dsTest® supports both server emulation and client simulation with the SWx and Wx Diameter applications. Test AAA SWx interfaces in 3GPP LTE networks and AAA Wx interfaces in 3GPP UMTS networks with our Home Subscriber Server (HSS) Emulator. Use the AAA simulation in the SWx and Wx Interface applications to test the capacity and performance of an HSS. Use the HSS Emulator and Interface applications in tandem to test Diameter Proxies, Relay Agents, and Redirect Agents.
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 SWx Interface application implements the following procedures:
- Authentication Information Retrieval
- UE Registration Notification
- PDN GW Identity Notification
- User Profile Update (HSS-initiated)
- Provide User Profile (AAA-initiated)
- UE De-registration notification (AAA-initiated and HSS-initiated)
The Wx Interface application implements the following procedures:
- Authentication Procedure
- WLAN Registration Notification
- Update of User Profile (HSS-initiated)
- WLAN De-registration Notification (AAA-initiated)
- Network-initiated De-registration
Server Emulation
The HSS emulator executes procedures based on configurable subscriber profiles, responding to requests and reports from AAA servers and eliminating the need to dedicate a production server to lab activities. The emulator provides authentication vectors in support of both EAP-AKA (Wx) and EAP-AKA’ (SWx) authentication. You can execute a test event chain with a run-time command or during an automated test to initiate any of the HSS-initiated procedures.
Multiple HSS 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 HSS Emulator.
Client Simulation
The SWx and Wx Interface applications can be used to simulate AAA functionality to determine the impact of non-3GPP access to the core network before the capability is deployed in a network. The Interface applications allow users to validate HSS 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 AAA-initiated procedures.
- Authentication vector requests
- AAA registration
- User profile requests
- AAA de-registration
Multiple AAA nodes can be instantiated on a single server, each with scalable subscriber loads and transaction rates. In this mode, up to 1000 independent 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.
Advanced Testing Features
Enhance your testing with Developing Solutions® advanced testing features:
- 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.
- 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.
Read more about our SmartEvents feature.
Read more about our Advanced Diameter Testing Features.
Supporting Standards
- SWx – 3GPP TS 23.402 and 29.273
- Diameter – RFCs 6733, 3588 and 5516
- SCTP – RFC 2960 (RFC 3309 checksum)
- TCP – RFC 793
- Wx – 3GPP TS 23.234 and 29.234
- Diameter – RFCs 6733, 3588 and 5516
- SCTP – RFC 2960 (RFC 3309 checksum)
- TCP – RFC 793