diff --git a/stress/utils/util.py b/stress/utils/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aac6c26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stress/utils/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+# Copyright 2011 Quanta Research Cambridge, Inc.
+#
+#    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 shlex
+
+SSH_OPTIONS = (" -q" +
+               " -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null" +
+               " -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -i ")
+
+
+def get_ssh_options(keypath):
+    return SSH_OPTIONS + keypath
+
+
+def scp(keypath, args):
+    options = get_ssh_options(keypath)
+    return subprocess.check_call(shlex.split("scp" + options + args))
+
+
+def ssh(keypath, user, node, command, check=True):
+    command = "ssh %s %s@%s %s" % (get_ssh_options(keypath), user,
+                                   node, command)
+    popenargs = shlex.split(command)
+    process = subprocess.Popen(popenargs, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+    output, unused_err = process.communicate()
+    retcode = process.poll()
+    if retcode and check:
+        raise Exception("%s: ssh failed with retcode: %s" % (node, retcode))
+    return output
+
+
+def execute_on_all(keypath, user, nodes, command):
+    for node in nodes:
+        ssh(keypath, user, node, command)
+
+
+def enum(*sequential, **named):
+    """Create auto-incremented enumerated types"""
+    enums = dict(zip(sequential, range(len(sequential))), **named)
+    return type('Enum', (), enums)