diff --git a/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py b/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b11504
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+import time
+import traceback
+import commands
+import threading
+import json
+
+from datetime import datetime
+from collections import defaultdict
+from core.models import *
+from django.db.models import F, Q
+from openstack.manager import OpenStackManager
+from util.logger import Logger, logging, logger
+#from timeout import timeout
+
+
+logger = Logger(logfile='observer.log', level=logging.INFO)
+
+def toposort(g, steps):
+	reverse = {}
+
+	for k,v in g.items():
+		for rk in v:
+			try:
+				reverse[rk].append(k)
+			except:
+				reverse[rk]=k
+
+	sources = []
+	for k,v in g.items():
+		if not reverse.has_key(k):
+			sources.append(k)
+
+
+	for k,v in reverse.iteritems():
+		if (not v):
+			sources.append(k)
+
+	order = []
+	marked = []
+	while sources:
+		n = sources.pop()
+		try:
+			for m in g[n]:
+				if m not in marked:
+					sources.append(m)
+					marked.append(m)
+		except KeyError:
+			pass
+		if (n in steps):
+			order.append(n)
+
+	return order
+
+class PlanetStackObserver:
+	sync_steps = ['SyncNetworks','SyncNetworkSlivers','SyncSites','SyncSitePrivileges','SyncSlices','SyncSliceMemberships','SyncSlivers','SyncSliverIps']
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.manager = OpenStackManager()
+        # The Condition object that gets signalled by Feefie events
+		self.load_sync_steps()
+        self.event_cond = threading.Condition()
+		self.load_enacted()
+
+    def wait_for_event(self, timeout):
+        self.event_cond.acquire()
+        self.event_cond.wait(timeout)
+        self.event_cond.release()
+        
+    def wake_up(self):
+        logger.info('Wake up routine called. Event cond %r'%self.event_cond)
+        self.event_cond.acquire()
+        self.event_cond.notify()
+        self.event_cond.release()
+
+	def load_sync_steps(self):
+		dep_path = Config().pl_dependency_path
+		try:
+			# This contains dependencies between records, not sync steps
+			self.model_dependency_graph = json.loads(open(dep_path).read())
+		except Exception,e:
+			raise e
+
+		backend_path = Config().backend_dependency_path
+		try:
+			# This contains dependencies between backend records
+			self.backend_dependency_graph = json.loads(open(backend_path).read())
+		except Exception,e:
+			raise e
+
+		provides_dict = {}
+		for s in sync_steps:
+			for m in s.provides:
+				provides_dict[m]=s.__name__
+				
+		step_graph = {}
+		for k,v in model_dependency_graph.iteritems():
+			try:
+				source = provides_dict[k]
+				for m in v:
+					try:
+						dest = provides_dict[m]
+					except KeyError:
+						# no deps, pass
+					step_graph[source]=dest
+					
+			except KeyError:
+				pass
+				# no dependencies, pass
+		
+		if (backend_dependency_graph):
+			backend_dict = {}
+			for s in sync_steps:
+				for m in s.serves:
+					backend_dict[m]=s.__name__
+					
+			for k,v in backend_dependency_graph.iteritems():
+				try:
+					source = backend_dict[k]
+					for m in v:
+						try:
+							dest = backend_dict[m]
+						except KeyError:
+							# no deps, pass
+						step_graph[source]=dest
+						
+				except KeyError:
+					pass
+					# no dependencies, pass
+
+		dependency_graph = step_graph
+
+		self.ordered_steps = toposort(dependency_graph, steps)
+		
+
+    def run(self):
+        if not self.manager.enabled or not self.manager.has_openstack:
+            return
+
+		
+        while True:
+            try:
+                start_time=time.time()
+                
+                logger.info('Waiting for event')
+                tBeforeWait = time.time()
+                self.wait_for_event(timeout=300)
+
+				for S in self.ordered_steps:
+					sync_step = S()
+					sync_step()
+
+                # Enforce 5 minutes between wakeups
+                tSleep = 300 - (time.time() - tBeforeWait)
+                if tSleep > 0:
+                    logger.info('Sleeping for %d seconds' % tSleep)
+                    time.sleep(tSleep)
+
+                logger.info('Observer woke up')
+            except:
+                logger.log_exc("Exception in observer run loop")
+                traceback.print_exc()
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/openstacksyncstep.py b/planetstack/observer/openstacksyncstep.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bfe9f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/openstacksyncstep.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from syncstep import SyncStep
+
+class OpenStackSyncStep:
+	""" PlanetStack Sync step for copying data to OpenStack 
+	""" 
+	
+	def __init__(self, **args):
+		super(SyncStep,self).__init__(**args)
+		return
+
+	def call(self):
+		pending = self.fetch_pending()
+		failed = []
+		for o in pending:
+			if (not self.depends_on(o, failed)):
+				try:
+					self.sync_record(o)
+					o.enacted = datetime.now() # Is this the same timezone? XXX
+					o.save(update_fields=['enacted'])
+				except:
+					failed.append(o)
+
+
+	def __call__(self):
+		return self.call()
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/__init__.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a239587
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from .syncexternalroutes import SyncExternalRoutes
+from .syncnetworkslivers import SyncNetworkSlivers
+from .syncnetworks import SyncNetworks
+from .syncsiteprivileges import SyncSitePrivileges
+from .syncsites import SyncSites
+from .syncslicememberships import SyncSliceMemberships
+from .syncslices import SyncSlices
+from .syncsliverips import SyncSliverIps
+from .syncslivers import SyncSlivers
+from .syncusers import SyncUsers
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_external_routes.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_external_routes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba4f939
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_external_routes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncExternalRoutes(SyncStep):
+	# XXX what does this provide?
+	def call(self):
+		routes = self.manager.driver.get_external_routes()
+        subnets = self.manager.driver.shell.quantum.list_subnets()['subnets']
+        for subnet in subnets:
+            try:
+                self.manager.driver.add_external_route(subnet, routes)
+            except:
+                logger.log_exc("failed to add external route for subnet %s" % subnet)
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_network_slivers.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_network_slivers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..414a260
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_network_slivers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncNetworkSlivers(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	slow=True
+	provides=[NetworkSliver]
+
+	def call(self):
+        networkSlivers = NetworkSliver.objects.all()
+        networkSlivers_by_id = {}
+        networkSlivers_by_port = {}
+        for networkSliver in networkSlivers:
+            networkSlivers_by_id[networkSliver.id] = networkSliver
+            networkSlivers_by_port[networkSliver.port_id] = networkSliver
+
+        networks = Network.objects.all()
+        networks_by_id = {}
+        for network in networks:
+            networks_by_id[network.network_id] = network
+
+        slivers = Sliver.objects.all()
+        slivers_by_instance_id = {}
+        for sliver in slivers:
+            slivers_by_instance_id[sliver.instance_id] = sliver
+
+        ports = self.manager.driver.shell.quantum.list_ports()["ports"]
+        for port in ports:
+            if port["id"] in networkSlivers_by_port:
+                # we already have it
+                print "already accounted for port", port["id"]
+                continue
+
+            if port["device_owner"] != "compute:nova":
+                # we only want the ports that connect to instances
+                continue
+
+            network = networks_by_id.get(port['network_id'], None)
+            if not network:
+                #print "no network for port", port["id"], "network", port["network_id"]
+                continue
+
+            sliver = slivers_by_instance_id.get(port['device_id'], None)
+            if not sliver:
+                print "no sliver for port", port["id"], "device_id", port['device_id']
+                continue
+
+            if network.template.sharedNetworkId is not None:
+                # If it's a shared network template, then more than one network
+                # object maps to the quantum network. We have to do a whole bunch
+                # of extra work to find the right one.
+                networks = network.template.network_set.all()
+                network = None
+                for candidate_network in networks:
+                    if (candidate_network.owner == sliver.slice):
+                        print "found network", candidate_network
+                        network = candidate_network
+
+                if not network:
+                    print "failed to find the correct network for a shared template for port", port["id"], "network", port["network_id"]
+                    continue
+
+            if not port["fixed_ips"]:
+                print "port", port["id"], "has no fixed_ips"
+                continue
+
+#            print "XXX", port
+
+            ns = NetworkSliver(network=network,
+                               sliver=sliver,
+                               ip=port["fixed_ips"][0]["ip_address"],
+                               port_id=port["id"])
+            ns.save()
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_networks.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_networks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ae7dc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_networks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncNetworks(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[Network]
+
+	def save_network(self, network):
+		if not network.network_id:
+            if network.template.sharedNetworkName:
+                network.network_id = network.template.sharedNetworkId
+                (network.subnet_id, network.subnet) = self.driver.get_network_subnet(network.network_id)
+            else:
+                network_name = network.name
+
+                # create network
+                os_network = self.driver.create_network(network_name, shared=True)
+                network.network_id = os_network['id']
+
+                # create router
+                router = self.driver.create_router(network_name)
+                network.router_id = router['id']
+
+                # create subnet
+                next_subnet = self.get_next_subnet()
+                cidr = str(next_subnet.cidr)
+                ip_version = next_subnet.version
+                start = str(next_subnet[2])
+                end = str(next_subnet[-2])
+                subnet = self.driver.create_subnet(name=network_name,
+                                                   network_id = network.network_id,
+                                                   cidr_ip = cidr,
+                                                   ip_version = ip_version,
+                                                   start = start,
+                                                   end = end)
+                network.subnet = cidr
+                network.subnet_id = subnet['id']
+
+	@require_enabled
+	def sync_record(self, site):
+		if network.owner and network.owner.creator:
+                try:
+                    # update manager context
+                    self.driver.init_caller(network.owner.creator, network.owner.name)
+                    self.save_network(network)
+                    logger.info("saved network: %s" % (network))
+                except Exception,e:
+                    logger.log_exc("save network failed: %s" % network)	
+					raise e
+
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_site_privileges.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_site_privileges.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f8f8ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_site_privileges.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncSitePrivileges(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[SitePrivilege]
+	def sync_record(self, user):
+	   if site_priv.user.kuser_id and site_priv.site.tenant_id:
+			self.driver.add_user_role(site_priv.user.kuser_id,
+									  site_priv.site.tenant_id,
+									  site_priv.role.role_type) 
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sites.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sites.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d7cc30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sites.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncSites(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[Site]
+	def sync_record(self, site):
+		save_site = False
+		if not site.tenant_id:
+			tenant = self.driver.create_tenant(tenant_name=site.login_base,
+											   description=site.name,
+											   enabled=site.enabled)
+			site.tenant_id = tenant.id
+			save_site = True
+			# XXX - What's caller?
+			# self.driver.add_user_role(self.caller.kuser_id, tenant.id, 'admin')
+
+		# update the record
+		if site.id and site.tenant_id:
+			self.driver.update_tenant(site.tenant_id,
+									  description=site.name,
+									  enabled=site.enabled)
+
+		if (save_site):
+			site.save() # 
+
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slice_memberships.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slice_memberships.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0c83eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slice_memberships.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncSliceMemberships(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[SliceMembership]
+	def sync_record(self, user):
+		if slice_memb.user.kuser_id and slice_memb.slice.tenant_id:
+				self.driver.add_user_role(slice_memb.user.kuser_id,
+										  slice_memb.slice.tenant_id,
+										  slice_memb.role.role_type)	
+	   
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slices.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slices.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..736fde6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slices.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncSlices(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[Slice]
+	def sync_record(self, slice):
+		if not slice.tenant_id:
+            nova_fields = {'tenant_name': slice.name,
+                   'description': slice.description,
+                   'enabled': slice.enabled}
+            tenant = self.driver.create_tenant(**nova_fields)
+            slice.tenant_id = tenant.id
+
+            # XXX give caller an admin role at the tenant they've created
+            self.driver.add_user_role(self.caller.kuser_id, tenant.id, 'admin')
+
+            # refresh credentials using this tenant
+            self.driver.shell.connect(username=self.driver.shell.keystone.username,
+                                      password=self.driver.shell.keystone.password,
+                                      tenant=tenant.name)
+
+            # create network
+            network = self.driver.create_network(slice.name)
+            slice.network_id = network['id']
+
+            # create router
+            router = self.driver.create_router(slice.name)
+            slice.router_id = router['id']
+
+            # create subnet
+            next_subnet = self.get_next_subnet()
+            cidr = str(next_subnet.cidr)
+            ip_version = next_subnet.version
+            start = str(next_subnet[2])
+            end = str(next_subnet[-2]) 
+            subnet = self.driver.create_subnet(name=slice.name,
+                                               network_id = network['id'],
+                                               cidr_ip = cidr,
+                                               ip_version = ip_version,
+                                               start = start,
+                                               end = end)
+            slice.subnet_id = subnet['id']
+            # add subnet as interface to slice's router
+            self.driver.add_router_interface(router['id'], subnet['id'])
+            # add external route
+            self.driver.add_external_route(subnet)
+
+
+        if slice.id and slice.tenant_id:
+            self.driver.update_tenant(slice.tenant_id,
+                                      description=slice.description,
+                                      enabled=slice.enabled)   
+
+        slice.save()
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sliver_ips.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sliver_ips.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4421ca5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sliver_ips.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncSliverIps(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[Sliver]
+	def fetch_pending(self):
+		slivers = Sliver.objects.filter(ip=None)
+		return slivers
+
+	def sync_record(self, sliver):
+		self.manager.init_admin(tenant=sliver.slice.name)
+		servers = self.manager.driver.shell.nova.servers.findall(id=sliver.instance_id)
+		if not servers:
+			continue
+		server = servers[0]
+		ips = server.addresses.get(sliver.slice.name, [])
+		if not ips:
+			continue
+		sliver.ip = ips[0]['addr']
+		sliver.save()
+		logger.info("saved sliver ip: %s %s" % (sliver, ips[0]))
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slivers.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8ef822
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncSlivers(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[Sliver]
+	def sync_record(self, slice):
+		if not sliver.instance_id:
+				nics = self.get_requested_networks(sliver.slice)
+				file("/tmp/scott-manager","a").write("slice: %s\nreq: %s\n" % (str(sliver.slice.name), str(nics)))
+				slice_memberships = SliceMembership.objects.filter(slice=sliver.slice)
+				pubkeys = [sm.user.public_key for sm in slice_memberships if sm.user.public_key]
+				pubkeys.append(sliver.creator.public_key)
+				instance = self.driver.spawn_instance(name=sliver.name,
+									   key_name = sliver.creator.keyname,
+									   image_id = sliver.image.image_id,
+									   hostname = sliver.node.name,
+									   pubkeys = pubkeys,
+									   nics = nics )
+				sliver.instance_id = instance.id
+				sliver.instance_name = getattr(instance, 'OS-EXT-SRV-ATTR:instance_name')
+
+			if sliver.instance_id and ("numberCores" in sliver.changed_fields):
+				self.driver.update_instance_metadata(sliver.instance_id, {"cpu_cores": str(sliver.numberCores)})
+
+			sliver.save()	
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_users.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_users.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af1bc30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_users.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncUsers(OpenStackSyncStep):
+	provides=[User]
+	def sync_record(self, user):
+        name = user.email[:user.email.find('@')]
+        user_fields = {'name': name,
+                       'email': user.email,
+                       'password': hashlib.md5(user.password).hexdigest()[:6],
+                       'enabled': True}
+        if not user.kuser_id:
+            keystone_user = self.driver.create_user(**user_fields)
+            user.kuser_id = keystone_user.id
+        else:
+            self.driver.update_user(user.kuser_id, user_fields)     
+
+        if user.site:
+            self.driver.add_user_role(user.kuser_id, user.site.tenant_id, 'user')
+            if user.is_admin:
+                self.driver.add_user_role(user.kuser_id, user.site.tenant_id, 'admin')
+            else:
+                # may have admin role so attempt to remove it
+                self.driver.delete_user_role(user.kuser_id, user.site.tenant_id, 'admin')
+
+        if user.public_key:
+            self.init_caller(user, user.site.login_base)
+            self.save_key(user.public_key, user.keyname)
+            self.init_admin()
+
+        user.save()
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/syncstep.py b/planetstack/observer/syncstep.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b206106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/syncstep.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import os
+import base64
+from planetstack.config import Config
+
+class SyncStep:
+	""" A PlanetStack Sync step. 
+
+	Attributes:
+		psmodel		Model name the step synchronizes 
+		dependencies	list of names of models that must be synchronized first if the current model depends on them
+	""" 
+	slow=False
+	def get_prop(prop):
+		try:
+			sync_config_dir = Config().sync_config_dir
+		except:
+			sync_config_dir = '/etc/planetstack/sync'
+		prop_config_path = '/'.join(sync_config_dir,self.name,prop)
+		return open(prop_config_path).read().rstrip()
+
+	def __init__(self, **args):
+		"""Initialize a sync step
+		   Keyword arguments:
+		   		name -- Name of the step
+				provides -- PlanetStack models sync'd by this step
+		"""
+		try:
+			self.soft_deadline = int(self.get_prop('soft_deadline_seconds'))
+		except:
+			self.soft_deadline = 5 # 5 seconds
+
+		return
+
+	def fetch_pending(self):
+		return Sliver.objects.filter(ip=None)
+
+	def call(self):
+		return True
+
+	def __call__(self):
+		return self.call()
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/toposort.py b/planetstack/observer/toposort.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..34bf6f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/observer/toposort.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+import time
+import traceback
+import commands
+import threading
+import json
+
+from datetime import datetime
+from collections import defaultdict
+
+def toposort(g, steps):
+	reverse = {}
+
+	for k,v in g.items():
+		for rk in v:
+			try:
+				reverse[rk].append(k)
+			except:
+				reverse[rk]=k
+
+	sources = []
+	for k,v in g.items():
+		if not reverse.has_key(k):
+			sources.append(k)
+
+
+	for k,v in reverse.iteritems():
+		if (not v):
+			sources.append(k)
+
+	order = []
+	marked = []
+	while sources:
+		n = sources.pop()
+		try:
+			for m in g[n]:
+				if m not in marked:
+					sources.append(m)
+					marked.append(m)
+		except KeyError:
+			pass
+		if (n in steps):
+			order.append(n)
+
+	return order
+
+print toposort({'a':'b','b':'c','c':'d','d':'c'},['d','c','b','a'])