9.1.7 Secure Eraser

Oracle Exadata System Software software releases 12.2.1.1.0 or later provide a secure erasure solution, called Secure Eraser, for every component within Oracle Exadata Database Machine. This is a comprehensive solution that covers all Exadata Database Machines V2 and higher, including both 2-socket and 8-socket servers.

In earlier versions of Oracle Exadata Database Machine, you could securely erase user data through CellCLI commands like DROP CELL ERASE, DROP CELLDISK ERASE, or DROP GRIDDISK ERASE. However, these DROP commands only cover user data on hard drives and flash devices. Secure Eraser sanitizes all content, not only user data but also operating system, Oracle Exadata System Software, and user configurations. In addition, Secure Eraser covers a wider range of hardware components including hard drives, flash devices, internal USB, and ILOM.

The Secure Eraser securely erases all data on both database servers and storage servers, and resets InfiniBand switches, Ethernet switches, and power distribution units back to factory default. You can use this feature to decommission or repurpose an Oracle Exadata machine. The Secure Eraser completely erases all traces of data and metadata on every component of the machine.

For details on the Secure Eraser utility, see Oracle Exadata Database Machine Security Guide.