Hi,
I face write performance issues with SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1, which degrades every time the device is used.
Following user report has interesting related info :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/R1LNBBAH6DDGZL
I then tried to “Secure Erase”.
I did it on other devices, such as the SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0, and write performance is immediately restored.
Using hdparm, let’s then first set a security password :
# hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass p /dev/sdb
security_password: “p”
/dev/sdb:
Issuing SECURITY_SET_PASS command, password=“p”, user=user, mode=high
As you can see security is properly enabled :
# hdparm -I /dev/sdb
(…)
Security:
Master password revision code = 5
supported
enabled
not locked
not frozen
not expired: security count
supported: enhanced erase
Security level high
2min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT. 2min for ENHANCED SECURITY ERASE UNIT.
Finally, let’s erase the drive.
Unfortunately, as shown below, an Input/output error is returned, as if password was not accepted :
# hdparm --user-master u --security-erase-enhanced p /dev/sdb
security_password: “p”
/dev/sdb:
Issuing SECURITY_ERASE command, password=“p”, user=user
SECURITY_ERASE: Input/output error
The only way to disable security is then to use an empty password, which is rather strange :
# hdparm --user-master u --security-erase-enhanced “” /dev/sdb
security_password: “”
/dev/sdb:
Issuing SECURITY_ERASE command, password=“”, user=user
However, unfortunately, erase is not performed (data is still on disk).
And of course write performance is not restored.
I also tried SanDisk SSD Dashboard.
SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1 is properly recognized, as it is “SSD based” (SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 is not).
I then tried both “Secure Erase” and “Sanitize” options.
Unfortunately, as above, they do not work.
Using hdparm, I can see that the drive stays in a security-enabled state, and I need to run the command with the empty password as above to be able to use the device again.
Sounds then like SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1 does not support “Secure Erase”.
Leading to unavoidable write performance degradation…
Which is really not expected with such a high-end device…
This behavior is rather strange, as it correctly works with lower range devices (SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 for instance).
Here’s another report of Input/output error (un)setting security :
https://forums.sandisk.com/t5/All-SanDisk-USB-Flash-Drives/SED-Opal-support-for-SanDisk-Extreme-Pro-USB-3-1-256GB/m-p/368767
SanDisk support / dev team, any way to correctly support “Secure Erase” ?
Through a firmware update ?
Thank you very much for your support !