Virtualization of Multiple Network Functions in High-Scale Routing

A method for use by a cluster comprising a plurality of network processing elements, wherein at least two of the network processing elements comprised in the cluster are configured to enable provisioning of a plurality of different services, and wherein each of the plurality of network processing elements is configured to provide a service or part thereof for which a request for the provisioning of said service was received by a network processing element from among the plurality of network processing elements comprised in the cluster, and wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• (i) providing state data associated with a plurality of functions required for carrying out a plurality of different services, and storing respective state data at each of said plurality of network processing elements;
• (ii) receiving, by a network processing element belonging to said plurality of network processing element, a request for provisioning of a service;
• (iii) establishing which processing resources are required for provisioning said service;
• (iv) determining which one or more of the plurality of network processing elements may be used for the provisioning of the requested service, based on state data associated with instantaneous availability of processing resources of said one or more of the plurality of network processing elements;
• and
• (v) providing the requested service by one or more of the network processing elements determined in step (iv).