diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java
index 74991c8..46a582a 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
 
 /**
  * Default edge link model implementation.
@@ -52,10 +53,14 @@
      *                  for network-to-host direction
      * @return new phantom edge link
      */
-    public static DefaultEdgeLink createEdgeLink(HostLocation edgePort,
+    public static DefaultEdgeLink createEdgeLink(ConnectPoint edgePort,
                                                  boolean isIngress) {
+        checkNotNull(edgePort, "Edge port cannot be null");
+        HostLocation location = (edgePort instanceof HostLocation) ?
+                (HostLocation) edgePort : new HostLocation(edgePort, 0);
         return new DefaultEdgeLink(ProviderId.NONE,
                                    new ConnectPoint(HostId.NONE, PortNumber.P0),
-                                   edgePort, isIngress);
+                                   location, isIngress);
     }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java
index 76e2312..60c5945 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java
@@ -22,6 +22,17 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Creates a new host location derived from the supplied connection point.
+     *
+     * @param connectPoint connection point
+     * @param time         time when detected, in millis since start of epoch
+     */
+    public HostLocation(ConnectPoint connectPoint, long time) {
+        super(connectPoint.deviceId(), connectPoint.port());
+        this.time = time;
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Returns the time when the location was established, given in
      * milliseconds since start of epoch.
      *
diff --git a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java
index b3891f1..fd63797 100644
--- a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java
+++ b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultEdgeLink.createEdgeLink;
 import static org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultLinkTest.cp;
 import static org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId.deviceId;
 import static org.onlab.onos.net.HostId.hostId;
@@ -55,4 +56,24 @@
         assertEquals("incorrect time", 123L, link.hostLocation().time());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void phantomIngress() {
+        HostLocation hostLocation = new HostLocation(DID1, P1, 123L);
+        EdgeLink link = createEdgeLink(hostLocation, true);
+        assertEquals("incorrect dst", hostLocation, link.dst());
+        assertEquals("incorrect type", Link.Type.EDGE, link.type());
+        assertEquals("incorrect connect point", hostLocation, link.hostLocation());
+        assertEquals("incorrect time", 123L, link.hostLocation().time());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void phantomEgress() {
+        ConnectPoint hostLocation = new ConnectPoint(DID1, P1);
+        EdgeLink link = createEdgeLink(hostLocation, false);
+        assertEquals("incorrect src", hostLocation, link.src());
+        assertEquals("incorrect type", Link.Type.EDGE, link.type());
+        assertEquals("incorrect connect point", hostLocation, link.hostLocation());
+        assertEquals("incorrect time", 0L, link.hostLocation().time());
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java
index ac726c2..3f927fd 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java
@@ -119,8 +119,10 @@
             serializerPool = KryoPool.newBuilder()
                     .register(KryoPoolUtil.API)
                     .register(InternalDeviceEvent.class, new InternalDeviceEventSerializer())
+                    .register(InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.class, new InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer())
                     .register(InternalPortEvent.class, new InternalPortEventSerializer())
                     .register(InternalPortStatusEvent.class, new InternalPortStatusEventSerializer())
+                    .register(Timestamp.class)
                     .register(Timestamped.class)
                     .register(MastershipBasedTimestamp.class, new MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer())
                     .build()
@@ -134,6 +136,8 @@
         clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
                 GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_UPDATE, new InternalDeviceEventListener());
         clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
+                GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_OFFLINE, new InternalDeviceOfflineEventListener());
+        clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
                 GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.PORT_UPDATE, new InternalPortEventListener());
         clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
                 GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.PORT_STATUS_UPDATE, new InternalPortStatusEventListener());
@@ -177,7 +181,7 @@
             try {
                 notifyPeers(new InternalDeviceEvent(providerId, deviceId, deltaDesc));
             } catch (IOException e) {
-                log.error("Failed to notify peers of a device update topology event or providerId: "
+                log.error("Failed to notify peers of a device update topology event for providerId: "
                         + providerId + " and deviceId: " + deviceId, e);
             }
         }
@@ -280,7 +284,18 @@
     @Override
     public DeviceEvent markOffline(DeviceId deviceId) {
         Timestamp timestamp = clockService.getTimestamp(deviceId);
-        return markOfflineInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
+        DeviceEvent event = markOfflineInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
+        if (event != null) {
+            log.info("Notifying peers of a device offline topology event for deviceId: {}",
+                    deviceId);
+            try {
+                notifyPeers(new InternalDeviceOfflineEvent(deviceId, timestamp));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                log.error("Failed to notify peers of a device offline topology event for deviceId: {}",
+                     deviceId);
+            }
+        }
+        return event;
     }
 
     private DeviceEvent markOfflineInternal(DeviceId deviceId, Timestamp timestamp) {
@@ -811,6 +826,14 @@
         clusterCommunicator.broadcast(message);
     }
 
+    private void notifyPeers(InternalDeviceOfflineEvent event) throws IOException {
+        ClusterMessage message = new ClusterMessage(
+                clusterService.getLocalNode().id(),
+                GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_OFFLINE,
+                SERIALIZER.encode(event));
+        clusterCommunicator.broadcast(message);
+    }
+
     private void notifyPeers(InternalPortEvent event) throws IOException {
         ClusterMessage message = new ClusterMessage(
                 clusterService.getLocalNode().id(),
@@ -830,15 +853,32 @@
     private class InternalDeviceEventListener implements ClusterMessageHandler {
         @Override
         public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
+
             log.info("Received device update event from peer: {}", message.sender());
             InternalDeviceEvent event = (InternalDeviceEvent) SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
+
             ProviderId providerId = event.providerId();
             DeviceId deviceId = event.deviceId();
             Timestamped<DeviceDescription> deviceDescription = event.deviceDescription();
+
             createOrUpdateDeviceInternal(providerId, deviceId, deviceDescription);
         }
     }
 
+    private class InternalDeviceOfflineEventListener implements ClusterMessageHandler {
+        @Override
+        public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
+
+            log.info("Received device offline event from peer: {}", message.sender());
+            InternalDeviceOfflineEvent event = (InternalDeviceOfflineEvent) SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
+
+            DeviceId deviceId = event.deviceId();
+            Timestamp timestamp = event.timestamp();
+
+            markOfflineInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
+        }
+    }
+
     private class InternalPortEventListener implements ClusterMessageHandler {
         @Override
         public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java
index 58fed70..4b59e3a 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubject;
 
 /**
- * MessageSubjects used by GossipDeviceStore.
+ * MessageSubjects used by GossipDeviceStore peer-peer communication.
  */
 public final class GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects {
 
     private GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects() {}
 
     public static final MessageSubject DEVICE_UPDATE = new MessageSubject("peer-device-update");
+    public static final MessageSubject DEVICE_OFFLINE = new MessageSubject("peer-device-offline");
     public static final MessageSubject PORT_UPDATE = new MessageSubject("peer-port-update");
     public static final MessageSubject PORT_STATUS_UPDATE = new MessageSubject("peer-port-status-update");
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8942d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.java
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.Timestamp;
+
+/**
+ * Information published by GossipDeviceStore to notify peers of a device
+ * going offline.
+ */
+public class InternalDeviceOfflineEvent {
+
+    private final DeviceId deviceId;
+    private final Timestamp timestamp;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.
+     * @param deviceId identifier of device going offline.
+     * @param timestamp timestamp of when the device went offline.
+     */
+    public InternalDeviceOfflineEvent(DeviceId deviceId, Timestamp timestamp) {
+        this.deviceId = deviceId;
+        this.timestamp = timestamp;
+    }
+
+    public DeviceId deviceId() {
+        return deviceId;
+    }
+
+    public Timestamp timestamp() {
+        return timestamp;
+    }
+
+    // for serializer
+    @SuppressWarnings("unused")
+    private InternalDeviceOfflineEvent() {
+        deviceId = null;
+        timestamp = null;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7059636
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.Timestamp;
+
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Output;
+
+/**
+ * Kryo Serializer for {@link InternalDeviceOfflineEvent}.
+ */
+public class InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer extends Serializer<InternalDeviceOfflineEvent> {
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link InternalDeviceOfflineEvent}.
+     */
+    public InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer() {
+        // does not accept null
+        super(false);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void write(Kryo kryo, Output output, InternalDeviceOfflineEvent event) {
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.deviceId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.timestamp());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public InternalDeviceOfflineEvent read(Kryo kryo, Input input,
+                               Class<InternalDeviceOfflineEvent> type) {
+        DeviceId deviceId = (DeviceId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        Timestamp timestamp = (Timestamp) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+
+        return new InternalDeviceOfflineEvent(deviceId, timestamp);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tools/build/envDefaults b/tools/build/envDefaults
index 473095c..cbc6577 100644
--- a/tools/build/envDefaults
+++ b/tools/build/envDefaults
@@ -9,10 +9,14 @@
 export KARAF_TAR=${KARAF_TAR:-~/Downloads/apache-karaf-3.0.1.tar.gz}
 export KARAF_DIST=$(basename $KARAF_ZIP .zip)
 
+# Fallback build number us derived from from the user name & time
+export BUILD_NUMBER=${BUILD_NUMBER:-$(id -un)~$(date +'%Y/%m/%d@%H:%M')}
+
 # ONOS Version and onos.tar.gz staging environment
-export ONOS_VERSION=${ONOS_VERSION:-1.0.0-SNAPSHOT}
+export ONOS_POM_VERSION="1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
+export ONOS_VERSION=${ONOS_VERSION:-1.0.0.$BUILD_NUMBER}
+export ONOS_BITS=onos-${ONOS_VERSION%~*}
 export ONOS_STAGE_ROOT=${ONOS_STAGE_ROOT:-/tmp}
-export ONOS_BITS=onos-$ONOS_VERSION
 export ONOS_STAGE=$ONOS_STAGE_ROOT/$ONOS_BITS
 export ONOS_TAR=$ONOS_STAGE.tar.gz
 
diff --git a/tools/build/onos-package b/tools/build/onos-package
index 83445fd..a55a613 100755
--- a/tools/build/onos-package
+++ b/tools/build/onos-package
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 # ONOS Patching ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # Patch the Apache Karaf distribution file to add ONOS features repository
-perl -pi.old -e "s|^(featuresRepositories=.*)|\1,mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-features/$ONOS_VERSION/xml/features|" \
+perl -pi.old -e "s|^(featuresRepositories=.*)|\1,mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-features/$ONOS_POM_VERSION/xml/features|" \
     $ONOS_STAGE/$KARAF_DIST/etc/org.apache.karaf.features.cfg 
 
 # Patch the Apache Karaf distribution file to load ONOS features
@@ -57,17 +57,14 @@
     $ONOS_STAGE/$KARAF_DIST/etc/org.apache.karaf.features.cfg
 
 # Patch the Apache Karaf distribution with ONOS branding bundle
-cp $M2_REPO/org/onlab/onos/onos-branding/$ONOS_VERSION/onos-branding-*.jar \
+cp $M2_REPO/org/onlab/onos/onos-branding/$ONOS_POM_VERSION/onos-branding-*.jar \
     $ONOS_STAGE/$KARAF_DIST/lib
 
-# Patch in the ONOS version file use the build number or the user name for
-# build postfix in place of the SNAPSHOT post-fix.
-build=${BUILD_NUMBER:-$(id -un)~$(date +'%Y/%m/%d@%H:%M')}
-grep '<version>' $ONOS_ROOT/pom.xml | head -n1 | \
-    sed 's:.*<version>::g;s:</version>.*::g' | sed "s#SNAPSHOT#$build#g" \
-    >> $ONOS_STAGE/VERSION
+# Patch in the ONOS version file
+echo $ONOS_VERSION > $ONOS_STAGE/VERSION
 
 # Now package up the ONOS tar file
 cd $ONOS_STAGE_ROOT
 COPYFILE_DISABLE=1 tar zcf $ONOS_TAR $ONOS_BITS
 ls -l $ONOS_TAR >&2
+rm -r $ONOS_STAGE
diff --git a/tools/test/topos/tt.py b/tools/test/topos/tt.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b74d446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test/topos/tt.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+# Launches mininet with Tower topology configuration.
+import sys, tower
+net = tower.Tower(cip=sys.argv[1])
+net.run()