Data Recovery

How to Recover Data from a Failed Drobo RAID Storage

May 6, 2024

Drobo is Dead, Long Live Drobo!

Oh, the dreaded Drobo. If you’ve ever owned one of these enigmatic storage devices, you know the rollercoaster ride all too well. One minute you’re basking in the glow of its elegant design and “BeyondRAID” magic, the next you’re staring in horror as a single red LED blinks menacingly back at you, signaling the demise of your precious data.

Well, my friends, I’ve been through the Drobo wringer and lived to tell the tale. In this article, I’m going to share my harrowing journey of recovering data from a failed Drobo RAID setup – a true tale of triumph over technological tribulation.

The Drobo Dilemma

It all started a few years back when my trusty Drobo 5N started showing signs of distress. [1] I experienced a double disk failure, which in retrospect was probably more of a Drobo-induced malfunction than an actual disk failure. But the Drobo, in its infinite wisdom, managed to protect my data and re-establish redundancy by shuffling things around on the three surviving disks.

Undeterred, I replaced the two failed disks with new ones, only to have the Drobo completely shut down and refuse to recognize any of the drives, including the three that had my precious data. [2] I was faced with the dreaded “single red LED of doom” and the prospect of losing everything.

The UFS Explorer Lifeline

In my moment of sheer panic, a kind Redditor suggested I look into UFS Explorer, a data recovery software that supports Drobo’s “BeyondRAID” technology. [1] I quickly bought a 4-bay USB docking station and a license for UFS Explorer RAID Recovery, and set out to salvage my data.

To my immense relief, the UFS software performed exactly as advertised. It effortlessly scanned the Drobo disk pack and allowed me to navigate the file structure before even asking for a license. [1] This gave me the confidence that my data was intact and recoverable.

A Painstaking but Triumphant Recovery

The actual recovery process was not exactly a breeze, though. It took me around 5 days of continuous copying to recover approximately 6 TB of data, which included a mix of photos, documents, and videos. [1] The metadata recovery was particularly slow, as the software prioritizes actual data over file system information.

But the sense of accomplishment I felt when I finally saw all my files safe and sound was priceless. I had dodged the data-loss bullet, and I owe it all to the UFS Explorer software. It’s a true lifesaver for anyone facing a Drobo disaster.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: never fully trust a proprietary RAID system like Drobo to be your sole backup solution. [3] While the “BeyondRAID” technology is impressive, it’s still a closed-source system that can fail in unpredictable ways.

I also realized the importance of having a comprehensive backup strategy, with multiple copies of your data stored in different locations. [4] The family raw footage that I had foolishly kept only on the Drobo was the real nail-biter, and I’m incredibly grateful I was able to recover it.

A New Approach

Moving forward, I’ve adopted a more robust backup routine. I now have my important files mirrored on a Synology NAS with RAID 6 configuration, and I also maintain offsite backups on external hard drives stored in a secure location. [5] This multi-layered approach gives me peace of mind, knowing that my data is well-protected against any single point of failure.

And as for Drobo? Well, let’s just say I’ve moved on to greener (and more reliable) pastures. The days of relying on a single proprietary storage solution are behind me. I’ve learned my lesson, and I hope my experience can serve as a cautionary tale for anyone else considering the Drobo route.

Remember, when it comes to data protection, there’s no such thing as too many backups. Embrace the redundancy, my friends, and your digital files will thank you for it.