Optimization and benchmark of cryptographic algorithms on network processors

As requirements for communication security grow, cryptographic processing becomes another type of application domain. However, cryptographic algorithms are all computationally intensive. This work compares and analyzes architectural characteristics of many widespread cryptographic algorithms on the Intel IXP2800 network processor. It also investigates several implementation and optimization principles that can improve overall performance. The results reported here are applicable to other network processors because they have similar components and architectures.