How to erase a disk completly

koden

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Mar 17, 2014
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Hi

I'm working with servers in a large IT outsourcing company.
My Boss have asked me to find a tool to erase disks so that we can erase disk for our customers.

Until now we have had a company to do that.

I have tried several types of programs but all seems to have the same problem.
The server controller can't be recognizes by the erase tool.

So what I'm looking for is a toll that don't have this driver issue.
A tool no larger than 700 MB so it can be on a CD (all servers have a drive and all servers can boot on that. Not all servers have DVD and not all can boot on USB).
is that possible and what program is the best in general so that i'm sure disks is erased completely?

 
Solution

That's the first thing which came into my mind with "off-the-shell" commands, it will owerwrite the raw disk with random data.

Look around for LiveCDs, like Knoppix. It might take several attempts to find LiveCD with support for all of your disk controllers.
In some distros, there is a command specifically for "shredding" data on disks.
My Bing brought me here: http://www.aboutlinux.info/2006/06/how-to-securely-erase-hard-disk-before.html


I second the idea on the DBAN disc. It is free and works wonders. I use this on all my old drives.

If that doesn't work, a hammer on the platters will make them unreadable if you are going to toss them.
 

koden

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In 80% dban don't work. I have used it. A matter of controller driver.

 

koden

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Hmm.. yes proberly. It's windows but when I do firmware upgrade it'sa also some kind of linux.
So what you tell me is some kind of linux boot cd and then perform this comand?
It will erase my disks so data is gone and can't be restored?

 


If you are wiping the drive, put it into a controller where it will work, it doesn't matter where.
 

koden

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Mar 17, 2014
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Yes.. I have considered that. But I then have to install dell,ibm and hp servers and 2 of them so that it can handle 2,5" disk and 3.5" disks. 6 servers... :)
And I have to move disks from servers to my "erase room and back to server".

For me it would be much easyer to do it on the server in the rack before server is being "un-racked".

We are not talking about 10 servers... it's 100 to 1000 servers a year with 2 to 6 disks in each servers..

 

That's the first thing which came into my mind with "off-the-shell" commands, it will owerwrite the raw disk with random data.

Look around for LiveCDs, like Knoppix. It might take several attempts to find LiveCD with support for all of your disk controllers.
In some distros, there is a command specifically for "shredding" data on disks.
My Bing brought me here: http://www.aboutlinux.info/2006/06/how-to-securely-erase-hard-disk-before.html
 
Solution