KR> - def cim_define(self, ip): KR> + def cim_define(self, ip, params=None, ref_conf=None): This is a class method, right? It seems weird to have a parameter to a class method that overrides the use of any of the class's private variables. AFAICT, this behaves like a class method when params=None and like a regular function when params is not None. Why not make cim_define() a regular function for the case where you need to pass in specific values and have the class method call it with the information from the class? KR> service = vsms.get_vsms_class(self.virt)(ip) KR> - sys_settings = str(self.vssd) KR> - res_settings = [str(self.dasd), str(self.nasd), KR> - str(self.pasd), str(self.masd)] KR> + if params is None: KR> + sys_settings = str(self.vssd) KR> + res_settings = [str(self.dasd), str(self.nasd), KR> + str(self.pasd), str(self.masd)] KR> + else: KR> + sys_settings = params['vssd'] KR> + res_settings = params['rasds'] For the record, I think that the current convention of passing in a dict with two specifically-named items instead of just another parameter to the method is pretty gross. Just in case you were wondering :) -- Dan Smith IBM Linux Technology Center Open Hypervisor Team email: danms@us.ibm.com