Tier Based Virtual Network Function Chaining Design

A method comprising:

• receiving a request to create a plurality of records corresponding to a plurality of Virtual Network Function (VNF) chains, each VNF chain, of the plurality of VNF chains, corresponding to a distinct network service, of a plurality of network services, and consisting of a plurality of VNFs that each occupy a different sequential position within each VNF chain of the plurality of VNF chains;
• determining a quantity of VNFs corresponding to each VNF chain;
• determining VNF identifiers for each VNF, of the plurality of VNFs, of each VNF chain;
• determining the different sequential position of each VNF, of the plurality of VNFs, of each VNF chain;
• and
• creating the plurality of records based on the quantity of VNFs, the VNF identifiers, and the different sequential position of each VNF, each record, of the plurality of records representing a particular VNF at a particular position within multiple VNF chains of the plurality of VNF chains.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of processor-executable instructions, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes one or more processors to:

• receive a request to create a plurality of records corresponding to a plurality of Virtual Network Function (VNF) chains, each VNF chain, of the plurality of VNF chains, corresponding to a distinct network service, of a plurality of network services, and consisting of a plurality of VNFs that each occupy a different sequential position within each VNF chain of the plurality of VNF chains;
• determine a quantity of VNFs corresponding to each VNF chain;
• determine VNF identifiers for each VNF, of the plurality of VNFs, of each VNF chain;
• determine the different sequential position of each VNF, of the plurality of VNFs, of each VNF chain;
• create the plurality of records based on the quantity of VNFs, the VNF identifiers, and the different sequential position of each VNF, each record, of the plurality of records representing a particular VNF at a particular position within multiple VNF chains of the plurality of VNF chains.