diff --git a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/DefaultRoutingHandler.java b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/DefaultRoutingHandler.java
index a737339..9922587 100644
--- a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/DefaultRoutingHandler.java
+++ b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/DefaultRoutingHandler.java
@@ -448,7 +448,6 @@
         if (nextHops.isEmpty()) {
             nextHops.add(destSw);
         }
-
         // If both target switch and dest switch are edge routers, then set IP
         // rule for both subnet and router IP.
         boolean targetIsEdge;
@@ -467,7 +466,7 @@
         if (targetIsEdge && destIsEdge) {
             Set<Ip4Prefix> subnets = config.getSubnets(destSw);
             log.debug("* populateEcmpRoutingRulePartial in device {} towards {} for subnets {}",
-                    targetSw, destSw, subnets);
+                      targetSw, destSw, subnets);
             result = rulePopulator.populateIpRuleForSubnet(targetSw,
                                                            subnets,
                                                            destSw,
@@ -479,24 +478,23 @@
             Ip4Address routerIp = destRouterIp;
             IpPrefix routerIpPrefix = IpPrefix.valueOf(routerIp, IpPrefix.MAX_INET_MASK_LENGTH);
             log.debug("* populateEcmpRoutingRulePartial in device {} towards {} for router IP {}",
-                    targetSw, destSw, routerIpPrefix);
+                      targetSw, destSw, routerIpPrefix);
             result = rulePopulator.populateIpRuleForRouter(targetSw, routerIpPrefix, destSw, nextHops);
             if (!result) {
                 return false;
             }
 
-        // If the target switch is an edge router, then set IP rules for the router IP.
         } else if (targetIsEdge) {
+            // If the target switch is an edge router, then set IP rules for the router IP.
             Ip4Address routerIp = destRouterIp;
             IpPrefix routerIpPrefix = IpPrefix.valueOf(routerIp, IpPrefix.MAX_INET_MASK_LENGTH);
             log.debug("* populateEcmpRoutingRulePartial in device {} towards {} for router IP {}",
-                    targetSw, destSw, routerIpPrefix);
+                      targetSw, destSw, routerIpPrefix);
             result = rulePopulator.populateIpRuleForRouter(targetSw, routerIpPrefix, destSw, nextHops);
             if (!result) {
                 return false;
             }
         }
-
         // Populates MPLS rules to all routers
         log.debug("* populateEcmpRoutingRulePartial in device{} towards {} for all MPLS rules",
                 targetSw, destSw);
@@ -504,7 +502,6 @@
         if (!result) {
             return false;
         }
-
         return true;
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/RoutingRulePopulator.java b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/RoutingRulePopulator.java
index bc3ce8c..a07a15d 100644
--- a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/RoutingRulePopulator.java
+++ b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/RoutingRulePopulator.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 package org.onosproject.segmentrouting;
 
+import org.onlab.packet.EthType;
 import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
 import org.onlab.packet.Ip4Address;
 import org.onlab.packet.Ip4Prefix;
@@ -26,7 +27,6 @@
 import org.onosproject.segmentrouting.config.DeviceConfiguration;
 import org.onosproject.segmentrouting.grouphandler.NeighborSet;
 import org.onosproject.net.DeviceId;
-import org.onosproject.net.Link;
 import org.onosproject.net.Port;
 import org.onosproject.net.PortNumber;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.DefaultTrafficSelector;
@@ -227,7 +227,15 @@
             treatment = null;
         }
 
-        if (srManager.getNextObjectiveId(deviceId, ns) <= 0) {
+        // setup metadata to pass to nextObjective - indicate the vlan on egress
+        // if needed by the switch pipeline. Since neighbor sets are always to
+        // other neighboring routers, there is no subnet assigned on those ports.
+        TrafficSelector.Builder metabuilder = DefaultTrafficSelector.builder(selector);
+        metabuilder.matchVlanId(
+            VlanId.vlanId(SegmentRoutingManager.ASSIGNED_VLAN_NO_SUBNET));
+
+        int nextId = srManager.getNextObjectiveId(deviceId, ns, metabuilder.build());
+        if (nextId <= 0) {
             log.warn("No next objective in {} for ns: {}", deviceId, ns);
             return false;
         }
@@ -236,7 +244,7 @@
                 .builder()
                 .fromApp(srManager.appId)
                 .makePermanent()
-                .nextStep(srManager.getNextObjectiveId(deviceId, ns))
+                .nextStep(nextId)
                 .withSelector(selector)
                 .withPriority(100)
                 .withFlag(ForwardingObjective.Flag.SPECIFIC);
@@ -279,63 +287,70 @@
         List<ForwardingObjective.Builder> fwdObjBuilders = new ArrayList<>();
 
         // TODO Handle the case of Bos == false
-        sbuilder.matchMplsLabel(MplsLabel.mplsLabel(segmentId));
         sbuilder.matchEthType(Ethernet.MPLS_UNICAST);
+        sbuilder.matchMplsLabel(MplsLabel.mplsLabel(segmentId));
+        TrafficSelector selector = sbuilder.build();
 
-        // If the next hop is the destination router, do PHP
+        // setup metadata to pass to nextObjective - indicate the vlan on egress
+        // if needed by the switch pipeline. Since mpls next-hops are always to
+        // other neighboring routers, there is no subnet assigned on those ports.
+        TrafficSelector.Builder metabuilder = DefaultTrafficSelector.builder(selector);
+        metabuilder.matchVlanId(
+            VlanId.vlanId(SegmentRoutingManager.ASSIGNED_VLAN_NO_SUBNET));
+
+        // If the next hop is the destination router for the segment, do pop
         if (nextHops.size() == 1 && destSwId.equals(nextHops.toArray()[0])) {
             log.debug("populateMplsRule: Installing MPLS forwarding objective for "
-                    + "label {} in switch {} with PHP",
-                    segmentId,
-                    deviceId);
+                    + "label {} in switch {} with pop", segmentId, deviceId);
 
+            // bos pop case (php)
             ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdObjBosBuilder =
                     getMplsForwardingObjective(deviceId,
-                                               destSwId,
                                                nextHops,
                                                true,
-                                               true);
-            // TODO: Check with Sangho on why we need this
-            ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdObjNoBosBuilder =
-                    getMplsForwardingObjective(deviceId,
-                                               destSwId,
-                                               nextHops,
                                                true,
-                                               false);
-            if (fwdObjBosBuilder != null) {
-                fwdObjBuilders.add(fwdObjBosBuilder);
-            } else {
-                log.warn("Failed to set MPLS rules.");
+                                               metabuilder.build());
+            if (fwdObjBosBuilder == null) {
                 return false;
             }
+            fwdObjBuilders.add(fwdObjBosBuilder);
+
+            // XXX not-bos pop case,  SR app multi-label not implemented yet
+            /*ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdObjNoBosBuilder =
+                    getMplsForwardingObjective(deviceId,
+                                               nextHops,
+                                               true,
+                                               false);*/
+
         } else {
+            // next hop is not destination, SR CONTINUE case (swap with self)
             log.debug("Installing MPLS forwarding objective for "
-                    + "label {} in switch {} without PHP",
-                    segmentId,
-                    deviceId);
+                    + "label {} in switch {} without pop", segmentId, deviceId);
 
+            // continue case with bos - this does get triggered in edge routers
+            // and in core routers - driver can handle depending on availability
+            // of MPLS ECMP or not
             ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdObjBosBuilder =
                     getMplsForwardingObjective(deviceId,
-                                               destSwId,
                                                nextHops,
                                                false,
-                                               true);
-            // TODO: Check with Sangho on why we need this
-            ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdObjNoBosBuilder =
-                    getMplsForwardingObjective(deviceId,
-                                               destSwId,
-                                               nextHops,
-                                               false,
-                                               false);
-            if (fwdObjBosBuilder != null) {
-                fwdObjBuilders.add(fwdObjBosBuilder);
-            } else {
-                log.warn("Failed to set MPLS rules.");
+                                               true,
+                                               metabuilder.build());
+            if (fwdObjBosBuilder == null) {
                 return false;
             }
+            fwdObjBuilders.add(fwdObjBosBuilder);
+
+            // XXX continue case with not-bos - SR app multi label not implemented yet
+            // also requires MPLS ECMP
+            /*ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdObjNoBosBuilder =
+                    getMplsForwardingObjective(deviceId,
+                                               nextHops,
+                                               false,
+                                               false); */
+
         }
 
-        TrafficSelector selector = sbuilder.build();
         for (ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdObjBuilder : fwdObjBuilders) {
             ((Builder) ((Builder) fwdObjBuilder.fromApp(srManager.appId)
                     .makePermanent()).withSelector(selector)
@@ -345,76 +360,61 @@
                 forward(deviceId,
                         fwdObjBuilder.
                         add(new SRObjectiveContext(deviceId,
-                                                   SRObjectiveContext.ObjectiveType.FORWARDING)));
+                                    SRObjectiveContext.ObjectiveType.FORWARDING)));
             rulePopulationCounter.incrementAndGet();
         }
 
         return true;
     }
 
-    private ForwardingObjective.Builder getMplsForwardingObjective(DeviceId deviceId,
-                                                                   DeviceId destSw,
-                                                                   Set<DeviceId> nextHops,
-                                                                   boolean phpRequired,
-                                                                   boolean isBos) {
+    private ForwardingObjective.Builder getMplsForwardingObjective(
+                                             DeviceId deviceId,
+                                             Set<DeviceId> nextHops,
+                                             boolean phpRequired,
+                                             boolean isBos,
+                                             TrafficSelector meta) {
+
         ForwardingObjective.Builder fwdBuilder = DefaultForwardingObjective
                 .builder().withFlag(ForwardingObjective.Flag.SPECIFIC);
-        DeviceId nextHop = (DeviceId) nextHops.toArray()[0];
-
-        boolean isEdge;
-        MacAddress srcMac;
-        MacAddress dstMac;
-        try {
-            isEdge = config.isEdgeDevice(deviceId);
-            srcMac = config.getDeviceMac(deviceId);
-            dstMac = config.getDeviceMac(nextHop);
-        } catch (DeviceConfigNotFoundException e) {
-            log.warn(e.getMessage() + " Aborting getMplsForwardingObjective");
-            return null;
-        }
 
         TrafficTreatment.Builder tbuilder = DefaultTrafficTreatment.builder();
 
         if (phpRequired) {
+            // php case - pop should always be flow-action
             log.debug("getMplsForwardingObjective: php required");
             tbuilder.deferred().copyTtlIn();
             if (isBos) {
-                tbuilder.deferred().popMpls(Ethernet.TYPE_IPV4).decNwTtl();
+                tbuilder.deferred().popMpls(EthType.EtherType.IPV4.ethType())
+                    .decNwTtl();
             } else {
-                tbuilder.deferred().popMpls(Ethernet.MPLS_UNICAST).decMplsTtl();
+                tbuilder.deferred().popMpls(EthType.EtherType.MPLS_UNICAST.ethType())
+                    .decMplsTtl();
             }
         } else {
+            // swap with self case - SR CONTINUE
             log.debug("getMplsForwardingObjective: php not required");
             tbuilder.deferred().decMplsTtl();
         }
 
-        if (!isECMPSupportedInTransitRouter() && !isEdge) {
-            PortNumber port = selectOnePort(deviceId, nextHops);
-            if (port == null) {
-                log.warn("No link from {} to {}", deviceId, nextHops);
-                return null;
-            }
-            tbuilder.deferred()
-                    .setEthSrc(srcMac)
-                    .setEthDst(dstMac)
-                    .setOutput(port);
-            fwdBuilder.withTreatment(tbuilder.build());
-        } else {
-            NeighborSet ns = new NeighborSet(nextHops);
-            fwdBuilder.withTreatment(tbuilder.build());
-            fwdBuilder.nextStep(srManager
-                    .getNextObjectiveId(deviceId, ns));
+        // All forwarding is via ECMP group, the metadata informs the driver
+        // that the next-Objective will be used by MPLS flows. In other words,
+        // MPLS ECMP is requested. It is up to the driver to decide if these
+        // packets will be hashed or not.
+        fwdBuilder.withTreatment(tbuilder.build());
+        NeighborSet ns = new NeighborSet(nextHops);
+        log.debug("Trying to get a nextObjid for mpls rule on device:{} to ns:{}",
+                 deviceId, ns);
+
+        int nextId = srManager.getNextObjectiveId(deviceId, ns, meta);
+        if (nextId <= 0) {
+            log.warn("No next objective in {} for ns: {}", deviceId, ns);
+            return null;
         }
 
+        fwdBuilder.nextStep(nextId);
         return fwdBuilder;
     }
 
-    private boolean isECMPSupportedInTransitRouter() {
-
-        // TODO: remove this function when objectives subsystem is supported.
-        return false;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Creates a filtering objective to permit all untagged packets with a
      * dstMac corresponding to the router's MAC address. For those pipelines
@@ -552,22 +552,6 @@
     }
 
 
-    private PortNumber selectOnePort(DeviceId srcId, Set<DeviceId> destIds) {
-
-        Set<Link> links = srManager.linkService.getDeviceLinks(srcId);
-        for (DeviceId destId: destIds) {
-            for (Link link : links) {
-                if (link.dst().deviceId().equals(destId)) {
-                    return link.src().port();
-                } else if (link.src().deviceId().equals(destId)) {
-                    return link.dst().port();
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        return null;
-    }
-
     private static class SRObjectiveContext implements ObjectiveContext {
         enum ObjectiveType {
             FILTER,
diff --git a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/SegmentRoutingManager.java b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/SegmentRoutingManager.java
index 84fe516..f6bf649 100644
--- a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/SegmentRoutingManager.java
+++ b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/SegmentRoutingManager.java
@@ -424,17 +424,22 @@
 
     /**
      * Returns the next objective ID for the given NeighborSet.
-     * If the nextObjectiveID does not exist, a new one is created and returned.
+     * If the nextObjective does not exist, a new one is created and
+     * it's id is returned.
+     * TODO move the side-effect creation of a Next Objective into a new method
      *
      * @param deviceId Device ID
      * @param ns NegighborSet
-     * @return next objective ID
+     * @param meta metadata passed into the creation of a Next Objective
+     * @return next objective ID or -1 if an error was encountered during the
+     *         creation of the nextObjective
      */
-    public int getNextObjectiveId(DeviceId deviceId, NeighborSet ns) {
+    public int getNextObjectiveId(DeviceId deviceId, NeighborSet ns,
+                                  TrafficSelector meta) {
         if (groupHandlerMap.get(deviceId) != null) {
             log.trace("getNextObjectiveId query in device {}", deviceId);
             return groupHandlerMap
-                    .get(deviceId).getNextObjectiveId(ns);
+                    .get(deviceId).getNextObjectiveId(ns, meta);
         } else {
             log.warn("getNextObjectiveId query in device {} not found", deviceId);
             return -1;
@@ -586,7 +591,8 @@
         DefaultGroupHandler groupHandler = groupHandlerMap.get(link.src()
                 .deviceId());
         if (groupHandler != null) {
-            groupHandler.linkUp(link);
+            groupHandler.linkUp(link, mastershipService.isLocalMaster(
+                                           link.src().deviceId()));
         } else {
             Device device = deviceService.getDevice(link.src().deviceId());
             if (device != null) {
@@ -596,7 +602,7 @@
                 processDeviceAdded(device);
                 groupHandler = groupHandlerMap.get(link.src()
                                                    .deviceId());
-                groupHandler.linkUp(link);
+                groupHandler.linkUp(link, mastershipService.isLocalMaster(device.id()));
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/TunnelHandler.java b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/TunnelHandler.java
index 7d025c7..b86adad 100644
--- a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/TunnelHandler.java
+++ b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/TunnelHandler.java
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@
             tunnel.allowToRemoveGroup(true);
         }
 
-        return groupHandlerMap.get(deviceId).getNextObjectiveId(ns);
+        return groupHandlerMap.get(deviceId).getNextObjectiveId(ns, null);
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultEdgeGroupHandler.java b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultEdgeGroupHandler.java
index 33496bd..6b6d960 100644
--- a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultEdgeGroupHandler.java
+++ b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultEdgeGroupHandler.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
                 + "with label for sw {} is {}",
                 deviceId, nsSet);
 
-        createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
+        //createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
         Set<NeighborSet> nsSet = computeImpactedNeighborsetForPortEvent(
                                              newNeighborLink.dst().deviceId(),
                                              devicePortMap.keySet());
-        createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
+        //createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultGroupHandler.java b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultGroupHandler.java
index b394db5..e792bf6 100644
--- a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultGroupHandler.java
+++ b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultGroupHandler.java
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@
 import java.net.URI;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
-import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.onlab.packet.Ip4Prefix;
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 import org.onosproject.net.Link;
 import org.onosproject.net.PortNumber;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.DefaultTrafficTreatment;
+import org.onosproject.net.flow.TrafficSelector;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.TrafficTreatment;
 import org.onosproject.net.flowobjective.DefaultNextObjective;
 import org.onosproject.net.flowobjective.FlowObjectiveService;
@@ -71,10 +72,10 @@
     protected LinkService linkService;
     protected FlowObjectiveService flowObjectiveService;
 
-    protected HashMap<DeviceId, Set<PortNumber>> devicePortMap = new HashMap<>();
-    protected HashMap<PortNumber, DeviceId> portDeviceMap = new HashMap<>();
-    //protected HashMap<NeighborSet, Integer> deviceNextObjectiveIds =
-    //        new HashMap<NeighborSet, Integer>();
+    protected ConcurrentHashMap<DeviceId, Set<PortNumber>> devicePortMap =
+            new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    protected ConcurrentHashMap<PortNumber, DeviceId> portDeviceMap =
+            new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
     protected EventuallyConsistentMap<
         NeighborSetNextObjectiveStoreKey, Integer> nsNextObjStore = null;
     protected EventuallyConsistentMap<
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@
      *
      * @param newLink new neighbor link
      */
-    public void linkUp(Link newLink) {
+    public void linkUp(Link newLink, boolean isMaster) {
 
         if (newLink.type() != Link.Type.DIRECT) {
             log.warn("linkUp: unknown link type");
@@ -186,6 +187,8 @@
             return;
         }
 
+        log.info("* LinkUP: Device {} linkUp at local port {} to neighbor {}", deviceId,
+                 newLink.src().port(), newLink.dst().deviceId());
         MacAddress dstMac;
         try {
             dstMac = deviceConfig.getDeviceMac(newLink.dst().deviceId());
@@ -194,8 +197,6 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        log.debug("Device {} linkUp at local port {} to neighbor {}", deviceId,
-                  newLink.src().port(), newLink.dst().deviceId());
         addNeighborAtPort(newLink.dst().deviceId(),
                           newLink.src().port());
         /*if (devicePortMap.get(newLink.dst().deviceId()) == null) {
@@ -237,14 +238,20 @@
 
                 nextObjBuilder.addTreatment(tBuilder.build());
 
-                log.debug("linkUp in device {}: Adding Bucket "
-                        + "with Port {} to next object id {}",
+                log.info("**linkUp in device {}: Adding Bucket "
+                        + "with Port {} to next object id {} and amIMaster:{}",
                         deviceId,
                         newLink.src().port(),
-                        nextId);
-                NextObjective nextObjective = nextObjBuilder.
-                        add(new SRNextObjectiveContext(deviceId));
-                flowObjectiveService.next(deviceId, nextObjective);
+                        nextId, isMaster);
+
+                if (isMaster) {
+                    NextObjective nextObjective = nextObjBuilder.
+                            addToExisting(new SRNextObjectiveContext(deviceId));
+                    flowObjectiveService.next(deviceId, nextObjective);
+                }
+            } else {
+                log.warn("linkUp in device {}, but global store has no record "
+                        + "for neighbor-set {}", deviceId, ns);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -305,15 +312,16 @@
 
                 nextObjBuilder.addTreatment(tBuilder.build());
 
-                log.debug("portDown in device {}: Removing Bucket "
+                log.info("**portDown in device {}: Removing Bucket "
                         + "with Port {} to next object id {}",
                         deviceId,
                         port,
                         nextId);
-                NextObjective nextObjective = nextObjBuilder.
+                // should do removefromexisting and only if master
+                /*NextObjective nextObjective = nextObjBuilder.
                         remove(new SRNextObjectiveContext(deviceId));
 
-                flowObjectiveService.next(deviceId, nextObjective);
+                flowObjectiveService.next(deviceId, nextObjective);*/
             }
 
         }
@@ -325,12 +333,15 @@
     /**
      * Returns the next objective associated with the neighborset.
      * If there is no next objective for this neighborset, this API
-     * would create a next objective and return.
+     * would create a next objective and return. Optionally metadata can be
+     * passed in for the creation of the next objective.
      *
      * @param ns neighborset
-     * @return int if found or -1
+     * @param meta metadata passed into the creation of a Next Objective
+     * @return int if found or -1 if there are errors in the creation of the
+     *          neighbor set.
      */
-    public int getNextObjectiveId(NeighborSet ns) {
+    public int getNextObjectiveId(NeighborSet ns, TrafficSelector meta) {
         Integer nextId = nsNextObjStore.
                 get(new NeighborSetNextObjectiveStoreKey(deviceId, ns));
         if (nextId == null) {
@@ -343,7 +354,7 @@
                       .filter((nsStoreEntry) ->
                       (nsStoreEntry.getKey().deviceId().equals(deviceId)))
                       .collect(Collectors.toList()));
-            createGroupsFromNeighborsets(Collections.singleton(ns));
+            createGroupsFromNeighborsets(Collections.singleton(ns), meta);
             nextId = nsNextObjStore.
                     get(new NeighborSetNextObjectiveStoreKey(deviceId, ns));
             if (nextId == null) {
@@ -421,17 +432,19 @@
         // Update DeviceToPort database
         log.debug("Device {} addNeighborAtPort: neighbor {} at port {}",
                   deviceId, neighborId, portToNeighbor);
-        if (devicePortMap.get(neighborId) != null) {
-            devicePortMap.get(neighborId).add(portToNeighbor);
-        } else {
-            Set<PortNumber> ports = new HashSet<>();
-            ports.add(portToNeighbor);
-            devicePortMap.put(neighborId, ports);
+        Set<PortNumber> ports = Collections
+                .newSetFromMap(new ConcurrentHashMap<PortNumber, Boolean>());
+        ports.add(portToNeighbor);
+        Set<PortNumber> portnums = devicePortMap.putIfAbsent(neighborId, ports);
+        if (portnums != null) {
+            portnums.add(portToNeighbor);
         }
 
         // Update portToDevice database
-        if (portDeviceMap.get(portToNeighbor) == null) {
-            portDeviceMap.put(portToNeighbor, neighborId);
+        DeviceId prev = portDeviceMap.putIfAbsent(portToNeighbor, neighborId);
+        if (prev != null) {
+            log.warn("Device: {} port: {} has neighbor: {}. NOT updating "
+                    + "to neighbor: {}", deviceId, portToNeighbor, prev, neighborId);
         }
     }
 
@@ -505,61 +518,66 @@
      * Creates Groups from a set of NeighborSet given.
      *
      * @param nsSet a set of NeighborSet
+     * @param meta metadata passed into the creation of a Next Objective
      */
-    public void createGroupsFromNeighborsets(Set<NeighborSet> nsSet) {
+    public void createGroupsFromNeighborsets(Set<NeighborSet> nsSet,
+                                             TrafficSelector meta) {
         for (NeighborSet ns : nsSet) {
             int nextId = flowObjectiveService.allocateNextId();
             NextObjective.Builder nextObjBuilder = DefaultNextObjective
                     .builder().withId(nextId)
                     .withType(NextObjective.Type.HASHED).fromApp(appId);
-            for (DeviceId d : ns.getDeviceIds()) {
-                if (devicePortMap.get(d) == null) {
-                    log.warn("Device {} is not in the port map yet", d);
+            for (DeviceId neighborId : ns.getDeviceIds()) {
+                if (devicePortMap.get(neighborId) == null) {
+                    log.warn("Neighbor {} is not in the port map yet for dev:{}",
+                             neighborId, deviceId);
                     return;
-                } else if (devicePortMap.get(d).size() == 0) {
+                } else if (devicePortMap.get(neighborId).size() == 0) {
                     log.warn("There are no ports for "
-                            + "the Device {} in the port map yet", d);
+                            + "the Device {} in the port map yet", neighborId);
                     return;
                 }
 
-                MacAddress deviceMac;
+                MacAddress neighborMac;
                 try {
-                    deviceMac = deviceConfig.getDeviceMac(d);
+                    neighborMac = deviceConfig.getDeviceMac(neighborId);
                 } catch (DeviceConfigNotFoundException e) {
                     log.warn(e.getMessage() + " Aborting createGroupsFromNeighborsets.");
                     return;
                 }
 
-                for (PortNumber sp : devicePortMap.get(d)) {
+                for (PortNumber sp : devicePortMap.get(neighborId)) {
                     TrafficTreatment.Builder tBuilder = DefaultTrafficTreatment
                             .builder();
-                    tBuilder.setOutput(sp)
-                            .setEthDst(deviceMac)
+                    tBuilder.setEthDst(neighborMac)
                             .setEthSrc(nodeMacAddr);
                     if (ns.getEdgeLabel() != NeighborSet.NO_EDGE_LABEL) {
                         tBuilder.pushMpls()
                                 .copyTtlOut()
                                 .setMpls(MplsLabel.mplsLabel(ns.getEdgeLabel()));
                     }
+                    tBuilder.setOutput(sp);
                     nextObjBuilder.addTreatment(tBuilder.build());
                 }
             }
-
+            if (meta != null) {
+                nextObjBuilder.setMeta(meta);
+            }
             NextObjective nextObj = nextObjBuilder.
                     add(new SRNextObjectiveContext(deviceId));
-            flowObjectiveService.next(deviceId, nextObj);
-            log.debug("createGroupsFromNeighborsets: Submited "
-                            + "next objective {} in device {}",
+            log.info("**createGroupsFromNeighborsets: Submited "
+                    + "next objective {} in device {}",
                     nextId, deviceId);
+            flowObjectiveService.next(deviceId, nextObj);
             nsNextObjStore.put(new NeighborSetNextObjectiveStoreKey(deviceId, ns),
                                nextId);
         }
     }
 
+
     public void createGroupsFromSubnetConfig() {
         Map<Ip4Prefix, List<PortNumber>> subnetPortMap =
                 this.deviceConfig.getSubnetPortsMap(this.deviceId);
-
         // Construct a broadcast group for each subnet
         subnetPortMap.forEach((subnet, ports) -> {
             SubnetNextObjectiveStoreKey key =
@@ -612,6 +630,9 @@
                     .withType(NextObjective.Type.HASHED).fromApp(appId);
             NextObjective nextObjective = nextObjBuilder.
                     remove(new SRNextObjectiveContext(deviceId));
+            log.info("**removeGroup: Submited "
+                    + "next objective {} in device {}",
+                    objectiveId, deviceId);
             flowObjectiveService.next(deviceId, nextObjective);
 
             for (Map.Entry<NeighborSetNextObjectiveStoreKey, Integer> entry: nsNextObjStore.entrySet()) {
@@ -634,14 +655,14 @@
         }
         @Override
         public void onSuccess(Objective objective) {
-            log.debug("Next objective operation successful in device {}",
-                      deviceId);
+            log.info("Next objective {} operation successful in device {}",
+                      objective.id(), deviceId);
         }
 
         @Override
         public void onError(Objective objective, ObjectiveError error) {
             log.warn("Next objective {} operation failed with error: {} in device {}",
-                     objective, error, deviceId);
+                     objective.id(), error, deviceId);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultTransitGroupHandler.java b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultTransitGroupHandler.java
index 8e1b6a8..14d77ba 100644
--- a/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultTransitGroupHandler.java
+++ b/apps/segmentrouting/src/main/java/org/onosproject/segmentrouting/grouphandler/DefaultTransitGroupHandler.java
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
         log.debug("createGroupsAtTransitRouter: The neighborset with label "
                 + "for sw {} is {}", deviceId, nsSet);
 
-        createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
+        //createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
         Set<NeighborSet> nsSet = computeImpactedNeighborsetForPortEvent(
                                              newNeighborLink.dst().deviceId(),
                                              devicePortMap.keySet());
-        createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
+        //createGroupsFromNeighborsets(nsSet);
     }
 
     @Override