Patent attributes
A method including: storing, in at least one hardware module of a network device having a plurality of ports, attributes for at least one access control list and associated actions that cause network packets received at one of the plurality of ports that match the attributes for the at least one access control list, to be directed into a service chain that includes at least a first application performed by any one of a first plurality of redundant network processing appliance elements connected to another port of the plurality of ports; directing received network packets that match the attributes for the at least one access control list into the service chain; and load balancing network packets among the first plurality of redundant network processing appliance elements for the first application based on the attributes stored in the at least one hardware module of the network device.
