Aspects of the embodiments are directed to a service classifier configured for steering cloned traffic through a service function chain. The service classifier is configured to create a cloned data packet by creating a copy of a data packet; activate a mirror bit in a network service header (NSH) of the cloned data packet, the mirror bit identifying the cloned packet to a service function forwarder network element as a cloned packet; and transmit the cloned packet to the service function forwarder network element.