System and method to negotiate the addition or deletion of a PPP link without data loss

A method and apparatus for managing point-to-point protocol (PPP) links between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The method may, when opening a link, receive an acknowledgement at the first endpoint from the second endpoint, open the receive portion of the link at the first endpoint, send a response acknowledgement from the first endpoint to the second endpoint, and delay transmission of data from the first endpoint to the second endpoint for a selected time period after the response acknowledgement. The method may further, when closing the link, close the transmit portion of the link at the first endpoint and send a terminate request to the second endpoint, then receive a terminate acknowledgement from the second endpoint to indicate the second endpoint transmit portion of the link is closed, and close the receive portion of the link at the first endpoint after the receipt of the terminate acknowledgement.