Subject: [sfc] A new proposal on a flexible-length service chain header that is transport independent

From: Cathy Zhang <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 20:45:55 +0000

Dear All,

We have submitted a proposal on a flexible-length service function chain header that is transport independent.

http://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-zhang-sfc-sch/

The proposal defines the service chain header (SCH) format which consists of mandatory service function chain (SFC) path fields
and optional metadata fields. It also illustrates how to encapsulate the SCH into some typical existing transports.
The rationale for creating a flexible-length header is as follows:

1.       It allows for the flexibility of carrying metadata of different types and lengths for a wide range of current and future usage scenarios.

2.      It allows for vendor-specific customization of metadata for different service functions over various segments of the service chain.

3.      It allows for innovation of service function chain solutions and applications which involve addition of new types of service functions or service metadata

Comments are welcomed.

Thank you.

Cathy Zhang, Ron Parker, Louis Fourie, Myo Zarny