The QCOW2 format provides:
You will see output: Formatting 'windows7.qcow2', fmt=qcow2 size=53687091200 cluster_size=65536 lazy_refcounts=off refcount_bits=16 windows 7 qcow2 file
: A QCOW2 disk image configured to look like a 50GB disk to Windows 7 may only occupy roughly 13GB on the actual host. The QCOW2 format provides: You will see output:
: Many QCOW2 files found online are "trial" versions. Constant "not genuine" pop-ups can interrupt automated testing scripts if not properly addressed. Pros and Cons Small File Size : Easy to move and copy. Security : No longer receives security updates. Fast Deployment : "Plug and play" for KVM/Proxmox. Browser Issues : Modern web apps fail on IE8/11. Low Overhead : Perfect for multi-node labs. Driver Setup : Can be tedious to optimize. Final Thoughts Pros and Cons Small File Size : Easy to move and copy
The most secure method is to create the image yourself.
