07-16-2024, 01:31 PM
Thank you for reaching out with your question about finding an alternative to Drobo's BeyondRAID technology. I'm sorry to hear about Drobo's demise, but fortunately, there are other NAS solutions that offer similar flexible storage management technologies.
Alternatives to BeyondRAID Technology
Synology's SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID)
Overview: Synology's Hybrid RAID (SHR) is designed to provide a flexible storage solution similar to BeyondRAID. It allows for mixing different sizes of hard drives and expands storage without requiring bulk upgrades.
Key Models:
Synology DS1821+: This 8-bay NAS is expandable up to 18 bays with expansion units. It supports SHR and offers powerful performance with an AMD Ryzen processor.
Synology DS1621+: A 6-bay NAS, also expandable, offering SHR support and a robust feature set.
QNAP's Qtier and Storage Pool Management
Overview: QNAP offers flexible storage management through Qtier technology and advanced storage pools. Qtier automatically moves frequently accessed files to SSDs and infrequently accessed files to HDDs, optimizing performance and storage use.
Key Models:
QNAP TS-873A: An 8-bay NAS with AMD Ryzen V1500B processor, supporting Qtier and advanced storage management features.
QNAP TVS-672XT: A 6-bay NAS with Intel Core i3 processor, Thunderbolt 3, and 10GbE connectivity, suitable for high-performance environments.
UnRAID
Overview: UnRAID is a flexible storage management solution that allows users to mix and match drives of different sizes and expand storage easily. It provides a robust ecosystem for home and professional use.
Key Features:
Mix and match different sized drives
Expand storage dynamically
Docker and VM support for additional functionalities
Recommendation
Given your requirement for a system that can grow with your needs without requiring bulk upgrades, I recommend considering the Synology DS1821+ or QNAP TS-873A. Both options offer flexible storage management and the ability to expand storage as needed.
Example Configuration for Synology DS1821+
Base Unit: Synology DS1821+
Initial Storage: Start with 4 x 12TB drives (48TB) and expand as needed.
Expansion: Add Synology DX517 expansion units to increase total bays.
Example Configuration for QNAP TS-873A
Base Unit: QNAP TS-873A
Initial Storage: Start with 4 x 12TB drives (48TB) and expand as needed.
Expansion: Utilize QNAP expansion enclosures to increase total bays.
Alternatives to BeyondRAID Technology
Synology's SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID)
Overview: Synology's Hybrid RAID (SHR) is designed to provide a flexible storage solution similar to BeyondRAID. It allows for mixing different sizes of hard drives and expands storage without requiring bulk upgrades.
Key Models:
Synology DS1821+: This 8-bay NAS is expandable up to 18 bays with expansion units. It supports SHR and offers powerful performance with an AMD Ryzen processor.
Synology DS1621+: A 6-bay NAS, also expandable, offering SHR support and a robust feature set.
QNAP's Qtier and Storage Pool Management
Overview: QNAP offers flexible storage management through Qtier technology and advanced storage pools. Qtier automatically moves frequently accessed files to SSDs and infrequently accessed files to HDDs, optimizing performance and storage use.
Key Models:
QNAP TS-873A: An 8-bay NAS with AMD Ryzen V1500B processor, supporting Qtier and advanced storage management features.
QNAP TVS-672XT: A 6-bay NAS with Intel Core i3 processor, Thunderbolt 3, and 10GbE connectivity, suitable for high-performance environments.
UnRAID
Overview: UnRAID is a flexible storage management solution that allows users to mix and match drives of different sizes and expand storage easily. It provides a robust ecosystem for home and professional use.
Key Features:
Mix and match different sized drives
Expand storage dynamically
Docker and VM support for additional functionalities
Recommendation
Given your requirement for a system that can grow with your needs without requiring bulk upgrades, I recommend considering the Synology DS1821+ or QNAP TS-873A. Both options offer flexible storage management and the ability to expand storage as needed.
Example Configuration for Synology DS1821+
Base Unit: Synology DS1821+
Initial Storage: Start with 4 x 12TB drives (48TB) and expand as needed.
Expansion: Add Synology DX517 expansion units to increase total bays.
Example Configuration for QNAP TS-873A
Base Unit: QNAP TS-873A
Initial Storage: Start with 4 x 12TB drives (48TB) and expand as needed.
Expansion: Utilize QNAP expansion enclosures to increase total bays.