A method for setting up forwarding tables is described. A USAT part for a node is received. The USAT part includes glow definitions and a FGPL. Each glow describes network traffic flows and role instructions for the flows. Each FGP describes a role for the switching node; a validity rule; and relevant network topology. The method also includes determining a selected active FGP in the FGPL using the validity rule for the FGP, a network state and the ordering of the FGPs; initializing the glows, requesting a role identification to perform based on the selected FGP, determining the role instructions and instructing the TMS to update tables accordingly; and storing entries in software tables based on glows and the role instructions for the identified role, dynamically resolving conflicts among entries, and granting table updates to hardware tables. The tables include a software table for each hardware memory for forwarding packets.