diff --git a/tools/test/topos/tower.py b/tools/test/topos/tower.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index b8a5f7c..b75bfe4
--- a/tools/test/topos/tower.py
+++ b/tools/test/topos/tower.py
@@ -1,101 +1,55 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
+
+from mininet.topo import Topo
 from mininet.cli import CLI
 from mininet.net import Mininet
 from mininet.node import RemoteController, OVSKernelSwitch
+from mininet.log import setLogLevel
 
-MAC = 12
-DPID = 16
 
-def string_to_hex(s, length):
-    """ Convert a string like 00:00 in to hex 0x0000 format"""
-    tmp = '{0:#x}'.format(int(s.replace(':', '').lstrip('0'),length))
-    return tmp
+class TowerTopo( Topo ):
+    """Create a tower topology"""
 
-def hex_to_string(h, length):
-    """Convert a hex number from 0x0000 to 00:00 format"""
-    tmp = h.lstrip('0x').zfill(length)
-    tmp = ':'.join(a+b for a,b in zip(tmp[::2], tmp[1::2]))
-    return tmp
-
-class Tower(object):
-    """ Create a tower topology from semi-scratch in Mininet """
-
-    def __init__(self, cname='flare', cip='15.255.126.183', k=4, h=6, 
-                 proto=None):
-        """Create tower topology for mininet
-            cname: controller name
-            cip: controller ip
-            k: number of leaf switches
-            h: number of hosts perl leaf switch
-        """
-
-        # We are creating the controller with local-loopback on purpose to avoid
-        # having the switches connect immediately. Instead, we'll set controller
-        # explicitly for each switch after configuring it as we want.
-        self.flare = RemoteController(cname, '127.0.0.1', 6633)
-        self.net = Mininet(controller=self.flare, switch = OVSKernelSwitch, 
-                           build=False)
-
-        self.cip = cip
-        self.spines = []
-        self.leaves = []
-        self.hosts = []
-        self.proto = proto
+    def build( self, k=4, h=6 ):
+        spines = []
+        leaves = []
+        hosts = []
 
         # Create the two spine switches
-        self.spines.append(self.net.addSwitch('s1'))
-        self.spines.append(self.net.addSwitch('s2'))
+        spines.append(self.addSwitch('s1'))
+        spines.append(self.addSwitch('s2'))
 
         # Create two links between the spine switches
-        self.net.addLink(self.spines[0], self.spines[1])
-        self.net.addLink(self.spines[1], self.spines[0])
+        self.addLink(spines[0], spines[1])
+        #TODO add second link between spines when multi-link topos are supported
+        #self.addLink(spines[0], spines[1])
         
         # Now create the leaf switches, their hosts and connect them together
         i = 1
         c = 0
         while i <= k:
-            self.leaves.append(self.net.addSwitch('s1%d' % i))
-            for spine in self.spines:
-                self.net.addLink(self.leaves[i-1], spine)
+            leaves.append(self.addSwitch('s1%d' % i))
+            for spine in spines:
+                self.addLink(leaves[i-1], spine)
 
             j = 1
             while j <= h:
-                self.hosts.append(self.net.addHost('h%d%d' % (i, j)))
-                self.net.addLink(self.hosts[c], self.leaves[i-1])
+                hosts.append(self.addHost('h%d%d' % (i, j)))
+                self.addLink(hosts[c], leaves[i-1])
                 j+=1
                 c+=1
 
             i+=1
 
-    def run(self):
-        """ Runs the created network topology and launches mininet cli"""
-        self.run_silent()
-        CLI(self.net)
-        self.net.stop()
+topos = { 'tower': TowerTopo }
 
-    def run_silent(self):
-        """ Runs silently - for unit testing """
-        self.net.build()
+def run():
+    topo = TowerTopo()
+    net = Mininet( topo=topo, controller=RemoteController, autoSetMacs=True )
+    net.start()
+    CLI( net )
+    net.stop()
 
-        # Start the switches, configure them with desired protocols and only 
-        # then set the controller
-        for sw in self.spines:
-            sw.start([self.flare])
-            if self.proto:
-                sw.cmd('ovs-vsctl set bridge %(sw)s protocols=%(proto)s' % \
-                           { 'sw': sw.name, 'proto': self.proto})
-            sw.cmdPrint('ovs-vsctl set-controller %(sw)s tcp:%(ctl)s:6633' % \
-                            {'sw': sw.name, 'ctl': self.cip})
-
-        for sw in self.leaves:
-            sw.start([self.flare])
-            sw.cmdPrint('ovs-vsctl set-controller %(sw)s tcp:%(ctl)s:6633' % \
-                            {'sw': sw.name, 'ctl': self.cip})
-
-    def pingAll(self):
-        """ PingAll to create flows - for unit testing """
-        self.net.pingAll()
-
-    def stop(self):
-        "Stops the topology. You should call this after run_silent"
-        self.net.stop()
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    setLogLevel( 'info' )
+    run()