diff --git a/aria/multivim-plugin/nova_plugin/server.py b/aria/multivim-plugin/nova_plugin/server.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6726f24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aria/multivim-plugin/nova_plugin/server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,944 @@
+#########
+# Copyright (c) 2014 GigaSpaces Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+#  * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+#  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+#  * limitations under the License.
+
+
+import os
+import time
+import copy
+import operator
+
+from novaclient import exceptions as nova_exceptions
+
+from cloudify import ctx
+from cloudify.manager import get_rest_client
+from cloudify.decorators import operation
+from cloudify.exceptions import NonRecoverableError, RecoverableError
+from cinder_plugin import volume
+from openstack_plugin_common import (
+    provider,
+    transform_resource_name,
+    get_resource_id,
+    get_openstack_ids_of_connected_nodes_by_openstack_type,
+    with_nova_client,
+    with_cinder_client,
+    assign_payload_as_runtime_properties,
+    get_openstack_id_of_single_connected_node_by_openstack_type,
+    get_openstack_names_of_connected_nodes_by_openstack_type,
+    get_single_connected_node_by_openstack_type,
+    is_external_resource,
+    is_external_resource_by_properties,
+    is_external_resource_not_conditionally_created,
+    is_external_relationship_not_conditionally_created,
+    use_external_resource,
+    delete_runtime_properties,
+    is_external_relationship,
+    validate_resource,
+    USE_EXTERNAL_RESOURCE_PROPERTY,
+    OPENSTACK_AZ_PROPERTY,
+    OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY,
+    OPENSTACK_TYPE_PROPERTY,
+    OPENSTACK_NAME_PROPERTY,
+    COMMON_RUNTIME_PROPERTIES_KEYS,
+    with_neutron_client)
+from nova_plugin.keypair import KEYPAIR_OPENSTACK_TYPE
+from nova_plugin import userdata
+from openstack_plugin_common.floatingip import (IP_ADDRESS_PROPERTY,
+                                                get_server_floating_ip)
+from neutron_plugin.network import NETWORK_OPENSTACK_TYPE
+from neutron_plugin.port import PORT_OPENSTACK_TYPE
+from cinder_plugin.volume import VOLUME_OPENSTACK_TYPE
+from openstack_plugin_common.security_group import \
+    SECURITY_GROUP_OPENSTACK_TYPE
+from glance_plugin.image import handle_image_from_relationship
+
+SERVER_OPENSTACK_TYPE = 'server'
+
+# server status constants. Full lists here: http://docs.openstack.org/api/openstack-compute/2/content/List_Servers-d1e2078.html  # NOQA
+SERVER_STATUS_ACTIVE = 'ACTIVE'
+SERVER_STATUS_BUILD = 'BUILD'
+SERVER_STATUS_SHUTOFF = 'SHUTOFF'
+
+OS_EXT_STS_TASK_STATE = 'OS-EXT-STS:task_state'
+SERVER_TASK_STATE_POWERING_ON = 'powering-on'
+
+MUST_SPECIFY_NETWORK_EXCEPTION_TEXT = 'More than one possible network found.'
+SERVER_DELETE_CHECK_SLEEP = 2
+
+# Runtime properties
+NETWORKS_PROPERTY = 'networks'  # all of the server's ips
+IP_PROPERTY = 'ip'  # the server's private ip
+ADMIN_PASSWORD_PROPERTY = 'password'  # the server's password
+RUNTIME_PROPERTIES_KEYS = COMMON_RUNTIME_PROPERTIES_KEYS + \
+    [NETWORKS_PROPERTY, IP_PROPERTY, ADMIN_PASSWORD_PROPERTY]
+
+
+def _get_management_network_id_and_name(neutron_client, ctx):
+    """Examine the context to find the management network id and name."""
+    management_network_id = None
+    management_network_name = None
+    provider_context = provider(ctx)
+
+    if ('management_network_name' in ctx.node.properties) and \
+            ctx.node.properties['management_network_name']:
+        management_network_name = \
+            ctx.node.properties['management_network_name']
+        management_network_name = transform_resource_name(
+            ctx, management_network_name)
+        management_network_id = neutron_client.cosmo_get_named(
+            'network', management_network_name)
+        management_network_id = management_network_id['id']
+    else:
+        int_network = provider_context.int_network
+        if int_network:
+            management_network_id = int_network['id']
+            management_network_name = int_network['name']  # Already transform.
+
+    return management_network_id, management_network_name
+
+
+def _merge_nics(management_network_id, *nics_sources):
+    """Merge nics_sources into a single nics list, insert mgmt network if
+    needed.
+    nics_sources are lists of networks received from several sources
+    (server properties, relationships to networks, relationships to ports).
+    Merge them into a single list, and if the management network isn't present
+    there, prepend it as the first network.
+    """
+    merged = []
+    for nics in nics_sources:
+        merged.extend(nics)
+    if management_network_id is not None and \
+            not any(nic['net-id'] == management_network_id for nic in merged):
+        merged.insert(0, {'net-id': management_network_id})
+    return merged
+
+
+def _normalize_nics(nics):
+    """Transform the NICs passed to the form expected by openstack.
+
+    If both net-id and port-id are provided, remove net-id: it is ignored
+    by openstack anyway.
+    """
+    def _normalize(nic):
+        if 'port-id' in nic and 'net-id' in nic:
+            nic = nic.copy()
+            del nic['net-id']
+        return nic
+    return [_normalize(nic) for nic in nics]
+
+
+def _prepare_server_nics(neutron_client, ctx, server):
+    """Update server['nics'] based on declared relationships.
+
+    server['nics'] should contain the pre-declared nics, then the networks
+    that the server has a declared relationship to, then the networks
+    of the ports the server has a relationship to.
+
+    If that doesn't include the management network, it should be prepended
+    as the first network.
+
+    The management network id and name are stored in the server meta properties
+    """
+    network_ids = get_openstack_ids_of_connected_nodes_by_openstack_type(
+        ctx, NETWORK_OPENSTACK_TYPE)
+    port_ids = get_openstack_ids_of_connected_nodes_by_openstack_type(
+        ctx, PORT_OPENSTACK_TYPE)
+    management_network_id, management_network_name = \
+        _get_management_network_id_and_name(neutron_client, ctx)
+    if management_network_id is None and (network_ids or port_ids):
+        # Known limitation
+        raise NonRecoverableError(
+            "Nova server with NICs requires "
+            "'management_network_name' in properties or id "
+            "from provider context, which was not supplied")
+
+    nics = _merge_nics(
+        management_network_id,
+        server.get('nics', []),
+        [{'net-id': net_id} for net_id in network_ids],
+        get_port_networks(neutron_client, port_ids))
+
+    nics = _normalize_nics(nics)
+
+    server['nics'] = nics
+    if management_network_id is not None:
+        server['meta']['cloudify_management_network_id'] = \
+            management_network_id
+    if management_network_name is not None:
+        server['meta']['cloudify_management_network_name'] = \
+            management_network_name
+
+
+def _get_boot_volume_relationships(type_name, ctx):
+    ctx.logger.debug('Instance relationship target instances: {0}'.format(str([
+        rel.target.instance.runtime_properties
+        for rel in ctx.instance.relationships])))
+    targets = [
+            rel.target.instance
+            for rel in ctx.instance.relationships
+            if rel.target.instance.runtime_properties.get(
+                OPENSTACK_TYPE_PROPERTY) == type_name and
+            rel.target.node.properties.get('boot', False)]
+
+    if not targets:
+        return None
+    elif len(targets) > 1:
+        raise NonRecoverableError("2 boot volumes not supported")
+    return targets[0]
+
+
+def _handle_boot_volume(server, ctx):
+    boot_volume = _get_boot_volume_relationships(VOLUME_OPENSTACK_TYPE, ctx)
+    if boot_volume:
+        boot_volume_id = boot_volume.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+        ctx.logger.info('boot_volume_id: {0}'.format(boot_volume_id))
+        az = boot_volume.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_AZ_PROPERTY]
+        # If a block device mapping already exists we shouldn't overwrite it
+        # completely
+        bdm = server.setdefault('block_device_mapping', {})
+        bdm['vda'] = '{0}:::0'.format(boot_volume_id)
+        # Some nova configurations allow cross-az server-volume connections, so
+        # we can't treat that as an error.
+        if not server.get('availability_zone'):
+            server['availability_zone'] = az
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+@with_neutron_client
+def create(nova_client, neutron_client, args, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Creates a server. Exposes the parameters mentioned in
+    http://docs.openstack.org/developer/python-novaclient/api/novaclient.v1_1
+    .servers.html#novaclient.v1_1.servers.ServerManager.create
+    """
+
+    external_server = use_external_resource(ctx, nova_client,
+                                            SERVER_OPENSTACK_TYPE)
+
+    if external_server:
+        _set_network_and_ip_runtime_properties(external_server)
+        if ctx._local:
+            return
+        else:
+            network_ids = \
+                get_openstack_ids_of_connected_nodes_by_openstack_type(
+                    ctx, NETWORK_OPENSTACK_TYPE)
+            port_ids = get_openstack_ids_of_connected_nodes_by_openstack_type(
+                ctx, PORT_OPENSTACK_TYPE)
+            try:
+                _validate_external_server_nics(
+                    neutron_client,
+                    network_ids,
+                    port_ids
+                )
+                _validate_external_server_keypair(nova_client)
+                return
+            except Exception:
+                delete_runtime_properties(ctx, RUNTIME_PROPERTIES_KEYS)
+                raise
+
+    provider_context = provider(ctx)
+
+    def rename(name):
+        return transform_resource_name(ctx, name)
+
+    server = {
+        'name': get_resource_id(ctx, SERVER_OPENSTACK_TYPE),
+    }
+    server.update(copy.deepcopy(ctx.node.properties['server']))
+    server.update(copy.deepcopy(args))
+
+    _handle_boot_volume(server, ctx)
+    handle_image_from_relationship(server, 'image', ctx)
+
+    if 'meta' not in server:
+        server['meta'] = dict()
+
+    transform_resource_name(ctx, server)
+
+    ctx.logger.debug(
+        "server.create() server before transformations: {0}".format(server))
+
+    for key in 'block_device_mapping', 'block_device_mapping_v2':
+        if key in server:
+            # if there is a connected boot volume, don't require the `image`
+            # property.
+            # However, python-novaclient requires an `image` input anyway, and
+            # checks it for truthiness when deciding whether to pass it along
+            # to the API
+            if 'image' not in server:
+                server['image'] = ctx.node.properties.get('image')
+            break
+    else:
+        _handle_image_or_flavor(server, nova_client, 'image')
+    _handle_image_or_flavor(server, nova_client, 'flavor')
+
+    if provider_context.agents_security_group:
+        security_groups = server.get('security_groups', [])
+        asg = provider_context.agents_security_group['name']
+        if asg not in security_groups:
+            security_groups.append(asg)
+        server['security_groups'] = security_groups
+    elif not server.get('security_groups', []):
+        # Make sure that if the server is connected to a security group
+        # from CREATE time so that there the user can control
+        # that there is never a time that a running server is not protected.
+        security_group_names = \
+            get_openstack_names_of_connected_nodes_by_openstack_type(
+                ctx,
+                SECURITY_GROUP_OPENSTACK_TYPE)
+        server['security_groups'] = security_group_names
+
+    # server keypair handling
+    keypair_id = get_openstack_id_of_single_connected_node_by_openstack_type(
+        ctx, KEYPAIR_OPENSTACK_TYPE, True)
+
+    if 'key_name' in server:
+        if keypair_id:
+            raise NonRecoverableError("server can't both have the "
+                                      '"key_name" nested property and be '
+                                      'connected to a keypair via a '
+                                      'relationship at the same time')
+        server['key_name'] = rename(server['key_name'])
+    elif keypair_id:
+        server['key_name'] = _get_keypair_name_by_id(nova_client, keypair_id)
+    elif provider_context.agents_keypair:
+        server['key_name'] = provider_context.agents_keypair['name']
+    else:
+        server['key_name'] = None
+        ctx.logger.info(
+            'server must have a keypair, yet no keypair was connected to the '
+            'server node, the "key_name" nested property '
+            "wasn't used, and there is no agent keypair in the provider "
+            "context. Agent installation can have issues.")
+
+    _fail_on_missing_required_parameters(
+        server,
+        ('name', 'flavor'),
+        'server')
+
+    _prepare_server_nics(neutron_client, ctx, server)
+
+    ctx.logger.debug(
+        "server.create() server after transformations: {0}".format(server))
+
+    userdata.handle_userdata(server)
+
+    ctx.logger.info("Creating VM with parameters: {0}".format(str(server)))
+    # Store the server dictionary contents in runtime properties
+    assign_payload_as_runtime_properties(ctx, SERVER_OPENSTACK_TYPE, server)
+    ctx.logger.debug(
+        "Asking Nova to create server. All possible parameters are: {0})"
+        .format(','.join(server.keys())))
+
+    try:
+        s = nova_client.servers.create(**server)
+    except nova_exceptions.BadRequest as e:
+        if 'Block Device Mapping is Invalid' in str(e):
+            return ctx.operation.retry(
+                message='Block Device Mapping is not created yet',
+                retry_after=30)
+        if str(e).startswith(MUST_SPECIFY_NETWORK_EXCEPTION_TEXT):
+            raise NonRecoverableError(
+                "Can not provision server: management_network_name or id"
+                " is not specified but there are several networks that the "
+                "server can be connected to.")
+        raise
+    ctx.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY] = s.id
+    ctx.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_TYPE_PROPERTY] = \
+        SERVER_OPENSTACK_TYPE
+    ctx.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_NAME_PROPERTY] = server['name']
+
+
+def get_port_networks(neutron_client, port_ids):
+
+    def get_network(port_id):
+        port = neutron_client.show_port(port_id)
+        return {
+            'net-id': port['port']['network_id'],
+            'port-id': port['port']['id']
+        }
+
+    return map(get_network, port_ids)
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+def start(nova_client, start_retry_interval, private_key_path, **kwargs):
+    server = get_server_by_context(nova_client)
+
+    if is_external_resource_not_conditionally_created(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Validating external server is started')
+        if server.status != SERVER_STATUS_ACTIVE:
+            raise NonRecoverableError(
+                'Expected external resource server {0} to be in '
+                '"{1}" status'.format(server.id, SERVER_STATUS_ACTIVE))
+        return
+
+    if server.status == SERVER_STATUS_ACTIVE:
+        ctx.logger.info('Server is {0}'.format(server.status))
+
+        if ctx.node.properties['use_password']:
+            private_key = _get_private_key(private_key_path)
+            ctx.logger.debug('retrieving password for server')
+            password = server.get_password(private_key)
+
+            if not password:
+                return ctx.operation.retry(
+                    message='Waiting for server to post generated password',
+                    retry_after=start_retry_interval)
+
+            ctx.instance.runtime_properties[ADMIN_PASSWORD_PROPERTY] = password
+            ctx.logger.info('Server has been set with a password')
+
+        _set_network_and_ip_runtime_properties(server)
+        return
+
+    server_task_state = getattr(server, OS_EXT_STS_TASK_STATE)
+
+    if server.status == SERVER_STATUS_SHUTOFF and \
+            server_task_state != SERVER_TASK_STATE_POWERING_ON:
+        ctx.logger.info('Server is in {0} status - starting server...'.format(
+            SERVER_STATUS_SHUTOFF))
+        server.start()
+        server_task_state = SERVER_TASK_STATE_POWERING_ON
+
+    if server.status == SERVER_STATUS_BUILD or \
+            server_task_state == SERVER_TASK_STATE_POWERING_ON:
+        return ctx.operation.retry(
+            message='Waiting for server to be in {0} state but is in {1}:{2} '
+                    'state. Retrying...'.format(SERVER_STATUS_ACTIVE,
+                                                server.status,
+                                                server_task_state),
+            retry_after=start_retry_interval)
+
+    raise NonRecoverableError(
+        'Unexpected server state {0}:{1}'.format(server.status,
+                                                 server_task_state))
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+def stop(nova_client, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Stop server.
+
+    Depends on OpenStack implementation, server.stop() might not be supported.
+    """
+    if is_external_resource(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Not stopping server since an external server is '
+                        'being used')
+        return
+
+    server = get_server_by_context(nova_client)
+
+    if server.status != SERVER_STATUS_SHUTOFF:
+        nova_client.servers.stop(server)
+    else:
+        ctx.logger.info('Server is already stopped')
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+def delete(nova_client, **kwargs):
+    if not is_external_resource(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('deleting server')
+        server = get_server_by_context(nova_client)
+        nova_client.servers.delete(server)
+        _wait_for_server_to_be_deleted(nova_client, server)
+    else:
+        ctx.logger.info('not deleting server since an external server is '
+                        'being used')
+
+    delete_runtime_properties(ctx, RUNTIME_PROPERTIES_KEYS)
+
+
+def _wait_for_server_to_be_deleted(nova_client,
+                                   server,
+                                   timeout=120,
+                                   sleep_interval=5):
+    timeout = time.time() + timeout
+    while time.time() < timeout:
+        try:
+            server = nova_client.servers.get(server)
+            ctx.logger.debug('Waiting for server "{}" to be deleted. current'
+                             ' status: {}'.format(server.id, server.status))
+            time.sleep(sleep_interval)
+        except nova_exceptions.NotFound:
+            return
+    # recoverable error
+    raise RuntimeError('Server {} has not been deleted. waited for {} seconds'
+                       .format(server.id, timeout))
+
+
+def get_server_by_context(nova_client):
+    return nova_client.servers.get(
+        ctx.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY])
+
+
+def _set_network_and_ip_runtime_properties(server):
+
+    ips = {}
+
+    if not server.networks:
+        raise NonRecoverableError(
+            'The server was created but not attached to a network. '
+            'Cloudify requires that a server is connected to '
+            'at least one port.'
+        )
+
+    manager_network_ip = None
+    management_network_name = server.metadata.get(
+        'cloudify_management_network_name')
+
+    for network, network_ips in server.networks.items():
+        if (management_network_name and
+                network == management_network_name) or not \
+                manager_network_ip:
+            manager_network_ip = next(iter(network_ips or []), None)
+        ips[network] = network_ips
+    ctx.instance.runtime_properties[NETWORKS_PROPERTY] = ips
+    # The ip of this instance in the management network
+    ctx.instance.runtime_properties[IP_PROPERTY] = manager_network_ip
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+def connect_floatingip(nova_client, fixed_ip, **kwargs):
+    server_id = ctx.source.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    floating_ip_id = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[
+        OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+
+    if is_external_relationship_not_conditionally_created(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Validating external floatingip and server '
+                        'are associated')
+        if nova_client.floating_ips.get(floating_ip_id).instance_id ==\
+                server_id:
+            return
+        raise NonRecoverableError(
+            'Expected external resources server {0} and floating-ip {1} to be '
+            'connected'.format(server_id, floating_ip_id))
+
+    floating_ip_address = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[
+        IP_ADDRESS_PROPERTY]
+    server = nova_client.servers.get(server_id)
+    server.add_floating_ip(floating_ip_address, fixed_ip or None)
+
+    server = nova_client.servers.get(server_id)
+    all_server_ips = reduce(operator.add, server.networks.values())
+    if floating_ip_address not in all_server_ips:
+        return ctx.operation.retry(message='Failed to assign floating ip {0}'
+                                           ' to machine {1}.'
+                                   .format(floating_ip_address, server_id))
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+@with_neutron_client
+def disconnect_floatingip(nova_client, neutron_client, **kwargs):
+    if is_external_relationship(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Not disassociating floatingip and server since '
+                        'external floatingip and server are being used')
+        return
+
+    server_id = ctx.source.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    ctx.logger.info("Remove floating ip {0}".format(
+        ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[IP_ADDRESS_PROPERTY]))
+    server_floating_ip = get_server_floating_ip(neutron_client, server_id)
+    if server_floating_ip:
+        server = nova_client.servers.get(server_id)
+        server.remove_floating_ip(server_floating_ip['floating_ip_address'])
+        ctx.logger.info("Floating ip {0} detached from server"
+                        .format(server_floating_ip['floating_ip_address']))
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+def connect_security_group(nova_client, **kwargs):
+    server_id = ctx.source.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    security_group_id = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[
+        OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    security_group_name = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[
+        OPENSTACK_NAME_PROPERTY]
+
+    if is_external_relationship_not_conditionally_created(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Validating external security group and server '
+                        'are associated')
+        server = nova_client.servers.get(server_id)
+        if [sg for sg in server.list_security_group() if sg.id ==
+                security_group_id]:
+            return
+        raise NonRecoverableError(
+            'Expected external resources server {0} and security-group {1} to '
+            'be connected'.format(server_id, security_group_id))
+
+    server = nova_client.servers.get(server_id)
+    for security_group in server.list_security_group():
+        # Since some security groups are already attached in
+        # create this will ensure that they are not attached twice.
+        if security_group_id != security_group.id and \
+                security_group_name != security_group.name:
+            # to support nova security groups as well,
+            # we connect the security group by name
+            # (as connecting by id
+            # doesn't seem to work well for nova SGs)
+            server.add_security_group(security_group_name)
+
+    _validate_security_group_and_server_connection_status(nova_client,
+                                                          server_id,
+                                                          security_group_id,
+                                                          security_group_name,
+                                                          is_connected=True)
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+def disconnect_security_group(nova_client, **kwargs):
+    if is_external_relationship(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Not disconnecting security group and server since '
+                        'external security group and server are being used')
+        return
+
+    server_id = ctx.source.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    security_group_id = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[
+        OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    security_group_name = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[
+        OPENSTACK_NAME_PROPERTY]
+    server = nova_client.servers.get(server_id)
+    # to support nova security groups as well, we disconnect the security group
+    # by name (as disconnecting by id doesn't seem to work well for nova SGs)
+    server.remove_security_group(security_group_name)
+
+    _validate_security_group_and_server_connection_status(nova_client,
+                                                          server_id,
+                                                          security_group_id,
+                                                          security_group_name,
+                                                          is_connected=False)
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+@with_cinder_client
+def attach_volume(nova_client, cinder_client, status_attempts,
+                  status_timeout, **kwargs):
+    server_id = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    volume_id = ctx.source.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+
+    if is_external_relationship_not_conditionally_created(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Validating external volume and server '
+                        'are connected')
+        attachment = volume.get_attachment(cinder_client=cinder_client,
+                                           volume_id=volume_id,
+                                           server_id=server_id)
+        if attachment:
+            return
+        else:
+            raise NonRecoverableError(
+                'Expected external resources server {0} and volume {1} to be '
+                'connected'.format(server_id, volume_id))
+
+    # Note: The 'device_name' property should actually be a property of the
+    # relationship between a server and a volume; It'll move to that
+    # relationship type once relationship properties are better supported.
+    device = ctx.source.node.properties[volume.DEVICE_NAME_PROPERTY]
+    nova_client.volumes.create_server_volume(
+        server_id,
+        volume_id,
+        device if device != 'auto' else None)
+    try:
+        vol, wait_succeeded = volume.wait_until_status(
+            cinder_client=cinder_client,
+            volume_id=volume_id,
+            status=volume.VOLUME_STATUS_IN_USE,
+            num_tries=status_attempts,
+            timeout=status_timeout
+        )
+        if not wait_succeeded:
+            raise RecoverableError(
+                'Waiting for volume status {0} failed - detaching volume and '
+                'retrying..'.format(volume.VOLUME_STATUS_IN_USE))
+        if device == 'auto':
+            # The device name was assigned automatically so we
+            # query the actual device name
+            attachment = volume.get_attachment(
+                cinder_client=cinder_client,
+                volume_id=volume_id,
+                server_id=server_id
+            )
+            device_name = attachment['device']
+            ctx.logger.info('Detected device name for attachment of volume '
+                            '{0} to server {1}: {2}'
+                            .format(volume_id, server_id, device_name))
+            ctx.source.instance.runtime_properties[
+                volume.DEVICE_NAME_PROPERTY] = device_name
+    except Exception, e:
+        if not isinstance(e, NonRecoverableError):
+            _prepare_attach_volume_to_be_repeated(
+                nova_client, cinder_client, server_id, volume_id,
+                status_attempts, status_timeout)
+        raise
+
+
+def _prepare_attach_volume_to_be_repeated(
+        nova_client, cinder_client, server_id, volume_id,
+        status_attempts, status_timeout):
+
+    ctx.logger.info('Cleaning after a failed attach_volume() call')
+    try:
+        _detach_volume(nova_client, cinder_client, server_id, volume_id,
+                       status_attempts, status_timeout)
+    except Exception, e:
+        ctx.logger.error('Cleaning after a failed attach_volume() call failed '
+                         'raising a \'{0}\' exception.'.format(e))
+        raise NonRecoverableError(e)
+
+
+def _detach_volume(nova_client, cinder_client, server_id, volume_id,
+                   status_attempts, status_timeout):
+    attachment = volume.get_attachment(cinder_client=cinder_client,
+                                       volume_id=volume_id,
+                                       server_id=server_id)
+    if attachment:
+        nova_client.volumes.delete_server_volume(server_id, attachment['id'])
+        volume.wait_until_status(cinder_client=cinder_client,
+                                 volume_id=volume_id,
+                                 status=volume.VOLUME_STATUS_AVAILABLE,
+                                 num_tries=status_attempts,
+                                 timeout=status_timeout)
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+@with_cinder_client
+def detach_volume(nova_client, cinder_client, status_attempts,
+                  status_timeout, **kwargs):
+    if is_external_relationship(ctx):
+        ctx.logger.info('Not detaching volume from server since '
+                        'external volume and server are being used')
+        return
+
+    server_id = ctx.target.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    volume_id = ctx.source.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+
+    _detach_volume(nova_client, cinder_client, server_id, volume_id,
+                   status_attempts, status_timeout)
+
+
+def _fail_on_missing_required_parameters(obj, required_parameters, hint_where):
+    for k in required_parameters:
+        if k not in obj:
+            raise NonRecoverableError(
+                "Required parameter '{0}' is missing (under host's "
+                "properties.{1}). Required parameters are: {2}"
+                .format(k, hint_where, required_parameters))
+
+
+def _validate_external_server_keypair(nova_client):
+    keypair_id = get_openstack_id_of_single_connected_node_by_openstack_type(
+        ctx, KEYPAIR_OPENSTACK_TYPE, True)
+    if not keypair_id:
+        return
+
+    keypair_instance_id = \
+        [node_instance_id for node_instance_id, runtime_props in
+         ctx.capabilities.get_all().iteritems() if
+         runtime_props.get(OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY) == keypair_id][0]
+    keypair_node_properties = _get_properties_by_node_instance_id(
+        keypair_instance_id)
+    if not is_external_resource_by_properties(keypair_node_properties):
+        raise NonRecoverableError(
+            "Can't connect a new keypair node to a server node "
+            "with '{0}'=True".format(USE_EXTERNAL_RESOURCE_PROPERTY))
+
+    server = get_server_by_context(nova_client)
+    if keypair_id == _get_keypair_name_by_id(nova_client, server.key_name):
+        return
+    raise NonRecoverableError(
+        "Expected external resources server {0} and keypair {1} to be "
+        "connected".format(server.id, keypair_id))
+
+
+def _get_keypair_name_by_id(nova_client, key_name):
+    keypair = nova_client.cosmo_get_named(KEYPAIR_OPENSTACK_TYPE, key_name)
+    return keypair.id
+
+
+def _validate_external_server_nics(neutron_client, network_ids, port_ids):
+    # validate no new nics are being assigned to an existing server (which
+    # isn't possible on Openstack)
+    new_nic_nodes = \
+        [node_instance_id for node_instance_id, runtime_props in
+         ctx.capabilities.get_all().iteritems() if runtime_props.get(
+             OPENSTACK_TYPE_PROPERTY) in (PORT_OPENSTACK_TYPE,
+                                          NETWORK_OPENSTACK_TYPE) and
+         not is_external_resource_by_properties(
+             _get_properties_by_node_instance_id(node_instance_id))]
+    if new_nic_nodes:
+        raise NonRecoverableError(
+            "Can't connect new port and/or network nodes to a server node "
+            "with '{0}'=True".format(USE_EXTERNAL_RESOURCE_PROPERTY))
+
+    # validate all expected connected networks and ports are indeed already
+    # connected to the server. note that additional networks (e.g. the
+    # management network) may be connected as well with no error raised
+    if not network_ids and not port_ids:
+        return
+
+    server_id = ctx.instance.runtime_properties[OPENSTACK_ID_PROPERTY]
+    connected_ports = neutron_client.list_ports(device_id=server_id)['ports']
+
+    # not counting networks connected by a connected port since allegedly
+    # the connection should be on a separate port
+    connected_ports_networks = {port['network_id'] for port in
+                                connected_ports if port['id'] not in port_ids}
+    connected_ports_ids = {port['id'] for port in
+                           connected_ports}
+    disconnected_networks = [network_id for network_id in network_ids if
+                             network_id not in connected_ports_networks]
+    disconnected_ports = [port_id for port_id in port_ids if port_id not
+                          in connected_ports_ids]
+    if disconnected_networks or disconnected_ports:
+        raise NonRecoverableError(
+            'Expected external resources to be connected to external server {'
+            '0}: Networks - {1}; Ports - {2}'.format(server_id,
+                                                     disconnected_networks,
+                                                     disconnected_ports))
+
+
+def _get_properties_by_node_instance_id(node_instance_id):
+    client = get_rest_client()
+    node_instance = client.node_instances.get(node_instance_id)
+    node = client.nodes.get(ctx.deployment.id, node_instance.node_id)
+    return node.properties
+
+
+@operation
+@with_nova_client
+def creation_validation(nova_client, args, **kwargs):
+
+    def validate_server_property_value_exists(server_props, property_name):
+        ctx.logger.debug(
+            'checking whether {0} exists...'.format(property_name))
+
+        serv_props_copy = server_props.copy()
+        try:
+            handle_image_from_relationship(serv_props_copy, 'image', ctx)
+            _handle_image_or_flavor(serv_props_copy, nova_client,
+                                    property_name)
+        except (NonRecoverableError, nova_exceptions.NotFound) as e:
+            # temporary error - once image/flavor_name get removed, these
+            # errors won't be relevant anymore
+            err = str(e)
+            ctx.logger.error('VALIDATION ERROR: ' + err)
+            raise NonRecoverableError(err)
+
+        prop_value_id = str(serv_props_copy[property_name])
+        prop_values = list(nova_client.cosmo_list(property_name))
+        for f in prop_values:
+            if prop_value_id == f.id:
+                ctx.logger.debug('OK: {0} exists'.format(property_name))
+                return
+        err = '{0} {1} does not exist'.format(property_name, prop_value_id)
+        ctx.logger.error('VALIDATION ERROR: ' + err)
+        if prop_values:
+            ctx.logger.info('list of available {0}s:'.format(property_name))
+            for f in prop_values:
+                ctx.logger.info('    {0:>10} - {1}'.format(f.id, f.name))
+        else:
+            ctx.logger.info('there are no available {0}s'.format(
+                property_name))
+        raise NonRecoverableError(err)
+
+    validate_resource(ctx, nova_client, SERVER_OPENSTACK_TYPE)
+
+    server_props = dict(ctx.node.properties['server'], **args)
+    validate_server_property_value_exists(server_props, 'flavor')
+
+
+def _get_private_key(private_key_path):
+    pk_node_by_rel = \
+        get_single_connected_node_by_openstack_type(
+            ctx, KEYPAIR_OPENSTACK_TYPE, True)
+
+    if private_key_path:
+        if pk_node_by_rel:
+            raise NonRecoverableError("server can't both have a "
+                                      '"private_key_path" input and be '
+                                      'connected to a keypair via a '
+                                      'relationship at the same time')
+        key_path = private_key_path
+    else:
+        if pk_node_by_rel and pk_node_by_rel.properties['private_key_path']:
+            key_path = pk_node_by_rel.properties['private_key_path']
+        else:
+            key_path = ctx.bootstrap_context.cloudify_agent.agent_key_path
+
+    if key_path:
+        key_path = os.path.expanduser(key_path)
+        if os.path.isfile(key_path):
+            return key_path
+
+    err_message = 'Cannot find private key file'
+    if key_path:
+        err_message += '; expected file path was {0}'.format(key_path)
+    raise NonRecoverableError(err_message)
+
+
+def _validate_security_group_and_server_connection_status(
+        nova_client, server_id, sg_id, sg_name, is_connected):
+
+    # verifying the security group got connected or disconnected
+    # successfully - this is due to Openstack concurrency issues that may
+    # take place when attempting to connect/disconnect multiple SGs to the
+    # same server at the same time
+    server = nova_client.servers.get(server_id)
+
+    if is_connected ^ any(sg for sg in server.list_security_group() if
+                          sg.id == sg_id):
+        raise RecoverableError(
+            message='Security group {0} did not get {2} server {1} '
+                    'properly'
+            .format(
+                sg_name,
+                server.name,
+                'connected to' if is_connected else 'disconnected from'))
+
+
+def _handle_image_or_flavor(server, nova_client, prop_name):
+    if prop_name not in server and '{0}_name'.format(prop_name) not in server:
+        # setting image or flavor - looking it up by name; if not found, then
+        # the value is assumed to be the id
+        server[prop_name] = ctx.node.properties[prop_name]
+
+        # temporary error message: once the 'image' and 'flavor' properties
+        # become mandatory, this will become less relevant
+        if not server[prop_name]:
+            raise NonRecoverableError(
+                'must set {0} by either setting a "{0}" property or by setting'
+                ' a "{0}" or "{0}_name" (deprecated) field under the "server" '
+                'property'.format(prop_name))
+
+        image_or_flavor = \
+            nova_client.cosmo_get_if_exists(prop_name, name=server[prop_name])
+        if image_or_flavor:
+            server[prop_name] = image_or_flavor.id
+    else:  # Deprecated sugar
+        if '{0}_name'.format(prop_name) in server:
+            prop_name_plural = nova_client.cosmo_plural(prop_name)
+            server[prop_name] = \
+                getattr(nova_client, prop_name_plural).find(
+                    name=server['{0}_name'.format(prop_name)]).id
+            del server['{0}_name'.format(prop_name)]