Parallel data processing for service function chains spanning multiple servers

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processing system including at least one processor deployed in a network function virtualization infrastructure, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• obtaining a target service function chain spanning multiple servers of the network function virtualization infrastructure, wherein the target service function chain comprises a plurality of network functions to be executed on a plurality of packets in a defined sequence, and wherein at least a first network function and a second network function of the plurality of network functions are capable of being executed in a parallel manner;
• generating a plurality of candidate service function chains that utilize an available plurality of network function instances to execute the plurality of network functions in the defined sequence;
• and
• selecting, from among the plurality of candidate service function chains, a first candidate service function chain to function as the target service function chain, wherein the first candidate service function chain minimizes a number of servers traversed relative to other candidate service function chains of the plurality of candidate service function chains.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processing system including at least one processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processing system when deployed in a network function virtualization infrastructure, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
• obtaining a target service function chain spanning multiple servers of the network function virtualization infrastructure, wherein the target service function chain comprises a plurality of network functions to be executed on a plurality of packets in a defined sequence, and wherein at least a first network function and a second network function of the plurality of network functions are capable of being executed in a parallel manner;
• generating a plurality of candidate service function chains that utilize an available plurality of network function instances to execute the plurality of network functions in the defined sequence;
• and
• selecting, from among the plurality of candidate service function chains, a first candidate service function chain to function as the target service function chain, wherein the first candidate service function chain minimizes a number of servers traversed relative to other candidate service function chains of the plurality of candidate service function chains.