Re: [Qemu-devel] Add support for new image type

[Kevin Wolf]

Am 09.03.2012 11:28, schrieb Paolo Bonzini:
> Il 09/03/2012 10:23, Kevin Wolf ha scritto:
>>> You make really good points on opening up the image file format.
>>> I see real value there in that it would foster development of
>>> other solutions around that format.  The problem in this case is
>>> that StorageCraft's backup image format uses proprietary
>>> compression and encryption, and so, regrettably, we can't
>>> (currently) open up that code.
>>
>> This is an interesting statement. Not so much for compression, for
>> which I can't know how much better your solution is than common
>> algorithms. But I always thought that closed encryption algorithms
>> have to be considered bad, because using them would mean relying on
>> security by obscurity. Which probably everyone agrees is a bad idea.
> 
> And even for compression, having an open decompressor is usually a good
> idea.  Some people have no problems with proprietary solutions but do
> not like lock in (and wonder what to do with their backups if
> StorageCraft disappears).

The lock-in you already get with uncompressed images, but yes, it's a
problem with this file format that would make me avoid it.

Kevin