Table of Contents

01) Introduction ………………………………….. 2

02) Overview of 2.5G/GPRS …………………… 3

03) SGSN …………………………………………. 3

04) GGSN …………………………………………. 4

05) Interoperate ability with 2G …………………. 4

06) Interoperate ability with 3G …………………. 5

07) Common Protocol Stacks ……………………. 5

08) Hardware Types ………………………………. 6

09) Ericsson Releases …………………………… 9

10) Current Customers …………………………… 9

11) CLI Commands ……………………………….. 10

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1. Introduction
This document is a “warm up” course on SGSN as product. The idea behind writing this document
is that, by spending 15-20 minutes in going through it, reader should have basic idea about,

• GPRS or 2.5G
• Basic functionalities of SGSN
• Network connections with other equipments in 2G and 3G
• Ericsson Hardware Architecture for different types
• Different boards of SGSN hardware types
• Ericsson Releases for SGSN

At the end of document, a set of “list” commands have been written in order to practice on the
SGSN box itself.

Note: This document is for internal use only.

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2. Over view of 2.5G/GPRS (General Packet Radio System)
General packet radio service (GPRS) is a packet oriented used for data services as, compared to
circuit switching used for voice services, available to users of the 2G and 3G.

GPRS is often called as 2.5G, when combined with 2G network to provide data services. TDMA
channels are used to provide different rates for data services. The data transfer in GPRS is
charged per megabytes for the traffic which is transferred, while in circuit switching for data
communication, it is charged per minute for the time, the connection is alive. This is why, GPRS
service is based on “best effort” principle where QoS is not as much guaranteed as in circuit
switching.

GPRS technology is comprised of two network nodes: SGSN and GGSN

3. SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node)

The SGSN is a primary component in the GSM/GPRS (2G) and in WCDMA (3G) architecture. It’s
primary task is to forward incoming and outgoing IP packets addressed to/from a mobile station
that is attached within the SGSN G and SGSN W area. It provides following

• Packet routing for GPRS subscribers that are physically located within the
geographical SGSN G and SGSN W area. The packets are routed to/from BSC/RNC
to the mobile MS via BTS/Node B.
• It provides security over Radio Access by ciphering algorithms and through
authentication process.
• Session and Mobility Management.
• Logical Link Management towards MS.
• Connections to HLR, MSC/VLR, BSC, RNC, PLMN, GGSN and other SGSNs.
• Collects CDRs (Charging Data Rates) for billing purposes.
• Supports prepaid Services via CAMEL (Customized Application For Mobile Enhanced
Logic).

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4. GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)
GGSN is another main component in GPRS network. As compared to SGSN which is responsible
for number of actions mentioned above, GGSN is responsible for the inter working between GPRS
network and external packet switched networks: Internet and X.25. Thus it means that GGSN is
router to a sub-network.

When GGSN receives data for a specific user, it checks whether that user is active or not. If user is
active then GGSN forwards the data to the SGSN serving the mobile user otherwise data is
discarded.

GGSN converts the GPRS packets coming from SGSN into the appropriate packet data protocol
(PDP) format: IP or X.25 and sends out on the corresponding packet data network.
If traffic is coming from external networks then GGSN converts the IP or X.25 packets into right
format of GSM/WCDMA and sends packets to the SGSN.

GGSN is responsible for IP address assignment and is the default router for the connected user
equipment. It also performs authentication and charging functions.

5. Interoperability with 2G
SMS
SCP
AUC Gd Gs
FNR EIR
GMLC
Gf
HLR Lg IP
N/Ws

Gr Gn
SGSN Gn

MSC/ Gs

MSC Server SGSN GGSN

Gn

Gb
GoM GoM
A bis
BTS BSC
O&M
Gp Gp

MS

PLMN

4
 SGSN
6. Interoperability with 3G
SMS
SCP
AUC FNR EIR
Gd
GMLC
Gf Ge

Lg
HLR
Gr IP
N/Ws
SGSN Gn
Gn
MSC/ Gn
MSC Server SGSN GGSN
Iu GoM GoM

Iub
Node B RNC
O&M Gp

Gp

MS

PLMN
SGSN

7. Common Protocol Stacks

Following are different protocol stacks for different interfaces.

a) Gb Interface: LLC, SNDCP, Frame Relay, BSSGP

b) Iu-C Interface: MM/SM, L1,L2, MTP-L3, SCCP, RANAP, Frame Relay, ATM
c) Gr Interface: MAP,TCAP,SCCP, MTP-L3,L2,L1,SCTP,IP,MTP-L2,AAL5,ATM
d) Gn Interface; L1, L2, IP, UDP, GTP
e) GoM Interface: L1, L2, IP, IPSec/GRE, UDP/TCP, O&M

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8. Hardware Types
In this section, hardware architecture of MKIV, MKV and MKVI is shown for SGSN R8. Regardless
of the SGSN release, Ericsson SGSN comes in three MK types as mentioned in above.

a) MKVI: In MKIV, all boards are of version 3

Fig: SGSN R8 Dual Access MKIV

• GPB (General Purpose Board): GPB is used for node management, processing and
signaling. It is an AP (Application Processor) board.
• FSB (File Server board): FSB acts as File and Boot Server and can be Node
Controller Board (NCB) in MKIV.
• PEB: PEB supplies the magazine with power, which is distributed from power
connectors on the PEB front panel.
• IBAS: Interface board for ATM Single- mode fiber.
• IBTE: Interface board for E1/T1.
• IBS7: Interface board for SS7 over E1/T1.

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b) MKV: In MKV, all boards are either of v3 or v4.

Fig: SGSN R8 Dual Access MKV

• PEB: Power and Ethernet Board.

• FSB: File Server Board.
• IBEN: Interface Board for Ethernet
• IBAS: Interface Board for Single-Mode Fiber.
• IBTE: Interface Board for E1/T1.
• IBS7: Interface Board for SS7.

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c) MKVI: All boards on MKVI are of version 4.

Fig: SGSN R8 Dual Access MKVI

• PEB: Power and Ethernet Board.

• FSB: File Server Board.
• IBEN: Interface Board for Ethernet
• IBAS: Interface Board for Single-Mode Fiber.
• IBTE: Interface Board for E1/T1.
• IBS7: Interface Board for SS7.

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9. Ericsson Releases for SGSN
To support the functionality of SGSN ie,

• Routing of data to/from physically connected subscribers.

• Session and Mobility management.
• Security over Radio Access.
• CDR Collection for charging.
• Pre paid services etc,

Different Releases for SGSN have been released for MKIV, MKV and MKVI. Some of them are
mentioned below

1. SGSN Release 6
2. SGSN Release 7
3. SGSN Release 8
4. SGSN Release 2009A
5. SGSN Release 2009B
6. SGSN Release 2010A

On top of these releases, CP or Correction Packages are released to meet customized

requirements.

Each release provides a feature called Tool Box, which provides different commands for
Troubleshooting,

10. Current Customers

1. O2 – UK: 16 x SGSN (currently upgrading to MKVI)
2. Cable and Wireless: 1 x SGSN
3. Orange: 2 x CGSN
4. Manx: 1 x CGSN
5. Vodafone: 10 x SGSN

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11. CLI Commands

• List_alarms: To display different alarms on SGSN

• List_events: To display current most events
• List_ip_service_address: To list all ip addresses in SGSN, being used by different cards
• Get_sgsn: To get SGSN id
• List_nodeprops: To list down all parameters of configured values for different interfaces

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