A method for defining a distributed logical network element (121, 122, 131) on a particular managed forwarding element (311, 321, 331) operating at a particular physical locale of a plurality of physical locales, the distributed logical network element (121, 122, 131) spanning a plurality of managed forwarding elements (311-314, 321-324, 331-334) at the plurality of physical locales, the method comprising: using a first set of configuration data to define globally-applicable forwarding behavior of the distributed logical network element (121, 122, 131) that is applicable to all locales of the plurality physical locales, the globally-applicable forwarding behavior being defined at managed forwarding elements (311-314, 321-324, 331-334) operating at the plurality of physical locales; identifying a second set of configuration data that is specific to a particular physical locale by using a locale identifier assigned to the particular physical locale, wherein identifying the second set of configuration data specific to the particular physical locale by using the locale identifier comprises: receiving a logical configuration applicable to all physical locales of the plurality of physical locales from a network manager; and filtering the logical configuration by the particular physical locale to accept only portions of the logical configuration that are either globally-applicable to all physical locales of the plurality of physical locales or that match the locale identifier of the particular physical locale; and using the identified second set of configuration data to modify, at the particular managed forwarding element (311, 321, 331) operating at the particular physical locale, the forwarding behavior of the distributed logical network element (121, 122, 131) by modifying the configuration of the particular managed forwarding element (311, 321, 331). using a first set of configuration data to define globally-applicable forwarding behavior of the distributed logical network element (121, 122, 131) that is applicable to all locales of the plurality physical locales, the globally-applicable forwarding behavior being defined at managed forwarding elements (311-314, 321-324, 331-334) operating at the plurality of physical locales; identifying a second set of configuration data that is specific to a particular physical locale by using a locale identifier assigned to the particular physical locale, wherein identifying the second set of configuration data specific to the particular physical locale by using the locale identifier comprises: receiving a logical configuration applicable to all physical locales of the plurality of physical locales from a network manager; and filtering the logical configuration by the particular physical locale to accept only portions of the logical configuration that are either globally-applicable to all physical locales of the plurality of physical locales or that match the locale identifier of the particular physical locale; and receiving a logical configuration applicable to all physical locales of the plurality of physical locales from a network manager; and filtering the logical configuration by the particular physical locale to accept only portions of the logical configuration that are either globally-applicable to all physical locales of the plurality of physical locales or that match the locale identifier of the particular physical locale; and using the identified second set of configuration data to modify, at the particular managed forwarding element (311, 321, 331) operating at the particular physical locale, the forwarding behavior of the distributed logical network element (121, 122, 131) by modifying the configuration of the particular managed forwarding element (311, 321, 331).