Network service chains using sustainability
Network energy efficiency and green power selection may be optimized by employing graph-oriented service chains configured to share sustainability attributes and metadata augmentation. More specifically, network Service Function Chain (SFC) creation can include a set of power and energy-specific and sustainable attributes. In general, the goal of SFC is to enable the creation of a service path that matches the specific needs of an application or service. SFCs are composed of a sequence of network functions, such as firewalls, load balancers, intrusion detection systems, and other services. Each network function performs a specific task on the network traffic, and the packets are passed from one function to the next until they reach their destination. Overall, SFCs are a powerful tool for managing complex network environments, enabling network administrators to deploy and manage network services more efficiently and effectively.
1 . A device, comprising:
one or more processors;
a communications interface;
a non-transitory computer-readable storage media, that when executed by the one or more processors, directs the device to:
initiate a call for a service function by an application;
create an identifier for a service function path and a field suitable for storing a node index associated with a node sequence within a path;
generate a first header comprising the identifier for the service function path, the node index, and green metadata;
compile the first header and a first payload into a first packet;
receive the first packet at a first destination point;
determine a service function to be performed;
determine a second destination point where the service function is to be performed, using the green metadata; and
transmit the first packet to a network; and
a service function forwarder configured to:
analyze the first packet to determine a first service function to be performed based on the identifier for the service function path and the node index;
forward the first packet to the first service function; and
cause the first service function to perform a service, decrement the node index, and
re-encapsulate the first packet.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the node index is a Service Index (SI).
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the identifier for the service function path is a Service Function Path Identifier (SFP-ID).
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the device is further directed to:
receive a second packet from the network;
process the second packet; and
read the SFP-ID, the SI, and the green metadata associated with the second packet.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the device is further directed to:
determine if all services have been performed;
determine if the device is the device of origin; and
return a second payload to the application.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the green metadata comprises at least one of: geolocation of Network Entities (NEs), power modes of NEs, energy types powering NEs, efficiency of NEs, or battery levels of NEs.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first header is a Network Service Header (NSH); and
the green metadata comprises, at least in part, an application identification (APP-ID).
8 . A device, comprising:
one or more processors;
a communications interface;
a non-transitory computer-readable storage media, that when executed by the one or more processors, directs the device to:
receive a first packet via the communications interface at a first destination point;
process the first packet to extract a first header and a first payload;
determine that the first packet is a service function request;
read an identifier for a service function path, a node index, and green metadata from the first header; and
determine a second destination point where the service function is to be performed, using the green metadata; and
a service function forwarder configured to:
analyze the first packet to determine a first service function to be performed based on the identifier for the service function path and the node index;
forward the first packet to the first service function; and
cause the first service function to perform a service, decrement the node index,
and re-encapsulate the first packet.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the node index is a Service Index (SI).
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the identifier for the service function path is a Service Function Path Identifier (SFP-ID).
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the device is further directed to:
determining from the SFP-ID and the SI what service function (SF) is to be performed; and
determining from the green metadata where a service function is to be performed.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the device is further directed to:
performing the SF on the first payload to generate a second payload;
decrement the SI;
generating a second header from the SFP-ID, the decremented SI, and the green metadata;
compiling the second header and the second payload into a second packet; and
transmitting the second packet to a network.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the green metadata comprises at least one of: geolocation of Network Entities (NEs), power modes of NEs, energy types powering NEs, efficiency of NEs, or battery levels of NEs.
14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein Network Entities (Nes) comprise at least one of: servers, routers, switches, disk arrays, wireless LAN controllers, wireless access points, cellular access points, or client computers.
15 . A method, comprising:
initiating a call for a service function by an application;
creating a Service Function Path Identifier (SFP-ID) and a Service Index (SI);
generating a first header comprising the SFP-ID, the SI, and green metadata;
compiling the first header and a first payload into a first packet;
receiving the first packet at a first destination point;
determining a service function to be performed;
determining a second destination point where the service function is to be performed; and
transmitting the first packet to a device over a network
utilizing a service function forwarder to:
analyze the first packet to determine a first service function to be performed based on the identifier for the service function path and the node index;
forwarding the first packet to the first service function; and
causing the first service function to perform a service, decrement the node index, and
re-encapsulate the first packet.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a second packet from the network;
processing the second packet; and
reading the SFP-ID, the SI, and the green metadata associated with the second packet.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
determining if all services have been performed;
determining if the device is the device of origin; and
returning a second payload to the application.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the green metadata comprises at least one of: geolocation of Network Entities (NEs), power modes of NEs, energy types powering NEs, efficiency of NEs, or battery levels of NEs.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the NEs comprise at least one of: servers, routers, switches, disk arrays, wireless LAN controllers, wireless access points, cellular access points, or client computers.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first header comprises at least one of: a Network Service Header (NSH), a Segment Routing IPV6 (SRv6) header, or a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) header.