Mobile Core Network Tester

Emulate 3G, 4G, 5G RAN and UEs in software and generate realistic traffic towards the mobile core network.

4G-LTE

VoLTE

IMS

RAN

Mobile Core Network Tester

Emulate 3G, 4G, 5G RAN and UEs in software and generate realistic traffic towards the mobile core network.

Overview

The Valid8 Mobile Core Network Tester provides an all-in-one, cost-effective and scalable 3G, 4G, 5G RAN & UE emulator for testing the core network.

What It Can Do For You

The Mobile Core Network Emulator solution is capable of simulating and multiple devices individually or in parallel. Options are available for 3G, 4G and 5G UEs and RAN components.

Example: A network service provider would want to test how their MME & SGW would function under load.

Will it properly handle Control plane and User plane traffic?
How will it perform under load?

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Example: A core network manufacturer wants to test performance and security in a cost-effective way

Verify multiple base stations can connect to the core
What happens when invalid messages are sent to the core?
How will it perform under load?

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

Connect on IuCS/ IuPS (3G), S1 (4G), N2 (5G)
S1 Flex
Realistic network emulation of up to 1,000s of UE devices and 800 TPS per core (scalable)
Up to 1Gbs data rate per S1, N2, Iu-CS/PS link
Feed in stateful traffic from a 3rd party source
True stateful simulation
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
3GPP-compliant interfaces
Alerts and notifications

Additional Videos

Subsystems

The Valid8 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
RAN 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.

PRODUCT OPTIONS

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Use Cases

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:

AMF Under Test

For testing the AMF, the 5G SA Network Emulator can wrap around the node using the N1, N2, N8, N11, N12 & N22 interfaces. Traffic can be originated from real or emulated UE and IoT devices

Supported Scenarios:

• General Registration

• Registration with AMFre-allocation

• UE-initiated Deregistration

• Network-initiated Deregistration

• UE Triggered Service Request

• Network Triggered Service Request

• UE Configuration Update procedure for access and mobility management related parameters

• UE Configuration Update procedure for transparent UE Policy delivery

• UE Reachability Notification Request procedure

• UE Activity Notification procedure

• AN Release

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Firewall Under Test

GTP, SCTP, S1-AP, MAP SIGTRAN Firewall

Supported Scenarios:

Invalid version
Invalid IEs/AVPs
Invalid TIDs
Invalid UE IDs
Too large messages
Too short messages

HSS Under Test

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

Supported Scenarios:

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MME Under Test

For testing MME, the HSS emulator can provide a realistic, stateful emulation of the subscriber DB for testing purposes

Supported Scenarios:

Attach
Detach
Location Update

PCF Under Test

For testing the PCF, the 5G Network Emulator can wrap around the node using the N7 & N15 interfaces. Traffic can be originated from real or emulated UE and IoT devices

Supported Scenarios:

Policy information provisioning at AMF
Trigger information provisioning at AMF
Policy information provisioning at SMF
UE deregistration

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NSSF Under Test

For testing the NSSF, the 5G Network Emulator can wrap around the node using the N22 interface. Traffic can be originated from real or emulated UE and IoT devices

Supported Scenarios:

Selection of network slice using NSSAI
Update information on S-NSSAIs
Notification or removal of restricted S-NSSAIs

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UDM/EIR/AUSF Under Test

For testing the UDM/EIR/AUSF, the 5G Network Emulator can wrap around the nodes using the N8, N10, N12, N17 interfaces. Traffic can be originated from real or emulated UE and IoT devices

Supported Scenarios:

General Registration
Registration with AMFre-allocation
UE-initiated Deregistration
Network-initiated Deregistration
UE Triggered Service Request
Network Triggered Service Request
UE Configuration Update procedure for access and mobility management related parameters
UE Configuration Update procedure for transparent UE Policy delivery
UE Reachability Notification Request procedure
UE Activity Notification procedure
AN Release

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SMF Under Test

For testing the SMF, the 5G Network Emulator can wrap around the node using the N4, N6, N10 & N11 interfaces. Traffic can be originated from real or emulated UE and IoT devices