Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) Overview 
Cisco ASR 5000 Series Product Overview ▄  
 
  2.5G SGSN & 3G SGSN - Dual Access 
  SGSN (2.5G or 3G) & GGSN 
 
Benefits of Co-Located GSNs 
Integrated co-location is done without introducing proprietary protocols, thus avoiding mobility and handoff issues. 
Multiple network element applications, integrated as a single application within a single chassis, benefit carriers for the 
following reasons: 
 
 
  Same hardware for all services 
  Load sharing architecture ensures that all hardware is used efficiently 
  Single software load 
  Uniform configuration 
  Optimal usage of the high capacity system 
  Reduced latency in the control and data paths 
  Simplification of network architecture 
  Single platform-view, maintained even in the presence of multiple services 
  Fewer IP addresses needed 
  No internal interfaces 
  Combined SGSN/GGSN serve other SGSNs and GGSNs with no loss of functionality 
  Hand-offs between 2.5G and 3G networks can re-use the same SAU state; this avoids repeated exchanges with 
the HLR thereby reducing the number of interaction messages 
  Operating as a combined SGSN/GGSN, the common processes host both SGSN and GGSN sessions resulting in 
optimized hardware usage and latency 
  Combined with Iu-Flex and Gb-Flex, an SGSN/GGSN system enables single-hop core network routing (a given 
session is always routed to the same combined node)