RFC 1810 (rfc1810) - Page 1 of 7
Report on MD5 Performance
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group J. Touch
Request for Comments: 1810 ISI
Category: Informational June 1995
Report on MD5 Performance
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. This memo
does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of
this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
MD5 is an authentication algorithm, which has been proposed as the
default authentication option in IPv6. When enabled, the MD5
algorithm operates over the entire data packet, including header.
This RFC addresses how fast MD5 can be implemented in software and
hardware, and whether it supports currently available IP bandwidth.
MD5 can be implemented in existing hardware technology at 256 Mbps,
and in software at 87 Mbps. These rates cannot support current IP
rates, e.g., 100 Mbps TCP and 130 Mbps UDP over ATM. If MD5 cannot
support existing network bandwidth using existing technology, it will
not scale as network speeds increase in the future. This RFC is
intended to alert the IP community about the performance limitations
of MD5, and to suggest that alternatives be considered for use in
high speed IP implementations.
Introduction
MD5 is an authentication algorithm, which has been proposed as one
authentication option in IPv6 [1]. RFC 1321 describes the MD5
algorithm and gives a reference implementation [3]. When enabled,
the MD5 algorithm operates over the entire data packet, including
header (with dummy values for volatile fields). This RFC addresses
how fast MD5 can be implemented in software and hardware, and whether
it supports currently available IP bandwidth.
This RFC considers the general issue of checksumming and security at
high speed in IPv6. IPv6 has no header checksum (which IPv4 has
[5]), but proposes an authentication digest over the entire body of
the packet (including header where volatile fields are zeroed) [1].
This RFC specifically addresses the performance of that
authentication mechanism.
Touch Informational