The Life of a Packet

When you’ve decided which services you need in your network, implementing them can seem like a daunting task. Which configuration do you apply first? Which addresses do you apply to a given service when applying a rule? How about if you have a class of service (CoS) applied? Where do packet filters fit into the packet flow?

Figures A-13 and A-14 should help you sort through this mystery and decide where configuration processes occur. These diagrams are not meant to represent every possible scenario, but rather to give you a general feel for the complex processing that could be involved. The exact processing will depend on whether a next hop– or an interface-style service set is applied (for more on CoS concepts, refer to Chapter 10).

Incoming packet processing

Figure A-13. Incoming packet processing

The steps outlined in Figure A-13 are as follows:

  1. The packet enters the incoming interface.

  2. The packet is classified by a behavior aggregate (BA) classifier.

  3. The packet is processed by an input filter and policer (and may be reclassified).

  4. The packet enters a service filter, and it is either serviced or skipped; if it is skipped, jump to step 7.

  5. The input service is performed.

  6. A post-service filter is applied.

  7. The route lookup occurs.

  8. If the result of the route lookup is a GRE packet, go to step 9; if not, send on for output processing.

  9. De-encapsulate the GRE packet and go back to step 1.

After the packet ...

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