Data Robotics Launches Pro Version of Drobo Storage Device

By Antone Gonsalves, InformationWeek

Data Robotics, best known for its easy-to-use storage array for backing up home computers, introduced Tuesday a professional version of the appliance that targets creative professionals and small businesses.

DroboPro, the company's first business-class device, is based on Data Robotics' simplified RAID technology that makes it possible to use up to eight 3.5-inch SATA hard drives to back up data and to provide redundancy to protect against the simultaneous failure of up to two hard disks. When a drive fails it can be swapped out with another drive without losing any data. The disks can be different brands, capacities, and speeds.

DroboPro can be attached directly to a server or workstation to provide storage to the system alone or to multiple clients attached to it. The interface options include iSCSI using a Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, or USB 2.0. The device does not require any connection configuration, according to Data Robotics.

DroboPro can sit on a desktop or fit in a rack-mount environment using Data Robotics' rack, which is sold separately. Prices range from the entry-level price of $1,299 to $3,999 for a 16 TB rack-mountable device.Data Robotics said last month that it had sold more than 60,000 units of the consumer product, called Drobo, since its release in the summer of 2007. The consumer model can hold up to four 3.5-inch SATA drives.

The company's other products include DroboShare, a Drobo companion device that enables the sharing of data among other devices. Data Robotics devices support Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems.

The privately held company has received funding from Greylock Partners, New Enterprise Associates, RRE Ventures, and Sutter Hill Ventures.