Systems and methods include, in a node having a plurality of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses with a source MAC address for an application and with the node connected to Network Termination Equipment (NTE) having flooding disabled, configuring the node to periodically send a packet to the NTE with the source MAC address for the application to pre-populate a forwarding database in the NTE; and transmitting the packet to the NTE periodically such that the NTE receives the packet and installs the source MAC address in its forwarding database for reachability thereto despite the disabled flooding. The plurality of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses can include a chassis MAC address and the source MAC address for the application. The packet can be a no-operation packet which requires no processing by the NTE except installation of the source MAC address for the application.