dsTest Diameter Dictionary
Developing Solutions provides dictionary configuration capabilities within dsTest that allows users to define a set of message templates and AVPs in their dsTest configuration against which all messages and AVPs can be validated. A dictionary may be defined as a base level which can be applied to all applications with dictionary validation enabled, or at the application level which would only be applied to a specific application. Application level dictionaries are translucent, in that if a message or AVP from a message is not found, the base dictionary is also searched.
Received messages are checked against every message in the dictionary to find a match. The values of AVPs may be defined as a specific value, list of values, or range of values, as well as a minimum and/or maximum size and number of occurrences. This allows validation of specific scenarios by using multiple templates for messages of the same type, effectively providing conditional validation.
This capability is highly optimized to run under moderate load levels, which supports compliance validation under load conditions.
For more information on how to use the dictionary capabilities of dsTest, please contact Developing Solutions Support.
Diameter Reference for Everyone
In addition to the dsTest dictionary capability, Developing Solutions provides a Diameter Dictionary that enables valuable Diameter research. It is a comprehensive reference to aid the configuration of Diameter test scenarios. With the Dictionary, a test designer can:
Research a specific Diameter interface application. Each application entry gives:
- Name of the application;
- Application ID;
- A description of the application functions, and which nodes the interface application connects;
- Links to applicable technical reference(s) for the application;
- List of all messages for that application and their message codes;
- Links to the description of each individual message and its contents;
See for example: 3GPP Gx.
Determine information regarding each message:
- Name and Message Code;
- A short description of how the message is used;
- Applicable 3GPP Technical Specifications;
- The Diameter Interface Application to which the message belongs;
- Request Bit, Proxiable Bit, Error Bit specification;
- A list of all mandatory/optional AVPs allowed in the message;
- See for example: Update-Location-Request (S6).
Determine which AVPs are allowed within a specific message:
- A list of applicable AVP names with a brief description of the AVP;
- Link to applicable technical specifications;
- Specification of the use of the Mandatory and Protection bits;
- Vendor ID;
- Length;
- Mandatory or optional status of the AVP within the message;
- The dsTest schema element that provides the inclusion of the AVP in the specified message;
- See for example: Origin-Host AVP.
To further aid configuration of test scenarios, the Diameter Dictionary and dsTest Help are cross-referenced to allow easy correlation between the dsTest schema element and the AVPs and messages that the schema element may affect. Each Dictionary table of AVPs includes a ‘Value Source’ column. This column provides, for each AVP, the dsTest schema element that must be configured to have the AVP appear in the message.
For example, in the Location-Update-Request example above, if the Origin-Host AVP was needed in the LUR message, the dsTest schema element ‘host’ must be configured. Click on ‘host' in the Value Source column, and you will be taken to the dsTest schema description of that element, including the interface applications that use the element ‘host’, the AVPs that in which ‘host’ is contained, and the Diameter message that contain those AVPs.
Configuring an AVP in your dsTest Configuration
dsTest users can also determine the correct event to specify in their dsTest configurations Each message description contains a table of ‘Associated dsTest Events’. For example, if you want to send an S6 Update-Location-Request message, the Dictionary entry for that message contains the list of dsTest events that would be specified in, for example, a SmartEvents state machine flow. Clicking on the event will take you to the description of the event, including the interface application that uses the event.
SmartAVP
Developing Solutions’ SmartAVPs feature allows AVPs to be inserted, deleted, or replaced in Diameter messages in real-time. With SmartAVPs, you have complete control over the addition, removal, and modification of the AVPs in messages, with the ability to position the modified AVP in the message as desired.
Some of the LTE/EPC testing capabilities provided by Developing Solutions' dsTest
.png)
LCS (Location Services) Testing