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 . <EOS>