0F38376 Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB 7.2K RPM SAS-12GBPS HDD

Western Digital 0F38376 Ultrastar 16TB Hard Drive

The Western Digital 0F38376 Ultrastar DC HC550 is a high-capacity enterprise-class hard disk drive engineered for modern data centers, cloud infrastructure, and large-scale storage deployments. Built with advanced helium platform technology, this 3.5-inch enterprise HDD delivers outstanding reliability, efficient power consumption, and consistent performance for mission-critical business workloads. Featuring a massive 16TB storage capacity, SAS-12Gbps interface support, 7200 RPM spindle speed, and a large 512MB cache buffer, the Ultrastar DC HC550 is optimized for demanding storage environments that require dependable data access, long operational life, and enhanced security with SED-FIPS encryption capabilities.

General Information

• Brand: Western Digital
• Part Number: 0F38376
• Product Line: Ultrastar
• Series: Ultrastar DC HC550
• Drive Type: Internal Enterprise HDD

Technical Specifications

• Storage Capacity: 16TB
• Interface: SAS 12Gbps
• Form Factor: 3.5-Inch
• Cache Buffer: 512MB
• Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
• Average Latency: 4.16ms
• MTBF Rating: 2.5 Million Hours
• Dimensions: 101.6mm x 147mm
• Z-Height: 26.1mm
• Weight: 690g

Cloud and Hyperscale Data Centers

• Ideal for cloud-based storage platforms
• Supports hyperscale computing environments
• Suitable for high-density storage servers
• Efficient for distributed storage systems
• Handles enterprise backup and archival workloads
• Excellent option for software-defined storage platforms

Enhanced Data Security with SED-FIPS Technology

• Integrated hardware-based encryption
• SED-FIPS functionality for enterprise security
• Helps protect confidential business data
• Supports secure storage infrastructure policies
• Suitable for regulated industry environments

Compatibility

• Compatible with enterprise servers supporting 3.5-inch SAS drives
• Works with Dell PowerEdge server platforms
• Supports HPE ProLiant server environments
• Compatible with Lenovo ThinkSystem enterprise servers
• Suitable for IBM storage infrastructures
• Supports RAID-enabled storage arrays and SAN systems
• Compatible with NAS and high-density storage enclosures
• Works with cloud and hyperscale storage platforms
• Supports Ceph and OpenStack Swift object storage environments
• Suitable for Apache Hadoop big data analytics infrastructures

Western Digital 0F38376 16TB HDD 

The Western Digital 0F38376 Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB enterprise hard disk drive is engineered to support modern data center infrastructure, enterprise storage arrays, cloud computing platforms, hyperscale deployments, and mission-critical business applications. Built with advanced helium platform technology, this 3.5-inch enterprise HDD combines high-capacity storage architecture with exceptional reliability, consistent throughput, and long-term operational efficiency for demanding enterprise environments.

Designed with a 7.2K RPM rotational speed and SAS-12Gbps interface connectivity, the Ultrastar DC HC550 provides fast data access capabilities for organizations handling extensive workloads, virtualization platforms, backup systems, big data analytics, and enterprise database operations. The 512MB cache buffer significantly improves workload handling efficiency while minimizing latency during sequential and random data operations.

This enterprise-class storage drive incorporates 512e sector formatting and SED-FIPS encryption technology, helping businesses secure sensitive data while maintaining compatibility across enterprise operating systems, RAID controllers, and storage infrastructure platforms. The integration of helium technology reduces internal turbulence, decreases power consumption, lowers vibration levels, and improves thermal efficiency, making the drive suitable for continuous 24/7 enterprise operation.

Enterprise-Class Helium Platform Technology

Helium-sealed drive architecture represents one of the most significant advancements in enterprise hard disk engineering. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 utilizes helium instead of traditional air-filled drive construction, enabling increased platter density and enhanced storage efficiency. Helium produces less friction compared to air, allowing internal mechanical components to operate with improved precision and reduced resistance.

Lower internal turbulence contributes to several operational benefits for enterprise environments. Reduced drag minimizes power consumption, which becomes especially valuable within large-scale data centers containing thousands of storage drives. Lower energy usage supports improved thermal management while reducing operational overhead associated with enterprise infrastructure deployment.

The helium platform design also enhances reliability by decreasing mechanical stress on internal components. Reduced vibration and optimized airflow characteristics help maintain stable operational performance across continuous enterprise workloads. This architecture enables higher storage capacities without sacrificing long-term reliability or performance consistency.

High-Capacity Enterprise Storage Performance

The 16TB storage capacity offered by the Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 enables organizations to manage massive datasets efficiently while reducing storage footprint requirements within enterprise environments. Large-scale businesses, cloud service providers, and enterprise IT departments can consolidate storage infrastructure while maximizing rack-level storage density.

High-capacity enterprise drives play a critical role in data-intensive industries where continuous information growth requires scalable and reliable storage architecture. The Ultrastar DC HC550 supports enterprise applications involving media production, surveillance storage, archival systems, backup repositories, enterprise virtualization, analytics databases, and large-scale transactional workloads.

The 7.2K RPM spindle speed provides balanced performance characteristics suitable for mixed enterprise workloads. Organizations benefit from dependable throughput and consistent data access capabilities while maintaining energy-efficient operation. This balance between performance and efficiency makes the drive suitable for enterprise systems prioritizing reliability, scalability, and operational cost optimization.

SAS-12Gbps Enterprise Interface Advantages

The SAS-12Gbps interface delivers enterprise-grade connectivity designed for mission-critical storage environments. Serial Attached SCSI technology provides superior reliability, scalability, and data integrity compared to standard desktop storage interfaces. Enterprise organizations rely on SAS architecture for high-availability applications requiring uninterrupted storage operations.

SAS infrastructure supports dual-port functionality, advanced error correction capabilities, enterprise RAID integration, and improved communication stability within multi-drive storage arrays. These capabilities are essential for storage environments where continuous availability and fault tolerance remain critical operational requirements.

The 12Gbps interface bandwidth enables efficient data transfer operations for enterprise applications handling large files, database transactions, virtualization workloads, and backup procedures. Organizations implementing high-performance storage networks benefit from optimized communication pathways between storage controllers and enterprise drives.

SED-FIPS Enterprise Data Security 

Data security remains a primary concern for modern enterprises managing confidential information, financial records, healthcare databases, government data, and customer-sensitive content. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 incorporates Self-Encrypting Drive technology with FIPS compliance support to help organizations strengthen storage-level data protection strategies.

SED functionality automatically encrypts data stored on the drive without significantly impacting performance. Hardware-based encryption processes provide stronger protection compared to software-dependent security methods while minimizing system resource consumption. This capability supports enterprise compliance initiatives involving data privacy regulations and information security standards.

FIPS-compatible encryption features assist organizations operating within regulated industries requiring certified security implementations. Government agencies, healthcare providers, financial institutions, and enterprise organizations managing confidential information benefit from integrated encryption technologies designed to protect stored data against unauthorized access.

Secure data handling capabilities become increasingly important within distributed enterprise environments, remote infrastructure deployments, and cloud-integrated storage architectures. Hardware-level encryption enhances overall enterprise security posture while simplifying storage management processes.

Enterprise Compliance and Data Protection

Enterprise storage solutions increasingly require integrated security frameworks capable of supporting industry compliance standards. The Ultrastar DC HC550 helps businesses maintain secure storage infrastructure across multiple operational environments while supporting organizational governance requirements.

Integrated encryption functionality simplifies enterprise storage deployment by reducing dependency on additional software-based security layers. This approach improves operational efficiency while ensuring sensitive information remains protected throughout storage lifecycle operations.

512MB Cache Buffer Optimization

The large 512MB cache buffer integrated into the Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 significantly enhances data handling efficiency across enterprise workloads. Enterprise storage environments frequently process extensive read and write operations simultaneously, making intelligent caching essential for maintaining consistent performance.

Cache memory temporarily stores frequently accessed data and pending operations, reducing latency during repetitive access patterns. This optimization improves workload responsiveness for virtualization platforms, database applications, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise analytics systems.

Large cache allocation becomes especially valuable within multi-user enterprise environments where storage systems handle concurrent workloads continuously. Improved buffering capabilities help stabilize throughput during intensive data transfer operations while supporting smoother communication between servers and storage infrastructure.

Enterprise backup procedures, large-scale file transfers, transactional databases, and virtualization clusters all benefit from advanced cache management capabilities. Consistent buffering performance contributes to improved system responsiveness and operational stability across demanding enterprise deployments.

Workload Efficiency Enhancements

Enterprise applications generate diverse workload patterns requiring balanced storage responsiveness. The Ultrastar DC HC550 leverages its large cache architecture to optimize performance consistency during mixed operational scenarios involving sequential and random data activity.

Organizations managing virtual machines, enterprise resource planning platforms, customer databases, and content repositories require storage systems capable of maintaining dependable throughput under continuous workload pressure. Intelligent caching contributes to improved workload balancing while reducing storage bottlenecks.

Data Center Infrastructure Compatibility

The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 is engineered for compatibility with enterprise-grade server environments, storage arrays, hyperscale infrastructure, and professional data center ecosystems. The standard 3.5-inch form factor enables integration across a broad range of enterprise chassis configurations and storage platforms.

Organizations utilizing enterprise servers from major manufacturers can deploy the Ultrastar DC HC550 within existing storage infrastructure without requiring extensive modifications. Compatibility with enterprise RAID controllers and storage management systems supports simplified deployment and operational scalability.

Large-scale data centers benefit from the drive’s optimized thermal characteristics, low vibration profile, and enterprise-focused engineering. These factors contribute to reliable operation within high-density rack environments where airflow management and thermal consistency directly impact infrastructure stability.

The drive supports enterprise operating systems and storage environments commonly used across business infrastructure, including virtualization frameworks, backup platforms, cloud storage systems, and enterprise application servers.

Enterprise Server and RAID Integration

Enterprise RAID environments require storage drives capable of maintaining consistent reliability during continuous redundancy operations. The Ultrastar DC HC550 is optimized for enterprise RAID configurations involving data protection, fault tolerance, and high-availability infrastructure deployment.

SAS connectivity and enterprise firmware integration improve communication efficiency between storage controllers and enterprise arrays. Businesses implementing scalable storage systems benefit from dependable interoperability across professional storage ecosystems.

Reliability for Continuous Enterprise Operations

Enterprise hard drives must withstand demanding operational conditions involving continuous activity, intensive workloads, and prolonged uptime requirements. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 is designed for enterprise reliability, supporting mission-critical applications operating around the clock within data centers and professional storage environments.

Continuous operation reliability depends on multiple engineering factors including thermal stability, vibration control, mechanical durability, and firmware optimization. Western Digital integrates advanced enterprise engineering principles to ensure long-term performance consistency under sustained workload conditions.

Helium platform construction contributes significantly to operational reliability by reducing internal friction and minimizing wear on moving components. Lower vibration levels help preserve mechanical precision while improving overall system stability within multi-drive configurations.

Enterprise organizations require predictable storage performance capable of supporting business continuity strategies. The Ultrastar DC HC550 delivers dependable operational stability for storage-intensive applications involving transactional databases, enterprise applications, virtualization clusters, and large-scale archival systems.

Cloud Computing and Hyperscale Deployment 

Cloud computing providers and hyperscale infrastructure operators require storage systems capable of delivering exceptional capacity, operational efficiency, and predictable reliability across massive deployment environments. The Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC550 addresses these requirements through high-density storage engineering optimized for enterprise scalability.

Hyperscale storage environments prioritize energy efficiency, thermal optimization, and infrastructure density. The helium platform architecture significantly reduces operational power consumption compared to traditional air-filled enterprise drives, contributing to lower overall data center operating costs.

Cloud storage platforms handling extensive user data, virtual machine repositories, enterprise applications, and distributed storage services require dependable storage hardware capable of sustaining continuous workload activity. The Ultrastar DC HC550 supports these environments through enterprise-grade reliability and optimized performance consistency.

Scalable infrastructure deployment becomes more efficient when organizations can maximize storage density within limited rack space. The 16TB capacity enables enterprises to expand storage capabilities while reducing physical hardware footprint requirements.