Level 4

5G Core Network (5GC)

Deep dive into the 5G Core — Service-Based Architecture, all network functions (AMF, SMF, UPF, UDM, AUSF, PCF, NSSF, NEF, NWDAF), user plane architecture, PFCP, and the complete 5GC interface map.

22 interactive0 simulation5 labs4 quizzes

0/31 lessons

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Service-Based Architecture (SBA)

0/7

Understand why 5GC uses SBA, HTTP/2 signaling, service-based interfaces, NF service operations, NRF discovery, and build the SBA architecture hands-on.

What is SBA and why 5G uses it

Compare point-to-point architecture (4G EPC) vs service-based architecture (5GC) side by side.

interactive3 min

HTTP/2 as the signaling protocol in 5GC

See how HTTP/2 replaces Diameter — multiplexed streams, binary framing, and RESTful APIs.

interactive3 min

Service-based interfaces (Namf, Nsmf, Nudm…)

Click each service-based interface to see which NF exposes it and what services it provides.

interactive3 min

NF service operations: request/response and subscribe/notify

Visualize the two NF communication patterns — synchronous request/response and asynchronous subscribe/notify.

interactive3 min

NRF: NF discovery and registration

Watch the NRF flow: NF registration, profile storage, discovery query, and NF selection.

interactive3 min

Lab: Build the SBA architecture

Drag all NFs onto the service bus and connect them — build a complete SBA topology.

lab5 min

Quiz: SBA

Test your knowledge of SBA principles, HTTP/2, service-based interfaces, and NRF.

quiz3 min

Core Network Functions — Deep Dive

0/13

Master every 5GC network function — AMF, SMF, UPF, UDM/UDR, AUSF, PCF, NSSF, NEF, AF, and NWDAF — their roles, interfaces, and services.

AMF: Access and Mobility Management

The AMF handles UE registration, connection management, and mobility — explore its N1/N2 interfaces and key services.

interactive3 min

SMF: Session Management Function

The SMF manages PDU sessions — see its N4/N7/N10 interfaces, IP allocation, and QoS enforcement.

interactive3 min

UPF: User Plane Function

The UPF is the data forwarding engine — N3/N6/N9 interfaces, packet detection, and traffic steering.

interactive3 min

UDM + UDR: Unified Data Management

UDM handles subscription data and authentication vectors, backed by UDR for persistent storage.

interactive3 min

AUSF: Authentication Server Function

Visualize 5G-AKA and EAP-AKA' authentication flows between UE, AMF, AUSF, and UDM.

interactive3 min

PCF: Policy Control Function

PCF provides AM policies, SM policies, and UE policies — see how it controls network behavior.

interactive3 min

NSSF: Network Slice Selection Function

NSSF selects the right network slice based on S-NSSAI — see the slice selection logic.

interactive3 min

NEF: Network Exposure Function

NEF exposes network capabilities to external applications via secure APIs.

interactive3 min

AF: Application Function

AF interacts with PCF to request application-specific QoS and traffic routing.

interactive3 min

NWDAF: Network Data Analytics Function

NWDAF provides AI/ML-driven network analytics for slice optimization and anomaly detection.

interactive3 min

Lab: NF role identification challenge

Given a scenario, identify which NF is responsible — rapid-fire challenge with scoring.

lab5 min

Lab: Build complete 5GC with all NFs

Drag all NFs onto the canvas and connect with N1–N33 interfaces — full 5GC topology.

lab5 min

Quiz: Core NFs

Level gate quiz — 10 questions covering all core network functions and their roles.

quiz5 min

User Plane Architecture

0/6

Master the 5G user plane — GTP-U protocol stack, UPF packet processing rules (PDR/FAR/QER/URR), PFCP on N4, and UPF chaining with ULCL.

User plane protocol stack (GTP-U, UDP, IP)

Explore the user plane protocol layers — GTP-U tunneling, UDP transport, and IP routing.

interactive3 min

UPF packet processing: PDR, FAR, QER, URR

Watch how a packet is matched by PDR, forwarded by FAR, shaped by QER, and reported by URR.

interactive3 min

PFCP (N4 interface): SMF ↔ UPF communication

PFCP carries session establishment, modification, and deletion between SMF and UPF.

interactive3 min

UPF chaining and ULCL (uplink classifier)

See how multiple UPFs chain together and ULCL steers traffic to local or central data networks.

interactive3 min

Lab: Trace a data packet through 5GC

Follow a packet from UE through gNB, UPF, to the internet — identify each hop and tunnel.

lab5 min

Quiz: User plane

Test your knowledge of GTP-U, UPF rules, PFCP, and UPF chaining.

quiz3 min

5GC Interfaces Reference

0/5

Complete reference for all 5GC interfaces — control plane (N1–N15, N22), user plane (N3, N6, N9), protocol stacks, and rapid-fire identification.

Control plane interfaces: N1, N2, N4, N7–N15, N22

Interactive reference diagram of all control plane interfaces between 5GC network functions.

interactive3 min

User plane interfaces: N3, N6, N9

Follow user data through N3 (gNB→UPF), N9 (UPF→UPF), and N6 (UPF→DN) interfaces.

interactive3 min

Interface protocol stacks

Compare protocol layers for each interface — HTTP/2 for SBI, GTP-U for user plane, PFCP for N4.

interactive3 min

Lab: Interface identification challenge

Rapid-fire: "Which interface connects AMF to SMF?" — identify all 5GC interfaces under time pressure.

lab5 min

Quiz: Interfaces

Test your knowledge of all 5GC interfaces, their endpoints, and protocol stacks.

quiz3 min