Providing network address translation in a software defined networking environment

A method comprising:

• identifying, at a control system comprising a processor, a network address translation switch and a network address translation virtual function that are to provide functionality of a network address translation function;
• triggering, by the processor, a network control function to instantiate the network address translation switch on a virtual machine;
• triggering, by the processor, a service control function to instantiate the network address translation virtual function on the virtual machine;
• chaining, by the processor and via the network address translation switch, the network address translation function to a host, whereby traffic from the host flows to the network address translation function, wherein the network address translation function provides address translation for the host using the network address translation switch, wherein the network address translation switch is controlled by the network control function, and wherein the network address translation virtual function is controlled by the service control function;
• and
• assigning, by the processor, a sub-address to the network address translation function, wherein the sub-address is used as an external address for the network address translation function and is assigned from an address space associated with a previous external address of the network address translation function.

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

• identifying a network address translation switch and a network address translation virtual function that are to provide functionality of a network address translation function;
• triggering a network control function to instantiate the network address translation switch on a virtual machine, wherein the network control function is in communication with a control system;
• triggering a service control function to instantiate the network address translation virtual function on the virtual machine, wherein the service control function is in communication with the control system;
• chaining, via the network address translation switch, the network address translation function to a host, whereby traffic from the host flows to the network address translation function, wherein the network address translation function provides address translation for the host using the network address translation switch, wherein the network address translation switch is controlled by the network control function, and wherein the network address translation virtual function is controllable by the service control function;
• and
• assigning a sub-address to the network address translation function, wherein the sub-address is used as an external address for the network address translation function and is assigned from an address space associated with a previous external address of the network address translation function.