Netns5g

A free5gc and UERANSIM deployment using Linux network namespaces.

Currently supporting the deployment of single UPF, single gNB

How does it work

Every NF gets deployed on its own Network Namespace, with its interfaces - each of them connected to a single Linux bridge.

This solution is not as flexible as existing ones using Kubernetes and Docker, but requires a lot less configuration and is easier for changes, e.g. to use your own compiled binaries.

Features

• free5gc + UERANSIM deployment
• No Kubernetes is needed
• Easy traffic capture in runtime - every interface can be seen from the host side

Requirements

• all free5gc dependencies
• all UERANSIM dependencies
• you have to provide free5gc, UERANSIM binaries - just edit values.yaml and point their location

Usage

1. Initialize environment (create namespaces and virtual interfaces)

   sudo ./env-init.sh
   

2. Deploy free5gc

   sudo ./deploy.sh
   

3. Deploy RAN

   This step has to be done manually

   Deploy gNB

   sudo ip netns exec gnb <UERANSIM gNB executable> -c ./config/free5gc-gnb.yaml
   

   Deploy ue

   sudo ip netns exec ue <UERANSIM ue executable> -c ./config/free5gc-ue.yaml
   

4. Test

   When uesimtun0 gets created, run:

   UE to UPF n6 interface

   sudo ip netns exec ue ping 10.1.0.1 -I uesimtun0
   

   UE to DN "internet"

   sudo ip netns exec ue ping 10.1.0.2 -I uesimtun0
   

5. Cleanup

   Execute Ctrl+c on console which runs "sudo ./deploy.sh"

   Cleanup environment (removes all network namespaces and interfaces):

   sudo ./env-cleanup.sh
   

free5gc webconsole

To access it just go to http://10.0.123.201:5000 on your host browser.

Traffic capture

Each NF endpoint traffic can be separately captured from the host. The sum of the traffic can be found at br1.

Tested environment

• OS: Linux Manjaro, Kernel 5.15.49-1-MANJARO
• go 1.14.4
• free5gc 3.2.0
• gtp5g 0.6.2
• UERANSIM, commit 5819ee470f6a30e62faf8e56a79cfb09806ccc99
• gcc 12.1.0