diff --git a/roles/compute-node-config/defaults/main.yml b/roles/compute-node-config/defaults/main.yml
index 70507cc..dffca62 100644
--- a/roles/compute-node-config/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/compute-node-config/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 ---
 # compute-node-config/defaults/main.yml
 
-cord_profile_dir: "{{ ansible_user_dir + '/cord_profile' }}"
+# location of cord_profile on head node
+head_cord_profile_dir: /opt/cord_profile
+
+# name of the external interface on compute nodes. Should have the ansible_ prefix.
+# `fabric` is default in R-CORD
+compute_external_interface: ansible_fabric
 
 # service configs referenced here are likely located in cord-profile/templates
-
 # used in openstack-compute-vtn.yaml.j2, referencing network in management-net.yaml.j2
 use_management_hosts: False
 vtn_management_host_net_interface: veth3
@@ -12,3 +16,4 @@
 # used in openstack-compute-vtn.yaml.j2, referencing service in fabric.yaml.j2
 use_fabric: False
 
+
diff --git a/roles/compute-node-config/tasks/main.yml b/roles/compute-node-config/tasks/main.yml
index 6500dbb..c592bf7 100644
--- a/roles/compute-node-config/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/compute-node-config/tasks/main.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 - name: Create OpenStack compute node TOSCA
   template:
     src: "{{ item }}.j2"
-    dest: "{{ cord_profile_dir }}/{{ item }}"
+    dest: "{{ head_cord_profile_dir }}/{{ item }}"
     owner: "{{ ansible_user_id }}"
     mode: 0644
   with_items: