Start-up targets 4TB storage device at consumers

Storage in the Enterprise This newsletter is sponsored by NetApp Deduplication: Reduce storage by 95% Reduce storage costs with NetApp by deduplicating redundant data transparently to users or applications. Cut disk storage for backup by 95%. Cut archival or file storage 50% or more. Deduplicate data safely with proven technology used for years with NetApp Snapshot and FlexClone features. Network World's Storage in the Enterprise Newsletter, 05/29/07 Start-up targets 4TB storage device at consumers By Deni Connor Next month, a start-up called Data Robotics will unveil a storage device for consumers that it claims is easy to install and maintain. Called Drobo, short for Data Robotics, the array consists of a 4-bay USB enclosure that can accommodate as many as 4TB of data. The Drobo uses any 80GB to 1TB Serial ATA I or II disk drives. It works with any PC or Mac and functions as a B: drive. The Drobo attaches via a USB 2.0 connection. Drobo automatically formats drives as they are added to the system and automatically repairs data after drive failures, data corruption or data redundancy. As drives are added to the array, the storage pool is automatically expanded. Network World Storage Buyer's Guide If you're in the market for anything from a tape library to an on-line backup service to a complete, drop-it-in-place SAN Solution, check out this Buyer's Guide with close to 200 products divided among specific, storage market segments. Click Here The Drobo enclosure is 6”x”6”10”. A series of lights on the front of the enclosure indicate to the user the health of the system. A green light indicates that the system is healthy. A solid yellow light indicates that it is time to put a larger drive in the enclosure. Blinking green or yellow lights indicate that Drobo is optimizing the layout of data. A solid red light next to a disk drive indicates that the hard drive has failed and needs replacing. A Drobolater tool is available on Data Robotics’ site to help customers determine the capacity they need. Further, the company has launched a user community. The company plans to launch higher capacity Drobo’s in the future. Data Robotics was founded in 2005 as Trusted Data by Geoff Barall, the founder of network-attached storage vendor BlueArc. The company is funded by Greylock Partners, RRE Ventures and Sutter Hill Ventures. The company has picked up $18 million in funding. The Drobo enclosure costs $499 and the serial ATA disk drives for it range from $89.99 to $324.99.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Deni Connor is senior editor for Network World magazine covering storage, archiving and compliance, IT in healthcare, Novell and data center-related issues. E-mail Deni.   This newsletter is sponsored by NetApp Deduplication: Reduce storage by 95% Reduce storage costs with NetApp by deduplicating redundant data transparently to users or applications. Cut disk storage for backup by 95%. Cut archival or file storage 50% or more. Deduplicate data safely with proven technology used for years with NetApp Snapshot and FlexClone features. ARCHIVE Archive of the Storage in the Enterprise Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007