ORAN Test Platform MX772000PC and O-DU Emulator Platform Software MX773000PC O-RAN Radio Unit Test Solution

Software for O-RAN fronthaul conformance testing of O-RAN Radio Units (O-RU), combining test automation with O-DU emulation over the CUSM-Plane.

Reference specification: O-RAN.WG4.MP, O-RAN.WG4.CUS, O-RAN.WG4.CONF
Test interface: O-RU Fronthaul
Test items: O-RAN Fronthaul Communication Test, O-RAN Fronthaul IoT Test
Conformance reference standard: O-RAN.WG4.CONF.0-v04.00.00

Overview

The ORAN Test Platform MX772000PC and the O-DU Emulator Platform Software MX773000PC form an O-RAN fronthaul test solution for O-RAN Radio Units (O-RU), as specified by O-RAN WG4.CONF. The solution supports the S-Plane time error injection test and O-RU time error tolerance evaluation, and its software options can be configured to match the required test items.

The solution emulates O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) functions. The O-DU Emulator synchronizes with the O-RU via the Synchronization Plane (S-Plane), configures the O-RU via the Management Plane (M-Plane), and transfers downlink IQ data via the User and Control Plane (UC-Plane).

ORAN Test Platform MX772000PC

The MX772000PC is test automation software installed on the control PC. It controls the MX773000PC and the MT8000A Radio Communication Test Station, and it can create, edit and execute O-RU test cases. Measurement and pass/fail evaluation are automated, and the O-DU Emulator and MT8000A are both configured from a GUI, so test cases can be built without writing code. Other TCP/IP-controllable test equipment can be driven by SCI command scripts.

O-DU Emulator Platform Software MX773000PC

The MX773000PC is installed on the control PC and on a server PC. It emulates O-DU functions to configure and control the O-RU under test via an O-RAN fronthaul-compliant CUSM-Plane. Its S-Plane function adds a time error to the PTP clock, set by frequency, dynamic time error and constant time error, so O-RU transmission characteristics can be evaluated under reduced clock accuracy. It also shows M-Plane messages graphically and includes tools for creating and editing M-Plane sequences.

The MT8000A measures the Rx characteristics of the RF signal output from the O-RU and generates the Tx signal input to the O-RU. The MT1000A synchronizes the O-DU Emulator and the MT8000A by supplying a 1PPS signal and a 10 MHz reference.

Key Features

S-Plane time error injection to simulate reduced clock accuracy during O-RU evaluation
Supports the S-Plane Time Error Injection test defined by the O-RAN Fronthaul Conformance Test
Graphical display of M-Plane messages
M-Plane message and sequence creation and editing GUI
YANG data tree display and import of existing XML files
Sample M-Plane sequence files provided
Automated measurement and pass/fail evaluation by controlling the MT8000A
GUI-based setup of the O-DU Emulator and MT8000A for no-code test case creation
Unified control of multiple pieces of test equipment from one software application
Measurement sequences managed and edited as a sequence tree
Control of TCP/IP-controllable test equipment via SCI command scripts
Software options configurable to match required test items

Specifications

Test Scope

Reference specification	O-RAN.WG4.MP, O-RAN.WG4.CUS, O-RAN.WG4.CONF
Test interface	O-RU Fronthaul
Test items	O-RAN Fronthaul Communication Test, O-RAN Fronthaul IoT Test
Conformance reference standard	O-RAN.WG4.CONF.0-v04.00.00

M-Plane

O-RAN reference standard	O-RAN.WG4.MP.0-v07.00
M-Plane interface	RJ45 (1000BASE-T); SFP28 (25 Gbps, FEC), connected via same interface as CU-Plane
TCP/IP	IPv4/IPv6
DHCP	DHCP v4, DHCP v6, Static IP
SSH/TLS	SSHv2

C-, U- and S-Plane

O-RAN reference standard	O-RAN.WG4.CUS.0-v07.00
S-Plane protocol	PTP v2, SyncE (ESMC)
O-RAN fronthaul Ethernet link	SFP28 (25 Gbps, FEC), SFP+ (10 Gbps)
L2 protocol	Ethernet, VLAN Does not support IP/UDP and multiple VLAN Tags
eCPRI	O-RAN Split Option 7-2x
eCPRI planes	C-Plane for Downlink Scheduling, U-Plane for Downlink IQ, C-Plane for Uplink Scheduling, U-Plane for Uplink IQ
Frequency range	FR1
Sub-carrier spacing	15 kHz, 30 kHz 15 kHz enabled only at 20 MHz channel bandwidth
Channel bandwidth	20, 40, 60, 80, 100 MHz
Duplex mode	TDD and FDD
Downlink signal	NR-FR1-TM1.1, NR-FR1-TM1.2, NR-FR1-TM2 / 2a, NR-FR1-TM3.1 / 3.1a, NR-FR1-TM3.2, NR-FR1-TM3.3
Uplink signal	G-FR1-A1-1, G-FR1-A1-2, G-FR1-A1-4, G-FR1-A1-5, G-FR1-A1-7, G-FR1-A1-8, G-FR1-A2-4, G-FR1-A2-5

DU Emulator Hardware (Server PC)

Server PC MX773000PC	Dell PowerEdge R750 See the MX773000PC Operation Manual for accelerator card installation and setup
OS MX773000PC	None
CPU MX773000PC	Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y 3.2G or better
Main memory MX773000PC	32 GB or better
PCIe riser configuration MX773000PC	4, Half Length, 6x16 slot, Option ID: GNY63SK SKU: 330-BBSC
Storage MX773000PC	960 GB SSD SATA
LAN MX773000PC	25 Gigabit Ethernet 1 port, 1 Gigabit Ethernet 1 port
Accelerator card MX773000PC	Xilinx T1 Telecom Accelerator Card

Recommended Control PC Specifications

OS	Windows 10 (64 bit)
CPU	Intel® Core™ i7-8700 or better
Main memory	≥16 GB
LCD size	≥12.1-inch
Resolution	1920 × 1080 or better
Interface	Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T) network adapter

Licensing

TL license MX772000PC-TLxxx, MX773000PC-TLxxx	Term licenses with a validity period of 1 year, including support Licensed MX772000PC and MX773000PC functions cannot be used after the TL license validity period expires

Applications

O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) fronthaul conformance testing
O-RAN WG4.CONF test procedures
O-RU time synchronization tolerance evaluation
O-RU Tx/Rx characteristic evaluation via the fronthaul CUSM-Plane
M-Plane interoperability setup between O-DU and O-RU

Included

W4099AE MX772000PC ORAN Test Platform Operation Manual (booklet)
W4100AE MX773000PC Operation Manual (booklet)

Options & Accessories

Option	Description
MX772000PC	ORAN Test Platform — Software for controlling MX773000PC, MT8000A and other measurement equipment, editing and executing operation sequences to automate the test procedures in the O-RAN conformance test, evaluating pass/fail for each procedure and outputting logs. Installed on the control PC. Requires MX772000PC-TL001 or MX772000PC-TL002.
MX772000PC-TL001	MX773000PC Control Plugin (1 year) — Option for controlling MX773000PC to create, edit, and execute MX773000PC test cases. Requires MX772000PC.
MX772000PC-TL002	MT8000A Control Plugin (1 year) — Option for controlling MT8000A to create, edit, and execute MT8000A test sequences. Requires MX772000PC.
MX773000PC	O-DU Emulator Platform Software — Software for controlling O-RU and evaluating wireless TRx signal instructions and wired data. Requires MX773000PC-TL001 and at least one of MX773000PC-TL011, -TL020, -TL030 or -TL040.
MX773000PC-TL001	ORU Test Suite (1 year) — Option to enable function to control O-RU via O-RAN Fronthaul from O-DU Emulator.
MX773000PC-TL010	M-Plane Sequence Builder (1 year) — Option to enable function to create and edit M-Plane sequences. Requires MX773000PC; the MX773000PC-TL011 option must be enabled to use this option.
MX773000PC-TL011	M-Plane Sequence Player (1 year) — Option for enabling function to execute M-Plane sequence. Requires MX773000PC.
MX773000PC-TL020	S-Plane Player (1 year) — Option to enable S-Plane function. Requires MX773000PC.
MX773000PC-TL030	DL UC-Plane Player (1 year) — Option for sending UC-Plane packets and outputting Downlink signal from O-RU (includes Downlink signal setting function). Requires MX773000PC.
MX773000PC-TL040	UL U-Plane Analyzer (1 year) — Option for receiving U-Plane packets and performing RF/payload analysis of Uplink signal from O-RU (includes Uplink setting function). Requires MX773000PC.
G0437A	Server for O-DU Emulator — Becomes the Anritsu O-DU Emulator when combined with G0438A and firmware is installed.
G0438A	Accelerator card for O-RAN Fronthaul — Becomes the Anritsu O-DU Emulator when combined with G0437A and firmware is installed.
G0329A	10G LR 1310 nm SFP+
G0356A	8G FC/10G SR 850 nm SFP+
G0388A	25G SR 850 nm SFP28 — M-Plane loopback requires two G0388A units.
G0389A	25G LR 1310 nm SFP28
J1579A	Optical cable SM LC/PC to LC/PC 3 m
J1581A	Optical cable MM LC/PC to LC/PC 3 meter — M-Plane loopback requires one J1581A.
J0127B	COAXIAL CORD, 2.0M (BNC-P • RG58A/U • BNC-P)
J1440A	LAN Cable (straight cable, 3 m)
J1557A	BNC T-Adapter
J1891A	Coaxial Adaptor (BNC-J, SMA-P)