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  5. Using the Diameter Configuration Wizard
Manual Chapter : Using the Diameter Configuration Wizard

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BIG-IP LTM

  • 13.0.1, 13.0.0
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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.

Table 1. Diameter Configuration Wizard 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:
  • Virtual Servers. Specifies an applicable virtual server (including virtual server name, virtual IP address, port number, client transport protocol, and description).
  • Nodes. Specifies local traffic node parameters (including a node name, address, and description).
  • Pools. Specifies local traffic pool settings (including pool name, description, pool members, and port number), protocol, and multihoming settings (including alternative source IP addresses).
  • Routing Destinations. Specifies routing destination parameters (including a destination, pool selection mode, and pool).
  • List of Values. Specifies a list of values (including a list name, description, and values) that can be referenced in transformation rules.
Dictionaries Enables you to manage Diameter dictionaries.
Important: You must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.
Tip: 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.
Important: You must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.

Task summary

Downloading the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package

You can download the latest Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package from F5 Networks.
  1. Log in to the F5 Downloads site, https://downloads.f5.com, and click the Find a Download button.
  2. Click the name of the product line.
    Note: To download the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package, click the product line iAppLX Templates.
  3. Click the name of the version of the product you want to download.
    Note: The name appears as iAppLX_Templates and the version appears as iAppLX.
  4. Read the End User License Agreement, and click the I Accept button if you agree with the terms.
    The Select a Download screen appears.
  5. Click the name of the file you want to download.
    Note: The Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package is named diameterConfigurationWizard-xx.x.x-x.xx.x.xxx.noarch.rpm.
The latest Diameter Configuration Wizard file is downloaded from F5 Networks.

Importing the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package

You can import the latest Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package onto a BIG-IP® system.
  1. Log on to the command line of the system using the root account.
  2. Type the following command to enable iApps LX controls.

    touch /var/config/rest/iapps/enable

  3. Type the following command to restart restjavad.

    bigstart restart restjavad

  4. Open the BIG-IP Configuration utility.
  5. On the Main tab, click iApps > Package Management LX .
    The Package Management LX screen appears.
  6. Click Import.
  7. For the File Name setting, click Browse to navigate to the Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package, and then click Open to upload the package.
    Note: The Diameter Configuration Wizard RPM package is named diameterConfigurationWizard-xx.x.x-x.xx.x.xxx.noarch.rpm.
  8. Click Upload.
    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.

Opening 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.
  1. On the Main tab, click iApps > Application Services > Applications LX .
    The Application Service List screen opens.
  2. Click the name of a Diameter application.
    Note: The default iApps LX Diameter application is Diameter 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.

Important: You must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.

Task summary

Configuring a Diameter virtual server

Before you configure a Diameter virtual server, you need to configure the appropriate destination nodes and pools.
You can configure a Diameter virtual server to use a client transport protocol, and SCTP multihoming for Diameter clients.
Important: Do not click Save until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save before configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Virtual Servers tab.
    The Virtual Servers screen opens.
  2. In the Virtual Server Name field, type the name of the virtual server.
  3. In the Virtual Ip field, type the IP address for the virtual server.
  4. In the Port Number field, type the port number for the virtual server.
  5. From the Client Transport Protocol list, select one of the following protocols to use with Diameter clients.
    • TCP
    • SCTP
    • TLS/TCP
  6. Click More Options.
  7. In the Description field, type a description.
  8. Optional: Configure SCTP multihoming functionality for Diameter clients.
    1. Select the Enable Multihoming check box.
    2. In the Alternative Destination IPs field, type the address for an alternative BIG-IP destination that a client can use.
    3. For each additional Alternative Destination IPs address, click the plus (+) button to add the destination IP address, as necessary.
  9. Optional: Click Add Virtual Server to 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.

Configuring 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.
Important: Do not click Save until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save before configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Nodes tab.
    The Nodes screen opens.
  2. In the Node Name field, type the name for the node.
  3. In the Address field, type the address for the node.
  4. In the Description field, type a description for the node.
  5. Optional: Click Add Node to configure an additional node, as necessary.
The Diameter destination nodes are configured, and available to assign to a pool.

Configuring 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.
Important: Do not click Save until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save before configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.
Note: If a peer specifies a pool without pool members, the message is unroutable.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Pools tab.
    The Pools screen opens.
  2. In the Pool Name field, type the name of the pool.
  3. In the Description field, type a description for the pool.
  4. Add the applicable pool member destination nodes to the pool.
    1. Click the Show Pool Members button.
    2. For each pool member, click the Add Pool Member plus (+) button.
    3. From the Pool Members list, select a pool member destination node.
    4. In the Port Number field, type the port number.
  5. Click More Options.
  6. From the Protocol list, select one of the following protocols to use with Diameter servers.
    • TCP
    • SCTP
    • TLS/TCP
  7. Optional: Configure SCTP multihoming functionality for Diameter servers.
    1. Select the Enable Multihoming check box.
    2. In the Alternative Source IPs field, type the address for an alternative BIG-IP destination address that a server can use.
    3. For each additional Alternative Source IPs address, click the plus (+) button to add the source IP address, as necessary.
  8. Optional: Click Add Pool to 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.

Configuring 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.
Important: Do not click Save until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save before configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the Routing Destinations tab.
    The Routing Destinations screen opens.
  2. In the Destination field, type an address for the static route destination.
  3. From the Pool Selection Mode list, select one of the following settings:
    Setting Description
    By Precedence Specifies 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 Percents Specifies 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.
  4. From the Pools list, select a Diameter pool.
  5. Optional: Click Add Pool to specify an additional pool for the routing destination, as necessary.
  6. For each pool, do one of the following:
    Pool Selection Mode Steps
    By Precedence
    • In the Pools area, from the Pools list, sequentially select each pool, from top to bottom.
    By Percents
    • In the Pools area, do one of the following for each selected pool:
      • Drag the slider bar for each selected pool to specify the applicable percentage of traffic.
      • In the percent field, type the applicable percentage of traffic.
  7. Optional: Click Add Destination to 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.

Configuring 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.
Important: Do not click Save until you have configured all Diameter functions. If you click Save before configuring all Diameter functions, an error might occur.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the System Configuration tab, and then click the List of Values tab.
  2. In the List Name field, type a name for the list.
  3. In the Description field, type a unique description for the list of values.
  4. Click Show List of Values.
  5. In the List of Values field, type a value.
  6. To specify an additional value for the list, in the Add Values area, click the plus (+) button, and then, in the List of Values field, type a value..
  7. Click Add List to configure an additional list, as necessary.
A list of values is available.

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.

Task summary

Configuring 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.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Routing tab.
    The Routing screen opens.
  2. From the All Virtual Servers list, select the virtual server to which you want to assign the routing decision.
    The default is All Virtual Servers.
  3. In the Default Route area, from the Action list, select an action.
  4. From the Destination list, select a destination.
    Note: Depending upon the Action that you select, the Destination list and associated paramenters might not appear.
  5. Click More Options.
  6. In the Description field, type a description.
  7. In the Origin Host field, type an identifier for the originating server, for example, siteserver.f5.com.
    If the Origin Host setting is not specified, the BIG-IP system host is used.
    Note: To display the Origin Host field, from the Action list, select Reject, Redirect, or Terminate.
  8. In the Origin Realm field, type the origin realm matching the Origin-Realm AVP value in the message.
    A blank value routes all origin-realms.
    Note: To display the Origin Realm field, from the Action list, select Reject, Redirect, or Terminate.
  9. Click Add to configure an additional routing decision, as necessary.
    Controls to configure a protocol, its attributes, and an associated action open.
  10. From the Protocol list, select a protocol.
  11. From the Attribute list, select a heading.
  12. From the Expression list, select an expression.
  13. For the Value setting, do one of the following:
    • From the Value list, select a value for the expression.
    • In the Value field, type a value for the expression.
  14. From the Action list, select an action.
  15. From the Destination list, select a destination.
    Note: Depending upon the Action that you select, the Destination list and associated paramenters might not appear.
  16. Optional: Click More Options, and then, in the Description field, type a description for the configured routing decision.
  17. In the Origin Host field, type an identifier for the originating server, for example, siteserver.f5.com.
    If the Origin Host setting is not specified, the BIG-IP system host is used.
    Note: To display the Origin Host field, from the Action list, select Reject, Redirect, or Terminate.
  18. In the Origin Realm field, type the origin realm matching the Origin-Realm AVP value in the message.
    A blank value routes all origin-realms.
    Note: To display the Origin Realm field, from the Action list, select Reject, Redirect, or Terminate.
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).

Important: You must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.

Task summary

Configuring a Diameter transformation

You can configure the transformation of Attribute Value Pairs (AVPs) by using the Transformations tab, preventing exposure of server topologies.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Transformations tab.
    The Transformation screen opens.
  2. From the All Virtual Servers list, select the virtual server to which you want to assign the transformation.
    The default is All Virtual Servers.
  3. From the Protocol list, select a protocol.
  4. From the Attribute list, select an attribute.
  5. From the Expression list, select an expression.
  6. For the Value setting, do one of the following:
    • From the Value list, select a value for the expression.
    • In the Value field, type a value for the expression.
  7. For each additional Attribute, click the plus (+) button to add the parameters, as necessary.
  8. From the Operation list, select an operation.
  9. From the Attribute list for the operation, select a protocol attribute.
  10. For the Value setting, do one of the following:
    • From the Value list, select a value for the expression.
    • In the Value field, type a value for the expression.
  11. For each additional Operation, click the plus (+) button to add the parameters, as necessary.
  12. Click More Options.
  13. Optional: In the Description field, type a description for the transformation.
  14. Select the check box for each transformation that you want to enable, and then click Enable.
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.

Important: You must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.

Task summary

Configuring 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.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Session Management tab.
    The Session Management screen opens.
  2. Select the Session Management check box.
  3. In the Session Timeout field, type a timeout value for the session persistence in minutes.
  4. Select the Session Binding check box to configure a master-only or a master-slave persistence session.
  5. In the Master Session area, from the Protocol list, select a protocol.
  6. From the AVP list, select an AVP attribute to apply to the master session.
  7. In the Slave Sessions area, from the Protocol list, select a protocol.
  8. From the AVP to use for resolving list, select an AVP attribute.
    Important: 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.
  9. From the AVP to use in Master Session for persistence list, select an AVP attribute.
    Note: The default setting is Same as Slave session AVP.
  10. Click Add Row to add another slave session protocol configuration, as necessary.
  11. Click Save to 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.

Important: You must use a Chrome browser when setting up and using the Diameter Configuration Wizard. Browsers other than Chrome are not currently supported.

Task summary

Modifying a Diameter dictionary file

You can modify a Diameter dictionary file to add proprietary AVPs, as necessary.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.
    The Dictionaries screen opens.
  2. Click the name of a dictionary XML file to download the file.
    The XML file downloads to the workstation.
  3. Open the dictionary XML file in an editor application, modify the content, as necessary, and save the file.
  4. Click Upload, click Browse to navigate to the modified dictionary XML file, and then click Open to upload the modified dictionary XML file.
The Diameter dictionary file is modified and available for use.

Downloading a Diameter dictionary file

You can download a Diameter dictionary file to modify it, to copy and customize it, or to examine its contents.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.
    The Dictionaries screen opens.
  2. 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.

Uploading 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.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.
    The Dictionaries screen opens.
  2. Click Upload, click Browse to navigate to the modified dictionary XML file, and then click Open to upload the modified dictionary XML file.
A Diameter dictionary XML file is uploaded to the BIG-IP device.

Renaming a Diameter dictionary file

You can rename a Diameter dictionary XML file, as necessary.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.
    The Dictionaries screen opens.
  2. Click Rename to rename the applicable Diameter dictionary XML file.
  3. In the New Dictionary Name field, type a new name for the Diameter dictionary.
  4. Click Rename to rename the applicable Diameter dictionary XML file.
The Diameter dictionary is renamed.

Deleting a Diameter dictionary file

You can delete a Diameter dictionary file, as necessary.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click the Dictionaries tab.
    The Dictionaries screen opens.
  2. Select the check box for the applicable dictionary.
  3. Click Delete Dictionary to remove the applicable dictionary.
The dictionary XML file is deleted from the BIG-IP® device.

Saving 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.
  1. In the Diameter Configuration Wizard, click one of the following tabs:
    • Routing
    • Transformations
    • Session Management
    • System Configuration
  2. Click Save.
The Diameter Configuration Wizard configuration is saved.
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