PARALLEL PROCESSING OF SERVICE FUNCTIONS IN SERVICE FUNCTION CHAINS

摘要

Technologies for identifying service functions that may be performed in parallel in a service function chain include a computing device for running one or more virtual machines for each of a plurality of service functions based on a preferred service function chain being selected. To identify which service functions may be performed in parallel, the computing device may determine which service functions are not required to be performed on a critical path of the service function chain and/or which service functions are not required to be performed in real-time. Additionally, selecting the preferred service function chain may be based on selection criteria.

主权项

1. A computing device for processing a network packet through a service function path, the computing device comprising:
a service functions determination module to determine, based on the network packet, a set of service functions to be performed on the network packet; a service function chain determination module to (i) determine a subset of the set of service functions that may be performed in parallel with other service functions in the set of service functions, (ii) generate one or more service function chains based on the set of service functions and the subset of the set of service functions, and (iii) select a preferred service function chain from the one or more service function chains based on a selection criteria; and a service function path control module to generate a service function path based on the preferred service function chain.