I remember the first HDD I owned in a system was 64MB. OK, I didn’t build that system, it was some pre-made piece of junk and it was ancient, and my first custom PC, way back in the 90s, friends called me “mad” for having not one, but two 6GB drives… the horror. Well, today, things continue to move on, and Western Digital has just expanded their range to include a 26TB HDD with the WD Red Pro NAS Hard Drive series.
The new drives feature a 512MB cache, SATA interface, 272 MB/s transfer rates, and come covered by a 5-year limited warranty. All of this makes them ideal for mass storage and NAS environments. I run a 5-bay NAS myself, so having five of these installed could give you up to 130TB of storage in a very small amount of physical space, which is pretty incredible.
Western Digital has also unveiled higher capacities across its Professional products, such as their enterprise grade Ultrastar 7200 RPM HDDs. While it’s unlikely consumers will ever get their hands on those, the WD Red Pro 26TB are launching with an MSRP of $569.99 each, which is incredible as that’s just $0.02 per GB!
Western Digital say these new drives are “designed to address the growing storage demands of NAS environments by delivering enhanced performance, scalability, and reliability for high-intensity workloads in multi-bay, RAID-optimized systems.” They each come rated for up to 550 TB/year workloads and boasting an impressive 2.5M hours MTBF, which is to say they’re designed for 24/7 multi-user environments.
The WD Red Drives are available in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and of course, now 26TB editions. Get more information the official product page here.
WD Red Pro Hard Drive Features
- Optimised for NAS with NASware™:
- Western Digital’s exclusive NASware™ technology fine-tunes drive parameters to match NAS system workloads, enhancing performance and reliability.
- Designed for Continuous Operation:
- WD Red Pro hard drives are built to handle the rigorous demands of high-intensity 24/7 multi-user NAS environments, increasing system durability.
- Tested for Dependable Compatibility:
- Western Digital partners with various NAS system vendors for extensive testing, ensuring compatibility with most NAS enclosures.
- Protected Against Excessive Vibration:
- WD Red Pro drives feature Rotation Vibration (RV) sensors that anticipate and counteract disturbances caused by increased vibration.
- By dispersing excess vibration across the drive chassis, turbulence is minimised, performance is maintained, and drives are protected.
- Built to Absorb Shock:
- WD Red Pro hard drives include a multi-axis shock sensor to detect subtle shock events.
- Dynamic fly height technology automatically compensates to further protect the drives in NAS enclosures.
- Engineered with Industry-Leading Technology:
- WD Red Pro 22TB, 24TB, and 26TB hard drives feature Western Digital’s proprietary OptiNAND™ technology.
- This leverages integrated iNAND embedded flash for key housekeeping functions, freeing up capacity and improving overall drive performance.
- Backed by World-Class Support and Warranty:
- Western Digital provides a 5-year limited warranty and world-class support services for hassle-free data storage.
Desktop Drives vs. WD Red® Pro
Choosing a drive purpose-built for RAID-optimised NAS systems is crucial for optimal performance and data preservation. Consider the following:
- Compatibility:
- Unlike desktop drives, WD Red Pro hard drives are specifically designed and tested for NAS.
- They include NASware™ technology, which fine-tunes drive parameters for optimal NAS system workload performance.
- Reliability:
- Desktop drives are not typically designed for the demands of an always-on NAS environment.
- WD Red Pro hard drives are designed to perform under the tough conditions of high-intensity 24/7 multi-user NAS environments.
- RAID Ready:
- WD Red hard drives are engineered with RAID error recovery control to reduce failures in multi-bay NAS systems, unlike most desktop drives configured for generic use.
- Noise and Vibration Protection:
- Desktop drives, designed for solo operation, offer little to no protection from noise and vibration in multi-drive systems.
- WD Red hard drives include Rotation Vibration (RV) sensors that anticipate and counteract increased vibration in multi-bay NAS systems.
Expanding NAS HDD Leadership
“At Western Digital, we are constantly redefining what’s possible to meet the evolving storage demands of creatives and professionals, from 4K and 8K video production to AI analytics and critical workload storage,” said Nitin Kachhwaha, Director of Product Management at Western Digital. “With the introduction of our expanded 26 TB-based Professional lineup and WD Red Pro HDDs, we’re offering the capacity and reliability that today’s consumers and businesses need to stay ahead in an increasingly data-driven world. These solutions represent our ongoing commitment to delivering innovative storage solutions that empower creativity and drive digital transformation.”
NAB
Western Digital will showcase these new products and more at the NAB Show in Las Vegas on April 5th-9th. Find us at booth SL3916 in the South Hall Lower building.
