Overlay-based packet steering

摘要

Network topology independent service deployment techniques, referred to as overlay-based packet steering techniques, are provided. In one example, a server destined packet is intercepted by an in-path network device enabled as a service classifier. The service classifier encapsulates the packet and inserts the packet into a service path to a service virtualization endpoint front ending one or more service nodes. In other words, the service virtualization endpoint receives the service-directed packet on an overlay-based service path. The service-directed packet includes a service header and a service overlay tunnel encapsulation. The service virtualization endpoint inspects the service header in the service-directed packet to identify a first service node to which the service-directed packet should be forwarded and, based on the inspection, forwards the service-directed packet, on the overlay-based service path, to the first service node.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, on an overlay-based service path, a service-directed packet at a first network device, wherein the service-directed packet comprises a service header and a service overlay tunnel encapsulation; performing, based on information in the service header, a look-up in a path segment table to locate a next hop adjacency that includes next hop tunnel rewrite information useable to rewrite information in the tunnel encapsulation and identifies a first service node to which the service-directed packet should be forwarded; forwarding the service-directed packet to the first service node on the overlay-based service path; and after the first service node applies a service on the service-directed packet, receiving, on the overlay-based service path, the service-directed packet back from the first service node, wherein the service-directed packet received back from the first service node includes a modified service header.