Packet sending method and apparatus

A packet sending method, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving a packet notification message sent by a first forwarding entity, wherein the first forwarding entity is a forwarding entity that receives a packet that is sent by a public data network (PDN) to a mobile terminal, and the packet notification message carries at least a terminal address of the mobile terminal;
• when the mobile terminal is in an idle state, paging the mobile terminal according to the terminal address of the mobile terminal, so that the mobile terminal sets up a connection to a base station (eNodeB);
• and
• setting up a data channel between the eNodeB and the first forwarding entity, to connect the mobile terminal and the first forwarding entity, so that the first forwarding entity sends the packet to the mobile terminal by using the data channel and the connection, the setting up a data channel comprising:
• selecting, according to network topology, a forwarding entity that the data channel between the eNodeB and the first forwarding entity passes through;
• and
• configuring a forwarding flow table on the selected forwarding entity according to a tunnel identifier on the eNodeB side, packet characteristic information, and a packet processing rule, so as to set up the data channel between the eNodeB and the first forwarding entity, wherein the configuring a forwarding flow table on the selected forwarding entity according to a tunnel identifier on the eNodeB side, packet characteristic information, and a packet processing rule comprising:
• when the selected forwarding entity comprises the first forwarding entity and a second forwarding entity directly connected to the eNodeB, obtaining a tunnel identifier of a first tunnel on the second forwarding entity side, a tunnel identifier of a second tunnel on the second forwarding entity side, and a tunnel identifier of the first tunnel on the first forwarding entity side, wherein the first tunnel is a tunnel between the first forwarding entity and the second forwarding entity, and the second tunnel is a tunnel between the eNodeB and the second forwarding entity;
• creating a first forwarding flow table for the first forwarding entity, wherein the first forwarding flow table comprises the tunnel identifier of the first tunnel on the first forwarding entity side, the tunnel identifier of the first tunnel on the second forwarding entity side, the packet characteristic information, and the packet processing rule;
• and
• creating a second forwarding flow table for the second forwarding entity, wherein the second forwarding flow table comprises the tunnel identifier on the eNodeB side, the tunnel identifier of the second tunnel on the second forwarding entity side, the packet characteristic information, and the packet processing rule.