diff --git a/hooks/pg_gw_hooks.py b/hooks/pg_gw_hooks.py
index 1d3f87d..4ccb4b6 100755
--- a/hooks/pg_gw_hooks.py
+++ b/hooks/pg_gw_hooks.py
@@ -6,12 +6,13 @@
 # in this file.
 
 import sys
-
+from charmhelpers.core.host import service_running
 from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import (
     Hooks,
     UnregisteredHookError,
     log,
     config,
+    status_set
 )
 
 from charmhelpers.fetch import (
@@ -45,8 +46,10 @@ def install():
     '''
     Install hook is run when the charm is first deployed on a node.
     '''
+    status_set('maintenance', 'Executing pre-install')
     load_iptables()
     configure_sources(update=True)
+    status_set('maintenance', 'Installing apt packages')
     pkgs = determine_packages()
     for pkg in pkgs:
         apt_install(pkg, options=['--force-yes'], fatal=True)
@@ -88,6 +91,7 @@ def config_changed():
         charm_config.changed('install_keys') or
             charm_config.changed('iovisor-build')):
         stop_pg()
+        status_set('maintenance', 'Upgrading apt packages')
         configure_sources(update=True)
         pkgs = determine_packages()
         for pkg in pkgs:
@@ -113,6 +117,14 @@ def stop():
     stop_pg()
 
 
+@hooks.hook('update-status')
+def update_status():
+    if service_running('plumgrid'):
+        status_set('active', 'Unit is ready')
+    else:
+        status_set('blocked', 'plumgrid service not running')
+
+
 def main():
     try:
         hooks.execute(sys.argv)
diff --git a/hooks/pg_gw_utils.py b/hooks/pg_gw_utils.py
index b4e2f98..57a9632 100644
--- a/hooks/pg_gw_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/pg_gw_utils.py
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ from charmhelpers.contrib.openstack import templating
 from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import (
     log,
     config,
-    unit_get
+    unit_get,
+    status_set
 )
 from charmhelpers.contrib.network.ip import (
     get_iface_from_addr,
@@ -160,6 +161,7 @@ def restart_pg():
                     raise ValueError("plumgrid service couldn't be started")
             else:
                 raise ValueError("libvirt-bin service couldn't be started")
+    status_set('active', 'Unit is ready')
 
 
 def stop_pg():
diff --git a/templates/kilo/00-pg.conf b/templates/kilo/00-pg.conf
index c5a6016..e744a27 100644
--- a/templates/kilo/00-pg.conf
+++ b/templates/kilo/00-pg.conf
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-$template ls_json,"{{'{'}}{{'%'}}timestamp:::date-rfc3339,jsonf:@timestamp%,%source:::jsonf:@source_host%,%msg:::json%}":syslogtag,isequal,"pg:" @{{ opsvm_ip }}:6000;ls_json
+$template ls_json,"{{'{'}}{{'%'}}timestamp:::date-rfc3339,jsonf:@timestamp%,%source:::jsonf:@source_host%,%msg:::json%}"
+:syslogtag,isequal,"pg:" @{{ opsvm_ip }}:6000;ls_json