Re: Data Partition Encryption documentation

On Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 09:45:34PM -0500, Adam Vande More wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 9:20 PM, Peter Eisentraut <peter_e(at)gmx(dot)net> wrote:
>
> On Thu, 2013-04-18 at 15:16 -0500, Adam Vande More wrote:
> > On this page http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.2/static/
> encryption-options.html,
> > "gbde" is listed as the method for encrypting block devices. While
> > correct, "geli" is a much more appropriate mention as it's a more
> > powerful(e.g. aes-ni support) and secure(more ciphers, data
> > authentication,etc) solution.
>
> Could you provide an updated wording? (E.g., should we just replace
> gbde by geli, or list both?)
>
>
>
> Sure, here is a change that encompasses more than my original observation.
> Take or leave or modify what you wish.
>
>
> pseudo diff
>
> -"On Linux, encryption can be layered on top of a file system using a "loopback
> device". This allows an entire file system partition to be encrypted on disk,
> and decrypted by the operating system. On FreeBSD, the equivalent facility is
> called GEOM Based Disk Encryption (gbde), and many other operating systems
> support this functionality, including Windows."
>
> +"There are at least two methods of encrypting a file system. The first is to
> use a tool which implements an encrypted file system. On Linux, eCryptfs or
> EncFS are commonly used for this while FreeBSD uses PEFS. The other and
> perhaps more common method is to encrypt the block device a file system or swap
> partition resides on. These types of solutions can also provide full disk
> encryption. Linux generally uses dm-crypt + LUKS for this functionality with
> other options dependent on kernel version/distro. On FreeBSD, there are two
> GEOM modules to encrypt block devices: geli & gbde with geli being the
> preferred solution for speed, security, and options. Many other operating
> system have their own method of block device or full disk encryption."

I have developed the attached doc patch to improve our details around
storage encryption.

--
Bruce Momjian <bruce(at)momjian(dot)us> http://momjian.us
EnterpriseDB http://enterprisedb.com

+ Everyone has their own god. +