Sierra, Drobo Pro and iscsi HELP!

[Daremo]

After 3 days, I'm ready to throw my Drobo's in the trash. Here's my struggle, and I'm begging for help here...

I have a Mac mini running macOS Sierra 10.12.3. I have a Drobo Pro, and it DOES connect with USB. I want to use the Ethernet connection for the optimum speed. In order to do this, you need to install an iscsi initiator as the OS doesn't have this built in. These can be quite expensive. I purchased one from Daemon Tools, basically you can add extra computer licenses for $3 each, so I paid roughly $75 for it.

Following the instructions from Drobo, I mounted the Pro with USB, and manually set the IP address of the drive. I installed the Daemon Tools, and activated the iscsi Initiator. I run the direct Ethernet cable to my Mac, from the Drobo, and the computer cannot see this drive, no matter what I do. I've tried to connect to it via the IP address I have assigned it, through both the Drobo Dashboard software, as well as the Daemon Tools software. Nothing works.

Is there ANYONE out there can explain and walk me through setting this up, like I'm a child? Apparently, I can't wrap my head around this, and I must be missing a very simple step some where.

I even called Drobo, and offered little help unless I paid for the help, only saying "It should work."

PLEASE help...

 

[maflynn]

DOES connect with USB. I want to use the Ethernet connection for the optimum speed

USB is faster then Ethernet, or am I misunderstanding your comment?

 

[BrianBaughn]

USB is faster then Ethernet, or am I misunderstanding your comment?

If the Mini is pre-2012 it has USB 2.0 ports.

 

[maflynn]

If the Mini is pre-2012 it has USB 2.0 ports.

Ahhh, good point

 

[Daremo]

Correct. It's USB 2.0 ports, and by allowing the ethernet port see and use iscsi devices, it opens up about 50 megabytes per second more then the Drobo FS with standard Ethernet. They also recommend that the USB is for making initial communication with the Drobo, to set up the iscsi and IP address for the NAS to work.

All I need is to find a way to make the Mac mini see the iscsi device, and I thought installing the iscsi initiator would do this.

Here's another amazing thing... I joined the Daemon Tool forum, and ask this exact same question. It requires moderator approval before it posts. I wake up this morning to the image below. Seriously?

[doublepost=1489081159][/doublepost]

If the Mini is pre-2012 it has USB 2.0 ports.

The Drobo Pro itself is only equipped with USB 2.0 as well.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Just found this thread while trying to figure it out for myself.

First, is using FireWire 800 an option? It's not much slower than iSCSI, and from my understanding, the Drobo Pro can't even saturate FW800, much less iSCSI Gigabit.

Second, macOS doesn't have iSCSI support built in, you do need an "iSCSI Initiator" software on your computer from a third party. (This is annoying, you'd think they'd have added it back when they were actually going all-in on Servers...) Daemon Tools base install doesn't include an iSCSI initiator, but it is an $8 add-on.

For best performance and ease of configuration, you should connect your Drobo directly to your Mac via Ethernet cable. It can be a "regular" cable or a "crossover" cable, the Drobo seems to work fine with either.

BEFORE connecting via iSCSI, connect via USB or FireWire, and set up the Network address to something starting with 169.254. (I picked 169.254.1.1) This will keep it from conflicting with your actual network.

Shut down the Drobo from within the Drobo Dashboard.

Unplug the USB cord, plug in the Ethernet cord, turn it on.

In Daemon Tools, go to "Remote Devices", then right-click in the list on the right and choose "Add" - add the IP. If it complains that it's not available, say to add anyway.
Expand the entry (little arrow) right click and choose "Connect".