diff --git a/jjb/pipeline/voltha-tt-physical-functional-tests.groovy b/jjb/pipeline/voltha-tt-physical-functional-tests.groovy
index e7250aa..35b034a 100644
--- a/jjb/pipeline/voltha-tt-physical-functional-tests.groovy
+++ b/jjb/pipeline/voltha-tt-physical-functional-tests.groovy
@@ -217,15 +217,13 @@
       steps {
         sh """
         mkdir -p $ROBOT_LOGS_DIR
-        if [ "${params.branch}" == "master" ]; then
-          if [ ${params.enableMultiUni} = false ]; then
-            if ( ${powerSwitch} ); then
-              export ROBOT_MISC_ARGS="--removekeywords wuks -L TRACE -i functionalTT -i PowerSwitch -e bbsim -e notready -d $ROBOT_LOGS_DIR -v POD_NAME:${configFileName} -v KUBERNETES_CONFIGS_DIR:$WORKSPACE/${configBaseDir}/${configKubernetesDir} -v container_log_dir:$WORKSPACE -v OLT_ADAPTER_APP_LABEL:${oltAdapterAppLabel} -V $ROBOT_TEST_INPUT_FILE"
-            else
-              export ROBOT_MISC_ARGS="--removekeywords wuks -L TRACE -i functionalTT -e PowerSwitch -e bbsim -e notready -d $ROBOT_LOGS_DIR -v POD_NAME:${configFileName} -v KUBERNETES_CONFIGS_DIR:$WORKSPACE/${configBaseDir}/${configKubernetesDir} -v container_log_dir:$WORKSPACE -v OLT_ADAPTER_APP_LABEL:${oltAdapterAppLabel} -V $ROBOT_TEST_INPUT_FILE"
-            fi
-            make -C $WORKSPACE/voltha-system-tests voltha-tt-test || true
+        if [ ${params.enableMultiUni} = false ]; then
+          if ( ${powerSwitch} ); then
+            export ROBOT_MISC_ARGS="--removekeywords wuks -L TRACE -i functionalTT -i PowerSwitch -e bbsim -e notready -d $ROBOT_LOGS_DIR -v POD_NAME:${configFileName} -v KUBERNETES_CONFIGS_DIR:$WORKSPACE/${configBaseDir}/${configKubernetesDir} -v container_log_dir:$WORKSPACE -v OLT_ADAPTER_APP_LABEL:${oltAdapterAppLabel} -V $ROBOT_TEST_INPUT_FILE"
+          else
+            export ROBOT_MISC_ARGS="--removekeywords wuks -L TRACE -i functionalTT -e PowerSwitch -e bbsim -e notready -d $ROBOT_LOGS_DIR -v POD_NAME:${configFileName} -v KUBERNETES_CONFIGS_DIR:$WORKSPACE/${configBaseDir}/${configKubernetesDir} -v container_log_dir:$WORKSPACE -v OLT_ADAPTER_APP_LABEL:${oltAdapterAppLabel} -V $ROBOT_TEST_INPUT_FILE"
           fi
+          make -C $WORKSPACE/voltha-system-tests voltha-tt-test || true
         fi
         """
       }
diff --git a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/physical-build.groovy b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/physical-build.groovy
index ee49e55..079ba91 100644
--- a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/physical-build.groovy
+++ b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/physical-build.groovy
@@ -282,24 +282,11 @@
             for(int i=0; i < deployment_config.olts.size(); i++) {
               // NOTE what is oltDebVersion23? is that for VOLTHA-2.3? do we still need this differentiation?
               sh returnStdout: true, script: """
-              if [[ "${branch}" != "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "true" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+              ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+              if [ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "true" ]; then
                 sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} 'kill -9 `pgrep -f "[b]ash /opt/openolt/openolt_dev_mgmt_daemon_process_watchdog"` || true'
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion23}"
               fi
-              if [[ "${branch}" != "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "false" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion23}"
-              fi
-              if [[ "${branch}" == "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "true" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} 'kill -9 `pgrep -f "[b]ash /opt/openolt/openolt_dev_mgmt_daemon_process_watchdog"` || true'
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion}"
-              fi
-              if [[ "${branch}" == "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "false" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion}"
-              fi
+              sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion}"
               sleep 10
               """
               timeout(5) {
diff --git a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.8/physical-build.groovy b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.8/physical-build.groovy
index f26fd4a..3dbd97a 100644
--- a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.8/physical-build.groovy
+++ b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.8/physical-build.groovy
@@ -283,24 +283,11 @@
             for(int i=0; i < deployment_config.olts.size(); i++) {
               // NOTE what is oltDebVersion23? is that for VOLTHA-2.3? do we still need this differentiation?
               sh returnStdout: true, script: """
-              if [[ "${branch}" != "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "true" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+              ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+              if [ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "true" ]; then
                 sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} 'kill -9 `pgrep -f "[b]ash /opt/openolt/openolt_dev_mgmt_daemon_process_watchdog"` || true'
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion23}"
               fi
-              if [[ "${branch}" != "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "false" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion23}"
-              fi
-              if [[ "${branch}" == "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "true" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} 'kill -9 `pgrep -f "[b]ash /opt/openolt/openolt_dev_mgmt_daemon_process_watchdog"` || true'
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion}"
-              fi
-              if [[ "${branch}" == "master" ]] && [[ "${params.inBandManagement}" == "false" ]]; then
-                ssh-keyscan -H ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
-                sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion}"
-              fi
+              sshpass -p ${deployment_config.olts[i].pass} ssh -l ${deployment_config.olts[i].user} ${deployment_config.olts[i].sship} "dpkg --install ${deployment_config.olts[i].oltDebVersion}"
               sleep 10
               """
               timeout(5) {
diff --git a/jjb/voltha-test/voltha.yaml b/jjb/voltha-test/voltha.yaml
index ea29df6..1921987 100644
--- a/jjb/voltha-test/voltha.yaml
+++ b/jjb/voltha-test/voltha.yaml
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@
       - 'build_voltha_pod_manual':
           build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
           config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
+          disable-job: true
           bbsimReplicas: 1
           profile: '1T8GEM'
           name-extension: '_DT'
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@
       - 'build_voltha_pod_manual_test':
           build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
           config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
-          disable-job: false
+          disable-job: true
           profile: '1T8GEM'
           branch: 'master'
           release: 'master'
@@ -290,7 +291,7 @@
       - 'build_voltha_pod_soak_test':
           build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
           config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
-          'disable-job': false
+          'disable-job': true
           profile: '1T8GEM'
           branch: 'master'
           release: 'master'
@@ -306,7 +307,7 @@
       - 'build_voltha_pod_soak_test':
           build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
           config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
-          'disable-job': false
+          'disable-job': true
           profile: '1T8GEM'
           branch: 'master'
           release: 'master'
@@ -317,7 +318,71 @@
           pipeline-script: 'voltha-physical-soak-dt-tests.groovy'
           time-trigger: "H H * * 6"
 
-      # Certification (Radisys) pod with olt/onu - master versions timer based job , two OLTs
+      # ONF Menlo Soak POD build job - voltha-2.8 branch
+      - 'build_voltha_pod_manual':
+          build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
+          config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
+          disable-job: false
+          branch: 'voltha-2.8'
+          release: '2.8'
+          bbsimReplicas: 1
+          profile: '1T8GEM'
+          name-extension: '_DT'
+          work-flow: 'DT'
+          reinstall-olt: true
+          num-of-onus: 32
+          num-of-ponports: 16
+          logLevel: 'WARN'
+          pipeline-script: 'voltha/voltha-2.8/physical-build.groovy'
+
+      # ONF Menlo Soak POD test job - voltha-2.8 branch
+      # Run tests manually triggering the job
+      - 'build_voltha_pod_manual_test':
+          build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
+          config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
+          disable-job: false
+          profile: '1T8GEM'
+          branch: 'voltha-2.8'
+          release: '2.8'
+          work-flow: 'DT'
+          name-extension: '_DT_soak_Func'
+          test-type: 'Functional'
+          test-repo: 'voltha-system-tests'
+          pipeline-script: 'voltha-physical-soak-dt-tests.groovy'
+
+      # ONF Menlo Soak POD test job - voltha-2.8 branch
+      # Run failure/recovery tests every Wednesday
+      - 'build_voltha_pod_soak_test':
+          build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
+          config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
+          'disable-job': false
+          profile: '1T8GEM'
+          branch: 'voltha-2.8'
+          release: '2.8'
+          work-flow: 'DT'
+          name-extension: '_DT_soak_Fail'
+          test-type: 'Failure'
+          test-repo: 'voltha-system-tests'
+          pipeline-script: 'voltha-physical-soak-dt-tests.groovy'
+          time-trigger: "H H * * 3"
+
+      # ONF Menlo Soak POD test job - voltha-2.8 branch
+      # Run dataplane tests every Saturday
+      - 'build_voltha_pod_soak_test':
+          build-node: 'menlo-soak-pod'
+          config-pod: 'onf-soak-pod'
+          'disable-job': false
+          profile: '1T8GEM'
+          branch: 'voltha-2.8'
+          release: '2.8'
+          work-flow: 'DT'
+          name-extension: '_DT_soak_DP'
+          test-type: 'Dataplane'
+          test-repo: 'voltha-system-tests'
+          pipeline-script: 'voltha-physical-soak-dt-tests.groovy'
+          time-trigger: "H H * * 6"
+
+      # Certification (Radisys) pod with olt/onu - master versions timer based job
       - 'build_voltha_pod_release_timer':
           build-node: 'menlo-certification-pod'
           config-pod: 'menlo-certification-pod-radisys-gpon'
@@ -330,7 +395,7 @@
           num-of-atomix: '3'
           time: '1'
 
-      # Certification (Radisys) POD test job - master versions: uses tech profile on voltha branch
+      # Certification (Radisys) POD test job - master versions: uses 1T8GEM tech profile on voltha branch
       - 'build_voltha_pod_test':
           build-node: 'menlo-certification-pod'
           config-pod: 'menlo-certification-pod-radisys-gpon'
@@ -344,6 +409,36 @@
           power-switch: True
           pipeline-script: 'voltha-dt-physical-functional-tests.groovy'
 
+        # Certification (Radisys) pod with olt/onu - 2.8 version timer based job
+      - 'build_voltha_pod_release_timer':
+          build-node: 'menlo-certification-pod'
+          config-pod: 'menlo-certification-pod-radisys-gpon'
+          disable-job: false
+          reinstall-olt: false
+          release: '2.8'
+          branch: 'voltha-2.8'
+          name-extension: '_DT'
+          work-flow: 'DT'
+          profile: '1T8GEM'
+          num-of-onos: '3'
+          num-of-atomix: '3'
+          time: '7'
+          pipeline-script: 'voltha/voltha-2.8/physical-build.groovy'
+
+        # Certification (Radisys) POD test job - master versions: uses 1T8GEM tech profile on voltha branch
+      - 'build_voltha_pod_test':
+          build-node: 'menlo-certification-pod'
+          config-pod: 'menlo-certification-pod-radisys-gpon'
+          disable-job: false
+          release: '2.8'
+          branch: 'voltha-2.8'
+          name-extension: '_DT'
+          work-flow: 'DT'
+          test-repo: 'voltha-system-tests'
+          profile: '1T8GEM'
+          power-switch: True
+          pipeline-script: 'voltha-dt-physical-functional-tests.groovy'
+
       # Certification (Radisys) pod with olt/onu - master versions timer based job , two OLTs
       - 'build_voltha_pod_release_timer':
             build-node: 'menlo-certification-pod'