2 Feature Activation Overview
This section lists the required materials and information needed to activate the feature. In addition, the sections Pre-Feature Activation Overview through Post-Feature Deactivation Overview provide estimates of the time required to run the procedure. These tables can be used to estimate the total time necessary to complete the feature activation. The timing values shown are estimates only. Use these tables to plan the timing of the activation, not to run the procedure. The detailed procedure steps to be run are described in Feature Activation.
2.1 Definition of Activation for the FABR Feature
The precise meaning of activation varies from feature to feature. This section briefly defines what activation means with respect to the FABR feature.
The main components of a FABR system include the FABR (DSR) application, the subscriber database (hosted by the DP/SDS system that supports one or more DPs), and the Communication Agent (ComAgent) which provides reliable connectivity and load sharing of multiple DP servers from the FABR application.
ComAgent is a component, which is also used by other features to enable connectivity to servers required by such features. Hence, ComAgent, as a component, is not unique to FABR. However, certain aspects of this component are used by FABR to provide connectivity to the DP servers. Configuration or provisioning of these aspects of ComAgent is beyond the scope of this document. However, the activation procedure initializes the ComAgent component in such a way that it becomes possible to further configure or provision this component for use by FABR.
The configuration and setup of the DP/SDS is beyond the scope of this document. The configuration and setup of FABR (DSR) application and ComAgent (on DSR) post activation is beyond the scope of this document.
All software required to run FABR is available by default as part of a DSR release installation or upgrade. This includes the ComAgent libraries and GUI/OAM code required to configure communication with the subscriber database. The process of activating the feature simply makes proper use of software elements and file system files that are already present, to change the behavior of the DSR NE.
Before FABR feature activation, there are no FABR menu items visible on the SOAM GUI, and there is no FABR related processing taking place on the DA-MP(s).
All ComAgent related menu items are present on the NOAM GUI, allowing full ComAgent configuration and provisioning. The ComAgent managed objects are under the Communication Agent folder on the GUI menu. For the ComAgent, this means that the top level Communication Agent folder is visible on the Main Menu, for example, the ComAgent Configuration screens (Remote servers, Connection Groups, and Routed Services), and the ComAgent Maintenance screens (Connection Status, Routed Services Status, HA Services Status) are visible.
After feature activation, all selectable FABR menu items are present on the SOAM GUI, allowing full FABR configuration and provisioning. Specifically, for FABR application, the top-level FABR folder is visible on the Main Menu, and a new entry is added to the Application table under Maintenance option in Diameter, showing FABR and its state. After successful feature activation, a Connection Group named DpSvcGroup is added, to the Connection Groups screen, a Routed Service named DpService is added to the Routed Services screen and is mapped to use the DpSvcGroup Connection Group at default priority 10.
After activation:
The DA-MP(s) are prepared to act on FABR and ComAgent configuration and provisioning information entered at and replication from the NOAM (in case of ComAgent configuration or provisioning) and SOAM (in case of FABR configuration or provisioning).
Note:
Once the FABR feature is activated, it is not automatically enabled. Activation simply means the mechanism for provisioning FABR behavior is in place. But the DA-MP(s) acts on FABR provisioning information only after FABR has been enabled (using the Application screen under Maintenance option in Diameter). FABR should not be enabled until after the appropriate provisioning data has been entered. FABR provisioning is beyond the scope of this document. Furthermore, for proper operation of FABR, Communication Agent and FABR applications assume the Remote server IP addresses are routable or reachable. However, these networking setup or concerns are beyond the scope of the activation procedure.
2.2 Pre-Feature Activation Overview
The pre-activation procedures shown in the following table can be run outside a maintenance window if required. Procedure completion times shown here are estimates. Times may vary due to differences in database size, network configuration and loading, user experience, and user preparation.
Table 2-1 Pre-Feature Activation Overview
| Procedure | Elapsed Time (Hours:Minutes) | Tasks | Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Step | Cumulative | |||
| System Topology Check | 0:20 | 0:20 |
|
None |
| Perform Health Check | 0:05 | 0.25 |
|
None |
2.3 Feature Activation Execution Overview
The procedures shown in the following table are run inside a single maintenance window. Procedure completion times shown here are estimates. Times may vary due to differences in database size, network configuration and loading, user experience, and user preparation.
Table 2-2 Feature Activation Execution Overview
| Procedure | Elapsed Time (Hours:Minutes) | Tasks | Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Step | Cumulative | |||
| Perform Health Check (Pre-Feature Activation) | 0:05 | 0:05 |
|
None |
| Feature Activation | 0:20 | 0.25 |
|
FABR is activated |
2.4 Post-Feature Activation Overview
The procedures shown in the following table are run inside a maintenance window. Procedure completion times shown here are estimates. Times may vary due to differences in database size, network configuration and loading, user experience, and user preparation.
Table 2-3 Post-Feature Activation Overview
| Procedure | Elapsed Time (Hours:Minutes) | Tasks | Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Step | Cumulative | |||
| Perform Health Check (Post-Feature Activation) | 0:05 | 0:05 |
|
FABR has been activated on DSR |