Wiping Hard Drives - Lots of them!

[mdrabble]

I need to wipe the drives of over 100 computers as the school I am working at is closing some buildings and moving everything into one building.

The old hardware will be offered to other schools in the LA or scrapped but before all that can happen I need to wipe the drives.

I dont fancy doing it one by one - so.... anyone know if it can be done via pxe and if so can you point me in the direction of said software etc....

Many thanks

[siuko]

We wipe drives using DBAN and it works well - just takes a little while...

I dont really know much about using PXE booting though...

But a quick google brings up this > How To PXE Boot DBAN - All Things Unix | DSLReports Forums

[Domino]

Do you use fog? if not it's not involved to setup.

You could add DBAN to the list of PXE applications it presents? Am I able to modify the PXE menu to run other applications? - FOGProject Wiki

[superfletch]

I'm pretty sure a FOG server can do this for you.

I can't get at mine right now so I can't check, although I've not used the feature myself I have a feeling it is one of the "snap ins" available.

Edit: Beaten to it by Domino

[ICT_GUY]

If scrapping them use a hammer. Fastest and most reliable way.

It always comes down to juast how valuable that data is.

If its financial data for a big firm then I would degauss it and chop it in lots of little pieces.

If its curriculum Hard Disks, a big hammer is enough. Good exercise too.

[zag]

10 Laptops with Dban, this is how I did 60 Hard disks a while ago

Didn't take long really.

[Heebeejeebee]

We use Fog for this and it works brilliantly. Loads of choice about how in-depth your wipe has be be as well.

We just trashed 90 odd drives using fog - set it and wait for it to happen. Job done.

HBJB

[mdrabble]

Thanks for the replies guys, will install fog and do it that way.

[plexer]

We can boot dban from our WDS server so do it that way.

Otherwise hammer or drill press

Ben

[free870]

Could put a blank hard drive into a cloner but you would have to do it one by one.

[ICT_GUY]

this looks more like fun.

[lzuares]

Personally, I'm a big fan of the drill method. Perfect for stressful/frustrating days.

[FragglePete]

When I worked for the MoD, we took a whole of load of hard drives from machines that were being retired down to Bulford. We lined them all up and arranged for an AS90 to drive over them! The AS90 is the British Army's Self Propelled Gun that weighs 45 tonnes. Security branch were satisfied they were destroyed if the platters were visible; wasn't much left be told.

Pete

[ricki]

Hi We use a stand drill or dban which can wipe several disks at the same time.

Richard