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In brief
M.2 is a form factor and slot for compact expansion cards, especially for SSDs in laptops, PCs and servers. An M.2 SSD is a small circuit board without a housing that, depending on the model, is connected via SATA or via PCI Express with the NVMe protocol. During decommissioning, M.2 SSDs are easily overlooked because of their small size.
Sizes, keys and protocols
| Feature | Significance |
|---|---|
| Size designation, e.g. 2280 | Width 22 mm, length 80 mm; 2230, 2242 and 22110 are also common |
| Notch (key) | B key, M key or both; determines which slots the card fits into |
| SATA | Same technology as 2.5-inch SSDs, limited speed |
| PCIe with NVMe | Significantly faster, standard in most laptops today |
Whether an M.2 SSD uses SATA or NVMe is not always recognizable from the outside. This matters for erasure because the two use different erase commands.
What to note when retiring devices
M.2 SSDs are often located under covers, as a second drive next to a hard drive or as a boot medium in servers. Record them separately with the serial number. They are erased with methods for SSDs, see the guide Securely erasing hard drives and SSDs. Some very thin devices, however, have permanently soldered storage that cannot be removed. At Second IT, all devices are checked for storage media at goods receipt and erased with Blancco; SSDs that cannot be erased are destroyed in-house.
Frequently asked questions about M.2
Is every M.2 SSD an NVMe SSD?
No. M.2 only describes the form factor and slot. There are M.2 SSDs with SATA and with NVMe connection.
What does 2280 mean?
The number indicates the dimensions: 22 millimeters wide and 80 millimeters long. This is the most common size in laptops and PCs.
Can M.2 SSDs be erased or do they have to be destroyed?
Functional M.2 SSDs can be erased with suitable SSD methods and reused. Defective drives are physically destroyed.
What do B key and M key mean for M.2?
The notch on the card, the key, determines which slots the M.2 card fits into. There are B key, M key or cards with both notches. The size designation such as 2280, by contrast, only states the dimensions of the board.
Why are M.2 SSDs easily overlooked during decommissioning?
They are very small and often sit under covers, as a second drive next to a hard drive or as a boot medium in servers. Record them separately with the serial number so that they too are erased and documented.
Even the smallest SSD is found, erased and documented.
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