diff --git a/python/common/openflow/utils.py b/python/common/openflow/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..456ae06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/common/openflow/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,558 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2017 the original author or authors.
+#
+# 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 structlog
+
+from python.protos import openflow_13_pb2 as ofp
+from hashlib import md5
+
+log = structlog.get_logger()
+
+# aliases
+ofb_field = ofp.ofp_oxm_ofb_field
+action = ofp.ofp_action
+
+# OFPAT_* shortcuts
+OUTPUT = ofp.OFPAT_OUTPUT
+COPY_TTL_OUT = ofp.OFPAT_COPY_TTL_OUT
+COPY_TTL_IN = ofp.OFPAT_COPY_TTL_IN
+SET_MPLS_TTL = ofp.OFPAT_SET_MPLS_TTL
+DEC_MPLS_TTL = ofp.OFPAT_DEC_MPLS_TTL
+PUSH_VLAN = ofp.OFPAT_PUSH_VLAN
+POP_VLAN = ofp.OFPAT_POP_VLAN
+PUSH_MPLS = ofp.OFPAT_PUSH_MPLS
+POP_MPLS = ofp.OFPAT_POP_MPLS
+SET_QUEUE = ofp.OFPAT_SET_QUEUE
+GROUP = ofp.OFPAT_GROUP
+SET_NW_TTL = ofp.OFPAT_SET_NW_TTL
+NW_TTL = ofp.OFPAT_DEC_NW_TTL
+SET_FIELD = ofp.OFPAT_SET_FIELD
+PUSH_PBB = ofp.OFPAT_PUSH_PBB
+POP_PBB = ofp.OFPAT_POP_PBB
+EXPERIMENTER = ofp.OFPAT_EXPERIMENTER
+
+# OFPXMT_OFB_* shortcuts (incomplete)
+IN_PORT = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IN_PORT
+IN_PHY_PORT = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IN_PHY_PORT
+METADATA = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_METADATA
+ETH_DST = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ETH_DST
+ETH_SRC = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ETH_SRC
+ETH_TYPE = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ETH_TYPE
+VLAN_VID = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_VLAN_VID
+VLAN_PCP = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_VLAN_PCP
+IP_DSCP = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IP_DSCP
+IP_ECN = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IP_ECN
+IP_PROTO = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IP_PROTO
+IPV4_SRC = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV4_SRC
+IPV4_DST = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV4_DST
+TCP_SRC = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_TCP_SRC
+TCP_DST = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_TCP_DST
+UDP_SRC = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_UDP_SRC
+UDP_DST = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_UDP_DST
+SCTP_SRC = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_SCTP_SRC
+SCTP_DST = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_SCTP_DST
+ICMPV4_TYPE = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ICMPV4_TYPE
+ICMPV4_CODE = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ICMPV4_CODE
+ARP_OP = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ARP_OP
+ARP_SPA = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ARP_SPA
+ARP_TPA = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ARP_TPA
+ARP_SHA = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ARP_SHA
+ARP_THA = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ARP_THA
+IPV6_SRC = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV6_SRC
+IPV6_DST = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV6_DST
+IPV6_FLABEL = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV6_FLABEL
+ICMPV6_TYPE = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ICMPV6_TYPE
+ICMPV6_CODE = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ICMPV6_CODE
+IPV6_ND_TARGET = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV6_ND_TARGET
+OFB_IPV6_ND_SLL = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV6_ND_SLL
+IPV6_ND_TLL = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV6_ND_TLL
+MPLS_LABEL = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_MPLS_LABEL
+MPLS_TC = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_MPLS_TC
+MPLS_BOS = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_MPLS_BOS
+PBB_ISID = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_PBB_ISID
+TUNNEL_ID = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_TUNNEL_ID
+IPV6_EXTHDR = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IPV6_EXTHDR
+
+
+# ofp_action_* shortcuts
+
+def output(port, max_len=ofp.OFPCML_MAX):
+    return action(
+        type=OUTPUT,
+        output=ofp.ofp_action_output(port=port, max_len=max_len)
+    )
+
+
+def mpls_ttl(ttl):
+    return action(
+        type=SET_MPLS_TTL,
+        mpls_ttl=ofp.ofp_action_mpls_ttl(mpls_ttl=ttl)
+    )
+
+
+def push_vlan(eth_type):
+    return action(
+        type=PUSH_VLAN,
+        push=ofp.ofp_action_push(ethertype=eth_type)
+    )
+
+
+def pop_vlan():
+    return action(
+        type=POP_VLAN
+    )
+
+
+def pop_mpls(eth_type):
+    return action(
+        type=POP_MPLS,
+        pop_mpls=ofp.ofp_action_pop_mpls(ethertype=eth_type)
+    )
+
+
+def group(group_id):
+    return action(
+        type=GROUP,
+        group=ofp.ofp_action_group(group_id=group_id)
+    )
+
+
+def nw_ttl(nw_ttl):
+    return action(
+        type=NW_TTL,
+        nw_ttl=ofp.ofp_action_nw_ttl(nw_ttl=nw_ttl)
+    )
+
+
+def set_field(field):
+    return action(
+        type=SET_FIELD,
+        set_field=ofp.ofp_action_set_field(
+            field=ofp.ofp_oxm_field(
+                oxm_class=ofp.OFPXMC_OPENFLOW_BASIC,
+                ofb_field=field))
+    )
+
+
+def experimenter(experimenter, data):
+    return action(
+        type=EXPERIMENTER,
+        experimenter=ofp.ofp_action_experimenter(
+            experimenter=experimenter, data=data)
+    )
+
+
+# ofb_field generators (incomplete set)
+
+def in_port(_in_port):
+    return ofb_field(type=IN_PORT, port=_in_port)
+
+
+def in_phy_port(_in_phy_port):
+    return ofb_field(type=IN_PHY_PORT, port=_in_phy_port)
+
+
+def metadata(_table_metadata):
+    return ofb_field(type=METADATA, table_metadata=_table_metadata)
+
+
+def eth_dst(_eth_dst):
+    return ofb_field(type=ETH_DST, table_metadata=_eth_dst)
+
+
+def eth_src(_eth_src):
+    return ofb_field(type=ETH_SRC, table_metadata=_eth_src)
+
+
+def eth_type(_eth_type):
+    return ofb_field(type=ETH_TYPE, eth_type=_eth_type)
+
+
+def vlan_vid(_vlan_vid):
+    return ofb_field(type=VLAN_VID, vlan_vid=_vlan_vid)
+
+
+def vlan_pcp(_vlan_pcp):
+    return ofb_field(type=VLAN_PCP, vlan_pcp=_vlan_pcp)
+
+
+def ip_dscp(_ip_dscp):
+    return ofb_field(type=IP_DSCP, ip_dscp=_ip_dscp)
+
+
+def ip_ecn(_ip_ecn):
+    return ofb_field(type=IP_ECN, ip_ecn=_ip_ecn)
+
+
+def ip_proto(_ip_proto):
+    return ofb_field(type=IP_PROTO, ip_proto=_ip_proto)
+
+
+def ipv4_src(_ipv4_src):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV4_SRC, ipv4_src=_ipv4_src)
+
+
+def ipv4_dst(_ipv4_dst):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV4_DST, ipv4_dst=_ipv4_dst)
+
+
+def tcp_src(_tcp_src):
+    return ofb_field(type=TCP_SRC, tcp_src=_tcp_src)
+
+
+def tcp_dst(_tcp_dst):
+    return ofb_field(type=TCP_DST, tcp_dst=_tcp_dst)
+
+
+def udp_src(_udp_src):
+    return ofb_field(type=UDP_SRC, udp_src=_udp_src)
+
+
+def udp_dst(_udp_dst):
+    return ofb_field(type=UDP_DST, udp_dst=_udp_dst)
+
+
+def sctp_src(_sctp_src):
+    return ofb_field(type=SCTP_SRC, sctp_src=_sctp_src)
+
+
+def sctp_dst(_sctp_dst):
+    return ofb_field(type=SCTP_DST, sctp_dst=_sctp_dst)
+
+
+def icmpv4_type(_icmpv4_type):
+    return ofb_field(type=ICMPV4_TYPE, icmpv4_type=_icmpv4_type)
+
+
+def icmpv4_code(_icmpv4_code):
+    return ofb_field(type=ICMPV4_CODE, icmpv4_code=_icmpv4_code)
+
+
+def arp_op(_arp_op):
+    return ofb_field(type=ARP_OP, arp_op=_arp_op)
+
+
+def arp_spa(_arp_spa):
+    return ofb_field(type=ARP_SPA, arp_spa=_arp_spa)
+
+
+def arp_tpa(_arp_tpa):
+    return ofb_field(type=ARP_TPA, arp_tpa=_arp_tpa)
+
+
+def arp_sha(_arp_sha):
+    return ofb_field(type=ARP_SHA, arp_sha=_arp_sha)
+
+
+def arp_tha(_arp_tha):
+    return ofb_field(type=ARP_THA, arp_tha=_arp_tha)
+
+
+def ipv6_src(_ipv6_src):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV6_SRC, arp_tha=_ipv6_src)
+
+
+def ipv6_dst(_ipv6_dst):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV6_DST, arp_tha=_ipv6_dst)
+
+
+def ipv6_flabel(_ipv6_flabel):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV6_FLABEL, arp_tha=_ipv6_flabel)
+
+
+def ipmpv6_type(_icmpv6_type):
+    return ofb_field(type=ICMPV6_TYPE, arp_tha=_icmpv6_type)
+
+
+def icmpv6_code(_icmpv6_code):
+    return ofb_field(type=ICMPV6_CODE, arp_tha=_icmpv6_code)
+
+
+def ipv6_nd_target(_ipv6_nd_target):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV6_ND_TARGET, arp_tha=_ipv6_nd_target)
+
+
+def ofb_ipv6_nd_sll(_ofb_ipv6_nd_sll):
+    return ofb_field(type=OFB_IPV6_ND_SLL, arp_tha=_ofb_ipv6_nd_sll)
+
+
+def ipv6_nd_tll(_ipv6_nd_tll):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV6_ND_TLL, arp_tha=_ipv6_nd_tll)
+
+
+def mpls_label(_mpls_label):
+    return ofb_field(type=MPLS_LABEL, arp_tha=_mpls_label)
+
+
+def mpls_tc(_mpls_tc):
+    return ofb_field(type=MPLS_TC, arp_tha=_mpls_tc)
+
+
+def mpls_bos(_mpls_bos):
+    return ofb_field(type=MPLS_BOS, arp_tha=_mpls_bos)
+
+
+def pbb_isid(_pbb_isid):
+    return ofb_field(type=PBB_ISID, arp_tha=_pbb_isid)
+
+
+def tunnel_id(_tunnel_id):
+    return ofb_field(type=TUNNEL_ID, arp_tha=_tunnel_id)
+
+
+def ipv6_exthdr(_ipv6_exthdr):
+    return ofb_field(type=IPV6_EXTHDR, arp_tha=_ipv6_exthdr)
+
+
+# frequently used extractors:
+
+def get_actions(flow):
+    """Extract list of ofp_action objects from flow spec object"""
+    assert isinstance(flow, ofp.ofp_flow_stats)
+    # we have the following hard assumptions for now
+    for instruction in flow.instructions:
+        if instruction.type == ofp.OFPIT_APPLY_ACTIONS:
+            return instruction.actions.actions
+
+
+def get_ofb_fields(flow):
+    assert isinstance(flow, ofp.ofp_flow_stats)
+    assert flow.match.type == ofp.OFPMT_OXM
+    ofb_fields = []
+    for field in flow.match.oxm_fields:
+        assert field.oxm_class == ofp.OFPXMC_OPENFLOW_BASIC
+        ofb_fields.append(field.ofb_field)
+    return ofb_fields
+
+
+def get_out_port(flow):
+    for action in get_actions(flow):
+        if action.type == OUTPUT:
+            return action.output.port
+    return None
+
+
+def get_in_port(flow):
+    for field in get_ofb_fields(flow):
+        if field.type == IN_PORT:
+            return field.port
+    return None
+
+
+def get_goto_table_id(flow):
+    for instruction in flow.instructions:
+        if instruction.type == ofp.OFPIT_GOTO_TABLE:
+            return instruction.goto_table.table_id
+    return None
+
+
+def get_metadata(flow):
+    ''' legacy get method (only want lower 32 bits '''
+    for field in get_ofb_fields(flow):
+        if field.type == METADATA:
+            return field.table_metadata & 0xffffffff
+    return None
+
+
+def get_metadata_64_bit(flow):
+    for field in get_ofb_fields(flow):
+        if field.type == METADATA:
+            return field.table_metadata
+    return None
+
+
+def get_port_number_from_metadata(flow):
+    """
+    The port number (UNI on ONU) is in the lower 32-bits of metadata and
+    the inner_tag is in the upper 32-bits
+
+    This is set in the ONOS OltPipeline as a metadata field
+    """
+    md = get_metadata_64_bit(flow)
+
+    if md is None:
+        return None
+
+    if md <= 0xffffffff:
+        log.warn('onos-upgrade-suggested',
+                 netadata=md,
+                 message='Legacy MetaData detected form OltPipeline')
+        return md
+
+    return md & 0xffffffff
+
+
+def get_inner_tag_from_metadata(flow):
+    """
+    The port number (UNI on ONU) is in the lower 32-bits of metadata and
+    the inner_tag is in the upper 32-bits
+
+    This is set in the ONOS OltPipeline as a metadata field
+    """
+    md = get_metadata_64_bit(flow)
+
+    if md is None:
+        return None
+
+    if md <= 0xffffffff:
+        log.warn('onos-upgrade-suggested',
+                 netadata=md,
+                 message='Legacy MetaData detected form OltPipeline')
+        return md
+
+    return (md >> 32) & 0xffffffff
+
+
+# test and extract next table and group information
+def has_next_table(flow):
+    return get_goto_table_id(flow) is not None
+
+
+def get_group(flow):
+    for action in get_actions(flow):
+        if action.type == GROUP:
+            return action.group.group_id
+    return None
+
+
+def has_group(flow):
+    return get_group(flow) is not None
+
+
+def mk_oxm_fields(match_fields):
+    oxm_fields = [
+        ofp.ofp_oxm_field(
+            oxm_class=ofp.OFPXMC_OPENFLOW_BASIC,
+            ofb_field=field
+        ) for field in match_fields
+    ]
+
+    return oxm_fields
+
+
+def mk_instructions_from_actions(actions):
+    instructions_action = ofp.ofp_instruction_actions()
+    instructions_action.actions.extend(actions)
+    instruction = ofp.ofp_instruction(type=ofp.OFPIT_APPLY_ACTIONS,
+                                      actions=instructions_action)
+    return [instruction]
+
+
+def mk_simple_flow_mod(match_fields, actions, command=ofp.OFPFC_ADD,
+                       next_table_id=None, **kw):
+    """
+    Convenience function to generare ofp_flow_mod message with OXM BASIC match
+    composed from the match_fields, and single APPLY_ACTIONS instruction with
+    a list if ofp_action objects.
+    :param match_fields: list(ofp_oxm_ofb_field)
+    :param actions: list(ofp_action)
+    :param command: one of OFPFC_*
+    :param kw: additional keyword-based params to ofp_flow_mod
+    :return: initialized ofp_flow_mod object
+    """
+    instructions = [
+        ofp.ofp_instruction(
+            type=ofp.OFPIT_APPLY_ACTIONS,
+            actions=ofp.ofp_instruction_actions(actions=actions)
+        )
+    ]
+    if next_table_id is not None:
+        instructions.append(ofp.ofp_instruction(
+            type=ofp.OFPIT_GOTO_TABLE,
+            goto_table=ofp.ofp_instruction_goto_table(table_id=next_table_id)
+        ))
+
+    return ofp.ofp_flow_mod(
+        command=command,
+        match=ofp.ofp_match(
+            type=ofp.OFPMT_OXM,
+            oxm_fields=[
+                ofp.ofp_oxm_field(
+                    oxm_class=ofp.OFPXMC_OPENFLOW_BASIC,
+                    ofb_field=field
+                ) for field in match_fields
+            ]
+        ),
+        instructions=instructions,
+        **kw
+    )
+
+
+def mk_multicast_group_mod(group_id, buckets, command=ofp.OFPGC_ADD):
+    group = ofp.ofp_group_mod(
+        command=command,
+        type=ofp.OFPGT_ALL,
+        group_id=group_id,
+        buckets=buckets
+    )
+    return group
+
+
+def hash_flow_stats(flow):
+    """
+    Return unique 64-bit integer hash for flow covering the following
+    attributes: 'table_id', 'priority', 'flags', 'cookie', 'match', '_instruction_string'
+    """
+    _instruction_string = ""
+    for _instruction in flow.instructions:
+        _instruction_string += _instruction.SerializeToString()
+
+    hex = md5('{},{},{},{},{},{}'.format(
+        flow.table_id,
+        flow.priority,
+        flow.flags,
+        flow.cookie,
+        flow.match.SerializeToString(),
+        _instruction_string
+    )).hexdigest()
+    return int(hex[:16], 16)
+
+
+def flow_stats_entry_from_flow_mod_message(mod):
+    flow = ofp.ofp_flow_stats(
+        table_id=mod.table_id,
+        priority=mod.priority,
+        idle_timeout=mod.idle_timeout,
+        hard_timeout=mod.hard_timeout,
+        flags=mod.flags,
+        cookie=mod.cookie,
+        match=mod.match,
+        instructions=mod.instructions
+    )
+    flow.id = hash_flow_stats(flow)
+    return flow
+
+
+def group_entry_from_group_mod(mod):
+    group = ofp.ofp_group_entry(
+        desc=ofp.ofp_group_desc(
+            type=mod.type,
+            group_id=mod.group_id,
+            buckets=mod.buckets
+        ),
+        stats=ofp.ofp_group_stats(
+            group_id=mod.group_id
+            # TODO do we need to instantiate bucket bins?
+        )
+    )
+    return group
+
+
+def mk_flow_stat(**kw):
+    return flow_stats_entry_from_flow_mod_message(mk_simple_flow_mod(**kw))
+
+
+def mk_group_stat(**kw):
+    return group_entry_from_group_mod(mk_multicast_group_mod(**kw))