GTP' Agent

This section describes the GTP' agent. This is a collection agent for real-time workflow configurations.

The GTP' agent collects from GSM agents messages and datagrams of charging protocol of type GTP'. By collecting this information the GTP' agent enables to act as a Charging Gateway device, providing Charging Gateway Functionality (CGF) within UMTS/GPRS networks.

Ā  supports UMTS/GPRS Charging Gateway Functionality


The GTP' agent awaits initialization from the GSN nodes of the types SGSN and GGSN. When initiated, there are two protocols with which the Agent can interact with the nodes:

  • Transmission Control Protocol(TCP), and

  • Datagram Protocol(UDP)

A GTP' workflow can alternate the implementation of two different protocols by using two GTP' agents. One for each protocol.

In case of failure, the GTP' agent can be configured to notify the GSN nodes to route the incoming data to another host. An alternative configuration is to set up a second and identical workflow, on a separateĀ EC.

The agent counts the received requests and publishes those values as MIM values. Those MIM values can also be viewed from the command line tool with theĀ wfcommand printcountersĀ command.

The GTP' agent supports IPv4 and IPv6 environments.

Interaction Scenario

The following scheme demonstrates the message and data transfer between the GSN nodes and the GTP' agent when using UDP:
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  1. When started, the GTP' agent sends aĀ Node Alive RequestĀ message to all configured GSN nodes.
    Ā 

  2. The GTP' agent awaits aĀ Node Alive ResponseĀ and will transmitĀ Node Alive RequestĀ repeatedly, according to the Advanced tab settings. For further information see Advanced Tab in GTP' Agent Configuration.
    Ā 

  3. After a successfulĀ Node Alive ResponseĀ the GSN node starts to transmit Data record Transfer Requests to the agent. When safely collected, the agent replies with a Data record transfer Response.
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  4. When the workflow is stopped, the messageĀ Redirection RequestĀ is automatically sent to all configured GSN nodes. The workflow will not stop immediately but waits for aĀ Redirection ResponseĀ from each of the GSN nodes. If theĀ Max Wait for a Response (sec)Ā value is exceeded, the workflow stops, regardless of whetherĀ Redirection ResponseĀ from the GSN nodes have been received or not.

    Note!

    When using TCP, the behavior is different. For further information seeĀ GTP' Agent MZSH Commands, Events, and Limitations.

Prerequisites

The reader of this information should be familiar with: