Validation of Chained Network Services
AssigneeFuturewei Technologies, Inc.
InventorSam K. Aldrin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method implemented in a network element, the method comprising identifying a first service function (SF) for validation, the first SF being associated with a service function chain (SFC), being applied to a data flow, and operating on a first network node, encoding one or more tests associated with the first SF in an operations, administration, and management (OAM) packet, and transmitting a validation request comprising the OAM packet towards the first SF to request validation of the first SF by execution of the tests.
Claims20
A method implemented in a network element, the method comprising:
- identifying a first service function (SF) for validation, the first SF being associated with a service function chain (SFC), being applied to a data flow, and operating on a first network node;
- encoding one or more tests associated with the first SF in an operations, administration, and management (OAM) packet;
- and
- transmitting a validation request comprising the OAM packet towards the first SF to request validation of the first SF by execution of the tests.
A network node comprising:
- a transmitter;
- a receiver;
- and
- a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver and configured to cause the network node to:
- execute a local service function associated with a service function chain, wherein executing the local service function comprises performing an operation on all messages associated with a data flow;
- receive, via the receiver, a validation request comprising an operations, administration, and management (OAM) packet requesting validation of a plurality of service functions associated with the service function chain, wherein the OAM packet comprises a plurality of tests;
- execute the local service function on each valid test directed to the local service function;
- and
- populate a validation response with results associated each test directed to the local service function.
A method comprising:
- encapsulating an operations, administration, and management (OAM) message with a service function chain (SFC) header for testing a SFC component, wherein the SFC component comprises an ordered set of service functions (SFs) forming an SFC;
- and
- transmitting the OAM message toward a network element implementing at least a portion of the SFC component to validate a policy of the SFC component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.