Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus having logic elements to: receive an incoming packet associated with a first service function chain; identify a next hop service function for the incoming packet as a non-reactive service function; create a duplicate packet; forward the duplicate packet to the non-reactive service function; and forward the incoming packet to a next reactive service function.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service function classifier device determines a classification of a packet using one or more packet classification rules. The device selects a service function path based on the classification of the packet. The device determines one or more traffic flow characteristics based on the classification of the packet. The device generates a service function chaining (SFC) header that identifies the selected service function path and the determined one or more traffic flow characteristics. The SFC header is configured to cause a device along the service function path to forward the encapsulated packet based on the identified service function path and the determined one or more traffic flow characteristics. The device sends the packet along the selected service function path as an encapsulated packet that includes the generated SFC header.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of service nodes, a controller and a network device in communication with the controller. Each of the plurality of service nodes is configured to support one or more service functions to establish a service function chain that includes a plurality of service functions to be performed by routing traffic among the plurality of service nodes. The controller is configured to generate provisioning information for the service function chain. The provisioning information includes at least one condition upon which a service function reclassification or branching operation is to be performed by at least one service node. The network device is in communication with the controller, and is configured to distribute the provisioning information for the service function chain to the plurality of service nodes using a distributed routing protocol.

Abstract: At a service function node configured to perform at least one service function on a data flow that follows a service function path, degradation in performing the service function is detected. The service function node generates a status indicator for the degradation in performing the service function and inserts the status indicator into a peer detection packet. The peer detection packet encapsulates an inner packet with a header that indicates the service function path. The service function node forwards the peer detection packet to a neighboring service function node along the service function path.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network receives a packet that includes a forwarding label for a service in a service chain. The packet encapsulates a service chain header for the service chain. The device swaps the forwarding label for the service in the packet for a reserved label that identifies the packet as encapsulating the service chain header. The device forwards the packet with the reserved label to the service.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network receives a packet that includes one or more forwarding labels and a service function chaining (SFC) header. The device removes the one or more forwarding labels from the packet. The device inserts an indication of the one or more forwarding labels into metadata of the SFC header. The device forwards the packet with the inserted indication of the one or more forwarding labels to a service function.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of service nodes, a controller and a network device in communication with the controller. Each of the plurality of service nodes is configured to support one or more service functions to establish a service function chain that includes a plurality of service functions to be performed by routing traffic among the plurality of service nodes. The controller is configured to generate provisioning information for the service function chain. The provisioning information includes at least one condition upon which a service function reclassification or branching operation is to be performed by at least one service node. The network device is in communication with the controller, and is configured to distribute the provisioning information for the service function chain to the plurality of service nodes using a distributed routing protocol.

Abstract: A method for load balancing based on metadata in a network service header. The method includes receiving a packet or frame of a traffic flow, wherein the packet or frame has a payload and the network service header including metadata and service path information for the traffic flow identifying the service path, and the metadata comprises classification information of the packet or frame, extracting, by a service header processor of the load balancer, the classification information of the metadata from the packet or frame, and applying, by a load balancing function of the load balancer, a load balancing policy on the packet or frame based on the classification information of the metadata.

Abstract: A method for load balancing based on metadata in a network service header. The method includes receiving a packet or frame of a traffic flow, wherein the packet or frame has a payload and the network service header including metadata and service path information for the traffic flow identifying the service path, and the metadata comprises classification information of the packet or frame, extracting, by a service header processor of the load balancer, the classification information of the metadata from the packet or frame, and applying, by a load balancing function of the load balancer, a load balancing policy on the packet or frame based on the classification information of the metadata.

Abstract: An example method for service node originated service chains in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet at a service node in a network environment that includes a plurality of service nodes and a central classifier, analyzing the packet for a service chain modification or a service chain initiation, classifying the packet at the service node to a new service chain based on the analysis, initiating the new service chain at the service node if the analysis indicates service chain initiation, and modifying an existing service chain for the packet to the new service chain if the analysis indicates service chain modification. In specific embodiments, the analysis includes applying classification logic specific to the service node. Some embodiments, service node attributes and order of service nodes in substantially all service chains configured in the network may be received from a central controller.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of service nodes, a controller and a network device in communication with the controller. Each of the plurality of service nodes is configured to support one or more service functions to establish a service function chain that includes a plurality of service functions to be performed by routing traffic among the plurality of service nodes. The controller is configured to generate provisioning information for the service function chain. The provisioning information includes at least one condition upon which a service function reclassification or branching operation is to be performed by at least one service node. The network device is in communication with the controller, and is configured to distribute the provisioning information for the service function chain to the plurality of service nodes using a distributed routing protocol.

Abstract: A classifier network device in a service function chain receives a data packet from a first computing device. The classifier network device generates an encapsulated packet for the service function chain by encapsulating the data packet with a network service header. The network service header includes at least one metadata header. The classifier network device determines a location of the first computing device and writes location information corresponding to the location of the first computing device in the metadata header.

Abstract: A method for augmenting metadata of a network service header is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a first service node, a packet or frame of a traffic flow, wherein the packet has a payload and the network service header including a first metadata and a first service path information for the traffic flow, classifying, by the first service node, at least one of the payload and the first metadata to generate a second metadata different from the first metadata, and augmenting, by the first service node, the first metadata using the second metadata before forwarding the packet or frame to a second service node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network receives a packet that includes a forwarding label for a service in a service chain. The packet encapsulates a service chain header for the service chain. The device swaps the forwarding label for the service in the packet for a reserved label that identifies the packet as encapsulating the service chain header. The device forwards the packet with the reserved label to the service.

Abstract: An example method for load balancing in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet from a first stage load-balancer in a network environment, where the packet is forwarded from the first stage load-balancer to one of a plurality of second stage load-balancers in the network according to a hash based forwarding scheme, and routing the packet from the second stage load-balancer to one of a plurality of servers in the network according to a per-session routing scheme. The per-session routing scheme includes retrieving a session routing state from a distributed hash table in the network. In a specific embodiment, the hash based forwarding scheme includes equal cost multi path routing. The session routing state can include an association between a next hop for the packet and the packet's 5-tuple representing a session to which the packet belongs.

Abstract: A method for applying network services to data traffic forwarded between virtual private network (VPN) sites includes: receiving a data packet addressed to a target site associated with the VPN, determining services to be applied to the data packet according to a service chain, where the determining is a function of at least one of the VPN, the origin site or the target site, adding an indication of a VPN forwarding context onto the data packet, encapsulating the data packet with Network Service Header encapsulation, where a header for the encapsulated data packet indicates at least the service chain; forwarding the encapsulated data packet in accordance with the service chain, receiving the encapsulated data packet at the end of the service chain, terminating the service chain, removing the encapsulation, and forwarding the data packet to a target destination per the indication of a VPN forwarding context.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a packet for a subscriber at a gateway, wherein the gateway includes a local policy anchor for interfacing with one or more policy servers and one or more classifiers for interfacing with one or more service chains, each service chain including one or more services accessible by the gateway; determining a service chain to receive the subscriber's packet; appending the subscriber's packet with a header, wherein the header includes, at least in part, identification information for the subscriber and an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the local policy anchor; and injecting the packet including the header into the service chain determined for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method for augmenting metadata of a network service header is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a first service node, a packet or frame of a traffic flow, wherein the packet has a payload and the network service header including a first metadata and a first service path information for the traffic flow, classifying, by the first service node, at least one of the payload and the first metadata to generate a second metadata different from the first metadata, and augmenting, by the first service node, the first metadata using the second metadata before forwarding the packet or frame to a second service node.

Abstract: A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving a first data packet of a data flow at a first classifier in which the first data packet includes a first identifier. The method further includes determining a second classifier associated with the first identifier in which the second classifier is further associated with at least one service chain of a service chain environment. The method still further includes forwarding the first data packet to the second classifier. The second classifier is configured to receive the first data packet, determine a particular service chain of the at least one service chain to which the first data packet is to be forwarded, and forward the first data packet to the particular service chain.

Abstract: An example method for service node originated service chains in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet at a service node in a network environment that includes a plurality of service nodes and a central classifier, analyzing the packet for a service chain modification or a service chain initiation, classifying the packet at the service node to a new service chain based on the analysis, initiating the new service chain at the service node if the analysis indicates service chain initiation, and modifying an existing service chain for the packet to the new service chain if the analysis indicates service chain modification. In specific embodiments, the analysis includes applying classification logic specific to the service node. Some embodiments, service node attributes and order of service nodes in substantially all service chains configured in the network may be received from a central controller.