Wiping disks using DBAN

DBAN is intended to be used for data destruction in cases where we do not want a third party to be able to retrieve any data. A good example of this is when machines are going to go out for surplus but they are still functional.

DBAN is run via bootable media and is currently available as a CD or floppy disk, or it can be booted from Asimov. Once it loads, you should be presented with a prompt at boot:. Here, all you have to do is type autonuke and press enter, and the program will wipe all disks it finds installed in the machine, using the Department of Defense Standard 3-pass wipe.

In the network boot version of DBAN, it skips past this boot: prompt and throws you into the manual drive and method select. All you have to do is cursor to the drive you want to wipe (usually the first in the list, it will tell you partitions too; ignore these). At the top left of the screen in the "Options" box, ensure the method reads "DoD Short." If it doesn't, press "M" to select the right method, cursor to DoD Short and press space. Once you have the drive and method selection right, press F10 to start the process.

This process will take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours.

Once wiping is complete, you just press the power button to turn it off and it's done.

If you're booting DBAN from removable media, you can remove the disk once the program is running. This way you can run multiple machines on one CD without making a lot of copies.

-- AmberBeeston - 19 Jun 2009