diff --git a/library/common-test/tests/externalInterface/validation_test.yaml b/library/common-test/tests/externalInterface/validation_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fdc0f39935
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library/common-test/tests/externalInterface/validation_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+suite: external interface validation test
+templates:
+  - common.yaml
+tests:
+  - it: should fail with targetSelector not a list
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - targetSelector: "not a list"
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected <targetSelector> to be a [list], but got [string]
+
+  - it: should fail with empty hostInterface
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: ""
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected non-empty <hostInterface>
+
+  - it: should fail with empty ipam
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam: {}
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected non-empty <ipam>
+
+  - it: should fail with empty ipam.type
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam:
+            type: ""
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected non-empty <ipam.type>
+
+  - it: should fail with invalid ipam.type
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam:
+            type: invalid
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected <ipam.type> to be one of [dhcp, static], but got [invalid]
+
+  - it: should fail with non-empty staticIPConfigurations on dhcp
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam:
+            type: dhcp
+          staticIPConfigurations:
+            - ipAddress: 1.2.3.4
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected empty <staticIPConfigurations> and <staticRoutes> when <ipam.type> is not [static]
+
+  - it: should fail with non-empty staticRoutes on dhcp
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam:
+            type: dhcp
+          staticRoutes:
+            - gateway: 1.2.3.4
+              destination: 1.2.3.4
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected empty <staticIPConfigurations> and <staticRoutes> when <ipam.type> is not [static]
+
+  - it: should fail with empty staticIPConfigurations on static
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam:
+            type: static
+          staticIPConfigurations: []
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected non-empty <staticIPConfigurations> when <ipam.type> is [static]
+
+  - it: should fail with empty gateway on staticRoutes on static
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam:
+            type: static
+          staticIPConfigurations:
+            - ipAddress: 1.2.3.4
+          staticRoutes:
+            - gateway: ""
+              destination: 1.2.3.4
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected non-empty <gateway> in <staticRoutes>
+
+  - it: should fail with empty destination on staticRoutes on static
+    set:
+      scaleExternalInterface:
+        - hostInterface: enp0s3
+          ipam:
+            type: static
+          staticIPConfigurations:
+            - ipAddress: 1.2.3.4
+          staticRoutes:
+            - gateway: 1.2.3.4
+              destination: ""
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: External Interface - Expected non-empty <destination> in <staticRoutes>
diff --git a/library/common/1.0.0/templates/lib/externalInterface/_validation.tpl b/library/common/1.0.0/templates/lib/externalInterface/_validation.tpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d4f284f624
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library/common/1.0.0/templates/lib/externalInterface/_validation.tpl
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+{{/* External Interface Validation */}}
+{{/* Call this template:
+{{ include "ix.v1.common.lib.externalInterface.validation" (dict "objectData" $objectData) -}}
+objectData: The object data to validate that contains the external interface configuratioon.
+*/}}
+
+{{- define "ix.v1.common.lib.externalInterface.validation" -}}
+  {{- $objectData := .objectData -}}
+
+  {{- if and $objectData.targetSelector (not (kindIs "slice" $objectData.targetSelector)) -}}
+    {{- fail (printf "External Interface - Expected <targetSelector> to be a [list], but got [%s]" (kindOf $objectData.targetSelector)) -}}
+  {{- end -}}
+
+  {{- if not $objectData.hostInterface -}}
+    {{- fail "External Interface - Expected non-empty <hostInterface>" -}}
+  {{- end -}}
+
+  {{- if not $objectData.ipam -}}
+    {{- fail "External Interface - Expected non-empty <ipam>" -}}
+  {{- end -}}
+
+  {{- if not $objectData.ipam.type -}}
+    {{- fail "External Interface - Expected non-empty <ipam.type>" -}}
+  {{- end -}}
+
+  {{- $types := (list "dhcp" "static") -}}
+  {{- if not (mustHas $objectData.ipam.type $types) -}}
+    {{- fail (printf "External Interface - Expected <ipam.type> to be one of [%s], but got [%s]" (join ", " $types) $objectData.ipam.type) -}}
+  {{- end -}}
+
+  {{- if and (or $objectData.staticIPConfigurations $objectData.staticRoutes) (ne $objectData.ipam.type "static") -}}
+    {{- fail "External Interface - Expected empty <staticIPConfigurations> and <staticRoutes> when <ipam.type> is not [static]" -}}
+  {{- end -}}
+
+  {{- if eq $objectData.ipam.type "static" -}}
+    {{- if not $objectData.staticIPConfigurations -}}
+      {{- fail "External Interface - Expected non-empty <staticIPConfigurations> when <ipam.type> is [static]" -}}
+    {{- end -}}
+
+    {{- with $objectData.staticRoutes -}}
+      {{- range . -}}
+        {{- if not .destination -}}
+          {{- fail "External Interface - Expected non-empty <destination> in <staticRoutes>" -}}
+        {{- end -}}
+
+        {{- if not .gateway -}}
+          {{- fail "External Interface - Expected non-empty <gateway> in <staticRoutes>" -}}
+        {{- end -}}
+      {{- end -}}
+    {{- end -}}
+  {{- end -}}
+
+{{- end -}}