Hiding a service node in a network from a network routing topology

摘要

Hiding a service node in a network from a network topology is provided. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus for hiding a service node in a network from a network topology, the apparatus comprising: a network interface; a processor; and one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform: discovering a service node in a data network in accordance with a link-state protocol wherein the service node provides a network topology dependent service other than packet forwarding; establishing a link-state adjacency with the service node and one or more packet forwarding nodes in accordance with the link-state protocol; receiving a link-state advertisement; in response to identifying the link-state advertisement as an originating link-state advertisement sent from the service node, suppressing flooding of the received link-state advertisement to the one or more packet forwarding nodes.