A system, comprising: a switch cluster comprising a plurality of switches (404a...h), the plurality of switches including at least an entry switch having an interface for connecting to a first host and an exit switch having an interface for connecting to a second host; and a switch controller in communication with the plurality of switches in the switch cluster via a communication protocol; wherein the entry switch is configured to: receive an address resolution protocol, ARP, request packet from the first host, wherein the ARP request packet includes an internet protocol, IP, address corresponding to a virtual router of the switch controller as a target; forward the ARP request packet to the switch controller after adding a header to the ARP request packet that adheres to the communication protocol; receive an ARP response packet from the switch controller, the ARP response packet indicating: a source IP address corresponding to the virtual router of the switch controller; and a source media access address, SMAC, corresponding to the switch controller; forward the ARP response packet to the first host after stripping a header from the ARP response packet that adheres to the communication protocol; and set the virtual router of the switch controller as a default gateway for traffic received from the first host. a switch cluster comprising a plurality of switches (404a...h), the plurality of switches including at least an entry switch having an interface for connecting to a first host and an exit switch having an interface for connecting to a second host; and a switch controller in communication with the plurality of switches in the switch cluster via a communication protocol; wherein the entry switch is configured to: receive an address resolution protocol, ARP, request packet from the first host, wherein the ARP request packet includes an internet protocol, IP, address corresponding to a virtual router of the switch controller as a target; forward the ARP request packet to the switch controller after adding a header to the ARP request packet that adheres to the communication protocol; receive an ARP response packet from the switch controller, the ARP response packet indicating: a source IP address corresponding to the virtual router of the switch controller; and a source media access address, SMAC, corresponding to the switch controller; forward the ARP response packet to the first host after stripping a header from the ARP response packet that adheres to the communication protocol; and set the virtual router of the switch controller as a default gateway for traffic received from the first host. receive an address resolution protocol, ARP, request packet from the first host, wherein the ARP request packet includes an internet protocol, IP, address corresponding to a virtual router of the switch controller as a target; forward the ARP request packet to the switch controller after adding a header to the ARP request packet that adheres to the communication protocol; receive an ARP response packet from the switch controller, the ARP response packet indicating: a source IP address corresponding to the virtual router of the switch controller; and a source media access address, SMAC, corresponding to the switch controller; forward the ARP response packet to the first host after stripping a header from the ARP response packet that adheres to the communication protocol; and a source IP address corresponding to the virtual router of the switch controller; and a source media access address, SMAC, corresponding to the switch controller; forward the ARP response packet to the first host after stripping a header from the ARP response packet that adheres to the communication protocol; and set the virtual router of the switch controller as a default gateway for traffic received from the first host.