Abstract: A router synchronizes state information between a plurality of control units. The router includes a primary control unit and a standby control unit. To ensure proper operation of the router, the primary control unit maintains router resources by receiving state information from the router resources and maintaining the state information for consumers. The primary control unit performs this maintenance process by transmitting update operation messages to consumers and the standby control unit. The consumers respond with an acknowledgement message to both the primary control unit and the standby control unit. The control units use the sequence of these messages to keep all components within the router in sync. Upon assuming control, the standby control unit resumes updating the consumers with state information without having to “relearn” state information, e.g., by way of power cycling the router resources to a known state.