Western Digital’s OptiNAND Technology: Improved Performance and Increased Data Storage Capacity for a Better User Experience

A view of an open hard drive from the side

With the growth of cloud computing, storage needs have increased exponentially. Cloud service providers require cost-effective ways to store vast amounts of data while still achieving high-performance standards.

Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology addresses both these issues by delivering improved performance and increased data storage capacity that enables a better user experience. Through its ePMR, Triple Stage Actuator (TSA), HelioSeal®, and UltraSMR innovations, Western Digital is on a clear path to delivering 30+ TB capacities with lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

This blog will discuss the features and benefits of Western Digital’s OptiNAND storage technology for cloud service providers.

What is Western Digital?

Western Digital is a global leader in data storage solutions, providing customers with industry-leading products and technologies for their personal, business, and enterprise needs. With its innovative storage solutions, Western Digital offers a range of reliable storage options that let users store more data than ever before.

Overview of OptiNAND Technology

Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology is a combination of proprietary firmware, hardware advancements, and triple-stage actuator (TSA) solutions that deliver significant performance improvements over traditional storage. It enables higher areal densities for increased capacity, faster write speeds for improved random read/write performance, and better reliability than previous generations of HDDs.

The combination of OptiNAND with Western Digital’s UltraSMR technology introduces large block encoding along with an advanced error correction algorithm that increases tracks-per-inch (TPI) to enable higher-capacity drives. The result is the 26TB Ultrastar® DC HC670 UltraSMR HDD which offers 18% more capacity than its predecessor. Furthermore, OptiNAND also helps customers improve their total cost of ownership (TCO) by enabling faster write performance and a higher areal density for reduced device costs.

Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology is the perfect solution for cloud service providers looking to increase their storage capacity while maintaining high-performance standards. With its advanced features, OptiNAND can help customers reduce TCO and improve user experiences with better reliability and performance than previous generations of HDDs. The 26TB capacity serves as a tipping point to accelerate the adoption of SMR, making it easier for cloud service providers to optimize their stacks and take advantage of the benefits that SMR has to offer.

Benefits of OptiNAND Technology

Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology offers several performance and reliability improvements that make it the ideal storage solution for cloud service providers. This blog will discuss the various benefits of using OptiNAND, such as improved performance, protection from Emergency Power Outages, and increased storage capacity.

Improved Performance

Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology offers several performance improvements, such as faster write speeds with ePMR and improved random read/write using the TSA. The combination of these two features results in up to 20% faster random read/write performance over traditional HDDs, making it an ideal storage solution for cloud service providers looking to improve their storage capabilities without sacrificing performance.

Protection from Emergency Power Outages

OptiNAND technology also protects against Emergency Power Outages (EPO). Western Digital’s HelioSeal® technology helps keep the data safe by protecting it against power outages. This is achieved through a hermetically sealed hard disk drive that allows for improved reliability and prevents data loss due to sudden power outages. As such, cloud service providers can rest assured that their data will be safe even in the event of an unexpected power failure.

Increased Storage Capacity

Finally, OptiNAND technology also increases storage capacity with its UltraSMR technology. By introducing large block encoding along with an advanced error correction algorithm, OptiNAND enables higher-capacity drives that can reach up to 26TB. This increase in capacity allows cloud service providers to store more data than ever before, making OptiNAND an invaluable storage solution for their needs.

Overall, Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology offers numerous advantages for cloud service providers looking to improve their storage capabilities and reliability. With improved performance, protection from emergency power outages, and increased storage capacity, cloud service providers can rest assured that their data is secure and always available when needed. As such, OptiNAND makes it easier for them to optimize their stacks and take advantage of the benefits that SMR has to offer.

Examples of OptiNAND Technology in Practice

Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology is already being used by many cloud service providers. One example is Google Cloud, which uses the WD Blue™ and Green™ series of hard disk drives to provide customers with reliable storage solutions. These HDDs are equipped with advanced features such as ePMR and UltraSMR, making them ideal for providing a high-performance storage solution with increased capacity.

Another example is Microsoft Azure, which recently announced that it would be using WD Gold™ hard disk drives in its data centers. The WD Gold drive offers improved reliability, performance, and energy efficiency over traditional HDDs due to its OptiNAND technology. With the help of this advanced technology, Microsoft Azure can provide fast and reliable storage for its customers.

These are just a few examples of how cloud service providers can benefit from using OptiNAND technology to provide their customers with the best possible storage solutions. By leveraging the improved performance, protection from emergency power outages, and increased capacity that OptiNAND offers, cloud service providers can ensure that their data is safe and secure while providing faster access speeds than ever before.

Western Digital’s OptiNAND technology is an impressive innovation that offers numerous benefits for cloud service providers. By leveraging the advanced features and capabilities of this technology, cloud service providers can offer their customers a reliable storage solution with improved performance and protection from power outages.

Additionally, by taking advantage of the increased capacity that comes with OptiNAND, cloud service providers can ensure that their data remains secure while providing faster access speeds than ever before. As such, Western Digital’s OptiNAND is an invaluable tool for any cloud provider looking to optimize its stack and take full advantage of its potential.

Ultimately, Western Digital’s innovation helps pave the way for better and more efficient storage solutions in today’s digital world.

Text Sources

Lystrup, O. (2021, August 31) How Western Digital Created OptiNAND, a New Flash Enhanced HDD Architecture. WesternDigital. https://blog.westerndigital.com/optinand/

O’Shea, D. (2021, August 31) Western Digital’s OptiNAND reimagines storage, integrating HDD and iNAND. FIERCE Electronics. https://www.fierceelectronics.com/embedded/western-digital-s-optinand-reimagines-storage-integrating-hdd-and-inand

Western Digital Unleashes New Era of Growth for Cloud Market with World’s First 22TB CMR and 26TB UltraSMR HDDs. (2022, May 09) Businesswire. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220509005151/en/Western-Digital-Unleashes-New-Era-of-Growth-for-Cloud-Market-With-World%E2%80%99s-First-22TB-CMR-and-26TB-UltraSMR-HDDs

Li, T. (2021, September 03) What is Western Digital’s OptiNAND. ITWORLD CANADA. https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/what-is-western-digitals-optinand/457882