A method comprising: receiving , at a parent switching device , via a remote switching device , a data packet from a first host device , the data packet having at least a first source media access control, MAC, address corresponding to the first host device and associated information indicative that the data packet passed through the remote switching device via a first port; adding an entry in a parent switching table stored in a memory of the parent switching device , the parent switching table being configured to associate the first MAC address and the first port of the remote switching device with one another; and sending a switching table entry update message from the parent switching device to the remote switching device , the switching table entry update message including information indicating that the first MAC address and the first port are associated with one another so as to enable a subsequent data packet destined for the first host device and received at the remote switching device to be switched directly to the first host device without the subsequent data packet being forwarded to the parent switching device , receiving , at the parent switching device , a subsequent data packet which is an Address Resolution Protocol, ARP, message or a Gratuitous ARP, GARP, message in order to update the parent switching table which has been passed by the remote switching device to the parent switching device without performing a query in a local switching table stored in the remote switching device , and wherein the parent switching device is in communication with an aggregation switch , and the remote switching device is also in communication with the aggregation switch , but only via the parent switching device . receiving , at a parent switching device , via a remote switching device , a data packet from a first host device , the data packet having at least a first source media access control, MAC, address corresponding to the first host device and associated information indicative that the data packet passed through the remote switching device via a first port; adding an entry in a parent switching table stored in a memory of the parent switching device , the parent switching table being configured to associate the first MAC address and the first port of the remote switching device with one another; and sending a switching table entry update message from the parent switching device to the remote switching device , the switching table entry update message including information indicating that the first MAC address and the first port are associated with one another so as to enable a subsequent data packet destined for the first host device and received at the remote switching device to be switched directly to the first host device without the subsequent data packet being forwarded to the parent switching device , receiving , at the parent switching device , a subsequent data packet which is an Address Resolution Protocol, ARP, message or a Gratuitous ARP, GARP, message in order to update the parent switching table which has been passed by the remote switching device to the parent switching device without performing a query in a local switching table stored in the remote switching device , and wherein the parent switching device is in communication with an aggregation switch , and the remote switching device is also in communication with the aggregation switch , but only via the parent switching device . <EOS>