Transparent Network Service Header Path Proxies

摘要

A controller that is in communication with the plurality of network nodes establishes a service path for a service chain defined by an ordered sequence of service functions to be performed at respective ones of one or more of the plurality of network nodes. The controller assigns a predetermined service path identifier and a predetermined service index value for a segment of the service chain that includes only one or more network nodes not capable of decapsulating packets to extract a network service header so as to designate the one or more network nodes determined not capable of decapsulating packets to extract the network service header as a single service hop segment in the service chain.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
at a controller that is in communication with a plurality of network nodes which have one or more service functions associated therewith, establishing a service path for a service chain defined by an ordered sequence of service functions to be performed at respective ones of one or more of the plurality of network nodes, wherein one or more of the network nodes of the service path are capable of decapsulating packets of traffic to extract a network service header including service chain forwarding information instructing how packets are to be forwarded through the service chain and contextual service path information for the service chain forwarding information, and one or more of the network nodes of the service path are not capable of decapsulating packets to extract the network service header; and at the controller, assigning a predetermined service path identifier and a predetermined service index value for a segment of the service chain that includes only one or more network nodes not capable of decapsulating packets to extract the network service header so as to designate the one or more network nodes determined not capable of decapsulating packets to extract the network service header as a single service hop segment in the service chain.