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Western Digital Ultrastar Data102 and the Pursuit of Dense Efficient Storage

#1
06-18-2019, 03:52 AM
You're asking about the Western Digital Ultrastar Data102, and it's interesting because this model pops up a lot in discussions about dense, efficient SAN storage solutions. You see, the Data102 features a high-capacity design that scales up to 16TB per drive, located within a 2.5" form factor. That's significant when you consider how dense the overall system can get, especially in an environment where rack space is at a premium. You're not just looking at raw capacity; you need to consider its performance metrics as well.

That brings us to the architecture. The Ultrastar family utilizes a CMR recording technology, which prevents the write performance decline associated with SMR drives. This makes a noticeable difference during random read/write operations, like those you encounter with database workloads. If you run OLTP databases, having that kind of consistent performance is non-negotiable. I've seen setups that relied on SMR drives struggle under load because the write speeds plummeted during high IOPS. The CMR gives you the reliability critical for enterprise applications, making the Data102 a contender that you'll want to examine closely.

You might be thinking about endurance specification too. The Data102 drives have a workload rating of 550TB/year, which means they are designed with heavy read and write cycles in mind. It doesn't just hold data; it manages writing that data over and over without succumbing to wear too quickly. In a SAN environment where you might be relying on snapshots or frequent updates, the endurance characteristic matters. Compare this to some of the lower-tier models in other brands that offer only 200TB/year. You'd probably want the additional endurance for extensive data transactions, and that can significantly affect your long-term costs regarding drive replacements and potential data unavailability.

When you consider data protection features, the Ultrastar Data102 supports self-encrypting drive (SED) technology. This is something to keep in mind if your infrastructure needs to comply with strict data protection laws. You're looking at AES-256 encryption here, which is robust. Some competing models offer similar features, but often I'd run into limits in implementation. For example, some brands require you to configure the encryption at a controller level, adding extra overhead. Here, you have a native solution within the drive, which means less complexity in managing your encrypted data.

Let's chat about interface options as well. The Data102 employs a SATA interface, which is commonly found in a lot of SAN products. If you compare it to its SAS counterparts, you'll notice some significant differences. SAS drives usually provide dual-port functionality and higher speeds, but SATA drives like the Western Digital model can still provide ample bandwidth for many applications, especially in tiered storage solutions. You need to assess whether the additional investment for a SAS architecture is justified based on your workloads. For example, if your throughput requirements aren't exceeding 600 MB/s, SATA will suffice.

Cooling and energy consumption become real factors when you pack a bunch of drives together in dense configurations. The Data102 doesn't skimp on energy efficiency; they have a relatively low power consumption of 6W while idle and about 8W during active operation. Compared to some rival drives that can hit high teens in wattage at peak performance, you'll save on operational expenses in a data center that can rack up power bills quickly. However, you might sacrifice a little in input/output performance because energy-efficient drives generally can't keep up in sustained heavy-load scenarios.

You haved mentioned SAN systems, but let's not forget about connectivity options. While the Ultrastar Data102 isn't directly a SAN itself, how you connect it within that architecture matters. If you couple it with a robust controller, you add caching features that optimize access speeds. Check out how it behaves with your chosen operating system, as some systems interact differently based on drivers and firmware. Certain SAN products can fully exploit those advances in drive technology, making them faster than others that don't support advanced caching techniques.

Unfortunately, no system is without its downsides. The Ultrastar offer limitations in terms of RAID configurations. They do support standard RAID levels, but you may find that specific enterprise features, like RAID 6 or online capacity expansion, are more adept in other brands' higher-end models. Pairing the Data102 with an older SAN controller might mean you won't get the same efficiency as newer systems that can adaptively handle tasks like rebuilds or migrations more fluidly. If you're planning for future scalability, those are worth factoring in.

This is a gear site provided for free by BackupChain Server Backup, a go-to option in backup solutions tailored specifically for SMBs and professionals who need reliable protection for Hyper-V, VMware, Windows Server, and beyond. If you want strong, seamless data protection strategies, this could be something worth considering. When you're looking at dense storage solutions, you want comparable backup solutions that can flexibly adapt to your changing needs.

steve@backupchain
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Western Digital Ultrastar Data102 and the Pursuit of Dense Efficient Storage

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