Drobo devices are known for their simplicity, scalability, and unique BeyondRAID technology. However, when something goes wrong, data recovery from a Drobo system, especially one with multiple drive failures, requires a specialized approach.
In this case, RAID Recovery Services was tasked with restoring valuable data from a failed Drobo 5N2 NAS device after both the unit itself and two of its hard drives failed simultaneously.
Understanding Drobo and BeyondRAID
Unlike traditional RAID systems that rely on fixed RAID levels (such as RAID 5 or RAID 6), Drobo uses a proprietary system called BeyondRAID. This technology allows:
Mixing different drive capacities
Automatic data redistribution
On-the-fly RAID expansion
Redundancy equivalent to single- or dual-drive protection (depending on user settings)
While flexible and user-friendly, BeyondRAID’s proprietary nature also means that data recovery outside of a working Drobo chassis is significantly more complex. Standard RAID recovery tools cannot interpret Drobo’s file layout or parity structure.
Case Background: What Happened to the Drobo 5N2?
Our client, a small creative agency, relied on a Drobo 5N2 NAS for file storage, version control, and collaborative project management. The device was configured for dual-disk redundancy using five mixed-capacity SATA hard drives.
The issue began when the Drobo 5N2 unexpectedly powered off and never restarted. Upon inspection, the client discovered:
The Drobo chassis had failed and would not power on.
Two of the five hard drives showed no activity and were clicking, indicating mechanical failure.
Without a functional Drobo unit, the client could not even check the status of the remaining drives or access any data.
With their entire project archive and client records on the line, they shipped the full unit and all five drives to RAID Recovery Services for emergency recovery.
You can learn more about our emergency service options here.
Initial Evaluation: Full System Failure
Once we received the Drobo and all associated drives, our engineers began with a non-invasive evaluation:
Drobo 5N2 Unit: Confirmed a failed motherboard and power management issue. The unit could not be repaired or used for recovery.
Drive Status: Two drives had severe mechanical issues (head failure), one had bad sectors, and the remaining two were healthy.
Because BeyondRAID dynamically distributes parity and data, recovering data with two failed drives in a dual-disk redundancy configuration is feasible, but only with proper imaging, reassembly, and custom parsing.
To better understand our specialized process for handling these cases, you can learn more about our Drobo data recovery services here.
Recovery Plan and Cleanroom Drive Repair
To begin the recovery process:
Our team performed successful head replacements on the two failed drives using donor parts in our ISO-Certified Class 10 cleanroom environment.
Each drive was imaged bit-by-bit using specialized equipment that bypassed read errors and bad sectors. All five disk images were analyzed collectively to reconstruct the BeyondRAID configuration.
Drobo does not publish its storage architecture, so our engineers reverse-engineered the volume structure using custom software and decades of RAID recovery expertise.
Fast turnaround times for business-critical data
Drobo 5N2 Data Extraction and Rebuild
Using the disk images and our understanding of BeyondRAID’s redundancy and distribution model, we:
Rebuilt the data layout in a virtual RAID environment
Identified the file system used (in this case, EXT4)
Recovered the full volume structure, including directories, metadata, and ACLs (access control lists)
The recovered data included:
Adobe project files
RAW video and photo files
Client databases and spreadsheets
Versioned working documents and archives
Quality Assurance and Final Delivery
Once the file structure was rebuilt, our team conducted thorough quality checks:
File integrity validation across all major formats
Opening and verifying critical files manually
Cross-checking restored files with client-supplied file lists
We then scheduled a remote file verification session with the client, who confirmed the successful recovery of all vital data.
The recovered files were transferred to a new enterprise-grade external hard drive and returned securely to the client. All client data was securely erased from our systems after delivery.
Recovery Summary
Device: Drobo 5N2 NAS
Drives: 5 total (2 failed, 1 degraded, 2 healthy)
Redundancy Setting: Dual-disk
Result: 98.7% data recovery
Turnaround: 5 business days (expedited service)
Why Drobo Recovery Requires Specialized Expertise
Drobo systems are not like traditional RAID configurations. Their closed, dynamic architecture means that:
Standard RAID recovery tools will not work
Even if some drives are healthy, you cannot read data without a working Drobo chassis
Professional reverse engineering is often required
At RAID Recovery Services, we maintain a library of Drobo devices and have developed custom tools to parse and rebuild BeyondRAID volumes from raw drive images.
Protecting Data on Drobo Devices
To reduce the risk of irreversible data loss:
Always enable dual-disk redundancy
Avoid mixing failing and new drives without immediate rebuild
Back up Drobo volumes externally (Drobo is not a backup solution)
Replace failing drives at the first warning sign
Avoid forced rebuilds if multiple drives are reporting issues
Attempting to rebuild a Drobo or RAID array without professional oversight can result in permanent data loss. You can learn more about the potential consequences by reviewing our article on the risks of RAID rebuilds.
Trust the experts with proven results
Need Help with Drobo 5N2 or BeyondRAID Recovery?
If your Drobo 5N2, 5D3, or 8D has failed or become inaccessible due to multiple drive failures, contact our experts for a risk-free evaluation.
We offer emergency recovery services and maintain the highest standards of data security, confidentiality, and customer satisfaction.