Which HDD Is Used for a Server-Class Device?

Which HDD Is Used for a Server-Class Device?

Server environments demand speed, durability, and nonstop reliability. That’s why most servers use one of these two types of drives:

1. SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) Drives

• Designed specifically for enterprise and data center use.

• Offers high-speed performance (10,000–15,000 RPM) and dual-port connectivity for redundancy.

• Supports continuous 24/7 operation and error correction for mission-critical data.

Ideal for:

• • Database servers

  • Virtualization

  • High-performance computing

  • Transaction-heavy workloads

Example models:

• Seagate Exos 10K.7 SAS

• HPE Enterprise SAS HDDs

• Dell Ultrastar DC HC330 SAS

2. Enterprise SATA HDDs

• These are a step below SAS drives but still built for server environments.

• They offer large capacity (up to 20TB+) and better durability than consumer drives.

• Perfect for file storage, backups, and archival purposes, where speed isn’t the top priority.

Example models:

• Western Digital Gold Enterprise HDDs

• Seagate Exos X Series SATA HDDs

• Toshiba Enterprise Capacity MG Series

Key Features of a Server HDD

• 24/7 reliability rating (workload rate ≥ 550 TB/year)

• Vibration resistance for multi-drive setups

• Advanced error recovery controls

• Longer MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)

• Optimized firmware for RAID configurations

In Short:

For server-class devices, use enterprise-grade SAS or SATA HDDs — built for nonstop performance, reliability, and high workloads.

If you’re setting up or upgrading a system, look for a server HDD that matches your performance needs — SAS for speed, or Enterprise SATA for capacity.