The Force Clean SDS option is a safety override used when adding a storage device that is not "clean." PowerFlex checks devices for existing partitions, file systems, or data signatures before adding them to a Storage Data Server (SDS). If a device is not clean, the operation is blocked by default to prevent accidental data destruction. By setting the Force Clean SDS option to YES, the administrator explicitly acknowledges that the device may contain data and authorizes PowerFlex to wipe the device, overwrite all existing data, and incorporate it into the storage pool.

1. Dell PowerFlex 4.0.x CLI Reference Guide

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Table 100. In the description for the scli --addsdsdevice command

the parameter --forcecleandevice is defined as: "Force the addition of a device that is not clean. All data on the device will be lost." This directly supports the action of overwriting data.

2. Dell PowerFlex 4.0.x Administration Guide

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"Add devices to an SDS". The guide describes the GUI process: "If a device is not clean

you can select the device and click Mark for forced cleaning. A confirmation message is displayed. Click OK to proceed." This confirms the action is a deliberate step to clean a non-pristine device.