WD Ultrastar DC HC555 18TB 7.2K RPM SATA 6GBPS 512MB Buffer 512e HDD WUH722018CLE6L4

Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC555: Engineered for Enterprise Demands

The WUH722018CLE6L4 Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC555 18TB hard drive represents the pinnacle of high-capacity, high-performance enterprise storage. Designed to support data-intensive applications, this 18TB 3.5-inch HDD leverages helium-sealed technology to deliver massive storage capabilities with energy-efficient performance. It is an ideal solution for hyperscale data centers, cloud storage providers, and enterprise-class IT infrastructures demanding relentless reliability, scalability, and throughput.

18TB of Massive Capacity for Enterprise Applications

As data volumes continue to explode, the need for higher capacity drives becomes more pressing. The Ultrastar DC HC555 meets this demand with its 18 terabytes of raw storage. Whether it's for archiving large datasets, supporting big data analytics, or managing massive media repositories, this drive offers the space required to keep up with modern enterprise workloads.

Supporting Hyperscale Deployments

Built for scale, the HC555 enables organizations to reduce physical footprint by storing more data per drive, lowering total cost of ownership (TCO) and simplifying storage management. This makes it a powerful asset in hyperscale cloud environments, where density, power efficiency, and performance directly affect operating costs.

Advanced HelioSeal Technology

The DC HC555 utilizes Western Digital's proprietary HelioSeal technology, which replaces the air inside traditional drives with helium. Helium’s lower density reduces turbulence and allows for more platters to be packed within the same 3.5-inch form factor. This results in less friction, lower power consumption, and cooler operation — key factors for enterprise-grade performance and longevity.

Increased Platter Density

With a helium-sealed enclosure, the HC555 supports up to 9 disks, maximizing areal density. This increased platter count allows for high capacity without sacrificing performance, ensuring robust throughput for demanding enterprise use cases.

7,200 RPM Performance with 512MB Cache

The 7,200 RPM spindle speed combined with a 512MB cache ensures fast data access, smooth operation, and high IOPS (input/output operations per second). This balance of capacity and performance makes the Ultrastar DC HC555 an exceptional choice for mixed-use environments where high throughput and reliability are critical.

Optimized for Sequential and Random Workloads

Whether your workload involves streaming large files or accessing small files in random sequences, the WUH722018CLE6L4 drive excels across the board. Its SATA 6Gbps interface further enhances sequential read/write performance, making it ideal for video surveillance, content delivery networks, and cloud backup storage.

SATA 6Gb/s Interface and 512e Sector Format

The WUH722018CLE6L4 features a standard SATA 6Gb/s interface, which ensures compatibility with a wide range of enterprise-grade storage systems. Its use of 512e (512-byte emulation) sector format allows compatibility with legacy applications while still optimizing for modern error correction and storage algorithms.

Interface Compatibility and Integration

Enterprise IT professionals appreciate the ease of integration the SATA interface offers. The HC555 can be deployed across a variety of servers, JBODs, and storage enclosures without specialized controllers, making it a versatile addition to any existing infrastructure.

Enterprise-Class Reliability and Durability

Built with stringent enterprise-level standards, the Ultrastar DC HC555 delivers a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of 2.5 million hours and a workload rating of up to 550TB per year. These ratings ensure robust reliability even under continuous 24/7 operation in data center environments.

Workload Rating and Use Case Scenarios

Designed to withstand intensive read/write cycles, the drive supports heavy-duty workloads, such as virtualization, database hosting, and backup storage. It is built to perform in high-availability clusters, RAID arrays, and tiered storage setups where endurance is non-negotiable.

Power Efficiency and Thermal Optimization

Power consumption is a critical factor in data center cost management. Thanks to helium-sealed construction and refined power management features, the Ultrastar DC HC555 offers lower active and idle power draw than conventional air-filled drives. Lower heat output also reduces the need for aggressive cooling, extending the lifecycle of other data center components.

Power Consumption Metrics

Operating power averages around 6.4 watts, while idle power consumption sits at approximately 5.2 watts — metrics that significantly contribute to a lower power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating. These savings accumulate across racks of drives, delivering measurable reductions in energy bills.

Enhanced Security and Data Integrity Features

Security is paramount for enterprise storage. The Ultrastar DC HC555 includes support for Secure Erase (SE) and Instant Secure Erase (ISE) options, providing assurance that data can be safely and quickly rendered unrecoverable when decommissioning drives.

Protection Against Data Corruption

With Dual-stage Actuator (DSA) technology and advanced firmware error correction protocols, the drive ensures precise head positioning and high-fidelity data reads/writes. Integrated RV sensors mitigate rotational vibration, preserving data integrity in densely packed arrays.

The WUH722018CLE6L4 Ultrastar DC HC555

This drive excels across multiple verticals. From public cloud platforms to high-definition media production houses, the Ultrastar DC HC555 adapts to various environments with ease. Its enterprise-grade endurance, combined with cost-efficient storage scalability, positions it as a foundational component for any data-heavy operation.

Data-Intensive Use Cases

• Cloud and web-scale storage platforms
• Backup and disaster recovery solutions
• High-performance computing (HPC)
• Big data analytics and data warehousing
• Digital surveillance and video archiving
• Enterprise NAS and SAN systems

Mechanical and Environmental Specifications

The WUH722018CLE6L4 meets rigorous mechanical and environmental standards. Its shock resistance, acoustics, and operational temperature ranges are finely tuned for data center conditions. It operates reliably in temperatures between 5°C to 60°C, and can handle non-operational temperatures as low as -40°C.

Acoustics and Vibration Tolerance

Operating noise levels are capped at 36 dBA, maintaining a tolerable acoustic profile in data center racks. It also resists non-operational shock up to 250Gs for 2ms and operational vibration of 0.67G (5–500Hz), helping ensure system stability during transportation and operation.

Comparing Ultrastar DC HC555 to Other Enterprise HDDs

When compared to competitors, the HC555 offers a compelling mix of density, cost-efficiency, and technology leadership. Its helium-based architecture and high-capacity offering outperform traditional air-filled enterprise HDDs in several categories.

Advantages Over Traditional Enterprise Drives

• Lower TCO due to reduced cooling and power requirements
• More data per drive — minimizing server rack space
• Advanced firmware-level optimizations
• Robust error recovery mechanisms
• Superior vibration tolerance in multi-drive enclosures

Deployment Flexibility and Integration Scenarios

The WUH722018CLE6L4 integrates seamlessly into RAID arrays, NAS solutions, SANs, and scale-out object storage platforms. It supports ZFS, Windows Storage Spaces, Ceph, and other modern file systems. With its compatibility with common RAID levels (0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60), IT professionals can architect their infrastructure with confidence.

RAID Optimization Capabilities

This enterprise HDD is optimized for RAID configurations, supporting advanced error recovery algorithms like TLER (Time-Limited Error Recovery), reducing rebuild times, and preventing data inconsistencies during parity checks.

Green IT and Sustainability Benefits

With enterprises moving toward more sustainable operations, the HC555 provides environmentally-conscious performance. The helium technology reduces power draw and minimizes heat output, contributing to overall reductions in carbon footprint and data center overhead.

RoHS and Environmental Compliance

The drive is compliant with RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) standards, and Western Digital’s manufacturing process adheres to stringent environmental and quality assurance protocols, ensuring minimal ecological impact during production and operation.

Choosing the WUH722018CLE6L4 for Long-Term Scalability

For enterprises seeking a balance between cost per GB, high reliability, and system compatibility, the WUH722018CLE6L4 delivers. Its adoption supports long-term storage expansion, simplified architecture, and future-proofed data management strategies.