The ABCs of Diameter Signaling

We couldve called this one The AAAs of Diameter Signaling, since Diameter is the signaling protocol that handles Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) messages in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture. As more subscribers move to IMS-based 4G/LTE networks, service providers are expecting an exponential growth in Diameter traffic generated by smartphones and other mobile devices. This document is intended to help readers get their arms around Diameter Signaling: What is it?, Why is it important?, and How will service providers handle the imminent explosion of Diameter traffic in their networks?

What is Diameter?
There are two signaling protocols that drive most of the communications in IMS networks: Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Diameter. SIP is the industry standard for message signaling in real-time communications such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and videoconferencing sessions. Diameter is the industry standard for data signaling from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The two protocols are designed to perform separate but complementary functions in IMS/LTE networks. For example, when a SIP session is initiated, Diameter messages are working behind the scenes within the core network to authenticate that the subscriber is who they say they are, is authorized to use certain network services or applications, and is charged correctly for using those services.

Why Diameter is About to Get Really Big

Until now, Diameter traffic hasnt been a big issue for service providers simply because of the limited number of IMS subscribers. But as service providers begin to deploy more 4G/LTE networks to meet the mobile broadband demand of smartphones and tablets, the number of Diameter signaling messages in service provider networks will grow exponentially. Smartphones, for example, generate a lot of Diameter signaling messages in the core network: when theyre accessing an application, when theyre downloading data, when theyre roaming, even when theyre simply being turned on and off. Multiply dozens of Diameter signaling messages by millions of smartphones, and you now have potential chokepoints in the network that can disrupt service or even take down the network. Today, there are over 75 unique Diameter signaling interfaces assigned to specific IMS and LTE network elements. Some have likened the complexity of Diameter signaling to the problems originally presented by Signaling System 7 (SS7) in the first wave of mobile networks. Others have found a more recent parallel in the explosion of SIP traffic that appeared with the popularization of VoIP. And just as the need to handle large amounts of SIP traffic led to the development of the Session Border Controller (SBC), the anticipated increase in Diameter signaling traffic has resulted in the introduction of a new product category, the Diameter Signaling Controller (DSC), and it subsets, the Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) and Diameter Edge Agent (DEA).

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Introducing the Diameter Signaling Controller

In many ways, a DSC handles Diameter the way that an SBC handles SIP: by routing messages more efficiently, preventing network overloads, and interworking different variations of Diameter signaling between devices. Instead of a complex mesh of Diameter signaling messages flowing between dozens of IMS elements, a DSC acts as a central mediator that streamlines the flow of Diameter signaling messages in the network (see figure 1). Beyond reducing the amount of Diameter signaling traffic in the core network, DSCs (like SBCs) provide a variety of other benefits to the network including: >> Provide load balancing of Diameter signaling traffic to prevent network element overload or service interruptions

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>> Interwork Diameter and MAP protocols for LTE interoperabilitywith 2G/3G networks >> Further secure the network border through IPsec encryption, DoS protection, network topology hiding, etc. >> Enforce Diameter interoperability through manipulation of Attribute Value Pairs (AVPs) >> Simplify the provisioning of Diameter elements

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Figure 1. The Diameter Signaling Controller streamlines Diameter signaling message flows in the mobile network

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Session Border Controller

Diameter Signaling Controller

Handles VoIP and real-time session signaling

Handles mobile data signaling

Improves SIP routing efficiency

Improves Diameter routing efficiency

Provides signaling & media encryption, DoS/DDos protection and topology hiding

Provides signaling encryption, DoS/DDoS protection and topology hiding

Protects against network overloads

Protects against network overloads

SIP interoperability achieved through message header manipulation

Figure 2. Session Border Controller vs. Diameter Signaling Controller

Diameter interoperability achieved through AVP message manipulation

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