# IP Security Offloading

Internet Protocol (IP) Security (IPSec) is a set of protocols used to help secure the exchange of IP data. IP Security offloading is the assignment of algorithm computations from software to hardware. Generally, CPU utilization and network performance improve when offloading takes place.

Members of the Intel® PRO/100 S family of adapters support IPSec offloading features that you can configure. These configurable features are available through Intel(R) PROSet. Offloading is supported in both tunnel mode and transport mode. For more information, open Intel PROSet through the Control Panel and open the online help for Intel PROSet. Offloading information is described in the advanced features for your adapter.

Offloading of both header authentication (AH) and ESP authentication is supported. However, if both of these are done in combination (AH+ESP) then only the AH function will be offloaded.

Members of the Intel PRO/100 S family of adapters also support IPSec Offloading over Network Address Translation (NAT) configurations that are available in Windows Server 2003. This feature is permanently enabled.

`Last modified on 10/09/03 3:50p Revision 5`