Western Digital has updated its Network Attached Storage-focused WD Red range of hard drives with new capacities and models. The main WD Red line now includes drives with 5-terabyte and 6-terabyte capacities, while the new WD Red Pro drive line is aimed at medium to large businesses, including a few additions to help in an enterprise environment.
Aside from larger capacities, the WD Red line introduces a new NASware 3.0 firmware, an update including a 3D Active Balance system, which is said to improve reliability and performance. The firmware also introduces support for NAS systems with up to eight bays, rather than the earlier 5-bay limited suggested by the drive producer.
WD Red Pro
WD Red Pro includes support for storage systems with between 8 and 16 bays, though it will also work with fewer bays. The 3.5-inch, 7,200rpm drives connect using SATA 6, and while it will have the same 3D Active Balance system as the new WD Red drives, it will also include hardware vibration compensation, making it more suitable for larger installations. A five-year warranty is also supplied with WD Red Pro drives, rather than the three-year version in the WD Red.
The new 5TB and 6TB WD Red drives are shipping now for $250 and $300 respectively. The WD Red Pro range of 2TB, 3TB, and 4TB drives ship at the same time, each priced at $160, $200, and $260
