WO2022143597A1 - Method for determining forwarding path of service chain and communication apparatus - Google Patents

Method for determining forwarding path of service chain and communication apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2022143597A1
WO2022143597A1 PCT/CN2021/141866 CN2021141866W WO2022143597A1 WO 2022143597 A1 WO2022143597 A1 WO 2022143597A1 CN 2021141866 W CN2021141866 W CN 2021141866W WO 2022143597 A1 WO2022143597 A1 WO 2022143597A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
network element
service
service chain
forwarding path
network
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2021/141866
Other languages
French (fr)
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
晏亚峰
Original Assignee
华为技术有限公司
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 华为技术有限公司 filed Critical 华为技术有限公司
Publication of WO2022143597A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022143597A1/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L45/00—Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks
    • H04L45/12—Shortest path evaluation
    • H04L45/124—Shortest path evaluation using a combination of metrics
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
    • H04L41/0803—Configuration setting
    • H04L41/0823—Configuration setting characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/12—Discovery or management of network topologies
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L45/00—Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks
    • H04L45/12—Shortest path evaluation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L45/00—Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks
    • H04L45/42—Centralised routing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L47/00—Traffic control in data switching networks
    • H04L47/10—Flow control; Congestion control
    • H04L47/12—Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
    • H04L47/125—Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering

Definitions

  • the present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a method and a communication device for determining a forwarding path of a service chain.
  • a service function chain is also called a service chain, which is an ordered collection of service functions (SF).
  • the SF may be: video optimization, transmission control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP) optimization, firewall or uniform resource locator (uniform resource locator, URL) filtering, and the like.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing service chain network.
  • the service chain network includes a traffic classifier (TC), a service function forwarder (SFF) network element, and SF1 network elements to SF5 network elements.
  • the classifier is used to realize the identification and rule matching of the service message, and to determine the service chain to be passed through for the service message.
  • the service packet is encapsulated into an encapsulated packet, and the encapsulated packet is encapsulated with the identifier of the service chain to be passed by the service packet and the service packet.
  • the classifier sends the encapsulated message to the SFF network element.
  • the SFF network element is responsible for forwarding the encapsulated message or the decapsulated service message to the corresponding SF network element, so that the SF network element can process the service message.
  • SF1 has one network element
  • SF2 has two network elements
  • SF3 has three network elements
  • SF4 has two network elements
  • SF5 has one network element.
  • SFC1 indicates that a service packet is first processed by the network element corresponding to SF1, then processed by the network element corresponding to SF2, and then processed by the network element corresponding to SF3. Since both SF2 and SF3 have multiple network elements, SFC1 has multiple forwarding paths.
  • each SFF network element independently decides the SF network element to be forwarded in the next hop.
  • each SFF network element independently decides which SF network element to forward in the next hop, and cannot guarantee that the forwarding path of the service chain conforms to the forwarding rules set by the operator (for example, the rules for balancing the load of SF network elements). . Therefore, how to make the forwarding path of the service chain meet the forwarding rules set by the operator is an urgent problem to be solved at present.
  • the present application provides a method and a communication device for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, which are beneficial to enable the determined forwarding path of a service chain to meet the rules set by an operator.
  • the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain.
  • the method includes: a first network element obtains a service-level arrangement result corresponding to a first service chain, and the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of multiple service functions SF. ; the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs; the first network element generates the first An encapsulated packet, the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path, and the second indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path.
  • the first hop SF network element the first network element forwards the SFF network element to the service function to send the first encapsulated message.
  • the forwarding path of the service chain can be centrally determined by the first network element, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic on the SF network element, so that the first network element can be based on the SF network element. Based on the actual traffic on the element, plan a service chain forwarding path that conforms to the operator's rules.
  • the first network element is deployed on the user plane, so that the user plane network element can obtain the forwarding path of the service chain more quickly, thereby realizing the forwarding of the service packet more quickly.
  • the first network element may also receive a second encapsulated packet sent by the classifier, where the second encapsulated packet includes the first encapsulated packet.
  • the first network element is not a classifier, but a newly added user plane network element, which can reduce changes to the existing classifier.
  • the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, the method comprising: a first network element receiving a first request sent by a classifier, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, The first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the first network element obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, and the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of multiple service functions SF; the first network element is based on the multiple The ordering of SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs determine the forwarding path of the first service chain; the first network element sends first indication information to the classifier, the first The indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path.
  • the forwarding path of the service chain can be centrally determined by the first network element, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic on the SF network element, so that the first network element can be based on the SF network element. Based on the actual traffic on the element, plan a service chain forwarding path that conforms to the operator's rules.
  • the first network element may also receive service chain information sent by the service chain controller,
  • the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain.
  • a specific implementation manner for the first network element to obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain is:
  • the business-level orchestration result corresponding to the first business chain is obtained from the chain information. Based on this possible implementation, the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain can be accurately obtained.
  • the first network element determines, based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs, to determine
  • the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: the first network element is based on the sorting of the multiple SFs, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and the following information.
  • the networking relationship between the multiple SF network elements and the SFF network elements is determined, and the forwarding path of the first service chain is determined.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the deployment location of the SF network element, the deployment location of the SFF network element, or the networking relationship between the SF network element and the SFF network element is conducive to reducing the forwarding of service packets across SFF network elements. It can reduce the load of SFF network elements in the service chain network and reduce the forwarding delay of service packets.
  • the first network element may also receive target information sent by the service chain controller.
  • the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: the deployment position of the SF network element included in the service chain network, the deployment position of the SFF network element included in the service chain network, or the SF network element and the SFF network included in the service chain network.
  • the network topology information is managed by the service chain controller, which facilitates centralized management of the network topology information.
  • the first network element determines, based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs, to determine
  • the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: the order of the first network element based on the multiple SFs, the load situation of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs, and the multiple SFs.
  • the load weight of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the SFs determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the load weight of the SF network element corresponding to the service-level orchestration result can more flexibly support load balancing in the case of different processing capabilities of SF instances.
  • the first network element may further receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller.
  • the load weight of the SF network element is managed by the service chain controller, which facilitates centralized management of the load weight of the SF network element.
  • the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path. Based on this possible implementation, the forwarding path of the first service chain can be accurately indicated.
  • the forwarding path includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to the foregoing multiple SFs.
  • the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, the method includes: a classifier sends a first request to a first network element, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, the The first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the classifier receives the first indication information sent by the first network element, and the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path; the classifier sends the first encapsulation message to the service function forwarding SFF network element.
  • the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path.
  • the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
  • the forwarding path includes multiple SF network elements.
  • the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, the method comprising: a service function forwarding an SFF network element to receive a first encapsulated packet from a first network element or a classifier, where the first encapsulated packet includes the first indication information, the second indication information, and the first service packet, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path of the first service chain, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path;
  • the SFF network element forwards the first service packet to the first-hop SF network element; the SFF network element receives the second service packet returned by the first-hop SF network element; the SFF network element forwards the forwarding path to the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain
  • the second hop SF network element forwards the second service packet.
  • the forwarding path includes multiple SF network elements.
  • the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
  • the specific implementation manner of the SFF network element forwarding the second service packet to the second hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: the SFF network element communicates with the second hop The SFF network element connected to the SF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element. Based on this possible implementation manner, the second service packet can be successfully forwarded to the second-hop SF network element.
  • the first network element is used to implement the orchestration of the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • a communication apparatus may be a first network element or a classifier or an SFF network element.
  • the communication device may perform the method described in any one of the first to fourth aspects.
  • the functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by executing corresponding software by hardware.
  • the hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.
  • the unit may be software and/or hardware.
  • the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor, when the processor calls a computer program in a memory, the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects be executed.
  • the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is configured to store computer-executed instructions; the processor is configured to execute the computer-executed instructions stored in the memory, to The communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.
  • the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, the transceiver is used for receiving a signal or sending a signal; the memory is used for storing a program code; the The processor is configured to call the program code from the memory to execute the method according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.
  • the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit is configured to receive a code instruction and transmit it to the processor; the processor executes the code The instruction is to execute the method according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.
  • the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where the computer-readable storage medium is used to store instructions, and when the instructions are executed, the instructions are as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects. The described method is implemented.
  • the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which when executed, enable the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects to be implemented.
  • 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing service chain network
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an encapsulated message provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another encapsulated message provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of another method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • At least one (item) means one or more
  • plural means two or more
  • at least two (item) means two or three and three
  • “and/or” is used to describe the relationship of related objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, “A and/or B” can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist three A case where A and B can be singular or plural.
  • the character “/” generally indicates that the associated objects are an “or” relationship.
  • At least one item(s) below” or similar expressions thereof refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s).
  • At least one (a) of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", “a and c", “b and c", or "a and b and c" ", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.
  • the embodiments of the present application provide a method and a communication device for determining the forwarding path of the service chain.
  • the system architecture is introduced:
  • the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, an internet of things (internet of things, IoT) system, a narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) system, a long-term evolution ( long term evolution, LTE) system, it can also be a fifth-generation (5th-generation, 5G) communication system, it can also be a hybrid architecture of LTE and 5G, it can also be a 5G new radio (NR) system, and future communications New communication systems emerging in development, etc.
  • IoT internet of things
  • NB-IoT narrow band internet of things
  • LTE long-term evolution
  • 5G fifth-generation
  • 5G fifth-generation
  • NR 5G new radio
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the system architecture includes a traffic classifier (TC), a first network element, a service chain controller (SFC controller, SFCC), a service function (SF) network element, and a service function forwarding ( service function forwarder, SFF) network element.
  • the TC, the first network element, the SF network element, and the SFF network element are deployed on the user plane.
  • the first network element may be a user plane network element newly added between the TC and the SFF network element.
  • the first network element may be referred to as an SFC enabler (SFC enabler).
  • SFCC is deployed on the control plane.
  • Figure 2 takes as an example there are 5 SF network elements and 3 SFF network elements. It is worth mentioning that, in this embodiment of the present application, the network element may also be referred to as a module, and different user plane network elements may be integrated into the same device, or may be deployed separately. Different control plane network elements can be integrated into the same device or deployed separately.
  • the SF network element can provide a certain network function service, which is used for service processing of service packets.
  • the SF network element may be a video optimized network element, a transmission control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP) optimized network element, a firewall network element, or a uniform resource locator (uniform resource locator, URL) filtering network element, and the like.
  • TCP transmission control protocol
  • URL uniform resource locator
  • each service function may correspond to one or more SF network elements for realizing the service function.
  • there may be one or more video optimization network elements.
  • TCP optimized network elements There can be one or more firewall network elements.
  • the SF network elements are classified into SFC-aware SF network elements and non-SFC-aware SF network elements.
  • SFC-aware SF network elements can identify encapsulated packets encapsulated with service packets sent by SFF network elements.
  • encapsulated packets can also encapsulate other information.
  • the encapsulation message may further encapsulate the indication information used to indicate the forwarding path of the service chain and the indication information used to indicate the SF network element of a certain hop.
  • the SFC-aware SF network element can receive the encapsulated message encapsulated with the service message sent by the SFF network element, decapsulate the encapsulated message, obtain the service message, and process the service message. After the SFC-aware SF network element processes the service packet, it re-encapsulates the processed service packet, and returns the encapsulated packet obtained by re-encapsulation to the SFF network element.
  • Non-SFC-aware SF NEs cannot identify encapsulated packets encapsulated with service packets sent by SFF NEs.
  • the service chain proxy (SFC proxy) NE can bridge the non-SFC-aware SF NEs and SFF NEs so that non-SFC-aware SF NEs and SFF NEs can be bridged.
  • SFC-aware SF network elements can access the service chain network without modification. For example, for a non-SFC-aware SF network element, the SFF network element can send the encapsulated packet encapsulated with the service packet to the SFC proxy network element, and the SFC proxy network element decapsulates the encapsulated packet to obtain the service packet.
  • the non-SFC-aware SF network element processes the service packet, it returns the processed service packet to the SFC proxy network element, and the SFC proxy network element re-encapsulates the processed service packet to obtain a new encapsulation message, and send the new encapsulated message to the SFF network element.
  • the function of the SFC proxy network element can also be implemented by the SFF network element.
  • the SFF network element can decapsulate the encapsulated packet encapsulated with the service packet, obtain the service packet, and send the service packet to the non-SFC-aware SF network element for service processing. After the non-SFC-aware SF network element processes the service message, it returns the processed service message to the SFF network element.
  • 2Service function chain (service function chain, SFC): Also called service chain, it is an ordered set of SFs.
  • the service-level orchestration result of a service chain indicates the ordering of multiple SFs of the service chain. For example, assuming that the service level orchestration result of a service chain is: SF1->SF2->SF3, it means that the service packets first go through the NE corresponding to SF1 for service processing, then go through the NE corresponding to SF2 for service processing, and then go through the NE corresponding to SF2 for service processing.
  • the network element corresponding to SF3 performs service processing.
  • 3TC It is used to realize the identification of the service message and match the service message with the service chain matching rule, so as to determine the service chain to be passed through for the service message.
  • the TC matches the service packet with the service chain rule, and determines the service chain through which the service packet passes, that is, determines the service chain corresponding to the service packet.
  • the TC determines the service chain that the service packet will pass through, it encapsulates the service packet into an encapsulated packet, and the encapsulated packet carries the service packet and the identifier of the service chain through which the service packet will pass.
  • the first network element is used to realize the arrangement of the forwarding path of the service chain. Since there may be multiple network elements corresponding to one SF, a service chain may have multiple forwarding paths. For example, for a service chain whose service-level orchestration result is SF1->SF2, as shown in Figure 2, since SF2 has two network elements. There are two forwarding paths of the service chain, namely SF1 network element 150->SF2 network element 151, and SF1 network element 150->SF2 network element 152.
  • the SFF network element is responsible for forwarding the encapsulated message carrying the service message or the service message in the encapsulated message to the corresponding SF network element, so that the SF network element can process the service message.
  • the network elements 150 to 154 are all non-SFC-aware SF network elements, and the SFF network elements integrate the functions of the SFC proxy network elements.
  • the SFF NE 140 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 1, and sends the service packets in the encapsulated packet 1.
  • SF1 network element 150 the SFF network element
  • the processed service message is returned to the SFF network element 140 .
  • the SFF network element 140 encapsulates the processed service packet to obtain an encapsulated packet 2 .
  • the SFF network element 140 sends the encapsulated packet 2 to the SFF network element 141 .
  • the SFF network element 141 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 2, and then sends the service packet in the encapsulated packet 2 to the SF2 network element 151 for service processing.
  • 6SFCC used to issue business chain matching rules to the TC.
  • SFCC can also define business chains, that is, realize business-level orchestration of business chains. For example, the SFCC determines that the service-level orchestration result of service chain 1 is SF1->SF2, the service-level orchestration result of service chain 2 is SF1->SF3, the service-level orchestration result of service chain 3 is SF2->SF3, and the service-level The business-level orchestration result is SF1->SF2->SF3.
  • the SFCC may deliver the service chain information to the first network element in advance.
  • the business chain information includes the identification of business chain 1 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 1, the identification of business chain 2 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 2, the identification of business chain 3 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 3.
  • the first network element receives the service chain information, it can know the service level arrangement results corresponding to service chain 1 to service chain 4, so that the first network element can determine the service based on the service level arrangement result of a certain service chain.
  • the forwarding path of the chain may not deliver the service chain information to the first network element, and the first network element obtains the service-level arrangement result of the service chain in other ways.
  • the SFCC can also manage the network topology information of the service chain, and the network topology information of the service chain can indicate: the SF network elements included in the service chain network, the deployment position of the SF network elements included in the service chain network, and the SFF network elements included in the service chain network. , the deployment location of the SFF network elements included in the business chain network, the networking relationship between the SF network elements included in the business chain network and the SFF network elements, the network address of the SF network elements included in the business chain network, and the SFF included in the business chain network. The network address of the NE.
  • the first network element may also be deployed on the control plane.
  • the first network element When the first network element is deployed on the control plane, it may be a newly added network element of the control plane, or a service chain controller. Take the first network element as a newly added control plane network element as an example.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the system architecture includes a TC, a first network element, an SFCC, a SF network element, and an SFF network element.
  • TC, SF network elements and SFF network elements are deployed on the user plane.
  • the SFCC and the first network element are deployed on the control plane.
  • the first network element may also be referred to as an SFC enabler.
  • Figure 3 takes as an example there are 5 SF network elements and 3 SFF network elements.
  • the TC the first network element, the SFCC, the SF network element, and the SFF network element, reference may be made to the foregoing description, which is not repeated here.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the first network element is deployed on the user plane.
  • the first network element may be a newly added user plane network element, or the first network element may be a TC.
  • the method for determining the forwarding path of the service chain includes the following steps 401 to 407 . in:
  • the first network element acquires a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of various SFs.
  • the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain is: video optimization->firewall->URL filtering, which means that video optimization processing is performed on service packets first, then firewall processing is performed, and URL filtering processing is performed.
  • the TC can also receive the first service packet; the TC matches the first service packet with the service chain rule, and determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, that is, the first service message needs to be processed through the first service chain. After the TC determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, the TC can obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, so as to subsequently determine the forwarding of the first service chain based on the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain path.
  • the first network element is not a TC
  • the first network element is a newly added user plane network element
  • the first network element can also receive a second encapsulated packet sent by the TC.
  • the message includes the first service message and the identifier of the first service chain.
  • the first network element can obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, so as to subsequently determine the first service chain based on the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain forwarding path.
  • the TC after receiving the first service packet, matches the first service packet with the service chain rule, and determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain.
  • the TC encapsulates the first service packet and the identifier of the first service chain to obtain a second encapsulated packet.
  • the TC sends the second encapsulated packet to the first network element.
  • the first network element After the first network element receives the second encapsulated packet sent by the TC, it can determine that the first service packet needs to be processed through the first service chain. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the service level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain as the first service.
  • the chain determines the forwarding path.
  • the first network element is not a classifier, but a newly added user plane network element, which can reduce changes to the existing classifier.
  • the SFCC may send service chain information to the first network element, where the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain.
  • the first network element may receive the service chain information sent by the SFCC. After receiving the service chain information, the first network element may also store the service chain information for subsequent use.
  • the first network element receives the service chain information shown in Table 1 above from the SFCC, and stores the service chain information shown in Table 1 above. In this way, the first network element can know the service-level orchestration results corresponding to service chain 1 to service chain 4 respectively. Subsequently, the first network element can obtain the service chain arrangement result corresponding to a certain service chain from the stored service chain information, so as to determine the forwarding path for the service chain based on the service level arrangement result corresponding to the service chain.
  • the service-level orchestration of the service chain in the SFCC is beneficial to reduce the load of the first network element, and the existing service chain network can be used for service-level orchestration, which can shorten the development time, and since the SFCC is the center of the network control plane Nodes, through the SFCC, perform service-level orchestration of the service chain, which is more convenient for centralized management of the service-level orchestration results of the service chain.
  • the first network element may also acquire the service chain information from a network element other than the SFCC.
  • the service chain message may also be generated by the first network element itself.
  • a specific implementation manner for the first network element to obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain is: the first network element obtains the first service chain from service chain information based on the identifier of the first service chain Corresponding business-level orchestration results.
  • the first network element receives the service chain information shown in Table 1 above from the SFCC, and stores the service chain information shown in Table 1 above. Assume that the first service chain is service chain 1. Then, the first network element obtains the service level arrangement result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain 1 from the service chain information shown in Table 1 above, that is, SF1->SF2.
  • the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs.
  • the first network element after the first network element obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, it is based on the sorting of multiple SFs in the first service chain and multiple SFs corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs.
  • the load condition of the network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to multiple SFs of the first service chain. Specifically, for each SF in the multiple SFs of the first service chain, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes one SF network element of the SF. For example, assuming that the first service chain includes SF1 and SF2, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes one SF1 network element and one SF2 network element. For another example, assuming that the first service chain includes SF1, SF2 and SF3, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes one SF1 network element, one SF2 network element and one SF3 network element.
  • each of the multiple SFs in the first service chain does not necessarily correspond to multiple SF network elements. Therefore, the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs of the first service chain and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the service-level orchestration result of the first service chain is SF1->SF2. Since there is only one SF1 network element and multiple SF2 network elements, the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the order of SF1 and SF2 and the load conditions of the multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to SF2.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150 and a certain SF2 network element.
  • the SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to the SF2.
  • the first network element is based on the ordering of SF1, SF2 and SF3, and the multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to SF2
  • the load situation of the SF3 and the load situation of multiple SF3 network elements corresponding to SF3 determine the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150, a certain SF2 network element, and a certain SF3 network element.
  • the SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to the SF2.
  • the SF3 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF3 network elements corresponding to the SF3.
  • the first network element determines the first The forwarding path of the business chain.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150, a certain SF2 network element, and a certain SF3 network element.
  • the SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to the SF2.
  • the SF3 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain may be determined by other parameters.
  • the first network element determines the first The forwarding path of the business chain.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150, a certain SF2 network element, and a certain SF3 network element.
  • the SF3 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF3 network elements corresponding to the SF3.
  • the SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain may be determined by other parameters.
  • the first network element may determine the load condition of the SF network element based on the amount of traffic or service flow on the SF network element. The more traffic on the SF network element, the greater the load on the SF network element, and the less traffic on the SF network element, the less the load on the SF network element. The larger the number of service flows on the SF network element, the greater the load of the SF network element, and the less the number of service flows on the SF network element, the smaller the load of the SF network element.
  • the advantage of determining the load of the SF network element by the number of service flows is that the first network element does not need to count traffic, which is beneficial to reduce the load of the first network element.
  • the first network element may be based on the ordering of multiple SFs of the first service chain and the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and according to the SF network element load balancing policy, Determine the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the SF network element load balancing policy refers to balancing traffic on multiple SF network elements corresponding to the same SF.
  • the first network element generates a first encapsulation packet, where the first encapsulation packet includes first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding of the first service chain path, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path.
  • the first indication information and the second indication information may also be the same indication information, or the first indication information and the second indication information may be two indication information.
  • the first-hop SF network element refers to the first SF network element in the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path. That is, the first indication information indicates the forwarding path through the identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path, so that the forwarding path can be accurately indicated.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain is: video optimization network element 150 -> URL filtering network element 153 -> firewall network element 152 .
  • the first indication information sequentially includes the identification of the video optimization network element 150 -> the identification of the URL filtering network element 153 -> the identification of the firewall network element 152.
  • the second indication information is the sequence number of the first-hop SF network element in the forwarding path, so that the first-hop SF network element can be accurately indicated.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain is: video optimization network element 150 -> URL filtering network element 153 -> firewall network element 152 .
  • the second indication information is sequence number 1, which is used to indicate the video optimization network element 150 .
  • the second indication information is the identifier of the first hop SF network element, for example, the second indication information is the identifier of the video optimization network element 150 .
  • the first network element sends the first encapsulated packet to the SFF network element.
  • the first network element after generating the first encapsulated packet, the first network element sends the first encapsulated packet to the SFF network element, where the SFF network element refers to the SFF network element connected to the first hop SF network element. If the first network element is not directly connected to the SFF network element connected to the first-hop SF network element, the first network element can forward the first encapsulated packet to the first-hop SF network element through other SFF network elements. SFF network element.
  • the SFFC may also deliver the network address of the SFF network element included in the service chain network to the first network element.
  • the first network element may receive the network address of the SFF network element in the service chain network delivered by the SFFC. In this way, the first network element can send the first encapsulated packet to the SFF network element connected to the first hop SF network element based on the network address of the SFF network element in the service chain network.
  • the first network element may obtain the network address of the SFF network element in the service chain network through other methods.
  • the SFF network element forwards the first service packet to the first hop SF network element.
  • the SFF network element after receiving the first encapsulated packet, decapsulates the first encapsulated packet to obtain the first indication information, the second indication information and the first service packet.
  • the SFF network element determines the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the second indication information. After the SFF network element determines the first hop SF network element, it sends the first service message to the first hop SF network element.
  • the SFFC may deliver the network addresses of the SF network elements included in the service chain network and the network addresses of other SFF network elements included in the service chain network to the SFF network elements.
  • the SFF network element may receive the network address of the SF network element included in the service chain network and the network addresses of other SFF network elements included in the service chain network from the SFFC. In this way, the SFF network element can send service packets to the SF network element based on the network address of the SF network element, or the SFF network element can send service packets to the SF network element across the SFF network based on the network address of the SF network element and the network addresses of other SFF network elements. Meta-forwarding service packets.
  • the first hop SF network element sends the second service packet to the SFF network element.
  • the first-hop SF network element after receiving the first service packet, processes the first service packet to obtain the second service packet.
  • the first service message may be the same as or different from the second service message.
  • the first-hop SF network element After the first-hop SF network element obtains the second service message, it returns the second service message to the SFF network element.
  • step 405 and step 406 are further introduced below for different types of first-hop SF network elements:
  • the SFF network element If the first-hop SF network element is an SFC-aware SF network element, the SFF network element generates a third encapsulated packet, where the third encapsulated packet includes the first indication information, the second indication information and the first service packet.
  • the SFF network element sends the third encapsulated message to the first-hop SF network element.
  • the first-hop SF network element decompresses the third encapsulated packet to obtain the first service packet.
  • the first-hop SF network element performs service processing on the first service packet to obtain the second service packet.
  • the first-hop SF network element After obtaining the second service packet, the first-hop SF network element generates a fourth encapsulated packet, where the fourth encapsulated packet includes the first indication information, the second indication information and the second service packet.
  • the first-hop SF network element sends the fourth encapsulated packet to the SFF network element.
  • the SFF network element can directly send the first service packet to the first-hop SF network element for processing. business processing.
  • the first-hop SF network element performs service processing on the first service packet to obtain the second service packet, it directly returns the second service packet to the SFF network element.
  • the SFF network element If the first hop SF network element is a non-SFC-aware SF network element, and the SFF network element does not integrate the function of the SFC proxy network element, the SFF network element generates a third encapsulated packet, and the third encapsulated packet includes the first service. message, first indication information and second indication information.
  • the SFF network element sends the third encapsulated packet to the SFC proxy network element, so that the SFC proxy network element decapsulates the third encapsulated packet, and sends the decapsulated first service packet to the first hop SF
  • the network element performs service processing.
  • the first-hop SF network element after the first-hop SF network element performs service processing on the first service message to obtain the second service message, the first-hop SF network element returns the second service message to the SFC proxy network element.
  • the SFC proxy network element After receiving the second service packet, the SFC proxy network element generates a fourth encapsulation packet, where the fourth encapsulation packet includes the second service packet, the first indication information, and the second indication information.
  • the SFC proxy network element sends the fourth encapsulated packet to the SFF network element.
  • the SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the SFF network element after receiving the second service packet sent by the first-hop SF network element, the SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain .
  • the SFF NE If the SFF NE is connected to the second-hop SF NE, after the SFF NE receives the second service packet sent by the first-hop SF NE, the SFF NE does not need to send the second-hop SF NE through other SFF NEs. The element sends the second service message.
  • the SFF network element For example, if the SFF network element is connected to the second-hop SF network element, and the second-hop SF network element is an SFC-aware SF network element, the SFF network element generates an encapsulated packet including the second service packet , first indication information, and third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the second hop SF network element.
  • the SFF network element sends the encapsulated message to the second-hop SF network element, so that the second-hop SF network element decapsulates the encapsulated message, and performs service processing on the second service message obtained from the decapsulation.
  • the SFF NE can directly The second service packet is sent to the second-hop SF network element for service processing.
  • the SFF network element For another example, if the SFF network element is connected to the second-hop SF network element, and the second-hop SF network element is a non-SFC-aware SF network element, and the SFF network element does not integrate the function of the SFC proxy network element, the SFF network element generates a An encapsulated packet, where the encapsulated packet includes a second service packet, first indication information and third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the second hop SF network element.
  • the SFF network element sends the encapsulated packet to the SFC proxy network element, so that the SFC proxy network element decapsulates the encapsulated packet, and sends the decapsulated second service packet to the second-hop SF network element for service deal with.
  • the specific implementation of the SFF network element forwarding the second service report to the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: The element forwards the second service message to the second-hop SF network element through the SFF network element connected to the second-hop SF network element. Based on this possible implementation manner, the second service packet can be successfully forwarded to the second-hop SF network element.
  • the SFF network element may generate an encapsulated packet, where the encapsulated packet carries the second service packet, first indication information and third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the second hop SF network element.
  • the SFF network element sends the encapsulated packet to the SFF network element connected to the second-hop SF network element, so that the SFF network element connected to the second-hop SF network element can send the encapsulated packet to the second-hop SF network element based on the encapsulated packet. Send the second service message.
  • the method described in FIG. 4 is further described below by taking the first network element as the newly added user plane network element as an example, through a specific example:
  • the service chain network includes one video optimization network element, two firewall network elements, and two URL filtering network elements.
  • the five network elements are all non-SFC-aware SF network elements.
  • SFCC defines three service chains.
  • the service-level arrangement result of service chain 1 is: video optimization -> URL filtering -> firewall.
  • the business-level orchestration result of business chain 2 is: video optimization -> firewall.
  • the service-level orchestration result of service chain 3 is: Firewall -> URL Filtering.
  • the SFCC downloads the service chain information to the first network element in advance.
  • the business chain information includes the identification of business chain 1 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 1, the identification of business chain 2 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 2, the identification of business chain 3 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 3.
  • business-level orchestration results In this way, after the first network element receives the service chain information, it can know the service level arrangement results corresponding to service chain 1 to service chain 3 respectively.
  • the TC After receiving the service packet 1, the TC matches the service packet 1 with the service chain matching rule, and determines that the service packet 1 needs to be forwarded through the service chain 1.
  • the TC encapsulates the service packet 1 to obtain the encapsulated packet 1 .
  • the encapsulated message 1 includes the service chain header and the service message 1 .
  • the service chain header carries the identifier of the service chain 1, indicating that the service packet needs to be processed by the service chain 1.
  • the TC sends the encapsulated packet 1 to the first network element. After receiving the encapsulated packet 1, the first network element acquires the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the service chain 1 from the service-level orchestration results shown in Table 2 above.
  • the first network element determines based on the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the service chain 1, the load situation of the firewall network element 151, the load situation of the firewall network element 152, the load situation of the URL filtering network element 153, and the load situation of the URL filtering network element 154. Forwarding path of service chain 1. Since the first network element centrally determines the forwarding path of the service chain, the traffic on network elements 150 to 154 is allocated by the first network element, so the first network element can accurately know the traffic on network elements 150 to 154. actual traffic. The first network element may preferentially select an SF network element with a light load to process the service packet.
  • firewall network element 151 has 20M (mega) traffic
  • firewall network element 152 has 10M traffic
  • URL filtering network element 153 has 10M traffic
  • URL filtering network element 154 has 30M traffic.
  • the first network element can determine that the forwarding path of the service chain 1 is: video optimization network element 150->URL filtering network element 153->firewall network element 152.
  • the first network element After the first network element determines the forwarding path of the service chain 1, it generates an encapsulated packet 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the encapsulated packet 2 includes the service chain header and the same service packet 1 as the encapsulated packet 1.
  • the chain header includes indication information 1 and indication information 2.
  • the indication information 1 indicates the forwarding path of the service chain 1 .
  • the indication information 1 sequentially includes the identification of the video optimization network element 150 -> the identification of the URL filtering network element 153 -> the identification of the firewall network element 152.
  • the indication information 2 is the sequence number 1, which is used to indicate the video optimization network element 150.
  • the first network element sends the encapsulated packet 2 to the SFF network element 140 .
  • the SFF network element 140 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 2, and determines, based on the indication information 2, that the service packet 1 needs to be forwarded to the video optimization network element 150.
  • the SFF network element 140 sends the service packet 1 to the video optimization network element 150 .
  • the video optimization network element 150 processes the service packet 1, the service packet 2 is obtained.
  • the video optimization network element 150 sends the service packet 2 to the SFF network element 140 .
  • the SFF network element 140 determines, based on the indication information 1, that the next hop SF network element is the URL filtering network element 153.
  • the SFF network element 140 obtains the encapsulated packet 3 based on the service packet 2 , and the encapsulated packet 3 includes the service packet 2 , the indication information 1 and the indication information 3 .
  • the indication information 3 is the sequence number 2, indicating that the next hop SF network element is the URL filtering network element 153 .
  • the SFF network element 140 sends the encapsulated packet 3 to the SFF network element 141 .
  • the SFF network element 141 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 3, and determines, based on the indication information 3, that the service packet 2 needs to be forwarded to the URL filtering network element 153.
  • the SFF network element 141 sends the service packet 2 to the URL filtering network element 153 .
  • the URL filtering network element 153 processes the service packet 2, it sends the service packet 3 to the SFF network element 141.
  • the SFF network element 141 determines, based on the indication information 1, that the third-hop SF network element is the firewall network element 152.
  • the SFF network element 141 sends the service packet 3 to the firewall network element 152 for service processing.
  • each SFF NE independently decides the SF NE to be forwarded in the next hop, each SFF NE can only know the traffic or the number of service flows allocated by itself on each SF NE, but cannot know the actual number of traffic on each SF NE. The amount of traffic or traffic flow. Therefore, each SFF network element independently decides the SF network element to be forwarded in the next hop to forward service packets, and it cannot be guaranteed that the forwarding path of the service chain conforms to the forwarding rules set by the operator (for example, the rules for balancing the load of SF network elements). ).
  • the first network element can centrally determine the forwarding path of the service chain, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic or the number of service flows on the SF network element, so that the first network element Based on the actual traffic or the number of service flows on the SF network element, a service chain forwarding path that conforms to the operator's rules can be planned. And compared with the first network element deployed on the control plane, the first network element is deployed on the user plane, so that the user plane network element can obtain the forwarding path of the service chain more quickly, thereby realizing the forwarding of service packets faster. .
  • the first network element determines the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs in the first service chain and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs
  • the forwarding path can be implemented in the following two specific ways:
  • the first network element is based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and one or more of the following information: The deployment location of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF among the multiple SFs, the deployment location of the SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or the multiple SF network elements and SFFs corresponding to at least one SF among the multiple SFs The networking relationship between network elements determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the deployment location of the SF network element, the deployment location of the SFF network element, or the networking relationship between the SFF network element and the SF network element is conducive to reducing cross-SFF network element forwarding and can reduce service It can reduce the load of SFF network elements in the chain network and reduce the forwarding delay of service packets.
  • the networking relationship between the SF network element and the SFF network element refers to the connection relationship between the SF network element and the SFF network element.
  • the SFF network element 140 there is a connection relationship between the SFF network element 140 and the video optimization network element 150
  • the SFF network element 141 has a connection relationship with the firewall network element 151 , the firewall network element 152 and the URL filtering network element 153
  • the first network element may determine the forwarding path of the first service chain according to the location affinity priority policy or the load balancing priority policy.
  • the location affinity priority policy means that the same SFF NE is preferentially connected to the SF NE with a short distance to forward the encapsulated packet, so as to reduce the forwarding of the inter-SFF NE.
  • the deployment positions of the SFF network element and the SF network element in FIG. 5 are shown in Table 3 below.
  • the deployment location DC1.AZ1.Host1 in the first row indicates that the video optimization network element 150 and the SFF network element 140 are deployed under the host 1 under the availability zone 1 under the data center 1.
  • DC1 represents Data Center 1
  • AZ1 represents Availability Zone 1
  • Host1 represents Host 1.
  • the principles of other deployment locations in Table 3 are the same, and are not repeated here.
  • the SFF network element 140 and the video optimization network element 150 are both deployed under DC1.AZ1.Host1, so the deployment positions of the SFF network element 140 and the video optimization network element 150 are very close.
  • the SFF network element 141, the firewall network element 152, and the URL filtering network element 153 are deployed under DC1.AZ2.Host2, so the SFF network element 141, the firewall network element 152, and the URL filtering network element 153 are deployed in close proximity.
  • Both the SFF network element 142 and the URL filtering network element 154 are deployed under DC1.AZ3.Host3, so the deployment locations of the SFF network element 142 and the URL filtering network element 154 are very close.
  • the SFF network element 140 is connected to the video optimization network element 150 .
  • the SFF network element 141 is connected to the firewall network element 151 , the firewall network element 152 and the URL filtering network element 153 .
  • the SFF network element 142 is connected to the URL filtering network element 154 .
  • the service-level arrangement result corresponding to service chain 1 is video optimization->URL filtering->firewall.
  • Firewall network element 151 has 20M traffic
  • firewall network element 152 has 10M traffic
  • URL filtering network element 153 has 10M traffic
  • URL filtering network element 154 has 30M traffic. Since there is only one video optimization network element, the first network element determines that the first hop SF network element of the service chain 1 is the video optimization network element 150 . Assume that the forwarding path of service chain 1 is determined according to the location affinity priority policy. The first network element first determines the second-hop SF network element based on the location affinity policy.
  • firewall network element 151 and firewall network element 152 need to be forwarded across SFF network elements, the location affinity policy is invalid and the first network element Select the second-hop SF network element of service chain 1 based on the SF network element load balancing policy. Since the load on the URL filtering network element 153 is relatively small, the first network element determines that the URL filtering network element 153 is the second-hop SF network element of the service chain 1 . The first network element determines the third-hop SF network element based on the location affinity policy.
  • firewall network element 152 Since the firewall network element 152 is connected to the SFF network element 141, and compared with the firewall network element 151, the firewall network element 152 and the SFF network element 141 are deployed closer, so the first network element determines that the firewall network element 152 is the service chain 1 The third hop SF network element.
  • the first network element may also receive target information sent by the service chain controller, where the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: the deployment location of the SF network element included in the service chain network, the service chain The deployment location of the SFF network elements included in the network or the networking relationship between the SF network elements included in the service chain network and the SFF network elements.
  • the target information may further indicate the SFF network element included in the service chain network and the SF network element included in the service chain network.
  • the target information may include the identifier of the SF network element and the identifier of the SFF network element to indicate the SF network element included in the service chain network and the SFF network element included in the service chain network.
  • the first network element is based on the ordering of multiple SFs in the first service chain, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF of the multiple SFs, and at least one of the multiple SFs.
  • the load weight of multiple SF network elements corresponding to the SF is used to determine the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the load weight of the SF network element corresponding to the service-level orchestration result can more flexibly support load balancing in the case of different processing capabilities of SF instances.
  • the load weight of the SF network element may be related to the processing capability of the SF network element.
  • the first network element may determine the forwarding path of the first service chain according to the SF network element load balancing policy.
  • the load weights of the SFF network element and the SF network element in FIG. 5 are shown in Table 5 below.
  • the load bearing capability of the firewall network element 151 is smaller than that of the firewall network element 152 .
  • the load bearing capacity of the URL filtering network element 153 is smaller than that of the URL filtering network element 154 .
  • the service-level arrangement result corresponding to service chain 1 is video optimization->URL filtering->firewall.
  • Firewall network element 151 has 20M traffic
  • firewall network element 152 has 20M traffic
  • URL filtering network element 153 has 20M traffic
  • URL filtering network element 154 has 10M traffic.
  • the first network element preferentially selects the SF network element with a smaller ratio between the traffic and the load weight as the SF network element in the forwarding path. Since there is only one video optimization network element, the first network element determines that the first hop SF network element of the service chain 1 is the video optimization network element 150 . Since the ratio between the traffic corresponding to the URL filtering network element 153 and the load weight is 20/7, the ratio between the traffic corresponding to the URL filtering network element 154 and the load weight is 10/3. Therefore, the first network element determines that the URL filtering network element 153 is the second-hop SF network element of the service chain 1 .
  • the first network element determines that the firewall network element 152 is the third-hop SF network element of the service chain 1 .
  • the first network element may receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller.
  • the load weight is issued by the service chain controller, which is more convenient for centralized management of the load weight.
  • the policy used by the first network element to determine the forwarding path of the service chain may be the default of the first network element or sent by the service chain controller to the first network element.
  • the first network element may receive the location affinity priority policy or the load balancing priority policy and the like sent by the service chain controller.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of another method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the first network element is deployed on the control plane.
  • the first network element may be a newly added control plane network element, or the first network element may be the SFCC.
  • the method for determining the forwarding path of the service chain includes the following steps 801 to 806 . in:
  • the classifier sends a first request to a first network element, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of a first service chain, and the first request carries an identifier of the first service chain.
  • the TC after receiving the first service packet, matches the first service packet with the service chain matching rule, and determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, that is, the first service packet needs to pass through The first business chain is processed. After determining that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, the TC sends the first request to the first network element.
  • the first network element obtains a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of various SFs.
  • the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs.
  • step 802 and step 803 reference may be made to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described herein.
  • the first network element sends first indication information to the classifier, where the first indication information is used to indicate a forwarding path.
  • the classifier sends a first encapsulated packet to the service function forwarding SFF network element, where the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, and the second indication information is used to indicate forwarding The first hop SF network element in the path.
  • the classifier after receiving the first indication information, the classifier sends the first encapsulated message to the service function forwarding SFF network element.
  • the service function forwarding SFF network element For the description of the first encapsulated packet, reference may be made to the description in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not repeated here.
  • the SFF network element forwards the first service packet to the first hop SF network element.
  • the first hop SF network element sends the second service packet to the SFF network element.
  • the SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the forwarding path of the service chain can be determined centrally by the first network element, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic on the SF network element, so that the first network element can be based on the SF network element. According to the actual traffic on the element, a path that conforms to the operator's rules is planned.
  • FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 may be used to execute part or all of the functions of the first network element in the method embodiment described in FIG. 4 .
  • the device may be the first network element, or a device in the first network element, or a device that can be matched and used with the first network element.
  • the first network element may also be a chip system.
  • the first network element shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . Among them, the processing unit 902 is used for data processing.
  • the communication unit 901 integrates a receiving unit and a transmitting unit.
  • the communication unit 901 may also be referred to as a transceiving unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 901 can also be divided into a receiving unit and a sending unit.
  • the processing unit 902 and the communication unit 901 described below are the same, and will not be repeated below. in:
  • the processing unit 902 is configured to obtain a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level orchestration result indicates the sorting of multiple service functions SF; the processing unit 902 is further configured to sort based on the multiple SFs and the multiple The load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the SF determines the forwarding path of the first service chain; the processing unit 902 is further configured to generate a first encapsulated packet, where the first encapsulated packet includes the first encapsulated packet.
  • Indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path
  • the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path
  • the communication unit 901 is used for The first encapsulated packet is sent to the service function forwarding SFF network element.
  • the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive a second encapsulated packet sent by the classifier, where the second encapsulated packet includes the identifier of the first service chain and the first service packet.
  • the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive service chain information sent by the service chain controller, where the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain.
  • the manner in which the processing unit 902 obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain is as follows: the first network element obtains, based on the identifier of the first service chain, the service chain corresponding to the first service chain from service chain information. Business-level orchestration results.
  • the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs
  • the method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and one or more of the following information: at least one of the multiple SFs
  • the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive target information sent by the service chain controller, where the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: Deployment location, deployment location of SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or networking relationship between SF network elements included in the service chain network and SFF network elements, and network addresses of SFF network elements included in the service chain network.
  • the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs The method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs.
  • the load weight determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to multiple SFs of the first service chain.
  • the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path.
  • FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 may be used to execute part or all of the functions of the first network element in the method embodiment described in FIG. 8 above.
  • the device may be the first network element, or a device in the first network element, or a device that can be matched and used with the first network element.
  • the first network element may also be a chip system.
  • the first network element shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . in:
  • the communication unit 901 is configured to receive a first request sent by the classifier, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, and the first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the processing unit 902 is used to obtain The service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, the service-level arrangement result shows the ordering of various service function SFs; the processing unit 902 is further configured to order based on the various SFs and at least one SF among the various SFs The load conditions of the corresponding multiple SF network elements determine the forwarding path of the first service chain; the communication unit 901 is further configured to send first indication information to the classifier, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path.
  • the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive service chain information sent by the service chain controller, where the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain.
  • the manner in which the processing unit 902 obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain is as follows: the first network element obtains, based on the identifier of the first service chain, the service chain corresponding to the first service chain from service chain information. Business-level orchestration results.
  • the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs
  • the method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and one or more of the following information: at least one of the multiple SFs
  • the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive target information sent by the service chain controller, where the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: Deployment location, deployment location of SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or networking relationship between SF network elements included in the service chain network and SFF network elements, and network addresses of SFF network elements included in the service chain network.
  • the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs The method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs.
  • the load weight determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller.
  • the forwarding path of the first service chain includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to multiple SFs of the first service chain.
  • the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path.
  • FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 can be used to perform part or all of the functions of the classifier in the method embodiment described in FIG. 8 above.
  • the device may be a classifier, a device in a classifier, or a device that can be used in matching with the classifier. Wherein, the classifier may also be a chip system.
  • the classifier shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . in:
  • the communication unit 901 is configured to send a first request to the first network element, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, and the first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the communication unit 901 is further used After receiving the first indication information sent by the first network element, the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path; the communication unit 901 is further configured to forward the SFF network element to the service function and send the first encapsulated message, the first encapsulated message
  • the message includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, where the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path.
  • the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
  • the forwarding path includes multiple service function SF network elements.
  • FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 may be used to perform part or all of the functions of the SFF network element in the method embodiment described in FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 .
  • the device may be an SFF network element, a device in an SFF network element, or a device that can be matched and used with a classifier. Wherein, the SFF network element may also be a chip system.
  • the SFF network element shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . in:
  • a communication unit 901 configured to receive a first encapsulated packet from a first network element or a classifier, where the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path of the first service chain, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path; the communication unit 901 is further configured to forward the first hop SF network element to the first hop SF network element.
  • a service packet; the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive a second service packet returned by the first-hop SF network element; the communication unit 901 is further configured to forward to the first service chain based on the forwarding path The second hop SF network element in the path forwards the second service message.
  • the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
  • the forwarding path includes multiple service function SF network elements.
  • the manner in which the communication unit 901 forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain is specifically: by communicating with the second-hop SF network element The connected SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element.
  • it is used to implement the orchestration of the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  • FIG. 10 shows a communication apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, which is used to implement the function of the first network element in the foregoing FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 .
  • the apparatus may be the first network element or an apparatus for the first network element.
  • the means for the first network element may be a system-on-a-chip or a chip within the first network element. Wherein, the chip system may be composed of chips, and may also include chips and other discrete devices.
  • the communication device 100 is configured to implement the function of the classifier in the above-mentioned FIG. 8 .
  • the apparatus may be a classifier or an apparatus for a classifier.
  • the means for the classifier may be a system-on-a-chip or chip within the classifier.
  • the chip system may be composed of chips, and may also include chips and other discrete devices.
  • the communication apparatus 100 is configured to implement the function of the SFF network element in the above-mentioned FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 .
  • the apparatus may be an SFF network element or an apparatus for an SFF network element.
  • the apparatus for the SFF network element may be a chip system or chip within the SFF network element.
  • the chip system may be composed of chips, and may also include chips and other discrete devices.
  • the communication apparatus 100 includes at least one processor 1020, configured to implement the data processing function of the first network element, the classifier, or the SFF network element in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the apparatus 100 may further include a communication interface 1010, configured to implement the sending and receiving operations of the first network element, the classifier or the SFF network element in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication interface may be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module or other types of communication interfaces, which are used to communicate with other devices through a transmission medium.
  • the communication interface 1010 is used by the apparatus in the apparatus 100 to communicate with other devices.
  • the processor 1020 uses the communication interface 1010 to send and receive data, and is used to implement the method described in FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 in the foregoing method embodiment.
  • the apparatus 100 may also include at least one memory 1030 for storing program instructions and/or data.
  • Memory 1030 is coupled to processor 1020 .
  • the coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units or modules.
  • the processor 1020 may cooperate with the memory 1030 .
  • Processor 1020 may execute program instructions stored in memory 1030 . At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.
  • the specific connection medium between the communication interface 1010 , the processor 1020 , and the memory 1030 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • the memory 1030, the processor 1020, and the communication interface 1010 are connected through a bus 1040 in FIG. 10.
  • the bus is represented by a thick line in FIG. 10, and the connection between other components is only for schematic illustration. , is not limited.
  • the bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of presentation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 10, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.
  • the communication interface 1010 may output or receive baseband signals.
  • the output or reception of the communication interface 1010 may be a radio frequency signal.
  • the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, which can implement or The methods, operations, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application are executed.
  • a general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like.
  • the operations of the methods disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

Abstract

The present application discloses a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: a first network element acquires a service-level agreement result corresponding to a first service chain, the service-level agreement result indicating the sorting of a plurality of service functions (SFs); the first network element determines a forwarding path of the first service chain on the basis of the sorting of the plurality of SFs and load conditions of a plurality of SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF among the plurality of SFs; the first network element generates a first encapsulation packet, the first encapsulation packet comprising first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path, and the second indication information is used to indicate a first hop SF network element in the forwarding path; and the first network element forwards the first encapsulation packet to a service function forwarding (SFF) network element. On the basis of the solution of the present application, it is advantageous to plan a service chain forwarding path that complies with operator rules.

Description

一种业务链的转发路径确定方法及通信装置Method and communication device for determining forwarding path of service chain
本申请要求于2020年12月28日提交中国专利局、申请号为202011588906.1、申请名称为“一种业务链的转发路径确定方法及通信装置”的中国专利申请的优先权，其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application filed on December 28, 2020 with the application number 202011588906.1 and titled "A method for determining a forwarding path for a service chain and a communication device", the entire contents of which are by reference Incorporated in this application.
技术领域technical field
本申请涉及通信技术领域，尤其涉及一种业务链的转发路径确定方法及通信装置。The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a method and a communication device for determining a forwarding path of a service chain.
背景技术Background technique
业务功能链(service function chain，SFC)也称为业务链，它是一个有序的业务功能(service function，SF)的集合。例如，SF可以为：视频优化、传输控制协议(transmission control protocol，TCP)优化、防火墙或统一资源定位(uniform resource locator，URL)过滤等。A service function chain (SFC) is also called a service chain, which is an ordered collection of service functions (SF). For example, the SF may be: video optimization, transmission control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP) optimization, firewall or uniform resource locator (uniform resource locator, URL) filtering, and the like.
图1是一种现有的业务链网络的示意图。如图1所示，业务链网络包括分类器(traffic classifier，TC)、业务功能转发(service function forwarder，SFF)网元、SF1网元～SF5网元。其中，分类器用于实现业务报文的识别和规则匹配，为业务报文确定所要经过的业务链。分类器确定业务报文所要经过的业务链之后，将该业务报文封装为封装报文，该封装报文中封装有该业务报文所要经过的业务链的标识以及该业务报文。分类器将该封装报文发送给SFF网元。SFF网元负责将该封装报文或解封装后的业务报文转发到对应的SF网元，以便SF网元对业务报文进行业务处理。FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing service chain network. As shown in Figure 1, the service chain network includes a traffic classifier (TC), a service function forwarder (SFF) network element, and SF1 network elements to SF5 network elements. Among them, the classifier is used to realize the identification and rule matching of the service message, and to determine the service chain to be passed through for the service message. After the classifier determines the service chain to be passed by the service packet, the service packet is encapsulated into an encapsulated packet, and the encapsulated packet is encapsulated with the identifier of the service chain to be passed by the service packet and the service packet. The classifier sends the encapsulated message to the SFF network element. The SFF network element is responsible for forwarding the encapsulated message or the decapsulated service message to the corresponding SF network element, so that the SF network element can process the service message.
如图1所示，SF1具有一个网元，SF2具有两个网元，SF3具有三个网元，SF4具有两个网元，SF5具有一个网元。假设定义了一条业务链SFC1，该SFC1的业务级编排结果为：SF1->SF2->SF3。SFC1表示一个业务报文先经过SF1对应的网元进行业务处理，再经过SF2对应的网元进行业务处理，再经过SF3对应的网元进行业务处理。由于SF2和SF3均具有多个网元，因此，SFC1具有多种转发路径。按rfc7665标准定义，每个SFF网元独立决策下一跳转发的SF网元。然而在实践中发现，由每个SFF网元独立决策下一跳转发的SF网元，无法保证业务链的转发路径符合运营商设置的转发规则(例如，使SF网元负载均衡的规则)。因此，如何使业务链的转发路径能够满足运营商设置的转发规则是目前亟待解决的问题。As shown in FIG. 1 , SF1 has one network element, SF2 has two network elements, SF3 has three network elements, SF4 has two network elements, and SF5 has one network element. Assuming that a service chain SFC1 is defined, the service-level orchestration result of the SFC1 is: SF1->SF2->SF3. SFC1 indicates that a service packet is first processed by the network element corresponding to SF1, then processed by the network element corresponding to SF2, and then processed by the network element corresponding to SF3. Since both SF2 and SF3 have multiple network elements, SFC1 has multiple forwarding paths. According to the definition of rfc7665 standard, each SFF network element independently decides the SF network element to be forwarded in the next hop. However, in practice, it is found that each SFF network element independently decides which SF network element to forward in the next hop, and cannot guarantee that the forwarding path of the service chain conforms to the forwarding rules set by the operator (for example, the rules for balancing the load of SF network elements). . Therefore, how to make the forwarding path of the service chain meet the forwarding rules set by the operator is an urgent problem to be solved at present.
发明内容SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
本申请提供了一种业务链的转发路径确定方法及通信装置，有利于使确定的业务链的转发路径能够满足运营商设置的规则。The present application provides a method and a communication device for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, which are beneficial to enable the determined forwarding path of a service chain to meet the rules set by an operator.
第一方面，本申请提供一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，该方法包括：第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，该业务级编排结果指示多种业务功能SF的排序；第一网元基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径；第一网元生成第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，该第一指示信息用于指示转发路径，该第二指示信息用于指示转发路径中的第一跳SF网元；第一网元向业务功能转发SFF网元发送第一封装报文。In a first aspect, the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain. The method includes: a first network element obtains a service-level arrangement result corresponding to a first service chain, and the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of multiple service functions SF. ; the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs; the first network element generates the first An encapsulated packet, the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path, and the second indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path. The first hop SF network element; the first network element forwards the SFF network element to the service function to send the first encapsulated message.
基于第一方面所描述的方法，可以由第一网元集中确定业务链的转发路径，这样第一网 元就能够准确地知道SF网元上的实际流量，从而第一网元能够基于SF网元上的实际流量，规划出一条符合运营商规则的业务链转发路径。Based on the method described in the first aspect, the forwarding path of the service chain can be centrally determined by the first network element, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic on the SF network element, so that the first network element can be based on the SF network element. Based on the actual traffic on the element, plan a service chain forwarding path that conforms to the operator's rules.
可选的，第一网元部署于用户面，这样用户面网元能够更加快速地获取到业务链的转发路径，从而更快地实现业务报文的转发。Optionally, the first network element is deployed on the user plane, so that the user plane network element can obtain the forwarding path of the service chain more quickly, thereby realizing the forwarding of the service packet more quickly.
在一种可能的实现中，第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之前，第一网元还可接收分类器发送的第二封装报文，该第二封装报文包括第一业务链的标识和第一业务报文。在该可能的实现中，第一网元不是分类器，而是新增的用户面网元，这样能够减小对已有的分类器的改动。In a possible implementation, before the first network element obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, the first network element may also receive a second encapsulated packet sent by the classifier, where the second encapsulated packet includes the first encapsulated packet. The identifier of a service chain and the first service message. In this possible implementation, the first network element is not a classifier, but a newly added user plane network element, which can reduce changes to the existing classifier.
第二方面，本申请提供一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，该方法包括：第一网元接收分类器发送的第一请求，该第一请求用于请求生成第一业务链的转发路径，该第一请求携带第一业务链的标识；第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，该业务级编排结果指示多种业务功能SF的排序；第一网元基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径；第一网元向分类器发送第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示转发路径。In a second aspect, the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, the method comprising: a first network element receiving a first request sent by a classifier, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, The first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the first network element obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, and the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of multiple service functions SF; the first network element is based on the multiple The ordering of SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs determine the forwarding path of the first service chain; the first network element sends first indication information to the classifier, the first The indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path.
基于第二方面所描述的方法，可以由第一网元集中确定业务链的转发路径，这样第一网元就能够准确地知道SF网元上的实际流量，从而第一网元能够基于SF网元上的实际流量，规划出一条符合运营商规则的业务链转发路径。Based on the method described in the second aspect, the forwarding path of the service chain can be centrally determined by the first network element, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic on the SF network element, so that the first network element can be based on the SF network element. Based on the actual traffic on the element, plan a service chain forwarding path that conforms to the operator's rules.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之前，第一网元还可接收业务链控制器发送的业务链信息，该业务链信息包括至少一个业务链的标识以及该业务链的标识对应的业务级编排结果。通过在业务链控制器对业务链进行业务级编排，有利于减小第一网元的负载，并且能够利用已有的业务链网络进行业务级编排，可以缩短开发时间，并且由于业务链控制器是网络控制面的中心节点，通过业务链控制器对业务链进行业务级编排，更加便于对业务链的业务级编排结果进行集中管理。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, before the first network element obtains the service level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, the first network element may also receive service chain information sent by the service chain controller, The service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain. By performing service-level orchestration on the service chain at the service chain controller, it is beneficial to reduce the load of the first network element, and the existing service chain network can be used for service-level orchestration, which can shorten the development time, and because the service chain controller It is the central node of the network control plane. The service chain controller performs service-level orchestration of the service chain, which is more convenient for centralized management of the service-level orchestration results of the service chain.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果的具体实现方式为：第一网元基于第一业务链的标识从业务链信息中获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果。基于该可能的实现方式，能够准确地获取到第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, a specific implementation manner for the first network element to obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain is: The business-level orchestration result corresponding to the first business chain is obtained from the chain information. Based on this possible implementation, the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain can be accurately obtained.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，第一网元基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径的具体实施方式为：第一网元基于该多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况以及以下信息中的一种或多种：该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元与SFF网元之间的组网关系，确定第一业务链的转发路径。基于SF网元的部署位置、SFF网元的部署位置或SF网元与SFF网元之间的组网关系确定的第一业务链的转发路径，有利于减少跨SFF网元转发业务报文，能够降低业务链网络中SFF网元的负载，以及降低业务报文的转发时延。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first network element determines, based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs, to determine The specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: the first network element is based on the sorting of the multiple SFs, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and the following information. One or more: the deployment positions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs, the deployment positions of the SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or the corresponding at least one of the multiple SFs The networking relationship between the multiple SF network elements and the SFF network elements is determined, and the forwarding path of the first service chain is determined. The forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the deployment location of the SF network element, the deployment location of the SFF network element, or the networking relationship between the SF network element and the SFF network element is conducive to reducing the forwarding of service packets across SFF network elements. It can reduce the load of SFF network elements in the service chain network and reduce the forwarding delay of service packets.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之前，第一网元还可接收业务链控制器发送的目标信息，该目标信息用于指示以下信息中的一种或多种：业务链网络包括的SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或业务链网络包括的SF网元和SFF网元之间的组网关系。在该可能的实现中，由业务链控制器管理网络拓扑信息，便于对网络拓扑信息进行集中管理。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, before the first network element obtains the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, the first network element may also receive target information sent by the service chain controller. The target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: the deployment position of the SF network element included in the service chain network, the deployment position of the SFF network element included in the service chain network, or the SF network element and the SFF network included in the service chain network. The networking relationship between elements. In this possible implementation, the network topology information is managed by the service chain controller, which facilitates centralized management of the network topology information.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，第一网元基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径的具体实施方式为：第一网元基于该多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况和该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载权重，确定第一业务链的转发路径。基于业务级编排结果对应的SF网元的负载权重确定的第一业务链的转发路径，能够更加灵活地支持SF实例处理能力有差异的情况下的负载均衡。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first network element determines, based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs, to determine The specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: the order of the first network element based on the multiple SFs, the load situation of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs, and the multiple SFs The load weight of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the SFs determines the forwarding path of the first service chain. The forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the load weight of the SF network element corresponding to the service-level orchestration result can more flexibly support load balancing in the case of different processing capabilities of SF instances.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，第一网元还可接收业务链控制器发送的业务链网络包括的SF网元的负载权重。在该可能的实现中，由业务链控制器管理SF网元的负载权重，便于对SF网元的负载权重进行集中管理。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first network element may further receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller. In this possible implementation, the load weight of the SF network element is managed by the service chain controller, which facilitates centralized management of the load weight of the SF network element.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的SF网元的标识序列。基于该可能的实现方式，能够准确地指示第一业务链的转发路径。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path. Based on this possible implementation, the forwarding path of the first service chain can be accurately indicated.
在第一方面或第二方面的一种可能的实现中，转发路径包括上述多种SF对应的多个SF网元。In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the forwarding path includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to the foregoing multiple SFs.
第三方面，本申请提供一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，该方法包括：分类器向第一网元发送第一请求，该第一请求用于请求生成第一业务链的转发路径，该第一请求携带第一业务链的标识；分类器接收第一网元发送的第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示转发路径；分类器向业务功能转发SFF网元发送第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，该第二指示信息用于指示转发路径中的第一跳SF网元。In a third aspect, the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, the method includes: a classifier sends a first request to a first network element, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, the The first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the classifier receives the first indication information sent by the first network element, and the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path; the classifier sends the first encapsulation message to the service function forwarding SFF network element. The first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path.
在一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的业务功能网元的标识序列。In a possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
在一种可能的实现中，转发路径包括多个SF网元。In a possible implementation, the forwarding path includes multiple SF network elements.
第四方面，本申请提供一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，该方法包括：业务功能转发SFF网元接收来自第一网元或分类器的第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，第一指示信息用于指示第一业务链的转发路径，该第二指示信息用于指示转发路径中的第一跳SF网元；SFF网元向第一跳SF网元转发第一业务报文；SFF网元接收第一跳SF网元返回的第二业务报文；SFF网元基于第一业务链的转发路径向转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发该第二业务报文。In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, the method comprising: a service function forwarding an SFF network element to receive a first encapsulated packet from a first network element or a classifier, where the first encapsulated packet includes the first indication information, the second indication information, and the first service packet, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path of the first service chain, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path; The SFF network element forwards the first service packet to the first-hop SF network element; the SFF network element receives the second service packet returned by the first-hop SF network element; the SFF network element forwards the forwarding path to the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain The second hop SF network element forwards the second service packet.
在一种可能的实现中，转发路径包括多个SF网元。In a possible implementation, the forwarding path includes multiple SF network elements.
在一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的业务功能网元的标识序列。In a possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
在一种可能的实现中，SFF网元基于第一业务链的转发路径向转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文的具体实现方式为：SFF网元通过与第二跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元向第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。基于该可能的实现方式，能够成功向第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。In a possible implementation, the specific implementation manner of the SFF network element forwarding the second service packet to the second hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: the SFF network element communicates with the second hop The SFF network element connected to the SF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element. Based on this possible implementation manner, the second service packet can be successfully forwarded to the second-hop SF network element.
在一种可能的实现中，第一网元用于实现第一业务链的转发路径的编排。In a possible implementation, the first network element is used to implement the orchestration of the forwarding path of the first service chain.
第三方面和第四方面的有益效果可参见第一方面和第二方面的有益效果，在此不赘述。For the beneficial effects of the third aspect and the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the first aspect and the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.
第五方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置可以是第一网元或分类器或SFF网元。该通信装置可执行第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法。该通信装置的功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。该硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的单元。该单元可以是软件和/或硬件。该通信装置执行的操作及有益效果可以参见上述第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法以及有益效果，重复之处不再赘述。In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, and the apparatus may be a first network element or a classifier or an SFF network element. The communication device may perform the method described in any one of the first to fourth aspects. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. The unit may be software and/or hardware. For operations and beneficial effects performed by the communication device, reference may be made to the method and beneficial effects described in any one of the first to fourth aspects above, and repeated details will not be repeated.
第六方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，所述通信装置包括处理器，当所述处理器调用存储器中的计算机程序时，如第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法被执行。In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor, when the processor calls a computer program in a memory, the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects be executed.
第七方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，所述通信装置包括处理器和存储器，所述存储器用于存储计算机执行指令；所述处理器用于执行所述存储器所存储的计算机执行指令，以使所述通信装置执行如第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法。In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is configured to store computer-executed instructions; the processor is configured to execute the computer-executed instructions stored in the memory, to The communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.
第八方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，所述通信装置包括处理器、存储器和收发器，所述收发器，用于接收信号或者发送信号；所述存储器，用于存储程序代码；所述处理器，用于从所述存储器调用所述程序代码执行如第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法。In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, the transceiver is used for receiving a signal or sending a signal; the memory is used for storing a program code; the The processor is configured to call the program code from the memory to execute the method according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.
第九方面，本申请提供了一种通信装置，所述通信装置包括处理器和接口电路，所述接口电路，用于接收代码指令并传输至所述处理器；所述处理器运行所述代码指令以执行如第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法。In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit is configured to receive a code instruction and transmit it to the processor; the processor executes the code The instruction is to execute the method according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.
第十方面，本申请提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，所述计算机可读存储介质用于存储指令，当所述指令被执行时，使得如第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法被实现。In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, where the computer-readable storage medium is used to store instructions, and when the instructions are executed, the instructions are as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects. The described method is implemented.
第十一方面，本申请提供一种包括指令的计算机程序产品，当所述指令被执行时，使得如第一方面～第四方面中任意一项所述的方法被实现。In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which when executed, enable the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects to be implemented.
附图说明Description of drawings
图1是现有的一种业务链网络的示意图；1 is a schematic diagram of an existing service chain network;
图2是本申请实施例提供的一种***架构的示意图；2 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图3是本申请实施例提供的另一种***架构的示意图；3 is a schematic diagram of another system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图4是本申请实施例提供的一种业务链的转发路径确定方法的流程示意图；4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图5是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信***的示意图；5 is a schematic diagram of another communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图6是本申请实施例提供的一种封装报文的示意图；6 is a schematic diagram of an encapsulated message provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图7是本申请实施例提供的另一种封装报文的示意图；7 is a schematic diagram of another encapsulated message provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图8是本申请实施例提供的另一种业务链的转发路径确定方法的流程示意图；8 is a schematic flowchart of another method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图9是本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置的结构示意图；FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;
图10是本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的结构示意图。FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.
具体实施方式Detailed ways
下面结合附图对本申请具体实施例作进一步的详细描述。The specific embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
本申请的说明书、权利要求书及附图中的术语“第一”和“第二”等是用于区别不同对象，而不是用于描述特定顺序。此外，术语“包括”和“具有”以及它们任何变形，意图在于覆盖不排他的包含。例如包含了一系列步骤或单元的过程、方法、***、产品或设备没有限定于已列出的步骤或单元，而是可选地还包括没有列出的步骤或单元，或可选地还包括对于这些过程、方法、产品或设备固有的其它步骤或单元。The terms "first" and "second" in the description, claims and drawings of the present application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally also includes unlisted steps or units, or optionally also includes For other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.
在本文中提及“实施例”意味着，结合实施例描述的特定特征、结构或特性可以包含在本申请的至少一个实施例中。在说明书中的各个位置出现该短语并不一定均是指相同的实施例，也不是与其它实施例互斥的独立的或备选的实施例。本领域技术人员显式地和隐式地理解的是，本文所描述的实施例可以与其它实施例相结合。Reference herein to an "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearances of the phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.
在本申请中，“至少一个(项)”是指一个或者多个，“多个”是指两个或两个以上，“至少两个(项)”是指两个或三个及三个以上，“和/或”，用于描述关联对象的关联关系，表示可以存在三种关系，例如，“A和/或B”可以表示：只存在A，只存在B以及同时存在A和 B三种情况，其中A，B可以是单数或者复数。字符“/”一般表示前后关联对象是一种“或”的关系。“以下至少一项(个)”或其类似表达，是指这些项中的任意组合，包括单项(个)或复数项(个)的任意组合。例如，a，b或c中的至少一项(个)，可以表示：a，b，c，“a和b”，“a和c”，“b和c”，或“a和b和c”，其中a，b，c可以是单个，也可以是多个。In this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "plurality" means two or more, "at least two (item)" means two or three and three In the above, "and/or" is used to describe the relationship of related objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, "A and/or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist three A case where A and B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the associated objects are an "or" relationship. "At least one item(s) below" or similar expressions thereof refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (a) of a, b or c, can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c" ", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.
为了使业务链的转发路径能够满足运营商设置的规则，本申请实施例提供了一种业务链的转发路径确定方法及通信装置，为了更好地理解本申请提供的方案，下面先对本申请的***架构进行介绍：In order to make the forwarding path of the service chain meet the rules set by the operator, the embodiments of the present application provide a method and a communication device for determining the forwarding path of the service chain. The system architecture is introduced:
本申请实施例提供的方法可以应用于各类通信***中，例如，可以是物联网(internet of things，IoT)***、窄带物联网(narrow band internet of things，NB-IoT)***、长期演进(long term evolution，LTE)***，也可以是第五代(5th-generation，5G)通信***，还可以是LTE与5G混合架构、也可以是5G新无线(new radio，NR)***，以及未来通信发展中出现的新的通信***等。The methods provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, an internet of things (internet of things, IoT) system, a narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) system, a long-term evolution ( long term evolution, LTE) system, it can also be a fifth-generation (5th-generation, 5G) communication system, it can also be a hybrid architecture of LTE and 5G, it can also be a 5G new radio (NR) system, and future communications New communication systems emerging in development, etc.
请参见图2，图2是本申请实施例提供的一种***架构的示意图。如图2所示，该***架构包括分类器(traffic classifier，TC)、第一网元、业务链控制器(SFC controller，SFCC)、业务功能(service function，SF)网元和业务功能转发(service function forwarder，SFF)网元。其中，TC、第一网元、SF网元和SFF网元部署于用户面。第一网元可以是在TC和SFF网元之间新增的一个用户面网元。例如，第一网元可以称为SFC使能器(SFC enabler)。SFCC部署于控制面。SF网元具有多个，SFF网元具有一个或多个。图2以具有5个SF网元和3个SFF网元为例。值得一提的是，本申请实施例中，网元也可以称为模块，不同的用户面网元可以集成于同一个设备中，也可以分开部署。不同的控制面网元可以集成于同一个设备中，也可以分开部署。Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the system architecture includes a traffic classifier (TC), a first network element, a service chain controller (SFC controller, SFCC), a service function (SF) network element, and a service function forwarding ( service function forwarder, SFF) network element. The TC, the first network element, the SF network element, and the SFF network element are deployed on the user plane. The first network element may be a user plane network element newly added between the TC and the SFF network element. For example, the first network element may be referred to as an SFC enabler (SFC enabler). SFCC is deployed on the control plane. There are multiple SF network elements, and one or more SFF network elements. Figure 2 takes as an example there are 5 SF network elements and 3 SFF network elements. It is worth mentioning that, in this embodiment of the present application, the network element may also be referred to as a module, and different user plane network elements may be integrated into the same device, or may be deployed separately. Different control plane network elements can be integrated into the same device or deployed separately.
下面对***架构中的网元及相关概念进行介绍：The following introduces the network elements and related concepts in the system architecture:
①SF网元：可以提供某种网络功能业务，用于对业务报文进行业务处理。例如，SF网元可以为视频优化网元、传输控制协议(transmission control protocol，TCP)优化网元、防火墙网元或统一资源定位(uniform resource locator，URL)过滤网元等。在业务链网络中，每一种业务功能可以对应一个或多个用于实现该业务功能的SF网元。例如，在业务链网络中，视频优化网元可以有一个或多个。TCP优化网元可以有一个或多个。防火墙网元可以有一个或多个。URL过滤网元也可以有一个或多个。①SF network element: It can provide a certain network function service, which is used for service processing of service packets. For example, the SF network element may be a video optimized network element, a transmission control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP) optimized network element, a firewall network element, or a uniform resource locator (uniform resource locator, URL) filtering network element, and the like. In the service chain network, each service function may correspond to one or more SF network elements for realizing the service function. For example, in a service chain network, there may be one or more video optimization network elements. There can be one or more TCP optimized network elements. There can be one or more firewall network elements. There can also be one or more URL filtering network elements.
可选的，SF网元分为SFC感知类SF网元和非SFC感知类SF网元。SFC感知类SF网元能够识别SFF网元发送的封装有业务报文的封装报文。封装报文中除了封装有业务报文，还可以封装其他信息。例如，在本申请实施例中，封装报文中还可以封装用于指示业务链的转发路径的指示信息和用于指示某一跳SF网元的指示信息。SFC感知类SF网元可以接收SFF网元发送的封装有业务报文的封装报文，并对封装报文进行解封，得到业务报文，并对业务报文进行处理。SFC感知类SF网元对业务报文进行处理之后，对处理后的业务报文重新进行封装，并将重新封装得到的封装报文返回给SFF网元。Optionally, the SF network elements are classified into SFC-aware SF network elements and non-SFC-aware SF network elements. SFC-aware SF network elements can identify encapsulated packets encapsulated with service packets sent by SFF network elements. In addition to encapsulating service packets, encapsulated packets can also encapsulate other information. For example, in this embodiment of the present application, the encapsulation message may further encapsulate the indication information used to indicate the forwarding path of the service chain and the indication information used to indicate the SF network element of a certain hop. The SFC-aware SF network element can receive the encapsulated message encapsulated with the service message sent by the SFF network element, decapsulate the encapsulated message, obtain the service message, and process the service message. After the SFC-aware SF network element processes the service packet, it re-encapsulates the processed service packet, and returns the encapsulated packet obtained by re-encapsulation to the SFF network element.
非SFC感知类SF网元不能识别SFF网元发送的封装有业务报文的封装报文，可通过业务链代理(SFC proxy)网元桥接非SFC感知类SF网元和SFF网元，使非SFC感知类SF网元无需修改就接入业务链网络。例如，对于一个非SFC感知类SF网元，SFF网元可以将封装有业务报文的封装报文发送至SFC proxy网元，由SFC proxy网元对该封装报文进行解封，得到业务报文，并将该业务报文发送给非SFC感知类SF网元。非SFC感知类SF网元对业务报文进行处理之后，返回处理之后的业务报文至SFC proxy网元，再由SFC proxy网元重新对该处理之后的业务报 文进行封装，得到新的封装报文，并将新的封装报文发送至SFF网元。Non-SFC-aware SF NEs cannot identify encapsulated packets encapsulated with service packets sent by SFF NEs. The service chain proxy (SFC proxy) NE can bridge the non-SFC-aware SF NEs and SFF NEs so that non-SFC-aware SF NEs and SFF NEs can be bridged. SFC-aware SF network elements can access the service chain network without modification. For example, for a non-SFC-aware SF network element, the SFF network element can send the encapsulated packet encapsulated with the service packet to the SFC proxy network element, and the SFC proxy network element decapsulates the encapsulated packet to obtain the service packet. message, and send the service message to the non-SFC-aware SF network element. After the non-SFC-aware SF network element processes the service packet, it returns the processed service packet to the SFC proxy network element, and the SFC proxy network element re-encapsulates the processed service packet to obtain a new encapsulation message, and send the new encapsulated message to the SFF network element.
或者，也可以由SFF网元来实现SFC proxy网元的功能。例如，SFF网元可以将封装有业务报文的封装报文进行解封，得到业务报文，并发送业务报文至非SFC感知类SF网元进行业务处理。非SFC感知类SF网元对业务报文进行处理之后，返回处理之后的业务报文至SFF网元。Alternatively, the function of the SFC proxy network element can also be implemented by the SFF network element. For example, the SFF network element can decapsulate the encapsulated packet encapsulated with the service packet, obtain the service packet, and send the service packet to the non-SFC-aware SF network element for service processing. After the non-SFC-aware SF network element processes the service message, it returns the processed service message to the SFF network element.
②业务功能链(service function chain，SFC)：也称为业务链，它是一个有序的SF集合。一条业务链的业务级编排结果指示了该业务链的多个SF的排序。例如，假设一条业务链的业务级编排结果为：SF1->SF2->SF3，则表示业务报文先经过SF1对应的网元进行业务处理，再经过SF2对应的网元进行业务处理，再经过SF3对应的网元进行业务处理。②Service function chain (service function chain, SFC): Also called service chain, it is an ordered set of SFs. The service-level orchestration result of a service chain indicates the ordering of multiple SFs of the service chain. For example, assuming that the service level orchestration result of a service chain is: SF1->SF2->SF3, it means that the service packets first go through the NE corresponding to SF1 for service processing, then go through the NE corresponding to SF2 for service processing, and then go through the NE corresponding to SF2 for service processing. The network element corresponding to SF3 performs service processing.
③TC：用于实现业务报文的识别以及将业务报文与业务链匹配规则进行匹配，为业务报文确定所要经过的业务链。TC接收到业务报文之后，将业务报文与业务链规则进行匹配，确定业务报文所要经过的业务链，即确定业务报文对应的业务链。TC确定业务报文所要经过的业务链之后，将该业务报文封装为封装报文，该封装报文中携带该业务报文和该业务报文所要经过的业务链的标识。③TC: It is used to realize the identification of the service message and match the service message with the service chain matching rule, so as to determine the service chain to be passed through for the service message. After receiving the service packet, the TC matches the service packet with the service chain rule, and determines the service chain through which the service packet passes, that is, determines the service chain corresponding to the service packet. After the TC determines the service chain that the service packet will pass through, it encapsulates the service packet into an encapsulated packet, and the encapsulated packet carries the service packet and the identifier of the service chain through which the service packet will pass.
④第一网元：第一网元用于实现业务链的转发路径的编排。由于一个SF对应的网元可能有多个，因此，一条业务链可能具有多条转发路径。例如，对于业务级编排结果为SF1->SF2的业务链，如图2所示，由于SF2具有两个网元。该业务链的转发路径具有两条，分别为SF1网元150->SF2网元151，和SF1网元150->SF2网元152。④The first network element: the first network element is used to realize the arrangement of the forwarding path of the service chain. Since there may be multiple network elements corresponding to one SF, a service chain may have multiple forwarding paths. For example, for a service chain whose service-level orchestration result is SF1->SF2, as shown in Figure 2, since SF2 has two network elements. There are two forwarding paths of the service chain, namely SF1 network element 150->SF2 network element 151, and SF1 network element 150->SF2 network element 152.
⑤SFF网元：SFF网元负责将携带业务报文的封装报文或封装报文中的业务报文转发到对应的SF网元，以便SF网元对业务报文进行业务处理。例如，如图2所示，假设网元150～网元154均为非SFC感知类SF网元，且SFF网元集成了SFC proxy网元的功能。对于转发路径为SF1网元150->SF2网元151的业务链，SFF网元140接收到封装报文1之后，对封装报文1进行解封，将封装报文1中的业务报文发送给SF1网元150。在SF1网元150对该业务报文进行处理之后，将处理后的业务报文返回至SFF网元140。SFF网元140将处理后的业务报文进行封装，得到封装报文2。SFF网元140将封装报文2发送给SFF网元141。SFF网元141接收到封装报文2之后，对封装报文2进行解封，再将封装报文2中的业务报文发送给SF2网元151进行业务处理。⑤SFF network element: The SFF network element is responsible for forwarding the encapsulated message carrying the service message or the service message in the encapsulated message to the corresponding SF network element, so that the SF network element can process the service message. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , it is assumed that the network elements 150 to 154 are all non-SFC-aware SF network elements, and the SFF network elements integrate the functions of the SFC proxy network elements. For the service chain whose forwarding path is SF1 NE 150->SF2 NE 151, after receiving the encapsulated packet 1, the SFF NE 140 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 1, and sends the service packets in the encapsulated packet 1. To SF1 network element 150. After the SF1 network element 150 processes the service message, the processed service message is returned to the SFF network element 140 . The SFF network element 140 encapsulates the processed service packet to obtain an encapsulated packet 2 . The SFF network element 140 sends the encapsulated packet 2 to the SFF network element 141 . After receiving the encapsulated packet 2, the SFF network element 141 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 2, and then sends the service packet in the encapsulated packet 2 to the SF2 network element 151 for service processing.
⑥SFCC：用于向TC下发业务链匹配规则。SFCC还可定义业务链，即实现业务链的业务级编排。例如，SFCC确定业务链1的业务级编排结果为SF1->SF2，业务链2的业务级编排结果为SF1->SF3，业务链3的业务级编排结果为SF2->SF3，业务链4的业务级编排结果为SF1->SF2->SF3。SFCC可预先向第一网元下发业务链信息。如下表1所示，该业务链信息包括业务链1的标识和业务链1的业务级编排结果、业务链2的标识和业务链2的业务级编排结果、业务链3的标识和业务链3的业务级编排结果、业务链4的标识和业务链4的业务级编排结果。这样第一网元接收该业务链信息之后，就能知道业务链1～业务链4分别对应的业务级编排结果，以便后续第一网元可基于某条业务链的业务级编排结果确定该业务链的转发路径。或者，也可以不由SFCC向第一网元下发业务链信息，第一网元通过其他方式获取业务链的业务级编排结果。⑥SFCC: used to issue business chain matching rules to the TC. SFCC can also define business chains, that is, realize business-level orchestration of business chains. For example, the SFCC determines that the service-level orchestration result of service chain 1 is SF1->SF2, the service-level orchestration result of service chain 2 is SF1->SF3, the service-level orchestration result of service chain 3 is SF2->SF3, and the service-level The business-level orchestration result is SF1->SF2->SF3. The SFCC may deliver the service chain information to the first network element in advance. As shown in Table 1 below, the business chain information includes the identification of business chain 1 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 1, the identification of business chain 2 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 2, the identification of business chain 3 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 3. The business-level orchestration result of , the identifier of the business chain 4, and the business-level orchestration result of the business chain 4. In this way, after the first network element receives the service chain information, it can know the service level arrangement results corresponding to service chain 1 to service chain 4, so that the first network element can determine the service based on the service level arrangement result of a certain service chain. The forwarding path of the chain. Alternatively, the SFCC may not deliver the service chain information to the first network element, and the first network element obtains the service-level arrangement result of the service chain in other ways.
表1Table 1
业务链标识business chain identification 业务级编排结果Business-level orchestration results
业务链1的标识Identification of business chain 1 SF1->SF2SF1->SF2
业务链2的标识Identification of business chain 2 SF1->SF3SF1->SF3
业务链3的标识Identification of business chain 3 SF2->SF3SF2->SF3
业务链4的标识Logo of business chain 4 SF1->SF2->SF3SF1->SF2->SF3
SFCC还可实现业务链网络拓扑信息的管理，该业务链网络拓扑信息可指示：业务链网络包括的SF网元、业务链网络包括的SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SF网元和SFF网元之间的组网关系、业务链网络包括的SF网元的网络地址和业务链网络包括的SFF网元的网络地址。The SFCC can also manage the network topology information of the service chain, and the network topology information of the service chain can indicate: the SF network elements included in the service chain network, the deployment position of the SF network elements included in the service chain network, and the SFF network elements included in the service chain network. , the deployment location of the SFF network elements included in the business chain network, the networking relationship between the SF network elements included in the business chain network and the SFF network elements, the network address of the SF network elements included in the business chain network, and the SFF included in the business chain network. The network address of the NE.
在另一种可能的实现方式中，第一网元也可以部署于控制面。第一网元部署于控制面时，可以是新增的一个控制面网元，或者是业务链控制器。以第一网元为新增的一个控制面网元为例。请参见图3，图3是本申请实施例提供的另一种***架构的示意图。如图3所示，该***架构包括TC、第一网元、SFCC、SF网元和SFF网元。其中，TC、SF网元和SFF网元部署于用户面。SFCC和第一网元部署于控制面。例如，第一网元也可以称为SFC使能器。SF网元可以具有多个，SFF网元也可以具有一个或多个。图3以具有5个SF网元和3个SFF网元为例。关于TC、第一网元、SFCC、SF网元和SFF网元的描述，可参见前文中的描述，在此不赘述。In another possible implementation manner, the first network element may also be deployed on the control plane. When the first network element is deployed on the control plane, it may be a newly added network element of the control plane, or a service chain controller. Take the first network element as a newly added control plane network element as an example. Referring to FIG. 3 , FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3 , the system architecture includes a TC, a first network element, an SFCC, a SF network element, and an SFF network element. Among them, TC, SF network elements and SFF network elements are deployed on the user plane. The SFCC and the first network element are deployed on the control plane. For example, the first network element may also be referred to as an SFC enabler. There may be multiple SF network elements, and there may also be one or more SFF network elements. Figure 3 takes as an example there are 5 SF network elements and 3 SFF network elements. For the description of the TC, the first network element, the SFCC, the SF network element, and the SFF network element, reference may be made to the foregoing description, which is not repeated here.
下面对本申请实施例提供的业务链的转发路径确定方法及通信装置进一步进行详细描述：The method for determining the forwarding path of the service chain and the communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below:
请参见图4，图4是本申请实施例提供的一种业务链的转发路径确定方法的流程示意图。图4所描述的方案中，第一网元部署于用户面。如前所述，第一网元可以为新增的一个用户面网元，或者第一网元为TC。如图4所示，该业务链的转发路径确定方法包括如下步骤401～步骤407。其中：Please refer to FIG. 4 , which is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application. In the solution described in FIG. 4 , the first network element is deployed on the user plane. As described above, the first network element may be a newly added user plane network element, or the first network element may be a TC. As shown in FIG. 4 , the method for determining the forwarding path of the service chain includes the following steps 401 to 407 . in:
401、第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，该业务级编排结果指示多种SF的排序。401. The first network element acquires a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of various SFs.
例如，第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果为：视频优化->防火墙->URL过滤，其表示业务报文先进行视频优化处理，再进行防火墙处理，再进行URL过滤处理。For example, the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain is: video optimization->firewall->URL filtering, which means that video optimization processing is performed on service packets first, then firewall processing is performed, and URL filtering processing is performed.
在一种可能的实现中，假设第一网元是TC，TC还可接收第一业务报文；TC将第一业务报文与业务链规则进行匹配，确定第一业务报文对应第一业务链，即第一业务报文需要通过第一业务链进行处理。在TC确定第一业务报文对应第一业务链之后，TC就可获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，以便后续基于第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果确定第一业务链的转发路径。In a possible implementation, assuming that the first network element is the TC, the TC can also receive the first service packet; the TC matches the first service packet with the service chain rule, and determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, that is, the first service message needs to be processed through the first service chain. After the TC determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, the TC can obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, so as to subsequently determine the forwarding of the first service chain based on the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain path.
在另一种可能的实现中，假设第一网元不是TC，第一网元是新增的用户面网元，第一网元还可接收TC发送的第二封装报文，该第二封装报文包括第一业务报文和第一业务链的标识。在第一网元接收该第二封装报文之后，第一网元就可获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，以便后续基于第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果确定第一业务链的转发路径。In another possible implementation, assuming that the first network element is not a TC, the first network element is a newly added user plane network element, and the first network element can also receive a second encapsulated packet sent by the TC. The message includes the first service message and the identifier of the first service chain. After the first network element receives the second encapsulated packet, the first network element can obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, so as to subsequently determine the first service chain based on the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain forwarding path.
在该可能的实现方式中，TC接收到第一业务报文之后，将第一业务报文与业务链规则进行匹配，确定第一业务报文对应第一业务链。TC对第一业务报文和第一业务链的标识进行封装，得到第二封装报文。TC发送第二封装报文给第一网元。第一网元接收TC发送的第二封装报文之后，就能确定第一业务报文需要经过第一业务链进行处理，因此，需要获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果为第一业务链确定转发路径。在该可能的实现中，第一网元不是分类器，而是新增的用户面网元，这样能够减小对已有的分类器的改动。In this possible implementation manner, after receiving the first service packet, the TC matches the first service packet with the service chain rule, and determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain. The TC encapsulates the first service packet and the identifier of the first service chain to obtain a second encapsulated packet. The TC sends the second encapsulated packet to the first network element. After the first network element receives the second encapsulated packet sent by the TC, it can determine that the first service packet needs to be processed through the first service chain. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the service level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain as the first service. The chain determines the forwarding path. In this possible implementation, the first network element is not a classifier, but a newly added user plane network element, which can reduce changes to the existing classifier.
在一种可能的实现中，SFCC可以向第一网元发送业务链信息，该业务链信息包括至少一个业务链的标识以及该业务链的标识对应的业务级编排结果。相应地，第一网元在获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之前，可以接收SFCC发送的该业务链信息。第一网元接收该业务链信息之后，还可以存储该业务链信息，以便后续使用。In a possible implementation, the SFCC may send service chain information to the first network element, where the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain. Correspondingly, before acquiring the service level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, the first network element may receive the service chain information sent by the SFCC. After receiving the service chain information, the first network element may also store the service chain information for subsequent use.
例如，第一网元从SFCC接收上述表1所示的业务链信息，并存储上述表1所示的业务链信 息。这样第一网元就能知道业务链1～业务链4分别对应的业务级编排结果。后续第一网元就可从存储的业务链信息中获取某一条业务链对应的业务链编排结果，以便基于该业务链对应的业务级编排结果为该业务链确定转发路径。通过在SFCC对业务链进行业务级编排，有利于减小第一网元的负载，并且能够利用已有的业务链网络进行业务级编排，可以缩短开发时间，并且由于SFCC是网络控制面的中心节点，通过SFCC对业务链进行业务级编排，更加便于对业务链的业务级编排结果进行集中管理。For example, the first network element receives the service chain information shown in Table 1 above from the SFCC, and stores the service chain information shown in Table 1 above. In this way, the first network element can know the service-level orchestration results corresponding to service chain 1 to service chain 4 respectively. Subsequently, the first network element can obtain the service chain arrangement result corresponding to a certain service chain from the stored service chain information, so as to determine the forwarding path for the service chain based on the service level arrangement result corresponding to the service chain. The service-level orchestration of the service chain in the SFCC is beneficial to reduce the load of the first network element, and the existing service chain network can be used for service-level orchestration, which can shorten the development time, and since the SFCC is the center of the network control plane Nodes, through the SFCC, perform service-level orchestration of the service chain, which is more convenient for centralized management of the service-level orchestration results of the service chain.
或者，第一网元也可以从除SFCC之外的网元获取业务链信息。或者，也可以由第一网元自己来生成业务链信。Alternatively, the first network element may also acquire the service chain information from a network element other than the SFCC. Alternatively, the service chain message may also be generated by the first network element itself.
在一种可能的实现中，第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果的具体实现方式为：第一网元基于第一业务链的标识从业务链信息中获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果。In a possible implementation, a specific implementation manner for the first network element to obtain the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain is: the first network element obtains the first service chain from service chain information based on the identifier of the first service chain Corresponding business-level orchestration results.
例如，第一网元从SFCC接收上述表1所示的业务链信息，并存储上述表1所示的业务链信息。假设第一业务链为业务链1。那么第一网元从上述表1所示的业务链信息获取业务链1的标识对应的业务级编排结果，即SF1->SF2。For example, the first network element receives the service chain information shown in Table 1 above from the SFCC, and stores the service chain information shown in Table 1 above. Assume that the first service chain is service chain 1. Then, the first network element obtains the service level arrangement result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain 1 from the service chain information shown in Table 1 above, that is, SF1->SF2.
402、第一网元基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。402. The first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs.
本申请实施例中，第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之后，基于第一业务链的多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。In the embodiment of the present application, after the first network element obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, it is based on the sorting of multiple SFs in the first service chain and multiple SFs corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs. The load condition of the network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
本申请实施例中，第一业务链的转发路径包括第一业务链的多种SF对应的多个SF网元。具体地，针对第一业务链的多个SF中的每个SF，第一业务链的转发路径包括该SF的一个SF网元。例如，假设第一业务链包括SF1和SF2，则第一业务链的转发路径包括一个SF1网元和一个SF2网元。再如，假设第一业务链包括SF1、SF2和SF3，则第一业务链的转发路径包括一个SF1网元、一个SF2网元和一个SF3网元。In this embodiment of the present application, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to multiple SFs of the first service chain. Specifically, for each SF in the multiple SFs of the first service chain, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes one SF network element of the SF. For example, assuming that the first service chain includes SF1 and SF2, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes one SF1 network element and one SF2 network element. For another example, assuming that the first service chain includes SF1, SF2 and SF3, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes one SF1 network element, one SF2 network element and one SF3 network element.
本申请实施例中，由于第一业务链的多种SF中不一定每个SF都对应多个SF网元。因此，第一网元基于第一业务链的多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。例如，如图2所示，假设第一业务链的业务级编排结果为SF1->SF2。由于SF1网元只有一个，SF2网元有多个，第一网元基于SF1和SF2的排序以及SF2对应的多个SF2网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。第一业务链的转发路径中包括SF1网元150以及某个SF2网元。第一业务链的转发路径中包括的SF2网元基于SF2对应的多个SF2网元的负载情况确定。In the embodiment of the present application, each of the multiple SFs in the first service chain does not necessarily correspond to multiple SF network elements. Therefore, the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs of the first service chain and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the service-level orchestration result of the first service chain is SF1->SF2. Since there is only one SF1 network element and multiple SF2 network elements, the first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the order of SF1 and SF2 and the load conditions of the multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to SF2. The forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150 and a certain SF2 network element. The SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to the SF2.
再如，如图2所示，假设第一业务链的业务级编排结果为SF1->SF2->SF3，则第一网元基于SF1、SF2和SF3的排序、SF2对应的多个SF2网元的负载情况和SF3对应的多个SF3网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。第一业务链的转发路径中包括SF1网元150、某个SF2网元以及某个SF3网元。第一业务链的转发路径中包括的SF2网元基于SF2对应的多个SF2网元的负载情况确定。第一业务链的转发路径中包括的SF3网元基于SF3对应的多个SF3网元的负载情况确定。For another example, as shown in FIG. 2 , assuming that the service level arrangement result of the first service chain is SF1->SF2->SF3, the first network element is based on the ordering of SF1, SF2 and SF3, and the multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to SF2 The load situation of the SF3 and the load situation of multiple SF3 network elements corresponding to SF3 determine the forwarding path of the first service chain. The forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150, a certain SF2 network element, and a certain SF3 network element. The SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to the SF2. The SF3 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF3 network elements corresponding to the SF3.
再如，假设第一业务链的业务级编排结果为SF1->SF2->SF3，第一网元基于SF1、SF2和SF3的排序和SF2对应的多个SF2网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。第一业务链的转发路径中包括SF1网元150、某个SF2网元以及某个SF3网元。第一业务链的转发路径中包括的SF2网元基于SF2对应的多个SF2网元的负载情况确定。第一业务链的转发路径中包括的SF3网元可通过其他参数确定。As another example, assuming that the service-level arrangement result of the first service chain is SF1->SF2->SF3, the first network element determines the first The forwarding path of the business chain. The forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150, a certain SF2 network element, and a certain SF3 network element. The SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF2 network elements corresponding to the SF2. The SF3 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain may be determined by other parameters.
再如，假设第一业务链的业务级编排结果为SF1->SF2->SF3，第一网元基于SF1、SF2和SF3的排序和SF3对应的多个SF3网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。第一业务链的转发路径中包括SF1网元150、某个SF2网元以及某个SF3网元。第一业务链的转发路径中包括的SF3网元基于SF3对应的多个SF3网元的负载情况确定。第一业务链的转发路径中包括的SF2网元可通过其他参数确定。As another example, assuming that the service-level arrangement result of the first service chain is SF1->SF2->SF3, the first network element determines the first The forwarding path of the business chain. The forwarding path of the first service chain includes the SF1 network element 150, a certain SF2 network element, and a certain SF3 network element. The SF3 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain are determined based on the load conditions of multiple SF3 network elements corresponding to the SF3. The SF2 network elements included in the forwarding path of the first service chain may be determined by other parameters.
第一网元可以基于SF网元上的流量或业务流数量来确定SF网元的负载情况。SF网元上的流量越多，表明SF网元的负载越大，SF网元上的流量越少，表明SF网元的负载越小。SF网元上的业务流数量越多，表明SF网元的负载越大，SF网元上的业务流数量越少，表明SF网元的负载越小。通过业务流数量来确定SF网元的负载情况的好处在于第一网元不用统计流量，有利于减小第一网元的负载。The first network element may determine the load condition of the SF network element based on the amount of traffic or service flow on the SF network element. The more traffic on the SF network element, the greater the load on the SF network element, and the less traffic on the SF network element, the less the load on the SF network element. The larger the number of service flows on the SF network element, the greater the load of the SF network element, and the less the number of service flows on the SF network element, the smaller the load of the SF network element. The advantage of determining the load of the SF network element by the number of service flows is that the first network element does not need to count traffic, which is beneficial to reduce the load of the first network element.
可选的，第一网元可基于第一业务链的多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，按照SF网元负载均衡策略，确定第一业务链的转发路径。SF网元负载均衡策略是指使同一个SF对应的多个SF网元上的流量平衡。Optionally, the first network element may be based on the ordering of multiple SFs of the first service chain and the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and according to the SF network element load balancing policy, Determine the forwarding path of the first service chain. The SF network element load balancing policy refers to balancing traffic on multiple SF network elements corresponding to the same SF.
403、第一网元生成第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，该第一指示信息用于指示第一业务链的转发路径，该第二指示信息用于指示该转发路径中的第一跳SF网元。403. The first network element generates a first encapsulation packet, where the first encapsulation packet includes first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding of the first service chain path, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path.
其中，第一指示信息和第二指示信息也可以是同一个指示信息，或者，第一指示信息和第二指示信息可以是两个指示信息。第一跳SF网元是指第一业务链的转发路径中的第一个SF网元。The first indication information and the second indication information may also be the same indication information, or the first indication information and the second indication information may be two indication information. The first-hop SF network element refers to the first SF network element in the forwarding path of the first service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的SF网元的标识序列。即第一指示信息通过转发路径上的SF网元的标识序列来指示转发路径，这样能够准确地指示转发路径。例如，如图5所示，假设第一业务链的转发路径为：视频优化网元150->URL过滤网元153->防火墙网元152。第一指示信息依次包括视频优化网元150的标识->URL过滤网元153的标识->防火墙网元152的标识。In a possible implementation, the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path. That is, the first indication information indicates the forwarding path through the identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path, so that the forwarding path can be accurately indicated. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , it is assumed that the forwarding path of the first service chain is: video optimization network element 150 -> URL filtering network element 153 -> firewall network element 152 . The first indication information sequentially includes the identification of the video optimization network element 150 -> the identification of the URL filtering network element 153 -> the identification of the firewall network element 152.
在一种可能的实现中，第二指示信息为第一跳SF网元在转发路径中的序号，这样能够准确地指示第一跳SF网元。例如，如图5所示，假设第一业务链的转发路径为：视频优化网元150->URL过滤网元153->防火墙网元152。第二指示信息为序号1，用于指示视频优化网元150。或者，第二指示信息为第一跳SF网元的标识，例如，第二指示信息为视频优化网元150的标识。In a possible implementation, the second indication information is the sequence number of the first-hop SF network element in the forwarding path, so that the first-hop SF network element can be accurately indicated. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , it is assumed that the forwarding path of the first service chain is: video optimization network element 150 -> URL filtering network element 153 -> firewall network element 152 . The second indication information is sequence number 1, which is used to indicate the video optimization network element 150 . Or, the second indication information is the identifier of the first hop SF network element, for example, the second indication information is the identifier of the video optimization network element 150 .
404、第一网元向SFF网元发送第一封装报文。404. The first network element sends the first encapsulated packet to the SFF network element.
本申请实施例中，第一网元生成第一封装报文之后，向SFF网元发送第一封装报文，该SFF网元是指与第一跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元。如果第一网元不直接连接与第一跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元，则第一网元可通过其他SFF网元转发该第一封装报文至与第一跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元。In the embodiment of the present application, after generating the first encapsulated packet, the first network element sends the first encapsulated packet to the SFF network element, where the SFF network element refers to the SFF network element connected to the first hop SF network element. If the first network element is not directly connected to the SFF network element connected to the first-hop SF network element, the first network element can forward the first encapsulated packet to the first-hop SF network element through other SFF network elements. SFF network element.
可选的，SFFC还可向第一网元下发业务链网络包括的SFF网元的网络地址。相应的，第一网元可接收SFFC下发的业务链网络中的SFF网元的网络地址。这样第一网元就可基于业务链网络中的SFF网元的网络地址向与第一跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元发送第一封装报文。Optionally, the SFFC may also deliver the network address of the SFF network element included in the service chain network to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element may receive the network address of the SFF network element in the service chain network delivered by the SFFC. In this way, the first network element can send the first encapsulated packet to the SFF network element connected to the first hop SF network element based on the network address of the SFF network element in the service chain network.
或者，第一网元可通过其他方式获取业务链网络中的SFF网元的网络地址。Alternatively, the first network element may obtain the network address of the SFF network element in the service chain network through other methods.
405、SFF网元向第一跳SF网元转发第一业务报文。405. The SFF network element forwards the first service packet to the first hop SF network element.
本申请实施例中，SFF网元接收第一封装报文之后，对第一封装报文进行解封，得到第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文。SFF网元基于第二指示信息确定第一业务链的转发路径中的第一跳SF网元。SFF网元确定第一跳SF网元之后，向该第一跳SF网元发送 第一业务报文。In the embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first encapsulated packet, the SFF network element decapsulates the first encapsulated packet to obtain the first indication information, the second indication information and the first service packet. The SFF network element determines the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the second indication information. After the SFF network element determines the first hop SF network element, it sends the first service message to the first hop SF network element.
在一种可能的实现中，SFFC可向SFF网元下发业务链网络包括的SF网元的网络地址和业务链网络包括的其他SFF网元的网络地址。相应地，SFF网元可从SFFC接收业务链网络包括的SF网元的网络地址和业务链网络包括的其他SFF网元的网络地址。这样SFF网元就能基于SF网元的网络地址向SF网元发送业务报文，或者，SFF网元可以基于SF网元的网络地址和其他SFF网元的网络地址向SF网元跨SFF网元转发业务报文。In a possible implementation, the SFFC may deliver the network addresses of the SF network elements included in the service chain network and the network addresses of other SFF network elements included in the service chain network to the SFF network elements. Correspondingly, the SFF network element may receive the network address of the SF network element included in the service chain network and the network addresses of other SFF network elements included in the service chain network from the SFFC. In this way, the SFF network element can send service packets to the SF network element based on the network address of the SF network element, or the SFF network element can send service packets to the SF network element across the SFF network based on the network address of the SF network element and the network addresses of other SFF network elements. Meta-forwarding service packets.
406、第一跳SF网元向SFF网元发送第二业务报文。406. The first hop SF network element sends the second service packet to the SFF network element.
本申请实施例中，第一跳SF网元接收第一业务报文之后，对第一业务报文进行处理，得到第二业务报文。第一业务报文可以与第二业务报文相同或不同。第一跳SF网元得到第二业务报文之后，向SFF网元返回第二业务报文。In the embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first service packet, the first-hop SF network element processes the first service packet to obtain the second service packet. The first service message may be the same as or different from the second service message. After the first-hop SF network element obtains the second service message, it returns the second service message to the SFF network element.
下面针对不同类型的第一跳SF网元，对步骤405和步骤406的三种具体实现方式进一步进行介绍：The three specific implementation manners of step 405 and step 406 are further introduced below for different types of first-hop SF network elements:
①如果第一跳SF网元是SFC感知类SF网元，则SFF网元生成第三封装报文，该第三封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文。SFF网元向第一跳SF网元发送该第三封装报文。相应地，第一跳SF网元接收该第三封装报文之后，对该第三封装报文进行解压，得到第一业务报文。第一跳SF网元对第一业务报文进行业务处理，得到第二业务报文。第一跳SF网元得到第二业务报文之后，生成第四封装报文，该第四封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第二业务报文。第一跳SF网元向SFF网元发送第四封装报文。① If the first-hop SF network element is an SFC-aware SF network element, the SFF network element generates a third encapsulated packet, where the third encapsulated packet includes the first indication information, the second indication information and the first service packet. The SFF network element sends the third encapsulated message to the first-hop SF network element. Correspondingly, after receiving the third encapsulated packet, the first-hop SF network element decompresses the third encapsulated packet to obtain the first service packet. The first-hop SF network element performs service processing on the first service packet to obtain the second service packet. After obtaining the second service packet, the first-hop SF network element generates a fourth encapsulated packet, where the fourth encapsulated packet includes the first indication information, the second indication information and the second service packet. The first-hop SF network element sends the fourth encapsulated packet to the SFF network element.
②如果第一跳SF网元是非SFC感知类SF网元，且SFF网元集成了SFC proxy网元的功能，则SFF网元可直接将第一业务报文发送至第一跳SF网元进行业务处理。相应地，第一跳SF网元对第一业务报文进行业务处理得到第二业务报文之后，直接向SFF网元返回第二业务报文。②If the first-hop SF network element is a non-SFC-aware SF network element, and the SFF network element integrates the function of the SFC proxy network element, the SFF network element can directly send the first service packet to the first-hop SF network element for processing. business processing. Correspondingly, after the first-hop SF network element performs service processing on the first service packet to obtain the second service packet, it directly returns the second service packet to the SFF network element.
③如果第一跳SF网元是非SFC感知类SF网元，且SFF网元未集成SFC proxy网元的功能，则SFF网元生成第三封装报文，该第三封装报文包括第一业务报文、第一指示信息和第二指示信息。SFF网元发送该第三封装报文发送至SFC proxy网元，以便SFC proxy网元对该第三封装报文进行解封，并将解封得到的第一业务报文发送至第一跳SF网元进行业务处理。相应地，第一跳SF网元对第一业务报文进行业务处理得到第二业务报文之后，第一跳SF网元向SFC proxy网元返回第二业务报文。SFC proxy网元接收第二业务报文之后，生成第四封装报文，该第四封装报文包括第二业务报文、第一指示信息和第二指示信息。SFC proxy网元向SFF网元发送第四封装报文。③ If the first hop SF network element is a non-SFC-aware SF network element, and the SFF network element does not integrate the function of the SFC proxy network element, the SFF network element generates a third encapsulated packet, and the third encapsulated packet includes the first service. message, first indication information and second indication information. The SFF network element sends the third encapsulated packet to the SFC proxy network element, so that the SFC proxy network element decapsulates the third encapsulated packet, and sends the decapsulated first service packet to the first hop SF The network element performs service processing. Correspondingly, after the first-hop SF network element performs service processing on the first service message to obtain the second service message, the first-hop SF network element returns the second service message to the SFC proxy network element. After receiving the second service packet, the SFC proxy network element generates a fourth encapsulation packet, where the fourth encapsulation packet includes the second service packet, the first indication information, and the second indication information. The SFC proxy network element sends the fourth encapsulated packet to the SFF network element.
407、SFF网元基于第一业务链的转发路径向转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。407. The SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain.
本申请实施例中，SFF网元接收第一跳SF网元发送的第二业务报文之后，基于第一业务链的转发路径向转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。In this embodiment of the present application, after receiving the second service packet sent by the first-hop SF network element, the SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain .
如果SFF网元与第二跳SF网元相连接，则SFF网元接收第一跳SF网元发送的第二业务报文之后，SFF网元不需要通过其他SFF网元向第二跳SF网元发送第二业务报文。If the SFF NE is connected to the second-hop SF NE, after the SFF NE receives the second service packet sent by the first-hop SF NE, the SFF NE does not need to send the second-hop SF NE through other SFF NEs. The element sends the second service message.
例如，如果SFF网元与第二跳SF网元相连接，且第二跳SF网元是SFC感知类SF网元，SFF网元生成一个封装报文，该封装报文包括第二业务报文、第一指示信息和第三指示信息，该第三指示信息指示第二跳SF网元。SFF网元将该封装报文发送至第二跳SF网元，以便第二跳SF网元对该封装报文进行解封，并对解封得到的第二业务报文进行业务处理。For example, if the SFF network element is connected to the second-hop SF network element, and the second-hop SF network element is an SFC-aware SF network element, the SFF network element generates an encapsulated packet including the second service packet , first indication information, and third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the second hop SF network element. The SFF network element sends the encapsulated message to the second-hop SF network element, so that the second-hop SF network element decapsulates the encapsulated message, and performs service processing on the second service message obtained from the decapsulation.
例如，如果SFF网元与第二跳SF网元相连接，且第二跳SF网元是非SFC感知类SF网 元，且SFF网元集成了SFC proxy网元的功能，则SFF网元可直接将第二业务报文发送至第二跳SF网元进行业务处理。For example, if the SFF NE is connected to the second-hop SF NE, and the second-hop SF NE is a non-SFC-aware SF NE, and the SFF NE integrates the function of the SFC proxy NE, the SFF NE can directly The second service packet is sent to the second-hop SF network element for service processing.
再如，如果SFF网元与第二跳SF网元相连接，且第二跳SF网元是非SFC感知类SF网元，且SFF网元未集成SFC proxy网元的功能，则SFF网元生成一个封装报文，该封装报文包括第二业务报文、第一指示信息和第三指示信息，该第三指示信息指示第二跳SF网元。SFF网元将该封装报文发送至SFC proxy网元，以便SFC proxy网元对该封装报文进行解封，并将解封得到的第二业务报文发送至第二跳SF网元进行业务处理。For another example, if the SFF network element is connected to the second-hop SF network element, and the second-hop SF network element is a non-SFC-aware SF network element, and the SFF network element does not integrate the function of the SFC proxy network element, the SFF network element generates a An encapsulated packet, where the encapsulated packet includes a second service packet, first indication information and third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the second hop SF network element. The SFF network element sends the encapsulated packet to the SFC proxy network element, so that the SFC proxy network element decapsulates the encapsulated packet, and sends the decapsulated second service packet to the second-hop SF network element for service deal with.
如果SFF网元与第二跳SF网元不相连接，SFF网元基于第一业务链的转发路径向转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报的具体实施方式为：SFF网元通过与第二跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元向第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。基于该可能的实现方式，能够成功向第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。If the SFF network element is not connected to the second-hop SF network element, the specific implementation of the SFF network element forwarding the second service report to the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain is as follows: The element forwards the second service message to the second-hop SF network element through the SFF network element connected to the second-hop SF network element. Based on this possible implementation manner, the second service packet can be successfully forwarded to the second-hop SF network element.
可选的，SFF网元可生成一个封装报文，该封装报文携带该第二业务报文、第一指示信息和第三指示信息，该第三指示信息指示第二跳SF网元。SFF网元向与第二跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元发送该封装报文，以便与第二跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元能够基于该封装报文向第二跳SF网元发送第二业务报文。Optionally, the SFF network element may generate an encapsulated packet, where the encapsulated packet carries the second service packet, first indication information and third indication information, where the third indication information indicates the second hop SF network element. The SFF network element sends the encapsulated packet to the SFF network element connected to the second-hop SF network element, so that the SFF network element connected to the second-hop SF network element can send the encapsulated packet to the second-hop SF network element based on the encapsulated packet. Send the second service message.
下面以第一网元为新增的用户面网元为例，通过一个具体的示例对图4所描述的方法进一步进行描述：The method described in FIG. 4 is further described below by taking the first network element as the newly added user plane network element as an example, through a specific example:
如图5所示，业务链网络中包括1个视频优化网元、2个防火墙网元和2个URL过滤网元。其中，这5个网元均为非SFC感知类SF网元。SFCC定义了3条业务链，业务链1的业务级编排结果为：视频优化->URL过滤->防火墙。业务链2的业务级编排结果为：视频优化->防火墙。业务链3的业务级编排结果为：防火墙->URL过滤。SFCC预先向第一网元下业务链信息。如下表2所示，该业务链信息包括业务链1的标识和业务链1的业务级编排结果、业务链2的标识和业务链2的业务级编排结果、业务链3的标识和业务链3的业务级编排结果。这样第一网元接收该业务链信息之后，就能知道业务链1～业务链3分别对应的业务级编排结果。As shown in Figure 5, the service chain network includes one video optimization network element, two firewall network elements, and two URL filtering network elements. Among them, the five network elements are all non-SFC-aware SF network elements. SFCC defines three service chains. The service-level arrangement result of service chain 1 is: video optimization -> URL filtering -> firewall. The business-level orchestration result of business chain 2 is: video optimization -> firewall. The service-level orchestration result of service chain 3 is: Firewall -> URL Filtering. The SFCC downloads the service chain information to the first network element in advance. As shown in Table 2 below, the business chain information includes the identification of business chain 1 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 1, the identification of business chain 2 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 2, the identification of business chain 3 and the business-level arrangement result of business chain 3. business-level orchestration results. In this way, after the first network element receives the service chain information, it can know the service level arrangement results corresponding to service chain 1 to service chain 3 respectively.
表2Table 2
业务链标识business chain identification 业务级编排结果Business-level orchestration results
业务链1的标识Identification of business chain 1 视频优化->URL过滤->防火墙Video Optimization -> URL Filtering -> Firewall
业务链2的标识Identification of business chain 2 视频优化->防火墙Video Optimization -> Firewall
业务链3的标识Identification of business chain 3 防火墙->URL过滤Firewall -> URL Filtering
TC接收到业务报文1之后，将该业务报文1与业务链匹配规则进行匹配，确定该业务报文1需要通过业务链1转发。TC对该业务报文1进行封装，得到封装报文1。如图6所示。封装报文1包括业务链报头和该业务报文1。该业务链报头中携带业务链1的标识，表明该业务报文需要经过业务链1进行处理。TC将封装报文1发送至第一网元。第一网元接收封装报文1之后，从上述表2所示的业务级编排结果中获取业务链1对应的业务级编排结果。第一网元基于业务链1对应的业务级编排结果、防火墙网元151的负载情况、防火墙网元152的负载情况、URL过滤网元153的负载情况和URL过滤网元154的负载情况，确定业务链1的转发路径。由于第一网元集中确定业务链的转发路径，网元150～网元154上的流量都是第一网元分配的，所以第一网元能够准确地知道网元150～网元154上的实际流量。第一网元可以优先选择负载小的SF网元来处理业务报文。例如，假设防火墙网元151上具有20M(兆)流量，防火墙网元152上具有10M流量，URL过滤网元153上具有10M流量和URL过滤网元154上具有30M流量。那么，第一网元可以确定业务链1的转发路径为：视频优化网元150->URL过滤网元153->防火墙网元 152。After receiving the service packet 1, the TC matches the service packet 1 with the service chain matching rule, and determines that the service packet 1 needs to be forwarded through the service chain 1. The TC encapsulates the service packet 1 to obtain the encapsulated packet 1 . As shown in Figure 6. The encapsulated message 1 includes the service chain header and the service message 1 . The service chain header carries the identifier of the service chain 1, indicating that the service packet needs to be processed by the service chain 1. The TC sends the encapsulated packet 1 to the first network element. After receiving the encapsulated packet 1, the first network element acquires the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the service chain 1 from the service-level orchestration results shown in Table 2 above. The first network element determines based on the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the service chain 1, the load situation of the firewall network element 151, the load situation of the firewall network element 152, the load situation of the URL filtering network element 153, and the load situation of the URL filtering network element 154. Forwarding path of service chain 1. Since the first network element centrally determines the forwarding path of the service chain, the traffic on network elements 150 to 154 is allocated by the first network element, so the first network element can accurately know the traffic on network elements 150 to 154. actual traffic. The first network element may preferentially select an SF network element with a light load to process the service packet. For example, assume that firewall network element 151 has 20M (mega) traffic, firewall network element 152 has 10M traffic, URL filtering network element 153 has 10M traffic, and URL filtering network element 154 has 30M traffic. Then, the first network element can determine that the forwarding path of the service chain 1 is: video optimization network element 150->URL filtering network element 153->firewall network element 152.
第一网元确定业务链1的转发路径之后，生成封装报文2，如图7所示，封装报文2中包括了业务链报头以及与封装报文1中相同的业务报文1，业务链报头中包括指示信息1和指示信息2。指示信息1指示业务链1的转发路径。指示信息1依次包括视频优化网元150的标识->URL过滤网元153的标识->防火墙网元152的标识。指示信息2为序号1，用于指示视频优化网元150。第一网元发送封装报文2至SFF网元140。假设图5中的SFF网元均集成有SFC proxy网元的功能，且SF网元均为非SFC感知类SF网元。SFF网元140将封装报文2进行解封，并基于指示信息2确定需要将业务报文1转发给视频优化网元150。SFF网元140将业务报文1发送给视频优化网元150。视频优化网元150对业务报文1进行处理之后，得到业务报文2。视频优化网元150将业务报文2发送至SFF网元140。SFF网元140接收业务报文2之后，基于指示信息1确定下一跳SF网元为URL过滤网元153。SFF网元140基于业务报文2得到封装报文3，该封装报文3中包括业务报文2、指示信息1和指示信息3。该指示信息3为序号2，指示下一跳SF网元为URL过滤网元153。SFF网元140将封装报文3发送至SFF网元141。SFF网元141将封装报文3进行解封，并基于指示信息3确定需要将业务报文2转发给URL过滤网元153。SFF网元141将业务报文2发送给URL过滤网元153。同理，URL过滤网元153对业务报文2进行处理之后，向SFF网元141发送业务报文3。SFF网元141接收业务报文3之后，基于指示信息1确定第三跳SF网元为防火墙网元152。SFF网元141发送业务报文3给防火墙网元152进行业务处理。After the first network element determines the forwarding path of the service chain 1, it generates an encapsulated packet 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the encapsulated packet 2 includes the service chain header and the same service packet 1 as the encapsulated packet 1. The chain header includes indication information 1 and indication information 2. The indication information 1 indicates the forwarding path of the service chain 1 . The indication information 1 sequentially includes the identification of the video optimization network element 150 -> the identification of the URL filtering network element 153 -> the identification of the firewall network element 152. The indication information 2 is the sequence number 1, which is used to indicate the video optimization network element 150. The first network element sends the encapsulated packet 2 to the SFF network element 140 . It is assumed that the SFF network elements in Figure 5 are all integrated with the function of the SFC proxy network element, and the SF network elements are all non-SFC-aware SF network elements. The SFF network element 140 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 2, and determines, based on the indication information 2, that the service packet 1 needs to be forwarded to the video optimization network element 150. The SFF network element 140 sends the service packet 1 to the video optimization network element 150 . After the video optimization network element 150 processes the service packet 1, the service packet 2 is obtained. The video optimization network element 150 sends the service packet 2 to the SFF network element 140 . After receiving the service packet 2, the SFF network element 140 determines, based on the indication information 1, that the next hop SF network element is the URL filtering network element 153. The SFF network element 140 obtains the encapsulated packet 3 based on the service packet 2 , and the encapsulated packet 3 includes the service packet 2 , the indication information 1 and the indication information 3 . The indication information 3 is the sequence number 2, indicating that the next hop SF network element is the URL filtering network element 153 . The SFF network element 140 sends the encapsulated packet 3 to the SFF network element 141 . The SFF network element 141 decapsulates the encapsulated packet 3, and determines, based on the indication information 3, that the service packet 2 needs to be forwarded to the URL filtering network element 153. The SFF network element 141 sends the service packet 2 to the URL filtering network element 153 . Similarly, after the URL filtering network element 153 processes the service packet 2, it sends the service packet 3 to the SFF network element 141. After receiving the service packet 3, the SFF network element 141 determines, based on the indication information 1, that the third-hop SF network element is the firewall network element 152. The SFF network element 141 sends the service packet 3 to the firewall network element 152 for service processing.
如果每个SFF网元独立决策下一跳转发的SF网元，每个SFF网元只能知道各个SF网元上由自己分配的流量或业务流数量，无法知道各个SF网元上的实际流量或业务流数量。因此，通过每个SFF网元独立决策下一跳转发的SF网元来转发业务报文，无法保证业务链的转发路径符合运营商设置的转发规则(例如，使SF网元负载均衡的规则)。通过实施图4所描述的方法，可以由第一网元集中确定业务链的转发路径，这样第一网元就能够准确地知道SF网元上的实际流量或业务流数量，从而第一网元能够基于SF网元上的实际流量或业务流数量，规划出一条符合运营商规则的业务链转发路径。并且相较于第一网元部署于控制面，将第一网元部署于用户面，这样用户面网元能够更加快速地获取到业务链的转发路径，从而更快地实现业务报文的转发。If each SFF NE independently decides the SF NE to be forwarded in the next hop, each SFF NE can only know the traffic or the number of service flows allocated by itself on each SF NE, but cannot know the actual number of traffic on each SF NE. The amount of traffic or traffic flow. Therefore, each SFF network element independently decides the SF network element to be forwarded in the next hop to forward service packets, and it cannot be guaranteed that the forwarding path of the service chain conforms to the forwarding rules set by the operator (for example, the rules for balancing the load of SF network elements). ). By implementing the method described in FIG. 4 , the first network element can centrally determine the forwarding path of the service chain, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic or the number of service flows on the SF network element, so that the first network element Based on the actual traffic or the number of service flows on the SF network element, a service chain forwarding path that conforms to the operator's rules can be planned. And compared with the first network element deployed on the control plane, the first network element is deployed on the user plane, so that the user plane network element can obtain the forwarding path of the service chain more quickly, thereby realizing the forwarding of service packets faster. .
在一种可能的实现中，第一网元基于第一业务链的多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径可以有以下两种具体实现方式：In a possible implementation, the first network element determines the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs in the first service chain and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs The forwarding path can be implemented in the following two specific ways:
具体实现方式①：第一网元基于该多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况以及以下信息中的一种或多种：该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元与SFF网元之间的组网关系，确定第一业务链的转发路径。基于SF网元的部署位置、SFF网元的部署位置或SFF网元与SF网元之间的组网关系确定的第一业务链的转发路径，有利于减少跨SFF网元转发，能够降低业务链网络中SFF网元的负载，以及降低业务报文的转发时延。Specific implementation mode ①: The first network element is based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and one or more of the following information: The deployment location of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF among the multiple SFs, the deployment location of the SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or the multiple SF network elements and SFFs corresponding to at least one SF among the multiple SFs The networking relationship between network elements determines the forwarding path of the first service chain. The forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the deployment location of the SF network element, the deployment location of the SFF network element, or the networking relationship between the SFF network element and the SF network element is conducive to reducing cross-SFF network element forwarding and can reduce service It can reduce the load of SFF network elements in the chain network and reduce the forwarding delay of service packets.
其中，SF网元与SFF网元之间的组网关系是指SF网元与SFF网元之间的连接关系。例如，如图5所示，SFF网元140与视频优化网元150之间具有连接关系，SFF网元141与防火墙网元151、防火墙网元152和URL过滤网元153之间具有连接关系，SFF网元142与URL过滤网元154之间具有连接关系。The networking relationship between the SF network element and the SFF network element refers to the connection relationship between the SF network element and the SFF network element. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , there is a connection relationship between the SFF network element 140 and the video optimization network element 150 , the SFF network element 141 has a connection relationship with the firewall network element 151 , the firewall network element 152 and the URL filtering network element 153 , There is a connection relationship between the SFF network element 142 and the URL filtering network element 154 .
可选的，第一网元可按照位置亲和性优先策略或者负载均衡优先策略，确定第一业务链 的转发路径。位置亲和性优先策略是指优先选择同一个SFF网元连接距离较近的SF网元进行封装报文的转发，以减少跨SFF网元转发。Optionally, the first network element may determine the forwarding path of the first service chain according to the location affinity priority policy or the load balancing priority policy. The location affinity priority policy means that the same SFF NE is preferentially connected to the SF NE with a short distance to forward the encapsulated packet, so as to reduce the forwarding of the inter-SFF NE.
举例来说，假设图5中的SFF网元和SF网元的部署位置如下表3所示。其中，第一行的部署位置DC1.AZ1.Host1表示视频优化网元150和SFF网元140部署于数据中心1下的可用区域1下的主机1下。DC1表示数据中心1，AZ1表示可用区域1，Host1表示主机1。表3中的其他部署位置原理相同，在此不赘述。如图5所示，SFF网元140和视频优化网元150均部署于DC1.AZ1.Host1下，所以SFF网元140和视频优化网元150的部署位置很近。SFF网元141、防火墙网元152和URL过滤网元153部署于DC1.AZ2.Host2下，所以SFF网元141、防火墙网元152和URL过滤网元153的部署位置很近。SFF网元142和URL过滤网元154均部署于DC1.AZ3.Host3下，所以SFF网元142和URL过滤网元154的部署位置很近。For example, it is assumed that the deployment positions of the SFF network element and the SF network element in FIG. 5 are shown in Table 3 below. The deployment location DC1.AZ1.Host1 in the first row indicates that the video optimization network element 150 and the SFF network element 140 are deployed under the host 1 under the availability zone 1 under the data center 1. DC1 represents Data Center 1, AZ1 represents Availability Zone 1, and Host1 represents Host 1. The principles of other deployment locations in Table 3 are the same, and are not repeated here. As shown in FIG. 5 , the SFF network element 140 and the video optimization network element 150 are both deployed under DC1.AZ1.Host1, so the deployment positions of the SFF network element 140 and the video optimization network element 150 are very close. The SFF network element 141, the firewall network element 152, and the URL filtering network element 153 are deployed under DC1.AZ2.Host2, so the SFF network element 141, the firewall network element 152, and the URL filtering network element 153 are deployed in close proximity. Both the SFF network element 142 and the URL filtering network element 154 are deployed under DC1.AZ3.Host3, so the deployment locations of the SFF network element 142 and the URL filtering network element 154 are very close.
表3table 3
Figure PCTCN2021141866-appb-000001
Figure PCTCN2021141866-appb-000001
假设图5中的SFF网元和SF网元的组网关系如下表4所示。其中，SFF网元140与视频优化网元150相连接。SFF网元141与防火墙网元151、防火墙网元152和URL过滤网元153相连接。SFF网元142与URL过滤网元154相连接。It is assumed that the networking relationship between the SFF network element and the SF network element in FIG. 5 is shown in Table 4 below. The SFF network element 140 is connected to the video optimization network element 150 . The SFF network element 141 is connected to the firewall network element 151 , the firewall network element 152 and the URL filtering network element 153 . The SFF network element 142 is connected to the URL filtering network element 154 .
表4Table 4
Figure PCTCN2021141866-appb-000002
Figure PCTCN2021141866-appb-000002
假设第一业务链为业务链1，业务链1对应的业务级编排结果为视频优化->URL过滤->防火墙。防火墙网元151上具有20M流量，防火墙网元152上具有10M流量，URL过滤网元153上具有10M流量和URL过滤网元154上具有30M流量。由于视频优化网元只有一个，所以第一网元确定业务链1的第一跳SF网元是视频优化网元150。假设按照位置亲和性优先策略确定业务链1的转发路径。第一网元先基于位置亲和性策略确定第二跳SF网元，但由于防火墙网元151和防火墙网元152均需要跨SFF网元转发，所以位置亲和性策略失效，第一网元基于SF网元负载均衡策略选择业务链1的第二跳SF网元。由于URL过滤网元153上的负载较小，则第一网元确定URL过滤网元153为业务链1的第二跳SF网元。第一网元基于位置亲和性策略确定第三跳SF网元。由于防火墙网元152与SFF网元141连接，且相较于防火墙网元151，防火墙网元152与SFF网元141的部署位置较近，所以第一网元确定防火墙网元152为业务链1的第三跳SF网元。Assuming that the first service chain is service chain 1, the service-level arrangement result corresponding to service chain 1 is video optimization->URL filtering->firewall. Firewall network element 151 has 20M traffic, firewall network element 152 has 10M traffic, URL filtering network element 153 has 10M traffic, and URL filtering network element 154 has 30M traffic. Since there is only one video optimization network element, the first network element determines that the first hop SF network element of the service chain 1 is the video optimization network element 150 . Assume that the forwarding path of service chain 1 is determined according to the location affinity priority policy. The first network element first determines the second-hop SF network element based on the location affinity policy. However, since both firewall network element 151 and firewall network element 152 need to be forwarded across SFF network elements, the location affinity policy is invalid and the first network element Select the second-hop SF network element of service chain 1 based on the SF network element load balancing policy. Since the load on the URL filtering network element 153 is relatively small, the first network element determines that the URL filtering network element 153 is the second-hop SF network element of the service chain 1 . The first network element determines the third-hop SF network element based on the location affinity policy. Since the firewall network element 152 is connected to the SFF network element 141, and compared with the firewall network element 151, the firewall network element 152 and the SFF network element 141 are deployed closer, so the first network element determines that the firewall network element 152 is the service chain 1 The third hop SF network element.
可选的，第一网元还可接收业务链控制器发送的目标信息，该目标信息用于指示以下信 息中的一种或多种：业务链网络包括的SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或业务链网络包括的SF网元和SFF网元之间的组网关系。可选的，目标信息还可指示业务链网络包括的SFF网元和业务链网络包括的SF网元。该目标信息中可以包括SF网元的标识和SFF网元的标识，来指示业务链网络包括的SF网元和业务链网络包括的SFF网元。第一网元接收目标信息之后，就能基于目标信息对业务链的转发路径进行规划。通过业务链控制器下发目标信息，更加便于对目标信息进行集中管理。Optionally, the first network element may also receive target information sent by the service chain controller, where the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: the deployment location of the SF network element included in the service chain network, the service chain The deployment location of the SFF network elements included in the network or the networking relationship between the SF network elements included in the service chain network and the SFF network elements. Optionally, the target information may further indicate the SFF network element included in the service chain network and the SF network element included in the service chain network. The target information may include the identifier of the SF network element and the identifier of the SFF network element to indicate the SF network element included in the service chain network and the SFF network element included in the service chain network. After the first network element receives the target information, it can plan the forwarding path of the service chain based on the target information. The target information is issued by the business chain controller, which is more convenient for centralized management of the target information.
具体实现方式②：第一网元基于第一业务链的多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况和该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载权重，确定第一业务链的转发路径。基于业务级编排结果对应的SF网元的负载权重确定的第一业务链的转发路径，能够更加灵活地支持SF实例处理能力有差异的情况下的负载均衡。Specific implementation mode ②: the first network element is based on the ordering of multiple SFs in the first service chain, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF of the multiple SFs, and at least one of the multiple SFs. The load weight of multiple SF network elements corresponding to the SF is used to determine the forwarding path of the first service chain. The forwarding path of the first service chain determined based on the load weight of the SF network element corresponding to the service-level orchestration result can more flexibly support load balancing in the case of different processing capabilities of SF instances.
其中，SF网元的负载权重可以与SF网元的处理能力有关。SF网元的处理能力越大，SF网元的负载权重越大。SF网元的处理能力越小，SF网元的负载权重越小。The load weight of the SF network element may be related to the processing capability of the SF network element. The greater the processing capability of the SF network element, the greater the load weight of the SF network element. The smaller the processing capability of the SF network element, the smaller the load weight of the SF network element.
可选的，第一网元可按照SF网元负载均衡策略，确定第一业务链的转发路径。Optionally, the first network element may determine the forwarding path of the first service chain according to the SF network element load balancing policy.
举例来说，假设图5中的SFF网元和SF网元的负载权重如下表5所示。其中，防火墙网元151的负载承受能力小于防火墙网元152。URL过滤网元153的负载承受能力小于URL过滤网元154。假设第一业务链为业务链1，业务链1对应的业务级编排结果为视频优化->URL过滤->防火墙。防火墙网元151上具有20M流量，防火墙网元152上具有20M流量，URL过滤网元153上具有20M流量和URL过滤网元154上具有10M流量。第一网元优先选择流量与负载权重之间的比值较小的SF网元作为转发路径中的SF网元。由于视频优化网元只有一个，所以第一网元确定业务链1的第一跳SF网元是视频优化网元150。由于URL过滤网元153对应的流量与负载权重之间的比值为20/7，URL过滤网元154对应的流量与负载权重之间的比值为10/3。因此，第一网元确定URL过滤网元153为业务链1的第二跳SF网元。由于防火墙网元151对应的流量与负载权重之间的比值为5，防火墙网元152对应的流量与负载权重之间的比值为10/3。因此，第一网元确定防火墙网元152为业务链1的第三跳SF网元。For example, it is assumed that the load weights of the SFF network element and the SF network element in FIG. 5 are shown in Table 5 below. The load bearing capability of the firewall network element 151 is smaller than that of the firewall network element 152 . The load bearing capacity of the URL filtering network element 153 is smaller than that of the URL filtering network element 154 . Assuming that the first service chain is service chain 1, the service-level arrangement result corresponding to service chain 1 is video optimization->URL filtering->firewall. Firewall network element 151 has 20M traffic, firewall network element 152 has 20M traffic, URL filtering network element 153 has 20M traffic, and URL filtering network element 154 has 10M traffic. The first network element preferentially selects the SF network element with a smaller ratio between the traffic and the load weight as the SF network element in the forwarding path. Since there is only one video optimization network element, the first network element determines that the first hop SF network element of the service chain 1 is the video optimization network element 150 . Since the ratio between the traffic corresponding to the URL filtering network element 153 and the load weight is 20/7, the ratio between the traffic corresponding to the URL filtering network element 154 and the load weight is 10/3. Therefore, the first network element determines that the URL filtering network element 153 is the second-hop SF network element of the service chain 1 . Since the ratio between the traffic corresponding to the firewall network element 151 and the load weight is 5, the ratio between the traffic corresponding to the firewall network element 152 and the load weight is 10/3. Therefore, the first network element determines that the firewall network element 152 is the third-hop SF network element of the service chain 1 .
表5table 5
网元network element 负载权重load weight
防火墙网元151Firewall NE 151 44
防火墙网元152 Firewall NE 152 66
URL过滤网元153 URL Filtering NE 153 77
URL过滤网元154URL filtering network element 154 33
可选的，第一网元可接收业务链控制器发送的业务链网络包括的SF网元的负载权重。通过业务链控制器下发负载权重，更加便于对负载权重进行集中管理。Optionally, the first network element may receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller. The load weight is issued by the service chain controller, which is more convenient for centralized management of the load weight.
可选的，第一网元确定业务链转发路径使用的策略可以是第一网元默认的，或者是业务链控制器发送给第一网元的。例如，第一网元可以接收业务链控制器发送的位置亲和性优先策略或负载均衡优先策略等。Optionally, the policy used by the first network element to determine the forwarding path of the service chain may be the default of the first network element or sent by the service chain controller to the first network element. For example, the first network element may receive the location affinity priority policy or the load balancing priority policy and the like sent by the service chain controller.
请参见图8，图8是本申请实施例提供的另一种业务链的转发路径确定方法的流程示意图。图8所描述的方案中，第一网元部署于控制面。如前所述，第一网元可以为新增的一个控制面网元，或者第一网元为SFCC。如图8所示，该业务链的转发路径确定方法包括如下步骤801～步骤806。其中：Referring to FIG. 8 , FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of another method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain provided by an embodiment of the present application. In the solution described in FIG. 8 , the first network element is deployed on the control plane. As described above, the first network element may be a newly added control plane network element, or the first network element may be the SFCC. As shown in FIG. 8 , the method for determining the forwarding path of the service chain includes the following steps 801 to 806 . in:
801、分类器向第一网元发送第一请求，该第一请求用于请求生成第一业务链的转发路径，该第一请求携带该第一业务链的标识。801. The classifier sends a first request to a first network element, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of a first service chain, and the first request carries an identifier of the first service chain.
本申请实施例中，TC接收到第一业务报文之后，将第一业务报文与业务链匹配规则进行匹配，确定第一业务报文对应第一业务链，即第一业务报文需要通过第一业务链进行处理。TC确定第一业务报文对应第一业务链之后，向第一网元发送第一请求。In this embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first service packet, the TC matches the first service packet with the service chain matching rule, and determines that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, that is, the first service packet needs to pass through The first business chain is processed. After determining that the first service packet corresponds to the first service chain, the TC sends the first request to the first network element.
802、第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，该业务级编排结果指示多种SF的排序。802. The first network element obtains a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of various SFs.
803、第一网元基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径。803. The first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs.
关于步骤802和步骤803的具体实现方式可参见上述方法实施例中的描述，在此不赘述。For the specific implementation manner of step 802 and step 803, reference may be made to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described herein.
804、第一网元向分类器发送第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示转发路径。804. The first network element sends first indication information to the classifier, where the first indication information is used to indicate a forwarding path.
关于第一指示信息的描述可参见上述方法实施例中的描述，在此不赘述。For the description of the first indication information, reference may be made to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not repeated here.
805、分类器向业务功能转发SFF网元发送第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，该第二指示信息用于指示转发路径中的第一跳SF网元。805. The classifier sends a first encapsulated packet to the service function forwarding SFF network element, where the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, and the second indication information is used to indicate forwarding The first hop SF network element in the path.
本申请实施例中，分类器接收第一指示信息之后，向业务功能转发SFF网元发送第一封装报文。关于第一封装报文的描述可参见上述方法实施例中的描述，在此不赘述。In the embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first indication information, the classifier sends the first encapsulated message to the service function forwarding SFF network element. For the description of the first encapsulated packet, reference may be made to the description in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not repeated here.
806、SFF网元向第一跳SF网元转发第一业务报文。806. The SFF network element forwards the first service packet to the first hop SF network element.
807、第一跳SF网元向SFF网元发送第二业务报文。807. The first hop SF network element sends the second service packet to the SFF network element.
808、SFF网元基于第一业务链的转发路径向转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。808. The SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain.
步骤806～步骤808的具体实现方式可参见上述方法实施例中步骤405～步骤407的具体实现方式，在此不赘述。For the specific implementation manners of steps 806 to 808, reference may be made to the specific implementation manners of steps 405 to 407 in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described herein.
值得一提的是，图4所对应的方法实施例中的可能的实现方式也可以应用于图8所对应的方法实施例中。It is worth mentioning that the possible implementation manners in the method embodiment corresponding to FIG. 4 can also be applied to the method embodiment corresponding to FIG. 8 .
通过实施图8所描述的方法，可以由第一网元集中确定业务链的转发路径，这样第一网元就能够准确地知道SF网元上的实际流量，从而第一网元能够基于SF网元上的实际流量，规划出一条符合运营商规则的路径。By implementing the method described in FIG. 8 , the forwarding path of the service chain can be determined centrally by the first network element, so that the first network element can accurately know the actual traffic on the SF network element, so that the first network element can be based on the SF network element. According to the actual traffic on the element, a path that conforms to the operator's rules is planned.
请参见图9，图9示出了本申请实施例的一种通信装置的结构示意图。图9所示的通信装置可以用于执行上述图4所描述的方法实施例中第一网元的部分或全部功能。该装置可以是第一网元，也可以是第一网元中的装置，或者是能够和第一网元匹配使用的装置。其中，该第一网元还可以为芯片***。图9所示的第一网元可以包括通信单元901和处理单元902。其中，处理单元902，用于进行数据处理。通信单元901集成有接收单元和发送单元。通信单元901也可以称为收发单元。或者，也可将通信单元901拆分为接收单元和发送单元。下文的处理单元902和通信单元901同理，下文不再赘述。其中：Referring to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 may be used to execute part or all of the functions of the first network element in the method embodiment described in FIG. 4 . The device may be the first network element, or a device in the first network element, or a device that can be matched and used with the first network element. Wherein, the first network element may also be a chip system. The first network element shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . Among them, the processing unit 902 is used for data processing. The communication unit 901 integrates a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The communication unit 901 may also be referred to as a transceiving unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 901 can also be divided into a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit 902 and the communication unit 901 described below are the same, and will not be repeated below. in:
处理单元902，用于获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，该业务级编排结果指示多种业务功能SF的排序；处理单元902，还用于基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径；处理单元902，还用于生成第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，该第一指示信息用于指示转发路径，该第二指示信息用于指示转发路径中的第一跳SF网元； 通信单元901，用于向业务功能转发SFF网元发送第一封装报文。The processing unit 902 is configured to obtain a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level orchestration result indicates the sorting of multiple service functions SF; the processing unit 902 is further configured to sort based on the multiple SFs and the multiple The load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the SF determines the forwarding path of the first service chain; the processing unit 902 is further configured to generate a first encapsulated packet, where the first encapsulated packet includes the first encapsulated packet. Indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path; the communication unit 901 is used for The first encapsulated packet is sent to the service function forwarding SFF network element.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901，还用于接收分类器发送的第二封装报文，该第二封装报文包括第一业务链的标识和第一业务报文。In a possible implementation, the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive a second encapsulated packet sent by the classifier, where the second encapsulated packet includes the identifier of the first service chain and the first service packet.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901，还用于接收业务链控制器发送的业务链信息，该业务链信息包括至少一个业务链的标识以及该业务链的标识对应的业务级编排结果。In a possible implementation, the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive service chain information sent by the service chain controller, where the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，处理单元902获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果的方式具体为：第一网元基于第一业务链的标识从业务链信息中获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果。In a possible implementation, the manner in which the processing unit 902 obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain is as follows: the first network element obtains, based on the identifier of the first service chain, the service chain corresponding to the first service chain from service chain information. Business-level orchestration results.
在一种可能的实现中，处理单元902基于多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径的具体实现方式为：基于该多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况以及以下信息中的一种或多种：该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元与SFF网元之间的组网关系，确定第一业务链的转发路径。In a possible implementation, the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs The method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and one or more of the following information: at least one of the multiple SFs The deployment positions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to the various SFs, the deployment positions of the SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or the group between the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF of the multiple SF network elements and the SFF network elements network relationship, and determine the forwarding path of the first service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901，还用于接收业务链控制器发送的目标信息，该目标信息用于指示以下信息中的一种或多种：业务链网络包括的SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或业务链网络包括的SF网元和SFF网元之间的组网关系和业务链网络包括的SFF网元的网络地址。In a possible implementation, the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive target information sent by the service chain controller, where the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: Deployment location, deployment location of SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or networking relationship between SF network elements included in the service chain network and SFF network elements, and network addresses of SFF network elements included in the service chain network.
在一种可能的实现中，处理单元902基于多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径的具体实现方式为：基于该多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况和该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载权重，确定第一业务链的转发路径。In a possible implementation, the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs The method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs. The load weight determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901，还用于接收业务链控制器发送的业务链网络包括的SF网元的负载权重。In a possible implementation, the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller.
在一种可能的实现中，第一业务链的转发路径包括该第一业务链的多种SF对应的多个SF网元。In a possible implementation, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to multiple SFs of the first service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的SF网元的标识序列。In a possible implementation, the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path.
请参见图9，图9示出了本申请实施例的一种通信装置的结构示意图。图9所示的通信装置可以用于执行上述图8所描述的方法实施例中第一网元的部分或全部功能。该装置可以是第一网元，也可以是第一网元中的装置，或者是能够和第一网元匹配使用的装置。其中，该第一网元还可以为芯片***。图9所示的第一网元可以包括通信单元901和处理单元902。其中：Referring to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 may be used to execute part or all of the functions of the first network element in the method embodiment described in FIG. 8 above. The device may be the first network element, or a device in the first network element, or a device that can be matched and used with the first network element. Wherein, the first network element may also be a chip system. The first network element shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . in:
通信单元901，用于接收分类器发送的第一请求，该第一请求用于请求生成第一业务链的转发路径，该第一请求携带第一业务链的标识；处理单元902，用于获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，该业务级编排结果示多种业务功能SF的排序；处理单元902，还用于基于该多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径；通信单元901，还用于向分类器发送第一指示信息，第一指示信息用于指示转发路径。The communication unit 901 is configured to receive a first request sent by the classifier, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, and the first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the processing unit 902 is used to obtain The service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, the service-level arrangement result shows the ordering of various service function SFs; the processing unit 902 is further configured to order based on the various SFs and at least one SF among the various SFs The load conditions of the corresponding multiple SF network elements determine the forwarding path of the first service chain; the communication unit 901 is further configured to send first indication information to the classifier, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901，还用于接收业务链控制器发送的业务链信息，该业务链信息包括至少一个业务链的标识以及该业务链的标识对应的业务级编排结果。In a possible implementation, the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive service chain information sent by the service chain controller, where the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，处理单元902获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果的方式具体 为：第一网元基于第一业务链的标识从业务链信息中获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果。In a possible implementation, the manner in which the processing unit 902 obtains the service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain is as follows: the first network element obtains, based on the identifier of the first service chain, the service chain corresponding to the first service chain from service chain information. Business-level orchestration results.
在一种可能的实现中，处理单元902基于多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径的具体实现方式为：基于该多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况以及以下信息中的一种或多种：该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元与SFF网元之间的组网关系，确定第一业务链的转发路径。In a possible implementation, the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs The method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and one or more of the following information: at least one of the multiple SFs The deployment positions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to the various SFs, the deployment positions of the SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or the group between the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF of the multiple SF network elements and the SFF network elements network relationship, and determine the forwarding path of the first service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901，还用于接收业务链控制器发送的目标信息，该目标信息用于指示以下信息中的一种或多种：业务链网络包括的SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或业务链网络包括的SF网元和SFF网元之间的组网关系和业务链网络包括的SFF网元的网络地址。In a possible implementation, the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive target information sent by the service chain controller, where the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: Deployment location, deployment location of SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or networking relationship between SF network elements included in the service chain network and SFF network elements, and network addresses of SFF network elements included in the service chain network.
在一种可能的实现中，处理单元902基于多种SF的排序以及该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定第一业务链的转发路径的具体实现方式为：基于该多种SF的排序、该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况和该多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载权重，确定第一业务链的转发路径。In a possible implementation, the processing unit 902 determines the specific implementation of the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of multiple SFs and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs The method is: based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and the load conditions of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs. The load weight determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901，还用于接收业务链控制器发送的业务链网络包括的SF网元的负载权重。In a possible implementation, the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller.
在一种可能的实现中，第一业务链的转发路径包括该第一业务链的多种SF对应的多个SF网元。In a possible implementation, the forwarding path of the first service chain includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to multiple SFs of the first service chain.
在一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的SF网元的标识序列。In a possible implementation, the first indication information includes an identification sequence of the SF network element on the forwarding path.
请参见图9，图9示出了本申请实施例的一种通信装置的结构示意图。图9所示的通信装置可以用于执行上述图8所描述的方法实施例中分类器的部分或全部功能。该装置可以是分类器，也可以是分类器中的装置，或者是能够和分类器匹配使用的装置。其中，该分类器还可以为芯片***。图9所示的分类器可以包括通信单元901和处理单元902。其中：Referring to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 can be used to perform part or all of the functions of the classifier in the method embodiment described in FIG. 8 above. The device may be a classifier, a device in a classifier, or a device that can be used in matching with the classifier. Wherein, the classifier may also be a chip system. The classifier shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . in:
通信单元901，用于向第一网元发送第一请求，该第一请求用于请求生成第一业务链的转发路径，该第一请求携带第一业务链的标识；通信单元901，还用于接收第一网元发送的第一指示信息，该第一指示信息用于指示转发路径；通信单元901，还用于向业务功能转发SFF网元发送第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，该第二指示信息用于指示转发路径中的第一跳SF网元。The communication unit 901 is configured to send a first request to the first network element, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, and the first request carries the identifier of the first service chain; the communication unit 901 is further used After receiving the first indication information sent by the first network element, the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path; the communication unit 901 is further configured to forward the SFF network element to the service function and send the first encapsulated message, the first encapsulated message The message includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, where the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path.
在一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的业务功能网元的标识序列。In a possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
在一种可能的实现中，转发路径包括多个业务功能SF网元。In a possible implementation, the forwarding path includes multiple service function SF network elements.
请参见图9，图9示出了本申请实施例的一种通信装置的结构示意图。图9所示的通信装置可以用于执行上述图4或图8所描述的方法实施例中SFF网元的部分或全部功能。该装置可以是SFF网元，也可以是SFF网元中的装置，或者是能够和分类器匹配使用的装置。其中，该SFF网元还可以为芯片***。图9所示的SFF网元可以包括通信单元901和处理单元902。其中：Referring to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 9 may be used to perform part or all of the functions of the SFF network element in the method embodiment described in FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 . The device may be an SFF network element, a device in an SFF network element, or a device that can be matched and used with a classifier. Wherein, the SFF network element may also be a chip system. The SFF network element shown in FIG. 9 may include a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902 . in:
通信单元901，用于接收来自第一网元或分类器的第一封装报文，该第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，该第一指示信息用于指示第一业务链的转发路径，该第二指示信息用于指示转发路径中的第一跳SF网元；通信单元901，还用于向所述 第一跳SF网元转发所述第一业务报文；通信单元901，还用于接收所述第一跳SF网元返回的第二业务报文；通信单元901，还用于基于所述第一业务链的转发路径向所述转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发所述第二业务报文。A communication unit 901, configured to receive a first encapsulated packet from a first network element or a classifier, where the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path of the first service chain, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path; the communication unit 901 is further configured to forward the first hop SF network element to the first hop SF network element. A service packet; the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive a second service packet returned by the first-hop SF network element; the communication unit 901 is further configured to forward to the first service chain based on the forwarding path The second hop SF network element in the path forwards the second service message.
在一种可能的实现中，第一指示信息包括转发路径上的业务功能网元的标识序列。In a possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identification sequence of the service function network element on the forwarding path.
在一种可能的实现中，转发路径包括多个业务功能SF网元。In a possible implementation, the forwarding path includes multiple service function SF network elements.
在一种可能的实现中，通信单元901基于第一业务链的转发路径向转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文的方式具体为：通过与第二跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元向第二跳SF网元转发第二业务报文。In a possible implementation, the manner in which the communication unit 901 forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain is specifically: by communicating with the second-hop SF network element The connected SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element.
在一种可能的实现中，用于实现第一业务链的转发路径的编排。In a possible implementation, it is used to implement the orchestration of the forwarding path of the first service chain.
如图10所示为本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置100，用于实现上述图4或图8中第一网元的功能。该装置可以是第一网元或用于第一网元的装置。用于第一网元的装置可以为第一网元内的芯片***或芯片。其中，芯片***可以由芯片构成，也可以包含芯片和其他分立器件。或者，通信装置100，用于实现上述图8中分类器的功能。该装置可以是分类器或用于分类器的装置。用于分类器的装置可以为分类器内的芯片***或芯片。其中，芯片***可以由芯片构成，也可以包含芯片和其他分立器件。或者，通信装置100，用于实现上述图4或图8中SFF网元的功能。该装置可以是SFF网元或用于SFF网元的装置。用于SFF网元的装置可以为SFF网元内的芯片***或芯片。其中，芯片***可以由芯片构成，也可以包含芯片和其他分立器件。FIG. 10 shows a communication apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, which is used to implement the function of the first network element in the foregoing FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 . The apparatus may be the first network element or an apparatus for the first network element. The means for the first network element may be a system-on-a-chip or a chip within the first network element. Wherein, the chip system may be composed of chips, and may also include chips and other discrete devices. Alternatively, the communication device 100 is configured to implement the function of the classifier in the above-mentioned FIG. 8 . The apparatus may be a classifier or an apparatus for a classifier. The means for the classifier may be a system-on-a-chip or chip within the classifier. Wherein, the chip system may be composed of chips, and may also include chips and other discrete devices. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 100 is configured to implement the function of the SFF network element in the above-mentioned FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 . The apparatus may be an SFF network element or an apparatus for an SFF network element. The apparatus for the SFF network element may be a chip system or chip within the SFF network element. Wherein, the chip system may be composed of chips, and may also include chips and other discrete devices.
通信装置100包括至少一个处理器1020，用于实现本申请实施例提供的方法中第一网元、分类器或SFF网元的数据处理功能。装置100还可以包括通信接口1010，用于实现本申请实施例提供的方法中第一网元、分类器或SFF网元的收发操作。在本申请实施例中，通信接口可以是收发器、电路、总线、模块或其它类型的通信接口，用于通过传输介质和其它设备进行通信。例如，通信接口1010用于装置100中的装置可以和其它设备进行通信。处理器1020利用通信接口1010收发数据，并用于实现上述方法实施例图4或图8所述的方法。The communication apparatus 100 includes at least one processor 1020, configured to implement the data processing function of the first network element, the classifier, or the SFF network element in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The apparatus 100 may further include a communication interface 1010, configured to implement the sending and receiving operations of the first network element, the classifier or the SFF network element in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment of the present application, the communication interface may be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module or other types of communication interfaces, which are used to communicate with other devices through a transmission medium. For example, the communication interface 1010 is used by the apparatus in the apparatus 100 to communicate with other devices. The processor 1020 uses the communication interface 1010 to send and receive data, and is used to implement the method described in FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 in the foregoing method embodiment.
装置100还可以包括至少一个存储器1030，用于存储程序指令和/或数据。存储器1030和处理器1020耦合。本申请实施例中的耦合是装置、单元或模块之间的间接耦合或通信连接，可以是电性，机械或其它的形式，用于装置、单元或模块之间的信息交互。处理器1020可能和存储器1030协同操作。处理器1020可能执行存储器1030中存储的程序指令。所述至少一个存储器中的至少一个可以包括于处理器中。The apparatus 100 may also include at least one memory 1030 for storing program instructions and/or data. Memory 1030 is coupled to processor 1020 . The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units or modules. The processor 1020 may cooperate with the memory 1030 . Processor 1020 may execute program instructions stored in memory 1030 . At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.
本申请实施例中不限定上述通信接口1010、处理器1020以及存储器1030之间的具体连接介质。本申请实施例在图10中以存储器1030、处理器1020以及通信接口1010之间通过总线1040连接，总线在图10中以粗线表示，其它部件之间的连接方式，仅是进行示意性说明，并不引以为限。所述总线可以分为地址总线、数据总线、控制总线等。为便于表示，图10中仅用一条粗线表示，但并不表示仅有一根总线或一种类型的总线。The specific connection medium between the communication interface 1010 , the processor 1020 , and the memory 1030 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the memory 1030, the processor 1020, and the communication interface 1010 are connected through a bus 1040 in FIG. 10. The bus is represented by a thick line in FIG. 10, and the connection between other components is only for schematic illustration. , is not limited. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of presentation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 10, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.
装置100具体是用于第一网元、分类器或SFF网元的装置时，例如装置100具体是芯片或者芯片***时，通信接口1010所输出或接收的可以是基带信号。装置100具体是第一网元、分类器或SFF网元时，通信接口1010所输出或接收的可以是射频信号。在本申请实施例中，处理器可以是通用处理器、数字信号处理器、专用集成电路、现场可编程门阵列或者其他可编程逻辑器件、分立门或者晶体管逻辑器件、分立硬件组件，可以实现或者执行本申请实施例中的公开的各方法、操作及逻辑框图。通用处理器可以是微处理器或者任何常规的处理器 等。结合本申请实施例所公开的方法的操作可以直接体现为硬件处理器执行完成，或者用处理器中的硬件及软件模块组合执行完成。When the apparatus 100 is specifically an apparatus for the first network element, the classifier or the SFF network element, for example, when the apparatus 100 is specifically a chip or a chip system, the communication interface 1010 may output or receive baseband signals. When the apparatus 100 is specifically the first network element, the classifier or the SFF network element, the output or reception of the communication interface 1010 may be a radio frequency signal. In this embodiment of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, which can implement or The methods, operations, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application are executed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The operations of the methods disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.
在上述实施例中，对各个实施例的描述都各有侧重，某个实施例中没有详述的部分，可以参见其他实施例的相关描述。In the above-mentioned embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.
最后应说明的是：以上各实施例仅用以说明本申请的技术方案，而非对其限制；尽管参照前述各实施例对本申请进行了详细的说明，本领域的普通技术人员应当理解：其依然可以对前述各实施例所记载的技术方案进行修改，或者对其中部分或者全部技术特征进行等同替换；而这些修改或者替换，并不使相应技术方案的本质脱离本申请各实施例技术方案的范围。Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: The technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified, or some or all of the technical features thereof can be equivalently replaced; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. scope.

Claims (26)

  1. 一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，其特征在于，所述方法包括：A method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, characterized in that the method comprises:
    第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，所述业务级编排结果指示多种业务功能SF的排序；The first network element obtains a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of multiple service functions SF;
    所述第一网元基于所述多种SF的排序以及所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定所述第一业务链的转发路径；The first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the ordering of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs;
    所述第一网元生成第一封装报文，所述第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述转发路径，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述转发路径中的第一跳SF网元；The first network element generates a first encapsulated packet, where the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information, and a first service packet, and the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path , the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path;
    所述第一网元向业务功能转发SFF网元发送所述第一封装报文。The first network element sends the first encapsulated message to the service function forwarding SFF network element.
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之前，所述方法还包括：The method according to claim 1, wherein before the first network element acquires the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, the method further comprises:
    所述第一网元接收分类器发送的第二封装报文，所述第二封装报文包括所述第一业务链的标识和所述第一业务报文。The first network element receives the second encapsulated packet sent by the classifier, where the second encapsulated packet includes the identifier of the first service chain and the first service packet.
  3. 一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，其特征在于，所述方法包括：A method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, characterized in that the method comprises:
    第一网元接收分类器发送的第一请求，所述第一请求用于请求生成第一业务链的转发路径，所述第一请求携带所述第一业务链的标识；The first network element receives a first request sent by the classifier, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, and the first request carries the identifier of the first service chain;
    所述第一网元获取所述第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，所述业务级编排结果指示多种业务功能SF的排序；obtaining, by the first network element, a service-level arrangement result corresponding to the first service chain, where the service-level arrangement result indicates the ordering of multiple service functions SF;
    所述第一网元基于所述多个SF的排序以及所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定所述第一业务链的转发路径；The first network element determines the forwarding path of the first service chain based on the order of the multiple SFs and the load conditions of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs;
    所述第一网元向所述分类器发送第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述转发路径。The first network element sends first indication information to the classifier, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path.
  4. 根据权利要求1～3中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之前，所述方法还包括：The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein before the first network element obtains the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, the method further comprises:
    所述第一网元接收业务链控制器发送的业务链信息，所述业务链信息包括至少一个业务链的标识以及所述业务链的标识对应的业务级编排结果。The first network element receives service chain information sent by the service chain controller, where the service chain information includes an identifier of at least one service chain and a service level arrangement result corresponding to the identifier of the service chain.
  5. 根据权利要求4所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果，包括：The method according to claim 4, wherein the obtaining, by the first network element, a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, comprises:
    所述第一网元基于所述第一业务链的标识从所述业务链信息中获取所述第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果。The first network element acquires, based on the identifier of the first service chain, a service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain from the service chain information.
  6. 根据权利要求1～5中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元基于所述多种SF的排序以及所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定所述第一业务链的转发路径，包括：The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first network element is based on an order of the multiple SFs and multiple SFs corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs The load situation of the network element, to determine the forwarding path of the first service chain, including:
    所述第一网元基于所述多种SF的排序、所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况以及以下信息中的一种或多种：所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的部署位置、业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元与SFF网元之间的组网关系，确定所述第一业务链的转发路径。The first network element is based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load situation of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF in the multiple SFs, and one or more of the following information: The deployment location of multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF among the various SFs, the deployment location of the SFF network elements included in the service chain network, or the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF among the multiple SFs and The networking relationship between the SFF network elements determines the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  7. 根据权利要求6所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元获取第一业务链对应的业务级编排结果之前，所述方法还包括：The method according to claim 6, wherein before the first network element obtains the service-level orchestration result corresponding to the first service chain, the method further comprises:
    所述第一网元接收业务链控制器发送的目标信息，所述目标信息用于指示以下信息中的一种或多种：所述业务链网络包括的SF网元的部署位置、所述业务链网络包括的SFF网元的部署位置或所述业务链网络包括的SF网元和SFF网元之间的组网关系。The first network element receives the target information sent by the service chain controller, where the target information is used to indicate one or more of the following information: the deployment location of the SF network element included in the service chain network, the service chain The deployment position of the SFF network element included in the chain network or the networking relationship between the SF network element included in the service chain network and the SFF network element.
  8. 根据权利要求1～5中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元基于所述多种SF的排序以及所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况，确定所述第一业务链的转发路径，包括：The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first network element is based on an order of the multiple SFs and multiple SFs corresponding to at least one of the multiple SFs The load situation of the network element, to determine the forwarding path of the first service chain, including:
    所述第一网元基于所述多种SF的排序、所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载情况和所述多种SF中的至少一种SF对应的多个SF网元的负载权重，确定所述第一业务链的转发路径。The first network element is based on the ordering of the multiple SFs, the load situation of the multiple SF network elements corresponding to at least one SF of the multiple SFs, and the load situation of the multiple SFs corresponding to the at least one SF of the multiple SFs. The load weights of multiple SF network elements determine the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  9. 根据权利要求8所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：The method according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
    所述第一网元接收业务链控制器发送的业务链网络包括的SF网元的负载权重。The first network element receives the load weight of the SF network element included in the service chain network and sent by the service chain controller.
  10. 根据权利要求1～9中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述转发路径包括所述多种SF对应的多个SF网元。The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the forwarding path includes multiple SF network elements corresponding to the multiple SFs.
  11. 根据权利要求1～10中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一指示信息包括所述转发路径上的SF网元的标识序列。The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first indication information includes an identification sequence of an SF network element on the forwarding path.
  12. 一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，其特征在于，所述方法包括：A method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, characterized in that the method comprises:
    分类器向第一网元发送第一请求，所述第一请求用于请求生成第一业务链的转发路径，所述第一请求携带所述第一业务链的标识；The classifier sends a first request to the first network element, where the first request is used to request to generate a forwarding path of the first service chain, and the first request carries the identifier of the first service chain;
    所述分类器接收所述第一网元发送的第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述转发路径；receiving, by the classifier, first indication information sent by the first network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path;
    所述分类器向业务功能转发SFF网元发送第一封装报文，所述第一封装报文包括所述第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述转发路径中的第一跳SF网元。The classifier sends a first encapsulated packet to the service function forwarding SFF network element, where the first encapsulated packet includes the first indication information, the second indication information and the first service packet, and the second indication information It is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path.
  13. 根据权利要求12所述的方法，其特征在于，所述转发路径包括多个业务功能SF网元。The method according to claim 12, wherein the forwarding path includes a plurality of service function SF network elements.
  14. 根据权利要求12或13所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一指示信息包括所述转发路径上的业务功能网元的标识序列。The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first indication information comprises an identification sequence of a service function network element on the forwarding path.
  15. 一种业务链的转发路径确定方法，其特征在于，所述方法包括：A method for determining a forwarding path of a service chain, characterized in that the method comprises:
    业务功能转发SFF网元接收来自第一网元或分类器的第一封装报文，所述第一封装报文包括第一指示信息、第二指示信息和第一业务报文，所述第一指示信息用于指示第一业务链的转发路径，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述转发路径中的第一跳SF网元；The service function forwarding SFF network element receives the first encapsulated packet from the first network element or the classifier, where the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet, and the first encapsulated packet includes first indication information, second indication information and a first service packet. The indication information is used to indicate the forwarding path of the first service chain, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first hop SF network element in the forwarding path;
    所述SFF网元向所述第一跳SF网元转发所述第一业务报文；forwarding, by the SFF network element, the first service packet to the first hop SF network element;
    所述SFF网元接收所述第一跳SF网元返回的第二业务报文；receiving, by the SFF network element, the second service packet returned by the first hop SF network element;
    所述SFF网元基于所述第一业务链的转发路径向所述转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发所述第二业务报文。The SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain.
  16. 根据权利要求15所述的方法，其特征在于，所述转发路径包括多个SF网元。The method according to claim 15, wherein the forwarding path includes a plurality of SF network elements.
  17. 根据权利要求15或16所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一指示信息包括所述转发路径上的业务功能网元的标识序列。The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the first indication information comprises an identification sequence of a service function network element on the forwarding path.
  18. 根据权利要求15～17中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述SFF网元基于所述第一业务链的转发路径向所述转发路径中的第二跳SF网元转发所述第二业务报文，包括：The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the SFF network element forwards the second-hop SF network element in the forwarding path based on the forwarding path of the first service chain The second service message, including:
    所述SFF网元通过与所述第二跳SF网元相连接的SFF网元向所述第二跳SF网元转发所述第二业务报文。The SFF network element forwards the second service packet to the second-hop SF network element through the SFF network element connected to the second-hop SF network element.
  19. 根据权利要求15～18中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一网元用于实现所述第一业务链的转发路径的编排。The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first network element is configured to implement the orchestration of forwarding paths of the first service chain.
  20. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括用于实现权利要求1-11中任意一项所述方法的单元，或包括用于实现权利要求12～14中任意一项所述方法的单元，或包括用于实现权利要求15～19中任意一项所述方法的单元。A communication device, characterized by comprising a unit for implementing the method in any one of claims 1-11, or a unit for implementing the method in any one of claims 12-14, or comprising A unit for implementing the method of any one of claims 15-19.
  21. 一种通信装置，所述通信装置包括处理器，当所述处理器执行存储器中的计算机程序时，如权利要求1-11中任意一项所述的方法被执行，或如权利要求12～14中任意一项所述的方法被执行，或如权利要求15～19中任意一项所述的方法被执行。A communication device comprising a processor, when the processor executes a computer program in a memory, the method according to any one of claims 1-11 is performed, or the method according to claim 12-14 is performed The method of any one of claims 15 to 19 is performed, or the method of any one of claims 15 to 19 is performed.
  22. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器；A communication device, comprising a processor and a memory;
    所述存储器用于存储计算机执行指令；the memory is used to store computer-executable instructions;
    所述处理器用于执行所述存储器所存储的计算机执行指令，以使所述通信装置执行如权利要求1-11中任一项所述的方法，或使所述通信装置执行如权利要求12～14中任意一项所述的方法，或使所述通信装置执行如权利要求15～19中任意一项所述的方法。The processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, so as to cause the communication device to execute the method of any one of claims 1-11, or to cause the communication device to execute the method of claims 12 to 12. 14, or cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 15 to 19.
  23. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器、存储器和收发器；A communication device, comprising a processor, a memory and a transceiver;
    所述收发器，用于接收信号或者发送信号；the transceiver, for receiving signals or transmitting signals;
    所述存储器，用于存储计算机程序；the memory for storing computer programs;
    所述处理器，用于从所述存储器调用所述计算机程序执行如权利要求1-11中任一项所述的方法，或用于从所述存储器调用所述计算机程序执行如权利要求12～14中任意一项所述的 方法，或用于从所述存储器调用所述计算机程序执行如权利要求15～19中任意一项所述的方法。The processor, for calling the computer program from the memory to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-11, or for calling the computer program from the memory to execute the method according to claims 12-11 14, or for invoking the computer program from the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 15-19.
  24. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器和通信接口；A communication device, comprising a processor and a communication interface;
    所述通信接口用于与其它通信装置进行通信；所述处理器用于运行程序，以使得所述通信装置实现权利要求1～11任一项所述的方法，或使得所述通信装置实现权利要求12～14中任意一项所述的方法，或使得所述通信装置实现权利要求15～19中任意一项所述的方法。The communication interface is used for communicating with other communication apparatuses; the processor is used for running a program, so that the communication apparatus implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 11, or makes the communication apparatus implement the claims The method according to any one of 12 to 14, or the communication device is caused to implement the method according to any one of claims 15 to 19.
  25. 一种计算机可读存储介质，其特征在于，所述计算机存储介质中存储有计算机可读指令，当所述计算机可读指令在通信装置上运行时，使得所述通信装置执行权利要求1～11任一项所述的方法，或使得所述通信装置执行权利要求12～14中任意一项所述的方法，或使得所述通信装置执行权利要求15～19中任意一项所述的方法。A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, the computer-readable instructions are stored in the computer storage medium, and when the computer-readable instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device is made to execute claims 1-11 any one of the methods, or causing the communication device to execute the method of any one of claims 12 to 14, or causing the communication device to execute the method of any one of claims 15 to 19.
  26. 一种计算机程序产品，其特征在于，所述计算机程序产品包括：计算机程序代码，所述计算机程序代码被计算机运行时，使得所述计算机执行如权利要求1～11中任一项所述的方法，或使得所述计算机执行如权利要求12～14中任一项所述的方法，使得所述计算机执行如权利要求15～19中任一项所述的方法。A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product comprises: computer program code, which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , or cause the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 , so that the computer executes the method according to any one of claims 15 to 19 .
PCT/CN2021/141866 2020-12-28 2021-12-28 Method for determining forwarding path of service chain and communication apparatus WO2022143597A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202011588906.1A CN114697253A (en) 2020-12-28 2020-12-28 Method for determining forwarding path of service chain and communication device
CN202011588906.1 2020-12-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2022143597A1 true WO2022143597A1 (en) 2022-07-07

Family

ID=82131597

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CN2021/141866 WO2022143597A1 (en) 2020-12-28 2021-12-28 Method for determining forwarding path of service chain and communication apparatus

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CN (1) CN114697253A (en)
WO (1) WO2022143597A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN117527693A (en) * 2022-08-03 2024-02-06 华为技术有限公司 Message forwarding method, device, system and storage medium

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090252036A1 (en) * 2008-04-04 2009-10-08 Cisco Technology, Inc. Multinode symmetric load sharing
CN104283806A (en) * 2014-10-31 2015-01-14 杭州华三通信技术有限公司 Service link processing method and device
CN105517659A (en) * 2014-09-30 2016-04-20 华为技术有限公司 Data packet processing apparatus and method
CN106411768A (en) * 2015-07-31 2017-02-15 中国电信股份有限公司 Service chain resource scheduling method and apparatus
CN108173759A (en) * 2016-12-07 2018-06-15 中国电信股份有限公司 Selection method, device and the gateway in business function path

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106034087B (en) * 2015-03-20 2019-12-20 中兴通讯股份有限公司 Method, device and system for balancing load of service function chain
CN107872356A (en) * 2016-09-26 2018-04-03 中兴通讯股份有限公司 The method and apparatus that business function chain detects path
CN108574638B (en) * 2017-03-14 2020-10-16 华为技术有限公司 Method and equipment for forwarding data message

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090252036A1 (en) * 2008-04-04 2009-10-08 Cisco Technology, Inc. Multinode symmetric load sharing
CN105517659A (en) * 2014-09-30 2016-04-20 华为技术有限公司 Data packet processing apparatus and method
CN104283806A (en) * 2014-10-31 2015-01-14 杭州华三通信技术有限公司 Service link processing method and device
CN106411768A (en) * 2015-07-31 2017-02-15 中国电信股份有限公司 Service chain resource scheduling method and apparatus
CN108173759A (en) * 2016-12-07 2018-06-15 中国电信股份有限公司 Selection method, device and the gateway in business function path

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
M. BOUCADAIR, ED. ORANGE: "Service Function Chaining (SFC) Control Plane Components & Requirements; draft-ietf-sfc-control-plane-08.txt", SERVICE FUNCTION CHAINING (SFC) CONTROL PLANE COMPONENTS & REQUIREMENTS; DRAFT-IETF-SFC-CONTROL-PLANE-08.TXT, INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE, IETF; STANDARDWORKINGDRAFT, INTERNET SOCIETY (ISOC) 4, RUE DES FALAISES CH- 1205 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 24 October 2016 (2016-10-24), Internet Society (ISOC) 4, rue des Falaises CH- 1205 Geneva, Switzerland , pages 1 - 29, XP015115964 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN114697253A (en) 2022-07-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11792046B2 (en) Method for generating forwarding information, controller, and service forwarding entity
US10757231B2 (en) Providing network efficiencies in forwarding packets among provider networks and applying segment routing policies
US20220060416A1 (en) Routing Rule Management Method and Communications Apparatus
US11528239B2 (en) Time-sensitive networking communication method and apparatus for configuring virtual switching node
WO2021155759A1 (en) Method and device for processing segment identifier
US20160323193A1 (en) Service Routing Method, Device, and System
US10778470B2 (en) Packet processing method, apparatus, and system
US11882028B2 (en) Packet sending method in distributed router networking, device, and system
CN111049752B (en) Load balancing method and device for multiple transmission lines
WO2022062506A1 (en) Data processing method and apparatus, storage medium, and electronic apparatus
CN113906717B (en) Local user plane function control
WO2020200436A1 (en) Apparatus, method and computer program for group communication
CN101573913A (en) Method and apparatus for improved multicast routing
WO2021063193A1 (en) Flow control method and apparatus, and node and storage medium
US20180198643A1 (en) Packet transmission method and apparatus
US11102133B2 (en) Service packet processing method, apparatus, and system
CN112039796B (en) Data packet transmission method and device, storage medium and electronic equipment
CN110855568B (en) Message forwarding method and system
WO2021151381A1 (en) Method for processing segment id, and apparatus
WO2021254001A1 (en) Session establishment method, apparatus and system and computer storage medium
CN111436030A (en) Method, device and system for reporting data usage
WO2022143597A1 (en) Method for determining forwarding path of service chain and communication apparatus
WO2016062067A1 (en) User message forwarding control method and processing node
WO2018119592A1 (en) Network slice determination method and apparatus
CN113824576A (en) Slice data transmission method and device, electronic equipment and readable medium

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 21914333

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 21914333

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1