A first provider edge network device that is configured in a multi-homed virtual private network for a data center in which there are one or more peer edge network devices including a second edge network device, receives from the second edge network device a message indicating that a link for a particular Ethernet segment of the second edge network device in the data center is down. Information is stored at the first edge network device indicating state of links for Ethernet segments associated with each of the one or more other edge network devices at the data center. The first edge network device forwards of traffic for the particular Ethernet segment locally on Ethernet segments in the data center on behalf of the second edge network device. The proxy forwarding is performed for traffic for the particular Ethernet segment that originates from the data center, that is, for “same-site” traffic.