Overview
NAS Drives
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NAS Hard Drives for Demanding Workloads

Unlock a specialized class of NAS hard drives, purpose-built for 24/7 performance in home, small business, and datacenter RAID systems.

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NAS Hard Drives
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Key Features
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NAS Compatibility
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FAQs

Purpose-Built to Handle NAS Workloads

Standard desktop drives are not built for the unique demands of NAS environments. They can lack the durability, compatibility, and optimization needed for 24/7 continuous operation and multi-user access. WD Red NAS drives are purpose-built with specialized firmware, RAID support, and tested reliability—helping ensure data stays safe, accessible, and protected around the clock.

Why Choose WD Red NAS Drives?

24/7 Reliability

Purpose-built for 24/7 operation in multi-user NAS environments.

Scalable for Any Setup

Support NAS systems from 1 bay to unlimited bays (WD Red Pro), giving you the flexibility to scale as storage grows.

Advanced Data Protection

NASware™ firmware, built-in error recovery, and RAID optimization work together to protect data in case of power loss or drive failure.

Quiet, Cool Operation

Optimized for low acoustic output and efficient thermal performance—ideal for always-on NAS systems in home offices or server rooms.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Designed for long-term use, with energy efficiency and durability that help reduce maintenance and replacement costs.

Product Comparison: WD Red Plus vs WD Red Pro

Model

WD Red Plus Internal Network Attached Storage HDD 3.5

WD Red Plus

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WD Red Pro

WD Red Pro

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Ideal Use

Home & Small Business

SMBs & Enterprise

NAS Bay Support

Up to 8 bays

Unlimited bays

Workload Rating1

Up to 180TB/year

Up to 550TB/year

Key Technologies

NASware, CMR

NASware, CMR

Additional Features

• Dual-Plane Balance Control
• Error Recovery Control

• Multi-Axis Shock Sensors3
• Dynamic Fly Height Technology
• OptiNAND™ technology
• Dual-Plane Balance Control
• Error Recovery Control

Limited Warranty

3-Year

5-Year

Available Capacities2

Up to 12TB

Up to 26TB

QNAP NAS Enclosures Featuring WD Red

Looking for an all-in-one NAS solution? Western Digital has partnered with QNAP to offer pre-populated NAS enclosures featuring WD Red Plus or WD Red Pro drives.

Available in 2- and 4-bay configurations

Fully configured for plug-and-play performance

Ideal for home, office, and creative workflows

Explore QNAP + WD Red Bundles

Enhanced Mechanical and Firmware Features of WD Red Pro

WD Red Pro offers enterprise-grade protection and durability making it ideal for SMBs and high-performance NAS environments.

Multi-Axis Shock Sensors3

Monitor and mitigate vibrations and physical impacts that could affect drive performance in multi-bay NAS environments.

Dynamic Fly Height Technolog

Continuously adjusts the read/write head position in real time to maintain precision and minimize long-term wear on the drive.

Dual-Plane Balance Control

Improves overall drive stability during operation, minimizing vibrations across NAS systems with multiple drives.

Error Recovery Control

Optimized for RAID environments, this feature limits extended error recovery cycles by maintaining performance during error correction.

Use Cases by Environment

NAS for Family Use

Reliable, centralized storage for your family’s photos, videos, music, and more - powered by HDDs for Home NAS that deliver quiet operation and easy access.

Recommended drive: WD Red Plus

NAS for Home and Small Business

Reliable, robust data storage and collaboration for creative professionals and SMBs. Choose from NAS HDDs for Small Business that support secure backups, file sharing, and everyday workloads.

Recommended drive: WD Red Plus or WD Red Pro

NAS for Enterprise Workloads

Enterprise-grade Enterprise NAS HDDs built for 24/7 performance, RAID-intensive environments, and scalable multi-user workflows in high-demand NAS systems.

Recommended drive: WD Red Pro

NAS System Compatibility

Validated Across Leading NAS Platforms, WD Red Drives are compatibility-tested with popular NAS hardware and components including: host bus adapters, RAID controller cards, and enclosures from many major providers. Click on the NAS provider names below to view their compatibility lists and validated configurations.

Trusted by Professionals Around the World

Case Study

WD Red Plus Drives Deliver Optimized Performance for NAS Environment of Digital Startups

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Case Study

Ecole Emile Cohl uses WD Red Pro Drives to improve NAS performance, compatibility and reliability

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SOLUTIONS BRIEF

QNAP Partners with Western Digital to Deliver NAS Solutions that Meet the Needs of Content Creators

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SOLUTIONS BRIEF

ASUSTOR Partners with Western Digital to Deliver High-Performance and Large-Capacity NAS Solutions

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On WD Red NAS Drives

We are now making it easier forusers to match the right drive withtheir applications and workloads–from moderate small office/home office (SOHO) workloads to intensive small and medium business(SMB) use, as well as more demanding environments.

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Great CompatibilityExcellent performance and easy installation you can’t ask for much more.

- Dr. Bryant PhD

Frequently Asked Questions

Possibly, but desktop drives lack NAS-specific firmware, RAID optimization, and may not have the durability required for continuous 24/7 operation.

Desktop Drives WD Red NAS Drives
✕ Typically not designed for 24/7 use ✔ Optimized for always-on operation
✕ Typically no RAID support ✔ RAID-ware firmware with recovery control
✕ Prone to vibration issues ✔ Tested for vibration resistance in multi-drive setups
✕ May cause system downtime ✔ Engineered for high uptime and reliability
✕ Generic compatibility ✔ OEM-tested with most major NAS vendors

WD Red drives are engineered to support a wide range of data environments — from home storage solutions to enterprise collaboration.

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Disclosures

  1. Workload Rate is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the harddrive. Workload Rate is annualized, that’s TB transferred ✕ (8760 / recorded power-onhours). Workload Rate will vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.
  2. 1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less,depending on operating environment.
  3. Multi-axis shock sensors on 22TB and greater.
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