Example of Creating and Using a RADIUS CoA Template

In response to a RADIUS message such as Accounting-Start, an MPE device can use a RADIUS CoA template to send a policy, expressed using VSAs and TLVs, to a BNG device for a specific subscriber. The following is a simple example in which a RADIUS CoA template containing one VSA from a new vendor is defined, and a policy is written for the MPE device to send the RADIUS CoA to a BNG device upon receipt of a RADIUS Accounting-Start message. The following values are defined and used:
  • Vendor name and ID: EquipTel (3561)
  • VSA name: DSLF-Maximum-Interleaving-Delay-Downstream
  • VSA code: 141
  • VSA type: single-value integer
  • CoA Template name: RADIUS CoA Template EquipTel
The policy rule is as follows:
where the RADIUS accounting request is RADIUS Accounting-Start
send CoA with RADIUS CoA Template EquipTel
accept message
This procedure consists of tasks described elsewhere. The steps must be performed in the order shown.
Note: The actual options you see depend on whether or not your CMP system is configured in RADIUS mode.
  1. From the Policy Server section of the navigation pane, select Custom Vendors, and define the custom vendor.

    For more information, see Creating a Custom Vendor.

    The custom vendor is defined in the RADIUS dictionary.

  2. From the Policy Server section of the navigation pane, select Custom VSA Definitions, and define the custom vendor.

    For more information, see Creating a Custom VSA.

    The custom VSA is defined in the RADIUS dictionary.

  3. From the Policy Server section of the navigation pane, select RADIUS CoA Template, and define the RADIUS CoA template.

    For more information, see Creating a RADIUS CoA Template.

    The RADIUS CoA template is defined in the CMP database.

  4. From the Policy Management section of the navigation pane, select Policy Library, and define the policy.

    For more information, see Creating a Policy Rule.

    The policy is defined in the CMP database.

  5. From the Policy Management section of the navigation pane, select Policy Library, select the policy, and deploy it.

    For more information, see the CMP Wireless User's Guide.

    The policy is deployed to MPE devices in the Policy Management network.

The RADIUS CoA template is used as follows:
  1. After the BNG device successfully authenticates a subscriber, it sends a RADIUS Accounting-Start message to the MPE device.
  2. The MPE device fetches the subscriber's profile from an SPR database.
  3. The MPE device subscribes to the SPR database for changes to the profile of the subscriber.
  4. Based on the subscriber's profile and other conditions, the MPE device determines which policy and charging control (PCC) rule to install, and sends a RADIUS CoA request to install a service on the BNG device. The message includes the custom VSA from the custom vendor, as specified by the RADIUS CoA template.
  5. The BNG device installs the service and sends an acknowledgment message to the MPE device.
  6. The BNG device periodically sends Interim-Update messages, which the MPE device interprets as keep-alive messages indicating that the BNG device is still operational.