Enables FIPS mode.

FIPS is a publicly announced set of validation standards developed by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use by government agencies and by government contractors.

FIPS 140-2 is a technical and worldwide de-facto standard for the implementation of cryptographic modules. FIPS validation makes the Riverbed appliance more suitable for use with government agencies that have formal policies requiring use of FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic software.

To achieve FIPS compliance on a Riverbed appliance, you must run a software version that includes the Riverbed Cryptographic Security Module (RCSM) v1.0, configure the system to run in FIPS operation mode, and adjust the configuration of any features that are not FIPS compliant.

The RCSM is validated to meet FIPS 140-2 Level 1 requirements. Unlike FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validation, which requires physical security mechanisms, Level 1 validates the software only.

For more information on the FIPS implementation, see the FIPS Administrator’s Guide.

SteelHead CX, SteelHead EX, SteelHead-v, SteelHead-c, SteelHead Interceptor