Service chaining among devices of interconnected topology

A method comprising:

• configuring, by the virtual network controller device, a first network switch of an interconnected switch fabric to apply a first virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) table to network traffic flowing to and from a first set of server devices of a data center, wherein the first network switch is communicatively coupled to the first set of server devices;
• configuring, by the virtual network controller device, a second network switch of the interconnected switch fabric to apply a second VRF table to network traffic flowing to and from a second set of server devices of the data center, wherein the second network switch is communicatively coupled to the second set of server devices;
• and
• configuring, by the virtual network controller device, a third network switch communicatively coupled between the first network switch and the second network switch to include a set of service VRF tables for diverting the network traffic to a set of one or more service units for application of at least one service, wherein the set of service VRF tables includes a first service VRF table for forwarding network traffic through the one or more service units in a direction from the first network switch to the second network switch, and a second service VRF table for forwarding network traffic through the one or more service units in a direction from the second network switch to the first network switch.

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a virtual network controller device of a data center network to:

• configure a first network device of an interconnected switch fabric, communicatively coupled to a first set of one or more server devices of the data center network, to include a first virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) table for the first set of server devices and to apply the first VRF table to network traffic flowing to and from the first set of server devices;
• configure a second network device of the interconnected switch fabric, communicatively coupled to a second set of one or more server devices of the data center network, to include a second VRF table for the second set of server devices and to apply the second VRF table to network traffic flowing to and from the second set of server devices;
• and
• configure a third network switch, communicatively coupled between the first network switch and the second network switch, to include a set of service VRF tables for diverting the network traffic to a set of one or more service units for application of at least one service, wherein the set of service VRF tables includes a first service VRF table for forwarding network traffic through the one or more service units in a direction from the first network switch to the second network switch, and a second service VRF table for forwarding network traffic through the one or more service units in a direction from the second network switch to the first network switch.