diff --git a/ansible/opencloud-in-a-box-playbook.yml b/ansible/opencloud-in-a-box-playbook.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b469b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/opencloud-in-a-box-playbook.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+# opencloud-in-a-box-playbook.yml
+# configures host for running the OpenCloud-in-a-Box
+
+- name: Include vars
+  hosts: localhost
+  tasks:
+    - name: Include vars
+      include_vars: "../config/opencloud_in_a_box.yaml"
+
+- name: Configure libvirt networks
+  hosts: localhost
+  roles:
+    - virt-nets
+
diff --git a/ansible/roles/virt-nets/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/virt-nets/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5126a98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/roles/virt-nets/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+# virt-nets/defaults/main.yml
+
+virt_nets: []
+
diff --git a/ansible/roles/virt-nets/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/virt-nets/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15e52e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/roles/virt-nets/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+# virt-nets/tasks/main.yml
+
+- name: Install libvirt/lxml python module
+  apt:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    update_cache: yes
+    cache_valid_time: 3600
+  with_items:
+    - python-libvirt
+    - python-lxml
+
+- name: collect libvirt network facts
+  virt_net:
+    command: facts
+
+- name: Tear down libvirt's default network
+  when: ansible_libvirt_networks["default"] is defined
+  virt_net:
+    command: "{{ item }}"
+    name: "default"
+  with_items:
+    - destroy
+    - undefine
+
+# note, this isn't idempotent, so may need manual fixing if it changes
+- name: Define libvirt networks settings (IP/DHCP/DNS)
+  when: "{{ ansible_libvirt_networks[item.name] is not defined }}"
+  virt_net:
+    name: "{{ item.name }}"
+    command: define
+    xml: "{{ lookup('template', 'virt_net.xml.j2') }}"
+  with_items: "{{ virt_nets }}"
+
+- name: Collect libvirt network facts after defining new network
+  virt_net:
+    command: facts
+
+- name: Start libvirt networks
+  when: "{{ ansible_libvirt_networks[item.name].state != 'active' }}"
+  virt_net:
+    name: "{{ item.name }}"
+    command: create
+    autostart: yes
+  with_items: "{{ virt_nets }}"
+
+- name: Have libvirt networks automatically start on reboot
+  when: "{{ ansible_libvirt_networks[item.name].autostart != 'yes' }}"
+  virt_net:
+    name: "{{ item.name }}"
+    autostart: yes
+  with_items: "{{ virt_nets }}"
+
diff --git a/ansible/roles/virt-nets/templates/virt_net.xml.j2 b/ansible/roles/virt-nets/templates/virt_net.xml.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83e95ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/roles/virt-nets/templates/virt_net.xml.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<network>
+  <name>{{ item.name }}</name>
+  <bridge name="br-{{ item.name }}"/>
+  <forward/>
+  <ip address="{{ item.ipv4_prefix }}.1" netmask="255.255.255.0">
+    <dhcp>
+      <range start="{{ item.ipv4_prefix }}.2" end="{{ item.ipv4_prefix }}.254"/>
+{% for node in item.nodes %}
+      <host name='{{ node.name }}' ip='{{ item.ipv4_prefix }}.{{ node.ipv4_last_octet }}'/>
+{% endfor %}
+    </dhcp>
+  </ip>
+</network>