Data Backup Digest

Although Western Digital continues to dominate the disk-based storage niche, they are showing no signs of letting up. In fact, a recent announcement, which came in mid-July 2014, introduced several new NAS options to their already popular lineup of network-oriented storage devices.

WD Red

The biggest change seen in the WD Red series of drives is the fact that the drive is now available in capacities as large as 6 TB. These SATA-based hard drives are ideal for home computing or around the office. Their basic line, the WD Red 3.5", is now available in capacities ranging from 1 TB to 6 TB. For those with larger computational needs, including enterprises and large businesses, Western Digital offers the WD Red Pro line of 3.5" drives with capacities ranging from 2 TB to 4 TB.

Matt Rutledge, senior vice president and general manager with WD Storage Technology, spoke excitedly about WD's current product offerings as well as future developments. He was quoted as saying: "With the expansion and evolution of the WD Red family, WD once again is providing its loyal customers with increased capacity up to 6 TB; improved bay count support with up to 8 bays; increased product breadth with WD Red Pro; and more features with the latest generation of NASware technology. WD continues to listen to its customers and bring exciting innovation to the category they helped to create."

Finally, all hard drives with the WD Red line feature 3D Active Balance Plus, an internal control that provides greater overall drive performance. In the event that a problem does occur, Western Digital's dedicated technical support team is available 24 x 7 to troubleshoot and resolve any issues.

WD Green

Western Digital's WD Green series, which is known for drive quietness and low operating temperatures, was also expanded to include both 5 TB and 6 TB drives. These drives are immediately compatible with Western Digital systems such as My Cloud, My Cloud EX2, My Cloud EX4, My Cloud Mirror, My Book and My Book Duo. Moreover, the drives within the WD Green line are also compatible with a variety of third-party NAS devices.

NASware 3.0

Bolstering the performance of the WD Red drives even further is the introduction of Western Digital's own NASware 3.0, which is aimed at strengthening drive reliability and efficiency. Moreover, NASware 3.0 is able to maintain business continuity by minimizing downtimes and streamlining installation.

Shawn Shu, president of one of WD's launch partners, ASUSTOR, explained the need for such technologies as introduced by the development team with Western Digital. He was quoted in an interview as saying: "In the digital era of exponential data growth, the need for versatile cloud storage that integrates storage, backup and file sharing has never been greater. ASUSTOR NAS devices were created to meet these demands for both home and enterprise users alike. Innovative technology, an intuitive interface and compatibility for Windows, Mac and Unix operating systems make ASUSTOR NAS devices the optimal choice for creating a cloud storage space. When creating a cloud storage space, stable hard disk storage is an extremely important factor. NASware 3.0."