AES-GCM: Advanced Encryption Standard Core
Block Diagram

Overview
The AES-GCM encryption IP core implements Rijndael encoding and decoding in compliance with the NIST Advanced Encryption Standard. It processes 128-bit blocks, and is programmable for 128-, 192-, and 256-bit key lengths.Two architectural versions are available to suit system requirements. The Standard version (AES32) is more compact, using a 32-bit datapath and requiring 44/52/60 clock cycles for each data block (128/192/256-bit cipher key, respectively). The Fast version (AES128) achieves higher throughput, using a 128-bit datapath and requiring 11/13/15 clock cycles for each data block. GCM stands for Galois Counter. GCM is a generic authenticate-and-encrypt block cipher mode. A Galois Field (GF) multiplier/accumulator is utilized to generate an authentication tag while CTR (Counter) mode is used to encrypt.
Features
- Standards: Satisfies Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) Publication 197 from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Throughput: standard/fast version: 2.9/11.6 Mbits/MHz for 128-bit key, 2.5/9.8 Mbits/MHz for 192-bit key, 2.1/8.5 Mbits/MHz for 256-bit key
- Configuration: Works with a pre-expended key or can integrate the optional key expansion function
- Deliverables: include test benches, C model and test vector generator
Device Utilization and Performance
The core can be mapped to any Intel® FPGA Family and optimized to suit the particular project's requirements. The AES-GCM core synthesizes to 778 ALMs for the standard version and to 2,187 ALMs for the fast version. On a Stratix® V device, the core can run at least 150 providing a throughput of 436 Mbps for the standard version, or 1.74 Gbps for the fast version.
IP Quality Metrics
Basic | |
---|---|
Year IP was first released | 2001 |
Latest version of Quartus supported | 15.1 |
Altera Customer Use | |
IP has been successfully implemented in production with at least one customer | Y |
Deliverables | |
Customer deliverables include the following:
|
Y |
Any additional customer deliverables provided with IP | Bit Accurate Model |
Parameterization GUI allowing end user to configure IP | N |
IP core is enabled for OpenCore Plus Support | Y |
Source language | Verilog |
Testbench language | Verilog; VHDL |
Software drivers provided | N |
Driver OS support | Not required |
Implementation | |
User Interface | Other: generic uP |
IP-XACT Metadata included | N |
Verification | |
Simulators supported | ModelSim, Questa, NC-SIM |
Hardware validated | N. Altera Board Name NULL |
Industry standard compliance testing performed | N |
If No, is it planned? | N |
Interoperability | |
IP has undergone interoperability testing | N |
Interoperability reports available | N |
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