diff --git a/xos/tosca/custom_types/xos.yaml b/xos/tosca/custom_types/xos.yaml
index b93f497..f247d66 100644
--- a/xos/tosca/custom_types/xos.yaml
+++ b/xos/tosca/custom_types/xos.yaml
@@ -26,6 +26,28 @@
         capabilities:
             controller:
                 type: tosca.capabilities.xos.Controller
+        properties:
+            backend_type:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+            version:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+            auth_url:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+            admin_user:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+            admin_password:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+            admin_tenant:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+            domain:
+                type: string
+                required: false
 
     tosca.nodes.Site:
         derived_from: tosca.nodes.Root
diff --git a/xos/tosca/resources/controller.py b/xos/tosca/resources/controller.py
index d5dc4b7..75725f4 100644
--- a/xos/tosca/resources/controller.py
+++ b/xos/tosca/resources/controller.py
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@
     def get_xos_args(self):
         args = {"name": self.nodetemplate.name}
 
+        # copy simple string properties from the template into the arguments
+        for prop in ["backend_type", "version", "auth_url", "admin_user", "admin_password", "admin_tenant", "domain"]:
+            v = self.get_property(prop)
+            if v:
+                args[prop] = v
+
         deployment_name = self.get_requirement("tosca.relationships.ControllerDeployment")
         if deployment_name:
             args["deployment"] = self.get_xos_object(Deployment, name=deployment_name)
diff --git a/xos/tosca/samples/new_site_deploy_slice.yaml b/xos/tosca/samples/new_site_deploy_slice.yaml
index 66f83d3..0718b65 100644
--- a/xos/tosca/samples/new_site_deploy_slice.yaml
+++ b/xos/tosca/samples/new_site_deploy_slice.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@
           - deployment:
               node: newdeployment
               relationship: tosca.relationships.ControllerDeployment
+      properties:
+           backend_type: openstack
+           version: v1.23.4
+           auth_url: http://foo/
+           admin_user: johndoe
+           admin_password: letmeout
+           admin_tenant: 12345678
+           domain: mydomain
 
     newsite:
       type: tosca.nodes.Site