5.4.7.3.2 Setting Network-Wide Options

Use this task to set Network-Wide Options on the NOAM.

The fields are described in Network-Wide Options elements.

The Policy DRA configuration options apply to the entire Policy DRA Network:

• Origin-Host and Origin-Realm for Policy DRA generated RAR messages
• PCRF Pooling Modes
• Early Binding
• Topology Hiding

1. Click Policy and Charging, and then Configuration, and then Policy DRA, and then Network-Wide Options.
2. Select the PCRF Pooling Mode.
   Indicates whether PCRF Pooling operates in Single Pool Mode or Multi Pool mode.
3. Select a Default APN for Non Specific Binding Key Correlation.
   Select the APN to use for binding correlation if no APN is present in a binding dependent session creation request that needs to correlate using an IMSI or MSISDN key
4. Set the Early Binding Polling Interval.

   The number of milliseconds between sending queries to the early binding master to determine which PCRF the master session was routed to so that the slave session can be routed to the same PCRF.

   The goal is to set this value such that the master session has time to receive an answer a high percentage of the time. Choosing a low value increases database queries, but may reduce latency. A high value does the opposite.

   Note:

   This value is used only when PCRF Pooling is Enabled.
5. Set the Maximum Early Binding Lifetime.

   The maximum time that a binding is allowed to remain as an early binding.

   The ideal setting for this value is 100 - 200 msec longer than the Diameter transaction timeout. This value prevents bindings from becoming stuck for long periods in the early binding state due to congestion or other error conditions. If a new Diameter request or polling attempt discovers a binding session that has been in the early state for longer than this time, the binding session is removed.

   Note:

   This value is used only when PCRF Pooling is Enabled.
6. Select the Enable Topology Hiding check box.
   Enable or disable topology hiding using the check box. Once enabled or disabled here, the Topology Hiding is enabled or disabled at all SOAMs under this NOAM.
7. Select a Topology Hiding Scope.
   This sets the scope of messages where topology hiding will be applied. Select All Messages to perform topology hiding for all messages destined to policy clients. Select All Foreign Realms to perform topology hiding for messages destined to the policy clients whose realms are different from the realm of the PCRF to be bound. Select Specific Clients to perform topology hiding for the policy clients that are configured in one of SOAM GUI Main Menu: Policy and Charging, and then Configuration, and then Policy DRA, and then Policy Clients screen. Select All Foreign Realms + Specific Clients to perform topology hiding if either condition (All Foreign Realms or Specific Clients) is met.
8. Enter a Default Topology Hiding Virtual Name.

   The entered FQDN is used as a default value in the Origin-Host AVP for answer messages routed from a PCRF to a policy client, or in the Destination-Host AVP for request messages routed from a PCRF to a policy client, only if Topology Hiding Virtual Name FQDN is not configured at a SOAM relevant to the policy client and PCRF.

   The entered Realm is used as a default value in the Origin-Realm AVP for answer messages routed from a PCRF to a policy client, or in the Destination-Realm AVP for request messages routed from a PCRF to a policy client, only if Topology Hiding Virtual Name Realm is not configured at a SOAM relevant to the policy client and PCRF.

9. Enter a Suspect Binding Removal Events Ignore Interval value.
   The interval is used to ignore Suspect Binding Removal Events that arrive in quick succession
10. Enter a Suspect Binding Removal Events Reset Interval value.
    The interval is used to separate occurrences of PCRF unavailability
11. Enter a Suspect Binding Removal Events Threshold value.
    The threshold can be used to avoid triggering suspect binding removal for transient events (for example, Diameter timeouts).
12. Select the Local Host or PCRF radio button.
    This sets the Origin-Host and Origin-Realm that will be used in the RAR messages constructed and sent by Policy DRA to policy clients.
13. Enter a Maximum Query RAR Rate Per Session Server Group value.
    The value specifies the maximum rate in messages per second at which a given Session SBR Server Group can send RAR messages to Policy Clients for the purpose of auditing to determine if the session still exists.
14. Enter a Maximum Attempts Per Query RAR value.
    The value specifies the maximum number of times a given RAR will be attempted to be sent to the Policy Client for purposes of querying for session existence when no response is received.
15. Enter a Maximum Release RAR Rate Per Session Server Group value.
    The value specifies the maximum rate in messages per second at which a given Session SBR Server Group can send RAR messages to Policy Clients for the purpose of requesting removal of a session.
16. Enter a Maximum Attempts Per Release RAR value.
    The value specifies the maximum number of times a given RAR will be attempted to be sent to the Policy Client for purposes of requesting removal of a session when no response is received.
17. Enter a Query RAR Queue Capacity Per Session Server Group value.
    The value specifies the maximum number of RARs that can be queued in a given session SBR Server Group for sending to Policy Clients for the purpose of querying for session existence.
18. Enter a Release RAR Queue Capacity Per Session Server Group value.
    The value specifies the maximum number of RARs that can be queued in a given session SBR Server Group for sending to Policy Clients for the purpose of requesting removal of sessions.
19. Click:
    • Apply to save the changes and remain on this screen.
    • Cancel to discard changes and remain on the Policy and Charging, and then Configuration, and then Policy DRA, and then Network-Wide Options screen.

    If Apply is clicked and the Enable PCRF Pooling checkbox transitioned from unchecked to checked, then an error message appears.