Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 WUH721814AL5204 14TB SAS Hard Drive

The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 WUH721814AL5204 is a high-capacity, enterprise-class 3.5-inch hard drive engineered to meet the demanding needs of modern data centers. With a native 14TB capacity, this SAS (12Gb/s) drive delivers the sustained performance, reliability, and scalability required for heavy workloads such as virtualization, databases, archiving, and large-scale backups. Built for data centers aiming to lower total cost of ownership (TCO), the DC HC550 combines robust reliability, efficient power usage, and enterprise-grade features to keep critical applications running smoothly while reducing operational expenses over time.

• Massive capacity in a dense 3.5-inch form factor: The Ultrastar DC HC550 delivers 14TB of usable space in a single drive, enabling high-density storage deployments and reducing rack footprint. Its high-capacity design is ideal for data-center backplanes, storage arrays, and scalable NAS/SAN environments where large datasets, long-term retention, and rapid growth are the norm. Coupled with CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) technology, you get dependable, predictable performance across heavy sequential streaming and mixed I/O workloads.
• Enterprise-grade performance with SAS 12Gb/s: Designed for demanding enterprise workloads, this drive uses a 12Gb/s SAS interface to deliver high sustained transfer rates and low-latency I/O. Whether you’re powering virtualization clusters, databases, or intensive backup operations, the Ultrastar DC HC550 maintains consistent throughput and resilient performance under sustained load, making it an excellent choice for mission-critical storage environments.
• Reliability you can trust for 24x7 operation: Enterprise-class build quality, rigorous testing, and components designed for nonstop operation mean this drive is suited for always-on data centers. The DC HC550 emphasizes robust error detection and recovery, vibration resistance, and long-term durability to minimize drive failures and reduce the need for frequent rebuilds in RAID configurations.
• Efficiency and TCO optimization: The Ultrastar DC HC550 leverages engineering optimizations, including helium-sealed design technologies in many high-density enterprise drives, to reduce internal power and cooling requirements. Lower power draw per terabyte translates to significant long-term savings on energy costs and cooling in large deployments, helping you achieve a lower total cost of ownership without sacrificing performance or reliability.
• Broad compatibility and versatile deployment: This drive is built to work with a wide range of SAS backplanes, RAID controllers, and enterprise storage arrays. It is well-suited for data center consolidation, cloud storage infrastructure, large-scale file servers, archiving, and backup repositories. With a standard 3.5-inch form factor and hot-swappable design, it integrates smoothly into existing racks and chassis, offering straightforward maintenance and upgrades. The Ultrastar DC HC550 also carries a strong warranty and enterprise support, ensuring long-term confidence in your storage investments.

Technical Details of Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 WUH721814AL5204

• Model: WUH721814AL5204
• Capacity: 14 TB
• Form Factor: 3.5-inch internal hard disk drive
• Interface: SAS 12 Gb/s
• Recording Method: Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR)
• Rotation Speed: 7200 RPM
• Cache: Up to 256 MB
• Drive Type: Enterprise-class HDD
• Technology: HelioSeal (helium-sealed design for efficiency and density)
• Warranty: 5-year limited warranty
• Use Case: Data center storage, RAID arrays, virtualization, backups, and archival systems

How to install Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 WUH721814AL5204

Installing the Ultrastar DC HC550 is straightforward in any compatible SAS-based storage environment. Before you begin, ensure you have a compatible 3.5-inch drive tray or sled and a SAS backplane or RAID controller that supports 12Gb/s SAS drives. Power down the system and unplug it from the electrical supply to avoid any damage during installation. Remove the existing drive bay filler panels if needed to accommodate a standard hot-swappable drive sled.

1) Align the drive with the backplane connectors and slide it into the drive bay until it is fully seated. Ensure the drive is secure and properly engaged with the backplane.

2) Secure the drive in place using the appropriate screws or latch mechanisms on your drive tray or sled, following your chassis’ maintenance procedures. Double-check that cables are not under tension and that airflow around the drive is unobstructed.

3) Reconnect the SAS data cable and power cable to the backplane or controller, making sure the connections are clean and firm. Route cables neatly to prevent any interference with cooling fans or other components.

4) Power on the system and enter your storage management software or BIOS/RAID utility. Initialize the new drive if required, assign it to the appropriate storage pool or RAID set, and run a health check to ensure there are no anomalies.

5) Format and configure the drive within your storage environment to meet your workload requirements. If used in RAID, rebuild or re-synchronize as dictated by your RAID controller’s best practices, and verify performance and redundancy settings before resuming production workloads.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Ultrastar DC HC550 best suited for?
• A: It is an enterprise-class, high-capacity SAS hard drive designed for data centers. It excels in large-scale storage arrays, virtualization environments, backup and archival systems, and other workloads that demand high capacity, reliability, and consistent 24x7 performance.
• Q: Is the DC HC550 helium-sealed?
• A: Yes. The Ultrastar DC HC550 family incorporates HelioSeal helium-sealed technology to improve efficiency and enable higher density, reducing power consumption and heat generation in dense storage deployments.
• Q: Can I use this drive in a standard RAID array?
• A: Absolutely. The DC HC550 is designed for enterprise storage environments, including RAID configurations. It is compatible with a wide range of SAS controllers and backplanes, and it supports RAID-friendly reliability features essential for business-critical workloads.
• Q: What is the warranty period?
• A: Western Digital backs this drive with a 5-year limited warranty, reflecting its enterprise-grade durability and long-term support for data center deployments.