Abstract: This disclosure pertains to augmenting metadata of a packet destined for service function chaining with application identifier information. The application identifier information can be added to the metadata of a packet service header (or, more specifically, a network service header). The packet can be exported to a statistics collector that can correlate statistical information about the application with statistical information about service functions applied to the packet, as well as other statistical information.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to receiving an original packet at a service function; determining, for a reverse packet, a reverse service path identifier for a previous hop on a service function chain; determining, for the reverse packet, a service index for the reverse service path identifier; and transmitting the reverse packet to the previous hop on the service function chain.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trace request packet at a service node on a service chain, the trace request packet comprising a service index limit that remains constant for use in identifying at least one service node in the service chain to generate a trace report packet, and processing the trace request packet and determining whether to forward the trace request packet on the service chain or to generate the trace report packet based on a comparison of a service index to the service index limit in the trace request packet, wherein the trace report packet includes service function information of a plurality of service functions in the service chain, and the trace request packet is forwarded on the service chain according to a service path identifier and the service index.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trace request packet at a service node on a service chain, the trace request packet comprising a service index limit that remains constant for use in identifying at least one service node in the service chain to generate a trace report packet, and processing the trace request packet and determining whether to forward the trace request packet on the service chain or to generate the trace report packet based on a comparison of a service index to the service index limit in the trace request packet, wherein the trace report packet includes service function information of a plurality of service functions in the service chain, and the trace request packet is forwarded on the service chain according to a service path identifier and the service index.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trace request packet at a service node in a service chain, the trace request packet comprising a service path identifier, a service index, and a service index limit, processing the trace request packet at the service node, comparing the service index to the service index limit, determining that the service index is greater than the service index limit, generating a trace response packet at the service node indicating that the service index is greater than the service index limit, and transmitting the trace response packet. The trace response packet comprises service function information for each of a plurality of service nodes in the service chain. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A packet is received at a network device hosting a service function that is part of a service chain. The packet is sent to the network device from an originating network device. The content of the packet is analyzed to determine that the packet comprises a request for statistical values to be aggregated by the network device. The statistical values are aggregated at the network device. A report comprising the statistical values aggregated at the network device is generated. The report is sent to the originating network device.

Abstract: Using the ALTO Service, networking applications can request through the ALTO protocol information about the underlying network topology from the ISP or Content Provider. The ALTO Service provides information such as network resource preferences with the goal of modifying network resource consumption patterns while maintaining or improving application performance. This document describes, in one example, an ALTO server that implements enhancements to the ALTO service to assign a PID-type attribute to each of a set of one or more PIDs each associated with a subset of one or more endpoints of a network, wherein a PID-type attribute specifies a type for the subset of endpoints associated with the PID. The ALTO server generates an ALTO network map that includes a PID entry to describe each of the PIDs, wherein each PID entry includes a PID-type field that stores the assigned PID-type attribute for the PID described by the PID entry.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to receiving an original packet at a service function; determining, for a reverse packet, a reverse service path identifier for a previous hop on a service function chain; determining, for the reverse packet, a service index for the reverse service path identifier; and transmitting the reverse packet to the previous hop on the service function chain.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to augmenting metadata of a packet destined for service function chaining with application identifier information. The application identifier information can be added to the metadata of a packet service header (or, more specifically, a network service header). The packet can be exported to a statistics collector that can correlate statistical information about the application with statistical information about service functions applied to the packet, as well as other statistical information.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to receiving an original packet at a service function; determining, for a reverse packet, a reverse service path identifier for a previous hop on a service function chain; determining, for the reverse packet, a service index for the reverse service path identifier; and transmitting the reverse packet to the previous hop on the service function chain.

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: In general, techniques are described for dynamically generating attributes from routing topology information and assigning dynamically generated attributes to network map entries to further characterize PIDs described therein. For example, a provider or other entity assigns, within a network device, endpoint types to one or more address prefixes for which the network device originates or forwards route advertisements. For each typed prefix, the network device adds an endpoint type identifier for the assigned endpoint type to route advertisements that traverse or originate with the network device and specify the prefix. An ALTO server peers with router advertisers to receive route advertisements. When the ALTO server receives a route advertisement that includes an endpoint type identifier, the ALTO server maps the endpoint type identifier to a PID attribute and assigns the PID attribute to a PID that includes a prefix identified in the route advertisement.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to augmenting metadata of a packet destined for service function chaining with application identifier information. The application identifier information can be added to the metadata of a packet service header (or, more specifically, a network service header). The packet can be exported to a statistics collector that can correlate statistical information about the application with statistical information about service functions applied to the packet, as well as other statistical information.

Abstract: Using the ALTO Service, networking applications can request through the ALTO protocol information about the underlying network topology from the ISP or Content Provider. The ALTO Service provides information such as preferences of network resources with the goal of modifying network resource consumption patterns while maintaining or improving application performance. This document describes, in one example, an ALTO server that intersects network and cost maps for a first network with network and cost maps for a second network to generate a master cost map that includes one or more master cost entries that each represent a cost to traverse a network from an endpoint in the first network to an endpoint in the second network. Using the master cost map, a redirector may select a preferred node in the first network with which to service a content request received from a host in the second network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trace request packet at a service node in a service chain, the trace request packet comprising a service path identifier, a service index, and a service index limit, processing the trace request packet at the service node, comparing the service index to the service index limit, determining that the service index is greater than the service index limit, generating a trace response packet at the service node indicating that the service index is greater than the service index limit, and transmitting the trace response packet. The trace response packet comprises service function information for each of a plurality of service nodes in the service chain. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trace request packet at a service node in a service chain, the trace request packet comprising a service path identifier, a service index, and a service index limit, processing the trace request packet at the service node, generating a trace report packet at the service node, the trace report packet comprising service function information for the service node, and transmitting the trace report packet. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

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: 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: A packet is received at a network device hosting a service function that is part of a service chain. The packet is sent to the network device from an originating network device. The content of the packet is analyzed to determine that the packet comprises a request for statistical values to be aggregated by the network device. The statistical values are aggregated at the network device. A report comprising the statistical values aggregated at the network device is generated. The report is sent to the originating network device.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to receiving an original packet at a service function; determining, for a reverse packet, a reverse service path identifier for a previous hop on a service function chain; determining, for the reverse packet, a service index for the reverse service path identifier; and transmitting the reverse packet to the previous hop on the service function chain.