diff --git a/etc/openstack_deploy/conf.d/ironic.yml.aio b/etc/openstack_deploy/conf.d/ironic.yml.aio
index 774e772bc0..2703236031 100644
--- a/etc/openstack_deploy/conf.d/ironic.yml.aio
+++ b/etc/openstack_deploy/conf.d/ironic.yml.aio
@@ -2,3 +2,9 @@
 ironic-infra_hosts:
   aio1:
     ip: 172.29.236.100
+
+# Ironic compute hosts. These compute hosts will be used to
+#  facilitate ironic's interactions through nova.
+ironic-compute_hosts:
+  aio1:
+    ip: 172.29.236.100
diff --git a/etc/openstack_deploy/openstack_user_config.yml.example b/etc/openstack_deploy/openstack_user_config.yml.example
index eacafba3b3..55049f4d1a 100644
--- a/etc/openstack_deploy/openstack_user_config.yml.example
+++ b/etc/openstack_deploy/openstack_user_config.yml.example
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@
 #
 # --------
 #
-# Level: compute_hosts (required)
+# Level: compute_hosts (optional)
 # List of target hosts on which to deploy the nova compute service. Recommend
 # one minimum target host for this service. Typically contains target hosts
 # that do not reside in other levels.
@@ -419,6 +419,28 @@
 #
 # --------
 #
+# Level: ironic-compute_hosts (optional)
+# List of target hosts on which to deploy the nova compute service for Ironic.
+# Recommend one minimum target host for this service. Typically contains target
+# hosts that do not reside in other levels.
+#
+#   Level: <value> (required, string)
+#   Hostname of a target host.
+#
+#     Option: ip (required, string)
+#     IP address of this target host, typically the IP address assigned to
+#     the management bridge.
+#
+# Example:
+#
+# Define an OpenStack compute host:
+#
+# ironic-compute_hosts:
+#   ironic-infra1:
+#     ip: 172.29.236.121
+#
+# --------
+#
 # Level: storage-infra_hosts (required)
 # List of target hosts on which to deploy the cinder API. Recommend three
 # minimum target hosts for this service. Typically contains the same target
diff --git a/playbooks/inventory/env.d/ironic.yml b/playbooks/inventory/env.d/ironic.yml
index 67d4b06dae..659aa80c08 100644
--- a/playbooks/inventory/env.d/ironic.yml
+++ b/playbooks/inventory/env.d/ironic.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+
 component_skel:
   ironic_api:
     belongs_to:
@@ -23,6 +24,10 @@ component_skel:
   ironic_server:
     belongs_to:
       - ironic_servers
+  ironic_compute:
+    belongs_to:
+      - nova_all
+
 
 container_skel:
   ironic_api_container:
@@ -47,6 +52,18 @@ container_skel:
     properties:
       is_metal: true
       service_name: ironic
+  ironic_compute_container:
+    belongs_to:
+      - ironic-compute_containers
+    contains:
+      - ironic_compute
+      - nova_compute
+      - nova_scheduler
+      - neutron_linuxbridge_agent
+      - neutron_openvswitch_agent
+    properties:
+      is_metal: false
+      service_name: nova
 
 
 physical_skel:
@@ -62,3 +79,9 @@ physical_skel:
   ironic-server_hosts:
     belongs_to:
       - hosts
+  ironic-compute_containers:
+    belongs_to:
+      - all_containers
+  ironic-compute_hosts:
+    belongs_to:
+      - hosts
diff --git a/playbooks/inventory/group_vars/ironic_compute.yml b/playbooks/inventory/group_vars/ironic_compute.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4207d5c0c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playbooks/inventory/group_vars/ironic_compute.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+# Copyright 2016, Rackspace US, Inc.
+#
+# 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.
+
+nova_virt_type: ironic
diff --git a/tests/test_inventory.py b/tests/test_inventory.py
index 0a95e35d6a..706dcc6d98 100644
--- a/tests/test_inventory.py
+++ b/tests/test_inventory.py
@@ -209,6 +209,11 @@ class TestAnsibleInventoryFormatConstraints(unittest.TestCase):
         'ironic_server',
         'ironic_server_container',
         'ironic_servers',
+        'ironic_compute',
+        'ironic_compute_container',
+        'ironic-compute_containers',
+        'ironic-compute_all',
+        'ironic-compute_hosts',
         'keystone',
         'keystone_all',
         'keystone_container',