Parallel execution of services on packets using multicast-based service insertion

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more computer instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

• detecting a packet of a data flow and storing the packet in memory;
• identifying a first multicast group, from a plurality of multicast groups, that includes a plurality of service machines configured to provide a plurality of services to the data flow;
• wherein the first multicast group includes all services machines of the plurality of service machines;
• multicasting the packet to the first multicast group of the plurality of multicast groups to cause applying, in parallel, services of service machines included in the first multicast group to the packet;
• upon receiving a plurality of responses from service machines of the first multicast group:
• determining whether the plurality of responses includes a modify-response;
• in response to determining that the plurality of responses does not include any modify-response:
• determining whether the plurality of responses includes a drop-response;
• and
• in response to determining that the plurality of responses does not include any drop-response, forwarding the packet toward its destination without multicasting the packet to any other multicast group of the plurality of multicast groups.

A hypervisor implemented in a host computer, the hypervisor comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more memory units;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more computer instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:
• detecting a packet of a data flow and storing the packet in memory;
• identifying a first multicast group, from a plurality of multicast groups, that includes a plurality of service machines configured to provide a plurality of services to the data flow;
• wherein the first multicast group includes all services machines of the plurality of service machines;
• multicasting the packet to the first multicast group of the plurality of multicast groups to cause applying, in parallel, services of service machines included in the first multicast group to the packet;
• upon receiving a plurality of responses from service machines of the first multicast group:
• determining whether the plurality of responses includes a modify-response;
• in response to determining that the plurality of responses does not include any modify-response:
• determining whether the plurality of responses includes a drop-response;
• and
• in response to determining that the plurality of responses does not include any drop-response, forwarding the packet toward its destination without multicasting the packet to any other multicast group of the plurality of multicast groups.