GTP Deployment

GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) is a suite of IP-based communication protocols defined by 3GPP, facilitating General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) across GSM, UMTS, LTE, and 5G networks.

The GTP deployment includes the following capabilities:

• GTP Parsing: Supports both standard GTP packets and GTP packets with a extension header.

• Rule Matching: Enables filtering based on inner headers, including IP addresses, Layer 4 ports, and TEID.

• Symmetric Load Balancing: Supports load balancing on both inner and outer IP headers (IPv4/IPv6).

The following image shows a visual representation of the GTP deployment:

GTP Extension Header Support

Overview

Traditionally, GTP packets contain a standard header that encapsulates user payload or signaling data. However, advanced use cases require GTP extension headers to include additional metadata beyond the standard GTP header.

With this enhancement, the system now supports GTP packets with extension headers (specifically type 0x85) alongside standard GTP packets, ensuring compatibility with evolving network requirements.

Key Details

• Supported Extension Header Type: The system currently supports GTP extension header Type 0x85, which is used to add custom metadata for enhanced network functions.

• Supported Hardware: Available only on NVIDIA Spectrum-2 and later platforms.

Configuration

1. Configure Network/Tool port(s)

2. Enable GTP filtering

3. Configure flow with rules to filter GTP traffic

4. Verify the interfaces

5. Verify the flow