On July 8, 2008 Data Robotics announced its Second Generation Drobo with two (2) FireWire 800 ports and one (1) High Speed USB 2.0 port. Using its FireWire 800 connection, the Second Generation Drobo is more than twice as fast as its predecessor. USB 2.0 perfomance has also been improved by around 20%.

The U.S. List Price for Second Generation Drobo is $499. Bundled with two (2) 1TB Western Digital Green Power drives it goes for $899, or bundled with four (4) Western Digital Green Power drives it goes for $1,299.

Separately, Data Robotics is offering a special offer on the original Drobo. For a limited time it is available for $349. Bundled with two (2) 1TB Western Digital Green Power drives it goes for $749, or bundled with four (4) Western Digital Green Power drives it goes for $1,075. 

Either Drobo may be ordered immediately through a select group of partners worldwide - please visit www.drobo.com for a list . In the US, you can also purchase from www.drobostore.com.

 Below are some questions and answers about this product.

Q: What is new about this Drobo?
A: The all-new Drobo adds two FireWire 800 ports in addition to the USB 2.0 connection interface. Drobo now has FireWire 800 performance. Drobo offers best in class value.

Q: How much does the new Drobo cost?
Drobo’s list price is unchanged at $499. On drobostore.com a Drobo plus two 1TB drives is $899 or a Drobo plus four 1TB drives is $1,299.

Q: How fast is the second generation Drobo?
Using FireWire 800 Drobo is over twice as fast as its predecessor’s USB speed. USB performance is significantly improved and depending on the situation you may see increases on the order of 20-200%.

Q: What else is new in the second generation Drobo?
Drobo is much quieter. DRI has reworked the thermal cooling system. Changes include a larger, 92mm fan, increasing the size of the air intake and exhaust vents to allow more airflow through the system, and changes to the thermal control circuit.

Q: How does the second generation Drobo stack up against its competitors in terms of price and overall value?
See the chart below:

Q: When is Drobo available for purchase?
Drobo with FireWire is available for purchase July 8, 2008.

Q: Can I still purchase the original Drobo?
The original Drobo will be available for a limited time through a select group of partners worldwide. In the US, you can also purchase from www.drobostore.com

Q: How can I be sure I order a second generation Drobo?
When you order look at the SKU. The Second Generation Drobo’s SKUs are, DRO4DD10, DRO-DRO4DD10-WDC1TB-2 Or DRO-DRO4DD10-WDC1TB-4 depending on capacity.

Q: Why is Drobo’s write performance better than other storage arrays?
DRI’s engineers optimized Drobo’s algorithms so that creative professionals can achieve extremely fast write times.

Q: What is DAS? What is NAS?
DAS means direct attached storage – i.e. when you connect an external storage system to your computer using a FireWire or USB connection. NAS means network attached storage – it is a way of sharing storage on a network.

Q: What changes are there for Drobo’s USB performance?
USB performance has been increased significantly. The exact boost will depend on the comparison scenario according to such variables as number of drives, free capacity utilized and file type, size, and number. You may see boosts anywhere from 20%-200%.

Q: I only have a FireWire 400 connection - can I use Drobo?
Yes. Drobo ships with a FireWire 800 cable. To connect via FireWire 400, you will need to purchase a cable that converts from 9-pin FireWire 800 to 8-pin FireWire 400. A Google search will return dozens of cables that you can use.

Q: Will this work with Windows?
Yes. Make sure you have the latest drivers from your FireWire card’s manufacturer. Also note that Microsoft’s default under XP SP2 sets the FireWire speed to a low value. This can be increased by editing the Registry as described in this article from Microsoft’s knowledgebase http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885222.
/>
Q: Will this work with DroboShare?
Yes. You will need to connect using a USB cable.

Q: Can I use both USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 connections?
Only one interface can be active at a time. You must choose the one you want to use. If your computer is connected to both USB and FireWire then the USB connection always takes precedence. You can use one interface and then another if you put Drobo into standby disconnect one cable and then connect the other cable.

Q: What is the second FireWire 800 port for?
The second FireWire port is available for daisy chaining Drobos to your computer.

Q: Can I daisy chain my Drobos using FireWire?
You can daisy chain Drobos -- to your computer.  They will appear as multiple systems.

Q: Can I transfer hard drives from an original Drobo to a Second Generation unit?
Yes.  As always, make sure you use the Drobo Dashboard to put Drobo into “Standby” before you disconnect it or remove drives. Please note that if you transfer drives to a Second Generation Drobo that you will not be able to transfer them back into a First Generation unit.
 

Read More In: News, Rumors, & Gossip