A communication pathway between a plurality of network nodes within a network is established. A DIS election operation is executed to determine a first network node among the plurality of network nodes as the DIS for the network and creating a first pseudo node for the first network node, and with each network node of the plurality of network nodes, monitoring connectivity between the first network node and the other network nodes of the plurality of network nodes within the network, and monitoring adjacencies with the other network nodes of the plurality of network nodes within the network. Whether the connectivity between the first network node and the other network nodes of the plurality of network nodes within the network is in a synchronous state with the adjacencies with the other network nodes of the plurality of network nodes may be determined.