The drives are hardware encrypted. You cannot turn this encryption off. There is a password option, but even if you do not use this, the drives are still always encrypted. The electronics that do the encryption are built into the enclosure. The encryption/decryption key is built into a chip in the enclosure. The user has no access to this key.

Suppose the enclosure fails, and you cannot get it repaired easily. You may think that you can simply remove one of the drives and put it (for example) in a docking bay. However, the information on the drive is unreadable without the decryption key - the decryption key that is built into the enclosure: the drives are not readable outside the enclosure. It does not matter that the drives themselves may be fine: without the enclosure they are useless.
Hmmmm

I bought two last week. The drive inside is a wd80ezzx. It seems this drive is only used for these as i can't find it on its own, appears it's a rebranded HGST but at 5400rpm. From my reading up on it it's a good drive. I am using them in my synology.

The casing is quite difficult to get off and i snapped a couple of clips on both units but wasn't really bothered as i don't need the enclosure.

Very good way of getting 8TB drives IMO

Does anyone know what drive is inside, and how much hassle is it to remove the drive, can it be done without damaging the enclosure?

Thanks

The drives are hardware encrypted. You cannot turn this encryption off. There is a password option, but even if you do not use this, the drives are still always encrypted. The electronics that do the encryption are built into the enclosure. The encryption/decryption key is built into a chip in the enclosure. The user has no access to this key.

Suppose the enclosure fails, and you cannot get it repaired easily. You may think that you can simply remove one of the drives and put it (for example) in a docking bay. However, the information on the drive is unreadable without the decryption key - the decryption key that is built into the enclosure: the drives are not readable outside the enclosure. It does not matter that the drives themselves may be fine: without the enclosure they are useless.
Hmmmm

I bought two last week. The drive inside is a wd80ezzx. It seems this drive is only used for these as i can't find it on its own, appears it's a rebranded HGST but at 5400rpm. From my reading up on it it's a good drive. I am using them in my synology.

The casing is quite difficult to get off and i snapped a couple of clips on both units but wasn't really bothered as i don't need the enclosure.

Very good way of getting 8TB drives IMO

FYI - http://www.servethehome.com/wd-book-8tb-5400rpm-wd80ezzx-benchmarks/

Showing as £144.39 + £0.59 delivery (BRAND NEW) + 2 yr warranty. Not bad.

1 to 2 months until dispatch now.
I ordered one 10 days ago and although it was supposedly dispatched a day later it still hasn't arrived and asking for tracking details just resulted in me being told they'd be supplied from today. This was through a third party on Amazon.

I believe only the smaller versions are encrypted as I haven't seen any reports on these being encrypted.
They also aren't hgst drives, only early versions contained those as WD didn't have drives ready. I was told mine would be an early version with a 7200rpm drive but I'm not holding out much hope given this sellers other emails.
These will be 5400rpm WD drives based on the red but with different firmware tailored for single drives instead of NAS use.

I believe it is a re-branded HGST He8 drive but at 5400rpm instead of 7200, and TLER disabled which doesn't affect me as I'm using RAID 0.

Maybe at the £145 from amazon (even with a little wait) but not this price 0f £163 and defo not with a 1-2 month wait, sorry cold from me.