topic MSA2040 disk sanitization in MSA Storage

MSA2040 disk sanitization

Mathieug — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:17:34 GMT

Hello,

I have been fortunate enough to replace an old MSA2040 and need to sanitize the disks to donate. I was able to delete the virtual disks, and read in the thread below that I can repurpose disks. It sounds like a dream come true, the only problem is that when I go to that option, I am greeted with "no data available in the table". I am no longer on support, so opening a case with HPE is no longer an option, same with upgrading the firmware.

I thought I could maybe re-create the disk arrays and run dban or something similar? What are my options

https://community.hpe.com/t5/msa-storage/msa-2040-sanitize-disks/td-p/7099566

version: GL225R003

Re: MSA2040 disk sanitization

ArunKKR — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 07:39:56 GMT

Hi @Mathieug ,

The option to repurpose the disk is applicable only for encrypted hard drives(FDE capable) and not normal hard drives.

There are no options to format the disks from MSA end.

The only option from MSA would be to delete the vdisk and the disks will move to available state.

If you have access to any older model Gen6/Gen7 series proliant servers, you could format the hard drives by installing the MSA drives in the server.

HPE does offer chargeable disk sanitize services.

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/collaterals/collateral.5981-9510enw.html

Re: MSA2040 disk sanitization

Mathieug — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:20:26 GMT

Hello ArunKKR,

I appreciate the reply,

"The only option from MSA would be to delete the vdisk, and the disks will move to the available state."

I have deleted the vdisks. From what I understand, if the metadata is destroyed, that should be sufficient, but I never really saw this option apart from a physical re-insertion. Is that considered "sufficient" to repurpose the hardware? AKA, can someone restore the data if they get the entire array?

Re: MSA2040 disk sanitization

ArunKKR — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:44:08 GMT

Hi @Mathieug,

For a normal user deleting disk group and ensuring that disks are in available state would be enough.

vdisk (disk group) deletion is not as effective as disk sanitization.

It might be possible to recreate the disk group using data recovery tools if all the disks which were part of disk group(vdisk) are available.