Systems and methods for performing service tag switching in an application delivery controller

Abstract

The disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for performing service tag switching. A device intermediary to a client and a server receives a packet including a virtual network device identifier tag that identifies a list of functions to be performed on the packet. The device tags the packet with a first service tag identifying a first functional entity of the device to which to route the packet. The device routes the packet to the first functional entity configured to perform a first function. Responsive to the first function being performed, the device selects a subsequent service tag identifying a subsequent functional entity to route the packet. The device tags the packet with the subsequent service tag and routes the packet to the subsequent functional entity. Once all of the list of functions to be performed on the packet have been performed, the device forwards the packet to its destination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising
 (a) identifying, by a device intermediary to a source and a destination, in a header of a packet a virtual network device identifier (VNID) that identifies a plurality of functions to be performed on the packet prior to providing the packet to the destination;   (b) routing, by the device, the packet to a first service to perform a first function based at least on a first service tag of the packet;   (c) selecting, by the device responsive to performance of the first function on the packet, another service to perform a second function on the packet;   (d) routing, by the device, the packet to the another service based at least on a second service tag of the packet, the another service to perform a second function on the packet; and   (e) providing, by the device, the packet to the destination in response to a determination that the plurality of functions have been performed on the packet.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) further comprises identifying the VNID in the header comprising an outer virtual extensible local area network (VxLAN) header. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VNID identifies an order in which the plurality of functions are to be performed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) further comprises determining based on the VNID a path to which to route the packet for the plurality of functions to be performed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (b) further comprises associating, by the device, the first service tag with the packet for routing to the first service. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (b) further comprises routing, by the device, the packet to the first service executing on one or more second devices, wherein the one or more second devices communicate the packet to the device responsive to performance of the first function. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) further comprises selecting the another service based at least on a type of the second function to be performed on the packet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (d) further comprises associating, by the device, the second service tag with the packet for routing to the another service. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (d) further comprises routing, by the device, the packet to the another service executing on one or more second devices, wherein the one or more second devices communicate the packet to the device responsive to performance of the second function. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first service or the another service executes on the device. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising
 a device comprising one or more processors and intermediary to a source and a destination, wherein the device is configured to:   identify in a header of a packet a virtual network device identifier (VNID) that identifies a plurality of functions to be performed on the packet prior to providing the packet to the destination;   route the packet to a first service to perform a first function based at least on a first service tag of the packet;   select, responsive to performance of the first function on the packet, another service to perform a second function on the packet;   route the packet to the another service to based at least on a second service tag of the packet, the another service to perform a second function on the packet; and   provide the packet to the destination responsive to the determination that the plurality of functions have been performed on the packet.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to identify the VNID in the header comprising an outer virtual extensible local area network (VxLAN) header. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the VNID identifies an order in which the plurality of functions are to be performed. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to determine based on the VNID a path to which to route the packet for the plurality of functions to be performed. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to associate the first service tag with the packet for routing to the first service. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to route the packet to the first service executing on one or more second devices, wherein the one or more second devices are configured to communicate the packet to the device responsive to performance of the first function. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to select the another service based at least on a type of the second function to be performed on the packet. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to associate the another service tag with the packet for routing to the second service. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to route the packet to the another service executing on one or more second devices, wherein the one or more second devices are configured to communicate the packet to the device responsive to performance of the second function. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 identifying, by a device intermediary to a source and a destination, in packet a virtual network device identifier (VNID) that identifies a plurality of functions to be performed on the packet prior to provision of the packet to the destination;   
       routing, by the device, the packet to a plurality of services to perform different functions on the packet based on service tags of the packet; and 
       providing, by the device, the packet to the destination in response to a determination that the plurality of functions have been performed on the packet.