Security Processor Chip Speeds SSL/TLS Systems

Designed for secure processing of confidential e-Commerce transactions and data transfers, the BCM5850 2.4 Gb/s Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) processor chip accelerates bulk throughput performance of SSL and TLS transactions to meet the demands of multi-gigabit per second networks. The device performs full-record layer protocol processing at rates up to 2.4 Gb/s, and pipelined interfaces support any combination of SSL/TLS traffic workload from short- to long-duration transfers using 16 KB records. Other features include path protocol offload, symmetric key cryptographic and keyed hash operations for handshake and data transfer phases, chained cipher state maintenance, and data management functions for SSL version 3, SSL version 2, and TLS version 1. The chip also provides a generic-processing mode to support other protocols such as Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS). A software development kit includes a portable software reference library, application layer support libraries, and Open SSL patches for the chip’s APIs with pre-built drivers for Linux. Offered in a 420-pin PBGA, price is $520 each in sample quantities. BROADCOM CORP., Irvine, CA. (949) 450-8700.