Setup Intel NUC as personal NAS - HDD password issue.

Hardware configuration for NUC

• Intel NUC BOXDN2820FYKH0
• Crucial CT8G3S160BM 8G
• WD WD10JFCX Red 1TB ( The NUC will be used as storage mainly )
• nGear HDMI-DVI/D-25-M/M HDMI to DVI-D Cable ( for my DVI monitor ).

Intel NUC HD password protection is NOT compatible with WD Red

The NAS will be the home of all my data, so it should be a safe place. There are basically two options for data protection.

• Hardware encryption: Buy a SED drive to protect all data.
• Software encryption: Use encrypted volume. If my CPU support AES-NI, it will significantly reduce the impact to performance.

SED driver is too expensive and my DN2820 has no support to AES-NI, so my first solution is

• Use BIOS HD password to protect system (take the risk if a bad guy get my HD and read plates directly); use software encryption to protect my confidential data. It should be a good balance between security and cost.

I learned a little the mechanism about ACCESS control on ATA level. It should be an enhanced ATA feature called ATA security mode feature set. I run hdparm on my WD Red to make sure if it support security mode password protection. It was shown as supported but not enabled.

So, I entered the NUC BIOS and finished the settings for HD master and user password. Then, I turned off the NUC and reboot it again. The NUC did ask me password to boot the system, but neither of master password or user password worked.

I was very sure I used the right passwords. It's most likely a compatibility problem between Intel NUC virtual BIOS and WD Red. And I proved it.

I downloaded a great HD utility called HDAT2, made a DOS boot, run HDAT2, then I unlocked my HDD, then totally removed password protection. The NUC never asked me HD password again. Due to this issue, I had to give up HD password protection and only use encrypted volume to protect my NAS.