................................................60