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US 11,082,542 B2Granted
Transmitting network overlay information in a service function chain
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsSebastian Jeuk, Gonzalo Salgueiro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packet is received at a device configured to provide a service function within a network service chain. A network overlay and/or segmentation identifier is extracted from a header of the packet. The service function is applied to the packet according to policies specific to a network overlay and/or segmentation identified in the network overlay and/or segmentation identifier.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, from a first network implementing a network overlay or network segmentation, a packet at an entry node of a chain of network nodes providing network services;
- extracting, at the entry node of the chain of network nodes providing network services, data identifying the network overlay or network segmentation from network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation of the packet;
- stripping, at the entry node of the chain of network nodes providing network services, the network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation from the packet;
- generating a header configured to route the packet through the chain of network nodes, the header comprising the data identifying the network overlay or network segmentation for re-creation of the network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation upon exiting from the chain of network nodes;
- applying, at the entry node of the chain of network nodes providing network services and after stripping the network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation from the packet, the header to the packet;
- and
- transmitting the packet through the chain of network nodes towards an exit node of the chain of network nodes.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving, at an exit node of a chain of network nodes providing network services, a packet comprising a header configured to route the packet through the chain of network nodes, wherein the packet was received at the chain of network nodes from a first network implementing a network overlay or network segmentation;
- extracting, at the exit node of the chain of network nodes providing network services, data identifying the network overlay or network segmentation from the header;
- stripping the header configured to route the packet through the chain of network nodes;
- encapsulating, at the exit node of the chain of network nodes providing network services and after stripping the header configured to route the packet through the chain of network nodes, the packet with encapsulation for the network overlay or network segmentation based upon the data identifying the network overlay or network segmentation;
- and
- transmitting the packet into a second network implementing the network overlay or network segmentation.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- one or more network interfaces configured to receive traffic from a first network implementing a network overlay or network segmentation, the traffic entering a chain of network nodes providing network services, and transmit the traffic through the chain of network nodes providing network services;
- and
- one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
- receive a packet via the one or more network interfaces;
- extract data identifying the network overlay or network segmentation from network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation of the packet;
- strip the network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation from the packet;
- generate a header configured to route the packet through the chain of network nodes, the header comprising the data identifying the network overlay or network segmentation for re-creation of the network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation upon exit from the chain of network nodes;
- apply, after stripping the network overlay or network segmentation encapsulation from the packet, the header to the packet;
- and
- transmit, via the one or more network interfaces, the packet through the chain of network nodes towards an exit node of the chain of network nodes.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.