How to use Backblaze B2 with Laravel
I am working on a Laravel project and decided to use a Backblaze bucket as it's cheaper for storage when compared to AWS S3. I couldn't find a tutorial on how to get it working from scratch and I tested a bunch of Laravel B2 libraries that didn't end up working. The good news is that you don't need a special B2 plugin and instead can use the S3 package recommended by the Laravel docs.
If you haven't added the flysystem-aws-s3 package, add it to your project using composer:
Login to your B2 account and create your bucket with your required settings. Once created, you'll want to create a new application key with the permissions you need for your app. You should get a confirmation once it's generated:
Open your .env file and locate the settings for AWS. You'll need to add one key that's not there by default:
Match the settings in your .env from the application key to the values below.
Now you should be able to call the Laravel storage system like normal:
Why the Drobopro-FS Pro sucks
A few years ago, I purchased a DroboPro-FS Pro 8 bay NAS system. After getting a demo from one of my vendors, I was sold on the ability to have different sized hard drives, hot swapping, and the self repairing file system. Another feature I liked was that it also monitors the health of my hard drives. If one starts developing issues or gets full, Drobo will warn me, and robotically shift my data to other drives until I can replace that drive. I did my research and at the time, it looked like a fantastic deal.
After a few years with it, I can readily admit I made a huge mistake in purchasing the product. I'm lucky in that the unit has not failed yet like it has for others but it's also a horrible choice for backups for a myriad of reasons.
I purchased a Synology DS1918+ 8-Bay Drive and the differences are pretty stark. I've actually been moving important files from my Drobo over to it as a safeguard.
