Embodiments provide a method, which can implement establishment of an network function virtualization (NFV) network service chain. The method includes obtaining, by a first communications unit, a service chain rule, where the service chain rule is used to indicate service processing that needs to be performed. The method also includes obtaining, according to the service chain rule, information about a service chain through which a service route passes, where the information about the service chain is used to indicate information about a virtualized network function (VNF) through which the service route passes, and the VNF is configured for the service processing; and sending a route and resource configuration request message, where the route and resource configuration request message carries the information about the service chain, to request to perform, according to the information about the service chain, route and resource configuration for the VNF included in the service chain.