Performance evaluation of AES algorithm under Linux operating system

Abstract

Today, eleven years after being standardized, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is de facto a world standard for data encryption. After being published in the FIPS-197 document for the first time, continuous efforts have been made towards the algorithm improvement. In this paper we have compared the software performances of the AES algorithm implementations into cryptographic packages Oracle/Sun, Bouncy Castle, FlexiProvider and Cryptix, which all use Java Cryptography Extension (JCE), as well as their adaptability to three different versions of the virtual machines - Java SE 5.0u22 for Linux x86, Java SE 6u31 for Linux x86 and Java SE 7u2 for Linux x86. As a tool of the results presentation and interpretation we have used regression analysis. The end results within the chosen environment indicate that the Oracle/Sun implementation the AES algorithm is superior under the versions 5 and 6 JDK, but the Bouncy Castle implementation takes over the lead in the case of the version 7 JDK. Surprisingly, the AES implementation of the aging Cryptix package achieved very good results in our tests with regards to its speed.