diff --git a/vmware_nsx_tempest/config.py b/vmware_nsx_tempest/config.py
index 78e1032ef6..bda0cac2cc 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx_tempest/config.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx_tempest/config.py
@@ -13,6 +13,15 @@
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from tempest import config
 
+service_available_group = cfg.OptGroup(name="service_available",
+                                       title="Available OpenStack Services")
+
+ServiceAvailableGroup = [
+    cfg.BoolOpt("vmware_nsx",
+                default=True,
+                help="Whether or not vmware_nsx is expected to be available"),
+]
+
 scenario_group = config.scenario_group
 ScenarioGroup = [
     cfg.FloatOpt('waitfor_disassoc',
diff --git a/vmware_nsx_tempest/plugin.py b/vmware_nsx_tempest/plugin.py
index 53f28be2f6..6ad768e4d4 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx_tempest/plugin.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx_tempest/plugin.py
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ class VMwareNsxTempestPlugin(plugins.TempestPlugin):
         return (test_fullpath, base_path)
 
     def register_opts(self, conf):
+        config.register_opt_group(
+            conf,
+            config_nsx.service_available_group,
+            config_nsx.ServiceAvailableGroup)
         config.register_opt_group(
             conf,
             config_nsx.scenario_group, config_nsx.ScenarioGroup)
@@ -58,4 +62,7 @@ class VMwareNsxTempestPlugin(plugins.TempestPlugin):
             config_nsx.nsxv3_group, config_nsx.NSXv3Group)
 
     def get_opt_lists(self):
-        return [(config_nsx.scenario_group.name, config_nsx.scenario_group)]
+        return [
+            (config_nsx.scenario_group.name, config_nsx.scenario_group),
+            ('service_available', config_nsx.ServiceAvailableGroup)
+        ]