# Erasing a Virtual Drive

The virtual drive erase function operates on a specified virtual drive and overwrites all user-accessible locations. It supports nonzero patterns and multiple passes. The virtual drive erase function optionally deletes the virtual drive and erases the data within the virtual drive’s LBA range. The virtual drive erase function is a background operation, and it posts events to notify users of the progress.

Perform the following steps to erase a virtual drive.

1. Navigate to the Controller dashboard, click a drive group name (for example, DG_1), then click the icon that corresponds to a drive group to display its contents.
   The virtual drives and physical drives associated with the selected drive group appear.
2. Click the virtual drive whose content you want to erase.
3. Select Actions > Erase.
   The Virtual Drive Erase dialog appears.
   Figure 1. Virtual Drive Erase Dialog
   The dialog shows the following modes:
   - Simple
   - Normal
   - Thorough
4. Select a mode and click Erase Virtual Drive.
   A warning message appears asking for your confirmation.
5. Click Yes, Erase Drive.
   After the virtual drive erase operation has started, the Stop Erase option is enabled in the Actions menu. You can monitor the progress of the erase operation. See Background Operations Support.
6. Select the Delete Virtual Drive After Erase check box to delete the virtual drive after the erase operation has been completed.

Parent topic: Managing Virtual Drives