SHRED DATA (Shred data)

Use this command to manually start the process of shredding deleted sensitive data. Manual shredding is possible only if automatic shredding is disabled.

You can control automatic shred processing with the SHREDDING server option.

This command creates a background process that can be canceled with the CANCEL PROCESS command. To display information on background processes, use the QUERY PROCESS command.

If data from a storage pool that enforces shredding is deleted while a manual shredding process is running, it will be added to the running process.

Privilege class

To issue this command you must have system privilege.

Syntax

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramSHRED DATA DUration=minutesWait=NoWait=NoYesIOERROR=SHREDFailureIOERROR=SHREDFailureSHREDSuccess

Parameters

DURATION
Specifies the maximum number of minutes the shredding process runs before being automatically canceled. When the specified number of minutes elapses, the server cancels the shredding process. As soon as the process recognizes the cancellation, it ends. Because of this, the process may run longer than the value you specified for this parameter. You can specify a number from 1 to 9999. This parameter is optional. If not specified, the server will stop only after all deleted sensitive data has been shredded.
Wait
Specifies whether to wait for the server to complete processing this command in the foreground. This parameter is optional. The default is No. Possible values are:
No
Specifies that the server processes this command in the background. You can continue with other tasks while the command is being processed. Messages created from the background process are displayed either in the activity log or the server console, or both, depending on where messages are logged. To cancel a background process, use the CANCEL PROCESS command. If you cancel this process, some files might already have been shredded before the cancellation. This is the default.
Yes
Specifies that the server processes this command in the foreground. You must wait for the operation to complete before continuing with other tasks. The server displays the output messages to the administrative client when the operation completes. Messages are also displayed either in the activity log or the server console, or both, depending on where messages are logged.
Linux operating systemsAIX operating systemsNote: You cannot specify WAIT=YES from the server console.
IOERROR
Specifies whether an I/O error encountered while shredding the data is to be considered a successful shred. This parameter is optional. The default is SHREDFAILURE. Possible values are:
SHREDFailure
Specifies that if the server encounters an I/O error while shredding, the data will not be considered successfully shredded and the owning file will be marked as damaged. The server will attempt to shred the data again the next time the shredding process runs, giving you a chance to correct the error and ensure the data can be properly shredded.
SHREDSuccess
Specifies that if the server encounters an I/O error while shredding and the owning file had been previously marked as damaged, the data will be considered successfully shredded. You should use this option only after the server has reported I/O errors while shredding and you are unable to correct the error.

Example: Shred data

Manually start the shredding of all deleted sensitive data. Continue the process for up to six hours before automatically canceling it.
shred data duration=360

Related commands

Table 1. Commands related to SHRED DATA
Command Description
CANCEL PROCESS Cancels a background server process.
QUERY PROCESS Displays information about background processes.
QUERY SHREDSTATUS Displays information about data waiting to be shredded.