MACsec Toolkit

The Rambus MACsec Toolkit is a complete software implementation of the MACsec control plane (MKA) and data plane. It enables developers to quickly add complete MACsec support to both new and existing products such as Ethernet switches, routers or hosts. The Toolkit includes a full C source code implementation of the control plane, especially the MACsec Key Agreement (MKA) protocol, as well as the data plane.

How the MACsec Toolkit works

The Rambus MACsec Toolkit (previously the QuickSec Toolkit from Inside Secure) implements all the functionalities defined in IEEE standards 802.1AE, and 802.1X-2010 and 802.1Xbx-2014. It supports MKA, Network Announcements, EAPOL, PACP logic, virtual ports, extended sequence numbers and AES-GCM-256. In addition, it incorporates proven components from Rambus Security including EAP-TLS, RADIUS client, certificate manager, and cryptographic libraries.

It is provided in highly portable ANSI C source code, suitable for a wide range of platforms. It provides well-documented APIs to integrate with existing software and hardware components. It is easy to compile on a standard Linux server as a reference implementation for testing. The MACsec Toolkit has been interoperability-tested as both a supplicant and an authenticator with existing products.

The MACsec Toolkit has been designed to easily integrate with an existing product. Both the 802.1X-2010 and the 802.1AE specifications are implemented within their own modules with well-defined APIs.

MACsec Fundamentals White Paper

MACsec Fundamentals

For end-to-end security of data, it must be secured both when at rest (stored on a connected device) and when in motion (communicated between connected devices). For data at rest, a hardware root of trust anchored in silicon provides that foundation upon which all device security is built. Similarly, MACsec security anchored in hardware at the foundational communication layer (Layer 2) provides that basis of trust for data in motion over Ethernet-based networks.

Solution Offerings

Secure Networking Basics cover

Secure Networking Basics: MACsec, IPsec, and SSL/TLS/DTLS

The MACsec, IPsec and SSL/TLS/DTLS protocols are the primary means of securing data in motion (communicated between connected devices). These protocols can be anchored in hardware or implemented in software as part of an end-to-end security architecture. This white paper provides fundamental information on each of these protocols including their interrelationships and use cases.
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