Syswipe

Tools to scrub disks and factory reset a server when it is decommissioned.

Create bootable USB key

Get System Rescue CD image

• Burn a USB key

Configure on Linux (or Bash on Windows)

• cd to the USB key root
• (optional, set additional environment variables ... see "Advanced Install" below)
• curl "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ncsa/syswipe/${SYSWIPE_GIT_BRANCH:-main}/setup_srcd.sh" | bash

Auto wipe a server

Boot from USB key

1. Insert USB key
2. Power on (or reboot)
3. If boot from USB is not enabled:
   1. During POST, manually select Boot options (usually F11)
   2. Select the USB key as the boot option

Monitor progress of auto-wipe local drives

• Live: Ctl-Alt-F2
• Logs: /var/log/auto_wipe.log
• Live Rate: iostat -z -m -y -d 1 1

Continuous wipe using an external drive carrier

Connect a USB drive carrier and insert a hard drive. The system will detect the new device and wipe it automatically. When it's complete, swap in a new drive to have it auto-wiped. Repeat until all drives are wiped.

Monitor progress of hot-swap drive wipes

• Live: Ctl-Alt-F3
• Monitor: watch -n 30 /root/status.sh
• Logs: /var/log/continous_wipe.log
• Live Rate: iostat -p "$(cat /root/disk_wipe_in_progress)" -m -y -d 1 1

Advanced Install Options - Environment Variables

Control extra features during "Configure" stage.

Set these before running "curl ... setup_srcd.sh" (above)

• Use a branch other than main
  • export SYSWIPE_GIT_BRANCH=some_branch_name
• Install ssh authorized_keys from github.com/user.keys
  • export SYSWIPE_AUTHKEYS_GITHUBUSER=githubusername

Reset customizations

1. Insert USB key
2. cd to the USB key root
3. rm -f autorun/* sysrescue.d/2*

Other tools

Wipe a Dell System iDRAC - BEFORE doing auto-wipe

1. ssh to the system
2. If not already installed, install racadm

   curl -s https://linux.dell.com/repo/hardware/dsu/bootstrap.cgi | bash
   yum install -y srvadmin-idracadm7
   mkdir /root/bin
   ln -s /opt/dell/srvadmin/bin/idracadm7 /root/bin/racadm
   

3. racadm systemerase idrac,bios
4. Node will reboot on it's own and usually will stay off
5. Insert USB key
6. Power on node
   1. If there are remaining iDRAC changes to apply, it will apply those and power off again.
   2. Repeat until it boots from USB, which will auto wipe all the drives.

Extras

Enable USB boot on Dell server

• curl "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ncsa/syswipe/${SYSWIPE_GIT_BRANCH:-main}/scripts/Dell/racadm_set_usb_boot" | bash

See also

• https://github.com/andylytical/autonuke