Methods for service stitching using a packet header and devices thereof

Abstract

Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, network traffic manager apparatuses, and systems that assist with service stitching using a packet header includes identifying a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets. One or more value added service chains are identified based on the identified TOS or DSCP value. The plurality of network packets are forwarded to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified one or more value added service chains.

Description

FIELD

This technology generally relates to methods and devices for network traffic management and, more particularly, to methods for service stitching using packet header and devices thereof.

BACKGROUND

Network service providers provide network services, such as security, tunneling, virtual private networks, filtering, or load-balancing by way of example, to client devices. To provide these services, these network service providers typically use dedicated network traffic management devices configured to manage and provide network services using service chains. These service chains identify a set of the service functions to be applied to network packet flows in order to provide a particular network service. Accordingly, every time a network service is required, a set of functions are applied on the network packets associated with a client device. Unfortunately, applying the set of functions on each network packet adds latency to the overall flow of the network packet. Further, with this process of determining when to apply the set of functions, prior technologies have failed to take into account a previous trust that was established between the client and the network traffic management device.

SUMMARY

A method for service stitching using a packet header includes identifying a type of service (TO S) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets. One or more value added service chains are identified based on the identified TOS or DSCP value. The plurality of network packets are forwarded to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified one or more value added service chains.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for service stitching using a packet header comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to identify a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets. One or more value added service chains are identified based on the identified TOS or DSCP value. The plurality of network packets are forwarded to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified one or more value added service chains.

A network traffic management apparatus including at least one of configurable hardware logic configured to be capable of implementing or a processor coupled to a memory and configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory to identify a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets. One or more value added service chains are identified based on the identified TOS or DSCP value. The plurality of network packets are forwarded to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified one or more value added service chains.

A network traffic management system, comprising one or more traffic management apparatuses, client devices, or server devices, the network traffic management system comprising memory comprising programmed instructions stored thereon and one or more processors configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to identify a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets. One or more value added service chains are identified based on the identified TOS or DSCP value. The plurality of network packets are forwarded to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified one or more value added service chains.

This technology provides a number of advantages including providing a method, non-transitory computer readable medium, apparatus, and system that assist with service stitching using a packet header. By using the techniques illustrated below, the technology significantly reduces the latency associated with service chaining by selectively applying the service functions on the network packets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of a block diagram of a network traffic management system including a network traffic management apparatus for service stitching using a packet header;

FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram of a network traffic management apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart of a method for service stitching using a packet header; and

FIG. 4 is an exemplary sequence diagram for service stitching using a packet header.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example of a network environment 10 which incorporates a network traffic management system for service stitching using a packet header with the network traffic manager apparatus 14 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The exemplary environment 10 includes a plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), a network traffic manager apparatus 14, and a plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) which are coupled together by communication networks 30, although the environment can include other types and numbers of systems, devices, components, and/or elements and in other topologies and deployments. While not shown, the exemplary environment 10 may include additional network components, such as routers, switches and other devices, which are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and thus will not be described here. This technology provides a number of advantages including providing methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and devices that manage a flow of a packet through a value added service chain without needing to repeatedly reclassify the flow.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 of the network traffic management system is coupled to the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) through the communication network 30, although the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) and network traffic manager apparatus 14 may be coupled together via other topologies. Additionally, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 is coupled to the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) through the communication network 30, although the servers 16(1)-16(n) and the network traffic manager apparatus 14 may be coupled together via other topologies.

The network traffic manager apparatus 14 assists with service stitching using a packet header as illustrated and described by way of the examples herein, although the network traffic manager apparatus 14 may perform other types and/or numbers of functions. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 includes processor or central processing unit (CPU) 18, memory 20, optional configurable hardware logic 21, and a communication system 24 which are coupled together by a bus device 26 although the network traffic manager apparatus 14 may comprise other types and numbers of elements in other configurations. In this example, the bus 26 is a PCI Express bus in this example, although other bus types and links may be used.

The processors 18 within the network traffic manager apparatus 14 may execute one or more computer-executable instructions stored in memory 20 for the methods illustrated and described with reference to the examples herein, although the processor can execute other types and numbers of instructions and perform other types and numbers of operations. The processor 18 may comprise one or more central processing units (“CPUs”) or general purpose processors with one or more processing cores, such as AMD® processor(s), although other types of processor(s) could be used (e.g., Intel®).

The memory 20 within the network traffic manager apparatus 14 may comprise one or more tangible storage media, such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, CD-ROM, floppy disk, hard disk drive(s), solid state memory, DVD, or any other memory storage types or devices, including combinations thereof, which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The memory 20 may store one or more non-transitory computer-readable instructions of this technology as illustrated and described with reference to the examples herein that may be executed by the processor 18. The exemplary flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is representative of example steps or actions of this technology that may be embodied or expressed as one or more non-transitory computer or machine readable instructions stored in the memory 20 that may be executed by the processor 18 and/or may be implemented by configured logic in the optional configurable logic 21.

Accordingly, the memory 20 of the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can store one or more applications that can include computer executable instructions that, when executed by the network traffic manager apparatus 14, causes the network traffic manager apparatus 14 to perform actions, such as to transmit, receive, or otherwise process messages, for example, and to perform other actions described and illustrated below with reference to FIG. 3. The application(s) can be implemented as module or components of another application. Further, the application(s) can be implemented as operating system extensions, module, plugins, or the like. The application(s) can be implemented as module or components of another application. Further, the application(s) can be implemented as operating system extensions, module, plugins, or the like. Even further, the application(s) may be operative in a cloud-based computing environment. The application(s) can be executed within virtual machine(s) or virtual server(s) that may be managed in a cloud-based computing environment. Also, the application(s), including the network traffic manager apparatus 14 itself, may be located in virtual server(s) running in a cloud-based computing environment rather than being tied to one or more specific physical network computing devices. Also, the application(s) may be running in one or more virtual machines (VMs) executing on the network traffic manager apparatus 14. Additionally, in at least one of the various embodiments, virtual machine(s) running on the network traffic manager apparatus 14 may be managed or supervised by a hypervisor.

The optional configurable hardware logic device 21 in the network traffic manager apparatus 14 may comprise specialized hardware configured to implement one or more steps of this technology as illustrated and described with reference to the examples herein. By way of example only, the optional configurable logic hardware device 21 may comprise one or more of field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), field programmable logic devices (“FPLDs”), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs”) and/or programmable logic units (“PLUs”).

The communication system 24 in the network traffic manager apparatus 14 is used to operatively couple and communicate between the network traffic manager apparatus 14, the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), and the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) which are all coupled together by communication network 30 such as one or more local area networks (LAN) and/or the wide area network (WAN), although other types and numbers of communication networks or systems with other types and numbers of connections and configurations to other devices and elements may be used. By way of example only, the communication network such as local area networks (LAN) and the wide area network (WAN) can use TCP/IP over Ethernet and industry-standard protocols, including NFS, CIFS, SOAP, XML, LDAP, and SNMP, although other types and numbers of communication networks, can be used. In this example, the bus 26 is a PCI Express bus in this example, although other bus types and links may be used.

Each of the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) of the network traffic management system 10, include a central processing unit (CPU) or processor, a memory, input/display device interface, configurable logic device and an input/output system or I/O system, which are coupled together by a bus or other link. The plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), in this example, may run interface applications, such as Web browsers, that may provide an interface to make requests for and send and/or receive data to and/or from the web application servers 16(1)-16(n) via the network traffic manager apparatus 14. Additionally, the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) can include any type of computing device that can receive, render, and facilitate user interaction, such as client computers, network computer, mobile computers, mobile phones, virtual machines (including cloud-based computer), or the like. Each of the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) utilizes the network traffic manager apparatus 14 to conduct one or more operations with the web application servers 16(1)-16(n), such as to obtain data and/or access the applications from one of the web application servers 16(1)-16(n), by way of example only, although other numbers and/or types of systems could be utilizing these resources and other types and numbers of functions utilizing other types of protocols could be performed.

Each of the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) of the network traffic management system include a central processing unit (CPU) or processor, a memory, and a communication system, which are coupled together by a bus or other link, although other numbers and/or types of network devices could be used. Generally, the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) process requests for providing access to one or more enterprise web applications received from the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), network traffic manager apparatus 14, via the communication network 30 according to the HTTP-based application RFC protocol or the CIF S or NFS protocol in this example, but the principles discussed herein are not limited to this example and can include other application protocols. A series of applications may run on the plurality web application servers 16(1)-16(n) that allows the transmission of applications requested by the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), or the network traffic manager apparatus 14. The plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) may provide data or receive data in response to requests directed toward the respective applications on the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) from the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) or the network traffic manager apparatus 14. It is to be understood that the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) may be hardware or software or may represent a system with multiple external resource servers, which may include internal or external networks. In this example the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) may be any version of Microsoft® IIS servers or Apache® servers, although other types of servers may be used.

Although the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) are illustrated as single servers, each of the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) may be distributed across one or more distinct network computing devices. Moreover, the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) are not limited to a particular configuration. Thus, the plurality of plurality web application servers 16(1)-16(n) may contain a plurality of network computing devices that operate using a master/slave approach, whereby one of the network computing devices of the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) operate to manage and/or otherwise coordinate operations of the other network computing devices. The plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) may operate as a plurality of network computing devices within cluster architecture, a peer-to peer architecture, virtual machines, or within a cloud architecture.

Thus, the technology disclosed herein is not to be construed as being limited to a single environment and other configurations and architectures are also envisaged. For example, the one or more of the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) depicted in FIG. 1 can operate within network traffic manager apparatus 14 rather than as a stand-alone server communicating with network traffic manager apparatus 14 via the communication network(s) 30. In this example the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) operate within the memory 20 of the network traffic manager apparatus 14.

While the network traffic manager apparatus 14 is illustrated in this example as including a single device, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 in other examples can include a plurality of devices or blades each with one or more processors each processor with one or more processing cores that implement one or more steps of this technology. In these examples, one or more of the devices can have a dedicated communication interface or memory. Alternatively, one or more of the devices can utilize the memory, communication interface, or other hardware or software components of one or more other communicably coupled of the devices. Additionally, one or more of the devices that together comprise network traffic manager apparatus 14 in other examples can be standalone devices or integrated with one or more other devices or applications, such as one of the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) or, the network traffic manager apparatus 14, or applications coupled to the communication network(s), for example. Moreover, one or more of the devices of the network traffic manager apparatus 14 in these examples can be in a same or a different communication network 30 including one or more public, private, or cloud networks, for example.

Although an exemplary network traffic management system 10 with the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), the network traffic manager apparatus 14, and the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n), communication networks 30 are described and illustrated herein, other types and numbers of systems, devices, blades, components, and elements in other topologies can be used. It is to be understood that the systems of the examples described herein are for exemplary purposes, as many variations of the specific hardware and software used to implement the examples are possible, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s).

Further, each of the systems of the examples may be conveniently implemented using one or more general purpose computer systems, microprocessors, digital signal processors, and micro-controllers, programmed according to the teachings of the examples, as described and illustrated herein, and as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.

One or more of the components depicted in the network traffic management system, such as the network traffic manager apparatus 14, the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n), for example, may be configured to operate as virtual instances on the same physical machine. In other words, one or more of network traffic manager apparatus 14, the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), or the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) illustrated in FIG. 1 may operate on the same physical device rather than as separate devices communicating through a network as depicted in FIG. 1. There may be more or fewer plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), network traffic manager apparatus 14, or the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) than depicted in FIG. 1. The plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n), the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n) could be implemented as applications on network traffic manager apparatus 14.

In addition, two or more computing systems or devices can be substituted for any one of the systems or devices in any example. Accordingly, principles and advantages of distributed processing, such as redundancy and replication also can be implemented, as desired, to increase the robustness and performance of the devices and systems of the examples. The examples may also be implemented on computer system(s) that extend across any suitable network using any suitable interface mechanisms and traffic technologies, including by way of example only teletraffic in any suitable form (e.g., voice and modem), wireless traffic media, wireless traffic networks, cellular traffic networks, G3 traffic networks, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Packet Data Networks (PDNs), the Internet, intranets, and combinations thereof.

The examples also may be embodied as a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for one or more aspects of the technology as described and illustrated by way of the examples herein, which when executed by a processor (or configurable hardware), cause the processor to carry out the steps necessary to implement the methods of the examples, as described and illustrated herein.

An example of a method for service stitching using a packet header will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. First in step 305, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 receives a plurality of network packets from one of the plurality of client devices 12(1)-12(n) directed to the one of the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n), although the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can receive other types or amounts of information and from other sources. In this example, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 receives the plurality of network packets through a virtual local area network (VLAN), although the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can receive the plurality of network packets through other types of network connections.

In step 310, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 identifies a type of application and data associated with the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n). In this example, the type of application and the data associated with the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) can be identified through the header and payload data of the received plurality of packets, although the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can identify the type of application and the data associated with the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) using other types of techniques.

Next in step 315, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 determines if each of the received plurality of network packets are related to a flow of network packets associated with a previously established VLAN between the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) based on the identified type of application and the client device data. Alternatively, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can determine if the received plurality of network packets relate to a previously established VLAN using other types of parameters and techniques. Accordingly, when the network traffic manager apparatus 14 determines that the received plurality of network packets are associated with the previously established VLAN, then the Yes branch is taken to step 320.

In step 320, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 identifies the type of service (TOS) or the differentiated service code point (DSCP) value in the header of the received plurality of network packets. In this example, the TOS or DSCP value is a value that was previously encoded by the network traffic manager apparatus 14 on the previously established VLAN. Further, in this example the TOS or DSCP value corresponds to a value added service chain that the received plurality of packets belongs to. Although in this example the network traffic manager apparatus 14 uses the TOS or DSCP value, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can use other techniques to determine the value added service chain of each of the plurality of network packets.

Next in step 325, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 processes each of the received plurality of network packets through a sequence of value added service chains based on the identified TOS/DSCP value. In this example, the TOS/DSCP value in the header of each of the network packets would remain unchanged when it is processed by each of the value added services and by using this technique, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 does not have to compute a new TOS/DSCP value for a new value added service chain. Additionally in this example, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can use the previously used VLAN, the last completed value added service along with the TOS/DSCP value to identify and process the received plurality of packets through the value added service chain.

Next in step 330, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 forwards each of the received plurality of network packets that has been processed through the value added service chain to the corresponding one of the plurality of servers 16(1)-16(n).

If back in step 315 the network traffic manager apparatus 14 determines that the received plurality of network packets are not related to a previous VLAN connection, then the No branch is taken to step 335.

In step 335, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 obtains a policy and the subscription data associated with the requesting one of the plurality of client devices 12(1)-12(n) and the type of application being accessed. In this example, the memory 20 of the network traffic manager apparatus 14 includes a table with the data associated with the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices 12(1)-12(n) and the type of application being accessed and the corresponding subscription and the policies. Additionally in this example, the obtained subscription and the policy data includes data associated with the value added service chain that the received plurality of network packets has to be processed, although the subscription and the policy data can include other types and/or amounts of information.

In step 340, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 computes a unique value for each of the received plurality of packets based on the obtained policy and the subscription data, although the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can compute the unique value for each of the received plurality of packets using different techniques.

In step 345, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 encodes the computed unique value in the TOS/DSCP header field for each of the received plurality of network packets and the exemplary flow proceeds to step 325 as described above.

In another example, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can translate the source port to a network address translation (NAT) port and encode the unique value associated with the value added service chain to the source port field of the header. In other words, the network traffic manager apparatus 14 can identify the value added service chain associated with the received plurality of network packets based on the value encoded in the source port field of the header and can then accordingly process the packets through the value added service chain.

Having thus described the basic concept of the technology, it will be rather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the technology. Additionally, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefore, is not intended to limit the claimed processes to any order except as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, the technology is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.

Claims

1. A method for service stitching using a packet header, the method implemented by a network traffic management system comprising one or more network traffic apparatuses, client devices, or server devices, the method comprising: identifying a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets;identifying a value added service chain based on the identified TOS or DSCP value, the identifying further comprising computing a unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain for each of the received plurality of network packets based on obtained policy data and subscription data and encoding the computed unique value into the identified TOS or DSCP header field for each of the received plurality of network packets; andforwarding the plurality of network packets to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising, obtaining requested application data and client data from each of the received plurality of network packets.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising, determining when each of the received plurality of network packets are associated with an existing network connection.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising, obtaining the policy data and the subscription data associated with the application data and the client data when any of the received plurality of network packets are unassociated with any existing network connection.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for service stitching using a packet header comprising executable code which when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to: identify a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets;identify a value added service chain based on the identified TOS or DSCP value, the identifying further comprising computing a unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain for each of the received plurality of network packets based on obtained policy data and subscription data and encoding the computed unique value into the identified TOS or DSCP header field for each of the received plurality of network packets; andforward the plurality of network packets to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value.

6. The medium as set forth in claim 5 further comprising, obtain requested application data and client data from each of the received plurality of network packets.

7. The medium as set forth in claim 6 further comprising, determine when each of the received plurality of network packets are associated with an existing network connection.

8. The medium as set forth in claim 6 further comprising, obtain the policy data and the subscription data associated with the application data and the client data when any of the received plurality of network packets are unassociated with any existing network connection.

9. A network traffic manager apparatus, comprising memory comprising programmed instructions stored in the memory and one or more processors configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to: identify a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets;identify a value added service chain based on the identified TOS or DSCP value, the identifying further comprising computing a unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain for each of the received plurality of network packets based on obtained policy data and subscription data and encoding the computed unique value into the identified TOS or DSCP header field for each of the received plurality of network packets; andforward the plurality of network packets to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to obtain requested application data and client data from each of the received plurality of network packets.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to determine when each of the received plurality of network packets are associated with an existing network connection.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to obtain the policy data and the subscription data associated with the application data and the client data when any of the received plurality of network packets are unassociated with any existing network connection.

13. A network traffic management system, comprising one or more traffic management apparatuses, client devices, or server devices, the network traffic management system comprising memory comprising programmed instructions stored thereon and one or more processors configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to: identify a type of service (TOS) or differentiated services code point (DSCP) value in a header field in each of a plurality of received network packets;identify a value added service chain based on the identified TOS or DSCP value, the identifying further comprising computing a unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain for each of the received plurality of network packets based on obtained policy data and subscription data, and encoding the computed unique value into the identified TOS or DSCP header field for each of the received plurality of network packets; andforward the plurality of network packets to a destination after processing each of the plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value.

14. The network traffic management system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to obtain requested application data and client data from each of the received plurality of network packets.

15. The network traffic management system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to determine when each of the received plurality of network packets are associated with an existing network connection.

16. The network traffic management system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to obtain the policy data and the subscription data associated with the application data and the client data when any of the received plurality of network packets are unassociated with any existing network connection.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: encoding the computed unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain into a source port field of each of the received plurality of network packets; andprocessing each of the received plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value in the source port field.

18. The medium as set forth in claim 5 further comprising: encoding the computed unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain into a source port field of each of the received plurality of network packets; andprocessing each of the received plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value in the source port field.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to: encode the computed unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain into a source port field of each of the received plurality of network packets; andprocess each of the received plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value in the source port field.

20. The network traffic management system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to: encode the computed unique value indicative of the identified value added service chain into a source port field of each of the received plurality of network packets; andprocess each of the received plurality of network packets through the identified value added service chain based on the encoded unique value in the source port field.