A method and system for label-based packet forwarding among multiple forwarding elements is described. The system includes a plurality of forwarding elements to forward a data packet from an ingress port at which the data packet is received from a network to an egress port from which the data packet will be transmitted to a next hop in the network and a control element coupled to the plurality of forwarding elements to control the forwarding elements. Each forwarding element has one or more label switch tables with one or entries to label data packets for forwarding along a path from the ingress port of one of the plurality of forwarding elements to the egress port of another of the plurality of forwarding elements.