Intel 320-series SSD and FDE (Full Disk Encryption) questions...

[idata]

I am considering to buy a couple of new solid state drives for my company. A requirement is FDE and according to some info I found the new 320 series should support this. I have a few questions:

1. As far as I know none of our computers have any support in BIOS for disk password. Is this required for FDE to work with the 320 series or how exactly does the encyption / password entry work?

2. If we would like to use a RAID configuration (RAID 0 striping) is it still possible to use FDE and if so do one have to enter a password for each disk?

3. What about using two disks in the samer computer (non-raid) that is used to dual boot two different operating systems (say Linux and Windows 7) installed one OS on each drive - does FDE work in this case and would one have to enter a password twice?

4. Is the FDE solution dependent on some support in the OS (in that case what OS does it work with) or is it independent?

5. Do you have some white paper about the FDE with for instance information about how much slower it is compared to a non FDE drive?

6. I have read that TRIM does not work with SSDs in RAID configuration. Is this still the case and how dependent is the 320-series of TRIM?

/Trist

CORRECTION : I just found that our Dell Precision M6500 computers do have a field in the BIOS for disk password so I am interested in the questions above (two disks in the machine with or without RAID) also for this configuration. How do I know if the 320-serias FDE is compatible with the disk password setting in the dell M6500 machines? Is there a standard for this that all BIOS manufacturers follows or??

[idata]

Thank you, DesktopMan and Pit. I appreciate the info.

The Intel SSD Toolbox also seems to give a lot of info about the drive. I just ran it and noticed under Word 128, security status information is given about my drive. It lists info on Security Supported, Security Locked, Security Enabled, Security Frozen, Security Count Expired, Enhanced Security Erase Supported, and Master Password Capability.

Pit, I haven't had a chance to run hdparm under linux yet. But, if you have the SSD Toolbox, is this the same info returned by hdparm?

Also, I was wondering if Bit 1 and Bit 2 might be reversed. Should Bit 1 be Security Enabled instead of Security Locked and Bit 2 be Securit Locked instead of Security Enabled? If not, security is not enabled on my SSD because I get a value of 0 for Security Enabled. Can anyone confirm this? Anyone from Intel care to comment on this?

Best regards.

[idata]

Hello,

I forgot to mention in my previous post that I'm using the Intel SSD Toolbox, Version 2.0.2.000.

Best regards.

[idata]

My 320 is currently in: Maximum Security Mode, unlocked with User Pasword and Frozen.

Toolbox gives me in 128 register: Bit0=1, Bit1=1, Bit2=0, Bit3=1, Bit4=0, Bit5=1, Bit8=1. Interpret it as you like.

A little warning for all you guys using boards with uefi-s.

I have Asrock Z68 Extreme4 and cannot boot if password protected intel SSD is connected to any of the SATA ports of the chipset ATA controller. The board locks in endless boot loop. I have to hotplug the drive to make the whole thing work. If the drive is password unlocked or security disabled motherboard boots without any problem.

UEFI in Asrock's case do not work with password protected drives!

Will try Asus P8Z68 Pro next week.

[idata]

Thanks Pit!

It would be nice to know what the SSD Toolbox settings displayed for Word 128 should be in a properly configured Series 320 SSD. Hope someone from Intel can respond.

Thanks again.

[idata]

Rapid Storage Technology app can give you info about security status in Menage section -> Advanced ->password Protected: Yes/No