US 11,962,473 B1 · Virtual network function proof of transit

Abstract

Techniques for monitoring data transport in a network virtualization function chain (chain). A path tracing packet is generated having a Midpoint Compressed Data (MCD) to collect path tracing information of the chain. The network virtualization function node is configured to record an MCD containing Wide Local Path Tracing Identification (WL PT ID). The WL PT ID includes a first field having a value that indicates that a non-standard path tracing format is to be used and a second field that indicates a particular path tracing format to be used. The path tracing packet is passed through the chain and is received back after passing through the chain. Data collected by the path tracing packet is then analyzed to determine which network virtualization function nodes and chains the path tracing packet passed through and the amount of time taken for the path tracing packet to pass through the chain.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for monitoring data transport in a network function virtualization network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a network function virtualization (NFV) node, a path tracing packet having a Midpoint Compressed Data (MCD) stack to collect path tracing information from nodes of an NFV chain, the NFV node being configured to include its MCD in the MCD stack of the path tracing packet, wherein the MCD of the NFV node contains a Wide Local Path Tracing Identification (WL PT ID);
passing the path tracing packet through the NFV chain;
using the path tracing packet to collect the path tracing information from the nodes of the NFV chain;
and
analyzing the path tracing information to determine which of the nodes the path tracing packet passed through and an amount of time taken for the path tracing packet to pass through the NFV chain.

2 more elements

A system for routing Internet Protocol Security data packets, the system comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving, at a network function virtualization (NFV) node, a path tracing packet having a Midpoint Compressed Data (MCD) stack to collect path tracing information from nodes of an NFV chain, the NFV node being configured to include its MCD in the MCD stack of the path tracing packet, wherein the MCD of the NFV node contains a Wide Local Path Tracing Identification (WL PT ID);
passing the path tracing packet through the NFV chain;
using the path tracing packet to collect the path tracing information from nodes of the NFV chain;
and
analyzing the path tracing information to determine which of the nodes the path tracing packet passed through and an amount of time taken for the path tracing packet to pass through the NFV chain.

5 more elements

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a network function virtualization (NFV) node, a path tracing packet having a Midpoint Compressed Data (MCD) stack to collect path tracing information from nodes of an NFV chain, the NFV node being configured to include its MCD in the MCD stack of the path tracing packet, wherein the MCD of the NFV node contains a Wide Local Path Tracing Identification (WL PT ID);
passing the path tracing packet through the NFV chain;
using the path tracing packet to collect the path tracing information from the nodes of the NFV chain;
and
analyzing the path tracing information to determine which of the nodes the path tracing packet passed through and an amount of time taken for the path tracing packet to pass through the NFV chain.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Virtual network function proof of transit

Life of this patent

Virtual network function proof of transit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20