Guía de compra de discos duros para servidores: todo lo que necesita saber

Selecting the perfect Servidor HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is crucial for maximizing your server’s efficiency, reliability, and overall performance. Enterprise hard drives, such as those from Western Digital, offer industry-leading reliability and high-quality performance, making them essential for managing critical data in business environments and data centers.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different types of Servidor HDD and solid-state drives, connection interfaces, capacity considerations, warranties, and more. By understanding these elements, you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision that aligns with your server’s unique requirements.

Pro Tip: Always confirm that your chosen Server HDD is compatible with your server’s hardware and supported by critical software environments such as VMware and other enterprise operating systems.

Explore Different Types of Server HDD and Storage

SSD

Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are lightning-fast server drives powered by flash-based technology. While they come with a higher price tag, they’re ideal for operating system drives, caching, and high-performance applications.

• NVMe SSDs: The latest evolution of SSDs, offering faster read/write speeds compared to traditional SATA SSDs. These are perfect for latency-sensitive tasks and data-intensive workloads.

HDD

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) are slower than SSDs but remain the staple for Server HDD setups due to their cost-effectiveness and larger capacities, making them ideal storage solutions for various server environments and configurations. HDDs are ready for various server environments and configurations.

• Helium-Filled Drives & SMR: Modern enterprise HDD innovations that increase storage density and reduce power consumption.
• Enterprise HDDs: Built for high-performance and reliability, making them ideal for critical data storage in data centers and large-scale applications.

Flash Storage (SD, Micro SD, USB Drives)

Flash storage devices are portable, compact solutions suitable for low-capacity requirements or backups. However, their lower performance and durability compared to SSDs and HDDs make them less ideal as primary Server HDD substitutes.

U.2 SSDs

A newer interface combining NVMe’s high-speed performance with the 2.5″ form factor, U.2 SSDs are easy to integrate into existing server infrastructure and support hot-swappable functionality.

Optane

Developed by Intel, Optane technology blends aspects of SSD and DRAM, delivering extremely high-speed storage with minimal latency. It’s ideal for caching, tiering, or standalone storage in high-performance computing environments.

Further Reading: Learn more about enterprise storage solutions from Seagate o Western Digital.

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Various Connection Types for Server HDD and SSD

IDE/PATA

An outdated connection type using a 40-pin connector, no longer in use for modern servers.

SCSI

A legacy technology largely superseded by Serial Attached SCSI (SAS).

SAS

High-speed, reliable drives available in 10k and 15k RPM, suitable for operating systems and frequently accessed data. SAS is ideal for primary storage due to its speed and reliability.

SATA

Primarily used for secondary storage with infrequent data access. SATA drives offer lower cost per GB and larger capacities (especially in 3.5″ form factors).

PCIe

Less common for HDD but increasingly popular for SSDs, offering throughput up to 12GB/s in modern iterations. PCIe-based storage can significantly outperform traditional interfaces like SAS and SATA.

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Hot Swap vs. Non Hot Swap Server HDD

Whether a Server HDD can be hot-swapped depends on the server’s disk controller, drive caddy, and RAID configuration:

• Non-Hot Swap Drives: Found in entry-level servers, requiring the system to power down for drive replacement.
• Hot Swap Drives: Allow drive replacement or addition without server downtime, thanks to RAID-configured redundancy.

Tip: Verify that your Server HDD caddies and RAID controllers fully support hot-swappable features to avoid surprise downtime.

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SFF (2.5″) Drives vs. LFF (3.5″) Drives and NVMe Drives

SFF (2.5″) Drives

Common in mid-to-high-end servers (usually SAS or SATA), the 2.5″ form factor offers more capacity options, higher spin speeds (10k or 15k RPM), and enables a greater number of drives within the same server footprint.

LFF (3.5″) Drives

Ideal for larger capacity and typically use the SATA interface, making them cost-effective for big storage requirements without needing SAS-level speeds.

NVMe Drives

A newer protocol that operates via the PCIe interface. NVMe offers significantly faster data transfer rates and lower latency compared to traditional SSDs. They come in various form factors (U.2, M.2) and deliver a considerable performance advantage for demanding server applications.

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6G vs. 12G Server HDD: Performance and Speed in Modern Storage

Throughput speed, measured in Gigabits per second (Gb/s), is crucial for Server HDD performance and data transfer rates:

• 12G SAS (4800MB/s theoretical)
• 6G SAS (2400MB/s theoretical)
• 3G SAS (1200MB/s theoretical)

Real-world performance depends on your controller card, SAS expander, drives, and RAID configuration. The introduction of 12G SAS controller cards has led to noticeable performance improvements over 6G setups.

Drive Speed	Single Track – ms	Average – ms	Full-Stroke – ms
6G	0.3	4.6	8.9
12G	0.1	3.7	7.3
Note: Seek times vary based on how far the read/write heads must move. Rotation speeds also affect access times (rotational latency).

Rotational Latency

Rotational latency is the delay while waiting for the disk to spin the required sector under the read/write head. Higher RPM reduces latency:

HDD Spindle (rpm)	Average Rotational Latency (ms)
4,200	7.14
5,400	5.56
7,200	4.17
10,000	3.00
15,000	2.00

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SSD vs. HDD: Key Differences

	Hard Disk Drive (HDD)	Solid State Drive (SSD)
Velocidad	Higher latency, slower read/write, fewer IOPS	Lower latency, faster read/write, more IOPS
Heat & Noise	Requires more power, generates heat and noise due to rotating platters	Lower power consumption, no moving parts, minimal heat or noise
Fragmentation	Prone to performance drops if fragmented; needs periodic defragmentation	Not affected by fragmentation, no defragmentation needed
Components	Spinning platters, spindle, motor, read/write heads	No moving parts; essentially memory chips (controller, cache, capacitor)
Weight	Heavier due to internal mechanical components	Lighter, as there are no rotating disks or motors
Vibration	Susceptible to crashes/damage from vibration	Can withstand vibration up to 2000Hz, far exceeding HDD resilience

While SSDs offer faster read/write speeds, HDDs are often preferred for their data integrity and reliability in long-term storage.

Additional Considerations for SSD vs. Server HDD Cost: SSDs are more expensive than SAS/SATA HDDs. Performance: Flash I/O performance can be 40-60 times greater than SAS/SATA. Endurance: SSDs have limited read/write cycles, while SAS/SATA do not. Capacity: SATA/SAS HDDs generally offer higher maximum capacities. Cost per GB: Higher for SSD compared to HDD. Seek Time: Typically 0.08–0.16 ms for SSDs. IOPS Boost: SSDs significantly increase input/output operations (IOPS).

Example RAID Comparison

	Capacity	IOPS
SSD 300GB x 4
RAID 10	536 GB	30,769
RAID 5	804 GB	21,053
SAS 300GB 10K x 4
RAID 10	536 GB	385
RAID 5	804 GB	263
SAS 300GB 15K x 4
RAID 10	536 GB	600
RAID 5	804 GB	411

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Drive Warranties and Refurbished Server HDD

When purchasing a Server HDD, always review the warranty provided by the manufacturer or vendor to ensure the reliability of the drive. A solid warranty offers peace of mind and potential replacements or repairs if the drive fails within the coverage period.

• Refurbished Drives: Often come with shorter warranties or limited coverage. Evaluate your risk tolerance and budget to determine if refurbished drives are a viable option for your environment.

Understanding Server HDD Capacities and RAID Configurations

Capacity options range from smaller SSDs (a few hundred GB) to large-capacity HDDs (several TB). When selecting drives:

• Assess Required Storage: Evaluate data needs and performance expectations.
• Consider RAID Requirements: Some RAID levels need a minimum number of drives with matching capacities for optimal performance and data protection.
• Software Compatibility: Ensure drive compatibility within VMware, other hypervisors, and enterprise operating systems for seamless integration.

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Maintenance and Monitoring of Your Server HDD

Proactive maintenance and monitoring can extend the lifespan and reliability of any Server HDD:

1. Routine Health Checks: Regularly examine drive health and performance metrics.
2. Firmware Updates: Keep drive firmware updated to ensure optimal compatibility and performance.
3. Drive Temperature Monitoring: High temperatures can severely impact lifespan and reliability.
4. Robust Monitoring Tools: Implement real-time tracking of drive status to preemptively address potential failures.

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Scalability and Future Growth

Your current storage needs might change as your organization expands. Plan ahead by:

• Leaving Room for Additional Drives: Ensure your server chassis can accommodate more drives if necessary.
• Upgrading Paths: Opt for models that allow larger capacity drives or faster interfaces down the road.
• Balanced Approach: Weigh performance against capacity to maintain flexibility as data demands grow.

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Data Security and Encryption

Security is paramount for any organization. Some Server HDD models include built-in encryption:

• Drive-Level Encryption: Protects sensitive data if a drive is removed or lost.
• Compliance Requirements: If your industry mandates certain levels of encryption, confirm that your chosen drives meet these standards.

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Server HDD: Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Server HDD involves evaluating your server’s requirements, from drive type and connection interface to capacity, speed, and security features. By considering these factors—and planning for future growth—you can invest in a solution that delivers optimal performance, reliability, and data protection for your organization.

Need more information? Check out this HDD Guide or consult additional resources to compare various Server HDD products and ensure the best match for your infrastructure.

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By following this Server HDD Buying Guide, you’ll be better positioned to make informed decisions that maximize performance and reliability in your server environment.