The explosion of generative artificial intelligence, disaggregated storage architectures, and new data sovereignty laws are transforming how companies design their infrastructure. In this context, Seagate Technology has introduced its new systems, Seagate Exos® 4U100 and 4U74 JBOD, two large-scale storage platforms designed for data-centric environments both in data centers and at the edge of the network.
The flagship model, Exos 4U100, offers up to 3.2 petabytes of capacity in a single 4U chassis, which the company claims as the most comprehensive high-density system in a single chassis on the market. It is optimized for workloads related to AI and machine learning, as well as for advanced analytics scenarios and long-term retention of large data volumes.
Generative AI drives storage demand… and changes its requirements
According to an IDC study sponsored by Seagate, 78% of organizations are already generating new types of AI-driven content, with a significant increase in storage demand as projects based on generative models accelerate.
The question is no longer whether data volume will grow, but how to leverage that growth to create value. As Adam Wright, research lead at IDC, points out, the challenge is translating those petabytes into concrete competitive advantages.
Beyond volume, other factors are redefining the road map for enterprise storage:
- Data sovereignty: privacy and protection regulations in multiple regions require local storage and processing of data, especially in regulated sectors.
- On-prem AI and edge computing: many organizations are shifting part of AI processing from the public cloud to hybrid and distributed setups, where data is analyzed closer to where it originates.
- Disaggregated architectures: increasing interest in separating compute and storage, creating “pools” of massive data accessible from multiple environments.
All this demands systems that combine high capacity, advanced security, energy efficiency, and scalability, both in large data centers and at edge locations.
Exos 4U100: up to 3.2 PB per chassis with Mozaic HAMR technology
The Seagate Exos 4U100 is the company’s solution for these scenarios. Key features include:
- Market-leading capacity: up to 3.2 petabytes in a single 4U chassis, engineered end-to-end by Seagate to support current and next-generation disks.
- Mozaic™ HAMR Technology: incorporates Seagate’s latest HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) disks, allowing significantly higher density without compromising reliability.
- Designed for AI and ML workflows: supports frequent model checkpointing, continuous data ingestion, and long-term retention, critical for complex training and constant learning AI systems.
The platform is designed for roles as a central data lake and for edge systems requiring massive local capacity for real-time analytics (such as video, sensors, production logs, or industrial telemetry).
“The Exos 4U100 marks the beginning of a bold chapter in edge storage innovation,” states Melyssa Banda, Senior Vice President of Edge Storage and Services at Seagate. “It’s not just a product; it’s a demonstration of Seagate’s commitment to helping organizations store more data for longer, while evaluating the value that information can provide for future decisions.”
Energy and operational efficiency: 70% better cooling and 30% lower power consumption
As data center energy consumption comes under scrutiny, Seagate highlights the improvements of the Exos 4U100 in terms of efficiency:
- Up to 70% more efficient in cooling compared to previous generations.
- Approximately 30% reduction in power consumption.
This not only reduces energy costs but also impacts rack density, carbon footprint, and operational costs for large deployments.
Practically, the system is designed to:
- Integrate into various rack depths,
- Allow tool-less access for maintenance,
- Speed up installation in both traditional data centers and edge sites with physical space constraints.
Exos 4U74: high-density SAS-4 for disaggregated architectures
Alongside the 4U100, Seagate introduces the Exos 4U74 JBOD, sharing the high-density philosophy and SAS-4 connectivity for disaggregated architectures. Both systems:
- Offer flexible configurations supporting SAS or SATA disks,
- Are designed to integrate with a broad range of servers and controllers,
- Target environments seeking clear separation of compute and storage, such as AI clusters, massive analytics platforms, or ultra-capacity backup/archive solutions.
Enterprise security and compliance for sovereign data
In a landscape where data sovereignty is paramount, Seagate incorporates features into these systems aimed at protection and compliance:
- Secure boot: ensures firmware integrity.
- Seagate Secure™: includes encryption capabilities and related certifications.
- Support for Redfish: the hardware management and monitoring standard based on APIs.
- Design optimized for environments needing to meet sovereign data regulations and other data protection standards.
This makes the Exos 4U100 and 4U74 natural choices for deployments where legal requirements regarding data residency and controlled access are as critical as raw capacity.
Availability and channels
Seagate has announced that the Exos 4U100 and 4U74 JBOD systems will be available next quarter through its partner and authorized distributor network worldwide, including in Spain.
For integrators, managed service providers, and end customers, the company positions these solutions as:
- A way to consolidate large data volumes into less physical space.
- A pillar for modernizing infrastructure ahead of AI, advanced analytics, or software-defined storage projects.
- A key element in hybrid and edge strategies, where some processing must be performed close to the data source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What use cases is the Seagate Exos 4U100 designed for?
It targets large-scale AI/ML environments, data lakes, high-capacity backup systems, video analytics, industrial telemetry, and generally any scenario needing petabytes of storage in a single chassis with good energy efficiency and readiness for the edge.
What advantages does Mozaic HAMR technology offer over traditional disks?
HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) technology enables higher data densities per platter without sacrificing reliability, resulting in more TB per disk and thus more capacity per rack.
How do the Exos 4U100 and 4U74 models differ?
Both are high-density JBOD systems, but 4U100 is the flagship capable of reaching up to 3.2 PB in a single chassis with the latest Mozaic HAMR innovations, whereas 4U74 offers high capacity SAS-4 for more traditional disaggregated architectures.
How do these systems fit into data sovereignty strategies?
By supporting massive on-premises or local data center storage with security and management features, they help meet data residency, encryption, and auditing requirements in regulated industries or countries with strict digital sovereignty laws.
With the Exos 4U family, Seagate advances its role as a key provider of massive storage solutions for an economy increasingly dependent on data, AI, and real-time analytics, both in large data centers and at the network edge.
Source: Seagate