Overview
Crypto engines encrypt and decrypt data for service modules. Crypto engines include the following types:
Hardware crypto engines—A hardware crypto engine is a coprocessor integrated on a CPU or hardware crypto card. Hardware crypto engines can accelerate encryption/decryption speed, which improves device processing efficiency. You can enable or disable hardware crypto engines globally as needed.
Software crypto engines—A software crypto engine is a set of software encryption algorithms. The device uses software crypto engines to encrypt and decrypt data for service modules. They are always enabled. You cannot enable or disable software crypto engines.
The switch only supports software crypto engines in the current software version.
Crypto engines provide encryption/decryption services for service modules, for example, the IPsec module. When a service module requires data encryption/decryption, it sends the desired data to a crypto engine. After the crypto engine completes data encryption/decryption, it sends the data back to the service module.