MAPS™ LTE eGTP-c Interface Emulator
(Scripted LTE S3, S4, S5, S8, S10, S11 and S16 Interfaces Emulation)
Background
The above diagram depicts some of the internals of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. The user (UE) has very high speed
RF connection to the nearest local tower. This high speed connection is always ON, as long as the mobile is powered up.
LTE is an all IP infrastructure with service priority built in – audio and video are given priority. All necessities like IP address,
authentication, and security are validated. Instant resources over RF (the air) and IP (internal network) are made available depending
on what the user is attempting to do. Also, LTE is designed for compatibility with older 2G and 3G mobile systems.
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LTE S11 and S5/S8 network elements include MME (to handle signaling of control plane), Serving gateway and Public Data
Network (PDN) gateway (to handle mobility management tasks within LTE and other radio networks) as depicted in the picture above.
Overview
GL’s Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™) designed for testing LTE S11, S5/S8 (eGTP) interfaces
can simulate MME (Mobility Management Entity), SGW (Serving Gateway), and PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway) network elements.
The application is available as
- MAPS™ LTE eGTP (Item # PKS142) for S3, S4, S5, S8, S10, S11 and S16 interfaces
The application also simulates S1 (MAPS™ LTE S1) interface. Other interfaces such as
S4, S11, and S12 will also be supported by the application in near future.
The MAPS™ LTE eGTP gives the users the unlimited ability to edit S11, S5/S8 eGTP-C (Evolved GPRS Tunneling Protocol for
Control Plane (eGTP-c) messages and call scenarios (message sequences). "Message sequences" are generated through scripts.
"Messages" are created using message templates.
Possible applications include:
- Simulate up to 500 Smartphones (UEs) powering up and down
- Authenticate and confirm security procedures
- QoS requests for greater or lesser bandwidth
- Temporary addressing management for mobility and security
GL also provides a GUI based LTE Analyzer for on-line capture and decode of the signaling in real-time
both during tests and as a stand-alone tracer for live systems.
Main Features
- Simulates MME, SGW and PDN GW elements in the LTE eGTP interface.
- Supports LTE control plane.
- Generates and responds to hundreds of UE Signaling (Load testing)
- Generates and process GTP-C messages (valid and invalid).
- Impairments can be applied to messages to simulate error conditions
- Supports customization of call flows and message templates using Script editor and Message editor.
- Ready-to-use scripts for quick testing
- Supports scripted call generation and automated call reception.
- Provides protocol trace with full message decoding, and graphical ladder diagrams of call flow with time stamp
- Script based & protocol independent software architecture.
- Provides call statistics and associated captured events and error events during call simulation.
Supported Protocol Standards
Control Plane for S11, S5/S8 Interface
- GPRS Tunneling Protocol for the control plane (GTP C): This protocol tunnels signaling messages between MME and S-GW (S11).
- User Datagram Protocol (UDP): This protocol transfers signaling messages. UDP is defined in RFC 768 [26].
| Supported Protocols |
Standard / Specification Used |
| S11, S5/S8 Interface |
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| Evolved GTP (eGTP) for EPS |
3GPP TS 29.274 V8.0.0 (2008-12) |
| Evolved GTP (eGTP) for EPS |
3GPP TS 29.274 V9.2.0 (2010-03) |
Test Configuration
This window allows users to configure the necessary parameters to establish communication between MAPS™ LTE eGTP
and the DUT. The configuration window for MAPS™ LTE eGTP consists of UDP configuration for S11, S5/S8 interfaces elements.
Screen Shot of LTE - eGTP Testbed Setup Configuration
Typical Call Flow Scenario
LTE - S11 and S5/S8 interfaces signaling scenario (messages between MME, SGW, and PGW)
Call Generation
Call Generation option allows the user to simulate outgoing communications where an outgoing call is initiated by sending call
control messages using proper scripts and profiles. The profile allows necessary parameters of call control messages to be changed
during runtime.
S11 (eGTP) Interface
Testing SGW
The messages exchanged between MME and SGW (S11 Interface) is same as the messages exchanged between SGW and PDN
Gateway (S5/S8 Interface). The scenario below indicates entities in S11 interface.
As seen in the figure below, MAPS™ LTE eGTP acts as MME, and tests the DUT that is configured as MME. MAPS™ - LTE
eGTP initiates the messages towards SGW and responds to messages from SGW (DUT).
MAPS as MME in S11 interface
For SGW testing, scripts are used to ensure MAPS™ LTE eGTP act as MME sending Create Session Request message.
The response message is received from the DUT (SGW) establishing default bearer ID as seen in the message sequence window below.
Call Generation at MME Node (S11 Interface)
S5/S8 (eGTP) Interface
Testing PGW
As seen in the figure below, MAPS™ LTE eGTP acts as SGW, and tests the DUT that is configured as PGW.
MAPS™ LTE eGTP initiates the messages towards PGW and responds to messages from PGW (DUT).
MAPS as SGW in s5s8 interface
For PGW testing, scripts are used to ensure MAPS™ LTE eGTP act as SGW sending Create Session Request message.
The response message is received from the DUT (PGW) establishing default bearer ID as seen in the message sequence window below.
Call Generation at SGW Node (S5/S8 interface)
Call Reception
Call generated from other entity can be automatically detected in call reception window by pre-setting the required scripts in the
Incoming Call Handler window.
S11 (eGTP) Interface
Testing MME
In MME testing, MAPS™ LTE eGTP is loaded with a set of inbuilt scripts to handle the incoming messages.
MAPS™ LTE eGTP acts as SGW and sends Create Session response for the request message from DUT (MME).
Here, MAPS™ LTE eGTP acts as SGW, and responds to messages from MME.
MAPS as SGW in S11 interface
Once the control plane is set, traffic flows. Modify Bearer Request is used to indicate the S1-U interface of eNB.
So, S-FTEID (S1-U eNB FTEID) value and IP address is set and sent to S-GW.
Call Reception at MAPS-SGW Node (S11 interface)
S5/S8 (eGTP) Interface
Testing SGW
As seen in the figure below, MAPS™ LTE eGTP acts as PGW (PDN Gateway), and tests the DUT that is
configured as SGW. MAPS™ LTE eGTP responds to messages from SGW and tests SGW.
MAPS as PGW in s5s8 interface
Once the control plane is set, traffic flows. Modify Bearer Request is used to indicate the S1-U interface of eNB.
So, S-FTEID (S1-U eNB FTEID) value and IP address is set and sent to S-GW.
Call Reception at PGW Node (S5/S8 interface)
Bulk Call Simulation
MAPS™ LTE eGTP supports Bulk Call Simulation and Stress/Load Testing capabilities through Load Generation feature.
Load Generation window helps users configure Stress/Load Testing parameters such as Call per second (CPS) or Busy hour call
attempts (BHCA), Max Simultaneous Calls and Burst parameters.
Screen Shot of Load Generation Parameters
Customization of Call Flow and Messages Using Pre-Processing Tools
- Script Editor - The script editor allows the user to create / edit scripts and to define variables for the
protocol fields. The script uses pre-defined message templates to build call flow and perform send and receive actions.
Script editor provides options to run the test for multiple iterations in sequential or random flow. Commands allow
retransmission of messages with specific interval
Screen Shot of Script Editor
- Profile Editor - Profiles are used to provide the user configured values to the fields in the Messages
(i.e Message Template in MAPS™ LTE eGTP) through variables which are going to change during the course of a call.
Screen Shot of Profile Editor
- Message Editor - The Message Template is a *.HDL file that comprises of protocol encoding parameters with preset values.
It is required to create a message template for every message in a protocol. The message templates are called within the scripts to
perform scenario based testing.
Screen Shot of Message Editor
Call Flow & Script Execution Control
Message Sequence - MAPS™ LTE eGTP provides protocol trace with full message decoding, custom trace, and
graphical ladder diagrams of call flow with time stamp while simulation is running. Call flow graph allows to easily verifying the
messages exchanged between MAPS™ LTE eGTP and DUT. See Call Generation
and Call Reception for details.
Script Contents & Script Flow - The Scripts Contents window displays the contents of the script selected for call
generation or reception. The Script Flow window displays the set of statements successfully executed by MAPS™ LTE eGTP to
help users in troubleshooting a particular the call scenario.
Events & Event Profile Editor - User-defined events allow redirection of script execution on-the-go. The custom
parameters in the events can also be changed during script execution using Event Profiles
Screen Shot of Script Contents and Script Flow
Screen Shot of Event Config
Call Statistics, Events, Link Status
Call Statistics & Status - By default, all call handling scripts (irrespective of the type of the functions) are assessed by
MAPS™ LTE eGTP to provide statistical information about total calls, active calls, completed calls, passed calls, and failed calls.
It is also possible to characterize the statistical information under different groups of call handling scripts under a unique heading.
In addition, Call Generation and Call Reception windows provide useful call status & script execution results.
Screen Shot of Call Statistics and Status
Events Reporting – MAPS™ LTE eGTP provides Event Log, Error Events, and Captured Errors windows that log
the captured events and errors encountered during the progress of the call.
Screen Shot of Events Log
Buyer's Guide:
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Back to Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™) Index Page
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