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The typical approach to data plane programming involves deploying a single P4 program to a single target. However, different targets have different capabilities, functionalities, and support for various programming languages apart from P4. Consequently, disaggregating a single data plane program into multiple subprograms that run on different targets can take advantage of the strengths of each target, which is particularly important in the context of 5G, as certain data plane processing functions, like buffering and retransmission for RLC processing, cannot effectively be expressed in P4. This paper explores the disaggregation of a 5G gNB across a P4-programmable SmartNIC and an x86 server using DPDK-based processing, leveraging the strengths of each target. We assess the performance of our hybrid approach by varying which parts of the pipeline run on the SmartNIC and the x86, as well as the number of cores allocated on the host for the non-P4 part of the pipeline., Datadrivna latenskänsliga mobila tjänster för ett digitaliserat samhälle (DRIVE)

Open Radio Access Networks (Open RANs) enable flexible cellular network deployments by adopting open-source software and white-box hardware to build reference architectures customizable to innovative target use cases. The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) Alliance defines specifications introducing new Radio Access Network (RAN) Intelligent Controller (RIC) functions that leverage open interfaces between disaggregated RAN elements to provide precise RAN control and monitoring capabilities using applications called xApps and rApps. Multiple xApps targeting novel use cases have been developed by the O-RAN Software Community (OSC) and incubated on the Near-Real-Time RIC (Near-RT RIC) platform. However, the Near-RT RIC has, so far, been demonstrated to support only a single xApp capable of controlling the RAN elements. This work studies the scalability of the OSC Near-RT RIC to support simultaneous control signaling by multiple xApps targeting the RAN element. We particularly analyze its internal message routing mechanism and experimentally expose the design limitations of the OSC Near-RT RIC in supporting simultaneous xApp control. To this end, we extend an existing open-source RAN slicing xApp and prototype a slice-aware User Equipment (UE) admission control xApp implementing the RAN Control E2 Service Model (E2SM) to demonstrate a multi-xApp control signaling use case and assess the control routing capability of the Near-RT RIC through an end-to-end O-RAN experiment using the OSC Near-RT RIC platform and an open-source Software Defined Radio (SDR) stack. We also propose and implement a tag-based message routing strategy for disambiguating multiple xApps to enable simultaneous xApp control. Our experimental results prove that our routing strategy ensures 100% delivery of control messages between multiple xApps and E2 Nodes while guaranteeing control scalability and xApp non-repudiation. Using the improved Near-RT RIC platform, we assess the security posture and resili

The wireless world of today is essential to the everyday life of millions of people. Wireless technology is evolving at a rapid pace that's speed outmatches what the previous testing can handle. This necessitates the need for smarter and faster testing methods. One of the recent fast and efficient testing methods is fuzz testing. Fuzz testing is the generation and injection of unexpected input called "fuzzed" input for a system by slightly changing a base input hundreds or even thousands of times and introducing each change into a system to observe its effects. In this thesis, we developed and implemented a fuzz testing architecture to test 5G wireless system vulnerabilities. The proposed design uses multiple open-source software to create a virtual wireless environment for testing the fuzzed inputs' effects on the wireless attach procedure. Having an accessible and adaptable fuzzing architecture to use with wireless networks will help against malicious parties. Due to 5G simulation technology still being developed and the cost of ready-made 5G testing equipment, the architecture was implemented in an LTE environment using the srsRAN LTE simulation software, the Boofuzz fuzzing software, and Wireshark packet capture software. The results show consistent effects of the fuzz testing on the outputs of the LTE eNB. We also include a discussion of our future suggestions to improve the proposed fuzzing architecture.

Includes Supplementary Material, Commercial cellular service providers are at the forefront of the paradigm shift from 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) to 5G New Radio (NR). The increase in throughput, provisioning of ultra-low latency, and greater reliability of 5G enable potential uses that no other wireless communication could support. The Department of Defense (DOD) is interested in 5G NR technologies, but the implementation of the architecture can be lengthy and costly. This capstone configured a 4G LTE network and a 5G non-standalone network using OpenAirInterface and software defined radios (SDRs). Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) cards were configured and introduced to user equipment and attached to the 4G LTE network. A gNodeB (gNB) was added to the 4G LTE network to establish the 5G non-standalone (NSA) network architecture (3GPP Option 3). The testbed developed in this research was able to connect the core to a commercial internet service provider and browse the internet using third-party applications. Our analysis educates future researchers on the challenges and lessons learned when implementing the OpenAirInterface 4G LTE and 5G NSA networks. This work also provides a better understanding of 4G LTE and 5G NSA OpenAirInterface software usability, flexibility, and scalability for potential use cases for the DOD., Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The wireless world of today is essential to the everyday life of millions of people. Wireless technology is evolving at a rapid pace that's speed outmatches what the previous testing can handle. This necessitates the need for smarter and faster testing methods. One of the recent fast and efficient testing methods is fuzz testing. Fuzz testing is the generation and injection of unexpected input called "fuzzed" input for a system by slightly changing a base input hundreds or even thousands of times and introducing each change into a system to observe its effects. In this thesis, we developed and implemented a fuzz testing architecture to test 5G wireless system vulnerabilities. The proposed design uses multiple open-source software to create a virtual wireless environment for testing the fuzzed inputs' effects on the wireless attach procedure. Having an accessible and adaptable fuzzing architecture to use with wireless networks will help against malicious parties. Due to 5G simulation technology still being developed and the cost of ready-made 5G testing equipment, the architecture was implemented in an LTE environment using the srsRAN LTE simulation software, the Boofuzz fuzzing software, and Wireshark packet capture software. The results show consistent effects of the fuzz testing on the outputs of the LTE eNB. We also include a discussion of our future suggestions to improve the proposed fuzzing architecture.

The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is an integral part of the modern battlefield, and the use of wireless connections presents both benefits and risks for U.S. forces. 5G New Radio (5G NR) represents the latest in wireless cellular technology and provides the foundation for a powerful network. However, the requirement for military communications to be low–probability of detection (LPD) and low–probability of intercept (LPI) makes 5G NR unsuitable for use in hostile environments in its current form. 5G NR initial access procedures were designed to provide a large area of coverage to a high number of users and results in substantial stray emissions. This research seeks to introduce a replacement procedure for 5G NR initial access utilizing a user equipment-side connection process (UECP). By capitalizing on the directionality of massive multiple-input multiple-output antenna arrays (MIMO) and utilizing a novel detection process known as passive array sweep listening (PASL), connections can be established between the user equipment (UE) and gNodeB (gNB) at ultra-low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). The performance of UECP was evaluated utilizing multiple simulations created in MATLAB. The ability of UECP to function at ultra-low SNRs, combined with the directionality of large antenna arrays, results in a substantial decrease of stray emissions normally found in 5G NR initial access, which greatly reduces the probability of intercept or detection., Captain, United States Marine Corps, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.