Performance Evaluation of WireGuard and IPSec Protocols in Various Network Configurations

This study evaluates the performance of WireGuard and IPSec VPN protocols under various network configurations to determine their efficiency, reliability, and resource utilization in different scenarios. The configurations examined include Round Robin, IEEE 802.3ad bonding, single interface/single tunnel, dual interfaces/dual tunnels, and single interface/dual tunnels. Key performance metrics such as throughput, CPU utilization, and the effects of Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) settings were analyzed to understand the impact of these protocols on network performance. The experimental results demonstrate that WireGuard outperforms IPSec in terms of throughput and CPU efficiency, showcasing lower overhead and improved speed, making it a more suitable option for high-performance and resource-constrained environments. These findings align with existing literature, further validating WireGuard’s advantages in modern networking applications, particularly in scenarios requiring high-speed encrypted communication with minimal computational overhead. Additionally, this study provides insights into the implications of different bonding and tunneling strategies, offering practical recommendations for optimizing VPN deployments in various use cases.