WD Ultrastar Serv60+8 Hybrid Storage Server

The WD Ultrastar Serv60+8 Hybrid Storage Server is engineered for high-density storage, exceptional flexibility, and enterprise-grade reliability. Built to power Software-Defined Storage (SDS) environments and data-centric workloads, this server blends expansive capacity with fast data access through hybrid storage design. Whether you’re consolidating petabytes of data, accelerating virtualization, or delivering media-rich content at scale, the Serv60+8 is designed to adapt to evolving workloads while delivering consistent performance, robust protection, and effortless management.

• High-density storage with 60 drive bays, designed for maximum capacity per rack unit. The hybrid storage approach combines traditional HDDs for bulk data with high-performance flash caches to accelerate hot data, reducing latency and improving IOPS for databases, analytics, and virtual machine workloads. This configuration supports a wide range of SDS deployments, including Ceph, OpenStack, VMware vSAN, and other software-defined platforms, delivering both capacity and speed in a single, scalable solution.
• Flexible scalability and modular architecture that grows with your data center. The Serv60+8 is built to accommodate expanding storage needs through expandable enclosures and software-driven storage pools. This flexibility makes it suitable for evolving SDS ecosystems, data-tiering strategies, and hybrid cloud workflows, enabling seamless scaling from small clusters to multi-rack deployments without sacrificing performance or reliability.
• Reliability and uptime features designed for 24/7 operations. Expect rugged engineering, hot-swappable components, and redundant elements that keep critical workloads online. Redundant cooling paths, hot-swappable fans, and dual power supplies help ensure uninterrupted service, while consistent hardware-level availability supports mission-critical applications, disaster recovery testing, and long-running analytics tasks.
• Data protection and security built into the architecture. The Serv60+8 supports comprehensive RAID configurations, end-to-end data integrity checks, and proactive health monitoring to guard against drive failures. Enterprise-grade security features, along with encryption options and role-based access controls, help protect sensitive data in compliance-focused environments and data-center deployments.
• Management, deployment, and compatibility that streamline operations. Centralized management capabilities, familiar interfaces, and virtualization-friendly integration simplify provisioning, monitoring, and maintenance. The server is designed to work with leading SDS solutions, virtualization platforms, and data-management tools, delivering predictable performance and easy integration into existing data-center ecosystems.

Technical Details of WD Ultrastar Serv60+8 Hybrid Storage Server

• Drive bays: 60 x hot-swappable 3.5" bays for high-density storage and easy maintenance.
• Storage architecture: Hybrid storage design that combines capacity-friendly HDDs with NVMe-based caching to accelerate hot data and improve overall I/O throughput.
• Form factor: Rack-mountable chassis designed for rapid deployment in data centers and colocation facilities.
• Processors: Multi-core, enterprise-grade processors to support SDS workloads, virtualization, and data-processing tasks.
• Memory: Scalable memory footprint suitable for virtualization and SDS buffering, with room for growth as workloads expand.
• Networking: Flexible networking options with integrated high-speed interfaces and expansion paths to meet diverse traffic requirements in data centers.
• Storage controller and expansion: Hardware-accelerated storage controllers with expandable options for expansion enclosures and additional PCIe resources to support caching tiers and expansion cards.
• Power and cooling: Redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and dependable cooling design to maximize uptime in demanding environments.
• Management: Built-in remote-management capabilities and compatibility with standard IT management tools, enabling streamlined provisioning, monitoring, and maintenance.
• Software compatibility: Optimized for SDS deployments and works with common virtualization platforms and data-management ecosystems used in modern data centers.

How to install WD Ultrastar Serv60+8 Hybrid Storage Server

• Unbox and inspect the server for complete hardware, ensuring all modules, drives, and accessories are present and undamaged.
• Mount the chassis in a compatible 19-inch rack, align the rails, and secure the unit to provide stable, vibration-free operation.
• Connect the redundant power supplies to properly rated power sources, attach network cables to the appropriate NIC ports, and ensure proper airflow within the rack.
• Install 60 drive bays with the appropriate HDDs and, if applicable, NVMe drives for caching, following the documented drive order and hot-swap guidelines to avoid drive misalignment or contact with enclosure hardware.
• Power on the system and enter the on-box management interface or the vendor-provided setup utility to configure initial hardware settings, including RAID layout, caching policies, and network addressing.
• Configure storage pools for your SDS environment, map virtual disks to the desired SDS stack, and implement data-protection policies, including snapshots, replication, and tiering rules as needed.
• Integrate with your virtualization platform or SDS distribution (e.g., VMware, Ceph, OpenStack) and apply firmware updates to ensure compatibility and security.
• Validate performance with representative workloads, tune caching tiers, and implement backup and disaster-recovery procedures to ensure operational readiness.
• Document the configuration, create monitoring dashboards, and establish routine maintenance windows for firmware and software updates.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the WD Ultrastar Serv60+8 Hybrid Storage Server best suited for? It is designed for enterprises requiring high-density storage, flexible SDS deployments, and reliable performance for virtualization, analytics, media workflows, and data-intensive workloads. The hybrid design optimizes capacity and speed, making it ideal for data centers and private clouds that demand scalable storage with robust data protection.
• How many drive bays does it offer? The Serv60+8 provides 60 drive bays, enabling substantial on-site capacity and efficient data tiering in a single rack-mount chassis.
• Does it support NVMe caching? Yes, the hybrid architecture includes NVMe-based caching to accelerate frequently accessed data while leveraging bulk HDD capacity for cost-efficient storage. This combination improves latency and overall I/O performance for SDS workloads.
• Is it compatible with major SDS and virtualization platforms? Yes. The design is optimized for software-defined storage stacks and works well with common virtualization platforms and data-management ecosystems, helping you deploy a cohesive, software-defined data center.
• What about reliability and uptime? The Serv60+8 emphasizes reliability through redundant power supplies, hot-swappable components, and proven cooling and chassis design. These features support mission-critical workloads and minimize downtime in data centers.
• How do I manage and monitor the server? Integrated management capabilities, along with compatibility with standard IT management tools and dashboards, allow centralized monitoring, proactive health checks, firmware updates, and streamlined maintenance across your SDS deployment.