US Patent 10979347 Software version aware networking

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to version-aware service function chaining. One example method generally includes determining version information corresponding to one or more of a plurality of network functions to be performed for a packet for a service function chain (SFC) and encapsulating a service header in the packet for the SFC, the service header indicating the plurality of network functions to be performed for the packet and the version information corresponding to the one or more network functions. In certain aspects, the method also includes sending the packet to one or more service nodes for performing the plurality of network functions in accordance with the service header.