Segment routing network processing of packets including packets having a segment identifier structure providing processing and/or memory efficiencies

A method, comprising:

• receiving a particular packet by a particular router in a network;
• responsive to the particular router data plane ascertaining based on the particular packet a particular segment routing (SR) policy associated with a plurality of dynamic segment routing identifier portions, the particular router adding a plurality of complete segment identifiers to the particular packet, with each of the plurality of complete segment identifiers being an Internet Protocol (IP) routable address of a SR-capable router in the network;
• and
• sending the particular packet with the plurality of complete segment identifiers from the particular router;
• wherein each of the plurality of dynamic segment routing identifier portions includes a SR node value and a SR function value, with the SR node value stored in higher-order bits than the SR function value in each of the plurality of dynamic segment routing identifier portions, and with the SR function value identifying corresponding segment routing processing to be performed on the particular packet by a corresponding router in the network identified based on the SR node value;
• wherein said adding the plurality of complete segment identifiers to the particular packet includes creating each particular complete identifier of the plurality of complete segment identifiers which includes combining a segment routing discriminator and a corresponding different one of the plurality of dynamic segment routing identifier portions retrieved from memory;
• wherein the segment routing discriminator is retrieved from said memory independently of the plurality of dynamic segment routing identifier portions, and wherein each of the plurality of complete segment identifiers is an Internet Protocol UP) address.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more hardware interfaces sending and receiving packets;
• and
• one or more network processors with memory associated therewith;
• wherein the apparatus, communicatively coupled in a network, performs packet processing operations including segment routing-capable (SR-capable) packet processing operations, with said packet processing operations including:
• receiving a particular packet by a particular router in a network;
• responsive to the particular router data plane ascertaining a particular segment routing (SR) policy based on the particular packet said received, the particular router retrieving from memory a dynamic segment routing identifier portion of the particular SR policy, with the dynamic segment routing identifier portion including a SR node value and a SR function value, with the SR node value stored in higher-order bits than the SR function value in said retrieved dynamic segment routing identifier portion, and with the SR function value identifying segment routing processing to be performed by a router in the network identified based on the SR node value;
• identifying a segment routing discriminator independently from said retrieving the dynamic segment routing identifier portion, with the segment routing discriminator and the dynamic segment routing identifier not being stored continuously in said memory when said identifying the segment routing discriminator is performed and when said retrieving from memory a dynamic segment routing identifier portion is performed;
• adding a complete segment identifier to the particular packet, which includes combining the segment routing discriminator with the dynamic segment routing identifier portion said retrieved from said memory, with the segment routing discriminator identifying that the particular packet is a segment routing packet, and wherein the complete segment identifier is an Internet Protocol UP) address;
• and
• sending, from the particular router into the network, the particular packet with the complete segment identifier.