One embodiment of the present invention provides a computing system. The computing system includes a processor, a memory, a logical switch management mechanism, and a layer-2 path management mechanism. The logical switch management mechanism operates the computing system in conjunction with a plurality of remote switches as a single logical switch. The layer-2 path management mechanism includes a path calculation mechanism and a layer-2 forwarding table. The path calculation mechanism calculates layer-2 shortest paths among the computing system and the remote switches. The layer-2 forwarding table is for a first switch in the plurality of remote switches and created based on one or more of the shortest paths, wherein a respective entry in the forwarding table corresponds to a layer-2 network address. The layer-2 path management mechanism suppresses advertisement of the shortest paths outside of the logical switch, thereby hiding internal paths of the logical switch.