Method for supporting transport of data packets in a network, in particular service and/or user aware transport of data packets, wherein said data packets are transmitted from a source node to a destination node by employing a tunnel from a first tunnel endpoint to a second tunnel endpoint, wherein a tunnel header is added to said data packets at said first tunnel endpoint, wherein said data packets are transmitted between said tunnel endpoints via a network domain that includes one or more intermediate nodes functioning as transport network, and wherein said intermediate nodes forward said data packets, charactarized in that said tunnel is provided in the form of a virtual tunnel by removing said tunnel header from said data packets where said data packets enter said network domain and adding back said tunnel header to said data packets where said data packets exit said network domain, wherein a first encapsulation/decapsulation function represents an entrance of said network domain, wherein a second encapsulation/decapsulation function represents an egress of said network domain, wherein said first encapsulation/decapsulation function intercepts one of said data packets - intercepted data packet - being sent from said first tunnel endpoint to said second tunnel endpoint, wherein said first encapsulation/decapsulation function sends said intercepted data packet to a controller function, wherein said controller function analyzes the tunnel header of said intercepted data packet and calculates a data path for said data packets, wherein said controller function instructs said first encapsulation/decapsulation function to remove the tunnel header from said data packets, wherein said controller function instructs said intermediate nodes to forward said data packets to said second encapsulated/decapsulated function by installing forwarding rules, and wherein said controller function instructs said second encapsulation/decapsulation function to add back the analyzed tunnel header to said data packets. removing said tunnel header from said data packets where said data packets enter said network domain and adding back said tunnel header to said data packets where said data packets exit said network domain, wherein a first encapsulation/decapsulation function represents an entrance of said network domain, wherein a second encapsulation/decapsulation function represents an egress of said network domain, wherein said first encapsulation/decapsulation function intercepts one of said data packets - intercepted data packet - being sent from said first tunnel endpoint to said second tunnel endpoint, wherein said first encapsulation/decapsulation function sends said intercepted data packet to a controller function, wherein said controller function analyzes the tunnel header of said intercepted data packet and calculates a data path for said data packets, wherein said controller function instructs said first encapsulation/decapsulation function to remove the tunnel header from said data packets, wherein said controller function instructs said intermediate nodes to forward said data packets to said second encapsulated/decapsulated function by installing forwarding rules, and wherein said controller function instructs said second encapsulation/decapsulation function to add back the analyzed tunnel header to said data packets.