---
# System prepended metadata

title: Setup your own 5G Network

---

# <center>Setup your own 5G Network</center>

In this example, the EPC and en-gNB (NSA mode) and near-RT RIC are assumed to run on the same machine/VM (Machine 1). The UE, if using USRPs should be run on a different machine/VM (Machine 2). But if zeroMQ mode is used, a single machine suffices for all components. Refer to GNU radio integration for instructions to include multiple simulated UEs.

# Running the EPC

Before we start the EPC, we need to create a separate network namespace for the UE since all components are running on the same machine.
```bash
sudo ip netns add ue1
sudo ip netns list
```
Now, in a new command window on Machine 1 run srsRAN EPC:
```bash
sudo srsepc
```
The EPC can be run on a different machine and the eNB can connect to it based on its IP address. This IP address has to be specified in the eNB config file.

# en-gNB and UE in ZeroMQ Mode

Before we proceed further it would be worthwhile to open the logs of `E2 Manager, E2 Termination, Subscription Manager and Application Manager` to trace the flow of messages. The instructions to do this can be found in [Kubectl Commands](https://openaicellular.github.io/oaic/kubectl_commands.html#kubectl-commands) section.

## Running the en-gNB & connecting to near-RT RIC

==**Note:** If you want an xApp to communicate with the RAN, make sure that the xApp is not already deployed on the near-RT RIC platform.==

### Running the en-gNB & connecting to near-RT RIC

In a new command window on Machine 1 run srsRAN en-gNB.

But before we start the en-gNB, we need to get the current machine’s IP address and the IP address of the E2 Termination service at the near-RT RIC.

```bash
export E2NODE_IP=`hostname  -I | cut -f1 -d' '`
export E2NODE_PORT=5006
export E2TERM_IP=`sudo kubectl get svc -n ricplt --field-selector metadata.name=service-ricplt-e2term-sctp-alpha -o jsonpath='{.items[0].spec.clusterIP}'`
```

### srsENB in ZeroMQ mode

```bash
sudo srsenb --enb.n_prb=50 --enb.name=enb1 --enb.enb_id=0x19B \
--rf.device_name=zmq --rf.device_args="fail_on_disconnect=true,tx_port0=tcp://*:2000,rx_port0=tcp://localhost:2001,tx_port1=tcp://*:2100,rx_port1=tcp://localhost:2101,id=enb,base_srate=23.04e6" \
--ric.agent.remote_ipv4_addr=${E2TERM_IP} --log.all_level=warn --ric.agent.log_level=debug --log.filename=stdout --ric.agent.local_ipv4_addr=${E2NODE_IP} --ric.agent.local_port=${E2NODE_PORT}
```

Once the en-gNB is up and successfully connected to the near-RT RIC, you will see E2 Setup and E2 Response messages on the console. You will also see `RIC Connection Initialized` and `RIC state established` messages.

### srsUE in ZeroMQ mode

This command uses the default config file. The following message `RRC NR reconfiguration successful` confirms that the UE has connected to the NR cell. This will be used for the data link, while the LTE cell will be used for control messaging. On a new command terminal on the same machine run,
```bash
sudo srsue --gw.netns=ue1
```
Once the UE connects successfully to the network, the UE will be assigned an IP.

## Exchanging Traffic

We outline testing the network through `ping` and `iperf`.

### PING
This is the simplest way to test the network. This will test whether or not the UE and core can successfully communicate.

- Uplink
  When using zeroMQ, the ping command should be executed on a new terminal from the UE’s network space
  ```bash
  sudo ip netns exec ue1 ping 172.16.0.1
  ```
- Downlink
  For Downlink, on a new terminal run
  ```bash
  sudo ping <ue_ip>
  ```

### iPerf3
In this scenario, client will run on the UE side with the server on the network side (core). UDP traffic will be generated at 10Mbps for 60 seconds. It is important to start the server first, and then the client.

Note: Both the client and server should be run on the same machine but on different terminal windows.

- Network Side
  ```bash
  iperf3 -s -i 1
  ```
- UE-Side
  Again, since we are using zeroMQ, the iperf client should be run from the UE’s network namespace.
  ```bash
  sudo ip netns exec ue1 iperf3 -c 172.16.0.1 -b 10M -i 1 -t 60
  ```