Broadcom Unveils Security Processors For Networks

Broadcom Corp. Monday unveiled a trio of security processors designed to improve security on networks while freeing up some of the processing load on host processors.

The three CryptoNetX processors -- each of single chip design -- include either PCI-X or PCI Express host bus architectures and are currently sampling in 400-pin PBGA packages. The processors combine IP security (IPSec) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol processing with cryptographic acceleration and hardware-based identity management and authentication in the single-chip solution.

“Typically these processors would sit between the network and LAN connections, either in a server or in a separate security appliance,” said Linley Gwennap, principal analyst of The Linley Group, a market research firm specializing in a range of networking-silicon and processor technologies. “The processors would likely serve to block intrusions from outside a network and be beneficial in VPN and SSL-based appliance applications."

“With IPSec protocol processing, SSL record layer processing, and BroadSAFE, these products address the growing need for stronger security without impacting network performance,” he added. BroadSAFE is Broadcom’s hardware-based identity management and authentication technology.

Broadcom said the processors are targeted at enterprise routing and e-commerce transaction applications. The are likely to be used in SSL-based appliances and firewall appliances as well as in mid- to high-end VPNs.The high end of the series, the BCM5862 can hit up to 2 Gbps of IPSec protocol processing and 14,000 RSA transactions per second. The BCM5861 can reach to 1 Gbps and 7,000 RSA transactions per second with the BCM5860 hitting 500 Mbps and 4,600 RSAs, the vendor said.