Providing and using a distributed forwarding service

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor that executes a service creation module, a service request, wherein the service request comprises a request that relates to a distributed forwarding service;
• configuring, by the computing device, the distributed forwarding service, wherein configuring the distributed forwarding service comprises determining a number of nodes that are to provide the distributed forwarding service and configuring a shared control function to control the nodes;
• and
• triggering, by the computing device, instantiation of the distributed forwarding service, wherein instantiation of the distributed forwarding service comprises
• dedicating a shared incoming switch for the distributed forwarding service,
• dedicating a shared outgoing switch for the distributed forwarding service,
• instantiating the nodes, and
• instantiating the shared control function, wherein the distributed forwarding service comprises the shared incoming switch, the shared control function, the nodes, and the shared outgoing switch.

A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a service request, wherein the service request comprises a request that relates to a distributed forwarding service;
• configuring the distributed forwarding service, wherein configuring the distributed forwarding service comprises determining a number of nodes that are to provide the distributed forwarding service and configuring a shared control function to control the nodes;
• and
• triggering instantiation of the distributed forwarding service, wherein instantiation of the distributed forwarding service comprises
• dedicating a shared incoming switch for the distributed forwarding service,
• dedicating a shared outgoing switch for the distributed forwarding service,
• instantiating the nodes, and
• instantiating the shared control function, wherein the distributed forwarding service comprises the shared incoming switch, the shared control function, the nodes, and the shared outgoing switch.