@item options
is a comma separated list of format specific options in a
name=value format. Use @code{-o ?} for an overview of the options supported
-by the used format
+by the used format or see the format descriptions below for details.
@item -c
on Windows), optional AES encryption, zlib based compression and
support of multiple VM snapshots.
+Supported options:
+@table @code
+@item backing_file
+File name of a base image (see @option{create} subcommand)
+@item backing_fmt
+Image format of the base image
+@item encryption
+If this option is set to @code{on}, the image is encrypted.
+
Encryption uses the AES format which is very secure (128 bit keys). Use
a long password (16 characters) to get maximum protection.
+
+@item cluster_size
+Changes the qcow2 cluster size (must be between 512 and 2M). Smaller cluster
+sizes can improve the image file size whereas larger cluster sizes generally
+provide better performance.
+
+@item preallocation
+Preallocation mode (allowed values: off, metadata). An image with preallocated
+metadata is initially larger but can improve performance when the image needs
+to grow.
+
+@end table
+
+
@item qcow
Old QEMU image format. Left for compatibility.
+
+Supported options:
+@table @code
+@item backing_file
+File name of a base image (see @option{create} subcommand)
+@item encryption
+If this option is set to @code{on}, the image is encrypted.
+@end table
+
@item cow
User Mode Linux Copy On Write image format. Used to be the only growable
image format in QEMU. It is supported only for compatibility with
VirtualBox 1.1 compatible image format.
@item vmdk
VMware 3 and 4 compatible image format.
+
+Supported options:
+@table @code
+@item backing_fmt
+Image format of the base image
+@item compat6
+Create a VMDK version 6 image (instead of version 4)
+@end table
+
+@item vpc
+VirtualPC compatible image format (VHD).
+
@item cloop
Linux Compressed Loop image, useful only to reuse directly compressed
CD-ROM images present for example in the Knoppix CD-ROMs.