Approaches are provided for an SDSN that employs a satellite network nodes, where central L2 network nodes are controlled via a centralized Controller. Link status information is obtained regarding links of each L2 node. Global routing constraints, satellite ephemeris data, and resource allocation information are obtained. A constellation topology of the network nodes is determined based on the ephemeris data. Network routes between pairs of endpoints are determined. Each route includes links based on the link status information regarding the links, the global routing constraints, the bandwidth resources of the links and the current allocation of bandwidth resources, and/or the constellation topology. A forwarding table is generated for each network node, wherein each forwarding table includes route entries providing a next hop indicating a destination for data packets, wherein the destination is associated with a link of the respective network node that represents a link of a respective route.
