Overview
The Seagate ST20000NM007H is a 20TB, 3.5-inch enterprise hard drive from the Exos X24 family. Designed for data centres, enterprise servers, and high-capacity storage systems, it features a SAS 12Gb/s interface, 7200RPM rotational speed, 512MB cache, and Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR). Seagate Instant Secure Erase (ISE) technology supports secure drive retirement and reuse in compatible environments.
Key Features
- 20TB capacity: High-density storage for enterprise data, business applications, and large datasets.
- SAS 12Gb/s interface: Designed for compatible enterprise SAS controllers and storage backplanes.
- 7200RPM performance: Supports demanding enterprise storage workloads.
- 512MB cache: Helps manage data during read and write operations.
- CMR recording technology: Conventional Magnetic Recording supports a wide range of enterprise workloads.
- Instant Secure Erase: Provides a supported method for sanitising drive data during decommissioning or redeployment.
- Helium-sealed design: Supports the drive's high-capacity internal architecture.
- Enterprise reliability features: Includes SuperParity, PowerChoice, PowerBalance, and RSA 3072 firmware verification.
Applications
- Enterprise servers and SAS storage arrays
- Data centre and cloud infrastructure
- High-capacity direct-attached storage systems
- Business data repositories and backup environments
- Large-scale enterprise storage deployments
Compatibility
The ST20000NM007H uses a SAS 12Gb/s interface and requires a compatible SAS host controller, backplane, or storage enclosure. It is not a standard SATA drive and should not be selected for a system that only supports SATA drives. Before installation, verify support for 20TB capacity, the required sector format, and any RAID or storage-controller restrictions.
Reliability and Data Security
The Exos X24 platform is rated for a 2.5-million-hour mean time between failures (MTBF), a 0.35% annualised failure rate (AFR), and a 550TB-per-year workload under specified conditions. Additional features include SuperParity, PowerChoice idle power technology, PowerBalance power/performance technology, and RSA 3072 firmware verification. Instant Secure Erase is a data-sanitisation feature; this standard ISE model is distinct from the self-encrypting drive (SED) and FIPS variants.
DC Supplies Product Note
Confirm the complete model number and interface before ordering. The ST20000NM007H is the 20TB Exos X24 SAS model with Instant Secure Erase. It differs from the ST20000NM005H SED model and ST20000NM006H SED-FIPS model. Instant Secure Erase does not mean the drive is the SED or SED-FIPS variant.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | Seagate |
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| Part Number MPN | ST20000NM007H |
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| Product Type | Enterprise Internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD) |
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| Product Family | Exos X24 |
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| Storage Capacity | 20TB |
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| Form Factor | 3.5-inch |
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| Interface | SAS 12Gb/s |
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| Interface Ports | Dual-port SAS |
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| Rotational Speed | 7200RPM |
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| Cache | 512MB |
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| Recording Technology | Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR) |
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| Data Sanitisation | Instant Secure Erase (ISE) |
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| Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) | No; standard ISE model |
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| Helium-Sealed Design | Yes |
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| Maximum Sustained Transfer Rate | Up to 285MB/s |
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| Random Read / Write Performance | 168 / 550 IOPS at 4K QD16 WCD, as specified by Seagate |
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| Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) | 2,500,000 hours |
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| Annualised Failure Rate (AFR) | 0.35% |
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| Annual Workload Rating | 550TB/year |
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| Nonrecoverable Read Errors | Less than 1 per 1015 bits read |
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| Sector Formats | 512e and 4Kn; supported sector-size options depend on configuration |
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| Hot-Plug Support | Yes, in a compatible system |
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| Operating Temperature | 5°C ambient / 60°C drive-reported |
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| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 26.1 × 101.85 × 147mm maximum |
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| Weight | Approximately 685g |
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| Limited Warranty | 5 years, subject to Seagate warranty terms and regional availability |
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the capacity of the Seagate ST20000NM007H?
This enterprise hard drive provides 20TB of nominal storage capacity.
2. Does the ST20000NM007H use SATA or SAS?
It uses a dual-port SAS 12Gb/s interface and requires compatible SAS infrastructure.
3. How fast is this hard drive?
The drive operates at 7200RPM and offers a manufacturer-rated maximum sustained transfer rate of up to 285MB/s.
4. Does this model support Instant Secure Erase?
Yes. The ST20000NM007H is the standard Exos X24 SAS model featuring Instant Secure Erase.
5. Is the ST20000NM007H a self-encrypting drive?
No. It is the standard ISE model, distinct from the ST20000NM005H SED and ST20000NM006H SED-FIPS variants.
6. Can this drive be installed in a SATA-only system?
No. The drive requires a compatible SAS controller or SAS storage enclosure. Check system compatibility before purchasing.
