Abstract:
The methods and systems described herein provide a mechanism to externalize network functions through a direct link between a network switch and an external packet processor. The network switch is configured to receive a packet directed to a destination node via a first network interface. The network switch is also configured to forward the received packet to a packet processor, via a second network interface, over a direct physical link between the network switch and the packet processor. The packet is forwarded with an identifier for a virtualized network function executing on the packet processor and a destination MAC address of the packet is different from a MAC address of the packet processor.