diff --git a/octavia/common/constants.py b/octavia/common/constants.py
index 1385af173f..cce8a9bf47 100644
--- a/octavia/common/constants.py
+++ b/octavia/common/constants.py
@@ -50,3 +50,6 @@ OFFLINE = 'OFFLINE'
 DEGRADED = 'DEGRADED'
 ERROR = 'ERROR'
 SUPPORTED_OPERATING_STATUSES = (ONLINE, OFFLINE, DEGRADED, ERROR)
+
+AMPHORA_VM = 'VM'
+AMPHORA_TYPES = (AMPHORA_VM, )
diff --git a/octavia/compute/__init__.py b/octavia/compute/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/octavia/compute/compute_base.py b/octavia/compute/compute_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..746379a993
--- /dev/null
+++ b/octavia/compute/compute_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#    Copyright 2011-2014 OpenStack Foundation
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+import abc
+
+import six
+
+import octavia.common.constants as constants
+
+
+@six.add_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta)
+class ComputeBase(object):
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_logger(self):
+        """Return logger to be used
+
+        :returns: the logger.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def build(self, amphora_type=constants.AMPHORA_VM, amphora_flavor=None,
+              image_id=None, keys=None, sec_groups=None, network_ids=None):
+        """Build a new amphora.
+
+        :param amphora_type: The type of amphora to create (ex: VM)
+        :param amphora_flavor: Optionally specify a flavor
+        :param image_id: ID of the base image for the amphora instance
+        :param keys: Optionally specify a list of ssh public keys
+        :param sec_groups: Optionally specify list of security
+        groups
+        :param network_ids: A list of network IDs to attach to the amphora
+        :returns: The id of the new instance.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def delete(self, amphora_id):
+        """Delete the specified amphora
+
+        :param amphora_id: The id of the amphora to delete
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def status(self, amphora_id):
+        """Check whether the specified amphora is up
+
+        :param amphora_id: the ID of the desired amphora
+        :returns: The nova "status" response ("ONLINE" or "OFFLINE")
+        """
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_amphora(self, amphora_id):
+        """Retrieve an amphora object
+
+        :param amphora_id: the id of the desired amphora
+        :returns: the amphora object
+        """
+        pass
\ No newline at end of file