diff --git a/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java b/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java
index 539323f..345e670 100644
--- a/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java
+++ b/apps/kubevirt-networking/app/src/main/java/org/onosproject/kubevirtnetworking/util/KubevirtNetworkingUtil.java
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 import org.onosproject.kubevirtnetworking.api.KubevirtRouterService;
 import org.onosproject.kubevirtnode.api.DefaultKubevirtNode;
 import org.onosproject.kubevirtnode.api.DefaultKubevirtPhyInterface;
+import org.onosproject.kubevirtnode.api.KubernetesExternalLbConfig;
 import org.onosproject.kubevirtnode.api.KubernetesExternalLbInterface;
 import org.onosproject.kubevirtnode.api.KubevirtApiConfig;
 import org.onosproject.kubevirtnode.api.KubevirtApiConfigService;
@@ -557,16 +558,32 @@
                                                               KubernetesExternalLb externalLb) {
         //TODO: enhance election logic for a better load balancing
 
-        int numOfGateways = nodeService.completeNodes(GATEWAY).size();
+        int numOfGateways = nodeService.completeExternalLbGatewayNodes().size();
         if (numOfGateways == 0) {
             return null;
         }
 
-        return (KubevirtNode) nodeService.completeNodes(GATEWAY)
+        return (KubevirtNode) nodeService.completeExternalLbGatewayNodes()
                 .toArray()[externalLb.hashCode() % numOfGateways];
     }
 
     /**
+     * Returns whether a mac address in kubernetes external lb config is updated.
+     *
+     * @param externalLbConfig kubernetes external lb config
+     * @return true if a mac address is added
+     */
+    public static boolean configMapUpdated(KubernetesExternalLbConfig externalLbConfig) {
+        if (externalLbConfig == null) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return externalLbConfig.configName() != null && externalLbConfig.globalIpRange() != null &&
+                externalLbConfig.loadBalancerGwIp() != null && externalLbConfig.loadBalancerGwMac() != null;
+    }
+
+
+    /**
      * Returns the worker node for the specified kubernetes external lb.
      * Among worker nodes, only one worker would serve the traffic from and to the gateway.
      * Currently worker node is selected based on modulo operation with external lb hashcode.