Cisco GGSN Release 5.0 Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 12.3(8)XU - Configuring Charging on the GGSN [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.3 Special and Early Deployments]

Table Of Contents

Configuring Charging on the GGSN

Configuring an Interface to the Charging Gateway

Verifying Interface Configuration to the Charging Gateway

Configuring the Default Charging Gateway

Configuring the GGSN to Switchover to the Highest Priority Charging Gateway

Changing the Default Charging Gateway

Configuring the GGSN Memory Threshold

Configuring the Transport Protocol for the Charging Gateway

Configuring TCP as the Charging Gateway Path Protocol

Configuring UDP as the Charging Gateway Path Protocol

Configuring the Charging Release

Configuring Charging for Roamers

Configuring PLMN IP Address Ranges

Enabling Charging for Roamers

Customizing the Charging Gateway

Disabling Charging Processing

Using Charging Profiles

Configuring a Charging Profile

Defining the Charging Characteristics and Triggers of the Charging Profile

Applying a Default Charging Profile to an APN

Applying a Global Default Charging Profile

Configuring How the GGSN Handles PDPs with Unmatched Charging Profiles

Monitoring and Maintaining Charging on the GGSN

Configuration Examples

Global Charging Configuration

Charging Profiles Configuration

Configuring Charging on the GGSN

This chapter describes how to configure the charging function on a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN). If at minimum, one charging gateway is configured, by default, charging processing is enabled on the GGSN. There are several ways to customize communication with a charging gateway. Many of the default values for the charging options will provide a satisfactory configuration until you become more familiar with your network and decide to customize the charging interface.

For a complete description of the GGSN commands in this chapter, refer to the Cisco GGSN Release 5.0 Command Reference. To locate documentation of other commands that appear in this chapter, use the command reference master index or search online.

This chapter includes the following sections:

•Configuring an Interface to the Charging Gateway (Required)

•Configuring the Default Charging Gateway (Required)

•Configuring the GGSN Memory Threshold (Optional)

•Configuring the Transport Protocol for the Charging Gateway (Optional)

•Configuring the Charging Release (Optional)

•Configuring Charging for Roamers (Optional)

•Customizing the Charging Gateway (Optional)

•Disabling Charging Processing (Optional)

•Using Charging Profiles

•Monitoring and Maintaining Charging on the GGSN

•Configuration Examples

Configuring an Interface to the Charging Gateway

To establish access to an external charging gateway in the general packet radio service/Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (GPRS/UMTS) network, you must configure a interface on the GGSN to connect to the network of the charging gateway. In GPRS/UMTS, the interface between the GGSN and the charging gateway is referred to as the Ga interface. GGSN Release 4.0 and later supports both a 2.5G Ga interface and 3G Ga interface.

On the Cisco 7200 series router platform, this interface is a physical one. On the Catalyst 6500 series switch / Cisco 7600 series Internet router platform, this interface is logical one (on which IEEE 802.1Q-encapsulation has been configured) to the Layer 3 routed Ga VLAN configured on the Supervisor/Multilayer Switch Feature Card 2 (MSFC2).

For more information about the Ga VLAN on the Supervisor/MSFC2, see "Catalyst 6500 / Cisco 7600 Series Platform Prerequisites" section.

For more information about configuring interfaces, see the Cisco IOS Interface Configuration Guide and the Cisco IOS Interface Command Reference.

Configuring Physical Interfaces

To configure a physical interface to the charging gateway that supports Fast Ethernet, use the following commands, beginning in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Step 1

Router(config)# interface type slot/port

Defines a physical interface on the GGSN, where type is fastethernet, and slot/port is the hardware slot and port on the interface.

Step 2

Router(config-if)# ip address ip-address mask [secondary]

Specifies an IP address for the interface, where:

•ip-address—Specifies the IP address of the interface in dotted decimal format.

•mask—Specifies a subnet mask in dotted decimal format.

•secondary—Specifies that the configured address is a secondary IP address. If this keyword is omitted, the configured address is the primary IP address.

Configuring 802.1Q-Encapsulated Subinterfaces

To configure a subinterface that supports IEEE 802.1Q encapsulation to the Ga VLAN, use the following commands, beginning in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Step 1

Router(config)# interface gigabitethernet slot/port.subinterface-number

Specifies the subinterface on which IEEE 802.1Q will be used.

Step 2

Router(config-if)# encapsulation dot1q vlanid

Defines the encapsulation format as IEEE 802.1Q (dot1q), and specifies the VLAN identifier.

Step 3

Router(config-if)# ip address ip-address mask

Sets a primary IP address for an interface.

Verifying Interface Configuration to the Charging Gateway

To verify the interface to the charging gateway (CG) you can first verify your GGSN configuration and then verify that the interface is available.

Cisco 7200 Platform

Step 1 To verify that you have properly configured a Ga interface on the GGSN, use the show running-config command. The following example is a portion of the output from the command showing a Fast Ethernet 5/1 physical interface configuration as the Ga interface to the charging gateway:
GGSN# show running-config
Building configuration...
Current configuration : 2875 bytes
!
version 12.2
. . .
!
interface FastEthernet5/1
 description Ga interface
 ip address 10.9.0.1 255.255.255.0
 no ip mroute-cache
 duplex full
. . .
Step 2 To verify that a physical interface is available, use the show ip interface brief command. The following example shows that the Fast Ethernet 5/1 interface to the charging gateway is in "up" status and the protocol is also "up". The information pertaining to the Fast Ethernet 5/1 interface is shown in bold.
GGSN #show ip interface brief  
Interface                  IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
FastEthernet0/0            10.10.1.3       YES NVRAM  up                    up 
FastEthernet1/0            10.29.0.2       YES NVRAM  up                    up      
FastEthernet2/0            unassigned      YES NVRAM  administratively down down    
FastEthernet5/1            10.9.0.1        YES NVRAM  up                    up      
Ethernet6/0                10.99.0.12      YES NVRAM  up                    up      
Ethernet6/1                unassigned      YES NVRAM  administratively down down    
Ethernet6/2                unassigned      YES NVRAM  administratively down down    
Ethernet6/3                unassigned      YES NVRAM  administratively down down    
Ethernet6/4                unassigned      YES NVRAM  administratively down down    
Ethernet6/5                unassigned      YES NVRAM  administratively down down    
Ethernet6/6                unassigned      YES NVRAM  administratively down down    
Ethernet6/7                10.35.35.2      YES NVRAM  up                    up      
Virtual-Access1            10.44.44.1      YES TFTP   up                    up      
Virtual-Template1          10.44.44.1      YES manual down                  down 
Catalyst 6500 / Cisco 7600 Platform

Step 1 To verify that you have properly configured a Ga interface on the Supervisor/MSFC2, use the show running-config command. The following example is a portion of the output from the command showing the Fast Ethernet 8/22 physical interface configuration as the Ga interface to the SGSN. The configuration of the Fast Ethernet 8/22 physical interface is shown in bold.
Sup# show running-config
Building configuration...
Current configuration :12672 bytes
!
version 12.2
...
interface FastEthernet8/22
 no ip address
 switchport
 switchport access vlan 302
!
interface Vlan101
 description Vlan to GGSN for GA/GN
 ip address 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Vlan302
 ip address 40.0.2.1 255.255.255.0
Step 2 To verify that the physical interface and the Ga VLAN are available, use the show interface command on the Supervisor/MSFC2. The following example shows that the Fast Ethernet 8/22 physical interface to the charging gateway is up as well as the Ga VLAN, VLAN 101:
Sup# show ip interface brief FastEthernet8/22
Interface                  IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
FastEthernet8/22           unassigned      YES unset  up                    up 
Sup# show ip interface brief Vlan302
Interface                  IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
Vlan302                    40.0.2.1        YES TFTP   up                    up      
Sup#
Step 3 To verify the Ga VLAN configuration and availability, use the show vlan name command on the Supervisor/MSFC2. The following example shows the Gn VLAN Gn_1:
NSup# show vlan name Ga_1
VLAN Name                             Status    Ports
---- -------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------
302  Ga_1                             active    Gi4/1, Gi4/2, Gi4/3, Gi7/1
                                                Gi7/2, Gi7/3, Fa8/22, Fa8/26
VLAN Type  SAID       MTU   Parent RingNo BridgeNo Stp  BrdgMode Trans1 Trans2
---- ----- ---------- ----- ------ ------ -------- ---- -------- ------ ------
302  enet  100302     1500  -      -      -        -    -        0      0   
Remote SPAN VLAN
----------------
Disabled
Primary Secondary Type              Ports
------- --------- ----------------- ------------------------------------------ 
Step 4 On the GGSN, to verify that you have properly configured a Ga subinterface to the Ga VLAN, use the show running-config command. The following example is a portion of the output from the command which shows a Fast Ethernet 5/1 physical interface configuration as the Ga interface to the charging gateway:
GGSN# show running-config
Building configuration...
Current configuration :7390 bytes
!
! Last configuration change at 16:56:05 UTC Wed Jun 25 2003
! NVRAM config last updated at 23:40:27 UTC Fri Jun 13 2003
!
version 12.3
.....
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.2
 description Ga/Gn Interface
 encapsulation dot1Q 101
 ip address 10.1.1.72 255.255.255.0
 no cdp enable
!
.....
ip route 40.1.2.1 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.1
Step 5 To verify that the subinterface is available, use the show ip interface brief command. The following example shows that the Gigabit Ethernet 0/0.2 subinterface to the Ga VLAN is in "up" status and the protocol is also "up":
GGSN# show ip interface brief GigabitEthernet0/0.2
Interface                  IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0.2       10.1.1.72       YES NVRAM  up                    up 
Configuring the Default Charging Gateway

You can configure a primary charging gateway that the GGSN uses, by default, to communicate charging information. Additionally, you can specify a secondary and tertiary charging gateway as backups. All charging gateways share the same global charging parameters.

To configure a default charging gateway for a GGSN, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# gprs default charging-gateway {ip-address | name} [{ip-address | name}] [{ip-address | name}] [{ip-address | name}]

Specifies a primary charging gateway (and secondary and tertiary backups), where:

•ip-address—Specifies the IP address of a charging gateway. The second (optional) ip-address argument specifies the IP address of a secondary charging gateway.

•name—Specifies the host name of a charging gateway. The second (optional) name argument specifies the host name of a secondary charging gateway.

Configuring the GGSN to Switchover to the Highest Priority Charging Gateway

When priority switchover has been configured on the GGSN using the gprs charging switchover priority command, regardless of the state of the current active charging gateway, when a gateway of higher priority comes up, the GGSN will switch over and send G-CDRs to that charging gateway.

To configuring priority switchover on the GGSN, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Step 1

Router(config)# gprs charging switchover priority

Configures the GGSN to switch over to the gateway of higher priority when that gateway becomes active.

Changing the Default Charging Gateway

To change the default charging gateway of a GGSN, use the following commands, beginning in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Step 1

Router(config)# gprs default charging-gateway 10.9.0.2

Specifies a primary charging gateway at IP address 10.9.0.2.

Step 2

Router(config)# no gprs default charging-gateway 10.9.0.2

Removes the primary charging gateway at IP address 10.9.0.2.

Step 3

Router(config)# gprs default charging-gateway 10.9.0.3

Specifies the new default primary charging gateway at IP address 10.9.0.3.

Configuring the GGSN Memory Threshold

The GGSN memory protection feature prevents processor memory from being drained during periods of abnormal conditions (such as when all charging gateways are down and the GGSN is buffering CDRs into memory. By default, the memory threshold is 10% of the total memory available at the time GGSN services are enabled using the gprs ggsn service global configuration command. You can use the gprs memory threshold global configuration command to configure the threshold according to the router and memory size.

When the amount of memory remaining on the system reaches the defined threshold, the memory protection feature activates and the GGSN performs the following actions to keep the processor memory from falling below the threshold:

•Rejects new create PDP requests with the cause value "No Resource."

•Drops any existing PDPs for which an update is received with the cause value "Management Intervention."

•Drops any PDPs for which a volume trigger has occurred.

Note While the memory protection feature is active, byte counts will be maintained and reported after the GGSN recovers. However, because some change conditions are not handled, some counts will not reflect the accurate charging condition (for example, QoS and tariff conditions).

To configure the memory threshold that when reached, activates the memory protection feature on the GGSN, use the following global configuration command:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# gprs memory threshold threshold

Configures the memory threshold on the GGSN. Valid range is 0 to 1024. The default is 10% of the total memory available at the time GGSN services are enabled.

Configuring the Transport Protocol for the Charging Gateway

You can configure a GGSN to support either Transport Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) as the transport path protocol for communication with the charging gateway.

The GGSN default configuration specifies UDP, which is a connectionless protocol that is considered an unreliable transport method but can yield greater performance.

Configuring TCP as the Charging Gateway Path Protocol

TCP is a connection-based protocol that provides reliable transmission through packet acknowledgment. To specify TCP as the transport path protocol, use the following commands, beginning in global configuration mode:
Command

Purpose
Step 1
Router(config)# gprs charging cg-path-requests 1
Specifies the number of minutes that the GGSN waits before trying to establish the TCP path to the charging gateway when TCP is the specified path protocol. The default is 0 minutes, which disables the timer.
Step 2

Router(config)# gprs charging path-protocol tcp

Specifies that the TCP networking protocol is used by the GGSN to transmit and receive charging data.
Configuring UDP as the Charging Gateway Path Protocol

The GGSN default configuration specifies UDP as the transport path protocol to the charging gateway. If you need to reconfigure the charging gateway for UDP transport, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# gprs charging path-protocol udp

Specifies that the UDP networking protocol is used by the GGSN to transmit and receive charging data. The default value is UDP.

Configuring the Charging Release

GGSN Release 4.0 and later support both 2.5G and 3G Ga interfaces and GPRS (R97/R98) and UMTS (R99) Quality of Service (QoS) profile formats. With GGSN Release 5.0, the GGSN can be configured to comply with 3GPP TS 32.215 Release 4 or Release 5.

Depending on the CG and GGSN configuration, when specifying the 99 or 98 keyword, the following actions take place:

•If the GGSN is configured to present R97/R98 CDRs (gprs charging release 98 is configure):

–If the PDP context is R98, the GGSN presents an R97/R98 G-CDR.

–If the PDP context is R99, the GGSN presents an R97/R98 G-CDR by converting the R99 QoS profile to an R97/R98 QoS profile.

•If the GGSN is configured to present R99 CDRs (gprs charging release 99 is configure):

–If the PDP context is R99, the GGSN presents an R99 G-CDR.

–If the PDP context is R98, the GGSN presents an R99 CDR by converting the QoS profile.

To configure the charging release with which the GGSN complies when presenting G-CDRs, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# gprs charging release {99 | 98 | 4 | 5}

Configures the format presented by the GGSN in CDRs.

•99—R97, R98, and R99 QoS profile formats are presented.

•98—R97/R98 QoS profile formats are presented.

•4—GGSN complies with 3GPP TS 32.215 Release 4.

•5—GGSN complies with 3GPP TS 32.215 Release 5.

The default value is 99.

Note When 99 is configured, the Charging Characteristics parameter is included in G-CDRs. When 4 or 5 is configured, the Charging Characteristics Selection Mode IE is included.

Configuring Charging for Roamers

A GGSN can be configured to generate G-CDRs for roaming mobile subscribers.

When the charging for roamers feature is enabled on the GGSN, when the GGSN receives a PDP context request, it first checks to see if both the GGSN and serving GPRS support node (SGSN) public land mobile network (PLMN) IDs are present and match (via the Routing Area Identity [RAI] field information element [IE]).

If not both are not present and match, the GGSN matches the IE containing the SGSN Signaling Address field against a list of PLMN IP address ranges that have been defined using the gprs plmn ip address command with the sgsn keyword option specified.

Note To use the RAI IE in Create PDP Context requests to detect roamers, a valid home PLMN must be configured on the GGSN using the gprs mcc mn global configuration command. When a valid home PLMN is configured, or valid trusted PLMNs, a CDR will not be generated if the RAI matches the configured home (or trusted) PLMN. A CDR will be created for all PDPs with RAIs that do not match a home or trusted PLMN.

Note If the RAI field is not present in a Create PDP Context, and an address range has not been configured using the gprs plmn ip address command with the sgsn keyword option specified, the PDP will be classified as "unknown" and treated as a roamer.

If the GGSN determines that the SGSN that sent the Create PDP Context request is not located within the same PLMN as it is, the GGSN generates a call detail record (CDR). If the GGSN determines that the SGSN is located in the same PLMN, it will not generate a CDR until it receives notification that the SGSN has changed location to another PLMN.

To enable charging for roamers on the GGSN using the gprs charging roamers command, you should first define a set of IP address ranges for a PLMN, using the gprs plmn ip address command.

Note It is important that you configure the gprs plmn ip address and gprs charging roamers commands in their proper order. After you configure the IP address range for a PLMN, use the gprs charging roamers command to enable the charging for roamers feature on the GGSN. You can change the IP address range by reissuing the gprs plmn ip address command.

To verify your configuration, use the show gprs charging parameters command to see if the charging for roamers feature is enabled. To verify your PLMN IP address ranges, use the show gprs plmn ip address command.

Configuring PLMN IP Address Ranges

Depending on how the PLMN IP address ranges have been defined using the gprs plmn ip address start_ip end_ip [sgsn] command, the charging for roamers feature operates as follows:

•If no PLMN IP address ranges are configured using the gprs plmn ip address start_ip end_ip [sgsn] command, the GGSN generates CDRs for all initiated PDP contexts regardless of whether the GGSN and SGSN are located within the same PLMN.

•If a list of PLMN IP address ranges has been configured using the gprs plmn ip address start_ip end_ip [sgsn] command, and one or more of those ranges has been defined using the sgsn key word, the GGSN uses those ranges defined with the sgsn keyword to determine whether an SGSN is located within the same PLMN.

With this configuration, the following scenarios outline how the charging for roamers feature will function:

–MS1 is subscribed to PLMN1 and attaches to an SGSN in PLMN2. From PLMN2, MS1 initiates a PDP context with the GGSN in PLMN1. In this case, MS1 is a roamer and the GGSN generates a CDR because it determines that the SGSN is located in a different PLMN.

–MS1 is subscribed to PLMN1 and attaches to an SGSN in PLMN2. From PLMN2, MS1 initiates a PDP context with the GGSN in PLMN2. In this case, MS1 is not a roamer because the SGSN and GGSN are in the same PLMN. The GGSN does not create a G-CDR.

To configure PLMN IP address ranges, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# gprs plmn ip address start_ip end_ip [sgsn]

Specifies the IP address range of a PLMN. Optionally, specifies that only the PLMN IP address ranges defined with the sgsn keyword specified be used to determine if an SGSN is located in a PLMN other than the GGSN.

Enabling Charging for Roamers

To enable the charging for roamers feature on a GGSN, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# gprs charging roamers

Enables charging for roamers on a GGSN.

Customizing the Charging Gateway

For the GGSN charging options, the default values represent recommended values. Other optional commands are also set to default values; however, we recommend modifying these commands to optimize your network as necessary, or according to your hardware.

The GGSN uses echo timing to maintain the path between SGSNs and external charging gateways. However, the GGSN can implement only a single method of echo timing for all the paths that it needs to maintain. To learn more about echo timing on the GGSN, or to modify the echo timing feature, see the "Configuring Echo Timing on a GGSN" section in the "Configuring GGSN GTP Services" chapter.

Use the following global configuration commands to fine-tune charging processing on the GGSN:
Command

Purpose
Router(config)# gprs charging 
cdr-aggregation-limit CDR_limit
Specifies the maximum number of CDRs that a GGSN aggregates in a charging data transfer message to a charging gateway. The default is 255 CDRs.
Router(config)# gprs charging cdr-option 
apn-selection-mode 
Enables the GGSN to provide the reason code for access point name (APN) selection in G-CDRs. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging cdr-option 
local-record-sequence-number 
Enables the GGSN to use the local record sequence number field in G-CDRs. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging cdr-option 
node-id
Enables the GGSN to specify the node that generated the CDR in the node ID field in G-CDRs. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging cdr-option 
no-partial-cdr-generation
Disables the GGSN from creating non-primary partial G-CDRs. The default is non-primary partial CDR creation is enabled.

Note Enable this feature only when there are no active PDP contexts. Enabling this feature will affect all subsequent PDP contexts.
Router(config)# gprs charging cdr-option 
packet-count
Enables the GGSN to provide uplink and downlink packet counts in the optional record extension field in G-CDRs. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging cdr-option 
served-msisdn
Enables the GGSN to provide the mobile station ISDN (MSISDN) number from the Create PDP Context request in G-CDRs. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging cdr-option 
sgsn-plmn
Configures the GGSN to include the SGSN PLMN ID in G-CDRS. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging cg-path-requests 
minutes
Specifies the number of minutes that the GGSN waits before trying to establish the TCP path to the charging gateway when TCP is the specified path protocol. The default is 0 minutes, which disables the timer.
Router(config)# gprs charging container change-limit number

Specifies the maximum number of charging containers within each G-CDR from the GGSN. The default is 5.

Router(config)# gprs charging container sgsn-change-limit number

Specifies the maximum number of SGSN changes that can occur before closing a G-CDR for a particular PDP context. The default is 0, which disables the timer.

Router(config)# gprs charging container time-trigger number

Specifies a global time limit, that when exceeded by a PDP context causes the GGSN to close and update the G-CDR for that particular PDP context. The default is 0, which disables the timer.
Router(config)# gprs charging container 
volume-threshold threshold_value
Specifies the maximum number of bytes that the GGSN maintains in a user's charging container before closing it and updating the G-CDR. The default is 1,048,576 bytes (1 MB).
Router(config)# gprs charging disable
Disables charging transactions on the GGSN. Charging is enabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging flow-control 
private-echo
Implements an echo request with private extensions for maintaining flow control on packets transmitted to the charging gateway. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging header short
Enables the GGSN to use the GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP) short header (6-byte header) instead of the GTP long header. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging map data tos 
tos_value
Specifies an IP type of service (ToS) mapping for GPRS charging packets. The default is 3.
Router(config)# gprs charging message 
transfer-request possibly-duplicate
Specifies for the GGSN to retransmit Data Record Transfer Request messages (sent to a previously active charging gateway) with the value of the Packet Transfer Request IE set to Send Possibly Duplicate Data Record Packet (2).
Router(config)# gprs charging packet-queue-size 
queue_size
Specifies the maximum number of unacknowledged charging data transfer requests that the GGSN maintains in its queue. The default is 128 packets.
Router(config)# gprs charging path-protocol 
{udp | tcp}
Specifies the protocol that the GGSN uses to transmit and receive charging data. The default is UDP.
Router(config)# gprs charging port port-num
Configures the destination port of the charging gateway. The default is 3386.
Router(config)# gprs charging send-buffer bytes
Configures the size of the buffer that contains the GTP PDU and signaling messages on the GGSN. The default is 1460 bytes.
Router(config)# gprs charging 
server-switch-timer seconds
Specifies a timeout value that determines when the GGSN attempts to find an alternate charging gateway after a destination charging gateway cannot be located or becomes unusable. The default is 60 seconds.
Router(config)# gprs charging tariff-time time
Specifies a time of day when GPRS/UMTS charging tariffs change. There is no default tariff time.
Router(config)# gprs charging message 
transfer-request command-ie
Specifies for the GGSN to include the Packet Transfer Command information element (IE) in Data Record Transfer Response messages.

Note Even though GGSN 4.0 and later supports the Packet Transfer Command IE, only the "Send Data Record Packet" value is used, even though the packet might be duplicated. The Cisco GGSN does not support the "Send Possibly Duplicated Data Record Packet," "Cancel Data Record Packet," or "Release Data Record Packet" values. Therefore, the CG or billing servers must have the ability to eliminate duplicate CDRs.
Router(config)# gprs charging message 
transfer-response number-responded
Specifies for the GGSN to use the Number of Requests Responded field instead of the Length field in the Requests Responded IE of Data Record Transfer Response messages. This is disabled by default.
Router(config)# gprs charging reconnect minutes
Configures the GGSN to periodically attempt to reconnect to a CG that is unreachable to determine when the link is back up.

Note Configuring the GGSN to automatically attempt to reconnect to a unreachable CG is necessary only when UDP is used as the charging transport protocol and the charging gateway does not support echo requests.
Router(config)# gprs charging transfer interval 
seconds
Specifies the number of seconds that the GGSN waits before it transfers charging data to the charging gateway. The default is 105 seconds.
For information about configuring GGSN GTP options, see the "Customizing the GGSN Configuration" section in the "Configuring GGSN GTP Services" chapter.

Disabling Charging Processing

Caution The gprs charging disable command removes charging data processing on a GGSN, which means that the data required to bill customers for network usage is neither being collected by the GGSN nor being sent to the charging gateway. We recommend that you avoid using this command in production GPRS/UMTS network environments. When it is necessary to use this command, use it with extreme care and reserve its usage only under nonproduction network conditions.

You can disable charging on the GGSN only after all the open CDRs have been processed and sent to the charging gateway. To clear the current GGSN CDRs, use the clear gprs charging cdr privileged EXEC command.

To disable charging processing on a GGSN, use the following command, beginning in global configuration mode:
Command

Purpose
Router(config)# gprs charging disable
Disables charging transactions on the GGSN.
Using Charging Profiles

Cisco GGSN 5.0 and later allows you to apply different charging methods on a per-PDP basis using charging profiles that you create, customize, and specify as the default charging method to use for a specific type of user at an APN level and global level. Charging profiles provide the ability to offer flexible services that are customized to subscriber preferences.

Note This feature requires that the GGSN has been configured to include the charging characteristics selection mode parameter in CDRs using the gprs charging cdr-option chch-selection-mode global configuration command and, to receive the charging characteristics selection mode IE in CDRs, r4 or r5 charging release has been configured using the gprs charging release global configuration command.

To apply charging methods on a per-PDP basis using GGSN charging profiles, you must complete the tasks outline in the following sections:

•Configuring a Charging Profile

•Defining the Charging Characteristics and Triggers of the Charging Profile

•Applying a Default Charging Profile to an APN

•Applying a Global Default Charging Profile

•Configuring How the GGSN Handles PDPs with Unmatched Charging Profiles

Configuring a Charging Profile

Charging profiles define the charging method to apply to a specific type of user (home, roamer, visitor).

The GGSN supports up to 16 charging profiles numbered 0 to 15.

Profile 0 is a set profile that always exists on the GGSN. It is not created by a GGSN operator, however, it can be modified using the charging-related global configuration commands. Profiles 1 to 15 are user-defined and customized using charging profile configuration commands.

The order in which a charging profile is selected for a PDP context, is as follows:

•If the SGSN specifies a charging characteristics value in the Create PDP Context request, the GGSN uses that value unless a default charging profile has been configured at the APN or global level to override the SGSN specification.

If a default charging profile has been configured at both the APN and global level to override the SGSN specification, the APN default charging profile is used first.

•If a charging characteristics value is not specified by the SGSN, the default charging profile defined for the APN is used first. If there is no default charging profile default configured at the APN, the default charging profile configured globally is use. If a profile cannot be matched, and the GGSN has not been configured to reject the unmatched PDPs using the gprs charging characteristics reject global configuration command, charging profile 0 is used.

To create or modify a charging profile and enter charging profile configuration mode, use the following global configuration command:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# gprs charging profile chp-num

Creates a new charging profile (or modifies an existing one), and enters charging profile configuration mode. Valid values are 1 to 15.

Defining the Charging Characteristics and Triggers of the Charging Profile

To define the charging method of the charging profile, use the following charging profile configuration commands:

Command

Purpose

Router(config-chp)# category {hot | flat | prepaid | normal}

Identifies the category of subscriber to which a charging profile applies.

Router(config-chp)# cdr suppression

Specifies that CDRs be suppressed.

Router(config-chp)# description

Specifies the name or a brief description of a charging profile.

Router(config-chp)# limit volume number [reset]

Specifies as a trigger condition, the maximum number of bytes that the GGSN maintains across all containers for a particular PDP context before closing and updating the G-CDR.

If the reset keyword option is configured, when the maximum number of bytes is exceeded, the time duration limit trigger is reset to zero. If the reset keyword option is not configured, the time duration limit trigger counters continue.

Router(config-chp)# limit duration number [reset]

Specifies as a trigger condition, the time duration limit (in minutes) that when exceeded causes the GGSN to collect upstream and downstream traffic byte counts and close and update the G-CDR for a particular PDP context.

If the reset keyword option is configured, when the duration limit is exceeded, the byte counts used for the volume trigger are reset to zero. If the reset keyword is not specified, the counters continue.

Router(config-chp)# tariff-time

Specifies that a charging profile use the global tariff changes configured using the gprs charging tariff-time global configuration command.

Router(config-chp)# limit sgsn-change

Specifies that a charging profile use the global tariff changes configured using the gprs charging tariff-time global configuration command.

Applying a Default Charging Profile to an APN

To configure a default charging profile to use for a specific type of user at an APN, use the following access-point configuration command:

Command

Purpose

Router(config-access-point)# charging profile {home | roaming | visiting | any} [trusted] chp_num [override]

Configures a default charging profile to be used for a specific type of user at an APN.

Applying a Global Default Charging Profile

Default charging profiles configured at the global level are used when a default charging profile has not been specified for an APN.

To configure a default charging profile to use for a specific type of user globally, use the following global configuration command:

Command

Purpose

Router(config-chp)# gprs charging profile default {home | roaming | visiting | any} [trusted] chp_num [override]

Applies a global default charging profile for a specific type of user.

Configuring How the GGSN Handles PDPs with Unmatched Charging Profiles

The GGSN can be configured to reject or accept GTPv1 Create PDP Context requests for which a profile cannot be matched. If configured to accept these PDP context requests, the charging method defined by charging profile 0 is applied. By default, the Create PDP Context requests are accepted and the charging method defined in charging profile 0 is applied.

To configure a GGSN to reject Create PDP Context requests for which a charging profile cannot be matched, use the following global configuration command:

Command

Purpose

Router(config-chp)# gprs charging characteristics reject

Configures the GGSN to reject GTPv1 Create PDP Context requests for which a charging profile cannot be selected.

Monitoring and Maintaining Charging on the GGSN

This section provides a summary list of the show commands that you can use to monitor charging functions on the GGSN.

The following privileged EXEC commands are used to monitor and maintain charging on the GGSN:

Command

Purpose

Router# show gprs charging parameters

Displays information about the current GGSN charging configuration.

Router# show gprs service-mode

Displays the current global service mode state of the GGSN and the last time it was changed.

Router# show gprs charging statistics

Displays cumulative statistics about the transfer of charging packets between the GGSN and charging gateways.

Router# show gprs charging status {tid tunnel_id | access-point access-point-index | all}

Displays current statistics about the transfer of charging packets between the GGSN and charging gateways.

Configuration Examples

The following are examples of charging configurations implemented on the GGSN.

Global Charging Configuration

Cisco 7200 Platform

The following configuration example shows part of a sample GGSN configuration on the Cisco 7200 series platform with some of the commands that you use to configure charging services:
GGSN# show running-config
service gprs ggsn
!
ip cef
!
. . .
!
interface Ethernet5/1
 description Ga interface
 ip address 10.9.0.1 255.255.0.0
 duplex half
!
. . . 
!
interface loopback 1
 ip address 10.40.40.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Virtual-Template1
 ip unnumber loopback 1
 encapsulation gtp
 gprs access-point-list gprs
!
. . .
!
gprs access-point-list gprs
  access-point 1
   access-point-name auth-accounting
   access-mode non-transparent
   aaa-group authentication first
   aaa-group accounting second
   ip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-client
   dhcp-server 10.60.0.1
   dhcp-gateway-address 10.60.0.1       
   exit
   !
. . .
!
gprs default charging-gateway 10.9.0.2
gprs charging send-buffer 1000
gprs charging container volume-threshold 500000
gprs charging container change-limit 3
gprs charging cdr-aggregation-limit 10
gprs charging cdr-option apn-selection-mode
gprs charging cdr-option served-msisdn
!
gprs memory threshold 512
!
. . .
!
end
Catalyst 6500 / Cisco 7600 Platform

On the GGSN:
GGSN# show running-config
Building configuration...
Current configuration :7390 bytes
!
! Last configuration change at 16:56:05 UTC Wed Jun 25 2003
! NVRAM config last updated at 23:40:27 UTC Fri Jun 13 2003
!
version 12.3
.....
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.2
 description Ga/Gn Interface
 encapsulation dot1Q 101
 ip address 10.1.1.72 255.255.255.0
 no cdp enable
!
.....
ip route 40.1.2.1 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.1
!
gprs access-point-list gprs
  access-point 1
   access-point-name auth-accounting
   access-mode non-transparent
   aaa-group authentication first
   aaa-group accounting second
   ip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-client
   dhcp-server 10.60.0.1
   dhcp-gateway-address 10.60.0.1       
   exit
   !
. . .
!
gprs default charging-gateway 10.9.0.2
gprs charging send-buffer 1000
gprs charging container volume-threshold 500000
gprs charging container change-limit 3
gprs charging cdr-aggregation-limit 10
gprs charging cdr-option apn-selection-mode
gprs charging cdr-option served-msisdn
!
gprs memory threshold 512
!
. . .
!
end
On the Supervisor / MSFC2:
Sup# show running-config
Building configuration...
Current configuration :12672 bytes
!
version 12.2
...
interface FastEthernet8/22
 no ip address
 switchport
 switchport access vlan 302
!
interface Vlan101
 description Vlan to GGSN for GA/GN
 ip address 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Vlan302
 ip address 40.0.2.1 255.255.255.0
Charging Profiles Configuration

The following partial configuration example shows two charging profiles (charging profile 1 and charging profile 2) configured on the GGSN, with charging profile 1 being configured as the global default charging profile to be used for "any" type of user if a charging profile is not specified at the APN:
GGSN# show running-config
Building configuration...
Current configuration :7390 bytes
!
! Last configuration change at 16:56:05 UTC Wed Jun 25 2003
! NVRAM config last updated at 23:40:27 UTC Fri Jun 13 2003
!
version 12.3
.....
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.2
 description Ga/Gn Interface
 encapsulation dot1Q 101
 ip address 10.1.1.72 255.255.255.0
 no cdp enable
!
.....
ip route 40.1.2.1 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.1
!
!
. . .
!
gprs charging profile default any 1
gprs charging profile 1
 description "roamer_profile"
 limit volume 500000 reset
 limit duration 30 reset
!
gprs charging profile 2
 description "any_unmatched"
 limit volume 1000000 reset
 limit duration 60 reset
. . .
!
. . .
!
end