Storage: Difference between revisions

Storage (view source)

Revision as of 16:19, 13 December 2023

1,366 bytes added , 13 December 2023

→‎Secure erase: describe different modes in detail

Georg

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 Everything on the disk is overwritten with randomly generated patterns, making attempts to recover data (near to) impossible.
-Allegro Packets utilizes the SATA (extended) secure erase instruction set, for SATA disks that support it.
+After the secure erase process, a disk needs to be formatted before use.
-For NVME type SSDs, Allegro Packets utilizes the "Cryptographic Erase" instruction set.
+=== SATA secure erase ===
+If selected in the dialog,  disks will be the SATA (extended) secure erase instruction set, for SATA disks that support it. SATA secure erase is a special operation which works on the disk hardware layer (part of the SATA standard).
-NOTE: The erasing may take several hours, depending on the size and the speed of the disk. After the secure erase process, a disk needs to be formatted before use.
+For SSDs:
+* this is a very fast operation (some seconds)
+* if both SATA secure erase and SATA enhanced secure erase are supported, both will be performed, leaving the disk with all bytes zeroed
+For HDDs:
+* the erase of a rotational drive can take several hours or days, because they have to wipe the data from the magnetic disk sequentially. During this time the drive might look as if it is defect. There is no way to monitor the progress of the secure erase
+* if both SATA secure erase and SATA enhanced secure erase are available, only the enhanced erase will be performed
+=== NVME crypographic erase ===
+For NVME type SSDs, Allegro Packets utilizes the "Cryptographic Erase" instruction set, which is a fast operation (some seconds).
+* if both crypto erase and normal erase are supported, both will be performed, leaving the disk with all bytes zeroed
+=== Software wiping ===
+When using software wiping (by deselecting the hardware erase in the dialog), the disk will be erase by software. This may take several hours to complete. The disk will be erased by writing one iteration of random bytes at the whole disk.
+* If the Allegro Network Multimeter is powered off during software wiping, it will not be continued on the next boot. Sensitive data might still be on the disk when interrupted.
+* The disk can be formatted and used again, even if software wiping is interrupted
 == File storage ==