RF5G Traffic Generator vs. 5G Diagnostic Monitor: Key Differences
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This page compares a 5G Traffic Generator with a 5G Diagnostic Monitor, outlining the functional differences and applications of each.
Introduction:
Both tools are essential components of a 5G lab test setup. As illustrated below, a 5G compliant User Equipment (UE) and a Next Generation NodeB (NB) are connected wirelessly using array antennas. Traffic generators are employed to create traffic for both the UE and NB, facilitating the establishment of data connectivity between them. A test application server software complements the 5G traffic generator. The diagnostic monitor, on the other hand, is used to log messages exchanged between the UE and NB for analysis and debugging.
5G Traffic Generator
The following are the functions and applications of a 5G traffic generator:
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Throughput Measurement: Used to measure 5G throughput, providing insights into network performance.
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Test Case Verification: Can be used to verify the operability of other 5G test cases, ensuring the proper functioning of different scenarios.
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Traffic Generation Methods: Traffic can be generated using internal MAC padding or via iPerf.
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iPerf Tool: iPerf is a versatile tool that requires configuration on both the server and client sides. It typically uses the UDP protocol for traffic generation.
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PASS/FAIL Criteria: Measurement of the average data rate (in Mbps) determines whether a test passes or fails based on pre-defined thresholds.
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iPerf Configurations: The following table outlines example iPerf configurations for client/server setups.
| Configurations | Description with value |
|---|---|
| Transport protocol | UDP |
| Packet Size | 1418 bytes (IPv4) and 1300 bytes (IPv6) |
| Transmit time | 65 seconds |
5G Diagnostic Monitor
The following are the functions and applications of a 5G diagnostic monitor:
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Session Capture: The diagnostic monitor captures every test session occurring between the UE and NB, providing a comprehensive record of communication.
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Parameter Logging: It logs various parameters at both the 5G NB side and the 5G UE side, offering detailed insights into network behavior.
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Monitored Parameters: The following table summarizes the key parameters logged by the diagnostic monitor:
| Item | NB side | UE side |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling message | All | All |
| Received signal strength | Strength of Signal from UE | DL RSRP/RSRQ |
| Serving cell information | Cell ID/CP/5GARFCN | Cell ID/CP/5GARFCN |
| xPDSCH or xPUSCH configuration | # of antenna, transmission mode, spatial rank, RB allocation, PMI Index, TB size, modulation scheme | -As mentioned in “5G NB Side” column- |
| Physical Data Throughput | Peak, Average throughput | Peak, Average throughput |
| BLER | Peak, Average throughput | Peak, Average throughput |
| CSI report | CQI/PMI/RI reported from 5G UE | Measured CQI/PMI/RI |
| Beam Information | Scheduled Beam Info. | Beam ID, BSI, BRI |
