A network node (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410) for forwarding traffic through a network (100, 600, 700) interconnecting one or more other nodes (I-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410) by one or more network segments, the network node (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410) comprising: a local controller (C2, J-C2, PC2, 1004, 1006) configured to receive a plurality of end-to-end forwarding topologies with accompanying constraints, each end-to-end forwarding topology identifying one or more network segments for forwarding the traffic through the network (100, 600, 700) and the accompanying constraints defining one or more datagrams to which the corresponding forwarding topology applies, the local controller (C2, J-C2, PC2, 1004, 1006) being configured to deterministically apply or remove the forwarding topologies, to or from, hardware or software components of the associated node (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410) based on an availability of the network segments to deterministically arrive at a consistent end-to-end forwarding configuration for the network (100, 600, 700) as a function of a current network state representing an operational status of all of the network segments in the network (100, 600, 700), wherein each of the one or more other nodes (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410) has an associated local controller (C2, J-C2, PC2, 1004, 1006); and a switch configured to forward the traffic through the network (100, 600, 700) in accordance with the consistent end-to-end forwarding configuration, the switch including at least one of: a packet switch (1019, 1021), a circuit switch (1019, 1021), and an optical switch. a local controller (C2, J-C2, PC2, 1004, 1006) configured to receive a plurality of end-to-end forwarding topologies with accompanying constraints, each end-to-end forwarding topology identifying one or more network segments for forwarding the traffic through the network (100, 600, 700) and the accompanying constraints defining one or more datagrams to which the corresponding forwarding topology applies, the local controller (C2, J-C2, PC2, 1004, 1006) being configured to deterministically apply or remove the forwarding topologies, to or from, hardware or software components of the associated node (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410) based on an availability of the network segments to deterministically arrive at a consistent end-to-end forwarding configuration for the network (100, 600, 700) as a function of a current network state representing an operational status of all of the network segments in the network (100, 600, 700), wherein each of the one or more other nodes (1-22, 710.1-710.n, 1010, 1012, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410) has an associated local controller (C2, J-C2, PC2, 1004, 1006); and a switch configured to forward the traffic through the network (100, 600, 700) in accordance with the consistent end-to-end forwarding configuration, the switch including at least one of: a packet switch (1019, 1021), a circuit switch (1019, 1021), and an optical switch. a packet switch (1019, 1021), a circuit switch (1019, 1021), and an optical switch.