Secure Erase drives vs Self-Encrypting Drives

[ZiemowitP]

Seems like most of the drives from HGST come with Secure Erase (SE). The way it's implemented is by the firmware encrypting the data with some random generated key. When Secure Erase is triggered, the key is re-generated and the contains of the drives are gone just like that.

A few of their drives include Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) option which is an identical drive but the firmware implements OPAL compatible framework allowing the user to alter the encryption keys among other few things.

This is kind of upsetting because SED drive costs quite a bit more money while the difference between SE drive is just firmware.

 

[ElFenix]

people who want self encryption are willing to pay extra for it. no different than a last minute seat on a plane costing more than the one sold months ago.


edit: my lurker, mine!

 

[Topweasel]

What Elfenix said.

Though I will comment this seems to be a larger issue on the HDD front than it is on the SSD front. For example there was no price difference at least no discernable difference between a Non-SED 840 EVO and an 840 Evo with SED. All 850 Products from Samsung support SED. Same thing with Toshiba, their Sata SSD's while they do differentiate between SED and Non-SED there isn't a price difference. Maybe because SSD's are considered premium.

But what you are looking at is just one of the ways HDD manufacturers use different firmware options to offer different pricing tiers for the same hardware. All the different "classes" Like Red vs. Purple vs. Gold. Disabling things like TLER and other features based on market and then aligning pricing based on market.

I remember my first Equallogic server. We had a drive go bad. Pulled the drive. Got the part number. Ordered a replacement. That drive cost about $120. Stuck it in and was immediately rejected. It needed a Equallogic certified drive, which is the same exact drive but with a bit flipped to identify it as an "Equallogic" drive. The replacement drive of the exact same drive and size, $1200. I was naive at the time.