IntroductionLong-term evolution (LTE) and system architecture evolution (SAE) technologies in 3GPP Rel8/Rel9 bring true all-IP technology to mobile networks. LTE is a framework for the evolution of the 3GPP radio-access technology with a high-data-rate, low-latency and packet-optimized radio access technology.

Increased demands of capacity and speed on LTE requires more performance and better applications from testing tools. NetHawk M5 provides full set of features to test and verify networks where LTE and SAE technologies are deployed. Detailed protocol analysis as well as market-leading LTE session tracing and KPI analysis capabilities enable users to investigate different aspects of LTE and SAE in the laboratories and in the field. A unique solution to analyze LTE user plane up to 10 Gbit/s in real time fills all the needs of LTE functional and system testing.

LTE/SAE Technologies3GPP has defined new network elements for LTE and SAE: eNB (eUTRAN Node B), MME (mobility management entity), S-GW (serving gateway) and P-GW (PDN gateway).

S1-MME

S1-U

S5S11

S10

X2

CPRI/OBSAI

S-GW

PDN GW

MME

MME

LTE

3G

RRH

eNB

eNB

Evolved Packet CoreeUTRAN

Figure 1: LTE playground

NetHawk M5 for LTE aNd SaE aNaLySiS

ProducT NoTE 22

Benefits Real-time user-plane analysis and KPIs for LTE sessions

LTE session analysis correlated to all interfaces and technologies

Multiple applications for quick functional and system test case analysis

Fast decoding updates for both 3GPP and proprietary protocols

Overview NetHawk M5 enables easy analysis of LTE and SAE with other mobile technologies simultaneously

NetHawk M5 provides easy access and decoding capability for user data and for control plane messages

Intelligent applications for analysis of captured data in real time or in offline−session tracing, graphical reports on different KPI and QoS counters

PrOducT NOTE 22

S1 is the interface that separates eUTRAN and EPC (evolved packet core). S1-C is used between MME and S1-U between eNB and S-GW. The X2 interface is used between the interconnected eNBs while S11 is between MME and S-GWG. Radio-related measurement reports from UE are received at eNBs but are not visible in the S1 interface. This can make radio interface optimization challenging. NetHawk supports selected vendors’ eNB internal interface for radio interface analysis and selected LTE radio test equipments to gather radio related data from air interface.

LTE and SAE provide an evolutionary path from UTRAN allowing downlink peak data rate up to 100 Mbit/s and in the uplink peak data rate up to 50 Mbit/s. With NetHawk iPro/M5 products user can see and verify the user-plane throughputs in real time.

NetHawk M5 for LTE and SAE

The NetHawk M5 enables easy analysis of the LTE and SAE technologies. Correlation with the other mobile technologies such as UTRAN and GERAN, as well as for the interfaces to Registers, PC Core and IMS. NetHawk follows closely the specification changes and updates. New features and protocol analysis updates are available with a software update.

The M5 provides an easy access and decoding capability for the LTE traffic. With the three-view, fully configurable Protocol Monitor application of the NetHawk M5, the LTE and SAE operations can be analyzed from the higher signaling level analysis to drilling deep in details. All related messages and parameters can be found from control plane stacks as well as application layer carried to/from UE. Protocols−or protocols with a certain parameter value−can be configured as counters to create KPIs on the decoded data.

The NetHawk M5’s Call and Session Analysis is a key troubleshooting application. LTE sessions can be closely monitored in real time as they utilize LTE and SAE services. Users can select the call and session view from 200 carefully selected details of LTE session signaling, allowing most of the test cases verified directly from the Call and Session Analysis application. Additionally for pre-defined duration measurements, the NetHawk Call and Session Analysis application even allows users to define their own delay counters between any two session related messages. The Call and Session Analysis application provides a summary view of all the traced transactions; full message details of the session in question are available with a mouse-click. LTE session analysis correlates the signaling and user plane in each interfaces, but also the sessions over the eRAN and EPC automatically. Correlations of the intersystem (X2) HOs and HOs for the UTRAN/GERAN are also supported in the Call and Session Analysis application.

Figure 2: Protocol analysis with NetHawk M5

Figure 3: LTE session analysis with NetHawk M5

PrOducT NOTE 22

User-plane analysis is highly important in LTE testing. With the NetHawk M5, users can create graphical reports on different LTE and SAE session or interface level QoS counters. With QoS application the quality of service level in the network can effectively be determined based on accurate delay, throughput and jitter measurements. NetHawk’s market-leading solution to analyze user-plane data up to 10 Gbit/s in real time, allows functional testing to focus on the UP analysis without post-processing. Different applications and views for user-plane flow analysis and QoS KPIs will make the testing and acceptance work fast with the quick access to the last details of user-plane flow.

NetHawk M5 for LTE Air Interface Testing

NetHawk M5 allows monitoring of all eNB interfaces including LTE Uu. Air interface data can be captured through a test mobile or M5 implementing eNB internal monitoring interface. Air interface analysis via internal eNB interface allows radio optimization, H0 algorithms or detects compatibility problems between terminals and network elements.

DB

Timestamp

BPF Filters

User-Plane Data

Signaling Traffic

Flow Generator

KPI/QoSCalculation

ProtocolUser-Plane

Stack

GTP-U

IP

UDP

IP

L2/L1

S1-AP

LTE L3

SCTP

IP

L2/L1

ProtocolUser-Plane

Stack

Session or Interface LevelNetwork Statistics

and QoS KPIs

Real-Time Detailed AnalysisLTE Session Analysis

Real-Time Detailed Decoding

X2

S1

eNB

eNB

aGW

Figure 4: Patent-pending solution for user-plane analysis

PNOTE22.1AN © 2010 EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada 10/052008

EXFO Corporate Headquarters > 400 Godin Avenue, Quebec City (Quebec) G1M 2K2 CANADA | Tel.: +1 418 683-0211 | Fax: +1 418 683-2170 | info@EXFO.com

Toll-free: +1 800 663-3936 (USA and Canada) | www.EXFO.com

EXFO America 3701 Plano Parkway, Suite 160 Plano, TX 75075 USA Tel.: +1 800 663-3936 Fax: +1 972 836-0164 EXFO Asia 151 Chin Swee Road, #03-29 Manhattan House SINGAPORE 169876 Tel.: +65 6333 8241 Fax: +65 6333 8242EXFO China Tower C, Beijing Global Trade Center, Room 1207 Beijing 100013 P. R. CHINA Tel.: + 86 10 5825 7755 Fax: +86 10 5825 7722 36 North Third Ring Road East, Dongcheng DistrictEXFO Europe Omega Enterprise Park, Electron Way Chandlers Ford, Hampshire S053 4SE ENGLAND Tel.: +44 2380 246810 Fax: +44 2380 246801EXFO NetHawk Elektroniikkatie 2 FI-90590 Oulu, FINLAND Tel.: +358 (0)403 010 300 Fax: +358 (0)8 564 5203EXFO Service Assurance 285 Mill Road Chelmsford, MA 01824 USA Tel.: +1 978 367-5600 Fax: +1 978 367-5700