An information handling system for managing a network includes a first stackable network switch, a second stackable network switch, and a hardware switching management controller. The first stackable network switch includes a first configuration setting to enable the first stackable network switch to operate in a switch stack. The first configuration setting is accessible via an OpenFlow protocol. The second stackable network switch includes a second configuration setting to enable the second stackable network switch to operate in the switch stack. The second configuration setting is accessible via the OpenFlow protocol. The hardware switching management controller includes an OpenFlow stacking manager configured to set the first configuration setting and the second configuration setting such that the switch stack includes the first and second stackable network switches.