A method for budgeted learning of link information in a network includes providing a database to contain the link information, for use by an entity connected to the network in transferring traffic over the network, and setting a maximum rate for addition of entries to the database. New entries to be added to the database are determined responsive to the traffic on the network during a learning period. The new entries are added to the database only if the addition of the entries during the learning period has not exceeded the maximum rate.