diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/event_loop.py b/xos/openstack_observer/event_loop.py
index 04b5c97..a63ff3c 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/event_loop.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/event_loop.py
@@ -193,7 +193,8 @@
 		pp.pprint(step_graph)
 		self.ordered_steps = toposort(self.dependency_graph, map(lambda s:s.__name__,self.sync_steps))
 		#self.ordered_steps = ['SyncRoles', 'SyncControllerSites', 'SyncControllerSitePrivileges','SyncImages', 'SyncControllerImages','SyncControllerUsers','SyncControllerUserSitePrivileges','SyncControllerSlices', 'SyncControllerSlicePrivileges', 'SyncControllerUserSlicePrivileges', 'SyncControllerNetworks','SyncSlivers']
-		#self.ordered_steps = ['SyncControllerSites','SyncControllerUsers','SyncControllerSlices','SyncControllerNetworks']
+		#self.ordered_steps = ['SyncControllerSites','SyncRoles','SyncControllerUsers','SyncControllerSlices','SyncControllerNetworks']
+		#self.ordered_steps = ['SyncControllerNetworks']
 		#self.ordered_steps = ['SyncSlivers','SyncNetworkSlivers']
 
 		print "Order of steps=",self.ordered_steps
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py
index 19009dd..94b18a0 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from core.models import Image, ControllerImages
 from util.logger import observer_logger as logger 
 from observer.ansible import *
+import json
 
 class SyncControllerImages(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[ControllerImages]
@@ -23,6 +24,11 @@
 
     def sync_record(self, controller_image):
         logger.info("Working on image %s on controller %s" % (controller_image.image.name, controller_image.controller))
+
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_image.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_image.controller.name)
+
         image_fields = {'endpoint':controller_image.controller.auth_url,
                         'admin_user':controller_image.controller.admin_user,
                         'admin_password':controller_image.controller.admin_password,
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py
index 8866e53..23dfc39 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from util.logger import observer_logger as logger
 from observer.ansible import *
 from openstack.driver import OpenStackDriver
+import json
 
 import pdb
 
@@ -61,6 +62,10 @@
     def sync_record(self, controller_network):
         logger.info("sync'ing network controller %s for network %s slice %s controller %s" % (controller_network, controller_network.network, str(controller_network.network.owner), controller_network.controller))
 
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_network.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_network.controller.name)
+
         if not controller_network.controller.admin_user:
             logger.info("controller %r has no admin_user, skipping" % controller_network.controller)
             return
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py
index 499a0ff..6a13736 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from core.models.controlleruser import ControllerUser, ControllerSitePrivilege
 from util.logger import observer_logger as logger
 from observer.ansible import *
+import json
 
 class SyncControllerSitePrivileges(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[SitePrivilege]
@@ -25,6 +26,11 @@
     def sync_record(self, controller_site_privilege):
         logger.info("sync'ing controler_site_privilege %s at controller %s" % (controller_site_privilege, controller_site_privilege.controller))
 
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_site_privilege.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_site_privilege.controller.name)
+
+
         if not controller_site_privilege.controller.admin_user:
             logger.info("controller %r has no admin_user, skipping" % controller_site_privilege.controller)
             return
@@ -68,6 +74,10 @@
             controller_site_privilege.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, controller_site_privilege):
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_site_privilege.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_site_privilege.controller.name)
+
         if controller_site_privilege.role_id:
             driver = self.driver.admin_driver(controller=controller_site_privilege.controller)
             user = ControllerUser.objects.get(
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py
index acb6ba9..f101315 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from core.models.site import *
 from observer.ansible import *
 from util.logger import observer_logger as logger
+import json
 
 class SyncControllerSites(OpenStackSyncStep):
     requested_interval=0
@@ -17,6 +18,10 @@
         return pending.filter(controller__isnull=False)
 
     def sync_record(self, controller_site):
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_site.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_site.controller.name)
+
 	template = os_template_env.get_template('sync_controller_sites.yaml')
 	tenant_fields = {'endpoint':controller_site.controller.auth_url,
 		         'admin_user': controller_site.controller.admin_user,
@@ -34,6 +39,10 @@
         controller_site.save()
             
     def delete_record(self, controller_site):
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_site.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_site.controller.name)
+
 	if controller_site.tenant_id:
             driver = self.driver.admin_driver(controller=controller_site.controller)
             driver.delete_tenant(controller_site.tenant_id)
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py
index f1600ca..38f23c2 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from core.models.controlleruser import ControllerUser, ControllerSlicePrivilege
 from observer.ansible import *
 from util.logger import observer_logger as logger
+import json
 
 class SyncControllerSlicePrivileges(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[SlicePrivilege]
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@
     def sync_record(self, controller_slice_privilege):
         logger.info("sync'ing controler_slice_privilege %s at controller %s" % (controller_slice_privilege, controller_slice_privilege.controller))
 
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_slice_privilege.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_slice_privilege.controller.name)
+
         if not controller_slice_privilege.controller.admin_user:
             logger.info("controller %r has no admin_user, skipping" % controller_slice_privilege.controller)
             return
@@ -68,6 +73,10 @@
             controller_slice_privilege.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, controller_slice_privilege):
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_slice_privilege.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_slice_privilege.controller.name)
+
         if controller_slice_privilege.role_id:
             driver = self.driver.admin_driver(controller=controller_slice_privilege.controller)
             user = ControllerUser.objects.get(
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py
index 591a1b6..ac2623c 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py
@@ -5,12 +5,11 @@
 from django.db.models import F, Q
 from xos.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
-from core.models import User
-from core.models.slice import Slice, ControllerSlice
-from core.models.controlleruser import ControllerUser
+from core.models import *
 from observer.ansible import *
 from openstack.driver import OpenStackDriver
 from util.logger import observer_logger as logger
+import json
 
 class SyncControllerSlices(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[Slice]
@@ -26,6 +25,10 @@
     def sync_record(self, controller_slice):
         logger.info("sync'ing slice controller %s" % controller_slice)
 
+        controller_register = json.loads(controller_slice.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+            raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_slice.controller.name)
+
         if not controller_slice.controller.admin_user:
             logger.info("controller %r has no admin_user, skipping" % controller_slice.controller)
             return
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py
index acb3050..47d1096 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from core.models.controlleruser import ControllerUser
 from observer.ansible import *
 from util.logger import observer_logger as logger
+import json
 
 class SyncControllerUsers(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[User]
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@
     def sync_record(self, controller_user):
         logger.info("sync'ing user %s at controller %s" % (controller_user.user, controller_user.controller))
 
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_user.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_user.controller.name)
+
         if not controller_user.controller.admin_user:
             logger.info("controller %r has no admin_user, skipping" % controller_user.controller)
             return
@@ -72,6 +77,10 @@
             controller_user.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, controller_user):
+	controller_register = json.loads(controller_user.controller.backend_register)
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+                raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%controller_user.controller.name)
+
         if controller_user.kuser_id:
             driver = self.driver.admin_driver(controller=controller_user.controller)
             driver.delete_user(controller_user.kuser_id)
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
index 9ee7cfa..d831c70 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@
 
     def sync_record(self, sliver):
         logger.info("sync'ing sliver:%s slice:%s controller:%s " % (sliver, sliver.slice.name, sliver.node.site_deployment.controller))
+        controller_register = json.loads(sliver.node.site_deployment.controller.backend_register)
+
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+            raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%sliver.node.site_deployment.controller.name)
 
         metadata_update = {}
         if (sliver.numberCores):
@@ -143,6 +147,11 @@
         sliver.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, sliver):
+        controller_register = json.loads(sliver.node.site_deployment.controller.backend_register)
+
+        if (controller_register.get('disabled',False)):
+            raise Exception('Controller %s is disabled'%sliver.node.site_deployment.controller.name)
+
         sliver_name = '%s-%d'%(sliver.slice.name,sliver.id)
         controller = sliver.node.site_deployment.controller
         tenant_fields = {'endpoint':controller.auth_url,
diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/syncstep.py b/xos/openstack_observer/syncstep.py
index a4d591d..704d837 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/syncstep.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/syncstep.py
@@ -176,5 +176,11 @@
 
         return failed
 
+    def sync_record(self, o):
+        return
+
+    def delete_record(self, o):
+        return
+
     def __call__(self, **args):
         return self.call(**args)