5GPerf: Profiling Open Source 5G RAN Components Under Different Architectural Deployments

The 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) is composed of complicated software components that handle packet processing from the radio layer up. Recently, several open source platforms for 5G RAN development and prototyping have emerged. In this paper we perform performance analyses and CPU profiling to understand the cost breakdown for different 5G RAN components and the impact of different deployment configurations. Our results provide insight into the overheads introduced by each protocol layer and deployment architectures, and can help guide future research on 5G base station design and acceleration.