A hardware Secure Processing Unit is described that can perform both security functions and other information appliance functions using the same set of hardware resources. The method comprises providing a WebDAV-compliant connector communicating with a multilayer resource adapter API, and creating a SAX-based processing pipeline. The inner passage includes an inner passage shell and the fan comprises vanes extending inward from the inner passage shell and turned at approximately a 45 degree angle to a centerline of the inner passage.