diff --git a/tests/itests/docutests/__init__.py b/tests/itests/docutests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/itests/docutests/__init__.py
diff --git a/tests/itests/docutests/build_md_test.py b/tests/itests/docutests/build_md_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..562dc8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/itests/docutests/build_md_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,652 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# Copyright 2016 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 subprocess
+import time
+import logging
+import os
+import json
+from unittest import TestCase
+import re
+
+this_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+
+from test_utils import run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout, \
+    is_open, \
+    is_valid_ip, \
+    run_long_running_command_with_timeout, \
+    run_command_to_completion_with_stdout_in_list
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+LOCAL_CONSUL_URL = "http://localhost:8500"
+LOCAL_CONSUL_DNS = "@localhost -p 8600"
+DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE = "compose/docker-compose-system-test.yml"
+DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE_SERVICES_COUNT = 7
+
+command_defs = dict(
+    makefile_fetch_images="grep \"docker pull\" Makefile",
+    make="make",
+    make_fetch="make fetch",
+    remove_env_directory="rm -rf venv-linux",
+    make_clean="make clean",
+    docker_images="docker images",
+    docker_stop="docker stop",
+    docker_rm="docker rm",
+    fluentd_logs="less /tmp/fluentd/data.log",
+    docker_voltha_logs="docker logs -f compose_voltha_1",
+    docker_compose_logs="docker-compose -f {} logs".format(
+        DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_stop_and_remove_all_containers="docker stop `docker ps -q` ; "
+                                          "docker rm `docker ps -a -q`",
+    docker_start_voltha="docker run -ti --rm cord/voltha",
+    docker_start_voltha_with_consul_ip="docker run -ti --rm --net="
+                                       "compose_default cord/voltha "
+                                       "/voltha/main.py --consul=",
+    docker_get_consul_ip="docker inspect "
+                         "compose_consul_1 | jq -r "
+                         "'.[0].NetworkSettings.Networks."
+                         "compose_default.IPAddress'",
+    docker_compose_start_consul="docker-compose -f {} up -d "
+                                "consul".format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_compose_start_all="docker-compose -f {} up -d "
+        .format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_compose_stop="docker-compose -f {} stop"
+        .format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_compose_rm_f="docker-compose -f {} rm -f"
+        .format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_compose_ps="docker-compose -f {} ps".format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_ps="docker ps",
+    docker_ps_count="docker ps -q | wc -l",
+    docker_compose_is_consul_up="docker-compose -f {} ps | grep consul"
+        .format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    consul_get_leader_ip_port="curl -s {}/v1/status/leader | jq -r ."
+        .format(LOCAL_CONSUL_URL),
+    docker_compose_services_running="docker-compose -f {} ps -q"
+        .format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_compose_services_running_count="docker-compose -f {} ps -q | "
+                                          "grep Up "
+                                          "| wc -l".format(
+        DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_compose_services="docker-compose -f {} config --services"
+        .format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    consul_get_services="curl -s {}/v1/catalog/services | jq -r ."
+        .format(LOCAL_CONSUL_URL),
+    consul_get_srv_voltha_health="curl -s {}/v1/catalog/service/voltha-health "
+                                 "| jq -r .".format(LOCAL_CONSUL_URL),
+    kafka_client_run_10_secs="python kafka/kafka-consumer.py -r 10",
+    consul_get_voltha_rest_a_record="dig {} voltha-health.service.consul"
+        .format(LOCAL_CONSUL_DNS),
+    consul_get_voltha_rest_ip="dig {} +short voltha-health.service.consul"
+        .format(LOCAL_CONSUL_DNS),
+    consul_get_voltha_service_port="dig {} +short "
+                                   "voltha-health.service.consul SRV | "
+                                   " awk \'{{print $3}}'"
+        .format(LOCAL_CONSUL_DNS),
+    docker_compose_scale_voltha_to_10="docker-compose -f {} scale "
+                                      "voltha=10".format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    docker_compose_scaled_voltha_ps="docker-compose -f {} ps voltha | "
+                                    "grep Up | wc -l"
+        .format(DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    consul_verify_voltha_registration="curl -s {}"
+                                      "/v1/kv/service/voltha/members?recurse |"
+                                      " jq -r .".format(LOCAL_CONSUL_DNS)
+)
+
+
+class BuildMdTests(TestCase):
+    # docker_client = Client(base_url='unix://var/run/docker.sock')
+
+    def test_01_setup(self):
+        print "Test_01_setup_Start:------------------"
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # remove the venv-linux directory
+            print "Remove venv-linux ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['remove_env_directory']
+            rm_venv, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            # make clean
+            print "Make clean ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['make_clean']
+            mk_clean, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            # source the env
+            print "Source environment ..."
+            self._source_env()
+
+        finally:
+            print "Test_01_setup_End:------------------ took {} " \
+                  "secs\n\n".format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_02_make_fetch(self):
+        print "Test_02_make_fetch_Start:------------------"
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # Get list of images to fetch from the Makefile
+            print "Get list of images to fetch ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['makefile_fetch_images']
+            makefile_images_to_fetch, err, rc \
+                = run_command_to_completion_with_stdout_in_list(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            images_to_fetch = []
+            for image in makefile_images_to_fetch:
+                tmp = ''.join(image.split())
+                images_to_fetch.append(tmp[len('dockerpull'):])
+
+            # make fetch
+            print "Fetching images {} ...".format(images_to_fetch)
+            cmd = command_defs['make_fetch']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            # verify that the images have been downloaded
+            print "Verify images downloaded and present locally ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_images']
+            local_images, err, rc = \
+                run_command_to_completion_with_stdout_in_list(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            local_images_list = []
+            for local_image in local_images:
+                words = local_image.split()
+                local_images_list.append('{}:{}'.format(words[0], words[1]))
+
+            intersection_list = [i for i in images_to_fetch if
+                                 i in local_images_list]
+            assert len(intersection_list) == len(images_to_fetch)
+
+        finally:
+            print "Test_02_make_fetch_End:------------------ took {} " \
+                  "secs \n\n".format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_03_make(self):
+        print "Test_03_make_Start:------------------"
+        t0 = time.time()
+        try:
+            cmd = command_defs['make']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+        finally:
+            print "Test_03_make_Start:------------------ took {} secs \n\n"\
+                .format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_04_run_voltha_standalone_without_consul(self):
+        print "Test_04_run_voltha_standalone_without_consul_Start:------------" \
+              "------"
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # Run voltha for 10 secs and verity the following lines are displayed
+            #  (a subset of output messages along with a flag when found)
+            print "Start voltha ..."
+            expected_output_subset = [
+                'main.print_banner {event: (to stop: press Ctrl-C), '
+                'instance_id:',
+                'coordinator.__init__ {event: initialized-coordinator,',
+                'grpc_server.run {event: starting-grpc-server,',
+                'main.<lambda> {event: twisted-reactor-started',
+                'main.startup_components {event: started-internal-services,',
+                'kafka_proxy.send_message {event: Sending message Heartbeat '
+                'message',
+                'coordinator._backoff {retry_in: 5, event: consul-not-up,'
+            ]
+
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_start_voltha']
+            command_output = run_long_running_command_with_timeout(cmd, 10)
+
+            # There should at least be 1 line in the output
+            self.assertGreater(len(command_output), 0)
+
+            # Verify that the output contained the expected_output_subset -
+            # save the docker instance id
+            print "Verify voltha started correctly ..."
+            instance_id = None
+            for ext_output in expected_output_subset:
+                match_str = next(
+                    (out for out in command_output if ext_output in out),
+                    None)
+                self.assertIsNotNone(match_str)
+                if "instance_id" in ext_output:
+                    instance_id = re.findall(r'[0-9a-f]+', match_str)[-1]
+
+            # Now stop the voltha docker that was created
+            print "Stop voltha ..."
+            self._stop_docker_container_by_id(instance_id)
+
+
+        finally:
+            # Remove any created container
+            self._stop_and_remove_all_containers()
+
+            print "Test_04_run_voltha_standalone_without_consul_End" \
+                  ":------------------ took {} secs \n\n".format(
+                time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_05_run_consul_only(self):
+        print "Test_05_run_consul_only_Start:------------------ "
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # run consul
+            print "Start consul ..."
+            self._run_consul()
+
+            # sleep until consul is ready
+            print "Waiting for consul to be ready ..."
+            time.sleep(10)
+
+            # Get the docker IP address and port number of the consul instance
+            print "Get consul leader IP ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_get_leader_ip_port']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            # validate that the returned ip:port is valid and open
+            print "Verify consul IP and port is reachable ..."
+            self.assertTrue(is_open(out))
+
+        finally:
+            # clean up all created containers for this test
+            print "Stop consul ..."
+            self._stop_and_remove_all_containers()
+
+            print "Test_05_run_consul_only_End:------------------ took {} secs" \
+                  "\n\n".format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_06_run_voltha_standalone_with_consul_only(self):
+        print "Test_06_run_voltha_standalone_with_consul_only_Start:----------" \
+              "-------- "
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # run consul first
+            print "Start consul ..."
+            self._run_consul()
+
+            # get consul ip
+            print "Get consul IP ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_get_consul_ip']
+            consul_ip, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertIsNotNone(consul_ip)
+
+            # start voltha now for 15 secs and verify it can now connect to
+            # consul - following message in the output
+            print "Start voltha with consul IP ..."
+            expected_pattern = ['coordinator', 'event: created-consul-session']
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_start_voltha_with_consul_ip'] + \
+                  '{}:8500'.format(consul_ip.strip())
+            command_output = run_long_running_command_with_timeout(cmd, 10)
+
+            # Verify the output of voltha and get the container instance id
+            print "Verify voltha is registered with consul ..."
+            instance_id = None
+            for out in command_output:
+                if all(ep for ep in expected_pattern if ep in out):
+                    self.assertTrue(True)
+                    instance_id = re.findall(r'[0-9a-f]+', out)[-1]
+                    break
+
+            self.assertIsNotNone(instance_id)
+
+            # Verify Voltha's self-registration with consul
+            expected_output = ['ModifyIndex', 'CreateIndex', 'Session',
+                               'Value',
+                               'Flags', 'Key', 'LockIndex']
+
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_verify_voltha_registration']
+            registration_info, err, rc = \
+                run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            try:
+                jr_info = json.loads(registration_info)
+                intersect_elems = [e for e in jr_info[0] if
+                                   e in expected_output]
+                self.assertEqual(len(expected_output), len(intersect_elems))
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.assertRaises(e)
+
+            # stop voltha
+            print "Stop voltha ..."
+            self._stop_docker_container_by_id(instance_id)
+
+            # check the service has deregistered
+            print "Verify voltha is no longer registered in consul..."
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_verify_voltha_registration']
+            registration_info, err, rc = \
+                run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertEqual(registration_info, '')
+
+        finally:
+            # clean up all created containers for this test
+            print "Stop consul ..."
+            self._stop_and_remove_all_containers()
+
+            print "Test_06_run_voltha_standalone_with_consul_only_End:--------" \
+                  "---------- took {} " \
+                  "secs \n\n".format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_07_start_all_containers(self):
+        print "Test_07_start_all_containers_Start:------------------ "
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # Pre-test - clean up all running docker containers
+            print "Pre-test: Removing all running containers ..."
+            self._stop_and_remove_all_containers()
+
+            # get a list of services in the docker-compose file
+            print "Getting list of services in docker compose file ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_services']
+            services, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            docker_service_list = services.split()
+            self.assertGreaterEqual(len(docker_service_list),
+                                    DOCKER_COMPOSE_FILE_SERVICES_COUNT)
+
+            # start all the containers
+            print "Starting all containers ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_start_all']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            # verify that all containers are running
+            print "Verify all services are running using docker command ..."
+            for service in docker_service_list:
+                cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_ps'] + ' {} | wc -l'.format(
+                    service)
+                out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+                self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+                self.assertGreaterEqual(out, 3)  # 2 are for headers
+
+            # Verify that 'docker ps' return the same number of running process
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_ps_count']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertEqual(out.split(), [str(len(docker_service_list))])
+
+            # Retrieve the list of services from consul and validate against
+            # the list obtained from docker composed
+            print "Verify all services are registered in consul ..."
+            expected_services = ['consul-rest', 'fluentd-intake',
+                                 'chameleon-rest', 'voltha-grpc',
+                                 'voltha-health',
+                                 'consul-8600', 'zookeeper', 'consul', 'kafka']
+
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_get_services']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            try:
+                consul_services = json.loads(out)
+                intersected_services = [s for s in expected_services if
+                                        s in consul_services]
+                self.assertEqual(len(intersected_services),
+                                 len(expected_services))
+                # services_match = 0
+                # for d_service in docker_service_list:
+                #     for c_service in consul_services:
+                #         if c_service.find(d_service) != -1:
+                #             services_match += 1
+                #             print d_service, c_service
+                #             break
+                # self.assertEqual(services_match, len(docker_service_list))
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.assertRaises(e)
+
+            # Verify the service record of the voltha service
+            print "Verify the service record of voltha in consul ..."
+            expected_srv_elements = ['ModifyIndex', 'CreateIndex',
+                                     'ServiceEnableTagOverride', 'Node',
+                                     'Address', 'TaggedAddresses', 'ServiceID',
+                                     'ServiceName', 'ServiceTags',
+                                     'ServiceAddress', 'ServicePort']
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_get_srv_voltha_health']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            try:
+                srv = json.loads(out)
+                intersect_elems = [e for e in srv[0] if
+                                   e in expected_srv_elements]
+                self.assertEqual(len(expected_srv_elements),
+                                 len(intersect_elems))
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.assertRaises(e)
+
+            # Verify kafka client is receiving the messages
+            print "Verify kafka client is receiving the heartbeat messages ..."
+            expected_pattern = ['voltha-heartbeat', 'Heartbeat message']
+            cmd = command_defs['kafka_client_run_10_secs']
+            kafka_client_output = run_long_running_command_with_timeout(cmd,
+                                                                        10)
+
+            # Verify the kafka client output
+            # instance id
+            found = False
+            for out in kafka_client_output:
+                if all(ep for ep in expected_pattern if ep in out):
+                    found = True
+                    break
+            self.assertTrue(found)
+
+            # verify docker-compose logs are being produced - just get the
+            # first work of each line
+            print "Verify docker compose logs has output from all the services " \
+                  "..."
+            expected_output = ['voltha_1', 'fluentd_1', 'consul_1',
+                               'registrator_1', 'kafka_1', 'zookeeper_1',
+                               'chameleon_1']
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_logs']
+            docker_compose_logs = run_long_running_command_with_timeout(cmd, 5,
+                                                                        0)
+            intersected_logs = [l for l in expected_output if
+                                l in docker_compose_logs]
+            self.assertEqual(len(intersected_logs), len(expected_output))
+
+            # TODO: file in /tmp/fluentd/ cannot be found
+            # # verify fluentd logs are being produced - we will just verify
+            # that there are "voltha.logging" in the logs
+            # os.environ["PYTHONPATH"] += os.pathsep + "/tmp/fluentd/"
+            # os.environ['PATH'] += os.pathsep + "/tmp/fluentd/"
+            # expected_output=['voltha.logging']
+            # cmd = command_defs['fluentd_logs']
+            # fluentd_logs, err = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            # # self.assertIsNone(err)
+            # print err
+            # intersected_logs = [l for l in expected_output if
+            #                         l in fluentd_logs]
+            # self.assertEqual(len(intersected_logs), len(expected_output))
+
+            # verify docker voltha logs are being produced - we will just verify
+            # some
+            # key messages in the logs
+            print "Verify docker voltha logs are produced ..."
+            expected_output = ['kafka_proxy.send_message',
+                               'coordinator._renew_session', 'main.heartbeat']
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_voltha_logs']
+            docker_voltha_logs = run_long_running_command_with_timeout(cmd,
+                                                                       0.5, 2)
+            intersected_logs = [l for l in expected_output if
+                                l in docker_voltha_logs]
+            self.assertEqual(len(intersected_logs), len(expected_output))
+
+        finally:
+            print "Stopping all containers ..."
+            # clean up all created containers for this test
+            self._stop_and_remove_all_containers()
+
+            print "Test_07_start_all_containers_End:------------------ took {}" \
+                  " secs \n\n".format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_08_stop_all_containers_started_using_docker_compose(self):
+        print "Test_08_stop_all_containers_started_using_docker_compose_Start:" \
+              "------------------ "
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # commands to stop and clear the docker images
+            cmds = [command_defs['docker_compose_stop'],
+                    command_defs['docker_compose_rm_f']]
+
+            print "Stopping all containers ..."
+            for cmd in cmds:
+                out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+                self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            # Verify that no docker process is running
+            print "Verify no containers is running..."
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_services_running']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+        finally:
+            print "Test_08_stop_all_containers_started_using_docker_compose_:" \
+                  "------------------ took {} secs \n\n".format(
+                time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_09_dig_consul_command(self):
+        print "Test_09_dig_consul_command_Start:------------------"
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # start all containers
+            print "Start all containers..."
+            self._start_all_containers()
+
+            # sleep until all containers are sync up and ready
+            print "Waiting for consul to be ready ..."
+            time.sleep(10)
+
+            # Get the IP address(es) for voltha's REST interface
+            print "Get IP of Voltha REST interface..."
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_get_voltha_rest_a_record']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertGreaterEqual(out.find("voltha-health.service.consul"),
+                                    0)
+
+            # Get only the ip address
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_get_voltha_rest_ip']
+            ip, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertTrue(is_valid_ip(ip))
+
+            # Get the exposed service port
+            print "Get Voltha exposed service port..."
+            cmd = command_defs['consul_get_voltha_service_port']
+            port, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            # Verify that we can connect to the port using the previously
+            # acquired ip
+            print "Verify connectivity with voltha ip and port..."
+            self.assertTrue(is_open('{}:{}'.format(ip, port)))
+        finally:
+            print "Stopping all containers ..."
+            # clean up all created containers for this test
+            self._stop_and_remove_all_containers()
+
+            print "Test_09_dig_consul_command_Start_End:------------------" \
+                  "took {} secs \n\n".format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def test_10_scale_voltha(self):
+        print "Test_10_scale_voltha_Start:------------------"
+        t0 = time.time()
+
+        try:
+            # start all containers
+            print "Start all containers..."
+            self._start_all_containers()
+
+            # Scale voltha to 10 instances
+            print "Scale voltha to 10 instances ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_scale_voltha_to_10']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+            # Verify that 10 instances are running
+            print "Verify 10 instances of voltha are running ..."
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_scaled_voltha_ps']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+            self.assertEqual(out.split(), ['10'])
+        finally:
+            print "Stopping all containers ..."
+            # clean up all created containers for this test
+            self._stop_and_remove_all_containers()
+
+            print "Test_10_scale_voltha_End:------------------took {} secs " \
+                  "\n\n".format(time.time() - t0)
+
+    def _start_all_containers(self):
+        cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_start_all']
+        out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+    def _run_consul(self):
+        # run consul
+        cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_start_consul']
+        out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+        # verify consul is up
+        cmd = command_defs['docker_compose_is_consul_up']
+        out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+        self.assertIn('compose_consul_1', out)
+
+    def _stop_and_remove_all_containers(self):
+        # check if there are any running containers first
+        cmd = command_defs['docker_ps']
+        out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_stdout_in_list(cmd)
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+        if len(out) > 1:  # not counting docker ps header
+            cmd = command_defs['docker_stop_and_remove_all_containers']
+            out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+            self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+    def _stop_docker_container_by_id(self, instance_id):
+        # stop
+        cmd = command_defs['docker_stop'] + " {}".format(instance_id)
+        out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+        # remove
+        cmd = command_defs['docker_rm'] + " {}".format(instance_id)
+        out, err, rc = run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd)
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+
+    def _source_env(self):
+        # Go to voltha root directory
+        res = os.system('cd {}'.format(this_dir))
+        assert res == 0
+
+        # set the env
+        command = ['bash', '-c', '. env.sh']
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(command, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                                stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+
+        if proc.wait() != 0:
+            err_msg = "Failed to source the environment'"
+            raise RuntimeError(err_msg)
+
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        return env
diff --git a/tests/itests/docutests/test_utils.py b/tests/itests/docutests/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0b2422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/itests/docutests/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2016 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 os
+import subprocess
+import socket
+import time
+import re
+
+
+def run_command_to_completion_with_raw_stdout(cmd):
+    try:
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(
+            cmd,
+            env=env,
+            shell=True,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE
+        )
+        out, err = proc.communicate()
+        return out, err, proc.returncode
+    except OSError as e:
+        print 'Exception {} when running command:{}'.format(repr(e), cmd)
+    return None
+
+
+def run_command_to_completion_with_stdout_in_list(cmd):
+    stdout_response = []
+    try:
+        command = cmd
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(
+            command,
+            env=env,
+            shell=True,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+            bufsize=1
+        )
+        with proc.stdout:
+            for line in iter(proc.stdout.readline, b''):
+                stdout_response.append(line)
+
+        if proc.wait() != 0:
+            err_msg = 'Command {} did not complete successfully '.format(cmd)
+            return [], err_msg, proc.returncode
+
+        return stdout_response, None, proc.returncode
+    except OSError as e:
+        print 'Exception {} when running command:{}'.format(repr(e), cmd)
+    return None
+
+
+def run_long_running_command_with_timeout(cmd, timeout,
+                                          return_word_number_x_of_each_line=-1):
+    captured_stdout = []
+    try:
+        t0 = time.time()
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(
+            cmd,
+            env=env,
+            shell=True,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+            bufsize=1
+        )
+        for line in iter(proc.stdout.readline, b''):
+            if return_word_number_x_of_each_line != -1:
+                ansi_escape = re.compile(r'\x1b[^m]*m')
+                line = ansi_escape.sub('', line)
+                captured_stdout.append(
+                    line.split()[return_word_number_x_of_each_line])
+            else:
+                captured_stdout.append(line)
+            if time.time() - t0 > timeout:
+                try:
+                    proc.terminate()
+                    proc.wait()
+                    # In principle this 'reset' should not be required.
+                    # However, without it, the terminal is left in a funny
+                    # state and required
+                    subprocess.Popen(['reset']).wait()
+                except Exception as e:
+                    print "Received exception {} when killing process " \
+                          "started with {}".format(repr(e), cmd)
+                break
+        return captured_stdout
+    except Exception as e:
+        print 'Exception {} when running command:{}'.format(repr(e), cmd)
+    return None
+
+def is_open(ip_port):
+    s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    try:
+        items = ip_port.split(':')
+        s.connect((items[0], int(items[1])))
+        s.shutdown(2)
+        return True
+    except:
+        return False
+
+def is_valid_ip(ip):
+    try:
+        socket.inet_aton(ip)
+        return True
+    except socket.error:
+        return False