diff --git a/hooks/hooks.py b/hooks/hooks.py
index 09bd6622..1e5a0dca 100755
--- a/hooks/hooks.py
+++ b/hooks/hooks.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def config_changed():
         render_metadata_agent_conf()
         render_metadata_api_conf()
         render_plugin_conf()
+        render_ext_port_upstart()
         if PLUGIN == qutils.OVS:
             qutils.add_bridge(qutils.INT_BRIDGE)
             qutils.add_bridge(qutils.EXT_BRIDGE)
@@ -48,6 +49,19 @@ def upgrade_charm():
     config_changed()
 
 
+def render_ext_port_upstart():
+    if utils.config_get('ext-port'):
+        with open(qutils.EXT_PORT_CONF, "w") as conf:
+            conf.write(utils.render_template(
+                            os.path.basename(qutils.EXT_PORT_CONF),
+                            {"ext_port": utils.config_get('ext-port')}
+                            )
+                       )
+    else:
+        if os.path.exists(qutils.EXT_PORT_CONF):
+            os.remove(qutils.EXT_PORT_CONF)
+
+
 def render_l3_agent_conf():
     context = get_keystone_conf()
     if (context and
diff --git a/hooks/quantum_utils.py b/hooks/quantum_utils.py
index accd8595..df25ca68 100644
--- a/hooks/quantum_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/quantum_utils.py
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ GATEWAY_AGENTS = {
         ],
     }
 
+EXT_PORT_CONF = '/etc/init/ext-port.conf'
+
 
 def get_os_version(package=None):
     apt.init()
diff --git a/templates/ext-port.conf b/templates/ext-port.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6080c30e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/ext-port.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+description "Enabling Quantum external networking port"
+
+start on runlevel [2345]
+
+task
+
+script
+	ip link set {{ ext_port }} up
+end script
\ No newline at end of file