dsTest® supports both server emulation and client simulation capabilities with the SGs interface. Test MME SGs interfaces in LTE networks with our Visitor Location Register Emulator. Use the SGs Interface application to test the capacity and performance of a VLR in support of Circuit-Switched Fallback in the Evolved Packet System.
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 SGs application implements the following SGsAP procedures when associations between an MME and a VLR have been established:
- Paging for non-EPS Services
- Location Update for Non-EPS Services
- Non-EPS Alert
- Explicit IMSI Detach from EPS Services
- Explicit IMSI Detach from Non-EPS Services
- Implicit IMSI Detach from Non-EPS services
- VLR Failure
- MME Failure
- MM Information
- Tunneling of NAS Messages
- Service Request
Server Emulation
The VLR emulator participates in the MME-initiated procedures such as Location Updates or Detaches when indicated, eliminating the need to dedicate a production server to lab activities. You can manually trigger VLR-initiated procedures, Paging or Non-EPS Alert for example, by executing a test event chain with a run-time command or during an automated test.
Read more about out VLR Emulator.
Read more about SMS configurations.
Client Simulation
The SGs Interface application can be used to simulate an MME’s SGs interface to determine the impact of new VLR features and standards before they are deployed
in a network. The SGs Interface application allows you to validate VLR 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 attach or detach specified subscribers and initiate MO short messages, simulating real-world subscriber activity.
Multiple MME nodes can be instantiated on a single server, each with scalable subscriber loads and transaction rates. In this mode, up to 1000 independent MME nodes may be simultaneously simulated and MME-MME mobility may be 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
- Circuit Switched Fallback in Evolved Packet System – 3GPP TS 23.272
- SGsAP – 3GPP TS 29.118
- SCTP – RFC 2960 (RFC 3309 checksum)