For a controller that manages managed forwarding elements that forward data in a network, a method for configuring the managed forwarding elements is described. The method computes forwarding state and pushes the computed forwarding state to the managed switching elements. The forwarding state defines forwarding behaviors of the managed switching elements. The method configures the managed switching elements to exchange forwarding state with each other. The method configures the managed switching elements by configuring a first managed forwarding element to send a forwarding state information request to a second managed forwarding element and by configuring the second managed forwarding element to (1) respond to the forwarding state information request by looking up a forwarding state information repository and (2) update the forwarding state information repository with forwarding states information received from a third managed forwarding element.