diff --git a/tests/testutils.py b/tests/testutils.py
index b4c9e28..6f8e0b4 100644
--- a/tests/testutils.py
+++ b/tests/testutils.py
@@ -1,16 +1,60 @@
 
+import scapy.all as scapy
+
 import oftest.controller as controller
 import oftest.cstruct as ofp
 import oftest.message as message
 import oftest.dataplane as dataplane
 import oftest.action as action
+import oftest.parse as parse
 import logging
 
-def delete_all_flows(controller, logger):
+def delete_all_flows(ctrl, logger):
+    """
+    Delete all flows on the switch
+    @param ctrl The controller object for the test
+    @param logger Logging object
+    """
+
     logger.info("Deleting all flows")
     msg = message.flow_mod()
     msg.match.wildcards = ofp.OFPFW_ALL
+    msg.out_port = ofp.OFPP_NONE
     msg.command = ofp.OFPFC_DELETE
     msg.buffer_id = 0xffffffff
-    return controller.message_send(msg)
-    
+    return ctrl.message_send(msg)
+
+def simple_tcp_packet(pktlen=100, 
+                      dl_dst='00:01:02:03:04:05',
+                      dl_src='00:06:07:08:09:0a',
+                      ip_src='192.168.0.1',
+                      ip_dst='192.168.0.2',
+                      tcp_sport=1234,
+                      tcp_dport=80
+                      ):
+    """
+    Return a simple dataplane TCP packet
+
+    Supports a few parameters:
+    @param len Length of packet in bytes w/o CRC
+    @param dl_dst Destinatino MAC
+    @param dl_src Source MAC
+    @param ip_src IP source
+    @param ip_dst IP destination
+    @param tcp_dport TCP destination port
+    @param ip_sport TCP source port
+
+    Generates a simple TCP request.  Users
+    shouldn't assume anything about this packet other than that
+    it is a valid ethernet/IP/TCP frame.
+    """
+    pkt = scapy.Ether(dst=dl_dst, src=dl_src)/ \
+        scapy.IP(src=ip_src, dst=ip_dst)/ \
+        scapy.TCP(sport=tcp_sport, dport=tcp_dport)
+    pkt = pkt/("D" * (pktlen - len(pkt)))
+
+    return pkt
+
+def do_barrier(ctrl):
+    b = message.barrier_request()
+    ctrl.transact(b)