GL’s Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™) is designed for testing 5G–N1N2 interfaces can simulate gNodeB (gNB), and AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) according to 3GPP Release 15 standards.
The application is available as

• MAPS™ 5G-N1N2 (PKS500 licenses)

MAPS™ N1N2 Emulator supported Procedures are - NG Reset, NG Setup, Initial Context Setup, UE Context Release, Registration, De-registration, Primary authentication and key agreement procedure, Security mode control, Identification. The application gives the users an unlimited ability to edit NGAP/NAS messages and call scenarios (message sequences). "Message sequences" are generated through scripts. "Messages" are created using message templates.
Possible applications include:

• NGAP and NAS procedure and protocol compliance testing
• Simulate multiple gNodeBs/AMFs and millions of subscribers using CSV configurations
• 5G System wide features such as SMS, Location Services, Emergency Services
• Authenticate and confirm security procedures
• QoS requests for greater or lesser bandwidth
• Temporary addressing management for mobility and security

GL has enhanced its MAPS™ protocol emulation tool to simulate multi-protocol and multi-interface offering a complete range of test solutions, covering the entire 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G network.

By mimicking real-world customer behavior in lab environments, our solutions allow mobile operators and equipment manufacturers to verify their 5G networks before deployment.

The product supports Mobile traffic core – GTP (ETH101) simulation for user-plane packet transmission and reception services between any two nodes in 5G network. Mobile Traffic Core – Gateway (ETH102) module allows simulation of Gateway Traffic to test media gateway telephony interfaces over IP. These modules also support generation and verification of data traffic such as Email, FTP, Web (HTTP), Video, and more.

GL also provides a GUI based Multi-Protocol 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

• Setup a virtual real-time scenario simulating 5G interoperability with 4G-LTE network elements
• Simulates UE+gNodeB and AMF nodes.
• Supports Control plane signaling and User plane traffic
• Supported Procedures in N1 and N2 interfaces includes-
  • NG Reset
  • NG Setup
  • Initial Context Setup
  • UE Context Release
  • Registration
  • De-registration
  • Primary authentication
  • key agreement procedure
  • Security mode control
  • Identification
• Generate hundreds of UE Signaling (Load Testing).
• Generate and process NGAP/NAS (valid and invalid) messages.
• Insertion of impairments to create invalid messages
• Supports customization of call flow and message templates using Script and Message Editor.
• Ready-to-use scripts for quick testing
• Supports scripted call generation and automated call reception.
• Provides Call Statistics and Events Status.
• Automation, Remote access, and Schedulers to run tests 24/7

Supported Protocols Standards

Control Plane for N1/N2 Interface

• NG Application Protocol (NGAP): Application Layer Protocol between the gNodeB and the AMF.
• SCTP for the control plane (SCTP): This protocol guarantees delivery of signaling messages between AMF and gNodeB (N1N2). SCTP is defined in RFC 2960.

Use Cases

MAPS™ N1N2 configured as AMF to test gNB (DUT)	MAPS™ N1N2 configured as gNB to test AMF (DUT)

5G N1N2 Interface Procedure

In 5G N1N2 interface, MAPS™ acts as either gNodeB to test AMF or AMF to test gNodeB simulating the following call control procedure.

• MAPS™ N1N2 Emulator supported Procedures are - NG Reset, NG Setup, Initial Context Setup, UE Context Release, Registration, De-registration, Primary authentication and key agreement procedure, Security mode control, Identification.

5G NGAP signaling scenario (messages between gNodeB and AMF)

The below figures depict the Call Control Procedure simulation across 5G N1N2 interface between gNB and AMF.

5G N1N2 interface Call Control Procedure at gNodeB Node (Call Generation)	5G N1N2 interface Call Control Procedure at AMF Node (Call Reception)

Buyer's Guide

Please Note: The XX in the Item No. refers to the hardware platform, listed at the bottom of the Buyer's Guide, which the software will be running on. Therefore, XX can either be ETA or EEA (Octal/Quad Boards), PTA or PEA (tProbe Units), UTA or UEA (USB Units), HUT or HUE (Universal Cards), and HDT or HDE (HD cards) depending upon the hardware.

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