dsTest® supports both server emulation and client simulation capabilities for the Gc Mobile Application. Test GGSN Gc interfaces in UMTS networks with our Home Location Register (HLR) Emulator. Use the Gc Interface application to test the capacity and performance of an HLR. Validate network node performance and capacity in a realistic network environment, replicating the deployment configuration.
A rich set of operational measurements is collected at specified intervals and stored in a SQLite database on the dsTest server. Real-time measurements may be retrieved through our dsClient™ CLI interface or graphed via our dsClient GUI interface.
Implementation
The Gc Interface application implements the following 3GPP Mobile Application services:
- Retrieval of routing information for GPRS
- Reporting failure to establish a network-requested PDP context
- Reporting that an MS has become reachable for GPRS
Server Emulation
The HLR Emulator initiates the appropriate procedure when indicated, eliminating the need to dedicate a production server to lab activities. The HLR Emulator provides Mobile Subscriber data repository and routing information services for the Gc interface—all of the functionality required by a GGSN plus all of the benefits of an emulator.
You can manually trigger procedures, such as reporting that an MS has become reachable for GPRS, by executing a test event chain with a run-time command or during an automated test.
You can also use the control interface to change the emulator’s behavior. Simulate a non-responsive server by pausing the emulator or simulate intermittent issues by pausing and resuming. Disable individual subscribers during the test run, generating unknown subscriber errors.
Add functionality to your HLR Emulator by adding interfaces. Using concurrent interfaces also enables interaction 
between the interfaces.
- Gr—authentication information and subscriber location services
- Gf—EIR Simulation
Multiple HLR Emulators can be instantiated on a single server. In this mode each emulator can support multiple interfaces, up to an aggregate of 1000 client connections across all emulators. The emulators are fully independent and their subscriber databases may also be independent, overlap, or be duplicated.
Read more about our HLR Emulator.
Client Simulation
The Gc Interface application can be used to simulate a GGSN’s Gc interface to determine the impact of new HLR features and standards before they are deployed in a network. The Gc Interface application allows you to validate HLR performance and capacity in a realistic
network environment, replicating the deployment configuration.
Execute timed chains of test events with a run-time command or during an automated test to trigger GGSN-initiated procedures.
- Request routing information for specified subscribers
- Report PDP context activation failures for specified subscribers
Multiple GGSN nodes can be instantiated on a single server, each with scalable subscriber loads and transaction rates. In this mode, up to 1000 independent GGSN nodes may be simultaneously simulated. The nodes are fully independent and their subscriber configurations may also be independent, overlap, or be duplicated.
Read more about our Capacity and Performance.
Supporting Standards
- MAP – 3GPP TS 29.002
- TCAP – ITU-T Q.773
- SCCP – ITU-T Q.711-714
- M3UA – RFC 4666
- SCTP – RFC 2960 (RFC 3309 checksum)