dsTest® supports server emulation and client interface simulation capabilities with the STa Diameter application. The solution is ideal for customers testing an Access Network Gateway (ANGW) or AAA server. Test AAA and ANGW STa interfaces with our Home Subscriber Server (HSS) Emulator. Use the AAA simulation in the STa interface application to test the capacity and performance of an HSS. Use the HSS Emulator and the Interface applications in tandem to test Diameter Proxies, Relay Agents, and Redirect Agents.
In your evolved High Rate Packet Data (eHRPD) network, test the interaction between the HRPD Serving Gateway (HSGW) and the 3GPP2 AAA Proxy with the STa Interface application, which is equivalent to the Pi* interface between those nodes when the optional Pi*3GPP2 Diameter application is not supported.
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 or graphed via our dsClient GUI.
Extensible Authorization Protocol (EAP)
The STa reference point performs authentication based on reuse of the DER/DEA command set defined in Diameter Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). dsTest currently supports EAP-SIM, EAP-AKA and EAP-AKA’.
Implementation
The STa Interface application provides the following procedures:
- Authentication and Authorization
- Re-Authentication and Re-Authorization
- Access Network Initiated Session Termination
- HSS/AAA Initiated Detach
Client Simulation
When testing an AAA server, the STa Interface application can be used on the ANGW to test the responses of the AAA to messages from the ANGW. When used together with our SWx Interface application on a HSS client node you can provide a more complete AAA functional and load test solution.
Read more about our HSS Emulator.
Server Emulation
A node configured with the STa Interface application can function as an AAA Emulator providing services to the ANGW over STa in support of functional or load testing of your HSS.
When used in conjunction with the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), Online Charging System (OCS), and Offline Charging System (OFCS) emulators, dsTest can offer all of the services needed to test a PGW.
Read more about our Emulators.
Advanced Testing Features
Enhance your testing with Developing Solutions® testing assistance solutions:
- Insert, delete, or replace AVPs in your messages with our SmartAVP™ solution. SmartAVP enables you to define proprietary signaling or to corrupt AVPs to facilitate negative testing.
- Configure commands to define the series of actions and rates that each subscriber takes. Advanced profiles can be created using SmartEvents™ to define a mix of traffic based on probability assignments. With SmartEvents, you can specify when your SmartAVPs are used.
- Define a set of message templates against which all messages will be validated with our complete Diameter Dictionary. Every Diameter message is validated, even under load conditions.
Read more about our Advanced Diameter Testing Features.
Supporting Standards
- 3GPP TS 29.402 and 29.273(STa)/X.S0057-A(Pi*)
- Diameter – RFCs 6733, 3588
- Diameter EAP – RFC 4072
- SCTP – RFC 2960 (RFC 3309 checksum)
- TCP – RFC 793