Abstract: In a hierarchical switching architecture that includes at least one lower level managed switching element that connects to several higher level managed switching elements, some embodiments provide a method of identifying a higher level managed switching element to which the lower level managed switching element forwards a packet for further processing. The method computes a distribution metric based on a set of attributes of the packet. The method performs a lookup on a hierarchy traversal table that specifies (1) a set of primary higher level managed switching elements and (2) a set of secondary higher level managed switching element. The lookup is for determining a higher level managed switching element specified in the hierarchical traversal table to forward the packet for further processing. The method forwards the packet to the determined higher level managed switching element.