Applications
Using the generic function of the network processor, a software program implements an application that the network processor executes, resulting in the piece of physical equipment performing a task or providing a service. Some of the applications types typically implemented as software running on network processors are:
- Packet or frame discrimination and forwarding, that is, the basic operation of a router or switch.
- Quality of service (QoS) enforcement - identifying different types or classes of packets and providing preferential treatment for some types or classes of packet at the expense of other types or classes of packet.
- Access Control functions - determining whether a specific packet or stream of packets should be allowed to traverse the piece of network equipment.
- Encryption of data streams - built in hardware-based encryption engines allow individual data flows to be encrypted by the processor.
- TCP offload processing
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