Question 1

Is there a recommended sff ssd to use with the 5n2?

Accepted Answer

I am also researching the best msata ssd for the 5n2.  Hope this helps. I'm following their recommendation and looking for 64 or 128 gb.Drobo's site says:Drobo customers demand expansive storage from their units and may be tempted to “go big” on the mSATA card.  While the Drobo currently supports up to a 640GB mSATA SSD, the recommended capacity is 64GB to 128GB.  This may seem small when compared with the HDDs in the unit, but it represents an expansive amount of cache storage.  As the Drobo works at the block level, only transactional portions of data are cached on the mSATA.  A 64GB mSATA card provides more than sufficient space for even the most demanding workloads.If you’re considering adding an mSATA card to your all-SSD Drobo, there’s no need.  Your Drobo is already configured for maximum performance.http://www.drobo.com/drobo-increasing-iops-with-an-msata-ssd/

Question 2

What processor is this unit equipped with? and what are the ram specs?  (really poor to not specify this in the specs, not even on the drobo website)

Accepted Answer

Sorry about that last answer, got confused with whose question I was answering. According to Wikipedia, here's the technical specs:
Marvell 500 MHz System-on-a-chip (SOC) processor (Marvell 88F5281-D0)
Includes support for PCI-X, PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, DDR2 32-bit 200 MHz
Based on Marvell Feroceon RISC core (ARMv5TE)
Same processor used in the Apple Time Capsule and in several other NAS devices
Marvell PCI-X 4-Port SATA-II Controller (Marvell 88SX6042-BCZ1)
1 GB RAM (2x Hynix H5PS5162FFR 512Mb DDR2 SDRAM 2-5-5-5)
128 MB NOR flash memory (Spansion GL128P90FFIR2 90 nm, 25 ns page access, 90 ns random access)
64 Macrocell PLD (Programmable Logic Device - XILINX XC2C64A
3 port FireWire 800 (1394b) controller (TI XIO2213AZAY - PCI Express)
45 mAh Manganese rechargeable lithium NVRAM battery (ML2020 - 3 V)
DC cooling fan (2-wire brushless) ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drobo )

Question 3

Does this item include HDDs?

Accepted Answer

No this model doesn't include HDDs.  Here is one example that does include drives (there are others also):  https://www.amazon.com/Drobo-5N2-8TB-Attached-DRDS5A21-8TB/dp/B06XGMV321/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=drobo+5n2+with+drives

Adding HDDs is trivial if you purchase them separately.  Check the Drobo website (http://www.droboworks.com/Choose-Drives.asp) for compatibility.  Once you have the drives simply plug the drives into the drive bays and you are good to go.  The Drobo takes care of everything else automatically.

Question 4

I want to use ssd's i only see that ability listed on the gold and platinum package.  is this how it is or just a product description issue?

Accepted Answer

Hello,
The Drobo 5N2 (all packages) has an accelerator bay, that you can install an mSATA SSD card. The description states: "Holds up to 5x 3.5” SATA HDDs. Optional mSATA SSD boosts performance." However, the special editions (Gold and Platinum) have the mSATA card included. The Standard Edition does not include the mSATA card, it must be purchased separately.

Hard Drive	40 TB
Brand	Drobo
Item model number	DRDS5A21-40TB
Hardware Platform	Mac
Item Weight	25.1 pounds
Package Dimensions	16.8 x 14.8 x 14.2 inches
Batteries	1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included)
Manufacturer	Drobo
ASIN	B07TMC3CLZ
Date First Available	June 28, 2019

Drobo 5N2 40TB: Network Attached Storage (NAS) 5-Drive Array with Seagate NAS Drives - 2X Gigabit Ethernet Ports (DRDS5A21-40TB)

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