Flexible ethernet encryption systems and methods
Systems and methods for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption implemented by a first network element communicatively coupled to a second network element include encrypting a Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) signal based on a first encryption key with encryption applied to a 64b/66b bit stream associated with the FlexE signal at one or more of a FlexE client layer and a FlexE shim layer; switching to a second encryption key at a predetermined point in the FlexE signal; and encrypting the FlexE signal with the second encryption key subsequent to the switching.
1. A method for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption implemented by a first network element communicatively coupled to a second network element, the method comprising:
encrypting a Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) signal based on a first encryption key with encryption applied to a 64b/66b bit stream associated with the FlexE signal at one or more of a FlexE client layer and a FlexE shim layer;
switching to a second encryption key at a predetermined point in the FlexE signal; and
encrypting the FlexE signal with the second encryption key subsequent to the switching.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined point in the FlexE signal is a multiframe boundary in FlexE overhead.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
utilizing an encryption messaging channel in FlexE overhead to coordinate the switching.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising
utilizing the encryption messaging channel to establish the first encryption key and the second encryption key.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the encryption messaging channel utilizes one or more of reserved bytes in the FlexE overhead and a management channel.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the encryption messaging channel utilizes a FlexE client or PCS stream with a designed Operational code.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encryption is applied to the 64b/66b bit stream with one of (i) only data blocks encrypted and (ii) data blocks encrypted along with one or more control blocks comprising a start of packet and an end of packet.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encryption utilizes one or more of Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Galois/Counter Mode (GCM).
9. An apparatus for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption implemented at a first network element communicatively coupled to a second network element, the apparatus comprising:
circuitry configured to encrypt a Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) signal based on a first encryption key with encryption applied to a 64b/66b bit stream associated with the FlexE signal at one or more of a FlexE client layer and a FlexE shim layer;
circuitry configured to switch to a second encryption key at a predetermined point in the FlexE signal; and
circuitry configured to encrypt the FlexE signal with the second encryption key subsequent to the switch to the second encryption key.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined point in the FlexE signal is a multiframe boundary in FlexE overhead.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising
circuitry configured to utilize an encryption messaging channel in FlexE overhead to coordinate the switch to the second encryption key.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising
circuitry configured to utilize the encryption messaging channel to establish the first encryption key and the second encryption key.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the encryption messaging channel utilizes one or more of reserved bytes in the FlexE overhead and a management channel.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the encryption messaging channel utilizes a FlexE client or PCS stream with a designed Operational code.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the encryption is applied to the 64b/66b bit stream with one of (i) only data blocks encrypted and (ii) data blocks encrypted along with one or more control blocks comprising a start of packet and an end of packet.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the encryption utilizes one or more of Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Galois/Counter Mode (GCM).
17. A network configured for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption, the network comprising:
a first network element; and
a second network element communicatively coupled to the first network element,
wherein the first network element is configured to
encrypt a Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) signal based on a first encryption key with encryption applied to a 64b/66b bit stream associated with the FlexE signal at one or more of a FlexE client layer and a FlexE shim layer;
switch to a second encryption key at a predetermined point in the FlexE signal; and
encrypt the FlexE signal with the second encryption key subsequent to the switch to the second encryption key.
18. The network of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined point in the FlexE signal is a multiframe boundary in FlexE overhead.
19. The network of claim 17 , wherein an encryption messaging channel in FlexE overhead is used to coordinate the switch to the second encryption key.
20. The network of claim 17 , wherein the encryption utilizes one or more of Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Galois/Counter Mode (GCM).