Hello everyone,
I have a question about inserting a “used” hard disk into a Drobo. I had a 4TB disk for other purposes. Now I reformatted it and want to use it in an existing B810n system. However when I put it in the Drobo all the lights turned red. It seems the hard disk was not compatible with the existing system. So how should I format the "used’ disk to use it in the Drobo? I don’t need the data in the old hard disk. But I do need to keep the data in the Drobo. Thanks.
The disk format should not matter, as Drobo will re-format the disk for its own use. Sounds like there’s either an issue with that drive or the slot you placed it into.
It seems that the Drobo will only reformat a brand-new disk. I have the other new disk inserted into that slot and the Drobo is working fine. But if I put into a used disk into that position the Drobo can not recognize it. I cannot understand…
hi can i check what previously “used” that drive?[hr]
also any other info you can mention, about the used drive, and the one that recently worked (such as size, model, etc could be handy)
Paul, Thanks for the replay.
I used the drives for Mac Time machine backup. But I have already erase the partition in Disk Utilities and clean the disk in windows DISKPART. So I guess all the partition information on the hard drives should be destroyed.
Those hard drives are WD Se 4TB, purchased in this March. So I don’t think the issue is with the hard drives. I also have tried to add them into the B800fs and B810n but both failed. We have plentiful Drobos and hard drives in the lab can play with. I don’t know why that the drobo can only recognize the new ones. Every time, I turned the unit off, inserting the new drive, turning on the unit. Then the lights turn all red.
[quote=“Paul, post:4, topic:142587”]
hi can i check what previously “used” that drive?[hr]
also any other info you can mention, about the used drive, and the one that recently worked (such as size, model, etc could be handy)
[/quote][hr]
Issue has been solved. I kept the Drobo running and added the new hard drive. Thus the Drobo is able to recognize the new adding one. I realized that the Drobo support hot-plugging. Thanks for the help!
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Glad you figured it out. 
ah yes, drive swaps and upgrades should usually be done when the drobo is on.
(disk packs though, should only be removed or added when the drobo is fully off, such as in cases where all the drives of the disk pack are used in a migration process to another compatible model)
either way, well done indeed