NETWORK ADDRESS TRANSLATION OFFLOAD TO NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SERVICE CHAINS IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a packet at a network infrastructure in a network comprising a plurality of service nodes interconnected through the network infrastructure, wherein each service node executes at least one service function;
identifying the packet as belonging to a first flow based on a cookie in a network service header (NSH) of the packet, wherein the NSH further indicates a service chain comprising a sequence of service functions to be executed on the packet at the service nodes, wherein a flow tuple of the packet indicates a different second flow;
determining that a service function in the service chain is to be offloaded from one of the service nodes to the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow; and
executing the offloaded service function at the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An example method for network address translation (NAT) offload to network infrastructure for service chains in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet at a network infrastructure in a network comprising a plurality of service nodes interconnected through the network infrastructure, each service node executing at least one service function, identifying the packet as belonging to a first flow based on a cookie in a network service header of the packet that indicates a service chain that includes a sequence of service functions to be executed on the packet at the service nodes, determining that a service function in the service chain is to be offloaded from one of the service nodes to the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow, and executing the offloaded service function at the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a packet at a network infrastructure in a network comprising a plurality of service nodes interconnected through the network infrastructure, wherein each service node executes at least one service function; identifying the packet as belonging to a first flow based on a cookie in a network service header (NSH) of the packet, wherein the NSH further indicates a service chain comprising a sequence of service functions to be executed on the packet at the service nodes, wherein a flow tuple of the packet indicates a different second flow; determining that a service function in the service chain is to be offloaded from one of the service nodes to the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow; and executing the offloaded service function at the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Non-transitory tangible media that includes instructions for execution, which when executed by a processor, is operable to perform operations comprising:
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receiving a packet at a network infrastructure in a network comprising a plurality of service nodes interconnected through the network infrastructure, wherein each service node executes at least one service function; identifying the packet as belonging to a first flow based on a cookie in a NSH of the packet, wherein the NSH further indicates a service chain comprising a sequence of service functions to be executed on the packet at the service nodes, wherein a flow tuple of the packet indicates a different second flow; determining that a service function in the service chain is to be offloaded from one of the service nodes to the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow; and executing the offloaded service function at the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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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 network infrastructure in a network comprising a plurality of service nodes interconnected through the network infrastructure, wherein each service node executes at least one service function; identifying the packet as belonging to a first flow based on a cookie in a NSH of the packet, wherein the NSH further indicates a service chain comprising a sequence of service functions to be executed on the packet at the service nodes, wherein a flow tuple of the packet indicates a different second flow; determining that a service function in the service chain is to be offloaded from one of the service nodes to the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow; and executing the offloaded service function at the network infrastructure for subsequent packets of the first flow. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification