A method implemented by a central controller is provided. The method includes receiving traffic monitoring information from a client, and sending a traffic monitor request to a network controller, the traffic monitor request requesting the network controller to monitor one or more traffic parameters based on the traffic monitoring information. The method further includes receiving a traffic report from the network controller, and responsive to determining that a monitored traffic parameter in the traffic report does not satisfy a condition specified by the traffic monitoring information, initiating a scaling operation based on data contained in the traffic report.