Description
Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC520 HUH721212ALE604 12 TB Hard Drive — 3.5" Internal SATA
The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC520 HUH721212ALE604 is an enterprise-class 12 TB hard drive designed to deliver dependable, scalable storage for data centers, cloud services, and business-critical environments. Built to handle demanding workloads with sustained throughput, this 3.5-inch internal drive combines high capacity with robust reliability, making it an ideal backbone for virtualization, database, backup, and archive deployments. When your operation requires uncompromising performance and long-term data integrity, the Ultrastar DC HC520 stands out as a purpose-built solution that balances capacity, resilience, and efficiency.
- Massive capacity for dense storage needs: 12 TB of storage in a single 3.5-inch drive enables large databases, comprehensive backups, and extensive virtual machine pools without frequent expansion. This makes it a compelling choice for scale-out storage architectures and data-hungry workloads.
- Enterprise-grade reliability and endurance: Engineered for 24/7 operation in demanding data-center environments, the Ultrastar HC520 incorporates advanced firmware and error-management features to minimize downtime and maintain data integrity under heavy I/O.
- Optimized for sustained performance: Designed to deliver solid sequential throughput and consistent I/O performance across workloads such as virtualization, analytics, and large-scale backups, ensuring responsive service levels even during peak periods.
- Standard SATA interface for broad compatibility: SATA 6Gb/s (SATA/600) provides straightforward integration with mainstream servers, storage arrays, and backplanes, reducing deployment friction in mixed environments.
- Designed for data centers and enterprise workloads: Built with reliability, efficiency, and long-term serviceability in mind, the Ultrastar HC520 aims to lower total cost of ownership through durable construction and enterprise features that support continuous operation.
Technical Details of Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC520 HUH721212ALE604 12 TB Hard Drive
- Capacity: 12 TB
- Form Factor: 3.5-inch internal hard disk drive
- Interface: SATA 6Gb/s (SATA/600)
- Model/Series: Ultrastar DC HC520 – HUH721212ALE604
- Intended Use: Enterprise data center storage, server storage, and back-end storage systems
- Target Environment: 24/7 operation in data centers and enterprise environments
How to install Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC520
Installing this drive is straightforward in systems that support 3.5-inch enterprise drives with SATA interfaces. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth deployment and reliable operation:
- Power down the server or storage array and unplug from power. If you are using a hot-swap backplane, follow your chassis’ documented procedure for door access and drive removal.
- Remove an available 3.5-inch drive bay or slide in the Ultrastar DC HC520 into a compatible hot-swap caddy. Secure the drive with the appropriate screws or locking mechanism as dictated by your chassis.
- Connect the SATA data cable to the drive and the corresponding SATA port or backplane connector. Attach the power cable to the drive’s power interface. Ensure cables are properly seated and routed to avoid interference with fans or other components.
- Power on the system and enter the BIOS/UEFI or your storage controller’s management utility. Confirm that the new drive is detected. If you’re configuring a RAID array, add the drive to an existing array or create a new one according to your data protection needs.
- Within the operating system, initialize and format the drive as required. Use Disk Management (Windows), Disk Utility (macOS), or fdisk/gdisk (Linux) to create partitions and format with your preferred filesystem. For databases, virtualization hosts, or backups, plan your storage layout with appropriate RAID levels and performance considerations.
- Optionally update the firmware from Western Digital to ensure you have the latest reliability and performance enhancements. Monitor drive health through SMART data and your chosen management tools to maintain drive longevity.
- Ensure proper airflow and cooling within the server room. Enterprise drives like the Ultrastar HC520 benefit from consistent environmental conditions to maximize reliability and service life.
Frequently asked questions
- Q: What is the capacity and ideal use case for this drive? A: The drive provides 12 TB of storage and is designed for data centers and enterprise workloads such as virtualization, large-scale backups, databases, and archival storage.
- Q: What interface does it use? A: It uses a standard SATA interface at 6Gb/s (SATA/600), enabling compatibility with most servers, NAS devices, and backplanes that support SATA drives.
- Q: Is this drive suitable for RAID configurations? A: Yes, it is intended for use in enterprise environments that often employ RAID or other storage architectures. Ensure you select appropriate RAID levels and consider global rebuild times and reliability requirements when designing your array.
- Q: What makes Ultrastar DC HC520 different from consumer drives? A: It is engineered for 24/7 operation, higher endurance, enterprise-grade error handling, advanced firmware, and durability features that support data-center workloads and long-term serviceability beyond consumer-class drives.
- Q: How should I monitor the health of this drive? A: Use SMART data provided by the drive and your host server or storage management software. Many data-center environments leverage vendor-provided tools or the RAID/controller interface to monitor drive temperature, attribute health, and predictive failure indicators.
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