Google Inc.

Stephen Stuart

Ross A Biro

Arivudainambi Appachi Gounder

Edward Crabbe

Zhiwei Cen

Madhu Venugopal

Bolei Fu

The systems and methods described herein provide a mechanism to apply network functions to a packet. The packet received by a network switch from a host may be configured so that the packet may be transmitted and forwarded to a target destination with desired network function, such as desired security settings, traffic path control or policy enforcement. In one example, the system may include a network switch and a network controller. The packet from hosts may enter the network switch through network ports (Px). The packet may then be tunneled and further transmitted to a server insertion to add a service identifier for the packet. The packet with the service modifier is then transmitted to a service block over the network. The service block may apply specific network functions to be processed or already processed to the packets. Subsequently, the packet with the specific network functions may then routes to the target destination with the desired network functions.

Systems and methods for tunneling network traffic to apply network functions

Implementations are provided for building a service function chain in a network that can remove the requirement to encapsulate packet level metadata or other packet levels in a service function chain. The approach allows for implementing service function chains while separating chain metadata from the service function so that service functions are not required to support handling service function chaining metadata. The approach can map a tunnel identifier of an encapsulated data packet to an attachment circuit of a service function and can rewrite the destination media access control (MAC) address of the data packet to the MAC address of the service function.

Method to build a service function chain in an overlay network

Routing nodes in communications networks use policies and certain fields, called selection fields, in packet headers to make routing decisions. When routing over a trunk, a specific trunked link over which to forward a packet must be selected. Policies and selection fields can be used in a way that causes the packets in data streams to be distributed more evenly across the trunked links than is currently done.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Stephen Stuart