WD Red Pro WD161KFGX 16 TB - 3.5" Internal SATA Hard Drive (SATA/600) with CM R Technology

The WD Red Pro WD161KFGX 16 TB Hard Drive is purpose-built to power demanding NAS environments, from power users to mid-sized organizations seeking scalable, reliable storage. Designed to thrive in RAID-optimized NAS systems with up to 24 bays, this 3.5-inch internal drive delivers enormous capacity for archiving, sharing, and protecting rapidly growing datasets. Whether you’re expanding a multi-user file server, building a robust backup repository, or supporting virtualization and media workloads, the WD Red Pro WD161KFGX is engineered to balance endurance, performance, and compatibility with a broad range of NAS devices and server configurations. With 16 terabytes of storage, advanced testing, and a 5-year limited warranty, you gain enterprise-grade reliability without sacrificing ease of use in a smaller business footprint.

• High-capacity NAS solution — 16 TB of reliable storage to handle expansive archives, media libraries, backups, and large data repositories. This capacity helps organizations consolidate storage needs, reduce fragmentation across volumes, and simplify data governance in RAID-enabled NAS environments.
• RAID-optimized performance — Built to support NAS deployments with up to 24 drive bays, the WD Red Pro WD161KFGX is engineered to sustain steady performance under multi-drive workloads. It helps reduce rebuild times after drive failure and maintains consistent throughput during heavy I/O bursts common in shared storage, virtualization, and collaborative workflows.
• CMR technology for consistent writes — Conventional Magnetic Recording offers reliable, predictable performance for sequential and random write operations, ensuring dependable data integrity during long-running transfers and mixed workloads typical in NAS storage pools and file servers.
• Broad compatibility with SATA 6Gb/s — The SATA interface (SATA/600) delivers fast data transfer rates while remaining widely compatible with mainstream NAS devices and desktop systems. This makes it easy to integrate into existing infrastructure without needing specialized controllers or adapters.
• Enterprise-grade reliability and warranty — Designed for 24/7 operation in RAID configurations, these drives are built for durability in always-on environments. They come with a 5-year limited warranty, giving IT teams peace of mind for long-term data protection and operational continuity.

Technical Details of WD Red Pro WD161KFGX 16 TB

• Model: WD Red Pro WD161KFGX
• Capacity: 16 TB
• Form factor: 3.5-inch internal hard drive
• Interface: SATA 6Gb/s (SATA/600)
• Recording technology: Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR)
• Designed for: RAID-optimized NAS systems with up to 24 bays
• Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

how to install WD Red Pro WD161KFGX

Installing a high-capacity WD Red Pro drive into your NAS or compatible desktop environment is straightforward when you follow best practices for reliability and data protection. The steps outlined below are designed for both new deployments and incremental capacity upgrades, helping you minimize downtime and maximize uptime aboard your storage infrastructure.

• Prepare your environment by ensuring you have a compatible NAS or PC with available drive bays that support 3.5-inch drives. Verify the device specifications for hot-swap capability if you plan to swap drives while powered.
• Power down the system or place it into maintenance mode if your NAS supports hot-swapping. Disconnect power and data cables as required to safely remove any existing drives from the desired bay.
• Open the drive bay and orient the WD Red Pro WD161KFGX so that the connectors align with the backplane. Carefully slide the drive into the bay until it seats firmly, then engage any latching mechanism or screws as specified by your chassis design.
• Reconnect power and, if applicable, data cables. For hot-swap NAS bays, the system will recognize the drive automatically once the tray is inserted and secured.
• Power on the device and access the management interface. Use the storage or RAID management tools to initialize the new disk, add it to an existing array or storage pool, and format it according to your preferred file system and RAID level. Follow on-screen prompts to complete the process.
• Run a health check or SMART test to verify drive health, and verify that the new capacity is visible in the storage pool. Monitor for any warnings or alerts during the initial integration period.
• Update the NAS firmware (if available) and configure alerting for drive failures, degraded arrays, or temperature warnings to safeguard ongoing data integrity and minimize downtime.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: Is WD Red Pro WD161KFGX suitable for RAID arrays in NAS devices? A: Yes. This drive is specifically designed for RAID-optimized NAS systems and supports configurations with multiple bays up to 24, making it ideal for data archiving, shared storage, and protected backups.
• Q: What warranty accompanies this WD Red Pro drive? A: It includes a 5-year limited warranty, reflecting enterprise-grade reliability and the manufacturer’s confidence in long-term operation in NAS environments.
• Q: Can I use this drive in a desktop PC? A: While it can be used in desktops with SATA interfaces, WD Red Pro drives are optimized for NAS workloads and are best utilized in RAID-enabled NAS devices for sustained performance and reliability.
• Q: Are 16 TB drives suitable for virtualization and media editing in NAS? A: Yes. The 16 TB capacity paired with CM R technology and RAID-optimized design makes these drives well-suited for virtualization data stores, media libraries, backups, and other demanding NAS workloads.
• Q: How can I maximize the longevity and performance of WD Red Pro drives? A: Maintain up-to-date firmware, implement appropriate RAID configurations, monitor SMART attributes, enable alerting, keep devices within recommended temperature ranges, and ensure stable power delivery to support consistent operation over time.