In one embodiment, a system includes a software-defined network (SDN) controller including a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: receive a port addition indication that a logical port is configured on a switching device, the switching device being connected to the SDN controller and a second device, wherein the logical port represents a link aggregation group (LAG) that includes at least two links between the switching device and the second device, and derive and maintain a logical index for all logical ports in software-defined switching devices connected to the SDN controller based on logical port identifiers thereof.