Service routing using ip encapsulation

A device comprising:

• one or more memories configured to store computer-readable instructions;
• and
• one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
• generate a first request, the first request including a first data packet and a first IP encapsulation identifying the device and a service address of a service to be applied to the first data packet;
• transmit the first request to a service aware router, wherein the service aware router generates a second request that includes the first data packet and a second IP encapsulation identifying the service aware router and a service instance of the service, and transmits the service request to the instance of the service;
• receive, from the service instance of the service, a response including a second data packet and a third IP encapsulation, the third IP encapsulation including an identifier of the service instance of the service;
• and
• record the identifier of the service instance, wherein subsequent requests for applying the service to data packets originating at the device are directly transmitted by the device to the service instance using an IP encapsulation that includes the identifier of the service instance.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising computer-readable instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a network device, causes the network device to:

• generate a first request, the first request including a first data packet and a first IP encapsulation identifying the device and a service address of a service to be applied to the first data packet;
• transmit the first request to a service aware router, wherein the service aware router generates a second request that includes the first data packet and a second IP encapsulation identifying the service aware router and a service instance of the service, and transmits the service request to the instance of the service;
• receive, from the service instance of the service, a response including a second data packet and a third IP encapsulation, the third IP encapsulation including an identifier of the service instance of the service;
• and
• record the identifier of the service instance, wherein subsequent requests for applying the service to data packets originating at the device are directly transmitted by the device to the service instance using an IP encapsulation that includes the identifier of the service instance.