Back when a disk drive was a single entity we used CDEP (certified data erasure program/product) to clear data to DOD specifications. Then IKCDSF with the correct parameters could do the job and CDEP went away. Then came the array DASD and no more disk drives as we knew them. Data was compressed and striped across several drives and you had to have a map to determine which ones and in what order. This was good in that when one failed, a spare took over and the "lost" data was rebuilt on the spare. The failed drive was hot-swapped and no outage taken. The vendor could take the drive without worry of data exposure because the collection of bits made no sense without the map and other drives. Releasing the box is still a problem. Most vendors have the ability to clear the drives to DOD standards. If you are concerned about the date, the fee is probably worth it. The only other solutions are to magnetically erase the data - vendors do not like this as it can damage other electronics. The other solution is to pull the drives and have a lieutenant watch a group of privets with sledge hammers take out their frustrations on the drives. Really hated by vendors, but I have used it in the past.
Dennis Roach GHG Corporation Lockheed Marten Mission Services FDOC Contract 2100 Space Park Drive LM-15-4BH Houston, Texas 77058 Voice: (281) 336-5027 Cell: (713) 591-1059 Fax: (281) 336-5410 E-Mail: [email protected] All opinions expressed by me are mine and may not agree with my employer or any person, company, or thing, living or dead, on or near this or any other planet, moon, asteroid, or other spatial object, natural or manufactured, since the beginning of time. > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Tom Marchant > Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 2:53 PM > > > >When the box is done, and you sell it or scrap it, you can always > >initialize all the disks. > > Search the archives. The topic of effectively erasing the data on DASD > has come up several times over the years. > > Tom Marchant > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
