Embodiments of the present invention provide a processing method of a forwarding node. The method includes: receiving, by a forwarding node, a request message sent by a control node, where the request message is used to request to control the forwarding node; determining, by the forwarding node, that a control conflict exists or the control conflict does not exist; and if the control conflict exists, sending, by the forwarding node, a request rejection response message to the control node, so that the control node selects another forwarding node; or if the control conflict does not exist, sending, by the forwarding node, a request acceptance response message to the control node. In the embodiments of the present invention, control conflicts can be avoided.