WD Ultrastar DC HC580 24TB 3.5" SATA Enterprise Hard Drive with OptiNAND

The WD Ultrastar DC HC580 WUH722424ALE6L4 is a purpose-built 24 TB hard drive designed for data centers and enterprises that demand massive, reliable storage. Built to handle the rigors of 24x7 operation, this 3.5" internal drive combines enterprise-grade endurance with groundbreaking data-density technologies to deliver an efficient, scalable storage solution for databases, virtualization, backups, cold/hot data tiering, and large-scale archival. Featuring OptiNAND technology, a sophisticated approach that blends traditional magnetic recording with intelligent data management, the HC580 unlocks higher capacity without compromising reliability or performance. It’s designed to help IT teams consolidate workloads, streamline storage architecture, and lower total cost of ownership by reducing the footprint required for multi-petabyte environments while maintaining strong service levels and robust data protection.

• Massive capacity for data center scale: With 24 terabytes of usable capacity in a single drive, the HC580 enables dense storage pools, expansive backups, and expansive data lakes. This high-density solution helps data centers maximize rack efficiency, lower hardware counts, and simplify capacity planning for long-term growth. It’s ideal for enterprises pursuing scale-out storage strategies, large‑volume archival, and sustained data retention policies across diverse workloads.
• OptiNAND technology for superior density and reliability: OptiNAND combines stacked NAND-based optimization with conventional magnetic recording to dramatically increase data density while preserving data integrity, error correction, and read/write performance. The result is higher effective capacity, better drive utilization, and improved performance consistency under mixed workloads, all while maintaining enterprise-grade endurance required for day-to-day operations.
• Enterprise-grade reliability and endurance: Built to withstand continuous operation in data centers, the HC580 emphasizes reliability, error detection and recovery, and resistance to vibration and shock in hot and cold data environments. Designed to handle the demanding workloads of databases, virtualization, analytics, and large-scale backups, this drive supports consistent service levels and minimizes unplanned downtime.
• 3.5" internal form factor with SATA (SATA/600) interface: The 3.5-inch form factor aligns with standard enterprise storage bays and rack infrastructure, while the SATA interface (SATA/600) provides broad compatibility with modern data-center controllers and storage enclosures. This combination delivers straightforward integration into existing ecosystems, reduces deployment risk, and supports streamlined scaling across multi-drive configurations.
• Versatile use cases for modern data centers: From primary storage for large databases and virtualized environments to archival repositories and backup targets, the DC HC580 is engineered to optimize performance-seeking workloads and long-term retention. It’s well-suited for object storage backends, cloud-like deployment models, media libraries, and analytics pipelines that require high capacity, dependable throughput, and predictable latency.

Technical Details of WD Ultrastar DC HC580

• Capacity: 24 TB
• Form Factor: 3.5-inch internal
• Interface: SATA 6 Gb/s (SATA/600)
• Recording Method: Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR)
• Technology: OptiNAND
• Product Family: Ultrastar DC HC580
• Application: Enterprise data center storage

How to install WD Ultrastar DC HC580

• Power down the server or storage array and prepare the appropriate 3.5" drive bay or hot-swap tray compatible with your chassis.
• Ensure you have a compatible SATA controller or backplane that supports SATA/600 interfaces and the drive’s performance profile. Verify firmware compatibility with your data-center management tools.
• Mount the HC580 securely in the drive bay or hot-swap tray, ensuring proper alignment with mounting rails and connectors. Use anti-static precautions during handling and installation.
• Connect the SATA data cable and power cable to the drive and the corresponding controller or backplane ports. Route cables to avoid obstruction and ensure adequate airflow around the drive bay.
• Power on the system and confirm that the drive is recognized by the BIOS/UEFI and the storage controller. Initialize and format the drive within your operating system or storage management software according to your data layout and recovery requirements.
• Configure any enterprise features required for your environment—RAID or erasure coding policies, hot-spare management, and monitoring via your existing S.M.A.R.T./health-check tools. Validate performance with representative workloads and adjust storage tiering as needed.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the capacity of the WD Ultrastar DC HC580? A: The DC HC580 provides 24 TB of usable storage per drive, enabling large-scale density and capacity in data center deployments.
• Q: What interface does this drive use? A: It uses a SATA 6 Gb/s (SATA/600) interface, which offers broad compatibility with contemporary data-center controllers and backplanes.
• Q: What recording technology is used? A: The drive employs Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR), a proven method for enterprise workloads that require predictable latency and reliability under heavy use.
• Q: What is OptiNAND? A: OptiNAND is WD’s technology that integrates intelligent data management with magnetic recording to boost data density and efficiency while maintaining data integrity and performance for enterprise workloads.
• Q: What workloads is the DC HC580 best suited for? A: It is optimized for data-center workloads that demand high capacity and reliability, including databases, virtualization, backup and archive targets, large-scale analytics, and object storage backends, as well as media libraries and continuous data ingestion pipelines.