SERVICE NODE ORIGINATED SERVICE CHAINS IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20150263901A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Surendra M., Bagepalli, Nagaraj A., Patra, Abhijit, Quinn, Paul, Guichard, James N., Bosch, Hendrikus G. P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,344,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/342 between virtual entities, e.g. orchestrators, SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/0377 for service chaining
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/38 Flow based routing

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.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a packet at a service node in a network environment comprising a plurality of service nodes and a central classifier;

analyzing the packet for at least one of a service chain modification and 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis comprises applying classification logic specific to the service node.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving service node attributes and order of service nodes in substantially all service chains configured in the network from a central controller, wherein the service node attributes include location of respective service nodes in the network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the interaction with the controller involves at least one of a standards based Representational state transfer (REST) interface and a proprietary interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet is received on a service overlay associated with the existing service chain for the packet, wherein when the packet is not associated with any service chain, the packet is received by at least one of origination at the service node and receipt on an underlay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises updating a service path field and a service index field in a service header of the packet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises changing a service path based on a flow state.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the existing service chain is assigned by at least one of the central classifier and another service node.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising pre-programming service chains to specific flows in the network at the service node.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying and the initiating are performed in real time.

11. Non-transitory tangible media that includes instructions for execution, which when executed by a processor, is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a packet at a service node in a network environment comprising a plurality of service nodes and a central classifier;

analyzing the packet for at least one of a service chain modification and 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.

12. The media of claim 11, wherein the analysis comprises applying classification logic specific to the service node.

13. The media of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise receiving service node attributes and order of service nodes in substantially all service chains configured in the network from a central controller, wherein the service node attributes include location of respective service nodes in the network.

14. The media of claim 11, wherein the modifying comprises updating a service path field and a service index field in a service header of the packet.

15. The media of claim 11, wherein the modifying comprises changing a service path based on a flow state.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element for storing data; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and the memory element cooperate, such that the apparatus is configured for;

receiving a packet at a service node in a network environment comprising a plurality of service nodes and a central classifier;

analyzing the packet for at least one of a service chain modification and 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.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the analysis comprises applying classification logic specific to the service node.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further configured for receiving service node attributes and order of service nodes in substantially all service chains configured in the network from a central controller, wherein the service node attributes include location of respective service nodes in the network.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the modifying comprises updating a service path field and a service index field in a service header of the packet.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the modifying comprises changing a service path based on a flow state.