Most users of the RBPi (Raspberry Pi) prefer to use the single board computer for small and simple tasks suited for their low powered hardware. It is also possible for RBPi users to upgrade their hardware for augmenting functions that need more power. For example, users looking for additional memory space can use traditional SD Cards and USB drives. Now, Western Digital is upping the ante with their PiDrive, a one terabyte hard drive, compatible to the RBPi.
PiDrive is somewhat different from the average storage drive commonly seen in desktops and laptops. In place of the usual SATA interface that comes with a typical hard drive, PiDrive employs a USB 3.0 header, modified for the purpose. That means you can connect the drive to the USB port of the RBPi. However, PiDrive goes a step further. You can connect it to the power port on your SBC. The advantage is that you can now power both the RBPi and the PiDrive from the same source, using a single cable.
Since the SBC RBPi cannot boot from any source other than its microSD card, the WD PiDrive also has a built in 4GB microSD card. You can place an operating system on the card, so that the RBPi can boot from it. WD PiDrive is compatible to both RBPi Model B+ and RBPi 2 Model B.
PiDrive consists of a WD Passport drive with a built-in USB controller in place of the usual SATA interface and comes without any plastic enclosure. Earlier also, others have already toyed with the idea of an RBPi that can boot from and store information to a hoard drive. However, most such ventures needed a powered USB hub to transfer power to the drive. WD has removed the need for the USB hub, making the newly equipped RBPi much neater.
The 1TB PiDrive is available in the form of a kit. Along with the 2.5-inch USB hard disk drive, the kit consists of a 5V power adapter, a USB Micro B to Type A power cord, a WD PiDrive cable and a Class4 4GB microSD card with an SD adapter. However, the star attraction of the kit is the WD PiDrive cable. This specially designed cable supplies the necessary power to the PiDrive and the RBPi at the same time. The included power adapter has adequate capacity to handle the power required by both the SBC and the drive. WD provides a Quick Install Guide for making all the connections easily and correctly.
The microSD card with the PiDrive ships blank and you can install another operating system on it safely, without compromising the existing SD card of your RBPi. That means you can test another OS without losing the files or programs on the original SD card.
To use the WD PiDrive with the RBPi for the first time, you will need to partition it, format the partitions and mount them. You can also store your OS on the drive. For that, you must let the boot loader remain on the SD card, writing only the OS on the PiDrive. The WD Labs Community offers detailed instructions for doing this.
