ReclaimNUKM Help and Documentation
NUKM Definition: NUKM is defined by the acronym for 'Next Unit of Kill Module' as it pertains to data sanitization.
Comprehensive guide for using ReclaimNUKM v1.6.0 - A GUI application for secure storage device sanitization.
Overview
ReclaimNUKM is a comprehensive GUI application for securely wiping storage devices. It provides multiple sanitization methods, advanced enterprise drive support, USB NVMe enclosure handling, and touchscreen-optimized interface.
Key Features (v1.6)
Wipe Methods
- Quick Format: Partition creation + filesystem formatting with multiple options
- Zero Device (DD): Complete zero-fill with optional hardware error compensation
- Shred (3 Pass): Military-grade multi-pass secure deletion
Filesystem Support
- exFAT: Quick and Full formatting options
- NTFS: Quick and Full formatting options
- EXT4: Quick and Full formatting options
- None: Partitioning only (no filesystem)
Advanced Features
- Enterprise Drive Support: Automatic detection of proprietary sector formats
- USB NVMe Enclosure Support: Special handling for USB NVMe devices
- Hardware Error Compensation: DDRescue mode for error-resilient operations
- Touchscreen Mode: Optimized interface for touch devices
- Auto-Zap: Automated wiping of newly detected drives
- Device Selection Mode: Targeted operations on specific devices
- GUI Sudo Authentication: Password prompts using system dialogs
Wipe Methods
1. Quick Format
⚡ Fast
Purpose: Fast sanitization with complete partitioning and formatting.
What it does:
- Creates partition table (GPT for drives >2TB, MSDOS otherwise)
- Creates single primary partition using entire drive
- Formats with selected filesystem (exFAT/NTFS/EXT4/None)
- Applies centralized volume labels
- Updates partition information
Use cases:
- Preparing drives for immediate use
- Creating bootable drives with specific filesystems
- Quick deployment preparation
2. Zero Device (DD)
🟡 Medium
Purpose: Complete single-pass overwrite with error handling.
Standard Mode:
- Uses
dd for complete device zero-fill
- Fast on healthy drives
- Fails on first bad sector
Hardware Error Compensation Mode:
- Uses
ddrescue for error-resilient operations
- Continues past bad sectors
- Creates mapfiles for resumable operations
- Handles hardware errors gracefully
Use cases:
- General data destruction
- Drives with potential bad sectors
- When hardware errors should not stop wiping
3. Shred (3 Pass)
🐌 Slow
Purpose: Maximum security multi-pass deletion.
What it does:
- 3 passes of cryptographically secure random data
- Final zero-fill pass
- Uses GNU shred with progress tracking
Use cases:
- Military/government standards compliance
- Maximum data irrecoverability assurance
- Classified or sensitive information
User Interface
Main Controls
- Start Monitoring: Toggle auto-zap monitoring mode
- Zap Selected: Manual wipe of selected devices
- Clear Select: Deselect all devices
- Cancel Operation: Stop running wipe processes
- Touchscreen Mode: Optimize for touch interaction
- Exit: Close application
Device Management
- Device List: Shows all detected block devices
- Selection Mode: Enable targeted device selection
- Status Updates: Real-time operation progress
- Safety Warnings: Protection for system drives
Configuration Options
- Company/Customer: Metadata for logging
- Wipe Method: Select sanitization approach
- Filesystem: Choose formatting option
- Save Logs: Browse log directory
- HW Error Comp: Enable error-resilient mode
- Terminal Logs: Enable terminal output logging
- Create Customer Folder: Auto-organize logs by customer
Enterprise Drive Support
NEW in v1.6: ReclaimNUKM now automatically detects and handles enterprise drives with proprietary sector formats (520B/528B sectors found in NetApp, Toshiba, and other enterprise storage).
Automatic Detection
- Identifies 520B/528B sector drives (NetApp, Toshiba)
- Uses sg3_utils for SCSI/SAS/SATA compatibility
- Shows UI warnings for special handling
Reformatting Capability
- Converts proprietary sectors to standard 512B/4KB
- Requires user confirmation
- Ensures compatibility with standard methods
USB NVMe Enclosure Support
NEW in v1.6: ReclaimNUKM automatically detects and handles USB NVMe enclosures that may require special initialization procedures.
Detection and Handling
- Identifies RTL9210, RTL9220, JMicron, ASMedia chipsets
- Multiple initialization procedures
- Recovery methods for zero-capacity enclosures
Troubleshooting Steps
- Try different USB ports (USB 3.0+ preferred)
- Unplug/re-plug device
- Check kernel messages:
dmesg | grep -i nvme
- Use different USB cable/computer if needed
Installation and Setup
System Requirements
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or compatible
- Python 3.10+
- Administrative privileges
Dependencies
# Core system tools
sudo apt-get install coreutils util-linux gdisk xterm
# Filesystem tools
sudo apt-get install exfatprogs ntfs-3g e2fsprogs
# Enterprise drive support
sudo apt-get install sg3-utils
# USB NVMe support
sudo apt-get install usbutils
# Hardware error compensation
sudo apt-get install gddrescue
# GUI authentication (optional)
sudo apt-get install zenity kdialog
Sudo Configuration
Run ./setup-sudoers.sh to configure passwordless sudo for required commands.
Usage Guide
Basic Operation
- Launch ReclaimNUKM
- Authenticate sudo (if prompted)
- Select wipe method and options
- Choose devices (auto-zap or manual selection)
- Monitor progress in terminal windows
- Review logs when complete
Advanced Usage
- Auto-Zap: Enable at startup for automated operations
- Selection Mode: Choose specific devices for targeted wiping
- Touchscreen Mode: Optimize for tablet/mobile use
- HW Error Comp: Enable for drives with potential issues
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
- Permission Denied: Run sudo setup script
- Device Not Found: Check connections, try USB port changes
- Slow Performance: Enable HW Error Comp for problematic drives
- GUI Not Starting: Install missing tkinter/PIL dependencies
USB NVMe Issues
- Try different USB ports/cables
- Check kernel logs for errors
- Some enclosures need firmware updates
Hardware Errors
- Enable HW Error Comp mode
- Use ddrescue for resilient operations
- Check drive health with smartctl
Security Considerations
- Always verify device selection
- Backup critical data before wiping
- Use appropriate method for data sensitivity
- Keep detailed logs for compliance
- Monitor operations for errors
Version History
v1.6.0 (Current)
- USB NVMe enclosure support with recovery procedures
- Hardware error compensation using ddrescue
- Touchscreen-optimized interface
- Auto-zap functionality for automated operations
- Multiple filesystem formatting options
- GUI sudo authentication
- Responsive logo display
- Enhanced device status tracking
v1.5.0
- Enterprise drive support with proprietary sector detection
- Centralized volume label generation
- Enhanced script generation and testing
- Robust shell handling with error recovery
v1.0.0
- Initial release with core wipe methods
- Modern GUI with ttkbootstrap
- Comprehensive logging and reporting
WARNING: This tool permanently destroys data. Always verify target devices before proceeding.
Data Recovery Feasibility
- Quick Format: High feasibility - forensic tools can recover most data
- DD Zero Fill: Low feasibility - requires expensive forensic equipment
- Shred: Very low feasibility - economically impractical to recover
Technical Implementation
Command Execution
All methods are executed via bash scripts with:
- Comprehensive logging
- Progress monitoring
- Error handling
- Sudo privilege escalation
Logging and Verification
- Each operation creates detailed log files
- Timestamps and duration tracking
- Master log aggregation
- Verification of successful completion
Best Practices
- Verify drive selection before starting any wipe operation
- Ensure no critical data remains on the system
- Monitor progress especially for long-running operations
- Keep logs for compliance and audit purposes
- Test on small drives first if unsure of the process
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
- Slow performance: Check drive health and connection
- Permission errors: Verify sudo configuration
- Device not found: Refresh device list or check connections
- Timeout errors: Large drives may need extended timeout settings
Recovery Options
- Stopped operations can be resumed (though not recommended)
- Failed operations are logged with error details
- Device status is tracked to prevent accidental re-wiping