Newsmail wrote: > I presume device backed loop > device means that the entire device or partition is on the loop device, and > it does not reside in a file. Device backed means using a partition, example: losetup -e AES128 /dev/loop0 /dev/hda4 ^^^^^^^^^ File backed means using a file that resides on some filesystem, example: losetup -e AES128 /dev/loop0 /home/jari/.my-secret-stuff ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > what's up with this write caching thingie. I > cant make a reiserfs filesystem on an encrypted device if I dont disable > write caching? what will be the effect if I dont disable it? If hard disk re-orders writes as a result of write caching, journal and/or data may get corrupted under some circumstances. That applies both to unencrypted and encrypted partitions. > other question: if I remember I read something that there are ways to > compile loop aes to the kernel. is there a way to compile the new > twofish/blowfish/serpent modules to the kernel as well? Yes, if you merge them to your kernel yourself. I prefer to keep them as modules. They are easier to compile for all supported kernels as modules. Regards, Jari Ruusu <jari.ruusu@pp.inet.fi> - Linux-crypto: cryptography in and on the Linux system Archive: http://mail.nl.linux.org/linux-crypto/