Tech Mahindra Access Registrar (TMAR)

Overview

TMAR is a 3GPP-compliant, 64-bit carrier-class Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)/Diameter server, designed to enable multiple dial-in Network Access Server (NAS) devices to share a unified authentication, authorization, and accounting database.

Authentication processes determine user identity and permissions for network access.

Once authenticated, authorization defines the scope and level of network services users can utilize.

More

TMAR is a 3GPP-compliant, 64-bit carrier-class Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)/Diameter server, designed to enable multiple dial-in Network Access Server (NAS) devices to share a unified authentication, authorization, and accounting database.

Authentication processes determine user identity and permissions for network access.

Once authenticated, authorization defines the scope and level of network services users can utilize.

Accounting tracks each user’s network activity. The system also includes session and resource management capabilities, efficiently tracks user sessions, and allocates dynamic resources.

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Industry challenge

Service providers struggle with managing complex, multi-vendor Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) environments while meeting intricate business requirements. Additionally, they must minimize operational expenses (OpEx) and adapt to the demands of centralized data storage and frequent billing system updates. Tech Mahindra Access Registrar (TMAR) offers a comprehensive AAA management solution, centralizing information, streamlining provisioning and management processes, and enabling efficient service deployment

Solution highlights

Diameter Services

Support the authentication and authorization of Diameter packets using either a local or external database with interfaces such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). Additionally, they enable adding, modifying, and deleting attribute-value pairs (AVPs) in Diameter packets through extension point scripting.

Wi-Fi/VoWiFi Services

Enable service providers to efficiently offer SP Wi-Fi, VoWiFi, and wireless data offload functionality. TMAR also provides authentication support against the Home Location Register and external databases, including Oracle, MySQL, and OpenLDAP.

Remote Server Support

Operators can define a list of remote systems for failover or round-robin modes. Additionally, they can specify the individual characteristics of each remote system, such as ports, timeouts, retries, and reactivate timers.

Rule and Policy Engine for Decision Making

The engine can process requests using different types of data stores. For instance, it can use LDAP for certain access requests and an internal database for others. It also allows for splitting authentication and authorization by selecting different methods for each—for example, using a one-time password (OTP) server for authentication and an Oracle database for authorization.

Session Management

The system enforces session limits per user and group. It allocates critical resources such as IP addresses and home agents. In environments with multiple TMAR servers, operators can designate a single one to oversee and manage all sessions.

Our Features

Accounting

Speeds processing by storing accounting information on the same server that hosts the AAA services. Accelerates decision-making by allowing the system to ignore responses from specified remote systems. Writes accounting records directly to Oracle or MySQL databases or an LDAPv3 directory.

Authentication and Authorization

Enables rapid deployment with a high-speed internal embedded user database, providing a quick starting point for small-scale deployments. It also enables logical grouping of users, streamlining management for smaller-scale implementations.

Access Technology

Supports a wide range of wireless and wireline access technologies, including Service Provider Wi-Fi (SP Wi-Fi), VoWiFi, femtocell, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), iDen, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), dial-up, and Connected Grid.

Scalability

An external session manager handles tens of millions of active sessions by storing session records on an external database server (Oracle10g and 11i) instead of TMAR’s internal memory. A single TMAR instance supports large-scale service deployments.

Broad Systems Integration Capabilities

Integrate with provisioning, billing, and other service-management components. A prepaid billing interface enables billing vendors to integrate their systems with TMAR for prepaid functionality. This reduces operational costs and accelerates service rollout.

Benefits from the Solution

Flexible

Supports a wide range of wireless and wireline access technologies on a unified AAA server platform. This platform delivers operational and capital expense savings and gives service providers the flexibility to choose their AAA solutions 

Adaptive

Optimizes resource usage through real-time session management to track user sessions, dynamically allocates resources like IP addresses and enforces user/group session limits.

Scalable

Provides scalability to support large service deployments. This true 64-bit application leverages the full potential of its architecture when deployed on compatible hardware and operating systems. An external session manager facilitates tens of millions of simultaneous active sessions. The multithreaded architecture enhances performance, scaling efficiently with additional CPUs.

Subscriber Data Storage

Provides extensive subscriber data storage, including an internal database and integration with external databases, such as Oracle, MySQL, and OpenLDAP. This integration utilizes robust connectivity mechanisms like Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), LDAP, Oracle Call Interface (OCI), and Java Database Connectivity (JDBC).

Customizable

Offers service providers with a standards-based RADIUS/Diameter server that is both flexible and extensible. With extension point scripting (EPS), the solution can be tailored to meet specific business needs, regulatory standards, and technical requirements.

Extensible

Enables broad integration support with provisioning, billing, and other service-management components. By streamlining these integrations, the solution reduces operational costs and speeds up service rollout.

Ability to interface

Supports seamless Wi-Fi data offload through direct interface 
capabilities. This includes integration with the Home Location Register (HLR) through an M3UA/SIGTRAN (ITU and ANSI variant) interconnectivity layer or Home Subscriber Server (HSS) through the SWx interface over Diameter.