A data center network (100, 300, 600, 700), comprising: a plurality of nodes (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 712, 1010, 1012) interconnected with one another by one or more network segments, wherein at least two of the nodes (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012) each includes a respective local controller (C2, J-C2); a first central controller (C3, 108, 110, 112, 210, 708, 1002), communicably coupled to each local controller (C2, J-C2), configured to provide a plurality of end-to-end forwarding topologies with accompanying constraints to each local controller (C2, J-C2), each end-to-end forwarding topology being based at least in part on an affinity-network topology and identifying one or more network segments for forwarding traffic through the network (100, 300, 600, 700) and the accompanying constraints defining one or more datagrams to which the corresponding forwarding topology applies, the affinity-network topology representing a logical combination of a network topology associated with the network (100, 300, 600, 700) and an affinity topology specifying policies and attributes that describe communications between a plurality of application components (Appl, Appl1.A1, Appl1.A2, Appl1.D1, Appl1.D2, Appll.Wl, Appl1,W2, Appl2, App12.D1, Appl2.FW1, Appl2.W1, 402, 404); and wherein each local controller (C2, J-C2) is configured to, independently of all other local controllers (C2, J-C2), deterministically apply or remove one or more of the forwarding topologies, to or from, hardware and software components of the associated node (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012) as a function of a current network state to deterministically arrive at a consistent end-to-end forwarding configuration for the network (100, 300, 600, 700), and wherein each local controller (C2, J-C2) is further configured to, independently: deterministically select and utilize at least one of the end-to-end forwarding topologies as an initial forwarding topology, wherein the non-selected end-to-end forwarding topologies are maintained as alternative forwarding topologies, and in response to a change in the current network state, deselect the initial forwarding topology, independently and deterministically select and utilize at least one of the alternative forwarding topologies in place of the initial forwarding topology, and wherein each local controller (C2, J-C2) selects the same alternative forwarding topology. a plurality of nodes (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 712, 1010, 1012) interconnected with one another by one or more network segments, wherein at least two of the nodes (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012) each includes a respective local controller (C2, J-C2); a first central controller (C3, 108, 110, 112, 210, 708, 1002), communicably coupled to each local controller (C2, J-C2), configured to provide a plurality of end-to-end forwarding topologies with accompanying constraints to each local controller (C2, J-C2), each end-to-end forwarding topology being based at least in part on an affinity-network topology and identifying one or more network segments for forwarding traffic through the network (100, 300, 600, 700) and the accompanying constraints defining one or more datagrams to which the corresponding forwarding topology applies, the affinity-network topology representing a logical combination of a network topology associated with the network (100, 300, 600, 700) and an affinity topology specifying policies and attributes that describe communications between a plurality of application components (Appl, Appl1.A1, Appl1.A2, Appl1.D1, Appl1.D2, Appll.Wl, Appl1,W2, Appl2, App12.D1, Appl2.FW1, Appl2.W1, 402, 404); and wherein each local controller (C2, J-C2) is configured to, independently of all other local controllers (C2, J-C2), deterministically apply or remove one or more of the forwarding topologies, to or from, hardware and software components of the associated node (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012) as a function of a current network state to deterministically arrive at a consistent end-to-end forwarding configuration for the network (100, 300, 600, 700), and wherein each local controller (C2, J-C2) is further configured to, independently: deterministically select and utilize at least one of the end-to-end forwarding topologies as an initial forwarding topology, wherein the non-selected end-to-end forwarding topologies are maintained as alternative forwarding topologies, and in response to a change in the current network state, deselect the initial forwarding topology, independently and deterministically select and utilize at least one of the alternative forwarding topologies in place of the initial forwarding topology, and wherein each local controller (C2, J-C2) selects the same alternative forwarding topology. deterministically select and utilize at least one of the end-to-end forwarding topologies as an initial forwarding topology, wherein the non-selected end-to-end forwarding topologies are maintained as alternative forwarding topologies, and in response to a change in the current network state, deselect the initial forwarding topology, independently and deterministically select and utilize at least one of the alternative forwarding topologies in place of the initial forwarding topology, and wherein each local controller (C2, J-C2) selects the same alternative forwarding topology.