A method including sending, by a first network device, to a second network device, a first objective locally stored in the first network device to a second network device, wherein an autonomic networking integrated model and approach (ANIMA) protocol is run on both the first network device and the second network device, determining, by the first network device, whether the first objective locally stored in the first network device is changed, and sending, by the first network device, a first objective change packet to the second network device in response to the first network device determining that the first objective locally stored in the first network device is changed, the first objective change packet instructing the second network device to change the first objective locally stored in the second network device.