Thursday 22 November 2012

Checksum Files


A checksum file is a reasonably small file which contains the checksum values of other files. There are many formats of checksum files, frequently proprietary or closed. However there are also numerous open and widely supported formats. Major three formats include:
  1. Simple File Verification (SFV): In the binary newsgroups and file-sharing networks SFV is a well known format. In this format, CRC32 algorithm is used and the file structure supposes ambiguity. Use of this format is generally not recommended.
  2. MD5SUM: This format is mostly known in open systems world. It makes use of more secure and reliable MD5 algorithm and has more convenient structure of file. The Advanced Checksum Verifier utility support both formats, but the use of MD5SUM format is strongly recommended.
  3. Alternative or BSD checksum format: This is more advanced format which allows using any checksum calculation algorithm. Unfortunately Advanced Checksum Verifier does not support currently this format. 

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