Creating a Network Element

You must create a network element for each device associated with any of the MPE devices within the network. To create a network element:

  1. From the Network section of the navigation pane, select Network Elements.

    The content tree displays a list of network element groups; the initial group is ALL.

  2. Click Create Network Element.

    The New Network Element page opens.

  3. Enter information for the network element:
    1. (Required) Name — The name you assign to the network element.

      The name can only contain the characters A through Z, a through z, 0 through 9, period (.), hyphen (-), and underline (_). The maximum length is 250 characters.

    2. (Required) Host Name/IP Address — Registered domain name, or IP address in IPv4 or IPv6 format, assigned to the network element.
    3. Backup Host Name — Alternate address that is used if communication between the MPE device and the primary address for the network element fails.
    4. Description/Location — Free-form text.

      Enter up to 250 characters.

    5. (Required) Type — Select the type of network element.

      The supported types are:
      • PDSN

        Packet Data Serving Node (with the sub-types Generic PDSN or Starent)

      • HomeAgent

        Customer equipment Home Agent (with the sub-types Generic HomeAgent or Starent)

      • GGSN (default)

        Gateway GPRS Support Node

      • HSGW

        HRPD Serving Gateway

      • PGW

        Packet Data Network Gateway

      • SGW

        Serving Gateway

      • AF

        Application Function

      • DRA

        Diameter Routing Agent

      • DPI

        Deep Packet Inspection device

      • NAS

        Network Access Server device

      Note: For more information on managing network elements, see the Configuration Management Platform Wireless User's Guide.

    6. Protocol Timer Profile — The timer profile that sets timeout values for messages in applications/interfaces.

      See Managing Protocol Timer Profiles for more information.

    7. Capability — This field is valid for some network element types.

      When present, it contains the following options:
      • TDF-Solicit — DPI accepts Sd session establishment requests from the MPE device.
      • Time-Tariff — PGW and DPI network element types support Time-Tariff functionality.
      • Usage-Report-26 — GGSN, PGW, SGW, and DPI network element types are compatible with usage_report event trigger value 26.

    8. Capacity — The bandwidth allocated to this network element.
  4. In Policy Servers associated with this Network Element, select one or more policy servers (MPE devices) to associate with this network element.
  5. In MRAs associated with this Network Element, select one or more Multi-Protocol Routing Agent (MRA devices) to associated with this network elements.
  6. In Network Element Groups which contain this Network Element, select one or more groups (see Adding a Network Element to a Network Element Group).
  7. Click Save.
You have created the definition for a network element and the network element is listed on the Network Element Administration page.
Parent topic: About Network Elements