The FlexCore-EPC Overview, Operation and Configuration course consists of 6 modules focusing on system overview, operation, and configuration. The program is designed to achieve an optimum balance between slide presentation, FlexCore-EPC GUI based coverage and hands-on work. The course content is aligned with the training objectives and learning needs of Level-2 support groups, engineers, and technicians.

Courses are conducted by AVIAT expert trainers in a mentoring environment backed by their deep technology expertise and experience in implementation of microwave wireless and IP networks.

The course is conducted at the Aviat Training locations or can be arranged at customer sites.

Upon completing this course, trainees shall understand and acquire hands-on knowledge of the following:

• FlexCore-EPC core building blocks from LTE 4G perspective
• FlexCore EPC and its building blocks architecture view
• FlexCore-EPC interfaces to support 4G/3G/2G and non-3GPP systems
• Features and functions and interworking of the FlexCore-EPC nodes (MME/SGW/PGW/HSS/PCRF)
• FlexCore-EPC nodes configuration for the U-Plane and C-Plane functions
• Configuring the FlexCore EPC to support LTE core functions for the LTE RAN systems
• Network administrator and subscriber administrator tasks in FlexCore EPC
• Building an LTE network, configuring and understanding different features and functions in the context of services, service profiles, paging and roaming, load control and use of external servers
• Different types of UE IP address allocation configuration and establishing an IMSI to IP address association for a UE
• Discovering and managing multiple instances of FlexCore-EPC within one system
• SPR replication function, its use and configuration
• Defining data paths from the PGW to the 4G UE
• FlexCore management attributes such as Network configuration management
• Basic and advanced configuration in each FlexCore-EPC node and protocol support
• Network monitoring parameters in FlexCore-EPC
• Subscribers PM related features in FlexCore-EPC
• Load-balancing for signalling (NAS level)
• SNMP based event monitoring in FlexCore

• Participants must have a sound and working of knowledge of the LTE RAN and the 3GPP specifications for LTE 4G.
• Each student must have a laptop with administrative rights to install and run IP networking simulation software.

• Main functions of the FlexCore-EPC in an LTE network
• EPC MME, SGW, PGW, PCRF and HSS/SPR nodes
• Inter-node communications and protocols
• FlexCore-EPC deployment configurations
• Requirements and performance of the centralized, distributed, and synchronized HSS FlexCore-EPC deployments’
• FlexCore-EPC NMS functions
• FlexCore-EPC installation
• FlexCore-EPC management interfaces and administration
• Subscriber management and LTE network configuration

• Element management
• Network configuration
• Subscribers’ management
• Network monitoring
• Alarms and events analysis
• Logs and inter-node messaging analysis
• Access, tracking area, services, and subscriber profile configuration
• UE IP addressing
• QoS configuration and enforcement
• Roaming and charging related EPC attributes
• FlexCore-EPC nodes discovery, configuration, and operation
• Packet capture on FlexCore interfaces (built-in Wireshark)
• Configuration of individual FlexCore nodes such as MME, SGW, PGW, PCRF and HSS
• NAS parameters configuration such as security, authentication, and encryption for NAS messaging
• Overload policy and thresholds
• Handover related timers and thresholds applicable to the FlexCore-EPC deployment

• Home Network configuration (single and multiple APNs, DHCP server setup, PLMN, tracking area ID and tracking areas Group, roaming and IMS related functions)
• UE services set up (QoS and QCI parameters, DL/UL packet classification criteria on per SDF basis, GBR and non-GBR traffic type, ARP configuration)
• UE subscription profile setup (QoS/UE-AMBR for DL/UL, PDN parameters, UE access restrictions, MPS/CS/EPS selection, system bandwidth usage policy, UE static IP addressing configuration and PDN context setup)

• Assigning the required Subscription Profiles to UEs
• Registering the subscriber security parameters with HSS/SPR (Security Shared Key, operator variant type)
• Enabling Milenage for Authentication
• Closed subscriber group (CSG) configuration
• MDT setup (M1/M2 measurements, Event triggering, RSRP threshold and measurement, MDT area scope setup using whole PLMN, Tracking Areas or E-UTRAN CGI definition)
• IMS security configuration

• Subscriber management
• Network monitoring
• Alarms, logs, and packet capture on the required network interfaces (MME, SGW, PGW or all as an option)
• Selecting the protocol to be captured (ICMP, SGsAP, S1AP, GTPv2-C, GTPv1-U, Diameter, DHCP, DNS or a customized set of protocols)
• UE connectivity in E-UTRAN and EPC (eNB parameters to a UE, UE’s EMM registration and ECM idle/connected state).
• Alarms (system, MME, SGW and PGW) configuration, review and clearing
• Network monitoring parameters (total/active subscribers, PDN connection, EPS bearers, S1/X2 handover, DL/UL data rates, S1 setup failure rate, bearer procedure failure rate and CPU/memory usage)
• Reviewing and analyzing NAS messaging
• S1 setup (U-plane and C-Plane)
• UE registration sequence and process, bearer setup and teardown
• S1/X2 handover success/failure

• Hands-on and lab-work exercises based on the topics and subjects covered

Not applicable

Not applicable

Classroom

• Sufficient in size to handle all participants, instructor, desks, chairs, classroom equipment. The room must have enough 110 AC (220) AC power and air conditioning to operate equipment, all student’s client’s PCs and the server or radio as required.
• Hands-on participation of the trainees is subject to hardware availability in on-site sessions.

Equipment

• Marker board,
• SVGA or projector and screen,

Desk and chairs

• Desks or workstations with enough room for each student to write have open books, client PC and / or, keyboard and monitor

Internet Access

• Internet access through the server or through client PC.

• Certification Criteria: Trainees must pass the RCSP-ClearView certification exam
• Registration code: RCSP-CV-1-G