Description
Product overview for the Seagate ST4000NM003A
In the rapidly evolving landscape of data storage, hard disk drives (HDDs) play a crucial role in providing vast storage capacities for various applications. One notable contender in this domain is the Seagate ST4000NM003A 4TB 7.2K RPM SAS 12GBPS Exos 7e8 256mb Buffer 512n 3.5-inch Hard Disk Drive. This article aims to delve into the intricacies of this specific HDD, shedding light on its key features, specifications, and the technological advancements it brings to the table.
Overview of Seagate ST4000NM003A
The Seagate ST4000NM003A is a 4TB hard disk drive designed for professional use, boasting 7,200 revolutions per minute (RPM) spindle speed. Its compatibility with Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) technology, operating at 12 gigabits per second (GBPS), positions it as a high-performance storage solution. The Exos 7e8 designation signifies its inclusion in Seagate’s Exos enterprise-class series, emphasizing reliability and scalability for demanding storage environments.
Key Features
- Capacity and Form Factor: The ST4000NM003A offers a capacious 4TB storage, making it suitable for applications demanding substantial data retention. With a 3.5-inch form factor, it aligns with industry standards, fitting seamlessly into a variety of storage arrays and server configurations.
- Rotational Speed (RPM): Operating at 7,200 RPM, this HDD provides a balanced blend of speed and reliability. The rotational speed is a critical factor influencing data access times and overall performance, especially in scenarios where quick data retrieval is paramount.
- SAS Interface: The integration of SAS technology ensures a robust and high-speed data transfer interface. With a 12GBPS data transfer rate, this HDD is well-suited for enterprise-level applications where rapid and consistent data access is crucial.
- Buffer Size: The ST4000NM003A incorporates a sizable 256MB buffer, enhancing its ability to handle large amounts of data efficiently. The buffer acts as a temporary storage area, facilitating smoother data transfers and reducing latency.
- 512n Format: The 512n format refers to the sector size of the HDD, and in this case, it is 512 bytes. This format is widely compatible with various systems and applications, ensuring seamless integration into existing infrastructure.
Technological Advancements
- Helium Sealed-Drive Design: Seagate employs a helium-sealed drive design in the Exos 7e8 series, including the ST4000NM003A. Helium, being lighter than air, reduces air resistance within the drive enclosure, resulting in lower power consumption and heat generation. This design contributes to improved overall drive efficiency and longevity.
- PowerBalance Technology: The PowerBalance technology implemented in Seagate Exos drives aims to optimize power consumption without compromising performance. This feature allows users to fine-tune the power usage of the drive, striking a balance between energy efficiency and operational requirements.
- Secure Downloads & Diagnostics: Seagate offers secure downloads and diagnostics for its Exos drives, ensuring that users can access firmware updates and conduct thorough diagnostics without compromising data security. Regular firmware updates are crucial for addressing potential vulnerabilities and improving overall drive performance.
- Enterprise-Class Reliability: As a part of Seagate’s Exos enterprise-class series, the ST4000NM003A is engineered for reliability. These drives undergo rigorous testing and adhere to strict quality standards, making them suitable for use in mission-critical environments where data integrity is of utmost importance.
Use Cases
- Data Centers: The high capacity, fast data transfer rates, and enterprise-grade reliability make the Seagate ST4000NM003A ideal for data center deployments. It can handle the demanding workloads of modern data centers, ensuring seamless data access and storage management.
- Enterprise Storage Systems: Integrated into enterprise storage systems, the Exos 7e8 series drives can contribute to creating scalable and robust storage infrastructures. The combination of high capacity and SAS interface makes these drives suitable for applications that require a balance of storage space and performance.
- Video Surveillance: The ST4000NM003A’s capacity and reliability also make it suitable for video surveillance systems. With the ability to store large amounts of high-resolution video data and the performance to support simultaneous access, it meets the requirements of modern surveillance applications.
- Backup and Archiving: For backup and archiving purposes, where large volumes of data need to be stored reliably for extended periods, the ST4000NM003A’s capacity and enterprise-class features make it a compelling choice.
General Information about the Seagate ST4000NM003A
- Manufacturer: Seagate
- Model Number or SKU# ST4000NM003A
- Type: Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
- Product Type: SAS 12GBPS
Key Features for the 4TB SAS 12GBPS Hard Drive
- Storage Capacity: 4 TB
- Enclosure: Internal
- Interface: SAS-12Gbps
- Bytes Per Sector: 512N
- Drive Dimensions: 3.5 Inch
- MTBF: 2 Million Hours
- Humidity Sensor: Yes
- Super Parity: Yes
- Low Halogen: Yes
- PowerChoice™ Technology: Yes
- Advanced Write Caching (2M Internal NOR Flash): Yes
Best-Fit Applications
- Hyperscale Applications/Cloud Data Centers
- Massive Scale-Out Data Centers
- OLTP and HPC Applications
- High-Capacity Density RAID Storage
- Mainstream Enterprise External Storage Arrays
- Distributed File Systems, including Hadoop and Ceph
- Enterprise Backup and Restore—D2D, Virtual Tape
- Centralized Surveillance
Drive Performance
- Interface Access Speed (GB/s): 12.0, 6.0, 3.0
- Max. Sustained Transfer Rate: 215 Mbps
- Average Latency: 4.16 ms
- Interface Ports: Dual
- Buffer: 256 MB
- Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
In general, the Seagate ST4000NM003A 4TB 7.2K RPM SAS 12GBPS Exos 7e8 256mb Buffer 512n 3.5-inch Hard Disk Drive stands out as a robust and high-performance storage solution. Its combination of impressive capacity, rotational speed, SAS interface, and advanced technologies such as helium-sealed drive design and PowerBalance make it well-suited for a variety of professional applications. Whether deployed in data centers, enterprise storage systems, video surveillance, or backup and archiving scenarios, this HDD exemplifies Seagate’s commitment to providing reliable and scalable storage solutions for the evolving needs of the digital era.
