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As operators of cloud datacenters need more storage capacity, higher capacity HDDs are being developed. As data hoarders need more capacity, higher capacity HDDs are needed. Last week Western Digital introduced its new Utrastar DC HC650 20 TB drives - hitting a new barrier in rotating data.
The drives feature shingled magnetic recording (SMR) technology, which layers data on top of another much like a shingled roof, and therefore is designed primarily for write once read many (WORM) applications (e.g., content delivery services). Western Digital's SMR hard drives are host managed, so they will be available only to customers with appropriate software.
Western Digital's Utrastar DC HC650 20 TB is based on the company's all-new nine-platter helium-sealed enterprise-class platform, a first for the company. The new 3.5-inch hard drives feature a 7200 RPM spindle speed and will be available with a SATA 6 Gbps or SAS 12 Gbps interface depending on the SKU. Since the product is not expected to be available immediately, the manufacturer does not disclose all of its specifications just yet, but has stated that key customers are already in the loop.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 13 2019, @04:31AM
Several friends of mine back then worked in local computer stores. The return rate / failure rate was so bad they stopped ordering them switching to Seagate and other brands. Seagate had a bad reputation for some of its drive types, but nothing like the Deathstar.
You expected minimum quality for low priced consumer gear, but not for slews of hardware to die like that. DOA? Sure. 12 month 20% failure rates? OK. "Expect this device to suddenly not work probability at 70%"? No.