Slow performance when copying small files with filename encryption

gweilo

Hello,

when I copy many small files (~1 - 10 Kilobyte) and have file name encryption on, the copy process is particularly lengthy and copying the same amount of data takes x-times the time as when I copy larger files. Is is clear that filename encryption is partially responsible for this and that this needs longer once I have more files to copy. Yet, is there a chance you can improve the speed of the process?

Thx
Gweilo

Robert

Hello Gweilo,

Thanks for your feedback. The main reason for a slower copy process of many small files in contrast to a few large files is that such a copy process requires A LOT more file operations. When copying a large file, a typical write operation has 65 KB or even more. Copying 65 KB of small 5 KB files on the other hand requires 13 write operations - in contrast to 1. Additionally, the copy process does involve a lot more file operations for a single file then just write (e.g. checking of the file exists, checking if it was written, etc.) - with each of them required encryption/decryption of filenames. I hope this explains a little bit why the performance is x-times worse for many small files than larger files.

The current performance of BoxCryptor should be sufficient for most use cases - but of course we're always working on improving it.

Best regards,
Robert