Computing devices, methods, and systems for switch-based free memory tracking in data center environments are disclosed. An exemplary switch integrated circuit (IC), which is used in a switched fabric or a network, can include a processing device and a tracking structure that is distributed with at least a second switch IC. The tracking structure tracks free memory units that are accessible in a first set of nodes by the second switch IC. The processing device receives a request for a number of free memory units. The processing device forwards the request to a node in the first set of nodes that has at least the number of free memory units or forwards the request to the second switch IC that has at least the number of free memory units or responds to the request with a response that indicates that the request could not be fulfilled.