OsmoBTS is an open-source software package that allows you to build and deploy a complete GSM Base Transceiver Station.
In this blog post, we will show you how to get your OsmoBTS up and running in no time, so you can start using it right away. First, we will configure our machine and then install OsmoBTS.
Read on to learn the easy steps for setting up OsmoBTS on your system.
| Software | Download |
| Debian 12.1.0 | |
| VMWare WorkStation Pro 17 | |
| OsmoBTS | |
| OsmoBTS Virtual | |
| RFS VM OsmoBTS.ova |
rfs@bts01:~$ uname -a
Basic Machine Config
Install some packages
root
Add user to Sudo Group
usermod -a -G sudo rfs
Define hostname
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname bts01.telecom.rfs
Add hostname to Hosts file
sudo vim /etc/hosts
Networking
Local services
| IP | Port | Service |
| 10.20.20.10 | 4729 | OsmoBTS Virtual |
| 127.0.0.1 | 4241 | OsmoBTS Console |
Network Devices
| IP | Machine | Hostname |
| 10.20.20.10 | BTS01 | bts01.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.21 | BSC01 | bsc01.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.22 | MGW | mgw.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.23 | STP01 | stp01.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.24 | MSC | msc.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.25 | HLR | hlr.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.26 | SGSN | sgsn.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.27 | GGSN | ggsn.telecom.rfs |
| 10.20.20.28 | SIP Connector | sip.telecom.rfs |
sudo vim /etc/network/interfaces
auto ens33
iface ens33 inet static
address 10.20.20.21
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 10.20.20.1
dns-nameservers 10.20.20.5
dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8
Define DNS Server
sudo vim /etc/resolv.conf
nameserver 10.20.20.5
nameserver 8.8.4.4
sudo systemctl restart networking.service
sudo systemctl status networking.service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
Configure GRUB
sudo vim /etc/default/grub
GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=hidden
GRUB_TIMEOUT = 0
sudo update-grub
Install OsmoBTS
sudo apt-get install -y osmo-bts*
sudo systemctl start osmo-bts
sudo systemctl status osmo-bts
sudo systemctl enable osmo-bts
telnet localhost 4241
Troubleshoot OsmoBTS Service
journalctl -xeu osmo-bts.service
sudo systemctl status osmo-bts
OsmoBTS Parameters
rfs@bts01:/etc/osmocom$ /usr/bin/osmo-bts-trx -h
Some useful options:
-h --help this text
-d --debug MASK Enable debugging (e.g. -d DRSL:DOML:DLAPDM)
-D --daemonize For the process into a background daemon
-c --config-file Specify the filename of the config file
-s --disable-color Don't use colors in stderr log output
-T --timestamp Prefix every log line with a timestamp
-V --version Print version information and exit
-e --log-level Set a global log-level
VTY reference generation:
--vty-ref-mode MODE VTY reference generation mode (e.g. 'expert').
--vty-ref-xml Generate the VTY reference XML output and exit.
Regression testing:
--vty-test VTY test mode. Do not connect to BSC, do not exit.
OsmoBTS Configuration file
cd /etc/osmocom
| File | Download |
| osmo-bts.cfg | |
| osmo-bts-trx.cfg | |
| osmo-bts-virtual.cfg |
Install Virtual OsmoBTS
Install Virtual OsmoBTS Service
sudo apt-get install -y osmo-bts-virtual
Manage Virtual OsmoBTS Service
sudo systemctl start osmo-bts
sudo systemctl status osmo-bts
sudo systemctl enable osmo-bts
That's all it takes to install OsmoBTS on your system. With a few simple steps, you can have your own GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA cell network up and running.
Combined with the right SDR hardware, OsmoBTS can make operating a cell network a breeze.
References
https://osmocom.org/projects/osmobts/wiki
