Carrier License

The Carrier license enables the inspection of the following protocols:

  • Diameter—Diameter is an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) protocol used in next-generation mobile and fixed telecom networks such as EPS (Evolved Packet System) for LTE (Long Term Evolution) and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). It replaces RADIUS and TACACS in these networks.

  • GTP/GPRS—GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) is used in GSM, UMTS, and LTE networks for general packet radio service (GPRS) traffic. GTP provides a tunnel control and management protocol to provide GPRS network access for a mobile station by creating, modifying, and deleting tunnels. GTP also uses a tunneling mechanism for carrying user data packets.

  • M3UA—MTP3 User Adaptation (M3UA) is a client/server protocol that provides a gateway to the Signaling System 7 (SS7) network for IP-based applications that interface with the SS7 Message Transfer Part 3 (MTP3) layer. M3UA makes it possible to run the SS7 User Parts (such as ISUP) over an IP network.

  • SCTP—Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) is a transport-layer protocol that supports the SS7 protocol over IP networks. It supports the 4G LTE mobile network architecture. SCTP can handle multiple simultaneous streams, multiplexed streams, and provides more security features.

Note

After you enable this license on a device, use a FlexConfig policy to enable the protocol inspection.

The Carrier license PIDs are available per family and not per device model. You can enable this license for each device either in the evaluation mode or with a Smart License.

The Carrier license for Firepower 4100/9300, Secure Firewall 3100/4200, and Threat Defense Virtual is term-based. This license also supports Specific License Reservation.

Supported Devices

The devices that support the Carrier License are:

  • Secure Firewall 3110

  • Secure Firewall 3120

  • Secure Firewall 3130

  • Secure Firewall 3140

  • Firepower 4112

  • Firepower 4115

  • Firepower 4125

  • Firepower 4145

  • Secure Firewall 4215

  • Secure Firewall 4225

  • Secure Firewall 4245

  • Firepower 9300

  • Threat Defense Virtual