Mobile Core Network Emulator

The software-based Mobile Core Network emulator mimics 5g Core (5GC) SA and NSA, LTE 4G EPC, and UMTS 3G Core stand-alone to test the RAN.
4G-LTE
VoLTE
IMS
RAN
3G-UMTS
5G
Core
Mobile Core Network Emulator

The software-based Mobile Core Network emulator mimics 5g Core (5GC) SA and NSA, LTE 4G EPC, and UMTS 3G Core stand-alone to test the RAN.

Overview

The Valid8 Mobile Core Network Emulator provides an all-in-one, cost-effective and ultra-portable 3G 4G 5G network for demonstration, testing, repair and training purposes.

What It Can Do For You

The Mobile Core Network Emulator solution is capable of simulating and testing several devices individually or in parallel. There are options available to include a real eNodeB OTA if you need to use real UEs or IoT devices with traffic generation, or our simulated eNodeB if you don’t need the RF interface. Subsystems can be switched on or off depending on how much of the network you need simulated.

Example: A team of technicians wants to test a base station in the field during deployment.

  • Will it properly handle Control plane and User plane traffic?

Example: A repair company wants to test performance of a base station in a cost-effective way

  • Verify the base station can connect to the core successfully after repair
  • Verify the performance of a UE over the air

Why It’s Different

  • Scalable software-based architecture can run on a range of hardware from COTS and high-end customer provided hardware to Virtual Machines and the Cloud (e.g. Amazon AWS) for maximum versatility and performance
  • Web-based UI is easy to learn
  • HTTP API enable integration with automation test systems and other equipment
  • Stateful modeling provides accurate emulation of network elements

Features

  • Realistic network emulation of up to 1,000s of devices and calls (scalable)
  • Emulates some or all of core network, exposing all internal interfaces
  • Emulators available per subsystem (MME Emulator, PCRF Emulator, etc.)
  • True stateful simulation
  • Handover support on X2 and S1
  • Signaling request/response messages for call handling, mobility management, authentication, QoS
  • Report on media received, call connect time, call duration, jitter, packet loss
  • Generate valid and invalid/negative messages and call-scenarios (fully editable scenarios)
  • Supports sending invalid messages including malformed, dropped, and misordered packets
  • Check parameters in messages from SUT and flag errors
  • ‍Diameter CER/A, DWR/A, CCR-I/A, CCR-U/A, CCR-T/A, RAR/A request/response messages
  • 3GPP-compliant interfaces
  • Alerts and notifications

Related Video

Additional Videos

Subsystems

The Valid8 Mobile Core Network Emulator is comprised of multiple subsystems that are available individually or in parallel, and are scalable to fit your needs. The individual emulators are controllable through their call controllers, and the traffic can be captured through use of a remote capture tool such as Wireshark.

KPIs
  • ‍Attach Requests/Successes/Fails
  • Detach Requests/Successes/Fails
  • Dedicated Bearer Requests/Successes/Fails
  • Current Active Sessions/ Bearers
  • Number of Sessions/ Bearers Created
  • Attach Request Response Time
  • Dedicated Bearer Setup Request Response Time
  • Detach Request Response Time
  • Authentication Request Response Time
  • Authentication Request Response Time
  • Tracking Area Update Request Response Time 
Configurable Parameters
  • Mobile Country Code
  • Mobile Network Code
  • eNodeB Type
  • IP Addres S1 Interface
  • IP Address eNodeB
  • Primary DNS Address
  • Secondary DNS Adress
  • MAC Address Public Gateway
  • GTP Tunnel IP Address and Port
  • GTP Tunnel eNodeB IP Address
  • Integrity Algorithm
  • IP Address to assign UEs on LAN

Automation API

User commands can be fully automated using REST API. This includes performing all test control functions as well as collecting results and metrics. It can be integrated into virtually any CI system via the HTTP API, including Jenkins, CircleCI, Gitlab and others. Includes Autom8 Python framework.

Scripting

The application’s subsystems can be edited directly in the browser using TDL. The Message Workshop allows for the creation of test scenarios directly from the hex stream of a remote capture, while the Composer graphical editor (being deployed for all products in 2021) will allow for creating customized call scenarios by dragging and dropping the call flow to meet your test needs.
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Mobile Core Network Emulator

Use Cases

eNodeB Under Test

In the scenario where the eNodeB is to be tested, it can be tested by the Valid8 4G Network Emulator emulating the core network. Additionally, load and conformance tests are available for interfaces S1-MME and S1-U. In the case where the eNodeB needs to be tested on the RF side, it can be tested by the Valid8 4G UE Emulator.

Supported Scenarios:
  • ‍Power on / Start up
  • Attach
  • TAU
  • Attach
  • eRAB Setup
  • Detach
  • X2 handover
  • Emulates MME (for S1-MME) and SGW (for S1-U) along with all other needed core network elements, exposing all internal interfaces
  • Conformance tests available for S1-MME, S1-U, and X2

PGW Under Test

For testing the PGW, the 4G Network Emulator can wrap around the node using the S5/8, S7, Sxx and SGi interfaces. Traffic can be originated from real or emulated UE and IoT devices.

Supported Scenarios:
  • ‍Create Session
  • Delete Session
  • Create Bearer
  • Modify Bearer
  • Delete Bearer
  • Echo
  • Emulates all required nodes for wrapping around, including MME and PCRF for testing over interfaces S5/8, S7, Sxx nd SGi

  • Exposes all internal interfaces
  • Conformance tests available for each interface (S5/8, S7, Sxx, SGi)

PCRF Under Test

For testing the PCRF, the 4G Network Emulator can wrap around the PCRF with the core network and IMS.

Supported Scenarios:

gNodeB Under Test

In the scenario where the gNodeB is to be tested, it can be tested by the Valid8 5G Network Emulator emulating the core network. Additionally, load and conformance tests are available for interfaces N1/N2/N3. In the case where the gNodeB needs to be tested on the RF side, it can be tested by the Valid8 5G UE Emulator.

Supported Scenarios:
  • ‍Power on / Start up
  • Attach/Registration
  • Detach/Deregistration
  • Session management
  • Emulates AMF along with all other needed core network elements, exposing all internal interfaces

  • Conformance & registration tests available for N1, N2, N3

HLR Under Test

For testing the HLR Server, the Valid8 Tester can generate MAP traffic on a variety of interfaces in parallel to test performance and stability.

Supported Scenarios:
  • C
  • Gr
Mobile Core Network Emulator
Mobile Core Network Emulator

Summary of Specifications

The Valid8 Mobile Core Network Emulator is capable of simulating multiple network nodes individually or in parallel and is scalable to fit your needs.

Specifications

Protocols

  • 3GPP TS 23.401 (EUTRAN) 
  • 3GPP TS 24.301 (NAS) 
  • 3GPP TS 29.060 (GTPv1) 
  • 3GPP TS 29.272 (S6a) 
  • 3GPP TS 29.212 (Gx) 
  • 3GPP TS 29.214 (Rx) 
  • 3GPP TS 29.274 (GTPv2-C) 
  • 3GPP TS 29.281 (GTPv1-U) 
  • 3GPP TS 32.299 (Gy) 
  • 3GPP TS 36.413 (S1AP) 
  • 3GPP TS 36.414 (S1-U) 
  • 3GPP TS 29.338 (Gdd/Sgd)
  • IETF RFC6733 - Diameter 
  • IETF RFC4006 - Ro 
  • IETF RFC5246 - TLS, Protocol (1.0,1.1,1.2) 
  • IETF RFC6101 - SSL, Protocol Version 3.0 
  • IETF RFC793 - TCP 
  • IETF RFC768 - UDP 
  • IETF RFC4960 - SCTP 
  • IETF RFC791 - IPv4 
  • IETF RFC2460 - IPv6 
  • IETF RFC3550 - RTP / RTCP 
  • IETF RFC3711 - SRTP 
  • IETF RFC1035 - DNS 
  • IETF RFC2131 - DHCP 

Mobile Management Entity

  • ‍NAS 

  • SAE Bearer Management 
  • UE Location, Subscriber Data Handling 
  • Authentication 
  • Fault Recovery 
  • Notification 
  • Mix of PDN types, IPv4, IPv6 
  • Up to 2 sessions per IMSI 
  • Interface S1-MME to eNodeB: S1-AP 
  • Interface S6a to HSS: Diameter over SCTP 
  • Interface S11 to SGW: eGTP-C/GTPv2-C 
  • Supports up to 4 eNodeBs (scalable) 

Serving Gateway SGW

  • Packet Routing and Transfer Functions 
  • IP Address Allocation 

  • Interface S1-U to eNodeB: GTP-U 
  • Interface S4 to SGSN: GTP-U, eGTP-C/GTPv2-C 
  • Interface S5 to PGW: GTP-U, eGTP-C/GTPv2-C 
  • Interface S11 to MME: eGTP-C/GTPv2-C 

PDN Gateway

  • ‍Packet Routing and Transfer Functions 

  • IP Address Allocation 
  • Interface S5 to SGW: GTP-U, eGTP-C/GTPv2-C 
  • Interface S7 to PCRF: Diameter over SCTP 

HSS/HLR

  • ‍Subscriber profiles 
  • UE Location 
  • Subscriber Data Handling 
  • Authentication (AuC) 
  • Fault Recovery 
  • Notification 

ePDG

  • ‍GTP (S2a/b) to PGW 
  • ‍IKEv2 and ESP Encryption: DES-CBC, DES-CBC,128 bit AES-CBC, 192 bit AES-CBC,  256 bit AES, Null, 128 bit  AES-CTR, 192 bit AES-CTR, 256 bit AES-CTR, 168 bit 3DES-EDE-CBC
  • ‍IKEv2 and ESP Integrity Algorithms: 96 bit AES XCBC, 96 bit MD5 HMAC, 96 bit SHA1 HMAC

PCRF

  • ‍Policy Control Functions
  • QoS Authorization 

SMSC

GMSC

Diameter

  • ‍CER/A, DWR/A, CCR-I/A, CCR-U/A, CCR-T/A, RAR/A request/response messages 

IP

  • 1,000 Mbps total throughput per VM (scalable)

Test Scenarios

  • ‍Attach and Default EPS Bearer Context Activation 
  • Attach / Reject 
  • Detach 
  • Tracking Area Update 
  • E-UTRA Handover 
  • PDN Connectivity Request 
  • HTTP Browsing 

Network Emulation

  • ‍Simulated network delays and packet loss 

Quality Testing

  • QoE 

Product Details

Operating System 

  • ‍Protocol Engine (Linux-based) 

User Interface 

  • ‍Browser-based, touch-optimized graphical user interface 

Automation 

  • ‍HTTP API 

Valid8 exports its products strictly in accordance with all US Export Control laws and regulations which shall apply to any purchase or order. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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f: +1-781-996-3708
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Ordering Information

Mobile Core Network Emulator

Options:

sw-emulator-mobile-3g-core-lite : 10 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-3g-core-100 : 100 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-3g-core-1000 : 1,000 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-3g-core-10000 : 10,000 sessions

sw-emulator-mobile-4g-core-lite : 10 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-4g-core-100 : 100 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-4g-core-1000 : 1,000 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-4g-core-10000 : 10,000 sessions

sw-emulator-mobile-5g-core-lite : 10 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-5g-core-100 : 100 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-5g-core-1000 : 1,000 sessions
sw-emulator-mobile-5g-core-10000 : 10,000 sessions

(others on request)

Miscellaneous options:
network-emulator-internal-impairment-module
Security, fuzzing, penetration test

Licensing options:
(not applicable)

Datasheet Page

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