This document provides an overview of a reproducible cloud native 5G node (RCNN) project. It discusses what 5G and RAN are, explains the benefits of a cloud native approach, and outlines the components needed to run an open source 5G node, including a Faraday cage, 5G core, radio, and compatible phone. It then demonstrates installing and running the RCNN, which includes Open5GS and SRSRan, on Kubernetes. Potential uses of the RCNN are discussed, such as experimenting with different bands and testing interoperability.

1. A Reproducible Cloud Native
5G Node
W. Watson
Principal
Vulk Coop
Saturday, November 4th
5:40pm - 6:10pm
Room 2
https://bit.ly/rejekts-5G-ran
Denver W.
Principal
Vulk Coop

2. Reproducible Cloud Native 5g Node (RCNN)
Overview
● Background behind the reproducible cloud native
5g node (RCNN)?
● What is an open source, cloud native, 5g node?
○ What is 5g?
○ What is a RAN?
○ What do we mean by cloud native?
● What do you need to safely run a 5g node?
● Demo
● What can you do with an open source 5g node?
● Questions

3. Why are we doing this?
● We work on software that
tests telecommunications
software.
● We needed a real RAN to test
● Couldn’t find an example that
‘just works’ in Kubernetes
● So we created the RCNN

4. What is a Cloud Native 5g node?
● Cloud native 5g architecture uses
immutable infrastructure,
declarative configuration, and
microservices when creating a 5g
node.
● This is exemplified by putting the
5g core and RAN into containers
and hosting them in Kubernetes.

5. What is 5g?
● A standard by the 3GPP
● Has provisions for supporting more
connected devices than 4g
● New, broader spectrum
assignments
● Better security
● More interoperability
● Ultra Reliable Low Latency
guarantees

6. What are the components of a 5g core?

7. How is a 5G SA core is different than a 4G core?
● It uses a Service Based Architecture (SBA).
● Control plane functions are configured to register with
the NRF, and the NRF then helps them discover the other
core functions.
● The AMF handles connection and mobility management; a
subset of what the 4G MME is tasked with.
● gNBs (5G basestations) connect to the AMF.
● The UDM, AUSF and UDR carry out similar operations as
the 4G HSS, generating SIM authentication vectors and
holding the subscriber profile.
● Session management is all handled by the SMF
(previously the responsibility of the 4G MME/ SGWC/
PGWC).
● The NSSF provides a way to select the network slice
● PCF is used for charging and enforcing subscriber policies.

8. What is a RAN?
● A radio (hardware)
○ We will be using a Universal Software
Radio Peripheral (USRP), a software
defined radio (SDR)
● Radio software
○ We will be using SRSRan
● For this installation to be cloud native, we
will need to install SRSRan into Kubernetes
● There is a movement, called ORAN, to make
RANs more interoperable

9. What do you need to safely run a 5g node?
● A Faraday cage
○ Regulations require to have a license to transmit on the
5g bands. A faraday cage is used for safely testing radio
equipment. Electromagnetic signals can not get in or
out.
● You need a 5g core.
○ We will be using open5gs for this
● You need a radio.
○ We will be using an Ettus B200 for this
● You need software to configure the radio for 5g spectrums.
○ We will be be using SRSRan for this.
● You need a phone with a 5g modem/chipset in it.
○ We will be using a Oneplus 10t with a Snapdragon 8+
modem for this
● You need a programmable sim card.
○ We will be using a sysmocom simcard for this
● You need a card reader/writer
○ We used a HID Omnikey writer for this

11. Demo
Documentation:
Cloud Native: https://github.com/cnf-testsuite/RCNN/blob/master/README.md

12. How do you install RCNN?
git clone git@github.com:cnf-testsuite/RCNN.git cd k8s
# Create KIND Cluster with USB Access to B200/Mini
kind create cluster --config=./kind.conf
# Install Open5GS
helm repo add openverso https://gradiant.github.io/openverso-charts/
helm install open5gs openverso/open5gs --version 2.0.8 --values ./5gSA-values.yaml
#Install SRS Ran
kubectl create -f srsran.yml
#Start SRSRan
kubectl exec -ti srsran -- /srsran/build/apps/gnb/gnb -c /srsr
an/build/apps/gnb/gnb_band71.conf

13. What can you do with RCNN?
● Experiment with different radio bands e.g.
CBRS
● Test interoperability
● Enhance your understanding of 5g network
architecture and its components
● Learn about RAN components
● Experiment with IOT on 5g bands
● Test high speed low latency use cases (e.g.
xapps)
● Experiment with network slicing

14. Use Case: What is Private 5g?
● Private 5g is when someone, usually a business,
licenses part of the 5g spectrum for use within a
restricted area, such as a warehouse
● Private 5g is used in places where there are
many connected devices
○ Smart manufacturing plant
○ Hospitals
● Private 5g is also used where ultra low latency
and reliability is required
○ Hospital equipment
○ Robots
○ Drones

15. Reproducible Cloud Native 5g Roadmap
● Documentation
○ Integration into ci/cd pipelines
○ Integration into existing testing frameworks
■ Project Sylva
■ Cnf Testsuite
● Cloud native demonstration
○ Showcase cloud native chaos testing in a 5g node
○ Showcase cloud native observability in a 5g node
● Ecosystem Collaboration:
○ Testing Harness
■ 3GPP 5g core interoperability tests
■ ORAN interoperability tests
● Automation and Orchestration:
○ Heterogeneous cluster deployment integration
■ KPT packages for Nephio
■ Canary deployment testing
■ Chaos testing

16. Austin Software Cooperatives Meetup
https://www.meetup.com/Austin-Software-Co-operatives/
CNF Certification GitHub
github.com/cncf/cnf-testsuite
Twitter
@vulkcoop
Email
howl@vulk.coop
Connecting

17. Protip: Some 5g Phones Still Don’t Work
● 5g technology is still new. The phones are still
evolving to support it
● Lots of phones are tough to configure or are not fully
5g (they support 5g non-standalone mode only) or
they don’t support bands that work with some
solutions
● It's best to get phones that have already been tested
with the RAN that you have selected
○ https://docs.srsran.com/projects/project/en/latest
/knowledge_base/source/cots_ues/source/index.h
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