diff --git a/TestON/drivers/common/cli/hostdriver.py b/TestON/drivers/common/cli/hostdriver.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..238721e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/TestON/drivers/common/cli/hostdriver.py
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+"""
+Copyright 2018 Open Networking Foundation (ONF)
+
+Please refer questions to either the onos test mailing list at <onos-test@onosproject.org>,
+the System Testing Plans and Results wiki page at <https://wiki.onosproject.org/x/voMg>,
+or the System Testing Guide page at <https://wiki.onosproject.org/x/WYQg>
+
+TestON is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or
+( at your option ) any later version.
+
+TestON is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with TestON.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+"""
+
+import pexpect
+import re
+import sys
+import types
+import os
+import time
+from math import pow
+from drivers.common.clidriver import CLI
+
+class HostDriver( CLI ):
+    """
+    This class is created as a standalone host driver.
+    """
+    def __init__( self ):
+        super( HostDriver, self ).__init__()
+        self.handle = self
+        self.name = None
+        self.shortName = None
+        self.home = None
+
+    def connect( self, **connectargs ):
+        """
+        Creates ssh handle for host.
+        NOTE:
+        The ip_address would come from the topo file using the host tag, the
+        value can be an environment variable as well as a "localhost" to get
+        the ip address needed to ssh to the "bench"
+        """
+        try:
+            for key in connectargs:
+                vars( self )[ key ] = connectargs[ key ]
+            self.name = self.options[ 'name' ]
+            self.shortName = self.options[ 'shortName' ]
+
+            try:
+                if os.getenv( str( self.ip_address ) ) is not None:
+                    self.ip_address = os.getenv( str( self.ip_address ) )
+                else:
+                    main.log.info( self.name +
+                                   ": Trying to connect to " +
+                                   self.ip_address )
+            except KeyError:
+                main.log.info( "Invalid host name," +
+                               " connecting to local host instead" )
+                self.ip_address = 'localhost'
+            except Exception as inst:
+                main.log.error( "Uncaught exception: " + str( inst ) )
+
+            self.handle = super(
+                HostDriver,
+                self ).connect(
+                user_name=self.user_name,
+                ip_address=self.ip_address,
+                port=None,
+                pwd=self.pwd )
+
+            if self.handle:
+                main.log.info( "Connection successful to the " +
+                               self.user_name +
+                               "@" +
+                               self.ip_address )
+                self.handle.sendline( "" )
+                self.handle.expect( self.prompt )
+                return main.TRUE
+            else:
+                main.log.error( "Connection failed to " +
+                                self.user_name +
+                                "@" +
+                                self.ip_address )
+                return main.FALSE
+        except pexpect.EOF:
+            main.log.error( self.name + ": EOF exception found" )
+            main.log.error( self.name + ":     " + self.handle.before )
+            main.cleanAndExit()
+        except Exception:
+            main.log.exception( self.name + ": Uncaught exception!" )
+            main.cleanAndExit()
+
+    def disconnect( self, **connectargs ):
+        """
+        Called when test is complete to disconnect the handle.
+        """
+        response = main.TRUE
+        try:
+            if self.handle:
+                # Disconnect from the host
+                self.handle.sendline( "" )
+                self.handle.expect( self.prompt )
+                self.handle.sendline( "exit" )
+                i = self.handle.expect( [ "closed", pexpect.TIMEOUT ], timeout=2 )
+                if i == 1:
+                    main.log.error(
+                        self.name +
+                        ": timeout when waiting for response" )
+                    main.log.error( "response: " + str( self.handle.before ) )
+        except TypeError:
+            main.log.exception( self.name + ": Object not as expected" )
+            response = main.FALSE
+        except pexpect.EOF:
+            main.log.error( self.name + ": EOF exception found" )
+            main.log.error( self.name + ":     " + self.handle.before )
+        except ValueError:
+            main.log.exception( "Exception in disconnect of " + self.name )
+            response = main.TRUE
+        except Exception:
+            main.log.exception( self.name + ": Connection failed to the host" )
+            response = main.FALSE
+        return response
+
+    def ping( self, dst, ipv6=False, wait=3 ):
+        """
+        Description:
+            Ping from this host to another
+        Required:
+            dst: IP address of destination host
+        Optional:
+            ipv6: will use ping6 command if True; otherwise use ping command
+            wait: timeout for ping command
+        """
+        try:
+            command = "ping6" if ipv6 else "ping"
+            command += " -c 1 -i 1 -W " + str( wait ) + " " + str( dst )
+            main.log.info( self.name + ": Sending: " + command )
+            self.handle.sendline( command )
+            i = self.handle.expect( [ self.prompt, pexpect.TIMEOUT ],
+                                    timeout=wait + 1 )
+            if i == 1:
+                main.log.error(
+                    self.name +
+                    ": timeout when waiting for response" )
+                main.log.error( "response: " + str( self.handle.before ) )
+            self.handle.sendline( "" )
+            self.handle.expect( self.prompt )
+            response = self.handle.before
+            if re.search( ',\s0\%\spacket\sloss', response ):
+                main.log.info( self.name + ": no packets lost, host is reachable" )
+                return main.TRUE
+            else:
+                main.log.warn(
+                    self.name +
+                    ": PACKET LOST, HOST IS NOT REACHABLE" )
+                return main.FALSE
+        except pexpect.EOF:
+            main.log.error( self.name + ": EOF exception found" )
+            main.log.error( self.name + ":     " + self.handle.before )
+            main.cleanAndExit()
+        except Exception:
+            main.log.exception( self.name + ": Uncaught exception!" )
+            main.cleanAndExit()
+
+    def ifconfig( self, wait=3 ):
+        """
+        Run ifconfig command on host and return output
+        """
+        try:
+            command = "ifconfig"
+            main.log.info( self.name + ": Sending: " + command )
+            self.handle.sendline( command )
+            i = self.handle.expect( [ self.prompt, pexpect.TIMEOUT ],
+                                    timeout=wait + 1 )
+            if i == 1:
+                main.log.error(
+                    self.name +
+                    ": timeout when waiting for response" )
+                main.log.error( "response: " + str( self.handle.before ) )
+            self.handle.sendline( "" )
+            self.handle.expect( self.prompt )
+            response = self.handle.before
+            return response
+        except pexpect.EOF:
+            main.log.error( self.name + ": EOF exception found" )
+            main.log.error( self.name + ":     " + self.handle.before )
+            main.cleanAndExit()
+        except Exception:
+            main.log.exception( self.name + ": Uncaught exception!" )
+            main.cleanAndExit()