Parallelism for Virtual Network Functions in Service Function Chains

A method comprising:

• sending, by a packet processing system comprising a processor, a copy of at least a portion of a plurality of data packets associated with a service function chain to at least two virtual network functions of a plurality of virtual network functions, wherein the at least two virtual network functions process, in parallel, the copy of at least the portion of the plurality of data packets associated with the service function chain;
• receiving, by the packet processing system, from the at least two virtual network functions, processed packets comprising the copy of at least the portion of the plurality of data packets associated with the service function chain, wherein the processed packets are processed, in parallel, by the at least two virtual network functions;
• and
• combining, by the packet processing system, the processed packets and at least the portion of the plurality of data packets.

A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of a packet processing system, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• sending a copy of at least a portion of a plurality of data packets associated with a service function chain to at least two virtual network functions of a plurality of virtual network functions, wherein the at least two virtual network functions process, in parallel, the copy of at least the portion of the plurality of data packets associated with the service function chain;
• receiving, from the at least two virtual network functions, processed packets comprising the copy of at least the portion of the plurality of data packets associated with the service function chain, wherein the processed packets are processed, in parallel, by the at least two virtual network functions;
• and
• combining the processed packets and at least the portion of the plurality of data packets.