TECHNOLOGIES FOR OFFLOADING DATA OBJECT REPLICATION AND SERVICE FUNCTION CHAIN MANAGEMENT

• US 20170094002A1
• Filed: 09/26/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Dinesh, Jani, Nrupal R., Wang, Ren, Maciocco, Christian, Jain, Sanjeev
• Granted Patent: US 11,082,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/26 using explicit feedback to the source, e.g. choke packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Technologies for offloading data object replication and service function chain management include a switch communicatively coupled to one or more computing nodes capable of executing virtual machines and storing data objects. The switch is configured to determine metadata of a service function chain, transmit a network packet to a service function of the service function chain being executed by one or more of the computing nodes for processing the network packet. The switch is further configured to receive feedback from service function, update the metadata based on the feedback, and transmit the network packet to a next service function of the service function chain. Additionally or alternatively, the switch is configured to identify a plurality of computing nodes (i.e., storage nodes) at which to store a received data object, replicate the data object based on the number of storage nodes, and transmit each of the received data object and replicated data object(s) to different corresponding storage nodes. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A switch for offloading service function chain management, the switch comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices having stored therein a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the security monitoring VNF to;

receive a network packet from a source endpoint node communicatively coupled to the switch;

update metadata for the network packet, wherein the metadata is based on one or more of a plurality of service functions of a service function chain being executed at a computing node communicatively coupled to the switch and configured to process the network packet based on the metadata;

forward, subsequent to having inserted the metadata into the network packet, the network packet to the service function;

receive, subsequent to having forwarded the network packet to the service function, feedback from the service function, wherein the feedback identifies a result of processing of the received network packet by the first service function;

update, subsequent to having received the feedback, the metadata of the network packet based on the feedback received from the first service function and a next service function of the service function chain; and

forward, subsequent to updating the metadata of the replicated network packet, the updated network packet to a next service function of the service function chain.

2. The switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to:

determine the plurality of service functions of the service function chain for the received network packet; and

provide an indication to one or more computing nodes communicatively coupled to the switch, wherein the indication identifies a set of instructions usable by the one or more computing nodes to spin up and configure one or more virtual machines to execute at least a portion of the service functions of the service function chain.

3. The switch of claim 2, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to:

determine an identifier of the network packet; and

identify a policy corresponding to the identifier,

wherein the set of instructions is usable by the one or more computing nodes to spin up and configure the one or more virtual machines to execute at least a portion of the service functions of the service function chain based on the identified policy.

4. The switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to generate a replicated network packet from the network packet, wherein to insert the metadata into the network packet comprises to insert the metadata into the replicated network packet.

5. The switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to update, in response to having received the feedback from the first service function, one or more of the service functions based on the feedback received from the first service function.

6. The switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to:

determine, subsequent to having received the feedback, whether another service function of the service function chain is available; and

forward, in response to a determination that the next service function chain is unavailable, the network packet to a destination computing node communicatively coupled to the switch.

7. The switch of claim 1, wherein to update the metadata comprises to at least one of (i) insert the metadata a header of the network packet to include the metadata and (ii) store the metadata at a storage device of the switch and to provide an application programming interface to the next service function of the service function chain, wherein the application programming interface is usable to read the metadata stored at the switch.

8. The switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to:

determine an identifier of the network packet; and

identify a policy corresponding to the identifier.

9. The switch of claim 8, wherein to update the metadata of the network packet comprises to (i) determine the metadata based on the identified policy and (ii) insert the determined metadata into a header of the network packet, and wherein the identifier comprises one or more of a workload type, a network flow, a source internet protocol address, a source port number, a destination internet protocol address, a destination port number, and a protocol of the network packet.

10. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that in response to being executed cause a switch to:

receive a network packet from a source endpoint node communicatively coupled to the switch;

update metadata for the network packet, wherein the metadata is based on one or more of a plurality of service functions of a service function chain being executed at a computing node communicatively coupled to the switch and configured to process the network packet based on the metadata;

forward, subsequent to having inserted the metadata into the network packet, the network packet to the service function;

receive, subsequent to having forwarded the network packet to the service function, feedback from the service function, wherein the feedback identifies a result of processing of the received network packet by the first service function;

update, subsequent to having received the feedback, the metadata of the network packet based on the feedback received from the first service function and a next service function of the service function chain; and

forward, subsequent to updating the metadata of the replicated network packet, the updated network packet to a next service function of the service function chain.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to:

determine the plurality of service functions of the service function chain for the received network packet; and

provide an indication to one or more computing nodes communicatively coupled to the switch,

wherein the indication identifies a set of instructions usable by the one or more computing nodes to spin up and configure one or more virtual machines to execute at least a portion of the service functions of the service function chain.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to:

determine an identifier of the network packet; and

identify a policy corresponding to the identifier,

wherein the set of instructions is usable by the one or more computing nodes to spin up and configure one or more virtual machines to execute at least a portion of the service functions of the service function chain is based on the identified policy.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the identifier of the network packet comprises at least one of a workload type, a network flow, a source internet protocol address, a source port number, a destination internet protocol address, a destination port number, and a protocol of the network packet.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to generate a replicated network packet from the network packet, wherein to insert the metadata into the network packet comprises to insert the metadata into the replicated network packet.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to update, in response to having received the feedback from the first service function, one or more of the service functions based on the feedback received from the first service function.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to (i) determine, subsequent to having received the feedback, whether another service function of the service function chain is available and (ii) forward, in response to a determination that the next service function chain is unavailable, the network packet to a destination computing node communicatively coupled to the switch.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein to update the metadata comprises to at least one of (i) insert the metadata a header of the network packet to include the metadata and (ii) store the metadata at a storage device of the switch and to provide an application programming interface to the next service function of the service function chain, wherein the application programming interface is usable to read the metadata stored at the switch.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the switch to determine an identifier of the network packet and identify a policy corresponding to the identifier, wherein to update the metadata of the network packet comprises to (i) determine the metadata based on the identified policy and (ii) insert the determined metadata into a header of the network packet.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining, by the switch, the plurality of service functions of the service function chain for the received network packet; and

providing, by the switch, an indication to one or more computing nodes communicatively coupled to the switch, wherein the indication identifies a set of instructions usable by the one or more computing nodes to spin up and configure one or more virtual machines to execute at least a portion of the service functions of the service function chain.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining, by the switch, an identifier of the network packet; and

identifying, by the switch, a policy corresponding to the identifier,

wherein the set of instructions is usable by the one or more computing nodes to spin up and configure the one or more virtual machines to execute at least a portion of the service functions of the service function chain based on the identified policy.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining, by the switch and subsequent to receiving the feedback, whether another service function of the service function chain is available; and

forwarding, by the switch and in response to a determination that the next service function chain is unavailable, the network packet to a destination computing node communicatively coupled to the switch.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein updating the metadata comprises at least one of (i) inserting the metadata a header of the network packet to include the metadata and (ii) storing the metadata at a storage device of the switch and providing an application programming interface to the next service function of the service function chain, wherein the application programming interface is usable to read the metadata stored at the switch.

19. A method for offloading service function chain management to a switch, the method comprising:

receiving, by a switch, a network packet from a source endpoint node communicatively coupled to the switch;

updating, by the switch, metadata for the network packet, wherein the metadata is based on a service function of a plurality of service functions of a service function chain being executed at a computing node communicatively coupled to the switch and configured to process the network packet based on the metadata;

forwarding, by the switch and subsequent to updating the metadata, the network packet to the service function;

receiving, by the switch and subsequent to forwarding the network packet to the service function, feedback from the service function, wherein the feedback identifies a result of processing of the network packet by a first service function;

updating, by the switch and subsequent to receiving the feedback, the metadata of the network packet based on the feedback received from the first service function and a next service function of the service function chain; and

forwarding, by the switch and subsequent to updating the metadata of the replicated network packet, the updated replicated network packet to the next service function of the service function chain.

24. A switch for offloading service function chain management, the switch comprising:

network communication circuitry to receive a network packet from a source endpoint node communicatively coupled to the switch;

means for updating metadata for the network packet, wherein the metadata is based on one or more of a plurality of service functions of a service function chain being executed at a computing node communicatively coupled to the switch and configured to process the network packet based on the metadata;

means for forwarding, subsequent to having inserted the metadata into the network packet, the network packet to the service function; and

means for receiving, subsequent to having forwarded the network packet to the service function, feedback from the service function, wherein the feedback identifies a result of processing of the received network packet by a first service function,

means for updating, subsequent to having received the feedback, the metadata of the network packet based on the feedback received from the first service function and a next service function of the service function chain, and

means for forwarding, subsequent to updating the metadata of the replicated network packet, the updated replicated network packet to the next service function of the service function chain.

25. The switch of claim 24, further comprising:

means for determining the plurality of service functions of the service function chain for the received network packet; and

means for providing an indication to one or more computing nodes communicatively coupled to the switch, wherein the indication identifies a set of instructions usable by the one or more computing nodes to spin up and configure one or more virtual machines to execute at least a portion of the service functions of the service function chain.