diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostProviderService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostProviderService.java
index 8678a29..f7b7c49 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostProviderService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostProviderService.java
@@ -30,7 +30,20 @@
      * @param hostId          id of the host that been detected
      * @param hostDescription description of host and its location
      */
-    void hostDetected(HostId hostId, HostDescription hostDescription);
+    @Deprecated
+    default void hostDetected(HostId hostId, HostDescription hostDescription) {
+        hostDetected(hostId, hostDescription, false);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies the core when a host has been detected on a network along with
+     * information that identifies the host location.
+     *
+     * @param hostId          id of the host that been detected
+     * @param hostDescription description of host and its location
+     * @param replaceIps      replace IP set if true, merge IP set otherwise
+     */
+    void hostDetected(HostId hostId, HostDescription hostDescription, boolean replaceIps);
 
     /**
      * Notifies the core when a host is no longer detected on a network.
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostStore.java
index 35a2a8b..5894fe9 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostStore.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/host/HostStore.java
@@ -39,12 +39,13 @@
      * @param providerId      provider identification
      * @param hostId          host identification
      * @param hostDescription host description data
+     * @param replaceIps      replace IP set if true, merge IP set otherwise
      * @return appropriate event or null if no change resulted
      */
     HostEvent createOrUpdateHost(ProviderId providerId, HostId hostId,
-                                 HostDescription hostDescription);
+                                 HostDescription hostDescription,
+                                 boolean replaceIps);
 
-    // FIXME: API to remove only IpAddress is missing
     /**
      * Removes the specified host from the inventory.
      *