Custom protocols are supported using configurable strings (up to 16 hex octets) for pattern-matched application identification in the payload of TCP or UDP based applications (mutually exclusive to other string matches in an app-filter).
The match is specified for the client-to-server, server-to-client, or any direction for TCP based applications, and in the any direction for UDP based applications.
There is a configurable description and custom protocol ID for a protocol, with configurable shutdown. When disabled, traffic is identified as if the protocol was not configured.
Custom protocols and ALU-provided protocols are functionally equivalent. Custom protocols are used in application definition without limitations (all app-filter entries except strings are supported). Collection of custom protocol statistics on a partition/ISA group/special study sub level is supported.