diff --git a/conf/checkstyle/sun_checks.xml b/conf/checkstyle/sun_checks.xml
index d585dac..b2011e4 100644
--- a/conf/checkstyle/sun_checks.xml
+++ b/conf/checkstyle/sun_checks.xml
@@ -127,6 +127,14 @@
             <property name="severity" value="warning"/>
         </module>
         <module name="JavadocStyle"/>
+	<!-- @author tag should not be used -->
+        <module name="WriteTag">
+            <property name="tag" value="@author"/>
+            <property name="tagFormat" value="\S"/>
+            <property name="severity" value="ignore"/>
+            <property name="tagSeverity" value="error"/>
+        </module>
+
 
         <!-- Checks for Naming Conventions.                  -->
         <!-- See http://checkstyle.sf.net/config_naming.html -->
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/devicemanager/OnosDevice.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/devicemanager/OnosDevice.java
index 1a2bdeb..6348932 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/devicemanager/OnosDevice.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/devicemanager/OnosDevice.java
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
  * Entities are the most basic element of devices; devices consist of one or
  * more entities.  Entities are immutable once created, except for the last
  * seen timestamp.
- *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author readams
  */
 public class OnosDevice implements Serializable {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/NodePortTuple.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/NodePortTuple.java
index 876702e..9288dad 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/NodePortTuple.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/NodePortTuple.java
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * A NodePortTuple is similar to a SwitchPortTuple
  * but it only stores IDs instead of references
  * to the actual objects.
- *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author srini
  */
 public class NodePortTuple {
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
         this.portId = portId;
     }
 
+    @Override
     public String toString() {
         return "[id=" + HexString.toHexString(nodeId) + ", port=" + portId + "]";
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/web/LinkWithType.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/web/LinkWithType.java
index 5271794..234ff98 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/web/LinkWithType.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/web/LinkWithType.java
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 /**
  * This class is both the datastructure and the serializer
  * for a link with the corresponding type of link.
- *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author alexreimers
  */
 @JsonSerialize(using = LinkWithType.class)
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/main/Main.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/main/Main.java
index 71b2ecc..78dad3c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/main/Main.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/main/Main.java
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 /**
  * Host for the ONOS main method.
- *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author alexreimers
  */
 public final class Main {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ARP.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ARP.java
index 3d11649..910d4d1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ARP.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ARP.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BPDU.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BPDU.java
index 38e979c..6e8324a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BPDU.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BPDU.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 /**
  * This class is a Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
  * Bridge Protocol Data Unit.
- *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author alexreimers
  */
 public class BPDU extends BasePacket {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSN.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSN.java
index 654da68..5ac7110 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSN.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSN.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author Shudong Zhou (shudong.zhou@bigswitch.com)
  */
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@
                 version == other.version);
     }
 
+    @Override
     public String toString() {
         StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer("\n");
         sb.append("BSN packet");
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNPROBE.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNPROBE.java
index 1daccda..c64d1a5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNPROBE.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNPROBE.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 import org.openflow.util.HexString;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author Shudong Zhou (shudong.zhou@bigswitch.com)
  */
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@
         );
     }
 
+    @Override
     public String toString() {
         StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer("\n");
         sb.append("BSN Probe packet");
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BasePacket.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BasePacket.java
index 780053e..e05740c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BasePacket.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BasePacket.java
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 package net.onrc.onos.core.packet;
 
-
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCP.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCP.java
index 61b0335..be15926 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCP.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCP.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPOption.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPOption.java
index 63e2741..c37572e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPOption.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPOption.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Data.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Data.java
index f63306b..af54777 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Data.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Data.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@
         return this;
     }
 
+    @Override
     public byte[] serialize() {
         return ArrayUtils.clone(this.data);
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Ethernet.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Ethernet.java
index d8ffe86..e75822f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Ethernet.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/Ethernet.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 import org.openflow.util.HexString;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
@@ -203,6 +204,7 @@
         return this;
     }
 
+    @Override
     public byte[] serialize() {
         byte[] payloadData = null;
         if (payload != null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMP.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMP.java
index c1a0883..846352b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMP.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMP.java
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 /**
  * Implements ICMP packet format.
- *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author shudong.zhou@bigswitch.com
  */
 public class ICMP extends BasePacket {
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
      * -checksum : 0
      * -length : 0
      */
+    @Override
     public byte[] serialize() {
         int length = 4;
         byte[] payloadData = null;
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPacket.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPacket.java
index 27be84e..55d18e5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPacket.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPacket.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 package net.onrc.onos.core.packet;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu).
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4.java
index f06495a..39a3ee1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLC.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLC.java
index d809f12..85a0897 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLC.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLC.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
  * This class represents an Link Local Control
  * header that is used in Ethernet 802.3.
  *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author alexreimers
  */
 public class LLC extends BasePacket {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDP.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDP.java
index 2cea470..7f3eafa 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDP.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDP.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPOrganizationalTLV.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPOrganizationalTLV.java
index 14edd04..6f995c5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPOrganizationalTLV.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPOrganizationalTLV.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 /**
  * The class representing LLDP Organizationally Specific TLV.
  *
+ * <!-- CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 1 LINES -->
  * @author Sho Shimizu (sho.shimizu@gmail.com)
  */
 public class LLDPOrganizationalTLV extends LLDPTLV {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTLV.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTLV.java
index d41b088..262cb24 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTLV.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTLV.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCP.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCP.java
index 6b6c355..913b414 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCP.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCP.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author shudong.zhou@bigswitch.com
  */
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@
      * -checksum : 0
      * -length : 0
      */
+    @Override
     public byte[] serialize() {
         int length;
         if (dataOffset == 0) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDP.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDP.java
index 8411d8f..51f5161 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDP.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDP.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@
      * -checksum : 0
      * -length : 0
      */
+    @Override
     public byte[] serialize() {
         byte[] payloadData = null;
         if (payload != null) {
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/internal/LinkDiscoveryManagerTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/internal/LinkDiscoveryManagerTest.java
index 33a1cd6..cdcf010 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/internal/LinkDiscoveryManagerTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/linkdiscovery/internal/LinkDiscoveryManagerTest.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNTest.java
index 83f4a41..ab28baf 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/BSNTest.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPTest.java
index 67e552f..c11e6be 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/DHCPTest.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
 
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/EthernetTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/EthernetTest.java
index 9ee7064..43869ab 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/EthernetTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/EthernetTest.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMPTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMPTest.java
index 9d5f084..f118e3e 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMPTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/ICMPTest.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author shudong.zhou@bigswitch.com
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4Test.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4Test.java
index c113219..586a801 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4Test.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/IPv4Test.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import org.junit.Assert;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTest.java
index acab149..6c6e3b3 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTest.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCPTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCPTest.java
index 8843490..62b5660 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCPTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/TCPTest.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author shudong.zhou@bigswitch.com
  */
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDPTest.java b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDPTest.java
index 34cf19e..16b258d 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDPTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/UDPTest.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+// CHECKSTYLE IGNORE WriteTag FOR NEXT 2 LINES
 /**
  * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
  */