Drobo FS vs Server Time Machine

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Level 2

177 points

Drobo FS vs Server Time Machine

I'm just setting up a Drobo FS and plan to use it as the location of my Time Machine backups for all 4 of my computers. My question is, since each mac will access the network (and the Drobo) independantly, and since you can always use one drive for multiple Time Machine backups... Is there any advantage to continuring to use the 'shared' time machine that comes with Server? It, too, will just have to back up to the network, though over a wire, not through the air. It seems like using Servers Time machine would be a bandwitth multiplying waste of effort. Am I looking at it wrong or missing something?

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1), OS Server

Posted on Sep 11, 2012 9:25 PM

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Answer 1

Scott Nash Author

Level 2

177 points

Sep 13, 2012 11:48 AM in response to Scott Nash

Just bumping this back up. Any insight would be appreciated.

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Answer 2

haykong

Level 1

119 points

Sep 13, 2012 1:40 PM in response to Scott Nash

You know Drobo FS is another File Server and can be used as a timemachine backup. I personal would have skipped Drobo FS since you already have an OS X Server and just got either a Drobo 5D or Drobo that has firewire 800 and plugged it into the OS X Server. However that's what I would have done.

I like the idea of Drobo, just don't trust it alone yet. It's fine for time machine backups. Maybe if I had two Drobos.

At this point I'm waiting on a new Macmini 2012 and will eventually get Drobo 5D when it ships.

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Answer 3

haykong

Level 1

119 points

Sep 13, 2012 1:52 PM in response to haykong

In your situation I would just use Drobo FS directly. Basically have your computers timemachine to it directly and skip the OS X Server timemachine server.

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Answer 4

Scott Nash Author

Level 2

177 points

Sep 13, 2012 1:54 PM in response to haykong

It was just the one I found a deal on. So there is no reason to use the Server Time Machine 'sharer' at all? I could aim all my time machines on the different machines at the Drobo directly. I guess I'm asking if there is any reason to use the Server Time Machine with that set up. I don't see any reason to use it, but I'm not an expert and I want wiser heads to say what I already think I know.

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Answer 5

haykong

Level 1

119 points

Sep 13, 2012 2:04 PM in response to Scott Nash

I don't own a Drobo yet. I have a friend who has one who we all chipped in on on getting spare drives for his new drobo for his birthday since his gf got him the Drobo FS.

The main advantage of Drobo is you can have one very large volume and keep on expanding it by adding new drives and replacing them when one fails without much hassle.

With Drobo FS I'm assuming you can make different share volumes for each different machine.

You could use OS X Server timemachine server with another drive as a redundant backup, but that's a different sitation.

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