CCNCharging Control Node a Complete Reference Book By Sheheryar Obaid

Sheheryar Obaid

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Scope and Expectationsy

Scope of the presentation isTo give a complete overview of CCN To focus on the O & M concepts and techniques of CCN To present the topics so that they could be used as a reference and guide Topics are divided into chapters with well defined objectives

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Expectation from you areTo be interactive and engage in discussions Ask question as much as you want Give compliments at the end of the show to improve the quality of future presentations Expect you to further explore the things taught in the presentation and share the knowledgeSheheryar Obaid 2

Contentsy

Ericsson ArchitectureThe Architecture of Ericsson Charging System 5 Brief intro of different Entities and their functions

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CCN IntroductionIntroduction to TSP and NSP Explanation of CCF Interfaces and Protocols (CIP) Traffic Cases

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CCN O&MComplete O&M of Ericsson CCN Including Fault, Performance and SS7 Management, B&R and StatisticsSheheryar Obaid 3

A brief introduction of CS 5.0

CHARGING SYSTEM 5.0 ARCHITECTURE

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OBJECTIVESAfter this chapter we will be able to

Name all the Network Entities in CS 5 Environment y Describe each node and its functionality in a CS 5 Environment y Identify the connectivity of each NE in a CS 5 environmenty

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CS5.0y y y

CS5.0 is the latest charging system offered by Ericssonx Serving more than 850 million users and 160 service providers

CS5.0 has a decoupled/modular/distributed architecturex Separates traffic plane from administration plane

Every function of an IN Network has been assigned a separate nodex x x x x SDP ---- SDP SEP ----- SDP SCP ---- CCN SMP ---- MINSAT IP ---- IVR

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The ultimate goal of CS is to provide convergent chargingx Charging of every service in one single system

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Architecture of CS5

Figure showing all the NEs of CS5

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Brief Intro of NEsNetwork Element CCN VXML/IVR SDP MINSAT CRS AIR-AF Description Maintains charging session with the core network and SDP Standalone IVR, announcements and handling of IVR traffic towards AIR Subscriber Database, Rating, USSD and SMS notifications Mobile IN Subscriber Administration Tool Storage of CDRs, generation of reports Interface for 3PPs to perform refills, adjustments or enquiries on account balance AF locates SDP (DNS) Vouchers administration and authenticationSheheryar Obaid 8

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Introduction to the heart, mind and soul of CCN

CCN INTRODUCTION

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OBJECTIVESAfter this chapter we will be able to

Explain what CCN is, its functions and services Describe the architecture and interfaces of CCN Explain what is TSP and its characteristics Describe TelORB and its role Describe what CCF is and its function Describe NSP and different types of processors Describe what is CIP and perform CAP to CIP conversion y Describe different Traffic scenariosy y y y y y ySheheryar Obaid 10

Introduction to CCNy

CCN is an interface of Ericsson Charging System 5.0 towards core networkCan Handle all kinds of SS7 incoming requests MOC, MTC, SMS, DATA, Diameter, ERTC

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Primary function of CCN is to facilitate real time charging and convert all the incoming protocols to CIP for SDPCCN does not maintain user accounts nor does it perform RTC

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CCN works as a relay towards SDPBarring lists, Normalizing Numbers, Converting Parameters, Finding right SDPSheheryar Obaid 11

What is CCNCCN is a charging application built on Telecom Server Platform implemented on Dicos OS y Primarily it works as a relay towards SDP (as SDP only understands CIP) y Different protocols terminate at CCN and it works as a protocol converter and packet forwarder to SDPy

CAP, MAP, SCAP, RTC, Diameter etcy

CCN consists of two main parts TSP platform and CCF applicationTSP and CCF are explained in the following slides

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Hardware of CCN is called NSPExplained in the following slidesSheheryar Obaid 12

CCF & TSP Architecture

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Telecom service platform (TSP)y

TSP is a generic telecom grade platform on which we can deploy many applicationse.g HLR,AC,IN,CCN etc

TSP offers a combination of scalability, availability and real time characteristics y Ericsson CCN is also built upon TSP y TSP provides the following advantagesy

Support of Software upgrades during operation Support for geographical redundancy Real-Time Operation: transmission takes place with minimal and controlled delayy

There are two ways to connect to TSP via CLI(ssh) and GUI (http)Sheheryar Obaid 14

TSP Architecture Explainedy y

TSP Hardware used by Ericsson is called NSPCurrently deployed iteration of TSP and NSP is 6

TSP cluster ware used is called TelORBTelORB is the heart of TSP when it comes to traffic and subscriber data management

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TSP utilizes Linux and Dicos operating systemsA striped down version of Linux for O&M, FS & I/O processors Dicos for real time mission critical tasks (TPs)

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External communications represent all the external connections to TSPExternal communications include SS7 and Ethernet connectionsSheheryar Obaid 15

NSPy

NSP is the hardware used by Ericsson for TSPCurrent iteration of NSP used by Ericsson is NSP 6

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Difference between NSP and TSP is that NSP is a hardware release while TSP is a software releaseWe can upgrade to TSP6 on NSP 5 hardware

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NSP 6.0

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NSP 6.0 Hardware Descriptiony y

NSP hardware consists of magazines and processorsProcessors are affixed in magazines

There are three magazines in one NSP 6.0 cabinetFirst magazine is standard only the rest can be loaded with different processors

First and Last slot of every magazine is reserved for MXB plugin unit y The main roles of different processors arey

Traffic Processor : used for the processing of application Loader : dedicatedly used for cluster management Node Management : Linux processors to provide O&M interface I/O : used for initial loading, backups, dumping and upgrade File Server : used for storing application dataSheheryar Obaid 18

Different type of processorsy

MXB has the following functionsPower distribution Interconnection of magazines Backplane buses to connect the processors

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There are following three types of processors: GEP2Can be used as Loader, Traffic Processor and Node manager Software installed on these processors determines their purpose

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GEP2 SASCan be used as an I/O and File Server processor These boards can be used to extend the HDD capacity Please note that I/O and FS are not part of the cluster

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GEP2 E1/T1This is used as a connectivity processor for Sigtran and E1 connectivity

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CCF Architecture ExplainedCCF software contains services and functions specific to CCN y CCF application includes the followingy

Access Services Functionsy

Access contains the CCF specific access methods in CCNRequest Termination Transfer

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CCF - Accessy

Request methods in CCN areCIP charging interrogation protocol AFP account finder protocol MAP mobile application part

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Termination methods in CCN areERTC CAP SCAP Gy

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Transfer method in CCN isFTPSheheryar Obaid 21

CCF - Servicesy

Services offered by CCN areOnline charging of Voice Online charging of GPRS Online charging of SMS Online charging of Content Online charging of Event Online charging of Diameter

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CCFCCF- Functionsy

Functions provided by CCF areProtocol conversion blacklist/whitelist MNP Bonus on incoming calls Number Normalization SDP lookup ATI (location lookup) CDR Generation Call control Charging Suppression Pre-Call ReplenishmentSheheryar Obaid 23

Interfaces and protocols

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Interfaces explainedy y y y y y y y y

CAP v1 for charging of voice calls CAP v3 for charging of GPRS and SMS MAP protocol for HLR and FNR ERTC protocol for Ericsson MSC CIP/IP protocol for SDP SSH for connectivity with client PCs Gy interface for connectivity with GGSN FTP to transfer CDRs to EMM HTTP/LDAP for configuration via RMASheheryar Obaid 25

CIPy

CIP is a new charging interrogation protocol that uses IP instead of SS7 and is based on diameter application The three messages of CIP areFirst Interrogationx RET,RET result operation at the start of call

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Intermediate Interrogationx RET,RET result operation during the call

Final Interrogationx RET, RET result operation at the end of callSheheryar Obaid 26

CAP

CIP

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IDP

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First InterrogationRET, RET Result

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ACR

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Intermediate InterrogationRET, RET Result

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Last ACR

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Final InterrogationRET,RET Result

From CAP to CIPSheheryar Obaid 27

CAP

CIP

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Traffic Casesy

The following traffic cases will be discussedVoice Call SMS MNP

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Voice Call

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Voice Call1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

6. 7.

A call is initiated from a charging system subscriber.The OCSI of the subscriber in the VLR, routes the call to the SSF. The SSF collects data about the call and triggers CCN. CCN performs a SDP selection and sends the data, collected in step 2, in a first interrogation to SDP. SDP reserves money from the account and sends the calculated call time to CCN, together with other call data such as announcements to be played. CCN tells the SSF to play announcements if this has been requested by SDP. Further on, CCN tells the SSF to setup the call and to supervise it based on the call time calculated by SDP. The call lasts longer than the call time sent to the SSF, so a notification is sent to CCN. CCN requests SDP to make another reservation from the account with an intermediate interrogation.

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Voice Call (Contd) (Contd)8. 9.

SDP makes a new charging analysis and deducts the amount previously reserved from the account. In this example it is assumed that there is still sufficient funds left on the subscribers account. SDP then reserves money for the next period and forwards a new call time to CCN. CCN passes the new call time on to the SSF.1. Note: Step 69 can be repeated several times. In this example, steps 1017 describes what happens when the subscriber's account balance reaches the account empty limit.

10. 11. 12.

The call lasts longer than the call time sent to the SSF and a notification is sent to CCN. CCN requests SDP to make another reservation from the account with an intermediate interrogation. SDP makes a new charging analysis and updates the account.The charging analysis shows that there is not enough money on the account to cover the requested period. SDP sends the calculated call time to CCN together with an indication that there is no money left on the account and that a call cutoff warning announcement is to be played. The time between the warning announcement and call cutoff can be configured. For this example 30 seconds is used.

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Voice Call (Contd) (Contd)13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

CCN uses the 30 seconds indication from SDP and the time between call cutoff warning and call cutoff is excluded from the new call time. CCN then passes the new call time on to the SSF. The SSF notifies CCN that the time sent down in step 13 has expired. CCN sends the remaining 30 seconds and tells the SSF to play the call cutoff warning announcement. The SSF notifies CCN that the final 30 seconds has expired. CCN tells the SSF to play the call cutoff announcement and to disconnect the call. The SSF notifies CCN of the call disconnection. A final report is sent from CCN to SDP. SDP performs final charging of the call. SDP rates the total call and sends a final report result to CCN. CCN sends a call release to the SSF.

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SMS

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SMS1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

An originating SMS is received by the MSC/SSF. The MSC/SSF analyses the data and interrogates the serving CCN. CCN interrogates SDP. SDP verifies the account status, reserves money and sends the result to CCN. CCN replies to the interrogation from the SSF based on the result from SDP. The MSC/SSF delivers the SMS to the SMS-C. The SMS-C confirms the delivery of the SMS. The MSC/SSF forwards the result to CCN. CCN forwards the result to SDP. SDP charges the corresponding account.Sheheryar Obaid 35

MNP

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MNP1. 2.

3. 4.

The call is initiated by the Charging System subscriber. If it is an originating or forwarded call: the called party number is sent to the MNP database. If it is a terminating call: the calling party number is sent to the MNP database. The MNP database returns MNP information to CCN, for delivery to SDP.Sheheryar Obaid 37

Complete O&M guide to CCN

CCN O&M

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O&M Concepty

OperationBy operation we mean network operation and co-ordination on a day to day basis Collection of data and analysing it Monitoring of critical alarms Ensuring high level of service

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MaintenanceKeeping the network work correctly Troubleshooting Testing ReportingSheheryar Obaid 39

O&M Functions of CCNFault Management y Backup and Restore y DBN Disk Log y SS7 Management y Performance Management y Statistics(Statistical Counters)y

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FAULT MANAGEMENTOBJECTIVES

Use the user interface for receiving and viewing of alarms and notifications y Retrieve past alarms using log query y Review the error logs in the system y List important directories for log files in the systemy

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Fault managementy y

FM allows detect faults and malfunctions on node Two default viewers are used for FMAlarm Viewer Notification Viewer

Alarms are actionable events, Notifications are for informational purposes only y OS writes events used for troubleshooting to error logs as do all programs, logs are stored on I/O y Alarms are of two typesy

Automatically Detected and Automatically Cleared (ADAC) e.g processor failure Automatically detected manually cleared (ADMC)Sheheryar Obaid 42

ALARM viewer

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Alarm viewer guidey y

SeverityIndeterminate, Minor, Major, Critical

Time y TypeCommunicationAlarm, QoS, ProcessingErrorAlarm, EquipmentAlarm, EnivironmentalAlarmy y y y

Object TypeName reflects the MO that triggered the alarm

InstanceIdentifier of the MO that triggered the alarm

FaultIDIdentifies the alarm within ObjectType and Instance

CauseDescription of probable causeSheheryar Obaid 44

Notification viewer

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Notification viewer guidey y

TimeTime when notification was sent

Object TypeIdentifies the type of object the notification is about

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InstanceIdentifies the object the notification is about

TypeInteger value used to differentiate between different events belonging to the same objectSheheryar Obaid 46

Log queryy y y y

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Log query is a GUI that helps display alarm history. Open the Node Management Toolbox. The Node Management window appears. In Logging, click Log Query. The Database Selection window appears. Choose the current or the backup database option, and click Select. The Log Type Selection window, alike to the following example, appears. In the application list, select the log type to be queried, then click Select. The Query Tool window appears.Sheheryar Obaid 47

Log Query Window

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Error logsy y y

Linux Syslog/var/log/messages

Applog/opt/telorb/axe/tsp/applog

Console log/opt/telorb/axe/tsp/consolelogs

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O&M interface protocols

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BACKUP AND RESTOREObjectives

Describe the principles of backup and restoration of the TSP platform y Create a backup and restore the TelORB database y Create a backup of IO y Describe principle of Centralized Schedulery

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Backup and RestoreDatabase of CCN is called DBN y Creating a backup ensures that a checkpoint of all the data in DB is stored to a safe file system on IO y The following data is backed upy

Site Database: all services running on IO SS7: all configuration files having SS7 settings NM: configuration of all 3PPs connected to NMSheheryar Obaid 52

Backup and Restorey

There are three kinds of backupsDBN Backups IO backups FS backups

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There are two kinds of restoreZone Reloadx Entire system is restore from the active backup

Processor Reloadx Restore only certain processorsSheheryar Obaid 53

Backup and Restorey

Backups can be initiated in two waysManual Backups Scheduled Automatic Backups

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Archiving BackupsBackups could be archived to external servers either tape drives or hard disks

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DBN Backup GuideLog in to TelORB manager there is a tab called backup y There are two subsections under backup tagy

Basicx Shows a list of all the backups currently available on IOS x Only one of the backups are active marked with A

Archiver

We can also set the number of backups to be retained y DBN backups are scheduled in the schedulerySheheryar Obaid 55

Backups

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Scheduler

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DBN DISKLOGObjectives

Describe the disklog functionality on CCN platform y Configure and Manage the disklog function on the CCN platformy

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DBN DISKLOGy y y

y y

Disk Log is used for point in time recovery Disk Log Is an incremental backup of POTs All critical information is disk logged such as subscriber account data so that it could be recovered even if the entire system is reloaded A transaction that updates such data stores changes in a log file on IO processors When the system is restored from backup the log for that backup is applied as wellSheheryar Obaid 59

Disklog Snap

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SS7 MANAGEMENTObjectives

Describe SS7 protocol stacks supported by CCN y Configure and Manage SS7 Function on TSP6 Platformy

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Signalling ManagerSignalling Manager is a GUI used for management of SS7 stack of CCN y SS7 Stacks supported by CCN arey

CAPv1-3 SCAP Diameter INAPy

CCN supports both Sigtran and HSLSheheryar Obaid 62

How to Check Associationsy

Go to Signalling ManagerSCTP Get instance listx Select FE x Note Endpoint ID

SCTP

SCTP Get Association listx Select FE x Enter Endpoint ID x Select Association ID

SCTP Get Association Statusx Select FE x Enter Association ID x Check the Status of the AssociationSheheryar Obaid 63

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND STATISTICAL COUNTERSObjectives

To Know where the different counters of CCN are stored y To calculate BHCA stats of all services and requests coming to CCN y To Monitor load on different blades of CCNy

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Load Viewery

Start the Load Viewer using the command win. The command is in the following form:win -th | -n | -s | -i | geometry ++

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Each colour represents a different type of loadYellow: Low priority load Green: Normal priority load Red: High priority load (Dicos), Kernel Activity (linux)Sheheryar Obaid 65

Performance Countersy y

Path/opt/telorb/axe/tsp/NM/PMF/reporterLogs/CcnCounters

SMS counters/opt/telorb/axe/ccn/bin/CleanCcnCounters.pl `ls ltr | grep Nov 24 | gawk {print$9} | grep Messaging-Charging-Originating-SMS /opt/telorb/axe/ccn/bin/CleanCcnCounters.pl `ls ltr | grep Nov 24 | gawk {print$9} | grep Messaging-Charging-DirectDebitSuccessful

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Call Counters/opt/telorb/axe/ccn/bin/CleanCcnCounters.pl `ls ltr | grep Nov 24 | gawk {print$9} | grep Voice-Charging-Originating-Call /opt/telorb/axe/ccn/bin/CleanCcnCounters.pl `ls ltr | grep Nov 24 | gawk {print$9} | grep Voice-Charging-First InterrogationSuccessful

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