Is Toshiba’s 28TB hard disk drive too late to compete with Western Digital and Seagate?

Toshiba has recently unveiled its Mx11 family of hard disk drives, marking its entrance into the high-capacity storage market to compete with established players like Western Digital and Seagate.

The Mx11 series consists of two models – the MG11, offering up to 24TB using conventional magnetic recording (CMR), and the MA11, which goes up to 28TB with shingled magnetic recording (SMR). These drives are targeted towards data centers and enterprise environments where there is a growing need for large-scale storage solutions.

Both the MG11 and the MA11 feature a 10-disk, helium-sealed design and operate at 7,200rpm. Toshiba claims that these drives provide improved storage density and energy efficiency compared to traditional solutions.

Challenging the Status Quo

The MG11 is designed to cater to cloud, data center, and video applications, offering options for either a 6Gbps SATA or 12Gbps SAS interface. It also comes with advanced security features like sanitize instant erase (SIE) and self-encrypting drives (SED). The drive utilizes Toshiba’s FC-MAMR technology to achieve higher density and power efficiency. With a 1GiB buffer, a workload rating of 550TB per year, and an MTTF of 2.5 million hours, the MG11 is built for reliability. It boasts a 9% improvement in sustained transfer speeds, reaching up to 295MiB/s, making it ideal for fast, high-capacity storage applications.

On the other hand, the MA11 focuses on offering maximum capacity, reaching up to 28TB per disk through SMR technology. This innovative technique allows for overlapping tracks on the disk to increase storage density, making the 28TB drive particularly well-suited for data centers with software optimized for SMR. Like its counterpart, the MA11 is available with a 6Gbps SATA interface and self-encrypting drive options to enhance security.

“With a legacy of 50 years of HDD innovation, the Mx11 series sets new benchmarks in capacity and total cost of ownership (TCO) efficiency, empowering customers to optimize operational costs while expanding their data center infrastructure,” said Larry Martinez-Palomo, Vice President and Head of the Storage Products Division at Toshiba.

Despite its impressive offerings, Toshiba faces tough competition from industry giants like Seagate and Western Digital. Seagate boasts the Exos X26z, a 25TB host-managed shingled magnetic recording (HM-SMR) drive, and the Exos Mozaic 3+, a 30TB HDD. Western Digital, on the other hand, has the 24TB WD Gold Enterprise class SATA HDD and plans for larger capacity models in its Ultrastar DC HC680 range.

Shipments for the MG11 series are expected to commence soon, with the MA11 set to be available by the end of 2024.

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Conclusion:

In conclusion, Toshiba’s Mx11 series of hard disk drives represents a significant step forward in the high-capacity storage market. By introducing the MG11 and MA11 models, Toshiba aims to challenge the dominance of Western Digital and Seagate with innovative technologies and high-performance features. With a focus on storage density, energy efficiency, and reliability, the Mx11 series is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of data centers and enterprise environments. While facing stiff competition from established players, Toshiba’s commitment to HDD innovation and customer satisfaction sets it apart in the market. As we look towards the future, the Mx11 series promises to deliver cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency and productivity for businesses worldwide.