This comparison focuses on the differences between two popular NAS (network-attached storage) brands – Drobo and Synology. Drobo was founded in 2005 and established itself as an easy-to-use, expandable data storage solution for consumers and small businesses. Synology entered the NAS market a few years later, in 2000, but quickly expanded into the enterprise market as well with advanced features and excellent performance. However, both Drobo and Synology continue to offer consumer and SMB NAS devices.
In this comparison, we will evaluate Drobo and Synology NAS models based on criteria such as hardware, software, storage capabilities, performance, ease of use, security, support and overall value. The goal is to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of both brands to help consumers and small businesses decide which one may be the better fit for their needs.
Background
Drobo was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. They target creative professionals and small businesses with their network attached storage devices. Drobo pioneered the “BeyondRAID” storage technology which simplifies redundant storage for the average consumer.
Synology was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. They target small and medium sized businesses with their network attached storage solutions. Synology is known for their DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system which provides management tools and add-on packages.
Both companies have been selling NAS devices and competing in the market for over 15 years.
Hardware
When it comes to hardware, Drobo and Synology offer some key differences in terms of processor, memory, storage, network ports and expandability.
Drobo systems typically utilize an ARM-based processor, whereas Synology uses Intel Atom and Intel Celeron processors in most of their NAS devices. The more powerful Synology processors tend to provide better performance for intensive tasks and multitasking. For example, the Synology DS220+ has a quad-core Intel Celeron J4025 processor clocked at 2.0 GHz, while the Drobo 5N2 uses a slower dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor.
In terms of memory, Synology NAS devices usually offer more RAM, with upgrades possible on some models. The Synology DS220+ has 2GB DDR4 memory expandable to 6GB, while the Drobo 5N2 is limited to 1GB DDR3 memory. The additional memory on Synology systems enables better performance when running multiple apps and accessing large files.
For storage, both Synology and Drobo support 3.5” and 2.5” SATA hard drives. However, Synology offers greater overall capacity with support for up to 28 drives on some enterprise models. Drobo maxes out at 25 drives on the Drobo FS. Both use proprietary OS and features to enable expandable storage through RAID configurations.
In terms of network connectivity, Synology offers more gigabit and 10 gigabit Ethernet ports on its NAS devices. Most Drobo devices max out at 2 ports, while many Synology models have 4 or more ports. This enables greater network throughput speed and link aggregation on Synology NAS.
Overall, Synology NAS devices tend to offer more powerful hardware components and specs compared to Drobo systems in similar price ranges. The extra computing resources enable better multitasking performance and support more advanced applications.
Software & OS
Drobo uses its own proprietary software called Drobo Dashboard while Synology uses the DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system. Both offer easy-to-use web interfaces for management and configuration. Some key differences:
The Drobo Dashboard is simpler but offers less functionality than DSM. It is focused mainly on monitoring storage capacity and disk health. DSM is a full-featured Linux-based OS that includes a wide array of applications like media streaming, surveillance, virtualization, backup tools, and more. Synology has a large ecosystem of 1st and 3rd party apps and packages available (1).
DSM provides more granular control and customization for power users. The Drobo Dashboard aims for plug-and-play simplicity suited to home users. DSM has more security features like firewall, encryption, and role-based access control.
Both Synology and Drobo offer mobile apps to access and manage your device remotely. Synology has separate apps tailored for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac devices (2).
Overall, Synology DSM offers a more full-featured OS and software environment compared to Drobo’s simpler Dashboard manager. DSM provides expanded functionality for business users.
RAID & Storage
When it comes to RAID and storage capabilities, Drobo and Synology take different approaches. Drobo uses its proprietary BeyondRAID technology which utilizes drive virtualization to provide redundancy and protection. BeyondRAID is not limited to traditional RAID levels and can utilize drives of varying sizes and maximize storage capacity. Drobo systems can be expanded simply by adding larger drives or additional Drobo expansion units as more storage is needed. According to Minitool, some Drobo systems advertise up to 80TB capacity.
In contrast, Synology NAS devices utilize standard RAID configurations like SHR, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10. The Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) allows mixing drive sizes similar to Drobo’s BeyondRAID. Synology systems can scale up by adding expansion units via eSATA or by upgrading to larger capacity drives. Synology advertises up to 1,440 TB on high end enterprise models using expansion units. Both Drobo and Synology provide flexible storage expansion, but Drobo’s BeyondRAID offers more proprietary drive virtualization features for maximum capacity.
Performance
When comparing performance benchmarks between Drobo and Synology NAS devices, Synology tends to have a speed advantage. According to ZDNet, even with slower drives, Synology benchmarked about 10% faster than Drobo in their tests. Another review by MiniTool found similar results, with Synology’s benchmarks around 10% faster than Drobo despite using slower drives.
Users on Reddit also report better performance with Synology, with one user stating “Synology blew Drobo out of the water on performance” in their experience. The consensus seems to be that Synology NAS devices tend to be snappier and more responsive, especially under heavy workloads. Drobo’s simplicity seems to come at the cost of lower overall speed and productivity compared to Synology.
So while Drobo aims to be easy to use for beginners, Synology offers higher speeds, lower latency, and better productivity for advanced users willing to learn its more complex OS and interfaces. Power users with demanding workloads are better off choosing Synology over Drobo when comparing raw performance benchmarks.
Ease of Use
Overall, Synology NAS devices are considered easier to set up and use than Drobo for a few key reasons. Synology uses a web-based operating system called DiskStation Manager (DSM) that provides an intuitive graphical interface for managing the NAS. Many users find DSM very user-friendly, allowing them to easily access files, set up shared folders, manage users, and configure advanced features [1].
In comparison, Drobo’s dashboard interface and setup process is seen as more complex and confusing by some users. Migrating data from a Drobo device to a Synology NAS can also be challenging, often requiring connecting the Drobo via USB and copying data over [2]. Overall, Synology NAS devices tend to provide a smoother initial setup and ongoing management experience versus Drobo for home and small business users.
Security
When it comes to security, both Drobo and Synology offer some robust features, but there are some key differences between the two.
Drobo utilizes BeyondRAID technology to provide redundancy and prevent data loss in case of disk failures. Data is distributed across multiple drives with single or dual disk redundancy. Drobo also offers drive encryption to securely protect data on the drives (Source).
Synology takes a layered approach to security. At the system level, they use Btrfs file system with data integrity checks, RAID redundancy, and snapshot technology to prevent data loss. For network security, they offer a robust firewall, auto-blocking of threats, and VPN access. To protect data, Synology provides AES-NI hardware encryption on many models as well as integration with private key management (Source).
While both offer encryption and redundancy, Synology seems to provide more security capabilities out-of-the-box, especially for network security. However, Drobo’s BeyondRAID is highly resilient to multiple disk failures compared to standard RAID. For those prioritizing simple data redundancy, Drobo may have an advantage, while Synology offers more overall security layers.
Support & Warranty
Both Drobo and Synology offer technical support via phone, email, and online resources. Drobo offers phone support 24/7, while Synology offers phone support during business hours. For warranty claims, Drobo offers an advance replacement service where they ship a replacement unit first, while Synology requires sending the defective unit back first before a replacement is shipped.
Drobo offers a standard 1 year warranty, with options to extend up to 5 years for an additional fee. According to Synology’s warranty policy, their warranty period is 1 year for most components, but 5 years for system drives. There are some concerns about difficulties getting warranty support from Synology based on forum discussions, but also positive experiences as shared on Reddit.
Overall, both Drobo and Synology offer decent warranty coverage, but Drobo seems more flexible and responsive for advanced replacements. However, Synology’s 5 year coverage for system drives is a notable advantage.
Pricing
When comparing pricing between similarly equipped Drobo and Synology models, Synology tends to be more affordable at lower storage capacities while Drobo has an edge at higher capacities.
For example, the 5 bay Drobo 5D3 with no drives starts at $799, while the comparable Synology DS1019+ starts at $649. However, a fully loaded Drobo 5D3 with 60TB of storage costs around $3,599, compared to $4,049 for a fully decked out Synology DS1019+.
In the midrange, a Drobo 5C with two 6TB drives costs $1,198. The Synology DS220+ with two 6TB drives runs $949. So in the mid tier, Synology has a pricing advantage.
Overall, Drobo systems tend to range from $429 for a basic 2 bay unit up to around $3,600 for a maxed out 5 bay device. Synology pricing starts at $499 and goes up to about $4,000 for a high capacity 5 bay unit.
According to reviews on sites like ZDNet and Salvagedata, Drobo’s pricing advantage at the high end comes from the fact that they use thicker, denser hard drives. So Drobo units can accommodate more storage in the same physical chassis size compared to Synology.