Understanding Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) in Hard Disk Drives

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Understanding Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) in Hard Disk Drives

23 August 2024 Jennifer Thatcher Technology Manager of Test Dept.

Summary
The article discusses the Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) as a crucial metric for assessing the reliability of hard disk drives (HDDs). AFR indicates the likelihood of a drive failing within a year. By analyzing data from Backblaze, the article provides insights into how different manufacturers' drives, such as those from HGST and Seagate, perform over time. This information helps stakeholders make informed decisions about purchasing, investing, and managing risks in data storage technologies.

Table of contents

AFR Analysis by Manufacturer

HGST Drives
Seagate Drives
Toshiba Drives
Western Digital Drives

Why HDD AFRs Should Steer You Somewhere Else

Factors Affecting AFR

How to Calculate Annual Failure Rate

Use Renee Becca to migrate Windows 10 system for upgrading Disk drives

Conclusion

Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) is a critical metric used to determine the reliability of hard disk drives (HDDs). It represents the percentage chance that any given drive will fail over the course of one year. This article delves into the intricacies of AFR, leveraging extensive data from Backblaze, a cloud backup provider, to provide a comprehensive analysis. By understanding AFR, stakeholders can make informed decisions regarding purchasing, investment, and risk management, especially in the context of evolving data storage technologies.

AFR Analysis by Manufacturer

HGST Drives

HGST drives show early failure rates that settle into a random failure portion. Some models start showing wear-out phases after 3.5 years, indicating a predictable pattern of reliability over time.

Seagate Drives

Seagate’s X10 NM86 drive shows a growing failure rate from around the one-year mark. The X12 NM7 drive had high failure rates leading to decommissioning. However, the X16 series shows improved reliability with AFRs around 1%.

Toshiba Drives

Toshiba drives exhibit higher early failure rates but maintain below 1% AFR after a few months. Some models show AFRs as low as 0.5%, suggesting good long-term reliability after the initial period.

Western Digital Drives

Western Digital drives, particularly the HC530 and HC550 ranges, show impressive reliability. Some models meet or exceed their stated AFRs, with AFRs as low as 0.13%.

Best are in order: WD, HGST, TOSHIBA, Seagate

Why HDD AFRs Should Steer You Somewhere Else

AFR is an important metric for product reliability, providing valuable insights into the likelihood of product failures within a specific timeframe and allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding purchasing, investment, and risk management. However, in the world of HDDs, AFRs show that a new age of data storage is upon us. With AFRs of 1.54%-3%, newer technologies like DirectFlash® Modules seem to be a better choice. Flash technology can deliver more than eight times the throughput at the device level and have an annualized failure rate up to 10 times lower with twice the useful life.

Factors Affecting AFR

Hard drive reliability is closely related to temperature. By operational design, the ambient temperature is 86°F. Temperatures above 122°F or below 41°F decrease reliability. Directed airflow up to 150 linear feet/min. is recommended for high-speed drives. The failure rate does not include drive returns with “no trouble found”, excessive shock failure, or handling damage.

How to Calculate Annual Failure Rate

The following steps outline how to calculate the Annual Failure Rate:

1. Determine the number of failures (F).

2. Determine the number of units tested (U).

3. Determine the time period over which the units were tested (T) in years.

4. Use the formula: AFR = (F / (U * T)) * 100.

Example Problem:

- Number of failures (F) = 5

- Number of units tested (U) = 100

- Time period (T) = 2 years

AFR = (5/(100*2)) * 100 = 2.5

Use Renee Becca to migrate Windows 10 system for upgrading Disk drives

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With the help of Renee Becca, it is very convenient to migrate the Windows 10 system to the hard disk of other computers, making it a system disk. The specific steps are as follows:

Step 1: Connect the hard disk of other computers to the original computer through an external hard disk box. Download and install Renee Becca on the original computer, and select the “System Redeploy” option in the main interface under the “Clone” column.

connect disk to another computer with enclosure

select system redeploy function in clone

Step 2: In the “System Migration” window, choose a new hard disk as the target location and the system partition as the source. Click “Redeploy” to start the process. Wait for the progress bar to reach 100% to indicate successful migration. Install the new hard disk on other computers and set it as the first boot device in the BIOS. Check and adjust the settings in the BIOS if needed.

select a destination to redeploy system with renee becca

Kind tips: The total capacity of the new hard disk needs to be greater than the size of the system to be migrated; in addition, since all data in the target disk will be erased during the system migration, please check whether the target disk exists before the official system migration. Important data, and make file backups in advance. If you want to migrate all the data of the original system hard disk (not just the system partition) to the new hard disk, you can also choose the (hard disk clone/clone system hard disk) function.

Conclusion

Understanding Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) is crucial for assessing the reliability of hard disk drives and making informed decisions about data storage solutions. While traditional HDDs still play a significant role, newer technologies like DirectFlash® Modules offer promising alternatives with lower AFRs and higher performance. By leveraging AFR data, businesses can optimize their storage strategies, ensuring reliability and efficiency in their operations.