Service Control Gateway Dynamic Service Chain Orchestration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for dynamically provisioning service chains in computer networks are limited in their ability to dynamically orchestrate and stitch together combinations of network services, leading to inflexible and static service configurations that do not adapt well to changing traffic patterns or service requirements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a service control gateway that receives an ordered list of services and bifurcates it into uplink and downlink virtual private network (VPN) routing and forwarding instances/tables, enabling dynamic stitching of service chains for uplink and downlink packet flows, allowing for dynamic service chaining and adaptation based on service profiles and traffic types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If static service configurations are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to changing traffic patterns and service requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A service chain gateway acts as an intermediary device that dynamically orchestrates service chains between service providers and packet flows. The gateway receives service chain definitions from service providers, processes packet flows, and dynamically steers packets through appropriate service nodes based on matching criteria, thereby enabling adaptability without requiring complex configurations at each individual device.
Solution Approach 2:
The service chain gateway implements dynamic service chain orchestration by continuously monitoring packet flows and dynamically steering packets through service nodes based on real-time matching criteria. Service chains can be added, modified, or removed dynamically, and the gateway adapts its forwarding behavior accordingly, transforming the static service configuration model into a dynamic one.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic service chaining is implemented, then service flexibility is improved, but processing time and orchestration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Service providers pre-define service chain configurations including the sequence of services and matching criteria before deploying them to the service chain gateway. This preliminary action allows the gateway to have service chain definitions ready in advance, enabling rapid packet processing without requiring complex real-time decision-making for each packet, thereby reducing processing time overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The service chain gateway uses copying mechanisms to replicate service chain definition data structures and matching criteria into efficient lookup tables or forwarding information bases. This allows the gateway to perform rapid pattern matching and steering decisions by comparing packet attributes against pre-copied service chain definitions, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining service flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, techniques for dynamically provisioning service chains are described. In one example a network device comprises a control unit having at least one processor coupled to a memory, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a services list comprising an ordered list of services, the ordered list of services specifying at least a first service and a second service. The network device also comprises a forwarding unit coupled to the control unit and configured to receive a packet of a packet flow from a first service node that has applied the first service to the packet, wherein the forwarding unit is configured to send, based at least on the ordered list of services, the packet to a second service node that applies the second service.