Service function chain optimization using live testing

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• implement a production service chain (SC) with a plurality of devices, the production service chain defining a sequence of functions to perform on traffic flow using the plurality of devices, the production SC having a first set of performance metrics for a first traffic flow directed over the production SC;
• clone the production SC to produce a cloned SC, wherein the cloned SC comprises a cloned plurality of devices corresponding to the plurality of devices, the cloned SC having a second set of performance metrics for a second traffic flow directed over the cloned SC, wherein at least one of the devices of the cloned plurality of devices has at least one parameter that is different from the plurality of devices;
• and
• based on the first set of performance metrics and the second set of performance metrics and in response to a predetermined event, apply the at least one parameter that is different from the at least one of the devices of the cloned plurality of devices to a respective one of the plurality of devices.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• implement a production service chain (SC) with a plurality of devices, the production service chain defining a sequence of functions to perform on traffic flow using the plurality of devices, the production SC having a first set of performance metrics for a first traffic flow directed over the production SC;
• clone the production SC to produce a cloned SC, wherein the cloned SC comprises a cloned plurality of devices corresponding to the plurality of devices, the cloned SC having a second set of performance metrics for a second traffic flow directed over the cloned SC, wherein at least one of the devices of the cloned plurality of devices has at least one parameter that is different from the plurality of devices;
• and
• based on the first set of performance metrics and the second set of performance metrics and in response to a predetermined event, apply the at least one parameter that is different from the at least one of the devices of the cloned plurality of devices to a respective one of the plurality of devices.