System and method for routing using path identifiers

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first packet sent by a first node. The packet includes a first Layer 3 source address, a first Layer 3 destination address, a first Layer 2 source hardware identifier, a first Layer 2 destination hardware identifier, and a first path identifier. The first path identifier is situated between a Layer 2 header of the first packet and a Layer 3 header of the first packet. The method includes automatically determining a first port of the first network element associated with a second node. The second node is associated with the first Layer 2 destination hardware identifier. A second path identifier is automatically determined based on the first port. The first packet is prevented from being delivered to the second node in response to determining that the first path identifier and the second path identifier are different.