Basic, Intermediate

Monolith Pinout Discovery – enable data recovery from SD cards

Training Objectives

Learn how to find and analyze the pin-outs of the microSD/SD cards and other monolithic devices and prepare to extract the physical dump for data recovery.

Key Learning Objectives

Hands-on practical exercises, Understanding a new technology, Visual signal analysis, Explore less common monolith devices.

Detailed Description

Introduction to embedded/monolithic device analysis. Packages. Internal structure. PCB layouts. NAND die/crystal layouts. Controllers. Chip-off data recovery from embedded devices.
- Practise 1: Review of different embedded devices.
Device preparation for analysis. Coating removal techniques and safety procedures during device preparation. Required tools and accessories. Special adapters for embedded/monolithic device analysis for logic analyzer.
- Practise 2: Coating/Solder mask removal and fixing device on adapter
PCB layout analysis. Track, pads, via and other connections. Internal connections. Route of track from controller to NAND. Minimal and satisfactory conditions for pinout analysis. Optimization of the connection scheme. Test points search.
- Practise 3: Test points search and minimization of connections
Additional techniques of preparation and preliminary analysis of device. Test points analysis. NAND crystal and controller location. Analysis of the connections and their typical patterns. Power and ground connection patterns.
- Practise 4: Test points analysis
Microsoldering technology with practice on real devices. Required tools and workspace arrangement. The proper techniques of wire attachment. Map of test connection.
- Practise 5: Microsoldering of monolithic/embedded device
Logic analyzer. Connection of device. Software concept. Channels. Signals. Triggers. Decoders. Buffer and frequency. Thresholds. Features. Standard layout of signals in logic analyzer.
- Practise 6: Device connection, signal triggering, study of logic analyzer features
NAND protocol and signals. Default states of signals. Control signals. Different pinouts of data bus. Power and ground. Relation between multiple CE and R/B signals on the NAND chips.
Detailed signal analysis with logic analyzer. Behaviour of NAND protocol. NAND activation and status signals. Data bus, order of bits and its decoding. Data bus synchronization. Control signals. Command bus and its synchronization. Address bus and its synchronization. Multi-die (multi-crystal) NAND chips and their signal behaviour.
- Practise 7,8: NAND protocol analysis and signal determination
Time and dynamics of signals in NAND protocol. Typical order of signals and its pattern analysis on the time scale. Length and density of different groups of signals.
- Practise 9: Search of NAND signal sequences and patterns
Command cycles and commands. General format of commands. Description of most frequent commands and review.
- Practise 10: Analysis of NAND commands and their meaning
Flash storage device initialization process at the start up. Sequence of commands. Reference for command pattern recognition
- Practise 11: Discovering sequence of command during initialization process
Determination of signals and pinout of unknown embedded/monolithic device.
- Practise 12: Determination of signal and pinout of unknown test device.

Who Should Attend?

R&D Engineers, Digital Police / Forensic Investigators, Chip Designers, Data Recovery Professionals.

Prerequisites

Well seen, but not mandatory:

Soldering experience.
Reverse engineering experience.

Software & Hardware Requirements

Laptop with Windows 11.

What You Get

To take-away:

Presentation in PDF format.
Case files.
Training devices for soldering mask removal.

During the training:

Fully equipped lab environment and all needed tools to participate in the hands-on workshop.

Training Details

About Trainer

Michal Paczkowski

Michal Paczkowski, Rusolut Engineer specializing in flash data recovery, digital forensics and reverse engineering. Regular instructor for the Monolith Pinout Discovery training program, sharing deep technical knowledge with professionals worldwide.

Actively engaged in advanced research and development projects, including reverse engineering of flash storage devices, analysis of vehicle infotainment systems and telematics modules, and co-development of Vehicle Data Reconstructor technology.