System and method for hardware-based learning of internet protocol addresses in a network environment

摘要

A method is provided one example embodiment and includes receiving a packet including a source /32 address and a destination /32 address. The source /32 address can indicate an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a source host that sent the packet. The destination /32 address can indicate an IP address of a destination host to which the packet is destined. The method may also include looking up the destination /32 address and the source /32 address in a Forwarding Information Base/adjacency (FIB)/(ADJ) table implemented in a hardware of a leaf switch in a network. Additionally, the method may include adding the source /32 address and corresponding adjacency information to the FIB/ADJ table if the destination /32 address is found in the FIB/ADJ table, and the source /32 address is not found in the FIB/ADJ table. The method may also include forwarding the packet to the destination host.