In a Master-to-Master scenario, the SRRP connectivity between the two nodes is lost and consequently both nodes transition into a master SRRP state. This means that in the downstream direction both nodes forward traffic (this depends on how the traffic is attracted on each node via routing). Similarly, in the upstream direction both nodes forward traffic, but the node selection is guided by the learning of VMAC (SRRP MAC) in the Layer 2 access network (the last received downstream packet determines the upstream path). The Master-to-Master state is, from the operational standpoint, an invalid and erroneous state where both nodes are sending synchronization messages to each other and at the same time they are rejecting them. The system recovers within one synchronization periodic interval after the valid SRRP state combination is restored (master/backup).