Seagate Launches 2-TB Storage Array Drive

Seagate Technology has introduced a 3.5-inch, 2-TB storage array drive less than a week after rival Western Digital.

The Seagate Constellation ES drive for nearline storage applications will also be available in 500-GB and 1-TB capacities. The new products, which replace the Barracuda ES, have 500-GB platters and are available with either SAS or SATA interfaces.

Seagate on Monday also introduced a 2.5-inch Constellation drive for organizations that need a smaller form factor. The drives are available in capacities of 160 GB and 500 GB with both 3-Gbps SATA and 6-Gbps SAS 2.0 interfaces.

Both Constellation models come with Seagate's PowerChoice technology that allows IT pros to set the drives at particular operation modes during specific tasks in order to reduce overall power consumption.

The Constellation line also is available with optional self-encrypting technology, which simplifies the process of disposal by making data in the retired drive inaccessible. The drives have a reliability rating of 1.2 million hours of mean time between failures.

The 3.5-inch Constellation ES is scheduled to be available in the third quarter. The 2.5-inch Constellation model is scheduled to ship this quarter. Pricing was not disclosed.

Seagate rival Western Digital introduced its 2-TB Caviar drive last week. The drive spins at 5,400 RPM and comes with a SATA interface. The WD drive is available with a manufacturer suggested retail price of $299.

WD and Seagate are the world's largest hard-disk drive suppliers, accounting for about 60% of the market. Neither company, however, has been immune from the economic downturn.

WD in December announced plans to cut 5% of its workforce, or 2,500 employees, to cut costs. Seagate in January said it would cut around 10% of its U.S. workforce. The company employs about 54,000 people, with the majority working in the United States.

Seagate last month released a fix for firmware problems in its 1-TB Barracuda drive. The flaw caused the hard drives to stop working.