System and method for supporting intra- and inter-subnet address resolution in a network environment using the same linear forwarding tale (LFT) for both the intra- and inter-subnet forwarding. Subnet prefix values in global route headers (GRHs) are used for linear forwarding table (LFT) lookup in a high performance computing environments. An exemplary can provide for use of an Inter Subnet Route Number (ISRN) embedded in the subnet prefix values in the GRHs for LFT lookup in a network switch environment in a high performance computing environment such as a network having an InfiniBand (IB) architecture. A method can provide, at a computer environment, including a network fabric, one or more subnets, each of which subnets are associated with one or more network switches or hosts. The system and method is compatible with legacy switches and nodes that are not conversant with the ISRNs.