# Engineering Rules

This section provides engineering rules or guidelines that must be considered prior to configuring the system for your network deployment.
This appendix describes following engineering rules for PCC service:

- PCC Engineering Rules
- Interface and Port Engineering Rules
- Service Engineering Rules

PCC Engineering Rules

The following engineering rules apply when the system is configured as an IPCF node:

- A maximum of 1 PCC service can be configured on a system which is further limited to a maximum of 256 services (regardless of type) can be configured per system.
- Multiple PCC-Policy services, but limited to maximum of 256 services (regardless of type), can be configured per system..
- Multiple PCC-AF services, but limited to maximum of 256 services (regardless of type), can be configured per system.
- A maximum of 1 PCC-Sp-Endpoint instance can be configured per system.
- A maximum of 1 Event Notification interface can be configured per system.

Interface and Port Engineering Rules

The rules discussed in this section pertain to both the Ethernet 10/100 and Ethernet 1000 Line Cards and the four-port Quad Gig-E Line Card and the type of interfaces they facilitate.

Gx/Gxa Interface Rules

When communciating PCEFs/BBERFs the system provides Gx/Gxa interface support and connects to the PCEFs/BBERFs over this interface.
The following engineering rules apply to the Gx/Gxa interface between the PCEF/BBERF and IPCF:

- A Gx/Gxa interface is created once a Diameter endpoint entity is bound to a PCC-Policy Service and respective dictionary is associated.

Rx Interface Rules

When communciating Application Functions (AFs) the system provides Rx interface support and connects to the AFs over this interface.
The following engineering rules apply to the Rx interface between the AF and IPCF:

- An Rx interface is created once a Diameter endpoint entity is bound to a PCC-AF Service.

Sp Interface Rules

When communciating SSC (SPR) the system provides Sp interface support and connects to the SSC over this interface.
The following engineering rules apply to the Sp interface between the SSC and IPCF:

- An Sp interface is created once a Diameter endpoint entity is bound to a PCC-Sp-Endpoint Service.

Service Engineering Rules

The following engineering rules apply to services configured within the system:

- A maximum of 256 services (regardless of type) can be configured per system.Large numbers of services greatly increase the complexity of management and may impact overall system performance (i.e. resulting from such things as system handoffs). Therefore, it is recommended that a large number of services only be configured if your application absolutely requires it. Please contact your local service representative for more information.