Abstract
Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEPs) are used in satellite networks for better performance of the TCP/IP applications. Multi-layer IPSec (ML-IPSec) resolves the conflict between end-to-end security in standard IPSec and working of PEPs. This paper presents the concept and detailed design of ML-IPSec by breaking the IP datagram into three zones while enabling the intermediate nodes to access the TCP header and HTTP header information. The paper also presents an efficient interworking scheme between ML-IPSec and secure IP multicast using the Logical Key Hierarchy for key distribution. © 2011 IEEE.