Address resolution protocol request resolution

A computer network

• including an ARP (address resolution policy) listening entity a logic subsystem comprising one or more physical devices configured to:
• receive an ARP request for a MAC (media access control) address of a destination entity of the computer network having a specified IP (internet protocol) address, the ARP request received from a requesting entity, wherein a design of the computer network prevents broadcast of the ARP request to the destination entity;
• transmit an ARP response to the requesting entity, the ARP response specifying a response MAC address to facilitate transmission, by the requesting entity, of a data packet targeting the response MAC address,
• wherein the response MAC address is a predefined placeholder MAC address, and wherein prior to receipt of the data packet at the destination entity, the specified IP address is associated with an actual MAC address of the destination entity according to an IP-to-MAC mapping;
• and
• cause the data packet to be delivered to the destination entity with the actual MAC address of the destination entity in lieu of the predefined placeholder MAC address.