BSSSIG: BSS Signalling Overview: 1 © Nokia Siemens Networks Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number

BSSSIG: BSS Signalling Overview
Nokia Siemens Networks
Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number
Module Objectives
After completing the module, the student will be able to: Explain the need for signaling in telecommunication networks Describe ISO/OSI protocol model Use protocol analyzer (in practice) to open traces and show signaling messages
BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number
What is signaling
The importance of signaling

Signaling is an important part of a telephone call. In the beginning signaling was just the common language used between
human operators in order to place and manage a voice call. Over the years, signaling methods were developed to properly send automatic information on who the caller wants to call (the called party) and who the caller is to the network (identification for billing).
Signaling definition
In telecommunication, signaling is
defined as the exchange of information between involved points in the network (switches or endpoints) that sets up, controls, and terminates each telephone call. Signaling is usually transferred from one point to the other in separate, dedicated channels.
Protocols, Architectures, Interfaces

Signaling standards allow network
elements of different vendors to be connected together. Standard = protocols. Protocols are described by specifications. For every telecommunication system an architecture is defined. The architecture shows the network elements, their role and the connections. Connections between network elements are called interfaces. Each interface is a collection of protocols
Frames, Messages, Procedures

Every protocol has its own structure,
usually made of header, protocol data and footer Every protocol is like a different language with its own dictionary. Words in the dictionary are called messages. A conversation is called procedure. Conversation can involve different languages, i.e. procedures can use messages from different protocols.
Header Protocol data Footer
What is protocol analyzer used for in everyday maintenance?

Trouble Fault Finding Multi
shooting
Vendor
De
bugging
Subscriber Trace Tool
Diagnose Transmission
Network Perfor
mance
8 Nokia Siemens Networks BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number
The ISO / OSI protocol stack model
The importance of the OSI model

The OSI model divides the functions of a protocol into a
7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session
series of layers. Each layer only uses the functions of the layer below, Each layer only exports functionality to the layer above. The group of these layers is known as a 'protocol stack' or 'stack'. Exceptions to stacks are called fast path and include aspects of several layers.
4. Transport
3. Network 2. Data Link 1. Physical
10
Layer 1: Physical Layer

The Physical layer defines all the electrical and physical
specifications for devices. This includes the layout of pins, voltages, radio signal and cable specifications. Panels, repeaters, network adapters are physical-layer devices. The major functions and services performed by the physical layer are: Medium synchronization. Medium sharing. Modulation, or conversion. In some cases Layer 1 is included in Layer 2 because the logical link is sometimes strictly related to the way of transmitting data. 7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link
1. Physical
11
Layer 2: Data Link Layer 1/2

The Data Link layer provides the functional and procedural
means to transfer data between network entities. Functions of the data link layer: Framing. The data link layer divides the stream of bits
received from the network layer into data units called frames.
7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link
1. Physical
12

received from the network layer into data units called frames. Physical addressing. If frames are to be distributed to different systems on the network, the data link layer adds a header to the frame to define the physical address of the sender (source address) and/or receiver (destination address) of the frame. If the frame is intended for a system outside the senders network, the receiver address is the address of the device that connects one network to the next.
1. Physical
13

received from the network layer into data units called frames. Physical addressing. If frames are to be distributed to different systems on the network, the data link layer adds a header to the frame to define the physical address of the sender (source address) and/or receiver (destination address) of the frame. If the frame is intended for a system outside the senders network, the receiver address is the address of the device that connects one network to the next. Flow Control. If the rate at which the data are absorbed by the receiver is less than the rate produced in the sender, the data link layer imposes a flow control mechanism to prevent overwhelming the receiver.
1. Physical
14

Functions of the data link layer (cont.): Error control. The data link layer adds reliability to the physical layer by adding mechanisms to detect and retransmit damaged or lost frames. Error control is normally achieved through a trailer to the end of the frame.
1. Physical
15

Functions of the data link layer (cont.): Error control. The data link layer adds reliability to the physical layer by adding mechanisms to detect and retransmit damaged or lost frames. Error control is normally achieved through a trailer to the end of the frame. Access Control. When two or more devices are connected to the same link, data link layer protocols are necessary to determine which device has control over the link at any time. The data link layer is usually divided into two sublayers The MAC (Media Access Control) sublayer controls how a computer on the network gains access to the data and permission to transmit it. The LLC (Logical Link Control) sublayer controls frame synchronization, flow control and error checking.
1. Physical
16
Layer 3: Network Layer

The Network layer is responsible for the source-todestination delivery of a packet possible across multiple networks, adding a proper header. Functions of the network layer: Logical addressing: usually independent from the
physical (hardware) address Routing: i.e. finding the way to reach the destination. Internetworking
A typical example is the IP (Internet Protocol)
1. Physical
17
Layer 4: Transport Layer
1/2
The transport layer is responsible for process-to-process

delivery of the entire message, that is from software to software at the two ends of the communication. The functions of the transport layer are: Port or protocol addressing: computer or network
elements often run several processes (running programs) at the same time. Process-to-process delivery means delivery from a specific process on one computer to a specific process on the other.
1. Physical
18
1/2

elements often run several processes (running programs) at the same time. Process-to-process delivery means delivery from a specific process on one computer to a specific process on the other. Flow control: the transport layer performs a flow control end to end. The data link layer performs flow control across a single link.
1. Physical
19
1/2

elements often run several processes (running programs) at the same time. Process-to-process delivery means delivery from a specific process on one computer to a specific process on the other. Flow control: the transport layer performs a flow control end to end. The data link layer performs flow control across a single link. Error control: the transport layer performs error control end to end. The data link layer performs control across a single link.
1. Physical
20
2/2
Functions of Transport Layer (cont.): Segmentation and reassembly: a message is divided into
transmittable segments, each having a sequence number. Connection control: The transport layer can be either connectionless or connection-oriented. A connectionless transport layer treats each segment as an independent packet and delivers it to the transport layer at the destination machine. A connection-oriented transport layer makes a connection with the transport layer at the destination machine first before delivering the packets.
1. Physical
21
Layer 5: Session Layer

The Session layer controls the dialogues (sessions)
between computers. It establishes, manages and terminates the connections between the local and remote application. It provides for either duplex or half-duplex operation and establishes check pointing, update, termination, and restart procedures. This layer is often removed or merged with Layer 5 or with Layer 7 7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link
1. Physical
22
Layer 6: Presentation Layer

The presentation layer was designed to handle the syntax
and semantics of the information exchanged between the two systems. It was designed for data translation, encryption, decryption, and compression. The Presentation layer transforms data to provide a standard interface for the Application layer. MIME encoding, data compression, data encryption and similar manipulation of the presentation is done at this layer to present the data as a service or protocol developer sees fit. Examples: converting an EBCDIC-coded text file to an ASCII-coded file, or serializing objects and other data structures into and out of XML. This layer is often removed or merged in Layer 7 7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link
1. Physical
23
Layer 7: Application Layer

The Application layer is closest to the end user (human or
automatic). It provides a means for the user to access information on the network through an application. This layer is the main interface for the user(s) to interact with the application and therefore the network. Some examples of application layer protocols include Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). 7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link
1. Physical
24
The stack of layers

The seven layers were
designed as a stack of layers. Data flows from user to user through all the layers (if present) Every entity at the same layer is virtually connected to the same layer at the other end.
25
Network / User layers

Layers from 1 to 3 are usually referred
to as
network layers, sub-network layers, or media layers. Implementation of network layers is usually hardware based Layers from 4 to 7 are referred to as user part layers, application layers, or host layers. Implementation of application layers is very often software based
26
Layer 5 to 7
Layers 5 to 7 are usually represented and designed together because often the
application also defines new formats and different ways of keeping track of sessions. That is the reason why the application layer is often represented near the transport layer
27
Headers
Every protocol has its own headers and footers (or trailers) From the application layer to the physical layer, many headers and footers are
added by every layer.
Header
28 Nokia Siemens Networks BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number
DATA
Footer
Data units
At every layer data units, or PDU (protocol data units) assume a different name: Data Segment Packet Frame Bits
29
A useful parallel
Here is a useful parallel
between ISO/OSI network layers and sending a snail mail from company to company.
30
The tool to look at signaling

NetHawk Protocol Analyzer
31
The need for a protocol analyzer

Telecommunication devices are usually connected by E1 cables where data flows in 32
timeslots at a speed of 64kbps each. In every timeslot flows user data or signaling. In some cases signaling links can have higher (A or Gb) or lower speed (Abis). Even at the lowest bit rate (8kbps), the information that flows in a signaling link is too much to be understood by a human being. The signaling flow is therefore decoded and presented by a protocol analyzer. Protocol analyzers are computer software (usually) or computer hardware that can intercept and log traffic passing over a digital network or part of a network. As data streams travel back and forth over the network, the analyzer captures each packet and eventually decodes and analyzes its content according to the appropriate protocol or other specifications. Protocol analyzers are able to identify and show every message of every protocol from the interface they are set up for, without interfering with the actual transmission of the data.
32
NetHawk
Nokia co-operates with another
Finnish company, vendor of protocol analyzers: NetHawk. The NetHawk GSM Analyzer is an effective and easy-to-use PC-based protocol analyzer for real-time monitoring and analysis of GSM, GPRS and EDGE networks. Learning how to use NetHawk is the best way to learn signaling for Nokia customers because: The layout is similar to Nokia
service terminal extension for signaling. The software can be used freely in off-line mode without the NetHawk interface adapters.
33
How to start
For on-line monitoring you need a laptop
equipped with a NetHawk N2 or a desktop equipped with a NetHawk NAP card. Cards should be connected to patch panels (or DDF) with proprietary cables. Extensions can easily deteriorate the signal. Impedance of the card should match the one of the monitored cable (75-120). Impedance is set to HIGH not to disturb the communication. It is set to LOW to divert signaling to the interface only (simulation). Every card has its own HW id and SW id.
34
The software
Both for on-line monitoring and for off-line
use, a software is needed. In case of on-line monitoring, the SW id of the installed software should match the SW id of the card in use. The Protocol Info tab shows the specifications used to decode the messages. These protocols should match the one used in the network element in order to look at signaling closer to the real one.
35
User interface
The user interface is made of A menu bar A toolbar with configurable buttons A monitoring window A status bar with clickable indicators.
36
To work on-line
The first thing to check when working
on-line is if the signal is good or not (open the State Monitor window) If not check the cables and the HW options of each connection. Monitoring should be the same as in

the N2 hardware card. HIGH is normal use. Interface mode should be E1 in Europe Condensed mode is not influent SPEC should be ITU-T in Europe Pointcode should be 14 in Europe 3GPP should be the same as in NE Increasing the AGC maximum value can decrease the CRC warnings. AGC is one per NAP card and is automatically set.
37
In any case
Both for on-line and off-line monitoring
it is possible to specify the detail shown per each layer. Both for on-line and off-line monitoring it is possible to specify which connection to monitor and what protocol stack assume is flowing through it.
38

BSSSIG: BSS Signalling Overview: 1 © Nokia Siemens Networks Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BSSSIG: BSS Signalling Overview: 1 © Nokia Siemens Networks Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

BSSSIG: BSS Signalling Overview: 1 © Nokia Siemens Networks Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BSSSIG: BSS Signalling Overview

Nokia Siemens Networks

Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Nokia Siemens Networks

Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number

The importance of signaling

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Protocols, Architectures, Interfaces

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Frames, Messages, Procedures

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

What is protocol analyzer used for in everyday maintenance?

Subscriber Trace Tool

The ISO / OSI protocol stack model

Nokia Siemens Networks

Presentation / Author / Date / Document Number

The importance of the OSI model

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 1: Physical Layer

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 2: Data Link Layer 1/2

7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 2: Data Link Layer 1/2

7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 2: Data Link Layer 1/2

7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 2: Data Link Layer 2/2

7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 2: Data Link Layer 2/2

7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 3: Network Layer

7. Application 6. Presentation 5. Session 4. Transport 3. Network 2. Data Link

A typical example is the IP (Internet Protocol)

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number

Layer 4: Transport Layer

The transport layer is responsible for process-to-process

Nokia Siemens Networks

BSSSIG / Author / May 2008 / Document Number