Dynamic service path creation

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface unit configured to enable communications over a network including a plurality of service nodes each configured to apply a service function to traffic that passes through the respective service node;
• memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network interface unit and the memory, the processor configured to:
• define a service chain identifying a set of service functions and an order in which they are applied,
• receive, from a classifier, an indication that the service chain has been instantiated at the classifier,
• create a service header that identifies a unique service path for the service chain, wherein the unique service path identifies both the service chain and the classifier at which the service chain is instantiated, wherein the classifier is a head-end network node for the service chain;
• define a plurality of same service chains;
• receive an indication that the same service chains have been instantiated at a plurality of different classifiers;
• and
• create unique service headers for each of the service chains instantiated at each of the plurality of classifiers, wherein each of the unique service headers identify unique service paths for a respective one of the service chains, wherein each of the unique service paths identifies both the service chain and the classifier at which the service chain is instantiated.

One or more computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:

• at a service controller for a network comprising a plurality of service nodes each configured to apply a service function to traffic that passes through the respective service node, define a service chain;
• receive, from a classifier, an indication that the service chain has been instantiated at the classifier;
• create a service header that identifies a unique service path for the service chain, wherein the unique service path identifies both the service chain and the classifier at which the service chain is instantiated, wherein the classifier is a head-end network node for the service chain;
• define a plurality of same service chains;
• receive an indication that the same service chains have been instantiated at a plurality of different classifiers;
• and
• create unique service headers for each of the service chains instantiated at each of the plurality of classifiers, wherein each of the unique service headers identify unique service paths for a respective one of the service chains, wherein each of the unique service paths identifies both the service chain and the classifier at which the service chain is instantiated.