Deleting a PCRF

Use the following procedure to delete a PCRF.

This procedure describes the recommended steps for deleting a PCRF from a Policy and Charging configuration. In this procedure, PCRF refers to a Diameter peer of the PCA, which is sometimes referred to as a PCRF Front-end.

The PCRF procedure minimizes disruption to policy signaling by:

Preventing sessions from creating new bindings to a PCRF that has been removed
Allowing sessions with existing bindings to continue to use a PCRF that has been removed until those sessions terminate normally

The following procedure describes the recommended steps for deletion of a PCRF from a Policy and Charging configuration. In this procedure, PCRF refers to a Diameter peer of the PCA, sometimes referred to as a PCRF Front-End.

Note: The PCRF removal procedure is restricted to SOAM servers.

Use Main Menu > Diameter > Configuration > Peer Nodes from the SOAM GUI page to determine the Peer Node name of the PCRF(s) being removed.
Use Main Menu > Diameter > Route Groups from the SOAM GUI page, use the GUI filter by Peer Node with the corresponding Peer Node name of the PCRF. This will display only the Route Groups that are associated with the PCRF.
From the same GUI page, determine if there are any Route Groups that contain other Peer Nodes in addition to the PCRF to be removed.
There are generally at least two Route Groups for each PCRF. One Route Group with only the specified PCRF peer, and one or more Route Groups with the specified PCRF peer plus other PCRF peers. The goal is to leave the route group with only the specified PCRF peer, but delete the PCRF peer from the other route groups. This allows routing for existing bindings to the PCRF peer, but prevents alternate routing to the PCRF peer.
From the same GUI page, edit each of the determined Route Groups and remove the PCRF/PCRF Front-End Peer Nodes from the Route Group.
This prevents alternate routing selection of the PCRF peer being removed.
Use Main Menu > Policy and Charging > Policy DRA > Configuration > PCRFs from the SOAM GUI page to delete the PCRF.
This prevents new Bindings from using the PCRF peer being removed.
After enough time has elapsed such that all Diameter sessions that could be bound to the PCRF peer should have terminated normally, use Main Menu > Policy and Charging > Policy DRA > Configuration > PCRFs on the SOAM GUI page to delete the route group containing only the PCRF peer being removed.
Use Main Menu > Diameter > Maintenance > Connections from the SOAM GUI page to find the connection for the PCRF Peer Node and disable it
Use Main Menu > Diameter > Maintenance > Connections from the SOAM GUI page to delete the connection to the PCRF Peer Node.
Use Main Menu > Diameter > Configuration > Peer Nodes from the SOAM GUI page to delete the Diameter Peer Node for the PCRF being removed.