diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterAdminService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterAdminService.java
index 4794487..84d4f92 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterAdminService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterAdminService.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 /**
  * Service for administering the cluster node membership.
  */
-public interface ClusterAdminService {
+public interface ClusterAdminService extends ClusterService {
 
     /**
      * Forms cluster configuration based on the specified set of node
@@ -50,4 +50,11 @@
      */
     void removeNode(NodeId nodeId);
 
+    /**
+     * Marks the current node as fully started or not.
+     *
+     * @param started true indicates all components have been started
+     */
+    void markFullyStarted(boolean started);
+
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java
index 015a648..323b9c7 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterService.java
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@
     ControllerNode getNode(NodeId nodeId);
 
     /**
-     * Returns the availability state of the specified controller node.
+     * Returns the availability state of the specified controller node. Note
+     * that this does not imply that all the core and application components
+     * have been fully activated; only that the node has joined the cluster.
      *
      * @param nodeId controller node identifier
      * @return availability state
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java
index 0481d51..64348a3 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ClusterStore.java
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@
     ControllerNode.State getState(NodeId nodeId);
 
     /**
+     * Marks the current node as fully started.
+     *
+     * @param started true indicates all components have been started
+     */
+    void markFullyStarted(boolean started);
+
+    /**
      * Returns the system when the availability state was last updated.
      *
      * @param nodeId controller node identifier
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ControllerNode.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ControllerNode.java
index 2f74ae6..2c33c99 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ControllerNode.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cluster/ControllerNode.java
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@
     /** Represents the operational state of the instance. */
     enum State {
         /**
+         * Signifies that the instance is active and that all components are
+         * operating normally.
+         */
+        READY,
+
+        /**
          * Signifies that the instance is active and operating normally.
          */
         ACTIVE,
@@ -33,7 +39,25 @@
          * Signifies that the instance is inactive, which means either down or
          * up, but not operational.
          */
-        INACTIVE
+        INACTIVE;
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates whether the state represents node which is active or ready.
+         *
+         * @return true if active or ready
+         */
+        public boolean isActive() {
+            return this == ACTIVE || this == READY;
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates whether the state represents a node which is ready.
+         *
+         * @return true if active and ready
+         */
+        public boolean isReady() {
+            return this == READY;
+        }
     }
 
     /**