A method for configuring a network having a plurality of aggregation nodes to transport network packets between a plurality of access nodes and a plurality of edge routers, the method comprising: by a centralized controller of the network, executing a software defined networking, SDN, protocol to receive topology information from the plurality of edge routers of the network; and by a path computation module, PCM, of the centralized controller of the network, computing forwarding information for one or more transport label switched paths, LSPs, in accordance with the topology information, wherein the transport LSPs are for transporting network packets between the access nodes and the edge routers via the aggregation nodes; outputting, with the centralized controller of the network, one or more messages to communicate and install within each of the aggregation nodes, the forwarding information for establishing the one or more transport LSPs, wherein each of the aggregation nodes operates a reduced control plane without execution of a layer three, L3, routing protocol that maintains routing information for the aggregation networks and generates forwarding information for the aggregation node; receiving, with the centralized controller of the network, flood messages generated and forwarded by the access and aggregation nodes, each of which specifies a neighbor node list identifying neighboring nodes and interfaces on which the access nodes and the aggregation nodes are reachable from the outputting one of the access nodes and the aggregation nodes, and specifying an intermediate node list of the flood message that specifies layer two addresses and interfaces for the access nodes and the aggregation nodes that the flood message traversed from an originating one of the access nodes and aggregation nodes; establishing, with the centralized controller of the network and responsive to receiving the flood messages; a Source Routed Tunnel, SRT, control channel from the centralized controller to each of the access nodes and each of the aggregation nodes along the intermediate node lists specified by the flood messages; receiving, with the centralized controller of the network, a Keepalive packet for maintaining an alive state of the SRT control channel; and receiving, with the centralized controller of the network, a new Flood packet from the originator device of the Keepalive packet, the new Flood packet having a new generation number to force the acceptance by the centralized controller of the network of a new SRT control channel. by a centralized controller of the network, executing a software defined networking, SDN, protocol to receive topology information from the plurality of edge routers of the network; and by a path computation module, PCM, of the centralized controller of the network, computing forwarding information for one or more transport label switched paths, LSPs, in accordance with the topology information, wherein the transport LSPs are for transporting network packets between the access nodes and the edge routers via the aggregation nodes; outputting, with the centralized controller of the network, one or more messages to communicate and install within each of the aggregation nodes, the forwarding information for establishing the one or more transport LSPs, wherein each of the aggregation nodes operates a reduced control plane without execution of a layer three, L3, routing protocol that maintains routing information for the aggregation networks and generates forwarding information for the aggregation node; receiving, with the centralized controller of the network, flood messages generated and forwarded by the access and aggregation nodes, each of which specifies a neighbor node list identifying neighboring nodes and interfaces on which the access nodes and the aggregation nodes are reachable from the outputting one of the access nodes and the aggregation nodes, and specifying an intermediate node list of the flood message that specifies layer two addresses and interfaces for the access nodes and the aggregation nodes that the flood message traversed from an originating one of the access nodes and aggregation nodes; establishing, with the centralized controller of the network and responsive to receiving the flood messages; a Source Routed Tunnel, SRT, control channel from the centralized controller to each of the access nodes and each of the aggregation nodes along the intermediate node lists specified by the flood messages; receiving, with the centralized controller of the network, a Keepalive packet for maintaining an alive state of the SRT control channel; and receiving, with the centralized controller of the network, a new Flood packet from the originator device of the Keepalive packet, the new Flood packet having a new generation number to force the acceptance by the centralized controller of the network of a new SRT control channel.