A system for tracking resource usage in network. In a specific embodiment, the system includes a memory in a distributed-forwarding switch that maintains resource evolution information. A module, which communicates with the memory, is adapted to update the resource evolution information when the resource changes or information associated with the resource changes. In a more specific embodiment, the memory is implemented via plural resource-tracking hash tables associated with forwarding engines in switches connected to a network. Each hash table communicates with a corresponding resource-tracking module that monitors changes in accompanying forwarding engines and updates the hash tables in response thereto. The resource-tracking modules may also selectively provide information in the resource-tracking modules to a user interface in response to queries or control signals originating from a user interface. The changes in one forwarding engine may propagate to other resource-tracking hash tables associated with other forwarding engines located in a given switch or in different switches across the network.