Signaling System 7 (SS7) Message Transfer Part 2 (MTP2) - User Adaptation Layer
RFC 3331
| Document | Type | RFC - Proposed Standard (September 2002; Errata) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authors | Brian Bidulock , Ken Morneault , Ram Dantu , Greg Sidebottom , Jacob Heitz | ||
| Last updated | 2015-10-14 | ||
| Stream | Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) | ||
| Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized bibtex | ||
| Stream | WG state | (None) | |
| Document shepherd | No shepherd assigned | ||
| IESG | IESG state | RFC 3331 (Proposed Standard) | |
| Action Holders |
(None)
|
||
| Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
| Telechat date | |||
| Responsible AD | Scott Bradner | ||
| IESG note | Responsible: RFC Editor | ||
| Send notices to | (None) | ||
Network Working Group K. Morneault
Request for Comments: 3331 Cisco Systems
Category: Standards Track R. Dantu
NetRake
G. Sidebottom
Signatus Technologies
B. Bidulock
OpenSS7
J. Heitz
Lucent
September 2002
Signaling System 7 (SS7) Message Transfer Part 2 (MTP2) -
User Adaptation Layer
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2002). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document defines a protocol for the backhauling of Signaling
System 7 Message Transfer Part 2 (SS7 MTP2) User signalling messages
over IP using the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP). This
protocol would be used between a Signalling Gateway (SG) and Media
Gateway Controller (MGC). It is assumed that the SG receives SS7
signalling over a standard SS7 interface using the SS7 Message
Transfer Part (MTP) to provide transport. The Signalling Gateway
would act as a Signalling Link Terminal.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 1]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.............................................. 2
1.1 Scope.................................................. 3
1.2 Terminology............................................ 3
1.3 M2UA Overview.......................................... 5
1.4 Services Provided by the M2UA Adaptation Layer......... 7
1.5 Functions Provided by the M2UA Layer................... 9
1.6 Definition of the M2UA Boundaries..................... 12
2. Conventions.............................................. 16
3. Protocol Elements........................................ 16
3.1 Common Message Header................................. 16
3.2 M2UA Message Header................................... 22
3.3 M2UA Messages......................................... 23
4. Procedures............................................... 58
4.1 Procedures to Support the M2UA-User Layer............. 58
4.2 Receipt of Primitives from the Layer Management....... 59
4.3 AS and ASP State Maintenance.......................... 61
4.4 Link Key Management Procedures........................ 73
5. Examples of MTP2 User Adaptation (M2UA) Procedures....... 75
5.1 Establishment of associations between SGP and MGC..... 75
examples
5.2 ASP Traffic Fail-over Examples........................ 77
5.3 SGP to MGC, MTP Level 2 to MTP Level 3 Boundary
Procedures............................................ 78
6. Timer Values............................................. 85
7. Security Considerations.................................. 85
7.1 Threats................................................ 85
7.2 Protecting Confidentiality............................. 86
8. IANA Considerations...................................... 86
8.1 SCTP Payload Protocol Identifier....................... 86
8.2 M2UA Protocol Extensions............................... 86
9. Acknowledgements......................................... 87
10. References............................................... 88
Appendix A: Signalling Network Architecture.................. 90
Authors' Addresses........................................... 92
Full Copyright Statement..................................... 94
1. Introduction
This document defines a protocol for the backhauling of SS7 [1] MTP2
User [2] [3] [4] (i.e. MTP3) signalling messages over IP using the
Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) [8]. This protocol would
be used between a Signalling Gateway (SG) and Media Gateway
Controller (MGC).
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
1.1 Scope
There is a need for Switched Circuit Network (SCN) signalling
protocol delivery from a Signalling Gateway (SG) to a Media Gateway
Controller (MGC) [9]. The delivery mechanism addresses the following
objectives:
* Support for MTP Level 2 / MTP Level 3 interface boundary
* Support for communication between Layer Management modules on SG
and MGC
* Support for management of SCTP active associations between the SG
and MGC
The SG will terminate up to MTP Level 2 and the MGC will terminate
MTP Level 3 and above. In other words, the SG will transport MTP
Level 3 messages over an IP network to a MGC.
1.2 Terminology
Application Server (AS) - A logical entity serving a specific
application instance. An example of an Application Server is a MGC
handling the MTP Level 3 and call processing for SS7 links terminated
by the Signalling Gateways. Practically speaking, an AS is modeled
at the SG as an ordered list of one or more related Application
Server Processes (e.g., primary, secondary, tertiary, ...).
Application Server Process (ASP) - A process instance of an
Application Server. Examples of Application Server Processes are
active or standby MGC instances.
Association - An association refers to a SCTP association. The
association will provide the transport for the delivery of protocol
data units for one or more interfaces.
Backhaul - Refers to the transport of signalling from the point of
interface for the associated data stream (i.e., SG function in the
MGU) back to the point of call processing (i.e., the MGCU), if this
is not local [9].
Fail-over - The capability to reroute signalling traffic as required
to an alternate Application Server Process within an Application
Server in the event of failure or unavailability of a currently used
Application Server Process. Fail-back MAY apply upon the return to
service of a previously unavailable Application Server Process.
Host - The computing platform that the ASP process is running on.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Interface - For the purposes of this document, an interface is a SS7
signalling link.
Interface Identifier - The Interface Identifier identifies the
physical interface at the SG for which the signalling messages are
sent/received. The format of the Interface Identifier parameter can
be text or integer, the values of which are assigned according to
network operator policy. The values used are of local significance
only, coordinated between the SG and ASP.
Layer Management - Layer Management is a nodal function in an SG or
ASP that handles the inputs and outputs between the M2UA layer and a
local management entity.
Link Key - The link key is a locally unique (between ASP and SG)
value that identifies a registration request for a particular
Signalling Data Link and Signalling Terminal pair.
MTP - The Message Transfer Part of the SS7 protocol
MTP2 - MTP Level 2, the signalling data link layer of SS7
MTP3 - MTP Level 3, the signalling network layer of SS7
MTP2-User - A protocol that uses the services of MTP Level 2 (i.e.
MTP3).
Network Byte Order: Most significant byte first, a.k.a Big Endian.
Signalling Data Link - An SDL refers to a specific communications
facility that connects two Signalling Link Terminals.
Signalling Gateway (SG) - An SG is a signalling agent at the edge of
the IP network. An SG appears to the SS7 as one or more Signalling
Link Terminals that are connected to one or more Signalling Data
Links in the SS7 network. An SG contains a set of one or more unique
Signalling Gateway Processes, on which one or more is normally
actively processing traffic. Where an SG contains more than one SGP,
the SG is a logical entity.
Signalling Gateway Process (SGP) - A process instance that uses M2UA
to communicate to and from a Signalling Link Terminal. It serves as
an active, backup or load-sharing process of a Signalling Gateway.
Signalling Link Terminal (SLT) - Refers to the means of performing
all of the functions defined at MTP level 2 regardless of their
implementation [2,3].
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 4]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Stream - A stream refers to an SCTP stream; a unidirectional logical
channel established from one SCTP endpoint to another associated SCTP
endpoint, within which all user messages are delivered in-sequence
except for those submitted to the unordered delivery service.
1.3 M2UA Overview
The framework architecture that has been defined for SCN signalling
transport over IP [9] uses two components: a signalling common
transport protocol and an adaptation module to support the services
expected by a particular SCN signalling protocol from its underlying
protocol layer.
Within this framework architecture, this document defines a SCN
adaptation module that is suitable for the transport of SS7 MTP2 User
messages. The only SS7 MTP2 User is MTP3. The M2UA uses the
services of the Stream Control Transmission Protocol [8] as the
underlying reliable signalling common transport protocol.
In a Signalling Gateway, it is expected that the SS7 MTP2-User
signalling is transmitted and received from the PSTN over a standard
SS7 network interface, using the SS7 Message Transfer Part Level 1
and Level 2 [2,3,4] to provide reliable transport of the MTP3-User
signalling messages to and from an SS7 Signalling End Point (SEP) or
Signalling Transfer Point (STP). The SG then provides an
interworking of transport functions with the IP transport, in order
to transfer the MTP2-User signalling messages to and from an
Application Server Process where the peer MTP2-User protocol layer
exists.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
1.3.1 Example - SG to MGC
In a Signalling Gateway, it is expected that the SS7 signalling is
received over a standard SS7 network termination, using the SS7
Message Transfer Part (MTP) to provide transport of SS7 signalling
messages to and from an SS7 Signalling End Point (SEP) or SS7
Signalling Transfer Point (STP). In other words, the SG acts as a
Signalling Link Terminal (SLT) [2,3]. The SG then provides an
interworking of transport functions with IP Signalling Transport, in
order to transport the MTP3 signalling messages to the MGC where the
peer MTP3 protocol layer exists, as shown below:
****** SS7 ****** IP *******
*SEP *-----------* SG *-------------* MGC *
****** ****** *******
+----+ +----+
|S7UP| |S7UP|
+----+ +----+
|MTP + |MTP |
| L3 | (NIF) |L3 |
+----+ +----+----+ +----+
|MTP | |MTP |M2UA| |M2UA|
| | | +----+ +----+
|L2 | |L2 |SCTP| |SCTP|
|L1 | |L1 +----+ +----+
| | | |IP | |IP |
+----+ +---------+ +----+
NIF - Nodal Interworking Function
SEP - SS7 Signalling Endpoint
IP - Internet Protocol
SCTP - Stream Control Transmission Protocol (Reference [8])
Figure 1 M2UA in the SG to MGC Application
Note: STPs MAY be present in the SS7 path between the SEP and the SG.
It is recommended that the M2UA use the services of the Stream
Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) [8] as the underlying reliable
common signalling transport protocol. The use of SCTP provides the
following features:
- explicit packet-oriented delivery (not stream-oriented)
- sequenced delivery of user messages within multiple streams, with
an option for order-of-arrival delivery of individual user
messages,
- optional multiplexing of user messages into SCTP datagrams,
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
- network-level fault tolerance through the support of multi-homing
at either or both ends of an association,
- resistance to flooding and masquerade attacks, and
- data segmentation to conform to discovered path MTU size
There are scenarios without redundancy requirements and scenarios in
which redundancy is supported below the transport layer. In these
cases, the SCTP functions above MAY NOT be a requirement and TCP can
be used as the underlying common transport protocol.
1.3.2 ASP Fail-over Model and Terminology
The M2UA layer supports ASP fail-over functions in order to support a
high availability of call and transaction processing capability. All
MTP2-User messages incoming to a SGP from the SS7 network are
assigned to the unique Application Server, based on the Interface
Identifier of the message.
The M2UA layer supports a n+k redundancy model (active-standby, load
sharing, broadcast) where n is the minimum number of redundant ASPs
required to handle traffic and k ASPs are available to take over for
a failed or unavailable ASP. Note that 1+1 active/standby redundancy
is a subset of this model. A simplex 1+0 model is also supported as
a subset, with no ASP redundancy.
1.3.3 Client/Server Model
It is recommended that the SGP and ASP be able to support both client
and server operation. The peer endpoints using M2UA SHOULD be
configured so that one always takes on the role of client and the
other the role of server for initiating SCTP associations. The
default orientation would be for the SGP to take on the role of
server while the ASP is the client. In this case, ASPs SHOULD
initiate the SCTP association to the SGP.
The SCTP and TCP Registered User Port Number Assignment for M2UA is
2904.
1.4 Services Provided by the M2UA Adaptation Layer
The SS7 MTP3/MTP2(MTP2-User) interface is retained at the termination
point in the IP network, so that the M2UA protocol layer is required
to provide the equivalent set of services to its users as provided by
the MTP Level 2 to MTP Level 3.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
1.4.1 Support for MTP Level 2 / MTP Level 3 interface boundary
M2UA supports a MTP Level 2 / MTP Level 3 interface boundary that
enables a seamless, or as seamless as possible, operation of the
MTP2-User peers in the SS7 and IP domains. An example of the
primitives that need to be supported can be found in [10].
1.4.2 Support for communication between Layer Management modules on SG
and MGC
The M2UA layer needs to provide some messages that will facilitate
communication between Layer Management modules on the SG and MGC. To
facilitate reporting of errors that arise because of the backhauling
MTP Level 3 scenario, the following primitive is defined:
M-ERROR
The M-ERROR message is used to indicate an error with a received M2UA
message (e.g., an interface identifier value is not known to the SG).
1.4.3 Support for management of active associations between SG and MGC
The M2UA layer on the SG keeps the state of the configured ASPs. A
set of primitives between M2UA layer and the Layer Management are
defined below to help the Layer Management manage the association(s)
between the SG and the MGC. The M2UA layer can be instructed by the
Layer Management to establish a SCTP association to a peer M2UA node.
This procedure can be achieved using the M-SCTP ESTABLISH primitive.
M-SCTP_ESTABLISH
The M-SCTP_ESTABLISH primitive is used to request, indicate and
confirm the establishment of a SCTP association to a peer M2UA node.
M-SCTP_RELEASE
The M-SCTP_RELEASE primitives are used to request, indicate, and
confirm the release of a SCTP association to a peer M2UA node.
The M2UA layer MAY also need to inform the status of the SCTP
association(s) to the Layer Management. This can be achieved using
the following primitive.
M-SCTP_STATUS
The M-SCTP_STATUS primitive is used to request and indicate the
status of underlying SCTP association(s).
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The Layer Management MAY need to inform the M2UA layer of an AS/ASP
status (i.e., failure, active, etc.), so that messages can be
exchanged between M2UA layer peers to stop traffic to the local M2UA
user. This can be achieved using the following primitive.
M-ASP_STATUS
The ASP status is stored inside the M2UA layer on both the SG and MGC
sides. The M-ASP_STATUS primitive can be used by Layer Management to
request the status of the Application Server Process from the M2UA
layer. This primitive can also be used to indicate the status of the
Application Server Process.
M-ASP_MODIFY
The M-ASP_MODIFY primitive can be used by Layer Management to modify
the status of the Application Server Process. In other words, the
Layer Management on the ASP side uses this primitive to initiate the
ASPM procedures.
M-AS_STATUS
The M-AS_STATUS primitive can be used by Layer Management to request
the status of the Application Server. This primitive can also be
used to indicate the status of the Application Server.
1.5 Functions Provided by the M2UA Layer
1.5.1 Mapping
The M2UA layer MUST maintain a map of an Interface ID to a physical
interface on the Signalling Gateway. A physical interface would be a
V.35 line, T1 line/time slot, E1 line/time slot, etc. The M2UA layer
MUST also maintain a map of the Interface Identifier to SCTP
association and to the related stream within the association.
The SGP maps an Interface Identifier to an SCTP association/stream
only when an ASP sends an ASP Active message for a particular
Interface Identifier. It must be noted, however, that this mapping
is dynamic and could change at any time due to a change of ASP state.
This mapping could even temporarily be invalid, for example during
fail-over of one ASP to another. Therefore, the SGP MUST maintain
the states of AS/ASP and reference them during the routing of any
messages to an AS/ASP.
Note that only one SGP SHOULD provide Signalling Link Terminal
services to an SS7 link. Therefore, within an SG, an Application
Server SHOULD be active for only one SGP at any given point in time.
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An example of the logical view of the relationship between an SS7
link, Interface Identifier, AS and ASP in an SGP is shown below:
/-------------------------------------------------+
/ /----------------------------------------------|--+
/ / v |
/ / +----+ act+-----+ +-------+ -+--+|-+-
SS7 link1-------->|IID |-+ +-->| ASP |-->| Assoc | v
/ +----+ | +----+ | +-----+ +-------+ -+--+--+-
/ +->| AS |--+ Streams
/ +----+ | +----+ stb+-----+
SS7 link2-------->|IID |-+ | ASP |
+----+ +-----+
where IID = Interface Identifier
A SGP MAY support more than one AS. An AS MAY support more than one
Interface Identifier.
1.5.2 Support for the management of SCTP associations between the SGPs
and ASPs
The M2UA layer at the SG maintains the availability state of all
configured ASPs, in order to manage the SCTP associations and the
traffic between the SG and ASPs. As well, the active/inactive state
of remote ASP(s) are also maintained. The Active ASP(s) are the
one(s) currently receiving traffic from the SG.
The M2UA layer MAY be instructed by local management to establish an
SCTP association to a peer M2UA node. This can be achieved using the
M-SCTP_ESTABLISH primitive to request, indicate and confirm the
establishment of an SCTP association with a peer M2UA node.
The M2UA layer MAY also need to inform local management of the status
of the underlying SCTP associations using the M-SCTP_STATUS request
and the indication primitive. For example, the M2UA MAY inform local
management of the reason for the release of an SCTP association,
determined either locally within the M2UA layer or by a primitive
from the SCTP.
Also the M2UA layer may need to inform the local management of the
change in status of an ASP or AS. This may be achieved using the M-
ASP STATUS request or M-AS_STATUS request primitives.
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1.5.3 Status of ASPs
The M2UA layer on the SG MUST maintain the state of the ASPs it is
supporting. The state of an ASP changes because of the reception of
peer-to-peer messages (ASPM messages as described in Section 3.3.2)
or the reception of indications from the local SCTP association. The
ASP state transition procedures are described in Section 4.3.1.
At a SGP, an Application Server list MAY contain active and inactive
ASPs to support ASP fail-over procedures. When, for example, both a
primary and a backup ASP are available, the M2UA peer protocol is
required to control which ASP is currently active. The ordered list
of ASPs within a logical Application Server is kept updated in the
SGP to reflect the active Application Server Process.
Also the M2UA layer MAY need to inform the local management of the
change in status of an ASP or AS. This can be achieved using the M-
ASP_STATUS or M-AS_STATUS primitives.
1.5.4 SCTP Specifics
1.5.4.1 SCTP Stream Management
SCTP allows a user specified number of streams to be opened during
initialization of the association. It is the responsibility of the
M2UA layer to ensure proper management of these streams. Because of
the unidirectional nature of streams, a M2UA layer is not aware of
the stream information from its peer M2UA layer. For this reason,
the Interface Identifier is in the M2UA message header.
The use of SCTP streams within M2UA is recommended in order to
minimize transmission and buffering delay, thereby, improving the
overall performance and reliability of the signalling elements. A
separate SCTP stream can be used for each SS7 link. Or, an
implementation may choose to split the SS7 link across several
streams based on SLS. This method may be of particular interest for
high speed SS7 links (MTP3b) since high speed links have a 24-bit
sequence number and the stream sequence number is 16-bits.
SCTP Stream '0' SHOULD NOT be used for MTP2 User Adaptation (MAUP)
messages (see Section 3) since stream '0' SHOULD only be used for ASP
Management (ASPM) messages (see Section 4.3.3).
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1.5.5 Seamless SS7 Network Management Interworking
The M2UA layer on the SGP SHOULD pass an indication of unavailability
of the M2UA-User (MTP3) to the local Layer Management, if the
currently active ASP moves from the ACTIVE state. The actions taken
by M2UA on the SGP with regards to MTP Level 2 should be in
accordance with the appropriate MTP specifications.
1.5.6 Flow Control / Congestion
It is possible for the M2UA layer to be informed of the IP network
congestion onset and abatement by means of an implementation
dependent function (i.e. an indication from the SCTP). The handling
of this congestion indication by M2UA is implementation dependent.
However, the actions taken by the SG should be in accordance with the
appropriate MTP specification and should enable SS7 functionality
(e.g. flow control) to be correctly maintained.
1.5.7 Audit of SS7 Link State
After a fail-over of one ASP to another ASP, it may be necessary for
the M2UA on the ASP to audit the current SS7 link state to ensure
consistency. The M2UA on the SGP would respond to the audit request
with information regarding the current state of the SS7 link (i.e.
in-service, out-of-service, congestion state, LPO/RPO state).
1.6 Definition of the M2UA Boundaries
1.6.1 Definition of the M2UA / MTP Level 3 boundary
DATA
ESTABLISH
RELEASE
STATE
DATA RETRIEVAL
DATA RETRIEVAL COMPLETE
1.6.2 Definition of the M2UA / MTP Level 2 boundary
DATA
ESTABLISH
RELEASE
STATE
DATA RETRIEVAL
DATA RETRIEVAL COMPLETE
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1.6.3 Definition of the Lower Layer Boundary between M2UA and SCTP
The upper layer and layer management primitives provided by SCTP are
provided in Reference [8] Section 10.
1.6.4 Definition of Layer Management / M2UA Boundary
M-SCTP_ESTABLISH request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to establish an SCTP association with an
SGP.
M-SCTP_ESTABLISH confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP confirms to LM that it has established an
SCTP association with an SGP.
M-SCTP_ESTABLISH indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: SGP informs LM that an ASP has established an SCTP
association.
M-SCTP_RELEASE request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to release an SCTP association with SGP.
M-SCTP_RELEASE confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP confirms to LM that it has released SCTP association
with SGP.
M-SCTP_RELEASE indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: SGP informs LM that ASP has released an SCTP association.
M-SCTP_RESTART indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: M2UA informs LM that a SCTP Restart indication has
been received.
M-SCTP_STATUS request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests M2UA to report status of SCTP association.
M-SCTP_STATUS indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: M2UA reports status of SCTP association.
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M-ASP_STATUS request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests SGP to report status of remote ASP.
M-ASP_STATUS indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: SGP reports status of remote ASP.
M-AS_STATUS request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests SG to report status of AS.
M-AS_STATUS indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: SG reports status of AS.
M-NOTIFY indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP reports that it has received a NOTIFY message
from its peer.
M-ERROR indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP or SGP reports that it has received an ERROR
message from its peer.
M-ASP_UP request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to start its operation and send an ASP UP
message to the SGP.
M-ASP_UP confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP reports that it has received an ASP UP Acknowledgment
message from the SGP.
M-ASP_DOWN request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to stop its operation and send an ASP DOWN
message to the SGP.
M-ASP_DOWN confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP reports that is has received an ASP DOWN Acknowledgment
message from the SGP.
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M-ASP_ACTIVE request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to send an ASP ACTIVE message to the SGP.
M-ASP_ACTIVE confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP reports that is has received an ASP ACTIVE
Acknowledgment message from the SGP.
M-ASP_INACTIVE request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to send an ASP INACTIVE message to the SGP.
M-ASP_INACTIVE confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP reports that is has received an ASP INACTIVE
Acknowledgment message from the SGP.
M-LINK_KEY_REG Request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to register Link Key with SG by sending REG
REQ message.
M-LINK_KEY_REG Confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP reports to LM that it has successfully received a REG
RSP message from SG.
M-LINK_KEY_REG Indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: SG reports to LM that it has successfully processed an
incoming REG REQ message from ASP.
M-LINK_KEY_DEREG Request
Direction: LM -> M2UA
Purpose: LM requests ASP to de-register Link Key with SG by sending
DEREG REQ message.
M-LINK_KEY_DEREG Confirm
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: ASP reports to LM that it has successfully received a
DEREG RSP message from SG.
M-LINK_KEY_DEREG Indication
Direction: M2UA -> LM
Purpose: SG reports to LM that it has successfully processed an
incoming DEREG REQ message from ASP.
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2.0 Conventions
The keywords MUST, MUST NOT, REQUIRED, SHALL, SHALL NOT, SHOULD,
SHOULD NOT, RECOMMENDED, NOT RECOMMENDED, MAY, and OPTIONAL, when
they appear in this document, are to be interpreted as described in
[RFC2119].
3.0 Protocol Elements
This section describes the format of various messages used in this
protocol.
3.1 Common Message Header
The protocol messages for MTP2-User Adaptation require a message
structure that contains a version, message class, message type,
message length, and message contents. This message header is common
among all signalling protocol adaptation layers:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Version | Spare | Message Class | Message Type |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Message Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Figure 2 Common Message Header
All fields in an M2UA message MUST be transmitted in the network byte
order, unless otherwise stated.
3.1.1 Version
The version field contains the version of the M2UA adaptation layer.
The supported versions are:
Value Version
----- -------
1 Release 1.0
3.1.2 Spare
The Spare field is 8-bits. It SHOULD be set to all '0's by the
sender and ignored by the receiver.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.1.3 Message Class
The following List contains the valid Message Classes:
Message Class: 8 bits (unsigned integer)
0 Management (MGMT) Message [IUA/M2UA/M3UA/SUA]
1 Transfer Messages [M3UA]
2 SS7 Signalling Network Management (SSNM) Messages [M3UA/SUA]
3 ASP State Maintenance (ASPSM) Messages [IUA/M2UA/M3UA/SUA]
4 ASP Traffic Maintenance (ASPTM) Messages [IUA/M2UA/M3UA/SUA]
5 Q.921/Q.931 Boundary Primitives Transport (QPTM)
Messages [IUA]
6 MTP2 User Adaptation (MAUP) Messages [M2UA]
7 Connectionless Messages [SUA]
8 Connection-Oriented Messages [SUA]
9 Routing Key Management (RKM) Messages (M3UA)
10 Interface Identifier Management (IIM) Messages (M2UA)
11 to 127 Reserved by the IETF
128 to 255 Reserved for IETF-Defined Message Class extensions
3.1.4 Message Type
The following List contains the Message Types for the valid Message
Classes:
MTP2 User Adaptation (MAUP) Messages
0 Reserved
1 Data
2 Establish Request
3 Establish Confirm
4 Release Request
5 Release Confirm
6 Release Indication
7 State Request
8 State Confirm
9 State Indication
10 Data Retrieval Request
11 Data Retrieval Confirm
12 Data Retrieval Indication
13 Data Retrieval Complete Indication
14 Congestion Indication
15 Data Acknowledge
16 to 127 Reserved by the IETF
128 to 255 Reserved for IETF-Defined MAUP extensions
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Application Server Process State Maintenance (ASPSM) messages
0 Reserved
1 ASP Up (UP)
2 ASP Down (DOWN)
3 Heartbeat (BEAT)
4 ASP Up Ack (UP ACK)
5 ASP Down Ack (DOWN ACK)
6 Heartbeat Ack (BEAT ACK)
7 to 127 Reserved by the IETF
128 to 255 Reserved for IETF-Defined ASPSM extensions
Application Server Process Traffic Maintenance (ASPTM) messages
0 Reserved
1 ASP Active (ACTIVE)
2 ASP Inactive (INACTIVE)
3 ASP Active Ack (ACTIVE ACK)
4 ASP Inactive Ack (INACTIVE ACK)
5 to 127 Reserved by the IETF
128 to 255 Reserved for IETF-Defined ASPTM extensions
Management (MGMT) Messages
0 Error (ERR)
1 Notify (NTFY)
2 to 127 Reserved by the IETF
128 to 255 Reserved for IETF-Defined MGMT extensions
Interface Identifier Management (IIM) Messages
0 Reserved
1 Registration Request (REG REQ)
2 Registration Response (REG RSP)
3 Deregistration Request (DEREG REQ)
4 Deregistration Response (DEREG RSP)
5 to 127 Reserved by the IETF
128 to 255 Reserved for IETF-Defined IIM extensions
3.1.5 Message Length
The Message Length defines the length of the message in octets,
including the header. The Message Length MUST include parameter
padding bytes, if any. The Message Length MUST NOT be longer than a
MTP3 message [2,3,4,5] plus the length of the common and M2UA message
headers.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.1.6 Variable-Length Parameter Format
M2UA messages consist of a Common Header followed by zero or more
variable-length parameters, as defined by the message type. The
variable-length parameters contained in a message are defined in a
Tag-Length-Value format as shown below.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Parameter Tag | Parameter Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ Parameter Value /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Mandatory parameters MUST be placed before optional parameters in a
message.
Parameter Tag: 16 bits (unsigned integer)
The Type field is a 16 bit identifier of the type of parameter. It
takes a value of 0 to 65534. The common parameters used by the
adaptation layers are in the range of 0x00 to 0xff. The M2UA
specific parameters have Tags in the range 0x300 to 0x3ff.
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The common parameter tags (used by all User Adaptation layers) that
M2UA uses are defined below:
Parameter Value Parameter Name
--------------- --------------
0 (0x00) Reserved
1 (0x01) Interface Identifier (Integer)
2 (0x02) Unused
3 (0x03) Interface Identifier (Text)
4 (0x04) Info String
5 (0x05) Unused
6 (0x06) Unused
7 (0x07) Diagnostic Information
8 (0x08) Interface Identifier (Integer Range)
9 (0x09) Heartbeat Data
10 (0x0a) Unused
11 (0x0b) Traffic Mode Type
12 (0x0c) Error Code
13 (0x0d) Status Type/Information
14 (0x0e) Unused
15 (0x0f) Unused
16 (0x10) Unused
17 (0x11) ASP Identifier
18 (0x12) Unused
19 (0x13) Correlation Id
18-255 Reserved
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The M2UA specific parameter Tags defined are as follows:
Parameter Value Parameter Name
--------------- --------------
768 (0x0300) Protocol Data 1
769 (0x0301) Protocol Data 2 (TTC)
770 (0x0302) State Request
771 (0x0303) State Event
772 (0x0304) Congestion Status
773 (0x0305) Discard Status
774 (0x0306) Action
775 (0x0307) Sequence Number
776 (0x0308) Retrieval Result
777 (0x0309) Link Key
778 (0x030a) Local-LK-Identifier
779 (0x030b) Signalling Data Terminal (SDT) Identifier
780 (0x030c) Signalling Data Link (SDL) Identifier
781 (0x030d) Registration Result
782 (0x030e) Registration Status
783 (0x030f) De-Registration Result
784 (0x0310) De-Registration Status
Parameter Length: 16 bits (unsigned integer)
The Parameter Length field contains the size of the parameter in
bytes, including the Parameter Tag, Parameter Length, and Parameter
Value fields. Thus, a parameter with a zero-length Parameter Value
field would have a Length field of 4. The Parameter Length does not
include any padding bytes.
Parameter Value: variable-length.
The Parameter Value field contains the actual information to be
transferred in the parameter.
The total length of a parameter (including Tag, Parameter Length and
Value fields) MUST be a multiple of 4 bytes. If the length of the
parameter is not a multiple of 4 bytes, the sender pads the Parameter
at the end (i.e., after the Parameter Value field) with all zero
bytes. The length of the padding is NOT included in the parameter
length field. A sender MUST NOT pad with more than 3 bytes. The
receiver MUST ignore the padding bytes.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.2 M2UA Message Header
In addition to the common message header, there will be a M2UA
specific message header. The M2UA specific message header will
immediately follow the common message header, but will only be used
with MAUP messages.
This message header will contain the Interface Identifier. The
Interface Identifier identifies the physical interface at the SG for
which the signalling messages are sent/received. The format of the
Interface Identifier parameter can be text or integer, the values of
which are assigned according to network operator policy. The values
used are of local significance only, coordinated between the SG and
ASP.
The integer formatted Interface Identifier MUST be supported. The
text formatted Interface Identifier MAY optionally be supported.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x1) | Length=8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier (integer) |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Figure 3 M2UA Message Header (Integer-based Interface Identifier)
The Tag value for the Integer-based Interface Identifier is 0x1. The
length is always set to a value of 8.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x3) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifier (text) /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Figure 4 M2UA Message Header (Text-based Interface Identifier)
The Tag value for the Text-based Interface Identifier is 0x3. The
encoding of the Identifier is ANSI X3.4-1986 [7]. The maximum string
length of the text-based Interface Identifier is 255 octets. The tag
length is equal to the string length of the Interface Identifier name
plus four bytes for the Tag and Length fields.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.3 M2UA Messages
The following section defines the messages and parameter contents.
The M2UA messages will use the common message header (Figure 2) and
the M2UA message header (Figure 3 and Figure 4).
3.3.1 MTP2 User Adaptation Messages
3.3.1.1 Data
The Data message contains an SS7 MTP2-User Protocol Data Unit (PDU).
The Data message contains the following parameter:
Protocol Data (mandatory)
Correlation Id (optional)
The format for the Data Message parameters is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x300) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Protocol Data /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x13) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Correlation Id |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The Protocol Data field contains the MTP2-User application message in
network byte order starting with the Signalling Information Octet
(SIO). The Correlation Id parameter uniquely identifies the MSU
carried in the Protocol Data within an AS. This Correlation Id
parameter is assigned by the sending M2UA. The purpose of the
Correlation Id is to permit the newly active ASP to synchronize its
processing of the traffic in each ordered stream with other ASPs in
the broadcast group.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for a Data Message with TTC PDU parameters is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x301) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ TTC Protocol Data /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x13) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Correlation Id |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The Protocol Data field contains the MTP2-User application message in
network byte order starting with the Length Indicator (LI) octet.
The Japanese TTC variant uses the spare bits of the LI octet for
priority.
The length of the Protocol Data and TTC Protocol Data MUST NOT exceed
the length of a MTP2-User application message [2,3,5].
3.3.1.2 Data Acknowledge Message
The Data Acknowledge message contains the Correlation Id of the Data
message that the sending M2UA is acknowledging as successfully
processed to the peer M2UA.
The Data Acknowledge message contains the following parameter:
Correlation Id Mandatory
The following format MUST be used for the Data Ack Message:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x13) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Correlation Id |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The Correlation Id parameter of the Data message and the Data Ack
message provide a mechanism, for those SG implementations capable of
taking advantage of them, to obtain an acknowledgment that the MSU
has been transferred to the M2UA peer before acknowledging the MSU to
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 24]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
the SS7 peer, removing the risk of losing messages due to association
failure or SCTP congestion.
The Data Ack message MUST be sent if a Correlation Id parameter is
received from the peer. Otherwise, the Data Ack message MUST NOT be
sent.
If the Data Acknowledge is not sent for Correlation Id(s) or is sent
with Invalid Correlation Id(s), the SS7 link will eventually fail due
to lack of MTP Level 2 acknowledgments of the SS7 peer's MSUs.
3.3.1.3 Establish (Request, Confirmation)
The Establish Request message is used to establish the SS7 link or to
indicate that the channel has been established. The MGC controls the
state of the SS7 link. When the MGC desires the SS7 link to be in-
service, it will send the Establish Request message. Note that the
SGP MAY already have the SS7 link established at its layer. If so,
upon receipt of an Establish Request, the SGP takes no action except
to send an Establish Confirm.
When the MGC sends an M2UA Establish Request message, the MGC MAY
start a timer. This timer would be stopped upon receipt of an M2UA
Establish Confirm. If the timer expires, the MGC would resend the
M2UA Establish Request message and restart the timer. In other
words, the MGC MAY continue to request the establishment of the data
link on a periodic basis until the desired state is achieved or some
other action is taken (notify the Management Layer).
The mode (Normal or Emergency) for bringing the SS7 link in service
is defaulted to Normal. The State Request (described in Section
3.3.1.5 below) can be used to change the mode to Emergency.
3.3.1.4 Release (Request, Indication, Confirmation)
This Release Request message is used to release the channel. The
Release Confirm and Indication messages are used to indicate that the
channel has been released.
3.3.1.5 State Request
The State Request message can be sent from a MGC to cause an action
on a particular SS7 link supported by the Signalling Gateway Process.
The SGP sends a State Confirm to the MGC if the action has been
successfully completed. The State Confirm reflects that state value
received in the State Request message.
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The State Request message contains the following parameter:
State (mandatory)
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x302) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| State |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The valid values for State are shown in the following table.
Define Value Description
STATUS_LPO_SET 0x0 Request local processor outage
STATUS_LPO_CLEAR 0x1 Request local processor outage
recovered
STATUS_EMER_SET 0x2 Request emergency alignment
STATUS_EMER_CLEAR 0x3 Request normal alignment (cancel
emergency)
STATUS_FLUSH_BUFFERS 0x4 Flush or clear receive, transmit
and retransmit queues
STATUS_CONTINUE 0x5 Continue or Resume
STATUS_CLEAR_RTB 0x6 Clear the retransmit queue
STATUS_AUDIT 0x7 Audit state of link
STATUS_CONG_CLEAR 0x8 Congestion cleared
STATUS_CONG_ACCEPT 0x9 Congestion accept
STATUS_CONG_DISCARD 0xa Congestion discard
3.3.1.6 State Confirm
The State Confirm message will be sent by the SGP in response to a
State Request from the MGC. The State Confirm reflects that state
value received in the State Request message.
The State Confirm message contains the following parameter:
State (mandatory)
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x302) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| State |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
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The valid values for State are shown in the following table. The
value of the State field SHOULD reflect the value received in the
State Request message.
Define Value Description
STATUS_LPO_SET 0x0 Request local processor outage
STATUS_LPO_CLEAR 0x1 Request local processor outage
recovered
STATUS_EMER_SET 0x2 Request emergency alignment
STATUS_EMER_CLEAR 0x3 Request normal alignment (cancel
emergency)
STATUS_FLUSH_BUFFERS 0x4 Flush or clear receive, transmit
and retransmit queues
STATUS_CONTINUE 0x5 Continue or Resume
STATUS_CLEAR_RTB 0x6 Clear the retransmit queue
STATUS_AUDIT 0x7 Audit state of link
STATUS_CONG_CLEAR 0x8 Congestion cleared
STATUS_CONG_ACCEPT 0x9 Congestion accept
STATUS_CONG_DISCARD 0xa Congestion discard
3.3.1.7 State Indication
The MTP2 State Indication message can be sent from a SGP to an ASP to
indicate a condition on a SS7 link.
The State Indication message contains the following parameter:
Event (mandatory)
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x303) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Event |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The valid values for Event are shown in the following table.
Define Value Description
EVENT_RPO_ENTER 0x1 Remote entered processor outage
EVENT_RPO_EXIT 0x2 Remote exited processor outage
EVENT_LPO_ENTER 0x3 Link entered processor outage
EVENT_LPO_EXIT 0x4 Link exited processor outage
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3.3.1.8 Congestion Indication
The Congestion Indication message can be sent from a Signalling
Gateway Process to an ASP to indicate the congestion status and
discard status of a SS7 link. When the MSU buffer fill increases
above an Onset threshold or decreases below an Abatement threshold or
crosses a Discard threshold in either direction, the SGP SHALL send a
congestion indication message when it supports SS7 MTP2 variants that
support multiple congestion levels.
The SGP SHALL send the message only when there is actually a change
in either the discard level or the congestion level to report,
meaning it is different from the previously sent message. In
addition, the SGP SHALL use an implementation dependent algorithm to
limit the frequency of congestion indication messages.
An implementation may optionally send Congestion Indication messages
on a "high priority" stream in order to potentially reduce delay.
The Congestion Indication message contains the following parameters:
Congestion Status (mandatory)
Discard Status (optional)
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x304) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Congestion Status |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x305) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Discard Status |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The valid values for Congestion Status and Discard Status are shown
in the following table.
Define Value Description
LEVEL_NONE 0x0 No congestion
LEVEL_1 0x1 Congestion Level 1
LEVEL_2 0x2 Congestion Level 2
LEVEL_3 0x3 Congestion Level 3
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
For SS7 networks that do not support multiple levels of congestion,
only the LEVEL_NONE and LEVEL_3 values will be used. For SS7
networks that support multiple levels of congestion, it is possible
for all values to be used. Refer to [2], [3] and [12] for more
details on the Congestion and Discard Status of SS7 signalling links.
3.3.1.9 Retrieval Request
The MTP2 Retrieval Request message is used during the MTP Level 3
changeover procedure to request the BSN, to retrieve PDUs from the
transmit and retransmit queues or to flush PDUs from the retransmit
queue. Examples of the use of Retrieval Request for SS7 Link
Changeover are provided in Section 5.3.6.
The Retrieval Request message contains the following parameters:
Action (mandatory)
Sequence Number (optional)
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x306) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Action |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x307) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Sequence Number |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The valid values for Action are shown in the following table.
Define Value Description
ACTION_RTRV_BSN 0x1 Retrieve the backward sequence number
ACTION_RTRV_MSGS 0x2 Retrieve the PDUs from the transmit
and retransmit queues
In the Retrieval Request message, the Sequence Number field SHOULD
NOT be present if the Action field is ACTION_RTRV_BSN. The Sequence
Number field contains the Forward Sequence Number (FSN) of the far
end if the Action is ACTION_RTRV_MSGS.
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3.3.1.10 Retrieval Confirm
The MTP2 Retrieval Confirm message is sent by the Signalling Gateway
in response to a Retrieval Request message. Examples of the use of
the Retrieval Confirm for SS7 Link Changeover are provided in Section
5.3.6.
The Retrieval Confirm message contains the following parameters:
Action (mandatory)
Result (mandatory)
Sequence Number (optional)
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x306) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Action |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x308) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Result |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x307) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Sequence Number |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The valid values for Action are the same as in Retrieval Request.
The values for Result are shown below:
Define Value Description
RESULT_SUCCESS 0x0 Action successful
RESULT_FAILURE 0x1 Action failed
When the Signalling Gateway Process sends a Retrieval Confirm to a
Retrieval Request, it echos the Action field. If the Action was
ACTION_RTRV_BSN and the SGP successfully retrieved the BSN, the SGP
will put the Backward Sequence Number (BSN) in the Sequence Number
field and will indicate a success in the Result field. If the BSN
could not be retrieved, the Sequence Number field will not be
included and the Result field will indicate failure.
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For a Retrieval Confirm with Action of ACTION_RTRV_MSGS, the value of
the Result field will indicate success or failure. A failure means
that the buffers could not be retrieved. The Sequence Number field
is not used with ACTION_RTRV_MSGS.
3.3.1.11 Retrieval Indication
The Retrieval Indication message is sent by the Signalling Gateway
with a PDU from the transmit or retransmit queue. The Retrieval
Indication message does not contain the Action or Sequence Number
fields, just a MTP3 Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from the transmit or
retransmit queue. Examples of the use of the Retrieval Indication
for SS7 Link Changeover are provided in Section 5.3.6.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x300) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Protocol Data /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
For TTC Data messages, the following parameter will be used to
indicate a TTC PDU which starts at LI.
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x301) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ TTC Protocol Data /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The M2UA implementation MAY consider the use of the bundling feature
of SCTP for Retrieval Indication messages.
3.3.1.12 Retrieval Complete Indication
The MTP2 Retrieval Complete Indication message is exactly the same as
the MTP2 Retrieval Indication message except that it also indicates
that retrieval is complete. In addition, it MAY contain a PDU (which
MUST be the last PDU) from the transmit or retransmit queue.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.3.2 Application Server Process Maintenance (ASPM) Messages
The ASPM messages will only use the common message header.
3.3.2.1 ASP Up (ASPUP)
The ASP Up (ASPUP) message is used to indicate to a remote M2UA peer
that the Adaptation layer is ready to receive traffic or maintenance
messages.
The ASPUP message contains the following parameters
ASP Identifier (optional)
Info String (optional)
Note: The ASP Identifier MUST be used where the SGP cannot
identify the ASP by pre-configured address/port number
information (e.g., where an ASP is resident on a Host using
dynamic address/port number assignment).
The format for ASPUP Message parameters is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x11) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| ASP Identifier* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The optional ASP Identifier parameter would contain a unique value
that is locally significant among the ASPs that support an AS. The
SGP should save the ASP Identifier to be used, if necessary, with the
Notify message (see Section 3.3.3.2).
The optional INFO String parameter can carry any meaningful UTF-8 [6]
character string along with the message. Length of the INFO String
parameter is from 0 to 255 octets. No procedures are presently
identified for its use but the INFO String MAY be used for debugging
purposes.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 32]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.3.2.2 ASP Up Ack
The ASP Up Ack message is used to acknowledge an ASP Up message
received from a remote M2UA peer.
The ASPUP Ack message contains the following parameters:
INFO String (optional)
The format for ASPUP Ack Message parameters is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP UP message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
3.3.2.3 ASP Down (ASPDN)
The ASP Down (ASPDN) message is used to indicate to a remote M2UA
peer that the adaptation layer is not ready to receive traffic or
maintenance messages.
The ASPDN message contains the following parameters
INFO String (optional)
The format for the ASPDN message parameters is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP Up message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 33]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.3.2.4 ASP Down Ack
The ASP Down Ack message is used to acknowledge an ASP Down message
received from a remote M2UA peer.
The ASP Down Ack message contains the following parameters:
INFO String (optional)
The format for the ASPDN Ack message parameters is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP UP message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
3.3.2.5 Heartbeat (BEAT)
The Heartbeat message is optionally used to ensure that the M2UA
peers are still available to each other.
The BEAT message contains the following parameter:
Heartbeat Data Optional
The format for the BEAT message is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x0009 | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ Heartbeat Data /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The sending node defines the Heartbeat Data field contents. It may
include a Heartbeat Sequence Number and/or time stamp, or other
implementation specific details.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 34]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The receiver of a Heartbeat message does not process this field as it
is only of significance to the sender. The receiver echoes the
content of the Heartbeat Data in a BEAT ACK message.
3.3.2.6 Heartbeat Ack (BEAT ACK)
The Heartbeat ACK message is sent in response to a BEAT message. A
peer MUST send a BEAT ACK in response to a BEAT message. It includes
all the parameters of the received Heartbeat message, without any
change.
The BEAT ACK message contains the following parameter:
Heartbeat Data Optional
The format for the BEAT ACK message is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x0009 | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ Heartbeat Data /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The sending node defines the Heartbeat Data field contents. It may
include a Heartbeat Sequence Number and/or time stamp, or other
implementation specific details.
The receiver of a Heartbeat message does not process this field as it
is only of significance to the sender. The receiver echoes the
content of the Heartbeat Data in a BEAT ACK message.
3.3.2.7 ASP Active (ASPAC)
The ASPAC message is sent by an ASP to indicate to an SGP that it is
Active and ready to be used.
The ASPAC message contains the following parameters:
Traffic Mode Type (optional)
Interface Identifier (optional)
- Combination of integer and integer ranges, OR
- string (text formatted)
INFO String (optional)
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 35]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the ASPAC message using integer formatted Interface
Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0xb) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Traffic Mode Type |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x1=integer) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifiers* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x8=integer range) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
. .
. .
. .
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StartN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StopN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x1 or 0x8 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 36]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the ASPAC message using text formatted (string)
Interface Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0xb) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Traffic Mode Type |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x3=string) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifier* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x3 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The Traffic Mode Type parameter identifies the traffic mode of
operation of the ASP within an AS. The valid values for Type are
shown in the following table:
Value Description
0x1 Override
0x2 Load-share
0x3 Broadcast
Within a particular AS, only one Traffic Mode Type can be used. The
Override value indicates that the ASP is operating in Override mode,
where the ASP takes over all traffic in an Application Server (i.e.,
primary/backup operation), over-riding any currently active ASPs in
the AS. In Load-share mode, the ASP will share in the traffic
distribution with any other currently active ASPs. In Broadcast
mode, all of the Active ASPs receive all message traffic in the
Application Server.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 37]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The optional Interface Identifiers parameter contains a list of
Interface Identifier integers (Type 0x1 or Type 0x8) or text strings
(Type 0x3)indexing the Application Server traffic that the sending
ASP is configured/registered to receive. If integer formatted
Interface Identifiers are being used, the ASP can also send ranges of
Interface Identifiers (Type 0x8). Interface Identifier types Integer
(0x1) and Integer Range (0x8) are allowed in the same message. Text
formatted Interface Identifiers (0x3) cannot be used with either
Integer (0x1) or Integer Range (0x8) types.
If no Interface Identifiers are included, the message is for all
provisioned Interface Identifiers within the AS(s) in which the ASP
is provisioned. If only a subset of Interface Identifiers for an AS
are included, the ASP is noted as Active for all the Interface
Identifiers provisioned for that AS.
Note: If the optional Interface Identifier parameter is present, the
integer formatted Interface Identifier MUST be supported, while
the text formatted Interface Identifier MAY be supported.
An SGP that receives an ASPAC with an incorrect or unsupported
Traffic Mode Type for a particular Interface Identifier will respond
with an Error Message (Cause: Unsupported Traffic Handling Mode).
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP UP message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
3.3.2.8 ASP Active Ack
The ASP Active (ASPAC) Ack message is used to acknowledge an ASP
Active message received from a remote M2UA peer.
The ASPAC Ack message contains the following parameters:
Traffic Mode Type (optional)
Interface Identifier (optional)
- Combination of integer and integer ranges, OR
- string (text formatted)
INFO String (optional)
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 38]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the ASPAC Ack message with Integer-formatted Interface
Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0xb) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Traffic Mode Type |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x1=integer) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifiers* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x8=integer range) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
. .
. .
. .
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StartN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StopN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x1 or 0x8 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 39]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the ASP Active Ack message using text formatted
(string) Interface Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0xb) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Traffic Mode Type |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x3=string) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifier* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x3 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP Up message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
The format of the optional Interface Identifier parameter is the same
as for the ASP Active message (See Section 3.3.2.7).
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP Up message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
3.3.2.9 ASP Inactive (ASPIA)
The ASP Inactive (ASPIA) message is sent by an ASP to indicate to an
SGP that it is no longer an active ASP to be used from within a list
of ASPs. The SGP will respond with an ASPIA Ack message and either
discard incoming messages or buffer for a timed period and then
discard.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 40]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The ASPIA message contains the following parameters:
Interface Identifiers (optional)
- Combination of integer and integer ranges, OR
- string (text formatted)
INFO String (optional)
The format for the ASP Inactive message parameters using Integer
formatted Interface Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x1=integer) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifiers* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x8=integer range) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
. .
. .
. .
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StartN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StopN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x1 or 0x8 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 41]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the ASP Inactive message using text formatted (string)
Interface Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x3=string) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifier* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x3 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The format of the optional Interface Identifier parameter is the same
as for the ASP Active message (See Section 3.3.2.7).
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP Up message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
The optional Interface Identifiers parameter contains a list of
Interface Identifier integers indexing the Application Server traffic
that the sending ASP is configured/registered to receive, but does
not want to receive at this time.
3.3.2.10 ASP Inactive Ack
The ASP Inactive (ASPIA) Ack message is used to acknowledge an ASP
Inactive message received from a remote M2UA peer.
The ASPIA Ack message contains the following parameters:
Interface Identifiers (optional)
- Combination of integer and integer ranges, OR
- string (text formatted)
INFO String (optional)
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 42]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the ASPIA Ack message is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x1=integer) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifiers* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x8=integer range) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
. .
. .
. .
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StartN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StopN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x1 or 0x8 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 43]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the ASP Inactive Ack message using text formatted
(string) Interface Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x3=string) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifier* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x3 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The format of the optional Interface Identifier parameter is the same
as for the ASP Active message (See Section 3.3.2.7).
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP Up message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
3.3.3 Layer Management (MGMT) Messages
3.3.3.1 Error (ERR)
The Error (ERR) message is used to notify a peer of an error event
associated with an incoming message. For example, the message type
might be unexpected given the current state, or a parameter value
might be invalid.
An Error message MUST not be generated in response to other Error
messages.
The ERR message contains the following parameters:
Error Code (mandatory)
Interface Identifier (optional)
Diagnostic Information (optional)
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 44]
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The format for the ERR message is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0xc) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Error Code |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x1, 0x3, or 0x8) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifier(s)* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x7) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Diagnostic Information* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The Error Code parameter indicates the reason for the Error Message.
The Error parameter value can be one of the following values:
Invalid Version 0x1
Invalid Interface Identifier 0x2
Unsupported Message Class 0x3
Unsupported Message Type 0x4
Unsupported Traffic Handling Mode 0x5
Unexpected Message 0x6
Protocol Error 0x7
Unsupported Interface Identifier Type 0x8
Invalid Stream Identifier 0x9
Not Used in M2UA 0xa
Not Used in M2UA 0xb
Not Used in M2UA 0xc
Refused - Management Blocking 0xd
ASP Identifier Required 0xe
Invalid ASP Identifier 0xf
ASP Active for Interface Identifier(s) 0x10
Invalid Parameter Value 0x11
Parameter Field Error 0x12
Unexpected Parameter 0x13
Not Used in M2UA 0x14
Not Used in M2UA 0x15
Missing Parameter 0x16
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 45]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The "Invalid Version" error would be sent if a message was received
with an invalid or unsupported version. The Error message would
contain the supported version in the Common header. The Error
message could optionally provide the supported version in the
Diagnostic Information area.
The "Invalid Interface Identifier" error would be sent by a SGP if an
ASP sends a message (i.e. an ASP Active message) with an invalid (not
configured) Interface Identifier value. One of the optional
Interface Identifier parameters (Integer-based, text-based or integer
range) MUST be used with this error code to identify the invalid
Interface Identifier(s) received.
The "Unsupported Traffic Handling Mode" error would be sent by a SGP
if an ASP sends an ASP Active with an unsupported Traffic Handling
Mode. An example would be a case in which the SGP did not support
load-sharing. One of the optional Interface Identifier parameters
(Integer-based, text-based or integer range) MAY be used with this
error code to identify the Interface Identifier(s).
The "Unexpected Message" error would be sent by an ASP if it received
a MAUP message from an SGP while it was in the Inactive state.
The "Protocol Error" error would be sent for any protocol anomaly
(i.e. a bogus message).
The "Invalid Stream Identifier" error would be sent if a message was
received on an unexpected SCTP stream (i.e. a MGMT message was
received on a stream other than "0").
The "Unsupported Interface Identifier Type" error would be sent by a
SGP if an ASP sends a Text formatted Interface Identifier and the SGP
only supports Integer formatted Interface Identifiers. When the ASP
receives this error, it will need to resend its message with an
Integer formatted Interface Identifier.
The "Unsupported Message Class" error would be sent if a message with
an unexpected or unsupported Message Class is received.
The "Refused - Management Blocking" error is sent when an ASP Up or
ASP Active message is received and the request is refused for
management reasons (e.g., management lock-out").
The "ASP Identifier Required" is sent by a SGP in response to an
ASPUP message which does not contain an ASP Identifier parameter when
the SGP requires one. The ASP SHOULD resend the ASPUP message with
an ASP Identifier.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 46]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The "Invalid ASP Identifier" is sent by a SGP in response to an ASPUP
message with an invalid (i.e. non-unique) ASP Identifier.
The "ASP Currently Active for Interface Identifier(s)" error is sent
by a SGP when a Deregistration request is received from an ASP that
is active for Interface Identifier(s) specified in the Deregistration
request. One of the optional Interface Identifier parameters
(Integer-based, text-based or integer range) MAY be used with this
error code to identify the Interface Identifier(s).
The "Invalid Parameter Value " error is sent if a message is received
with an invalid parameter value (e.g., a State Request with an an
undefined State).
The "Parameter Field Error" would be sent if a message with a
parameter has a wrong length field.
The "Unexpected Parameter" error would be sent if a message contains
an invalid parameter.
The "Missing Parameter" error would be sent if a mandatory parameter
was not included in a message.
The optional Diagnostic information can be any information germane to
the error condition, to assist in the identification of the error
condition. In the case of an Invalid Version Error Code the
Diagnostic information includes the supported Version parameter. In
the other cases, the Diagnostic information SHOULD be the first 40
bytes of the offending message.
3.3.3.2 Notify (NTFY)
The Notify message is used to provide an autonomous indication of
M2UA events to an M2UA peer.
The NTFY message contains the following parameters:
Status Type (mandatory)
Status Information (mandatory)
ASP Identifier (optional)
Interface Identifiers (optional)
INFO String (optional)
The format for the Notify message with Integer-formatted Interface
Identifiers is as follows:
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 47]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0xd) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Status Type | Status Information |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x11) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| ASP Identifier* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x1=integer) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifiers* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x8=integer range) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop1* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Start2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier Stop2* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
. .
. .
. .
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StartN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier StopN* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x1 or 0x8 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 48]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the Notify message with Text-formatted Interface
Identifiers is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0xd) | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Status Type | Status Information |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x11) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| ASP Identifier* |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x3=string) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Interface Identifier* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ Additional Interface Identifiers /
/ of Tag Type 0x3 \
\ /
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag (0x4) | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
/ \
\ INFO String* /
/ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The Status Type parameter identifies the type of the Notify message.
The following are the valid Status Type values:
Value Description
0x1 Application Server state change (AS_State_Change)
0x2 Other
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 49]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The Status Information parameter contains more detailed information
for the notification, based on the value of the Status Type. If the
Status Type is AS_State_Change the following Status Information
values are used:
Value Description
1 reserved
2 Application Server Inactive (AS_Inactive)
3 Application Server Active (AS_Active)
4 Application Server Pending (AS_Pending)
These notifications are sent from an SGP to an ASP upon a change in
status of a particular Application Server. The value reflects the
new state of the Application Server. The Interface Identifiers of
the AS MAY be placed in the message if desired.
If the Status Type is Other, then the following Status Information
values are defined:
Value Description
1 Insufficient ASP resources active in AS
2 Alternate ASP Active
3 ASP Failure
In the Insufficient ASP Resources case, the SGP is indicating to an
ASP-INACTIVE ASP(s) in the AS that another ASP is required in order
to handle the load of the AS (Load-sharing mode). For the Alternate
ASP Active case, the formerly Active ASP is informed when an
alternate ASP transitions to the ASP Active state in Override mode.
The ASP Identifier (if available) of the Alternate ASP MUST be placed
in the message. For the ASP Failure case, the SGP is indicating to
ASP(s) in the AS that one of the ASPs has transitioned to ASP-DOWN.
The ASP Identifier (if available) of the failed ASP MUST be placed in
the message.
For each of the Status Information values in Status Type Other, the
Interface Identifiers of the affected AS MAY be placed in the message
if desired.
The format of the optional Interface Identifier parameter is the same
as for the ASP Active message (See Section 3.3.2.7).
The format and description of the optional Info String parameter is
the same as for the ASP Up message (See Section 3.3.2.1).
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 50]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
3.3.4 Interface Identifier Management (IIM) Messages
The Interface Identifier Management messages are optional. They are
used to support the automatic allocation of Signalling Terminals or
Signalling Data Links [2][3].
3.3.4.1 Registration Request (REG REQ)
The REG REQ message is sent by an ASP to indicate to a remote M2UA
peer that it wishes to register one or more given Link Keys with the
remote peer. Typically, an ASP would send this message to an SGP,
and expect to receive a REG RSP in return with an associated
Interface Identifier value.
The REG REQ message contains the following parameter:
Link Key (mandatory)
The format for the REG REQ message is as follows
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x0309 | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ Link Key 1 /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ ... /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x0309 | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ Link Key n /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Link Key: fixed length
The Link Key parameter is mandatory. The sender of this message
expects that the receiver of this message will create a Link Key
entry and assign a unique Interface Identifier value to it, if the
Link Key entry does not yet exist.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 51]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The Link Key parameter may be present multiple times in the same
message. This is used to allow the registration of multiple Link
Keys in a single message.
The format of the Link Key parameter is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Local-LK-Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Signalling Data Terminal Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Signalling Data Link Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Local-LK-Identifier: 32-bit integer
The mandatory Local-LK-Identifier field is used to uniquely
(between ASP and SGP) identify the registration request. The
Identifier value is assigned by the ASP, and is used to correlate
the response in a REG RSP message with the original registration
request. The Identifier value MUST remain unique until the REG
RSP is received.
The format of the Local-LK-Identifier field is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030a | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Local-LK-Identifier value |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Signalling Data Terminal Identifier
The Signalling Data Terminal Identifier parameter is mandatory.
It identifies the Signalling Data Terminal associated with the SS7
link for which the ASP is registering. The format is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030b | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Reserved | SDT Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The SDT Identifier is a 32-bit unsigned value which may only be
significant to 12 or 14 bits depending on the SS7 variant which is
supported by the MTP Level 3 at the ASP. Insignificant SDT
Identifier bits are coded 0.
Signalling Data Link Identifier
The Signalling Data Link Identifier parameter is mandatory. It
identifies the Signalling Data Link Identifier associated with the
SS7 link for which the ASP is registering. The format is as
follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030c | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Reserved | SDL Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
The SDL Identifier is a 32-bit unsigned value which may only be
significant to 12 or 14 bits depending on the SS7 variant which
is supported by the MTP Level 3 at the ASP. Insignificant SDLI
bits are coded 0.
3.3.4.2 Registration Response (REG RSP)
The REG RSP message is used as a response to the REG REQ message
from a remote M2UA peer. It contains indications of success/failure
for registration requests and returns a unique Interface Identifier
value for successful registration requests, to be used in subsequent
M2UA Traffic Management protocol.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 53]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The REG RSP message contains the following parameter:
Registration Results (mandatory)
The format for the REG RSP message is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030d | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ Registration Result 1 /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ ... /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030d | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ Registration Result n /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Registration Results: fixed length
The Registration Results parameter contains one or more results,
each containing the registration status for a single Link Key in
the REG REQ message. The number of results in a single REG RSP
message MAY match the number of Link Key parameters found in the
corresponding REG REQ message. The format of each result is as
follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Local-LK-Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Registration Status |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Local-LK-Identifier: 32-bit integer
The Local-LK-Identifier contains the same value as found in the
matching Link Key parameter found in the REG REQ message. The
format of the Local-LK-Identifier is shown in Section 3.3.4.1.
Registration Status: 32-bit integer
The Registration Result Status field indicates the success or the
reason for failure of a registration request.
Its values may be one of the following:
0 Successfully Registered
1 Error - Unknown
2 Error - Invalid SDLI
3 Error - Invalid SDTI
4 Error - Invalid Link Key
5 Error - Permission Denied
6 Error - Overlapping (Non-unique) Link Key
7 Error - Link Key not Provisioned
8 Error - Insufficient Resources
The format of the Registration Status field is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030e | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Registration Status |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Interface Identifier: 32-bit integer
The Interface Identifier field contains the Interface Identifier
for the associated Link Key if the registration is successful. It
is set to "0" if the registration was not successful. The format
of integer-based and text-based Interface Identifier parameters
are shown in Section 3.2.
3.3.4.3 De-Registration Request (DEREG REQ)
The DEREG REQ message is sent by an ASP to indicate to a remote M2UA
peer that it wishes to de-register a given Interface Identifier.
Typically, an ASP would send this message to an SGP, and expects to
receive a DEREG RSP in return reflecting the Interface Identifier and
containing a de-registration status.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The DEREG REQ message contains the following parameter:
Interface Identifier (mandatory)
The format for the DEREG REQ message is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x1 or 0x3 | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ Interface Identifier 1 /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ ... /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x1 or 0x3 | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ Interface Identifier n /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Interface Identifier
The Interface Identifier parameter contains a Interface Identifier
indexing the Application Server traffic that the sending ASP is
currently registered to receive from the SGP but now wishes to
de-register. The format of integer-based and text-based Interface
Identifier parameters are shown in Section 3.2.
3.3.4.4 De-Registration Response (DEREG RSP)
The DEREG RSP message is used as a response to the DEREG REQ message
from a remote M2UA peer.
The DEREG RSP message contains the following parameter:
De-Registration Results (mandatory)
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The format for the DEREG RSP message is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030f | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ De-Registration Result 1 /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ ... /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x030f | Length |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
\ \
/ De-Registration Result n /
\ \
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
De-Registration Results: fixed length
The De-Registration Results parameter contains one or more
results, each containing the de-registration status for a single
Interface Identifier in the DEREG REQ message. The number of
results in a single DEREG RSP message MAY match the number of
Interface Identifier parameters found in the corresponding DEREG
REQ message. The format of each result is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Interface Identifier |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| De-Registration Status |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Interface Identifier: 32-bit integer
The Interface Identifier field contains the Interface Identifier
value of the matching Link Key to de-register, as found in the
DEREG REQ. The format of integer-based and text-based Interface
Identifier parameters are shown in Section 3.2.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
De-Registration Status: 32-bit integer
The De-Registration Result Status field indicates the success or
the reason for failure of the de-registration.
Its values may be one of the following:
0 Successfully De-registered
1 Error - Unknown
2 Error - Invalid Interface Identifier
3 Error - Permission Denied
4 Error - Not Registered
The format of the De-Registration Status field is as follows:
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Tag = 0x0310 | Length = 8 |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| De-Registration Status |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
4.0 Procedures
The M2UA layer needs to respond to various primitives it receives
from other layers as well as messages it receives from the peer-to-
peer messages. This section describes various procedures involved in
response to these events.
4.1 Procedures to Support the M2UA-User Layer
These procedures achieve the M2UA layer "Transport of MTP Level 2 /
MTP Level 3 boundary" service.
4.1.1 MTP Level 2 / MTP Level 3 Boundary Procedures
On receiving a primitive from the local upper layer, the M2UA layer
will send the corresponding MAUP message (see Section 3) to its peer.
The M2UA layer MUST fill in various fields of the common and specific
headers correctly. In addition the message SHOULD be sent on the
SCTP stream that corresponds to the SS7 link.
4.1.2 MAUP Message Procedures
On receiving MAUP messages from a peer M2UA layer, the M2UA layer on
an SG or MGC needs to invoke the corresponding layer primitives to
the local MTP Level 2 or MTP Level 3 layer.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
4.2 Receipt of Primitives from the Layer Management
On receiving primitives from the local Layer Management, the M2UA
layer will take the requested action and provide an appropriate
response primitive to Layer Management.
An M-SCTP_ESTABLISH request primitive from Layer Management at an ASP
will initiate the establishment of an SCTP association. The M2UA
layer will attempt to establish an SCTP association with the remote
M2UA peer by sending an SCTP-ASSOCIATE primitive to the local SCTP
layer.
When an SCTP association has been successfully established, the SCTP
will send an SCTP-COMMUNICATION_UP notification primitive to the
local M2UA layer. At the SGP that initiated the request, the M2UA
layer will send an M-SCTP_ESTABLISH confirm primitive to Layer
Management when the association setup is complete. At the peer M2UA
layer, an M-SCTP_ESTABLISH indication primitive is sent to Layer
Management upon successful completion of an incoming SCTP association
setup.
An M-SCTP_RELEASE request primitive from Layer Management initiates
the shutdown of an SCTP association. The M2UA layer accomplishes a
graceful shutdown of the SCTP association by sending an SCTP-SHUTDOWN
primitive to the SCTP layer.
When the graceful shutdown of the SCTP association has been
accomplished, the SCTP layer returns an SCTP-SHUTDOWN_COMPLETE
notification primitive to the local M2UA layer. At the M2UA Layer
that initiated the request, the M2UA layer will send an M-
SCTP_RELEASE confirm primitive to Layer Management when the
association shutdown is complete. At the peer M2UA Layer, an M-
SCTP_RELEASE indication primitive is sent to Layer Management upon
abort or successful shutdown of an SCTP association.
An M-SCTP_STATUS request primitive supports a Layer Management query
of the local status of a particular SCTP association. The M2UA layer
simply maps the M-SCTP_STATUS request primitive to an SCTP-STATUS
primitive to the SCTP layer. When the SCTP responds, the M2UA layer
maps the association status information to an M-SCTP_STATUS confirm
primitive. No peer protocol is invoked.
Similar LM-to-M2UA-to-SCTP and/or SCTP-to-M2UA-to-LM primitive
mappings can be described for the various other SCTP Upper Layer
primitives in RFC 2960 [8] such as INITIALIZE, SET PRIMARY, CHANGE
HEARTBEAT, REQUEST HEARTBEAT, GET SRTT REPORT, SET FAILURE THRESHOLD,
SET PROTOCOL PARAMETERS, DESTROY SCTP INSTANCE, SEND FAILURE, AND
NETWORK STATUS CHANGE. Alternatively, these SCTP Upper Layer
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
primitives (and Status as well) can be considered for modeling
purposes as a Layer Management interaction directly with the SCTP
Layer.
M-NOTIFY indication and M-ERROR indication primitives indicate to
Layer Management the notification or error information contained in a
received M2UA Notify or Error message respectively. These
indications can also be generated based on local M2UA events.
An M-ASP_STATUS request primitive supports a Layer Management query
of the status of a particular local or remote ASP. The M2UA layer
responds with the status in an M-ASP_STATUS confirm primitive. No
M2UA peer protocol is invoked.
An M-AS_STATUS request supports a Layer Management query of the
status of a particular AS. The M2UA responds with an M-AS_STATUS
confirm primitive. No M2UA peer protocol is invoked.
M-ASP_UP request, M-ASP_DOWN request, M-ASP_ACTIVE request and M-
ASP_INACTIVE request primitives allow Layer Management at an ASP to
initiate state changes. Upon successful completion, a corresponding
confirm primitive is provided by the M2UA layer to Layer Management.
If an invocation is unsuccessful, an Error indication primitive is
provided in the primitive. These requests result in outgoing ASP Up,
ASP Down, ASP Active and ASP Inactive messages to the remote M2UA
peer at an SGP.
4.2.1 Receipt of M2UA Peer Management Messages
Upon successful state changes resulting from reception of ASP Up, ASP
Down, ASP Active and ASP Inactive messages from a peer M2UA, the M2UA
layer SHOULD invoke corresponding M-ASP_UP, M-ASP_DOWN, M-ASP_ACTIVE
and M-ASP_INACTIVE, M-AS_ACTIVE, M-AS_INACTIVE, and M-AS_DOWN
indication primitives to the local Layer Management.
M-NOTIFY indication and M-ERROR indication primitives indicate to
Layer Management the notification or error information contained in a
received M2UA Notify or Error message. These indications can also be
generated based on local M2UA events.
All MGMT messages, except BEAT and BEAT Ack, SHOULD be sent with
sequenced delivery to ensure ordering. All MGMT messages, with the
exception of ASPTM, BEAT and BEAT Ack messages, SHOULD be sent on
SCTP stream '0'. All ASPTM messages SHOULD be sent on the stream
which normally carries the data traffic to which the message applies.
BEAT and BEAT Ack messages MAY be sent using out-of-order delivery,
and MAY be sent on any stream.
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
4.3 AS and ASP State Maintenance
The M2UA layer on the SGP maintains the state of each remote ASP, in
each Application Server that the ASP is configured to receive
traffic, as input to the M2UA message distribution function.
4.3.1 ASP States
The state of each remote ASP, in each AS that it is configured to
operate, is maintained in the M2UA layer in the SGP. The state of a
particular ASP in a particular AS changes due to events. The events
include:
* Reception of messages from the peer M2UA layer at the ASP;
* Reception of some messages from the peer M2UA layer at other ASPs
in the AS (e.g., ASP Active message indicating "Override");
* Reception of indications from the SCTP layer; or
* Local Management intervention.
The ASP state transition diagram is shown in Figure 5. The possible
states of an ASP are:
ASP-DOWN: The remote M2UA peer at the ASP is unavailable and/or the
related SCTP association is down. Initially all ASPs will be in this
state. An ASP in this state SHOULD NOT be sent any M2UA messages,
with the exception of Heartbeat, ASP Down Ack and Error messages.
ASP-INACTIVE: The remote M2UA peer at the ASP is available (and the
related SCTP association is up) but application traffic is stopped.
In this state the ASP MAY be sent any non-MAUP M2UA messages.
ASP-ACTIVE: The remote M2UA peer at the ASP is available and
application traffic is active (for a particular Interface Identifier
or set of Interface Identifiers).
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Figure 5: ASP State Transition Diagram
+--------------+
| ASP-ACTIVE |
+----------------------| |
| Other +-------| |
| ASP in AS | +--------------+
| Overrides | ^ |
| | ASP | | ASP
| | Active | | Inactive
| | | v
| | +--------------+
| | | |
| +------>| ASP-INACTIVE |
| +--------------+
| ^ |
ASP Down/ | ASP | | ASP Down /
SCTP CDI/ | Up | | SCTP CDI/
SCTP RI | | v SCTP RI
| +--------------+
| | |
+--------------------->| ASP-DOWN |
| |
+--------------+
SCTP CDI: The SCTP CDI denotes the local SCTP layer's Communication
Down Indication to the Upper Layer Protocol (M2UA) on an SGP. The
local SCTP layer will send this indication when it detects the loss
of connectivity to the ASP's peer SCTP layer. SCTP CDI is understood
as either a SHUTDOWN_COMPLETE notification or COMMUNICATION_LOST
notification from the SCTP layer.
SCTP RI: The local SCTP layer's Restart indication to the upper layer
protocol (M2UA) on an SG. The local SCTP will send this indication
when it detects a restart from the ASP's peer SCTP layer.
4.3.2 AS States
The state of the AS is maintained in the M2UA layer on the SGP. The
state of an AS changes due to events. These events include:
* ASP state transitions
* Recovery timer triggers
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The possible states of an AS are:
AS-DOWN: The Application Server is unavailable. This state implies
that all related ASPs are in the ASP-DOWN state for this AS.
Initially the AS will be in this state. An Application Server MUST
be in the AS-DOWN state before it can be removed from a
configuration.
AS-INACTIVE: The Application Server is available but no application
traffic is active (i.e., one or more related ASPs are in the ASP-
INACTIVE state, but none in the ASP-ACTIVE state). The recovery
timer T(r) is not running or has expired.
AS-ACTIVE: The Application Server is available and application
traffic is active. This state implies that at least one ASP is in
the ASP-ACTIVE state.
AS-PENDING: An active ASP has transitioned to ASP-INACTIVE or ASP-
DOWN and it was the last remaining active ASP in the AS. A recovery
timer T(r) SHOULD be started and all incoming signalling messages
SHOULD be queued by the SGP. If an ASP becomes ASP-ACTIVE before
T(r) expires, the AS is moved to the AS-ACTIVE state and all the
queued messages will be sent to the ASP.
If T(r) expires before an ASP becomes ASP-ACTIVE, the SGP stops
queuing messages and discards all previously queued messages. The AS
will move to the AS-INACTIVE state if at least one ASP is in the
ASP-INACTIVE state, otherwise it will move to the AS-DOWN state.
Figure 6 shows an example AS state machine for the case where the
AS/ASP data is pre-configured. For other cases where the AS/ASP
configuration data is created dynamically, there would be differences
in the state machine, especially at the creation of the AS.
For example, where the AS/ASP configuration data is not created until
Registration of the first ASP, the AS-INACTIVE state is entered
directly upon the first successful REG REQ from an ASP. Another
example is where the AS/ASP configuration data is not created until
the first ASP successfully enters the ASP-ACTIVE state. In this case
the AS-ACTIVE state is entered directly.
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Figure 6: AS State Transition Diagram
+----------+ one ASP trans to ACTIVE +-------------+
| AS- |---------------------------->| AS- |
| INACTIVE | | ACTIVE |
| |<--- | |
+----------+ \ +-------------+
^ | \ Tr Expiry, ^ |
| | \ at least one | |
| | \ ASP in ASP-INACTIVE | |
| | \ | |
| | \ | |
| | \ | |
one ASP | | all ASP \ one ASP | | Last ACTIVE
trans | | trans to \ trans to | | ASP trans to
to | | ASP-DOWN -------\ ASP- | | ASP-INACTIVE
ASP- | | \ ACTIVE | | or ASP-DOWN
INACTIVE| | \ | | (start Tr)
| | \ | |
| | \ | |
| v \ | v
+----------+ \ +-------------+
| | --| |
| AS-DOWN | | AS-PENDING |
| | | (queuing) |
| |<----------------------------| |
+----------+ Tr Expiry and no ASP +-------------+
in ASP-INACTIVE state
Tr = Recovery Timer
4.3.3 M2UA Management Procedures for Primitives
Before the establishment of an SCTP association the ASP state at both
the SGP and ASP is assumed to be in the state ASP-DOWN.
Once the SCTP association is established (see Section 4.2.1) and
assuming that the local M2UA-User is ready, the local M2UA ASP
Maintenance (ASPM) function will initiate the relevant procedures,
using the ASP Up/ASP Down/ASP Active/ASP Inactive messages to convey
the ASP state to the SGP (see Section 4.3.4).
If the M2UA layer subsequently receives an SCTP-COMMUNICATION_DOWN or
SCTP-RESTART indication primitive from the underlying SCTP layer, it
will inform the Layer Management by invoking the M-SCTP_STATUS
indication primitive. The state of the ASP will be moved to ASP-
DOWN.
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In the case of SCTP-COMMUNICATION_DOWN, the SCTP client MAY try to
re-establish the SCTP association. This MAY be done by the M2UA
layer automatically, or Layer Management MAY re-establish using the
M-SCTP_ESTABLISH request primitive.
In the case of an SCTP-RESTART indication at an ASP, the ASP is now
considered by its M2UA peer to be in the ASP-DOWN state. The ASP, if
it is to recover, must begin any recovery with the ASP-Up procedure.
4.3.4 ASPM Procedures for Peer-to-Peer Messages
4.3.4.1 ASP Up Procedures
After an ASP has successfully established an SCTP association to an
SGP, the SGP waits for the ASP to send an ASP Up message, indicating
that the ASP M2UA peer is available. The ASP is always the initiator
of the ASP Up message. This action MAY be initiated at the ASP by an
M-ASP_UP request primitive from Layer Management or MAY be initiated
automatically by an M2UA management function.
When an ASP Up message is received at an SGP and internally the
remote ASP is in the ASP-DOWN state and not considered locked-out for
local management reasons, the SGP marks the remote ASP in the state
ASP-INACTIVE and informs Layer Management with an M-ASP_Up indication
primitive. If the SGP is aware, via current configuration data,
which Application Servers the ASP is configured to operate in, the
SGP updates the ASP state to ASP-INACTIVE in each AS that it is a
member.
Alternatively, the SGP may move the ASP into a pool of Inactive ASPs
available for future configuration within Application Server(s),
determined in a subsequent Registration Request or ASP Active
procedure. If the ASP Up message contains an ASP Identifier, the SGP
should save the ASP Identifier for that ASP. The SGP MUST send an
ASP Up Ack message in response to a received ASP Up message even if
the ASP is already marked as ASP-INACTIVE at the SGP.
If for any local reason (e.g., management lock-out) the SGP cannot
respond with an ASP Up Ack message, the SGP responds to an ASP Up
message with an Error message with Reason "Refused - Management
Blocking".
At the ASP, the ASP Up Ack message received is not acknowledged.
Layer Management is informed with an M-ASP_UP confirm primitive.
When the ASP sends an ASP Up message it starts timer T(ack). If the
ASP does not receive a response to an ASP Up message within T(ack),
the ASP MAY restart T(ack) and resend ASP Up messages until it
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receives an ASP Up Ack message. T(ack) is provisionable, with a
default of 2 seconds. Alternatively, retransmission of ASP Up
messages MAY be put under control of Layer Management. In this
method, expiry of T(ack) results in an M-ASP_UP confirm primitive
carrying a negative indication.
The ASP MUST wait for the ASP Up Ack message before sending any other
M2UA messages (e.g., ASP Active or REG REQ). If the SGP receives any
other M2UA messages before an ASP Up message is received (other than
ASP Down - see Section 4.3.4.2), the SGP MAY discard them.
If an ASP Up message is received and internally the remote ASP is in
the ASP-ACTIVE state, an ASP Up Ack message is returned, as well as
an Error message ("Unexpected Message), and the remote ASP state is
changed to ASP-INACTIVE in all relevant Application Servers.
If an ASP Up message is received and internally the remote ASP is
already in the ASP-INACTIVE state, an ASP Up Ack message is returned
and no further action is taken.
4.3.4.1.1 M2UA Version Control
If an ASP Up message with an unsupported version is received, the
receiving end responds with an Error message, indicating the version
the receiving node supports and notifies Layer Management.
This is useful when protocol version upgrades are being performed in
a network. A node upgraded to a newer version SHOULD support the
older versions used on other nodes it is communicating with. Because
ASPs initiate the ASP Up procedure it is assumed that the Error
message would normally come from the SGP.
4.3.4.2 ASP Down Procedures
The ASP will send an ASP Down message to an SGP when the ASP wishes
to be removed from service in all Application Servers that it is a
member and no longer receive any MAUP or ASPTM messages. This action
MAY be initiated at the ASP by an M-ASP_DOWN request primitive from
Layer Management or MAY be initiated automatically by an M2UA
management function.
Whether the ASP is permanently removed from any AS is a function of
configuration management. In the case where the ASP previously used
the Registration procedures (see Section 4.4) to register within
Application Servers but has not unregistered from all of them prior
to sending the ASP Down message, the SGP MUST consider the ASP as
unregistered in all Application Servers that it is still a member.
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The SGP marks the ASP as ASP-DOWN, informs Layer Management with an
M-ASP_Down indication primitive, and returns an ASP Down Ack message
to the ASP.
The SGP MUST send an ASP Down Ack message in response to a received
ASP Down message from the ASP even if the ASP is already marked as
ASP-DOWN at the SGP.
At the ASP, the ASP Down Ack message received is not acknowledged.
Layer Management is informed with an M-ASP_DOWN confirm primitive.
If the ASP receives an ASP Down Ack without having sent an ASP Down
message, the ASP SHOULD now consider itself as in the ASP-DOWN state.
If the ASP was previously in the ASP-ACTIVE or ASP_INACTIVE state,
the ASP SHOULD then initiate procedures to return itself to its
previous state.
When the ASP sends an ASP Down message it starts timer T(ack). If
the ASP does not receive a response to an ASP Down message within
T(ack), the ASP MAY restart T(ack) and resend ASP Down messages until
it receives an ASP Down Ack message. T(ack) is provisionable, with a
default of 2 seconds. Alternatively, retransmission of ASP Down
messages MAY be put under control of Layer Management. In this
method, expiry of T(ack) results in an M-ASP_DOWN confirm primitive
carrying a negative indication.
4.3.4.3 ASP Active Procedures
Anytime after the ASP has received an ASP Up Ack message from the
SGP, the ASP MAY send an ASP Active message to the SGP indicating
that the ASP is ready to start processing traffic. This action MAY
be initiated at the ASP by an M-ASP_ACTIVE request primitive from
Layer Management or MAY be initiated automatically by a M2UA
management function. In the case where an ASP wishes to process the
traffic for more than one Application Server across a common SCTP
association, the ASP Active message(s) SHOULD contain a list of one
or more Interface Identifiers to indicate for which Application
Servers the ASP Active message applies. It is not necessary for the
ASP to include any Interface Identifiers of interest in a single ASP
Active message, thus requesting to become active in all Interface
Identifiers at the same time. Multiple ASP Active messages MAY be
used to activate within the Application Servers independently, or in
sets. In the case where an ASP Active message does not contain a
Interface Identifier parameter, the receiver must know, via
configuration data, of which Application Server(s) the ASP is a
member.
For the Application Servers that the ASP can successfully activate,
the SGP responds with one or more ASP Active Ack messages, including
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the associated Interface Identifier(s) and reflecting any Traffic
Mode Type value present in the related ASP Active message. The
Interface Identifier parameter MUST be included in the ASP Active Ack
message(s) if the received ASP Active message contained any Interface
Identifiers. Depending on any Traffic Mode Type request in the ASP
Active message or local configuration data if there is no request,
the SGP moves the ASP to the correct ASP traffic state within the
associated Application Server(s). Layer Management is informed with
an M-ASP_Active indication. If the SGP receives any Data messages
before an ASP Active message is received, the SGP MAY discard them.
By sending an ASP Active Ack message, the SGP is now ready to receive
and send traffic for the related Interface Identifier(s). The ASP
SHOULD NOT send MAUP messages for the related Interface Identifier(s)
before receiving an ASP Active Ack message, or it will risk message
loss.
Multiple ASP Active Ack messages MAY be used in response to an ASP
Active message containing multiple Interface Identifiers, allowing
the SGP to independently acknowledge the ASP Active message for
different (sets of) Interface Identifiers. The SGP MUST send an
Error message ("Invalid Interface Identifier") for each Interface
Identifier value that cannot be successfully activated.
In the case where an "out-of-the-blue" ASP Active message is received
(i.e., the ASP has not registered with the SG or the SG has no static
configuration data for the ASP), the message MAY be silently
discarded.
The SGP MUST send an ASP Active Ack message in response to a received
ASP Active message from the ASP, if the ASP is already marked in the
ASP-ACTIVE state at the SGP.
At the ASP, the ASP Active Ack message received is not acknowledged.
Layer Management is informed with an M-ASP_ACTIVE confirm primitive.
It is possible for the ASP to receive Data message(s) before the ASP
Active Ack message as the ASP Active Ack and Data messages from an SG
may be sent on different SCTP streams. Message loss is possible as
the ASP does not consider itself in the ASP-ACTIVE state until
reception of the ASP Active Ack message.
When the ASP sends an ASP Active message it starts timer T(ack). If
the ASP does not receive a response to an ASP Active message within
T(ack), the ASP MAY restart T(ack) and resend ASP Active message(s)
until it receives an ASP Active Ack message. T(ack) is
provisionable, with a default of 2 seconds. Alternatively,
retransmission of ASP Active messages MAY be put under the control of
Layer Management. In this method, expiry of T(ack) results in an M-
ASP_ACTIVE confirm primitive carrying a negative indication.
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There are three modes of Application Server traffic handling in the
SGP M2UA layer: Override, Load share and Broadcast. When included,
the Traffic Mode Type parameter in the ASP Active message indicates
the traffic handling mode to be used in a particular Application
Server. If the SGP determines that the mode indicated in an ASP
Active message is unsupported or incompatible with the mode currently
configured for the AS, the SGP responds with an Error message
("Unsupported / Invalid Traffic Handling Mode"). If the traffic
handling mode of the Application Server is not already known via
configuration data, the traffic handling mode indicated in the first
ASP Active message causing the transition of the Application Server
state to AS-ACTIVE MAY be used to set the mode.
In the case of an Override mode AS, reception of an ASP Active
message at an SGP causes the (re)direction of all traffic for the AS
to the ASP that sent the ASP Active message. Any previously active
ASP in the AS is now considered to be in the state ASP-INACTIVE and
SHOULD no longer receive traffic from the SGP within the AS. The SGP
then MUST send a Notify message ("Alternate ASP Active") to the
previously active ASP in the AS, and SHOULD stop traffic to/from that
ASP. The ASP receiving this Notify MUST consider itself now in the
ASP-INACTIVE state, if it is not already aware of this via inter-ASP
communication with the Overriding ASP.
In the case of a Load-share mode AS, reception of an ASP Active
message at an SGP causes the direction of traffic to the ASP sending
the ASP Active message, in addition to all the other ASPs that are
currently active in the AS. The algorithm at the SGP for load-
sharing traffic within an AS to all the active ASPs is implementation
dependent. The algorithm could, for example be round-robin or based
on information in the Data message (e.g., such as the SLS in the
Routing Label).
An SGP, upon reception of an ASP Active message for the first ASP in
a Load share AS, MAY choose not to direct traffic to a newly active
ASP until it determines that there are sufficient resources to handle
the expected load (e.g., until there are "n" ASPs in state ASP-ACTIVE
in the AS).
All ASPs within a load-sharing mode AS must be able to process any
Data message received for the AS, to accommodate any potential fail-
over or balancing of the offered load.
In the case of a Broadcast mode AS, reception of an ASP Active
message at an SGP causes the direction of traffic to the ASP sending
the ASP Active message, in addition to all the other ASPs that are
currently active in the AS. The algorithm at the SGP for
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broadcasting traffic within an AS to all the active ASPs is a simple
broadcast algorithm, where every message is sent to each of the
active ASPs.
An SGP, upon reception of an ASP Active message for the first ASP in
a Broadcast AS, MAY choose not to direct traffic to a newly active
ASP until it determines that there are sufficient resources to handle
the expected load (e.g., until there are "n" ASPs in state ASP-ACTIVE
in the AS).
Whenever an ASP in a Broadcast mode AS becomes ASP-ACTIVE, the SGP
MUST tag the first DATA message broadcast in each SCTP stream with a
unique Correlation Id parameter. The purpose of this Correlation Id
is to permit the newly active ASP to synchronize its processing of
traffic in each ordered stream with the other ASPs in the broadcast
group.
4.3.4.4 ASP Inactive Procedures
When an ASP wishes to withdraw from receiving traffic within an AS,
the ASP sends an ASP Inactive message to the SGP. This action MAY be
initiated at the ASP by an M-ASP_INACTIVE request primitive from
Layer Management or MAY be initiated automatically by an M2UA
management function. In the case where an ASP is processing the
traffic for more than one Application Server across a common SCTP
association, the ASP Inactive message contains one or more Interface
Identifiers to indicate for which Application Servers the ASP
Inactive message applies. In the case where an ASP Inactive message
does not contain a Interface Identifier parameter, the receiver must
know, via configuration data, of which Application Servers the ASP is
a member and move the ASP to the ASP-INACTIVE state in all
Application Servers. In the case of an Override mode AS, where
another ASP has already taken over the traffic within the AS with an
ASP Active ("Override") message, the ASP that sends the ASP Inactive
message is already considered by the SGP to be in the state ASP-
INACTIVE. An ASP Inactive Ack message is sent to the ASP, after
ensuring that all traffic is stopped to the ASP.
In the case of a Load-share mode AS, the SGP moves the ASP to the
ASP-INACTIVE state and the AS traffic is re-allocated across the
remaining ASPs in the state ASP-ACTIVE, as per the load-sharing
algorithm currently used within the AS. A Notify message
("Insufficient ASP resources active in AS") MAY be sent to all
inactive ASPs, if required. An ASP Inactive Ack message is sent to
the ASP after all traffic is halted and Layer Management is informed
with an M-ASP_INACTIVE indication primitive.
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In the case of a Broadcast mode AS, the SGP moves the ASP to the
ASP-INACTIVE state and the AS traffic is broadcast only to the
remaining ASPs in the state ASP-ACTIVE. A Notify message
("Insufficient ASP resources active in AS") MAY be sent to all
inactive ASPs, if required. An ASP Inactive Ack message is sent to
the ASP after all traffic is halted and Layer Management is informed
with an M-ASP_INACTIVE indication primitive.
Multiple ASP Inactive Ack messages MAY be used in response to an ASP
Inactive message containing multiple Interface Identifiers, allowing
the SGP to independently acknowledge for different (sets of)
Interface Identifiers. The SGP sends an Error message ("Invalid
Interface Identifier") for each invalid or not configured Interface
Identifier value in a received ASP Inactive message.
The SGP MUST send an ASP Inactive Ack message in response to a
received ASP Inactive message from the ASP and the ASP is already
marked as ASP-INACTIVE at the SGP.
At the ASP, the ASP Inactive Ack message received is not
acknowledged. Layer Management is informed with an M-ASP_INACTIVE
confirm primitive. If the ASP receives an ASP Inactive Ack without
having sent an ASP Inactive message, the ASP SHOULD now consider
itself as in the ASP-INACTIVE state. If the ASP was previously in
the ASP-ACTIVE state, the ASP SHOULD then initiate procedures to
return itself to its previous state.
When the ASP sends an ASP Inactive message it starts timer
T(ack). If the ASP does not receive a response to an ASP Inactive
message within T(ack), the ASP MAY restart T(ack) and resend ASP
Inactive messages until it receives an ASP Inactive Ack message.
T(ack) is provisionable, with a default of 2 seconds. Alternatively,
retransmission of ASP Inactive messages MAY be put under the control
of Layer Management. In this method, expiry of T(ack) results in a
M-ASP_Inactive confirm primitive carrying a negative indication.
If no other ASPs in the Application Server are in the state ASP-
ACTIVE, the SGP MUST send a Notify message ("AS-Pending") to all of
the ASPs in the AS which are in the state ASP-INACTIVE. The SGP
SHOULD start buffering the incoming messages for T(r)seconds, after
which messages MAY be discarded. T(r) is configurable by the network
operator. If the SGP receives an ASP Active message from an ASP in
the AS before expiry of T(r), the buffered traffic is directed to
that ASP and the timer is canceled. If T(r) expires, the AS is moved
to the AS-INACTIVE state.
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4.3.4.5 Notify Procedures
A Notify message reflecting a change in the AS state MUST be sent to
all ASPs in the AS, except those in the ASP-DOWN state, with
appropriate Status Information and any ASP Identifier of the failed
ASP. At the ASP, Layer Management is informed with an M-NOTIFY
indication primitive. The Notify message MUST be sent whether the AS
state change was a result of an ASP failure or reception of an ASP
State Management (ASPSM) / ASP Traffic Management (ASPTM) message.
In the second case, the Notify message MUST be sent after any related
acknowledgment messages (e.g., ASP Up Ack, ASP Down Ack, ASP Active
Ack, or ASP Inactive Ack).
In the case where a Notify ("AS-PENDING") message is sent by an SGP
that now has no ASPs active to service the traffic, or where a Notify
("Insufficient ASP resources active in AS") message MUST be sent in
the Load share or Broadcast mode, the Notify message does not
explicitly compel the ASP(s) receiving the message to become active.
The ASPs remain in control of what (and when) traffic action is
taken.
In the case where a Notify message does not contain a Interface
Identifier parameter, the receiver must know, via configuration data,
of which Application Servers the ASP is a member and take the
appropriate action in each AS.
4.3.4.6 Heartbeat Procedures
The optional Heartbeat procedures MAY be used when operating over
transport layers that do not have their own heartbeat mechanism for
detecting loss of the transport association (i.e., other than SCTP).
Either M2UA peer may optionally send Heartbeat messages periodically,
subject to a provisionable timer T(beat). Upon receiving a Heartbeat
message, the M2UA peer MUST respond with a Heartbeat Ack message.
If no Heartbeat Ack message (or any other M2UA message) is received
from the M2UA peer within 2*T(beat), the remote M2UA peer is
considered unavailable. Transmission of Heartbeat messages is
stopped and the signalling process SHOULD attempt to re-establish
communication if it is configured as the client for the disconnected
M2UA peer.
The Heartbeat message may optionally contain an opaque Heartbeat Data
parameter that MUST be echoed back unchanged in the related Heartbeat
Ack message. The sender, upon examining the contents of the returned
Heartbeat Ack message, MAY choose to consider the remote M2UA peer as
unavailable. The contents/format of the Heartbeat Data parameter is
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implementation-dependent and only of local interest to the original
sender. The contents may be used, for example, to support a
Heartbeat sequence algorithm (to detect missing Heartbeats), and/or a
time stamp mechanism (to evaluate delays).
Note: Heartbeat related events are not shown in Figure 5 "ASP state
transition diagram".
4.4 Link Key Management Procedures
The Interface Identifier Management procedures are optional. They
can be used to support automatic allocation of Signalling Terminals
or Signalling Data Links [2][3].
4.4.1 Registration
An ASP MAY dynamically register with an SGP as an ASP within an
Application Server for individual Interface Identifier(s) using the
REG REQ message. A Link Key parameter in the REG REQ specifies the
parameters associated with the Link Key.
The SGP examines the contents of the received Link Key parameters
(SDLI and SDTI) and compares them with the currently provisioned
Interface Identifiers. If the received Link Key matches an existing
SGP Link Key entry, and the ASP is not currently included in the list
of ASPs for the related Application Server, the SGP MAY authorize the
ASP to be added to the AS. Or, if the Link Key does not currently
exist and the received Link Key data is valid and unique, an SGP
supporting dynamic configuration MAY authorize the creation of a new
Interface Identifier and related Application Server and add the ASP
to the new AS. In either case, the SGP returns a Registration
Response message to the ASP, containing the same Local-LK-Identifier
as provided in the initial request, a Registration Result
"Successfully Registered" and the Interface Identifier. A unique
method of Interface Identifier valid assignment at the SG/SGP is
implementation dependent but MUST be guaranteed to be unique for each
Application server or Link Key served by SGP.
If the SGP determines that the received Link Key data is invalid, or
contains invalid parameter values, the SGP returns a Registration
Response message to the ASP, containing a Registration Result "Error
- Invalid Link Key", "Error - Invalid SDTI", "Error - Invalid SDLI"
as appropriate.
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If the SGP determines that the Link Key parameter overlaps with an
existing Link Key entry, the SGP returns a Registration Response
message to the ASP, with a Registration Status of "Error -
Overlapping (Non-Unique) Link Key". An incoming signalling message
received at an SGP cannot match against more than one Link Key.
If the SGP does not authorize the registration request, the SGP
returns a REG RSP message to the ASP containing the Registration
Result "Error - Permission Denied".
If an SGP determines that a received Link Key does not currently
exist and the SGP does not support dynamic configuration, the SGP
returns a Registration Response message to the ASP, containing a
Registration Result "Error - Link Key not Provisioned".
If an SGP determines that a received Link Key does not currently
exist and the SGP supports dynamic reconfiguration but does not have
the capacity to add new Link Key and Application Server entries, the
SGP returns a Registration Response message to the ASP, containing a
Registration Result "Error - Insufficient Resources".
An ASP MAY register multiple Link Keys at once by including a number
of Link Key parameters in a single REG REQ message. The SGP MAY
respond to each registration request in a single REG RSP message,
indicating the success or failure result for each Link Key in a
separate Registration Result parameter. Alternatively, the SGP MAY
respond with multiple REG RSP messages, each with one or more
Registration Result parameters. The ASP uses the Local-LK-Identifier
parameter to correlate the requests with the responses.
4.4.2 Deregistration
An ASP MAY dynamically de-register with an SGP as an ASP within an
Application Server for individual Interface Identifier(s) using the
DEREG REQ message. A Interface Identifier parameter in the DEREG REQ
specifies which Interface Identifier to de-register.
The SGP examines the contents of the received Interface Identifier
parameter and validates that the ASP is currently registered in the
Application Server(s) related to the included Interface
Identifier(s). If validated, the ASP is de-registered as an ASP in
the related Application Server.
The deregistration procedure does not necessarily imply the deletion
of Link Key and Application Server configuration data at the SGP.
Other ASPs may continue to be associated with the Application Server,
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in which case the Link Key data CANNOT be deleted. If a
Deregistration results in no more ASPs in an Application Server, an
SGP MAY delete the Link Key data.
The SGP acknowledges the de-registration required by returning a
DEREG RSP to the requesting ASP. The result of the de-registration
is found in the Deregistration Result parameter, indicating success
or failure with cause.
An ASP MAY de-register multiple Interface Identifiers at once by
including a number of Interface Identifiers in a single DEREG REQ
message. The SGP MUST respond to each deregistration request in a
single DEREG RSP message, indicating the success or failure result
for each Interface Identifier in a separate Deregistration Result
parameter.
5.0 Examples of MTP2 User Adaptation (M2UA) Procedures
5.1 Establishment of associations between SGP and MGC examples
5.1.1 Single ASP in an Application Server (1+0 sparing)
This scenario shows the example M2UA message flows for the
establishment of traffic between an SGP and an ASP, where only one
ASP is configured within an AS (no backup). It is assumed that the
SCTP association is already set-up.
SGP ASP1
|
|<---------ASP Up----------|
|--------ASP Up Ack------->|
| |
|<-------ASP Active--------|
|------ASP Active Ack----->|
| |
|------NTFY(AS-ACTIVE)---->|
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5.1.2 Single ASP in an Application Server (1+0 sparing) with Dynamic
Registration
This scenario is the same as the one shown in Section 5.1.1 except
with a dynamic registration (automatic allocation) of an Interface
Identifier(s).
SGP ASP1
|
|<---------ASP Up----------|
|--------ASP Up Ack------->|
| |
|<--------REG REQ----------|
|------REG REQ RESP------->|
| |
|<-------ASP Active--------|
|------ASP Active Ack----->|
| |
|------NTFY(AS-ACTIVE)---->|
5.1.3 Two ASPs in Application Server (1+1 sparing)
This scenario shows the example M2UA message flows for the
establishment of traffic between an SGP and two ASPs in the same
Application Server, where ASP1 is configured to be active and ASP2 to
be standby in the event of communication failure or the withdrawal
from service of ASP1. ASP2 MAY act as a hot, warm, or cold standby
depending on the extent to which ASP1 and ASP2 share call/transaction
state or can communicate call state under failure/withdrawal events.
SGP ASP1 ASP2
| | |
|<--------ASP Up----------| |
|-------ASP Up Ack------->| |
| | |
|<-----------------------------ASP Up----------------|
|----------------------------ASP Up Ack------------->|
| | |
| | |
|<-------ASP Active-------| |
|-----ASP Active Ack----->| |
| | |
| | |
|-----NTFY(AS-ACTIVE)---->| |
| | |
|------------------NTFY(AS-ACTIVE)------------------>|
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
5.2 ASP Traffic Fail-over Examples
5.2.1 (1+1 Sparing, withdrawal of ASP, backup Override)
Following on from the example in Section 5.1.2, and ASP withdraws
from service:
SGP ASP1 ASP2
| | |
|<-----ASP Inactive-------| |
|----ASP Inactive Ack---->| |
| | |
|----NTFY(AS-PENDING)---->| |
|------------------NTFY(AS-PENDING)----------------->|
| | |
|<------------------------------ ASP Active----------|
|-----------------------------ASP Active Ack-------->|
| | |
|-----NTFY(AS-ACTIVE)---->| |
|------------------NTFY(AS-ACTIVE)------------------>|
| | |
In this case, the SGP notifies ASP2 that the AS has moved to the AS-
PENDING state. ASP2 sends ASP Active to bring the AS back to the
AS-ACTIVE state. If ASP2 did not send the ASP Active message before
T(r) expired, the SGP would send a NOTIFY (AS-DOWN).
Note: If the SGP detects loss of the M2UA peer (through a detection
of SCTP failure), the initial SGP-ASP1 ASP Inactive message
exchange would not occur.
SGP ASP1 ASP2
| | |
(detects SCTP failure)
|------------------NTFY(AS-PENDING)----------------->|
| | |
|<------------------------------ ASP Active----------|
|-----------------------------ASP Active Ack-------->|
| | |
|------------------NTFY(AS-ACTIVE)------------------>|
| | |
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 77]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
5.2.2 (1+1 Sparing, backup Override)
Following on from the example in Section 5.1.2, and ASP2 wishes to
override ASP1 and take over the traffic:
SGP ASP1 ASP2
| | |
|<-------------------------------ASP Active----------|
|-----------------------------ASP Active Ack-------->|
|----NTFY(Alt ASP-Act)--->| |
| | |
In this case, the SGP notifies ASP1 that an alternative ASP has
overridden it.
5.3 SGP to MGC, MTP Level 2 to MTP Level 3 Boundary Procedures
When the M2UA layer on the ASP has a MAUP message to send to the SGP,
it will do the following:
- Determine the correct SGP
- Find the SCTP association to the chosen SGP
- Determine the correct stream in the SCTP association based on
the SS7 link
- Fill in the MAUP message, fill in M2UA Message Header, fill in
Common Header
- Send the MAUP message to the remote M2UA peer in the SGP, over
the SCTP association
When the M2UA layer on the SGP has a MAUP message to send to the ASP,
it will do the following:
- Determine the AS for the Interface Identifier
- Determine the Active ASP (SCTP association) within the AS
- Determine the correct stream in the SCTP association based on
the SS7 link
- Fill in the MAUP message, fill in M2UA Message Header, fill in
Common Header
- Send the MAUP message to the remote M2UA peer in the ASP, over
the SCTP association
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 78]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
5.3.1 SS7 Link Alignment
The MGC can request that a SS7 link be brought into alignment using
the normal or emergency procedure [2][3]. An example of the message
flow to bring a SS7 link in-service using the normal alignment
procedure is shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<----Start Req---|<---Establish Req----|<----Start Req------
---In Serv Ind-->|----Establish Cfm--->|----In Serv Ind---->
An example of the message flow to bring a SS7 link in-service using
the emergency alignment procedure.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<----Emer Req----|<--State Req (STATUS_EMER_SET)----|<----Emer Req---
-----Emer Cfm--->|---State Cfm (STATUS_EMER_SET)--->|----Emer Cfm---->
<---Start Req----|<-------Establish Req-------------|<---Start Req----
---In Serv Ind-->|--------Establish Cfm------------>|---In Serv Ind-->
5.3.2 SS7 Link Release
The MGC can request that a SS7 link be taken out-of-service. It uses
the Release Request message as shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<-----Stop Req-----|<---Release Req------|<-----Stop Req------
--Out of Serv Ind->|----Release Cfm----->|--Out of Serv Ind-->
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The SGP can autonomously indicate that a SS7 link has gone out-of-
service as shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
--Out of Serv->|----Release Ind----->|--Out of Serv-->
5.3.3 Set and Clear Local Processor Outage
The MGC can set a Local Processor Outage condition. It uses the
State Request message as shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<----LPO Req----|<---State Req (STATUS_LPO_SET)----|<----LPO Req---
-----LPO Cfm--->|----State Cfm (STATUS_LPO_SET)--->|----LPO Cfm---->
The MGC can clear a Local Processor Outage condition. It uses the
State Request message as shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<---LPO Req---|<---State Req (STATUS_LPO_CLEAR)----|<----LPO Req---
----LPO Cfm-->|----State Cfm (STATUS_LPO_CLEAR)--->|----LPO Cfm---->
5.3.4 Notification of Remote Processor Outage
The SGP can indicate that Remote has entered or exited the Processor
Outage condition for a SS7 link. It uses the State Indication
message as shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
----RPO Ind---->|----State Ind (EVENT_RPO_ENTER)-->|-----RPO Ind---->
-RPO Rcvr Ind-->|----State Ind (EVENT_RPO_EXIT)--->|--RPO Rcvr Ind-->
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5.3.5 Notification of SS7 Link Congestion
The SGP can indicate that a SS7 link has become congested. It uses
the Congestion Indication message as shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
----Cong Ind---->|--------Cong Ind (STATUS)------->|----Cong Ind---->
-Cong Cease Ind->|--------Cong Ind (STATUS)------->|-Cong Cease Ind->
5.3.6 SS7 Link Changeover
An example of the message flow for an error free changeover is shown
below. In this example, there were three messages in the
retransmission queue that needed to be retrieved.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<-Rtrv BSN Req-|<--Rtrv Req (ACTION_RTRV_BSN)--|<--Rtrv BSN Req---
(seq_num = 0)
-Rtrv BSN Cfm->|---Rtrv Cfm (ACTION_RTRV_BSN)->|---Rtrv BSN Cfm-->
(seq_num = BSN)
<-Rtrv Msg Req-|<-Rtrv Req (ACTION_RTRV_MSGS)--|<--Rtrv Msg Req---
(seq_num = FSN)
-Rtrv Msg Cfm->|--Rtrv Cfm (ACTION_RTRV_MSGS)->|---Rtrv Msg Cfm-->
(seq_num = 0)
-Rtrv Msg Ind->|---------Retrieval Ind ------->|---Rtrv Msg Ind-->
-Rtrv Msg Ind->|---------Retrieval Ind ------->|---Rtrv Msg Ind-->
-Rtrv Msg Ind->|---------Retrieval Ind ------->|---Rtrv Msg Ind-->
-Rtrv Compl Ind->|----Retrieval Compl Ind ---->|-Rtrv Compl Ind-->
Note: The number of Retrieval Indication is dependent on the
number of messages in the retransmit queue that have been
requested. Only one Retrieval Complete Indication SHOULD be
sent.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 81]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
An example of a message flow with an error retrieving the BSN is
shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<-Rtrv BSN Req-|<--Rtrv Req (ACTION_RTRV_BSN)--|<--Rtrv BSN Req---
-BSN Not Rtrv->|---Rtrv Cfm (ACTION_RTRV_BSN)->|---BSN Not Rtrv-->
(seq_num = -1)
An example of a message flow with an error retrieving the messages is
shown below.
<-Rtrv BSN Req-|<--Rtrv Req (ACTION_RTRV_BSN)--|<--Rtrv BSN Req---
-Rtrv BSN Cfm->|---Rtrv Cfm (ACTION_RTRV_BSN)->|---Rtrv BSN Cfm-->
(seq_num = BSN)
<-Rtrv Msg Req-|<-Rtrv Req (ACTION_RTRV_MSGS)--|<--Rtrv Msg Req---
(seq_num = FSN)
-Rtrv Msg Cfm->|--Rtrv Cfm (ACTION_RTRV_MSGS)->|---Rtrv Msg Cfm-->
(seq_num = -1)
An example of a message flow for a request to drop messages (clear
retransmission buffers) is shown below.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
-Clr RTB Req----|<-StateReq (STATUS_CLEAR_RTB)--|<--Clr RTB Req-----
-Clr RTB Req--->|-StateCfm (STATUS_CLEAR_RTB)-->|---Clr RTB Req---->
5.3.7 Flush and Continue
The following message flow shows a request to flush buffers.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<--Flush Req----|<-State Req (STATUS_FLUSH_BUFS)--|<---Flush Req--
---Flush Cfm--->|--State Cfm (STATUS_FLUSH_BUFS)->|---Flush Cfm-->
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The following message flow shows a request to continue.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MTP3
SGP SGP ASP ASP
<---Cont Req----|<--State Req (STATUS_CONTINUE)---|<---Cont Req---
----Cont Cfm--->|---State Cfm (STATUS_CONTINUE)-->|----Cont Cfm-->
5.3.8 Auditing of SS7 link state
It may be necessary for the ASP to audit the current state of a SS7
link. The flows below show an example of the request and all the
potential responses.
Below is an example in which the SS7 link is out-of-service.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MGMT
SGP SGP ASP ASP
|<----State Req (STATUS_AUDIT)----|<----Audit-------
MTP3
ASP
|-----------Release Ind---------->|-Out of Serv Ind->
MGMT
ASP
|-----State Cfm (STATUS_AUDIT)--->|----Audit Cfm--->
Below is an example in which the SS7 link is in-service.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MGMT
SGP SGP ASP ASP
|<----State Req (STATUS_AUDIT)----|<----Audit-------
MTP3
ASP
|-----------Establish Cfm-------->|---In Serv Ind-->
MGMT
ASP
|-----State Cfm (STATUS_AUDIT)--->|----Audit Cfm--->
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RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Below is an example in which the SS7 link is in-service, but
congested.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MGMT
SGP SGP ASP ASP
|<----State Req (STATUS_AUDIT)----|<----Audit-------
MTP3
ASP
|-----------Establish Cfm-------->|---In Serv Ind-->
|----------Congestion Ind-------->|---Cong Ind----->
MGMT
ASP
|-----State Cfm (STATUS_AUDIT)--->|----Audit Cfm--->
Below is an example in which the SS7 link is in-service, but in
Remote Processor Outage.
MTP2 M2UA M2UA MGMT
SGP SGP ASP ASP
|<----State Req (STATUS_AUDIT)----|<---Audit Req----
MTP3
ASP
|-----------Establish Ind-------->|---In Serv Ind-->
|---State Ind (EVENT_RPO_ENTER)-->|----RPO Enter--->
MGMT
ASP
|-----State Cfm (STATUS_AUDIT)--->|----Audit Cfm--->
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 84]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
6.0 Timer Values
The recommended default values for M2UA timers are:
T(r) 2 seconds
T(ack) 2 seconds
T(beat) Heartbeat Timer 30 seconds
7.0 Security Considerations
M2UA is designed to carry signalling messages for telephony services.
As such, M2UA MUST involve the security needs of several parties: the
end users of the services; the network providers and the applications
involved. Additional requirements MAY come from local regulation.
While having some overlapping security needs, any security solution
SHOULD fulfill all of the different parties' needs.
7.1 Threats
There is no quick fix, one-size-fits-all solution for security. As a
transport protocol, M2UA has the following security objectives:
* Availability of reliable and timely user data transport.
* Integrity of user data transport.
* Confidentiality of user data.
M2UA runs on top of SCTP. SCTP [8] provides certain transport
related security features, such as:
* Blind Denial of Service Attacks
* Flooding
* Masquerade
* Improper Monopolization of Services
When M2UA is running in a professionally managed corporate or service
provider network, it is reasonable to expect that this network
includes an appropriate security policy framework. The "Site
Security Handbook" [13] SHOULD be consulted for guidance.
When the network in which M2UA runs in involves more than one party,
it MAY NOT be reasonable to expect that all parties have implemented
security in a sufficient manner. In such a case, it is recommended
that IPSEC is used to ensure confidentiality of user payload.
Consult [14] for more information on configuring IPSEC services.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 85]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
7.2 Protecting Confidentiality
Particularly for mobile users, the requirement for confidentiality
MAY include the masking of IP addresses and ports. In this case
application level encryption is not sufficient; IPSEC ESP SHOULD be
used instead. Regardless of which level performs the encryption, the
IPSEC ISAKMP service SHOULD be used for key management.
8.0 IANA Considerations
8.1 SCTP Payload Protocol Identifier
A request will be made to IANA to assign an M2UA value for the
Payload Protocol Identifier in SCTP Payload Data chunk. The
following SCTP Payload Protocol Identifier has been registered:
M2UA "2"
The SCTP Payload Protocol Identifier is included in each SCTP Data
chunk, to indicate which protocol the SCTP is carrying. This Payload
Protocol Identifier is not directly used by SCTP but MAY be used by
certain network entities to identify the type of information being
carried in a Data chunk.
The User Adaptation peer MAY use the Payload Protocol Identifier as a
way of determining additional information about the data being
presented to it by SCTP.
8.2 M2UA Protocol Extensions
This protocol may also be extended through IANA in three ways:
-- through definition of additional message classes,
-- through definition of additional message types, and
-- through definition of additional message parameters.
The definition and use of new message classes, types and parameters
is an integral part of SIGTRAN adaptation layers. Thus, these
extensions are assigned by IANA through an IETF Consensus action as
defined in [RFC2434].
The proposed extension must in no way adversely affect the general
working of the protocol.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 86]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
8.2.1 IETF Defined Message Classes
The documentation for a new message class MUST include the following
information:
(a) A long and short name for the message class.
(b) A detailed description of the purpose of the message class.
8.2.2 IETF Defined Message Types
Documentation of the message type MUST contain the following
information:
(a) A long and short name for the new message type.
(b) A detailed description of the structure of the message.
(c) A detailed definition and description of intended use of each
field within the message.
(d) A detailed procedural description of the use of the new message
type within the operation of the protocol.
(e) A detailed description of error conditions when receiving this
message type.
When an implementation receives a message type which it does not
support, it MUST respond with an Error (ERR) message with an Error
Code of Unsupported Message Type.
8.2.3 IETF-defined TLV Parameter Extension
Documentation of the message parameter MUST contain the following
information:
(a) Name of the parameter type.
(b) Detailed description of the structure of the parameter field.
This structure MUST conform to the general type-length-value
format described in Section 3.1.5.
(c) Detailed definition of each component of the parameter value.
(d) Detailed description of the intended use of this parameter type,
and an indication of whether and under what circumstances
multiple instances of this parameter type may be found within the
same message type.
9.0 Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Tom George (Alcatel) for contribution
of text and effort on the specification.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 87]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
The authors would like to thank John Loughney, Neil Olson, Michael
Tuexen, Nikhil Jain, Steve Lorusso, Dan Brendes, Joe Keller, Heinz
Prantner, Barry Nagelberg, Naoto Makinae, Joyce Archibald, Mark
Kobine, Nitin Tomar, Harsh Bhondwe and Karen King for their valuable
comments and suggestions.
10.0 References
10.1 Normative
[1] ITU-T Recommendation Q.700, 'Introduction To ITU-T Signalling
System No. 7 (SS7)'
[2] ITU-T Recommendation Q.701-Q.705, 'Signalling System No. 7 (SS7)
- Message Transfer Part (MTP)'
[3] ANSI T1.111 'Signalling System Number 7 - Message Transfer Part'
[4] Bellcore GR-246-CORE 'Bell Communications Research Specification
of Signalling System Number 7', Volume 1, December 1995
[5] Telecommunication Technology Committee (TTC) Standard JT-Q704,
Message Transfer Part Signaling Network Functions, April 28,
1992.
[6] Yergeau, F., "UTF-8, a transformation format of ISO 10646", RFC
2279, January 1998.
[7] Coded Character Set--7-Bit American Standard Code for
Information Interchange, ANSI X3.4-1986.
10.2 Informative
[8] Stewart, R., Xie, Q., Morneault, K., Sharp, C., Schwarzbauer,
H., Taylor, T., Rytina, I., Kalla, M., Zhang, L. and V. Paxson,
"Stream Control Transmission Protocol", RFC 2960, October 2000.
[9] Ong, L., Rytina, I., Garcia, M., Schwarzbauer, H., Coene, L.,
Lin, H., Juhasz, I., Holdrege, M. and C. Sharp, "Architectural
Framework for Signalling Transport", RFC 2719, October 1999.
[10] ITU-T Recommendation Q.2140, 'B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer',
February 1995
[11] ITU-T Recommendation Q.2210, 'Message transfer part level 3
functions and messages using the services of ITU-T
Recommendation Q.2140', August 1995
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 88]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
[12] ITU-T Recommendation Q.751.1, 'Network Element Management
Information Model for the Message Transfer Part', October 1995
[13] Fraser, B., "Site Security Handbook", FYI 8, RFC 2196, September
1997.
[14] Kent, S. and R. Atkinson, "Security Architecture for the
Internet Protocol", RFC 2401, November 1998.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 89]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Appendix A: Signalling Network Architecture
A Signalling Gateway will support the transport of MTP2-User
signalling traffic received from the SS7 network to one or more
distributed ASPs (e.g., MGCs). Clearly, the M2UA protocol
description cannot in itself meet any performance and reliability
requirements for such transport. A physical network architecture is
required, with data on the availability and transfer performance of
the physical nodes involved in any particular exchange of
information. However, the M2UA protocol is flexible enough to allow
its operation and management in a variety of physical configurations
that will enable Network Operators to meet their performance and
reliability requirements.
To meet the stringent SS7 signalling reliability and performance
requirements for carrier grade networks, these Network Operators
should ensure that there is no single point of failure provisioned in
the end-to-end network architecture between an SS7 node and an IP
ASP.
Depending of course on the reliability of the SGP and ASP functional
elements, this can typically be met by spreading SS7 links in a SS7
linkset [1] across SGPs or SGs, the provision of redundant QoS-
bounded IP network paths for SCTP Associations between SCTP End
Points, and redundant Hosts. The distribution of ASPs within the
available Hosts is also important. For a particular Application
Server, the related ASPs MAY be distributed over at least two Hosts.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 90]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
An example of logical network architecture relevant to carrier-grade
operation in the IP network domain is shown in Figure 7 below:
************** **************
* ********__*______________________________*__******** * Host1
SG1 * * SGP1 *__*________________ _______*__* ASP1 * *
* ******** * | | * ******** *
* . * | | * *
* . * | | **************
************** | |
| |
************** | |
* ********__*______________________|
SG2 * * SGP2 *__*________ |
* ******** * | |
* . * | |
* . * | |
************** | | **************
| |_____________*__******** * Host2
|_____________________*__* ASP2 * *
. * ******** *
. SCTP Associations * *
. **************
.
.
.
Figure 7: Logical Model Example
To avoid a single point of failure, it is recommended that a minimum
of two ASPs be configured in an AS list, resident in separate hosts
and, therefore, available over different SCTP associations. For
example, in the network shown in Figure 7, all messages for the
Interface Identifiers could be sent to ASP1 in Host1 or ASP2 in
Host2. The AS list at SGP1 might look like the following:
Interface Identifiers - Application Server #1
ASP1/Host1 - State = Active
ASP2/Host2 - State = Inactive
In this 1+1 redundancy case, ASP1 in Host1 would be sent any incoming
message for the Interface Identifiers registered. ASP2 in Host2
would normally be brought to the active state upon failure of
ASP1/Host1. In this example, both ASPs are Inactive or Active,
meaning that the related SCTP association and far-end M2UA peer is
ready.
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 91]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
For carrier grade networks, Operators should ensure that under
failure or isolation of a particular ASP, stable calls or
transactions are not lost. This implies that ASPs need, in some
cases, to share the call/-transaction state or be able to pass the
call/transaction state between each other. Also, in the case of ASPs
performing call processing, coordination MAY be required with the
related Media Gateway to transfer the MGC control for a particular
trunk termination. However, this sharing or communication is outside
the scope of this document.
11.0 Authors' Addresses
Ken Morneault
Cisco Systems Inc.
13615 Dulles Technology Drive
Herndon, VA. 20171
USA
Phone: +1-703-484-3323
EMail: kmorneau@cisco.com
Ram Dantu, Ph.D.
NetRake Corporation
3000 Technology Drive
Plano, TX 75074
USA
Phone: +1-214-291-1111
EMail: rdantu@netrake.com
Greg Sidebottom
Signatus Technologies
Kanata, Ontario, Canada
EMail: greg@signatustechnologies.com
Brian Bidulock
OpenSS7 Corporation
1469 Jeffreys Crescent
Edmonton, AB T6L 6T1
Canada
Phone: +1-780-490-1141
EMail: bidulock@openss7.org
Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 92]
RFC 3331 SS7 MTP2 User Adaptation Layer September 2002
Jacob Heitz
Lucent Technologies
1701 Harbor Bay Parkway
Alameda, CA, 94502
USA
Phone: +1-510-747-2917
EMail: jheitz@lucent.com
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Full Copyright Statement
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Acknowledgement
Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the
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Morneault, et. al. Standards Track [Page 94]