Manual Chapter :
Using the Diameter Configuration
Wizard
Applies To:
Show VersionsBIG-IP LTM
- 16.0.1, 16.0.0
Using the Diameter Configuration
Wizard
Overview: Diameter Configuration Wizard
The Diameter Configuration Wizard provides a simple, straightforward way
to configure Diameter message routing functionality for Stream Control Transmission Protocol
(SCTP) support, load balancing, AVP transformation, and session management. Additionally,
Diameter message routing functionality supports high availability (HA) functionality.
You can use this wizard to quickly configure the following functions.
Function |
Description |
---|---|
Routing |
Specifies the routing table configuration to support
Diameter functionality, including the routing decision parameters (such as Diameter
protocol, expression test, and action associated with a matched expression). |
Transformations |
Enables you to insert, modify, or delete Attribute Value
Pairs (AVPs) in Diameter messages. |
Session Management |
Specifies a session timeout value, as well as session
binding parameters for master-only persistence and master-slave persistence. |
System Configuration |
Specifies the system configuration used to support
Diameter functionality, including the following:
|
Dictionaries |
Enables you to manage Diameter dictionaries. |
You
must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard.
Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.
Workflow
messages appear in the yellow banner to help guide you during the configuration of Diameter
message routing functionality.
About setting up the Diameter Configuration
Wizard
When you set up the Diameter Configuration Wizard, you need to complete the following actions:
- Download the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package from the F5 Downloads site.
- Import the downloaded file into iApps Package Management LX.
You must use a Chrome
browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers other than Chrome
are not currently supported.
Download the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package
You can download the latest Diameter
Configuration Wizard RPM package from F5 Networks.
- Log in to the F5 Downloads site,https://downloads.f5.com, and click theFind a Downloadbutton.
- Click the name of the product line.To download the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package, click the product lineiAppLX Templates.
- Click the name of the version of the product you want to download.The name appears asiAppLX_Templatesand the version appears asiAppLX.
- Read the End User License Agreement, and click theI Acceptbutton if you agree with the terms.The Select a Download screen appears.
- Click the name of the file you want to download.The Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package is nameddiameterConfigurationWizard-xx.x.x-x.xx.x.xxx.noarch.rpm.
The latest Diameter Configuration
Wizard file is downloaded from F5 Networks.
Import the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package
You can import the latest Diameter
Configuration Wizard RPM package onto a BIG-IP system.
- Log on to the command line of the system using the root account.
- Type the following command to enable iApps LX controls.touch /var/config/rest/iapps/enable
- Type the following command to restartrestjavad.bigstart restart restjavad
- Open the BIG-IP Configuration utility.
- On the Main tab, click.The Package Management LX screen appears.
- ClickImport.
- For theFile Namesetting, clickBrowseto navigate to the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package, and then clickOpento upload the package.The Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package is nameddiameterConfigurationWizard-xx.x.x-x.xx.x.xxx.noarch.rpm.
- ClickUpload.The Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package uploads to the Applications Service List screen.
The latest Diameter configuration
wizard file is imported and available on the Applications LX screen.
Open the Diameter Configuration Wizard
Before you can open the Diameter
Configuration Wizard, you need to set up the wizard in the iApps LX interface.
After you set up the Diameter
Configuration Wizard in the iApps LX intereface, you can open the wizard to configure
Diameter message routing functionality.
- On the Main tab, click.The Application Service List screen opens.
- Click the name of a Diameter application.The default iApps LX Diameter application isDiameter Configuration Wizard.
The Diameter Configuration Wizard is
open and available for configuration.
About the Diameter system configuration
The Diameter Configuration Wizard System Configuration tab enables you to
configure virtual servers, nodes, pools, routing destinations, and a list of values for
Diameter functionality.
You
must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard.
Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.
Configure a Diameter virtual server
Before you configure a Diameter virtual server, you need to configure the appropriate
destination nodes and pools, and also create a Diameter configuration.
You can configure a Diameter virtual server to use
a client transport protocol, and SCTP multihoming for Diameter clients.
Do not click
Save
until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click
Save
before
configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Virtual Servers tab.The Virtual Servers screen opens.
- InVirtual Server Name, type the name of the virtual server.
- In theDiameter Configurationfield, select the created Diameter configuration.
- In theVirtual IPbox, type the IP address for the virtual server.
- Type thePort Numberfor the virtual server.
- From theClient Transport Protocollist, select one of these protocols to use with Diameter clients.
- TCP
- SCTP
- TLS/TCP
- ClickMore Options.
- Type aDescription.
- Configure SCTP multihoming functionality for Diameter clients.
- Select theEnable Multihomingcheck box.
- ForAlternative Destination IPs, type the address for an alternative BIG-IP system destination that a client can use.
- For each additionalAlternative Destination IPsaddress, click the plus (+) button to add the destination IP address, as necessary.
- ClickAdd Virtual Serverto configure an additional Diameter virtual server, as necessary.
A Diameter virtual server is configured to use a client transport protocol, and SCTP
multihoming functionality for Diameter clients.
Configure a Diameter node
You can configure the properties of Diameter
destination nodes for pools. Note that a destination node can include multiple active
user sessions.
Do not click
Save
until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click
Save
before
configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Nodes tab.The Nodes screen opens.
- In theNode Namefield, type the name for the node.
- In theAddressfield, type the address for the node.
- In theDescriptionfield, type a description for the node.
- ClickAdd Nodeto configure an additional node, as necessary.
The Diameter destination nodes are configured, and available to assign to a
pool.
Configure a Diameter pool
Before you configure a Diameter pool, you need to configure the appropriate destination nodes.
In a basic Diameter message routing configuration, you can define a routing pool that contains Diameter servers as its members, specify a protocol to use with Diameter servers, and configure multihoming destination IP addresses.
Do not click
Save
until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save
before configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.If a peer specifies a pool without pool members, the message
is unroutable.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Pools tab.The Pools screen opens.
- In thePool Namefield, type the name of the pool.
- In theDescriptionfield, type a description for the pool.
- Add the applicable pool member destination nodes to the pool.
- Click theShow Pool Membersbutton.
- For each pool member, click theAdd Pool Memberplus (+) button.
- From thePool Memberslist, select a pool member destination node.
- In thePort Numberbox, type the port number.
- ClickMore Options.
- From theProtocollist, select one of the following protocols to use with Diameter servers.
- TCP
- SCTP
- TLS/TCP
- Configure SCTP multihoming functionality for Diameter servers.
- Select theEnable Multihomingcheck box.
- ForAlternative Source IPs, type the address for an alternative BIG-IP system destination address that a server can use.
- For each additionalAlternative Source IPsaddress, click the plus (+) button to add the source IP address, as necessary.
- ClickAdd Poolto configure an additional Diameter pool, as necessary.
A Diameter message routing configuration is complete, including a routing pool that contains Diameter servers as its members, a protocol to use with Diameter servers, and SCTP multihoming destination IP addresses.
Configure Diameter routing destinations
To configure Diameter static routing
destinations, you must first configure the applicable destination nodes and
pools.
You can configure one or more static routing
destinations for a Diameter application, specifying a destination address and a pool
selection mode, comprising one or more pools.
Do not click
Save
until you have
configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save
before configuring all
Diameter functions, an error might occur.- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Routing Destinations tab.The Routing Destinations screen opens.
- InDestination, type an address for the static route destination.
- From thePool Selection Modelist, select one of these settings:SettingDescriptionBy PrecedenceSpecifies a sequential selection of pools based on availability. If only one pool is specified, the virtual server directs all traffic to it. If two or more pools are specified, the virtual server sends traffic to the next pool in the specified sequence (top to bottom) when the nodes in the preceding pool are down.By PercentsSpecifies a percentage of traffic for each specified pool. If only one pool is specified, the virtual server directs all traffic to it. If two or more pools are specified, the virtual server manages traffic sent to each pool in accordance with the specified percentage. You can drag the slider bar to specify a percentage for a pool.
- From thePoolslist, select a Diameter pool.
- ClickAdd Poolto specify an additional pool for the routing destination, as necessary.
- For each pool, specify the mode:Pool Selection ModeStepsBy Precedence
- In the Pools area, from thePoolslist, sequentially select each pool, from top to bottom.
By Percents- In the Pools area, for each selected pool, choose to either:
- Drag the slider bar for each selected pool to specify the applicable percentage of traffic.
- In the percent box, type the applicable percentage of traffic.
- ClickAdd Destinationto add another routing destination, as necessary.
One or more Diameter static routing destinations are configured to manage traffic in
accordance with a destination name and a pool selection mode, comprising one or more
pools.
Configure a Diameter list of values
You can create a list composed of unique
values and apply them in a routing decision to an Attribute Value Pairs (AVP) with a
string-format output.
Do not click
Save
until you have
configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save
before configuring all
Diameter functions, an error might occur.- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the List of Values tab.
- In theList Namefield, type a name for the list.
- In theDescriptionfield, type a unique description for the list of values.
- ClickShow List of Values.
- In theList of Valuesfield, type a value.
- To specify an additional value for the list, in theAdd Valuesarea, click the plus (+) button, and then, in theList of Valuesfield, type a value.
- ClickAdd Listto configure an additional list, as necessary.
A list of values is available.
Configure an advanced Diameter configuration
You can create advanced Diameter configurations and
assign them to virtual servers.
Do not
click
Save
until after configuring all Diameter settings. If you
click Save
before
configuring all Diameter settings, an error may occur.- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Advanced Diameter Configuration tab.By default, aDefault Configurationis available.
- Click the plus (+) button to edit the configuration.
- From the Virtual Servers tab, attach the configuration to a virtual server.
- Click theAdd Configurationbutton to create an additional Diameter configuration.
- In theDiameter Configuration Namefield, type a name for the additional Diameter configuration.
Configure a default MRF router configuration
You can configure certain Diameter features
(example: per-peer statistics) in the Router Configuration tab.
Do not click
Save
until after configuring all Diameter settings. If you click
Save
before
configuring all Diameter settings, an error may occur.- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Router Configuration tab.By default, aDefault Configurationis available.
- Click the plus (+) button to edit the configuration.There is no option to create any additional configurations.
About configuring
Diameter routing
The Diameter Configuration Wizard Routing tab enables you to configure
routing decisions. Routing decisions specify the protocol conditions and associated actions
assigned to a virtual server.
Configure a Diameter routing decision
To assign a Diameter routing decision to a virtual server for SCTP server-side
multihoming, you must first configure an applicable virtual server.
You can configure one or more routing decisions
for a Diameter application to use SCTP server-side multihoming, specifying the protocol
conditions and associated actions assigned to a virtual server.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Routing tab.The Routing screen opens.
- From theAll Virtual Serverslist, select the virtual server to which you want to assign the routing decision.The default isAll Virtual Servers.
- In the Default Route area, from theActionlist, select an action.
- From theDestinationlist, select a destination.Depending upon the Action that you select, the Destination list and associated paramenters might not appear.
- ClickMore Options.
- Type aDescription.
- In theOrigin Hostfield, type an identifier for the originating server, for example,siteserver.f5.com.If theOrigin Hostsetting is not specified, the BIG-IP system host is used.To display theOrigin Hostfield, from the Action list, selectReject,Redirect, orTerminate.
- In theOrigin Realmfield, type the origin realm matching the Origin-Realm AVP value in the message.A blank value routes all origin-realms.To display theOrigin Realmfield, from the Action list, selectReject,Redirect, orTerminate.
- ClickAddto configure an additional routing decision, as necessary.Controls to configure a protocol, its attributes, and an associated action open.
- From theProtocollist, select a protocol.
- From theAttributelist, select a heading.
- From theExpressionlist, select an expression.
- For theValuesetting, specify a value for the expression:
- From theValuelist, select a value for the expression.
- In theValuebox, type a value for the expression.
- From theActionlist, select an action.
- From theDestinationlist, select a destination.Depending upon the Action that you select, the Destination list and associated paramenters might not appear.
- ClickMore Options, and then, in theDescriptionfield, type a description for the configured routing decision.
- In theOrigin Hostfield, type an identifier for the originating server, for example,siteserver.f5.com.If theOrigin Hostsetting is not specified, the BIG-IP system host is used.To display theOrigin Hostfield, from the Action list, selectReject,Redirect, orTerminate.
- In theOrigin Realmfield, type the origin realm matching the Origin-Realm AVP value in the message.A blank value routes all origin-realms.To display theOrigin Realmfield, from the Action list, selectReject,Redirect, orTerminate.
A routing decision is configured, specifying the protocol conditions and associated
actions assigned to a virtual server.
About configuring
Diameter transformations
The Diameter Configuration Wizard Transformations tab enables you to insert,
modify, or delete Attribute Value Pairs (AVPs).
You
must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers
other than Chrome are not currently supported.
Configure a Diameter transformation
You can configure the transformation of Attribute
Value Pairs (AVPs) by using the Transformations tab, preventing exposure of server
topologies.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Transformations tab.The Transformation screen opens.
- From theAll Virtual Serverslist, select the virtual server to which you want to assign the transformation.The default isAll Virtual Servers.
- From theProtocollist, select a protocol.
- From theAttributelist, select an attribute.
- From theExpressionlist, select an expression.
- For theValuesetting, specify a value for the expression:
- From theValuelist, select a value for the expression.
- In theValuebox, type a value for the expression.
- For each additionalAttribute, click the plus (+) button to add the parameters, as necessary.
- From theOperationlist, select an operation.
- From theAttributelist for the operation, select a protocol attribute.
- For theValuesetting, specify a value for the expression:
- From theValuelist, select a value for the expression.
- In theValuebox, type a value for the expression.
- For each additionalOperation, click the plus (+) button to add the parameters, as necessary.
- ClickMore Options.
- Type aDescriptionfor the transformation.
- Select the check box for each transformation that you want to enable, and then clickEnable.
The AVP transformations are configured, preventing exposure of server
topologies
About Diameter session
management
The Diameter Configuration Wizard Session Management tab enables you to
configure the session management and session binding for Diameter functionality.
You
must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers
other than Chrome are not currently supported.
Configure Diameter session management
A session management configuration provides a
session timeout setting and session binding settings that you can apply to master-only
or master-slave persistence sessions.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Session Management tab.The Session Management screen opens.
- Select theSession Managementcheck box.
- InSession Timeout, type a timeout value for the session persistence, in minutes.
- Select theSession Bindingcheck box to configure a primary-only or a primary-secondary persistence session.
- In the Master Session area, from theProtocollist, select a protocol.
- From theAVPlist, select an AVP attribute to apply to the master session.
- In the Slave Sessions area, from theProtocollist, select a protocol.
- From theAVP to use for resolvinglist, select an AVP attribute.For Master-Slave persistence, the specified AVP value for a Slave session must match the specified AVP value for a Master session, in order for the Slave messages to be routed according to a different protocol interface for a Master session.
- From theAVP to use in Master Session for persistencelist, select an AVP attribute.The default setting isSame as Slave session AVP.
- ClickAdd Rowto add another slave session protocol configuration, as necessary.
- ClickSaveto save the session management configuration.
A session management configuration is available to provide a session timeout and
session binding for master-only or master-slave persistence sessions.
About Diameter
dictionaries
The Diameter Configuration Wizard Dictionaries tab enables you to easily
manage each 3GPP protocol interface Diameter dictionary. You can modify, download, upload,
rename, and delete dictionary files, as necessary.
You
must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers
other than Chrome are not currently supported.
Modify a Diameter dictionary file
You can modify a Diameter dictionary
file to add proprietary AVPs, as necessary.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.The Dictionaries screen opens.
- Click the name of a dictionary XML file to download the file.The XML file downloads to the workstation.
- Open the dictionary XML file in an editor application, modify the content as necessary, and save the file.
- ClickUpload, clickBrowseto navigate to the modified dictionary XML file, and then clickOpento upload the modified dictionary XML file.
The Diameter dictionary file is
modified and available for use.
Download a Diameter dictionary file
You can download a Diameter
dictionary file to modify it, to copy and customize it, or to examine its
contents.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.The Dictionaries screen opens.
- Click the name of a dictionary XML file to download the file.The XML file downloads to the workstation.
The Diameter dictionary file is
downloaded.
Upload a Diameter dictionary file
Before you can upload a Diameter
dictionary XML file to the BIG-IP device, you need to download the
Diameter dictionary file to a preferred location, for example, the workstation.
You can upload a Diameter dictionary
file to the BIG-IP device, as necessary.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.The Dictionaries screen opens.
- ClickUpload, clickBrowseto navigate to the modified dictionary XML file, and then clickOpento upload the modified dictionary XML file.
A Diameter dictionary XML file is
uploaded to the BIG-IP device.
Rename a Diameter dictionary file
You can rename a Diameter dictionary
XML file, as necessary.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.The Dictionaries screen opens.
- ClickRenameto rename the applicable Diameter dictionary XML file.
- In theNew Dictionary Namesetting, type a new name for the Diameter dictionary.
- ClickRenameto rename the applicable Diameter dictionary XML file.
The Diameter dictionary is renamed.
Delete a Diameter dictionary file
You can delete a Diameter dictionary
file, as necessary.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.The Dictionaries screen opens.
- Select the check box for the applicable dictionary.
- ClickDelete Dictionaryto remove the applicable dictionary.
The dictionary XML file is deleted
from the BIG-IP device.
Save a Diameter Configuration Wizard configuration
All Diameter Configuration Wizard
functions need to be configured before saving the configuration.
You can save the Diameter
Configuration Wizard configuration after you complete configuring all of the
functions.
- In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click one of the following tabs:
- Routing
- Transformations
- Session Management
- System Configuration
- ClickSave.
The Diameter Configuration Wizard
configuration is saved.