Implementation of IPsec on performance enhancing proxies for long distance wireless and satellite networks

Abstract

Wireless communication nowadays is becoming ever more popular due its ease of mobility and reduced channel implementation cost. A lot of work has been done especially in the field of long distance wireless communication but one fundamental problem that still persist is the implementation of land based protocols over the wireless links like TCP that was originally made for terrestrial based networks, when applied to long distance wireless links like satellite, performs poorly due to long RTT's and high error pronged environment. One of the techniques to improve TCP performance in long distance wireless networks is to use the PEP (performance enhancing proxy) but it cannot operate with IPsec (well-known internet layer security protocol) as it hides the information that the PEP requires. In my work I have implemented an application specific PEP and a separate minimum encryption procedure that will ensure additional security as the IPsec is implemented in a cautious mode. As a result PEP and IPsec can work simultaneously with requisite amount of security with minimum overheads. Simulations are performed in OPNET.