An element manager (320; 420), comprising: electronic memory; one or more processors configured to access the electronic memory to: receive, from a network manager, NM (322; 422), a request to create a management object instance; create the management object instance, wherein the management object instance is created with at least a user defined state attribute, a vendor name attribute, a version attribute, a managed element type attribute, and a virtual network function, VNF, image identification, ID, attribute, wherein the user defined state attribute is initially set to disabled; receive, from the NM (322; 422), a request for modification of the attribute user defined state; modify the user defined state attribute to an enabled value in response to receiving the request for modification from the NM (322; 422); receive, from a virtual network function manager, VNFM (324; 424), a notification of a successful instantiation of a virtual mobile management entity, VMME (204; 304; 404); create a mobile management entity, MME, function object that represents the management object instance in response to receiving the notification; add the management object instance to a mobile management entity, MME, pool to manage a plurality of user equipment, UE, in a mobile communication system; and notify the NM (322; 422) of the creation of the management object instance. electronic memory; one or more processors configured to access the electronic memory to: receive, from a network manager, NM (322; 422), a request to create a management object instance; create the management object instance, wherein the management object instance is created with at least a user defined state attribute, a vendor name attribute, a version attribute, a managed element type attribute, and a virtual network function, VNF, image identification, ID, attribute, wherein the user defined state attribute is initially set to disabled; receive, from the NM (322; 422), a request for modification of the attribute user defined state; modify the user defined state attribute to an enabled value in response to receiving the request for modification from the NM (322; 422); receive, from a virtual network function manager, VNFM (324; 424), a notification of a successful instantiation of a virtual mobile management entity, VMME (204; 304; 404); create a mobile management entity, MME, function object that represents the management object instance in response to receiving the notification; add the management object instance to a mobile management entity, MME, pool to manage a plurality of user equipment, UE, in a mobile communication system; and notify the NM (322; 422) of the creation of the management object instance. receive, from a network manager, NM (322; 422), a request to create a management object instance; create the management object instance, wherein the management object instance is created with at least a user defined state attribute, a vendor name attribute, a version attribute, a managed element type attribute, and a virtual network function, VNF, image identification, ID, attribute, wherein the user defined state attribute is initially set to disabled; receive, from the NM (322; 422), a request for modification of the attribute user defined state; modify the user defined state attribute to an enabled value in response to receiving the request for modification from the NM (322; 422); receive, from a virtual network function manager, VNFM (324; 424), a notification of a successful instantiation of a virtual mobile management entity, VMME (204; 304; 404); create a mobile management entity, MME, function object that represents the management object instance in response to receiving the notification; add the management object instance to a mobile management entity, MME, pool to manage a plurality of user equipment, UE, in a mobile communication system; and notify the NM (322; 422) of the creation of the management object instance.