Erasure of data from a memory of a data storage apparatus by identifying available free space in the memory and iteratively writing a sequence of files decreasing size to the memory using a file-based protocol

An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer-based system, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:

• receiving one or more signals representative of the available free space of at least one selected region of the memory;
• iteratively writing files to the at least one selected region of the memory using the file based protocol,
• wherein at least one of the files is sized based on at least one of the received signals,
• wherein the iterative writing of the files comprises writing the files in sequence such that for at least part of the sequence each file is smaller in size than the preceding file of the sequence, and
• wherein the files are written to collectively occupy all of the at least one selected region of the memory,
• receiving an indication that said at least one selected region of memory is full following the writing of said files;
• and
• in response to the indication, writing at least one further file to said at least one region of memory.

A data erasure apparatus configured to erase data from a data storage apparatus comprising a memory using a file-based protocol, the data erasure apparatus comprising a processing resource configured to:

• receive one or more signals representative of the available free space of at least one selected region of the memory;
• iteratively write files to the at least one selected region of the memory using the file based protocol,
• wherein at least one of the files is sized based on at least one of the received signals,
• wherein the iterative writing of the files comprises writing the files in sequence such that for at least part of the sequence each file is smaller in size than the preceding file of the sequence, and
• wherein the files are written to collectively occupy all of the at least one selected region of the memory;
• receive an indication that said at least one selected region of memory is full following the writing of said files;
• and
• in response to the indication, write at least one further file to said at least one region of memory.

A system for erasing data from a data storage apparatus comprising a memory using a file-based protocol, the system comprising:

• the data storage apparatus;
• and
• a data erasure apparatus configured to erase data from a data storage apparatus comprising a memory using a file-based protocol,
• the data erasure apparatus comprising a processing resource configured to:
• receive one or more signals representative of the available free space of at least one selected region of the memory;
• iteratively write files to the at least one selected region of the memory using the file based protocol,
• wherein at least one of the files is sized based on at least one of the received signals,
• wherein the iterative writing of the files comprises writing the files in sequence such that for at least part of the sequence each file is smaller in size than the preceding file of the sequence, and
• wherein the files are written to collectively occupy all of the at least one selected region of the memory;
• receive an indication that said at least one selected region of memory is full following the writing of said files;
• and
• in response to the indication, write at least one further file to said at least one region of memory.

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having a computer program comprising computer-readable instructions that are executable to perform a method of erasing data using a file-based protocol from a data storage apparatus for repurposing, reallocation to a new user or retirement of the data storage apparatus, the data storage apparatus comprising a memory, and the method comprising:

• receiving one or more signals representative of the available free space of at least one selected region of the memory;
• iteratively writing files to the at least one selected region of the memory using the file based protocol,
• wherein at least one of the files is sized based on at least one of the received signals,
• wherein the iterative writing of the files comprises writing the files in sequence such that for at least part of the sequence each file is smaller in size than the preceding file of the sequence,
• wherein the files are written to collectively occupy all of the at least one selected region of the memory;
• receiving an indication that said at least one selected region of memory is full following the writing of said files;
• and
• in response to the indication, writing at least one further file to said at least one region of memory.