Service function chaining congestion feedback

A method of reporting congestion to an upstream device implemented by a downstream device in a service function chaining architecture, comprising:

• receiving, by the downstream device, a packet containing two congestion bits that have been set in a network service header (NSH);
• generating, by the downstream device, a congestion report message in response to receiving the packet, wherein the congestion report message indicates an existence of congestion on a path within the service function chaining architecture and a flow of the congestion within the service function chaining architecture;
• and
• transmitting, by the downstream device, the congestion report message to an upstream device within the service function chaining architecture, wherein the congestion report message instructs the upstream device address the congestion;
• wherein the upstream device includes a classifier configured to meter or direct the flow of packets in response to receiving the congestion report message from the downstream device.

An upstream device in a service function chaining architecture, comprising:

• a memory comprising instructions;
• a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor executes the instructions to:
• transmit a packet to a downstream device;
• receive a congestion report message from the downstream device in response to transmission of the packet, wherein the congestion report message comprises a field indicating an existence of congestion within the service function chaining architecture and a service path identifier indicating a flow of the congestion within the service function chaining architecture;
• and
• alleviate the congestion identified in the congestion report message;
• wherein the processor executes the instructions to meter or direct the flow of packets in response to receiving the congestion report message from the downstream device.