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PFCP
Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) is a 3GPP protocol used on the Sx/N4 interface between the control plane and the user plane function, specified in TS 29.244. It is one of the main protocols introduced in the 5G Next Generation Mobile Core Network (aka 5GC), but also used in the 4G/LTE EPC to implement the Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS). PFCP and the associated interfaces seek to formalize the interactions between different types of functional elements used in the Mobile Core Networks as deployed by most operators providing 4G, as well as 5G, services to mobile subscribers. These two types of components are:
PFCP's scope is similar to that of OpenFlow, however it was engineered to serve the particular use-case of Mobile Core Networks.
PFCP is also used on the interface between the control plane and user plane functions of a disaggregated BNG, as defined by the BroadBand Forum in TR-459.
Albeit similar to GTP in concepts and implementation, PFCP is complementary to it. It provides the control means for a signaling component of the Control-Plane to manage packet processing and forwarding performed by a User-Plane component. Typical EPC or 5G Packet Gateways are split by the protocol in two functional parts, allowing for a more natural evolution and scalability.
The PFCP protocol is used on the following 3GPP mobile core interfaces:
Note: Sxa and Sxb can be combined, in case a merged SGW/PGW is implemented.
The Control-Plane functional element (e.g. PGW-C, SMF) controls the packet processing and forwarding in the User-Plane functional elements (e.g. PGW-U, UPF), by establishing, modifying or deleting PFCP Sessions.
User plane packets shall be forwarded between the CP and UP functions by encapsulating the user plane packets using GTP-U encapsulation (see 3GPP TS 29.281 [3]). For forwarding data from the UP function to the CP function, the CP function shall provision Packet Detection Rules (PDR) per PFCP session context, with the Packet Detection Information (PDI) identifying the user plane traffic to forward to the CP function and with a Forwarding Action Rule (FAR) set with the Destination Interface "CP function side" and set to perform GTP-U encapsulation and to forward the packets to a GTP-u F-TEID uniquely assigned in the CP function per PFCP session and PDR. The CP function shall then identify the PDN connection and the bearer to which the forwarded data belongs by the Fully Qualified TEID (F-TEID) in the header of the encapsulating GTP-U packet. For forwarding data from the CP function to the UP function, the CP function shall provision one or more PDR(s) per PFCP session context, with the PDI set with the Source Interface "CP function side" and identifying the GTP-u F-TEID uniquely assigned in the UP function per PDR, and with a FAR set to perform GTP-U decapsulation and to forward the packets to the intended destination. URRs and QERs may also be configured.
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PFCP
Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) is a 3GPP protocol used on the Sx/N4 interface between the control plane and the user plane function, specified in TS 29.244. It is one of the main protocols introduced in the 5G Next Generation Mobile Core Network (aka 5GC), but also used in the 4G/LTE EPC to implement the Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS). PFCP and the associated interfaces seek to formalize the interactions between different types of functional elements used in the Mobile Core Networks as deployed by most operators providing 4G, as well as 5G, services to mobile subscribers. These two types of components are:
PFCP's scope is similar to that of OpenFlow, however it was engineered to serve the particular use-case of Mobile Core Networks.
PFCP is also used on the interface between the control plane and user plane functions of a disaggregated BNG, as defined by the BroadBand Forum in TR-459.
Albeit similar to GTP in concepts and implementation, PFCP is complementary to it. It provides the control means for a signaling component of the Control-Plane to manage packet processing and forwarding performed by a User-Plane component. Typical EPC or 5G Packet Gateways are split by the protocol in two functional parts, allowing for a more natural evolution and scalability.
The PFCP protocol is used on the following 3GPP mobile core interfaces:
Note: Sxa and Sxb can be combined, in case a merged SGW/PGW is implemented.
The Control-Plane functional element (e.g. PGW-C, SMF) controls the packet processing and forwarding in the User-Plane functional elements (e.g. PGW-U, UPF), by establishing, modifying or deleting PFCP Sessions.
User plane packets shall be forwarded between the CP and UP functions by encapsulating the user plane packets using GTP-U encapsulation (see 3GPP TS 29.281 [3]). For forwarding data from the UP function to the CP function, the CP function shall provision Packet Detection Rules (PDR) per PFCP session context, with the Packet Detection Information (PDI) identifying the user plane traffic to forward to the CP function and with a Forwarding Action Rule (FAR) set with the Destination Interface "CP function side" and set to perform GTP-U encapsulation and to forward the packets to a GTP-u F-TEID uniquely assigned in the CP function per PFCP session and PDR. The CP function shall then identify the PDN connection and the bearer to which the forwarded data belongs by the Fully Qualified TEID (F-TEID) in the header of the encapsulating GTP-U packet. For forwarding data from the CP function to the UP function, the CP function shall provision one or more PDR(s) per PFCP session context, with the PDI set with the Source Interface "CP function side" and identifying the GTP-u F-TEID uniquely assigned in the UP function per PDR, and with a FAR set to perform GTP-U decapsulation and to forward the packets to the intended destination. URRs and QERs may also be configured.