Host-to-Host Encryption Using Commercial Networking Products

摘要

The report considers three commercial devices in a setting of host-to-host encryption. The basic questions considered are: (1) can this local networking product be modified to provide host-to-host encryption; (2) how could host-to-host encryption be achieved without modifying this local networking product. The HYPERchannel adapter from Network Systems Corporation, the Net/One from Ungermann-Bass, and the Computrol's Megalink product are each be examined. Section 2 discusses the general issues of host-to-host encryption. A generic host-to-host cryptosystem is developed, to be used later in the analysis of the specific products. Section 3 presents in turn the HYPERchannel, Net/One, and Megalink, considering the possibilities of host-to-host encryption with and without product modification. The report's conclusions are summarized in Section 4. (ERA citation 06:019612)