diff --git a/xos/services/onos/admin.py b/xos/services/onos/admin.py
index 3f9f96c..fb0f1d7 100644
--- a/xos/services/onos/admin.py
+++ b/xos/services/onos/admin.py
@@ -19,16 +19,28 @@
 from django.contrib.admin.utils import quote
 
 class ONOSServiceForm(forms.ModelForm):
-    use_external_host = forms.CharField(required=False)
+    rest_hostname = forms.CharField(required=False)
+    rest_port = forms.CharField(required=False)
+    no_container = forms.BooleanField(required=False)
+#    external_hostname = forms.CharField(required=False)
+#    external_container = forms.CharField(required=False)
 
     def __init__(self,*args,**kwargs):
         super (ONOSServiceForm,self ).__init__(*args,**kwargs)
         if self.instance:
             # fields for the attributes
-            self.fields['use_external_host'].initial = self.instance.use_external_host
+            self.fields['rest_hostname'].initial = self.instance.rest_hostname
+            self.fields['rest_port'].initial = self.instance.rest_port
+            self.fields['no_container'].initial = self.instance.no_container
+#            self.fields['external_hostname'].initial = self.instance.external_hostname
+#            self.fields['external_container'].initial = self.instance.external_hostname
 
     def save(self, commit=True):
-        self.instance.use_external_host = self.cleaned_data.get("use_external_host")
+        self.instance.rest_hostname = self.cleaned_data.get("rest_hostname")
+        self.instance.rest_port = self.cleaned_data.get("rest_port")
+        self.instance.no_container = self.cleaned_data.get("no_container")
+#        self.instance.external_hostname = self.cleaned_data.get("external_hostname")
+#        self.instance.external_container = self.cleaned_data.get("external_container")
         return super(ONOSServiceForm, self).save(commit=commit)
 
     class Meta:
@@ -40,7 +52,7 @@
     verbose_name_plural = "ONOS Services"
     list_display = ("backend_status_icon", "name", "enabled")
     list_display_links = ('backend_status_icon', 'name', )
-    fieldsets = [(None, {'fields': ['backend_status_text', 'name','enabled','versionNumber', 'description',"view_url","icon_url", "use_external_host" ], 'classes':['suit-tab suit-tab-general']})]
+    fieldsets = [(None, {'fields': ['backend_status_text', 'name','enabled','versionNumber', 'description',"view_url","icon_url", "rest_hostname", "rest_port", "no_container" ], 'classes':['suit-tab suit-tab-general']})]
     readonly_fields = ('backend_status_text', )
     inlines = [SliceInline,ServiceAttrAsTabInline,ServicePrivilegeInline]
     form = ONOSServiceForm
diff --git a/xos/services/onos/models.py b/xos/services/onos/models.py
index 1e869d1..4be2c1b 100644
--- a/xos/services/onos/models.py
+++ b/xos/services/onos/models.py
@@ -21,15 +21,34 @@
         verbose_name = "ONOS Service"
         proxy = True
 
-    default_attributes = {"use_external_host": ""}
+    default_attributes = {"rest_hostname": "",
+                          "rest_port": "8181",
+                          "no_container": False}
 
     @property
-    def use_external_host(self):
-        return self.get_attribute("use_external_host", self.default_attributes["use_external_host"])
+    def rest_hostname(self):
+        return self.get_attribute("rest_hostname", self.default_attributes["rest_hostname"])
 
-    @use_external_host.setter
-    def use_external_host(self, value):
-        self.set_attribute("use_external_host", value)
+    @rest_hostname.setter
+    def rest_hostname(self, value):
+        self.set_attribute("rest_hostname", value)
+
+    @property
+    def rest_port(self):
+        return self.get_attribute("rest_port", self.default_attributes["rest_port"])
+
+    @rest_port.setter
+    def rest_port(self, value):
+        self.set_attribute("rest_port", value)
+
+    @property
+    def no_container(self):
+        return self.get_attribute("no_container", self.default_attributes["no_container"])
+
+    @no_container.setter
+    def no_container(self, value):
+        self.set_attribute("no_container", value)
+
 
 class ONOSApp(Tenant):   # aka 'ONOSTenant'
     class Meta:
@@ -93,19 +112,6 @@
     def install_dependencies(self, value):
         self.set_attribute("install_dependencies", value)
 
-    #@property
-    #def instance(self):
-    #    instance_id = self.get_attribute("instance_id", self.default_attributes["instance_id"])
-    #    if instance_id:
-    #        instances = Instance.objects.filter(id=instance_id)
-    #        if instances:
-    #            return instances[0]
-    #    return None
-
-    #@instance.setter
-    #def instance(self, value):
-    #    self.set_attribute("instance_id", value.id)
-
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         if not self.creator:
             if not getattr(self, "caller", None):
diff --git a/xos/synchronizers/onos/steps/sync_onosapp.py b/xos/synchronizers/onos/steps/sync_onosapp.py
index 8942e59..6fc0f62 100644
--- a/xos/synchronizers/onos/steps/sync_onosapp.py
+++ b/xos/synchronizers/onos/steps/sync_onosapp.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
 
         serv = self.get_onos_service(o)
 
-        if serv.use_external_host:
-            return serv.use_external_host
+        if serv.no_container:
+            raise Exception("get_instance() was called on a service that was marked no_container")
 
         if serv.slices.exists():
             slice = serv.slices.all()[0]
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@
 
         return onoses[0]
 
+    def is_no_container(self, o):
+        return self.get_onos_service(o).no_container
+
     def get_files_dir(self, o):
         if not hasattr(Config(), "observer_steps_dir"):
             # make steps_dir mandatory; there's no valid reason for it to not
@@ -126,7 +129,7 @@
         ordered_attrs = attrs.keys()
 
         o.early_rest_configs=[]
-        if ("cordvtn" in o.dependencies):
+        if ("cordvtn" in o.dependencies) and (not self.is_no_container(o)):
             # For VTN, since it's running in a docker host container, we need
             # to make sure it configures the cluster using the right ip addresses.
             # NOTE: rest_onos/v1/cluster/configuration/ will reboot the cluster and
@@ -172,22 +175,37 @@
     def prepare_record(self, o):
         self.write_configs(o)
 
-    def get_extra_attributes(self, o):
-        instance = self.get_instance(o)
+    def get_extra_attributes_common(self, o):
+        fields = {}
 
-        fields={}
+        # These are attributes that are not dependent on Instance. For example,
+        # REST API stuff.
+
+        onos = self.get_onos_service(o)
+
         fields["files_dir"] = o.files_dir
         fields["appname"] = o.name
-        fields["nat_ip"] = instance.get_ssh_ip()
-        fields["config_fns"] = o.config_fns
         fields["rest_configs"] = o.rest_configs
-        fields["early_rest_configs"] = o.early_rest_configs
-        fields["component_configs"] = o.component_configs
+        fields["rest_hostname"] = onos.rest_hostname
+        fields["rest_port"] = onos.rest_port
+
         if o.dependencies:
             fields["dependencies"] = [x.strip() for x in o.dependencies.split(",")]
         else:
             fields["dependencies"] = []
 
+        return fields
+
+    def get_extra_attributes_full(self, o):
+        instance = self.get_instance(o)
+
+        fields = self.get_extra_attributes_common(o)
+
+        fields["nat_ip"] = instance.get_ssh_ip()
+        fields["config_fns"] = o.config_fns
+        fields["early_rest_configs"] = o.early_rest_configs
+        fields["component_configs"] = o.component_configs
+
         if o.install_dependencies:
             fields["install_dependencies"] = [x.strip() for x in o.install_dependencies.split(",")]
         else:
@@ -199,12 +217,23 @@
             fields["ONOS_container"] = "ONOS"
         return fields
 
+    def get_extra_attributes(self, o):
+        if self.is_no_container(o):
+            return self.get_extra_attributes_common(o)
+        else:
+            return self.get_extra_attributes_full(o)
+
     def sync_fields(self, o, fields):
         # the super causes the playbook to be run
         super(SyncONOSApp, self).sync_fields(o, fields)
 
     def run_playbook(self, o, fields):
-        super(SyncONOSApp, self).run_playbook(o, fields)
+        if self.is_no_container(o):
+            # There is no machine to SSH to, so use the synchronizer's
+            # run_template method directly.
+            run_template("sync_onosapp_nocontainer.yaml", fields)
+        else:
+            super(SyncONOSApp, self).run_playbook(o, fields)
 
     def delete_record(self, m):
         pass