Tunnel-level fragmentation and reassembly based on tunnel context

A method, comprising:

• generating, by a first node, a tunnel packet to be transported via a tunnel between the first node and a second node;
• identifying, by the first node, a tunnel context of the tunnel for the tunnel packet;
• determining, by the first node, a packet context identifier for the tunnel packet, the packet context identifier including a tunnel context identifier indicative of the tunnel context of the tunnel for the tunnel packet;
• and
• sending the tunnel packet from the first node toward the second node based on the packet context identifier.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
• receive, by a first node via a tunnel between the first node and a second node, a set of tunnel fragment packets associated with a tunnel packet to be reassembled at the first node, each of the tunnel fragment packets including a respective tunnel fragment packet header including a packet context identifier for the tunnel packet, the packet context identifier including a tunnel context identifier indicative of a tunnel context of the tunnel packet to be reassembled at the first node;
• identify, by the first node based on the packet context identifier included within each of the tunnel fragment packets, the tunnel fragment packets as being associated with the tunnel packet to be reassembled at the first node;
• and
• reassemble, by the first node, the tunnel packet based on the tunnel fragment packets.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a first node via a tunnel between the first node and a second node, a set of tunnel fragment packets associated with a tunnel packet to be reassembled at the first node, each of the tunnel fragment packets including a respective tunnel fragment packet header including a packet context identifier for the tunnel packet, the packet context identifier including a tunnel context identifier indicative of a tunnel context of the tunnel packet to be reassembled at the first node;
• identifying, by the first node based on the packet context identifier included within each of the tunnel fragment packets, the tunnel fragment packets as being associated with the tunnel packet to be reassembled at the first node;
• and
• reassembling, by the first node, the tunnel packet based on the tunnel fragment packets.

A system, comprising:

• a first node and a second node having established therebetween a tunnel configured to support transport of a tunnel packet from the first node to the second node;
• the first node configured to support tunnel-level fragmentation of the tunnel packet based on an indication of a tunnel context of the tunnel for the tunnel packet;
• and
• the second node configured to support tunnel-level reassembly of the tunnel packet based on the indication of the tunnel context of the tunnel for the tunnel packet.