Product Overview
The Cisco® Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is a high-performance data gateway enabling advanced wireless data service for mobile wireless Service Providers. The Cisco enhanced GGSN is a scalable, high-performance, resilient system build on industry-leading Cisco 7600 Edge Router platform and Cisco Internetworking Operation System (IOS).
On top of the 3GPP GGSN functionality the Cisco GGSN provides advanced Service Awareness, QoS, Policy Control and versatile billing capabilities to provide carrier-class access to Consumer Multimedia Services as well as secured access to Corporate Services.
The Cisco GGSN is part of the Cisco Mobile Service Exchange Framework (mSEF). Cisco Mobile Service Exchange Framework offers mobile operators a complete solution for connectivity, control, and charging.
Features and Benefits
Cisco GGSN 7.0 supports the entire feature set supported in GGSN 6.0 and previous versions with the addition of the following key features:
- IPv6 support for user traffic, allowing operators to benefit from IPv6 enhancements and start deploying next-generation services and applications. The GGSN 7.0 IPv6 feature set combines industry leading Cisco IOS IPv6 feature set with 3GPP standards requirement.
- APN-aware load-balancing. This feature allows the mobile operators to customize the APN distribution and the associated resources. Adequate APN distributions is essential to optimize the resources when a large number of APNs are used (i.e. thousands of corporate APNs)
- Roaming and Radio Access technology triggers for service based billing. These enhancements allow service based billing (prepaid and postpaid) to contain roaming and Radio Access Technology changes.
- IP address management enhancement. The local IP address assignment mechanism is enhanced with a hold back timer to better control IP address allocation/release.
Table 1 Cisco GGSN Features
GGSN Architecture
The Cisco GGSN uses the Cisco 7600 platform with the GGSN application hosted on the Multi-Processor WAN Application Module (MWAM).
The Cisco MWAM is a Cisco IOS Software application module that can be installed a Cisco 7600 Series routers (Figure 1). The module runs multiple instances of a Cisco IOS application such as the Cisco GGSN. The Cisco MWAM card is required to run the GGSN application in a Cisco 7600 Series chassis. Cisco GGSN Release 7.0 is supported only on the Cisco MWAM-1G.
Figure 1 Cisco MWAM Card
The Cisco 7600 series ranges from 4 to 13 slots allowing a scalable system starting with one GGSN processors to a multi-card multi processor system. Moreover other Application or Service module can be added for Content Inspection/Billing, Content Filtering, Firewall, Security, Storage, etc.
For more details on MWAM go to http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps5510/product_data_sheet0900aecd800f8965.html
Product Specifications
Table 2 GGSN Product Specifications
|
Product compatibility |
Full Gateway GPRS Support Node as defined in 3GPP standards |
|
Protocols |
GTP, IPv4, IPv6, GTP', RADIUS, Diameter CC |
|
Components |
Cisco 7600, Supervisor Engine 720 or 32, MWAM and optional Line Cards or Service Module |
|
Cards/ports/slots |
See Cisco 7600 series for details on all the different configurations http://www.cisco.com/go/7600 |
|
Connectivity |
Wide range of LAN and WAN interfaces supported in the Cisco 7600 platform |
|
Performance |
From 10,000 to 1.2M PDP context and 2 Gbps of Data Throughput |
|
Reliability and availability |
Full stateful failover, carrier-grade system and 99.999% availability |
|
Network management |
Fault/Performance management and Service Provisioning with Cisco Mobilw Wireless Center for GGSN (http://www.cisco.com/go/mwc-cmx) |
|
Physical dimensions (HxWxD) |
Depends on the 7600 router mode, for details on 7600 dimensions see http://www.cisco.com/go/7600 |
|
Power |
AC/DC power |
|
Approvals and compliance |
See Cisco 7600 description http://www.cisco.com/go/7600 |
Ordering Information
The Table below describes the GGSN 7.0 specific product for ordering purposes. For details on GGSN ordering got to http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/wirelssw/ps873/prod_bulletins_list.html.
The Cisco GGSN software has two license types available, Premium and Basic. GGSN Basic features generally include those features used in 2G networks (e.g. GSM/GPRS/EDGE). Whereas the GGSN Premium license supports those features required in 3G networks (e.g. UMTS/HSDPA). For a complete listing on a feature by feature basis, please visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/wirelssw/ps873/prod_bulletins_list.html.
To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering Home Page. To download software, visit the Cisco Software Center.
Table 4 Ordering Information
Note: the Cisco 7600 chassis and MWAM needs to be ordered separately
Service and Support
Cisco Systems is unmatched in the breadth and depth of its access to resources, shared intellectual capital, and leading data and telecommunications products and expertise. This combination helps Cisco provide the highest quality available in carrier-class support, solutions, and vision for its service provider customers. Cisco service and support solutions enhance the value of your investment in your network infrastructure, resulting in an overall reduced cost of doing business. Now, with the backing of world-class support and service, you can deliver fully on the promise of internetworking technology..
For More Information
For more information about Cisco GGSN, go to http://www.cisco.com/go/ggsn.
For more information on Cisco Products and Solutions for Mobile Service Provider got to http;//www.cisco.com/go/mobile.