NETWORK CONSOLIDATION BY MEANS OF VIRTUALIZATION

An apparatus, comprising an enhanced function block and a stateless function block; main routing means for routing, based on a header of a data packet and an incoming port, the data packet to one of the enhanced function block and the stateless function block; wherein the enhanced function blocks comprises providing means for providing an information comprised in the data packet to a control device; an enhanced function means for executing an enhanced function on the data packet to obtain a first processed data packet addressed to a destination address, wherein the enhanced function is based on an instruction for the data packet received in response to the provided information; and a first routing means for routing the first processed data packet to the destination address; and the stateless function blocks comprises a stateless function means for executing a stateless function on the data packet, wherein the stateless function is not based on an instruction for the data packet received in response to providing information comprised in the data packet to a control device, in order to, thus, obtain a second processed data packet; and returning means for returning the second processed data packet to the main routing means.