Performance of host identity protocol on lightweight hardware

The Host Identity Protocol (HIP) is being standardized by the IETF as a new solution for host mobility and multihoming in the Internet. HIP uses self-certifying public-private key pairs in combination with IPsec to authenticate hosts and protect user data. While there are three open-source HIP implementations, no experience is available with running HIP on lightweight hardware such as a PDA or a mobile phone. Limited computational power and battery lifetime of lightweight devices raises concerns if HIP can be used there at all. This paper presents performance measurements of HIP over WLAN on Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. It also provides comprehensive analysis of the results and makes suggestions on HIP suitability for lightweight clients.