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Remove NUC 7 and 8 recommendation, remove Intel references, and update links #540

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Remove NUC 7 and 8 recommendation, remove Intel references, and update links #540

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110 changes: 42 additions & 68 deletions docs/admin/installation/hardware.rst
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Expand Up @@ -427,18 +427,18 @@ Specific Hardware Recommendations
Application and Monitor Servers
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

We currently recommend Intel 7-, 8-, 10-, 11-, and 12-series NUCs for SecureDrop
servers.
We currently recommend 10-, 11-, and 12-series ASUS (formerly Intel) NUCs for
SecureDrop servers.

.. note:: If using non-recommended hardware, ensure you remove as much
extraneous hardware as physically possible from your servers. This
could include: speakers, cameras, microphones, fingerprint readers,
wireless, and Bluetooth cards.


The Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) is an inexpensive, quiet, low-power
The NUC (Next Unit of Computing) is an inexpensive, quiet, low-power
device that can be used for the SecureDrop servers. There are a
`variety of models <https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc.html>`__
`variety of models <https://www.asus.com/us/content/nuc-overview/>`__
to choose from.

NUCs typically come as kits, and some assembly is required. You will need to
Expand All @@ -450,10 +450,11 @@ NUC before it can be used. We recommend:
- You can put one 8GB memory stick in each of the servers.

.. _nucc12_recommendation:
.. _intel-12th-gen-nuc:

Intel 12th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have tested and can recommend the `Intel NUC12WSKi5 <https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/121625/intel-nuc-12-pro-mini-pc-nuc12wski5.html>`__.
12th-gen NUC
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~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have tested and can recommend the `NUC12WSKi5 <https://www.asus.com/us/displays-desktops/nucs/nuc-mini-pcs/nuc-12-pro-mini-pc/techspec/>`__.
It provides two M.2 SSD storage options: a 22x80 port for an NVMe drive, and a
22x42 port for a SATA drive.

Expand All @@ -467,16 +468,17 @@ after disconnecting them.

The location of the wireless card within the NUC12

.. _nuc11_recommendation:

Because of the newer hardware and the drivers required, you will need to use a
newer Linux kernel than the one that ships by default in the version of Ubuntu
Server we recommend. To do so, select the "Boot and Install with the HWE
Kernel" option in the boot menu for Ubuntu Server.

Intel 11th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have tested and can recommend the `Intel NUC11PAHi3 <https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/205033/intel-nuc-11-performance-kit-nuc11pahi3.html>`__.
.. _nuc11_recommendation:
.. _intel-11th-gen-nuc:

11th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have tested and can recommend the `NUC11PAHi3 <https://www.asus.com/us/displays-desktops/nucs/nuc-kits/nuc-11-performance-kit/techspec/>`__.
It provides two storage options: M.2 SSD storage and a 2.5" secondary storage
option (SSD or HDD).

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -505,10 +507,11 @@ startup and adjust the system configuration:
.. |NUC11 leads| image:: ../../images/hardware/nuc11_leads.jpg

.. _nuc10_recommendation:
.. _intel-10th-gen-nuc:

Intel 10th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have tested and can recommend the `Intel NUC10i5FNH <https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/189239/intel-nuc-10-performance-kit-nuc10i5fnh.html>`__.
10th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have tested and can recommend the `NUC10i5FNH <https://simplynuc.com/product/nuc10i5fnhn-full/>`__.
It provides two storage options: M.2 SSD storage and a 2.5" secondary storage
option (SSD or HDD).

Expand All @@ -535,54 +538,25 @@ startup and adjust the system configuration:
.. |NUC10 leads| image:: ../../images/hardware/nuc10_leads.jpg

.. _nuc8_recommendation:
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There should be language here to flag that these are EOL. Straight-up removing them from the docs is liable to cause confusion for folks still using them and looking for guidance.

For example "We previously recommended the name. As it has reached EOL, we recommend replacing it with a model which still has vendor support. Compatibility testing for the grsec kernel will continue for the next N server releases" (where N is a number we argue about)

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I've changed it to be along these lines, but instead of promising an explicit sunset timeline, I've said it'll likely work but we're going to stop explicitly testing on it.

.. _intel-8th-gen-nuc:

Intel 8th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have tested and can recommend the `NUC8i5BEK <https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc/kits/nuc8i5bek.html>`__.
It provides a single storage option: an M.2 NVMe or SATA SSD.

The NUC8i5BEK has soldered-on wireless components, which cannot easily be
removed. Before installation of the RAM and storage, we recommend that you
disconnect the wireless antennae leads:

|NUC8 leads|

Before the initial OS installation, boot into the BIOS by pressing **F2** at
startup and adjust the system configuration:

- Under **Advanced ▸ Devices ▸ Onboard Devices**, disable all onboard devices
other than LAN: audio, audio DSP, microphone, Thunderbolt, WLAN, Bluetooth,
and SD card.

- Under **Advanced ▸ Security**, disable SGX support, which is not used by
SecureDrop and may be targeted by active CPU exploits.

- Under **Advanced ▸ Boot ▸ Secure Boot**, uncheck the **Secure Boot** checkbox.

.. |NUC8 leads| image:: ../../images/hardware/nuc8_leads.jpg
8th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We previously recommended the NUC8i5BEK, however it is now end-of-life so we
recommend replacing it with a version that the manufacturer supports. While SecureDrop
will most likely continue working in the short-term, we will no longer be testing on
this hardware.

.. _nuc7_recommendation:
.. _intel-7th-gen-nuc:

Intel 7th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have tested and can recommend the `NUC7i5BNH <https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/95067/intel-nuc-kit-nuc7i5bnh.html>`__.

The NUC7i5BNH has soldered-on wireless components, which cannot easily be
removed. Before installation of the RAM and storage, we recommend that you
disconnect the wireless antennae leads:

|NUC7 leads|

Before the initial OS installation, boot into the BIOS by pressing **F2** at
startup and adjust the system configuration:

- Under **Advanced ▸ Devices ▸ Onboard Devices**, disable all onboard devices
other than LAN: audio, audio DSP, microphone, Thunderbolt, WLAN, Bluetooth,
and SD card.
7th-gen NUC
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We previously recommended the NUC7i5BNH, however it is now end-of-life so we
recommend replacing it with a version that the manufacturer supports. While SecureDrop
will most likely continue working in the short-term, we will no longer be testing on
this hardware.

.. |NUC7 leads| image:: ../../images/hardware/nuc7-leads.jpg

Journalist Workstation and Admin Workstation
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -619,12 +593,12 @@ removed the wireless components with ease. It's possible to re-purpose old
laptops from other manufacturers, as long as the wireless components are
removable.

Just as with the servers, you can also use an Intel NUC for the *SVS*. As noted
Just as with the servers, you can also use a NUC for the *SVS*. As noted
before, NUCs do not ship with a hard drive, and older models can be configured
without any wireless components. However, NUCs *do* contain an IR receiver,
which we recommend taping over with opaque masking tape.

If you choose to use an Intel NUC, you must use an older model that offers wireless
If you choose to use a NUC, you must use a model that offers wireless
as an **option** (described as something like ``M.2 22×30 slot and wireless antenna
pre-assembled (for wireless card support)``). If a model is advertised as having
"integrated wireless" (most newer NUC models), this means the wireless
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -731,15 +705,15 @@ we recommend upgrading to newer, supported hardware.
For the hardware we recommend, you can find a list of end-of-life dates below:

=================== ====================================================
Hardware End-of-Life (EOL)
Hardware End-of-Life (EOL)
=================== ====================================================
Intel NUC12WSKi5 Not yet confirmed
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Intel NUC11PAHi3 June 30, 2025
Intel NUC10i5FNH June 25, 2024
Intel NUC8i5BEK March 26, 2024
Intel NUC7i5BNH April 30, 2023
Thinkpad T420 (SVS) Already EOL; use only for airgapped SVS
Thinkpad T Series EOL dates vary; consult with manufacturer
NUC12WSKi5 Not yet confirmed
NUC11PAHi3 June 30, 2025
NUC10i5FNH June 25, 2024
NUC8i5BEK March 26, 2024
NUC7i5BNH April 30, 2023 (already EOL)
Thinkpad T420 (SVS) Already EOL; use only for airgapped SVS
Thinkpad T Series EOL dates vary; consult with manufacturer
TekLager APU4D4 Not yet confirmed
Netgate SG-4100 Not yet confirmed (will be 2 years after sales stop)
Netgate SG-6100 Not yet confirmed (will be 2 years after sales stop)
Expand Down
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