[Update 29: More Details on NSN PCS-5000] PCRF - DPI Compatibility Matrix

       

Similarly to the difficulties in obtaining information on Nokia Siemens Networks' Flexi-NG (see story here), their PCRF product is also not documented on the company's web site.

However, I was able to get some information on the product - directly from NSN and with the help of Ray Le Maistre, from LightReading.

The chart below summarizes the features of the PCS-5000 product. As for its DPI support, NSN says:

"The PCS-5000 is fully integrated with Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi GGSN [here] .. It has also been successfully integrated with 3rd party GGSN, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and BRAS products, and operators existing back-end systems ... PCS-5000-based policy control solution allows the operator to apply fair use policies which restore the control of network resources to the operator and enable them to manage those resources more efficiently .. The PCS-5000 provides dynamic and service/application-based Policy Control which allows operators to optimize the service experience".

My PCRF-DPI compatibility table (accessible from the link above the post) already reflects the DPI vendors which are supported. NSN also stated that "PCS5000 Policy server can interoperate with any vendors DPI via Gx-interface (both fixed and mobile environment)".

Vendor Review: NSN Flexi-NG's DPI support

   
During MWC 2009, in a visit to the NSN booth, I saw their new GGSN product (see announcement - here) - an ATCA based product, promising a number of new, advanced features.

Since then I saw a number of press releases announcing deployments of the new product - Flexi-NG (picture) - such as MegaFon, Russia - here, Telefonica O2, Germany - here and Agri-Valley Communications - here, but still could not find any real documentation in NSN's web site (other than a presentation in the Japanese site - here).

Recently, I contacted NSN, and got a document providing some information on NSN's Flexi-NG.

Here are some quotes on its DPI support:

"By integrating DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) into the gateway, Nokia Siemens Networks does not just provide a high capacity element – it is setting the foundation for Mobile Broadband with a solution that is extremely powerful and highly scalable at the same time. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is supported for L7+ analysis in own processor on dedicated Service Aware Blades (same hardware as Service Blade, without external interfaces, and with different software only). These flow classification methods include port and signature based methods. Generic signature methods can be used to differentiate mobile access to Internet and operator/partner services (e.g. MMS, e-mail, streaming). L7+ analysis includes heuristic analysis that is typically applied to track proprietary protocols like peer to peer applications and services. With service awareness and DPI capabilities Flexi NG is capable of differentiating service treatment within the same Access Point, for example the Internet access point. The operator may for example control the access to selected services and apply flow based charging to differentiate the tariffs for different services. Service Awareness and DPI also provide valuable information for service and network planning. DPI can detect the majority of user traffic and protocols used in the Internet today (e.g. peer-to-peer communication). More than 600 protocols can be identified currently. Dynamic changes in applications and Internet protocols may require updates of DPI functionality, which can simply be enhanced by software independent of actual the Flexi NG software. End user connections are kept alive also during updates of DPI engine by help of ISSU (in-service software upgrade"

"With DPI and service aware policy enforcement the operator is able to make on-line changes to the traffic treatment policies. An example for data services is limiting excess usage by bandwidth limiting or even blocking certain bearers or services. For voice and multimedia services service aware policy enforcement can be applied to enforce real-time Quality of Service (QoS) and to ensure enough capacity on the transmission path. Dynamic QoS optimizes the use of network resources as real-time QoS can be allocated and capacity reservations can be made for preferred real-time services."

NSN: Policy based Traffic Management with Flexi NG + DPI

  

During MWC 2009 Nokia Siemens Networks announced its Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network solution for LTE - see "Nokia Siemens Networks brings LTE one step closer with EPC launch at Mobile World Congress 2009" - here, composed of two products -  Flexi Network Server and the Flexi Network Gateway (NG).

"The Flexi Network Gateway addresses the higher than ever demand for broadband connectivity, combined with the intelligence needed for flexible handling of data traffic according to policy rules of the operator's choice .. Building this new Evolved Packet Core on open ATCA technology allows Nokia Siemens Networks to tap into a hardware supply ecosystem and focus its own efforts on developing specific value added network functionality. Customers will benefit from a more coherent equipment practice across the market, which brings operational synergies."

Since then, the product was mentioned in several customer wins and trials, most recent one was MegaFon Russia - see "Russia tunes in to LTE" - here - but the web site does not have much on the product itself.

Nevertheless, in a presentation posted to NSN's Japanese site (here), we can find a slide (see below), describing how Flexi NG, with DPI support, may implement intelligent traffic management policies (more on NSN's PCRF product, PCS-5000, here).

Little help on translation (courtesy of Google Translate):

• Title - Value Innovation - Advanced Solution (Deep Packet Inspection)
• 2nd line -policy "triggers" - location, time, applications accessed, device type, network access type and volume balance
• In the network elements diagram - operation and charging elements
• The last line is the policy action list, including: QoS priority control, bandwidth allocation, service control, reporting, port re-direction (?), charging, optimization, filtering and security