Using network labels without standard-defined syntax and semantics

A routing device comprising:

• a network interface that receives a packet to be forwarded according to a label switching protocol;
• a control unit that determines a service instance for the packet based on a client device from which the packet originated, determines one or more services to be applied to the packet based on the service instance for the packet, generates a label having a service instance portion including information that identifies the service instance for the packet and a service information portion including information that identifies the services to be applied to the packet, wherein the service instance portion comprises a first number of bits and wherein the service information portion comprises a second number of bits different than the first number of bits, appends the label to the packet to form a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)-encapsulated packet forwards the MPLS-encapsulated packet via an output interface according to the label switching protocol;
• and
• an interface to receive configuration data that associates a specified number of bits with the label, indicates the first number of bits associated with the service instance portion, and indicates the second number of bits associated with the service information portion.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a routing device of a provider network to:

• receive a packet to be forwarded according to a label switching protocol;
• determine a service instance for the packet based on a client device from which the packet originated;
• determine one or more services to be applied to the packet based on the service instance for the packet;
• generate a label having a service instance portion including information that identifies the service instance for the packet and a service information portion including information that identifies the services to be applied to the packet, wherein the service instance portion comprises a first number of bits and wherein the service information portion comprises a second number of bits different than the first number of bits;
• prior to generating the label, receive configuration data that associates a specified number of bits with the label, indicates the first number of bits associated with the service instance portion, and indicates the second number of bits associated with the service information portion;
• append the label to the packet to form a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)-encapsulated packet;
• and
• forward the MPLS-encapsulated packet via an output interface according to the label switching protocol.

A system comprising:

• an ingress routing device configured to receive a packet to be forwarded according to a label switching protocol, determine a service instance for the packet based on a client device from which the packet originated, determines one or more services to be applied to the packet based on the service instance for the packet, generate a label having a service instance portion including information that identifies the service instance for the packet and a service information portion including information that identifies the services to be applied to the packet, wherein the service instance portion comprises a first number of bits and wherein the service information portion comprises a second number of bits different than the first number of bits, prior to generating the label, receive configuration data that associates a specified number of bits with the label, indicates the first number of bits associated with the service instance portion, and indicates the second number of bits associated with the service information portion, append the label to the packet to form a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)-encapsulated packet forwards the MPLS-encapsulated packet via an output interface according to the label switching protocol;
• and
• a second routing device configured to receive the MPLS-encapsulated packet, determine the service instance for the MPLS-encapsulated packet based on the service instance portion of the label, determine at least one of the services to be applied to the MPLS-encapsulated packet based on the service information portion of the label and the service instance, and apply one or more of the determined services to the packet.

A method comprising:

• receiving, with a network device, a packet to be forwarded according to a label switching protocol;
• determining, with the network device, a service instance for the packet based on a client device from which the packet originated;
• determining, with the network device, one or more services to be applied to the packet based on the service instance for the packet;
• generating a label having a service instance portion including information that identifies the service instance for the packet and a service information portion including information that identifies the services to be applied to the packet, wherein the service instance portion comprises a first number of bits and wherein the service information portion comprises a second number of bits different than the first number of bits, and wherein the label has a width of 40 bits;
• appending, with the network device, the label to the packet to form a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)-encapsulated packet;
• and
• forwarding the MPLS-encapsulated packet via an output interface according to the label switching protocol.