A method, node, and VNF for maintaining a connection-oriented transport protocol association for carrying control plane traffic between a VNF including a first VM having a first external CP, and a remote node. The method includes upon configuration of a second VM, the second VM including a second external CP different from the first external CP of the first VM, notifying the first VM of a presence of the second VM, the notification including the second external CP of the second VM, instructing the remote node to add the second external CP of the second VM to the connection-oriented transport protocol association, and instructing the remote node to send control plane traffic to the second external CP of the second VM.