Service function chain sfc-based communication method, and apparatus

A service function chain (SFC) based communication method, the method comprising:

• sending, by a first service function forwarder (SFF) node, a first message to the control node, wherein the first message comprises identification information of the first SFF node, and identification information and attribute information of a first service function (SF) node, wherein the first message is used to indicate the control node to obtain information of the SFC based on the first message, wherein the information of the SFC comprises the identification information of the first SFF node, and the identification information and the attribute information of the first SF node that has a connection relationship with the first SFF node, the attribute information of the first SF node for indicating a specific service function that can be implemented by the first SF node;
• receiving, by the first SFF node from the control node, a second message, wherein the second message comprises SFC forwarding information, wherein the SFC forwarding information is determined based on the information of the SFC;
• and
• forwarding, by the first SFF node, traffic to the first SF node based on the SFC forwarding information.

A control node in a service function chain (SFC), the control node comprises:

• a non-transitory memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the non-transitory memory wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the control node to:
• receive a first message from a service function forwarder (SFF) node, wherein the first message comprises identification information of the SFF node, and identification information and attribute information of a service function (SF) node, the attribute information of the SF node for indicating a specific service function that can be implemented by the SF node;
• obtain information of the SFC based on the first message received by the control node, wherein the information of the SFC comprises the identification information of the SFF node, and the identification information and the attribute information of the SF node that has a connection relationship with the SFF node;
• determine SFC forwarding information based on the information of the SFC that is obtained by the control node;
• and
• to send, to the SFF node, a second message to the SFF node, wherein the second message comprises the SFC forwarding information used by the SFF node to forward traffic to the SF node and to forward processed traffic received from the SF node to a next hop SFF node of the SFF node based on the SFC forwarding information.

A first service function forwarder (SFF) node in a service function chain (SFC), the first SFF node comprises:

• a non-transitory memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the non-transitory memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause a first service function forwarder (SFF) node to:
• send a first message to the control node, wherein the first message comprises identification information of the first SFF node, and identification information and attribute information of a first service function (SF) node, wherein the first message is used to indicate the control node to obtain information of the SFC based on the first message, wherein the information of the SFC comprises the identification information of the first SFF node, the identification information and the attribute information of the first SF node that has a connection relationship with the first SFF node, the attribute information of the first SF node for indicating a specific service function that can be implemented by the first SF node;
• receive, from the control node, a second message, wherein the second message comprises SFC forwarding information, wherein the SFC forwarding information is obtained based on the information of the SFC;
• and
• forward traffic to the first SF node based on the SFC forwarding information received by the first SFF node.