A method for creating a virtual MAC address, the method includes receiving an Internet Protocol address that is to be associated with a virtual MAC address. The method creates a virtual MAC address by setting an OUI portion of the virtual MAC address to an OUI value and setting the non-OUI portion of the virtual MAC address to a subset of the Internet Protocol (IP) address. In one embodiment, the lower three bytes of the IP address are used. Additionally, a method of migrating a virtual MAC address includes detecting a migration event on a first system; creating a virtual MAC address on a second system; and issuing a gratuitous ARP packet containing the virtual MAC address.