diff --git a/bin/mn_run.py b/bin/mn_run.py
index 38372d4..6503c9c 100755
--- a/bin/mn_run.py
+++ b/bin/mn_run.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ except ImportError:
 from mininet.logging_mod import lg, set_loglevel, LEVELS
 from mininet.net import Mininet, init
 from mininet.node import KernelSwitch, Host, Controller, ControllerParams, NOX
+from mininet.node import RemoteController
 from mininet.topo import SingleSwitchTopo, LinearTopo
 
 # built in topologies, created only when run
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ CONTROLLER_DEF = 'ref'
 CONTROLLERS = {'ref' : Controller,
                'nox_dump' : lambda a, b: NOX(a, b, 'packetdump'),
                'nox_pysw' : lambda a, b: NOX(a, b, 'pyswitch'),
+               'remote' : lambda a, b: None,
                'none' :     lambda a, b: None}
 
 # optional tests to run
@@ -106,6 +108,12 @@ class MininetRunner(object):
         opts.add_option('--verbosity', '-v', type = 'choice',
                         choices = LEVELS.keys(), default = 'info',
                         help = '[' + ' '.join(LEVELS.keys()) + ']')
+        opts.add_option('--ip', type = 'string',
+                        help = '[ip address as a dotted decimal string for a'
+                        'remote controller]')
+        opts.add_option('--port', type = 'string',
+                        help = '[port integer for a listening remote'
+                        ' controller]')
         self.options = opts.parse_args()[0]
 
     def setup(self):
@@ -132,6 +140,10 @@ class MininetRunner(object):
         switch = SWITCHES[self.options.switch]
         host = HOSTS[self.options.host]
         controller = CONTROLLERS[self.options.controller]
+        if self.options.controller == 'remote':
+            controller = lambda a, b: RemoteController(a, b,
+                             ip_address = self.options.ip,
+                             port = self.options.port)
 
         controller_params = ControllerParams(0x0a000000, 8) # 10.0.0.0/8
         xterms = self.options.xterms
diff --git a/mininet/node.py b/mininet/node.py
index a161f4b..359462b 100644
--- a/mininet/node.py
+++ b/mininet/node.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE, STDOUT
 import os, signal, sys, select
+
 flush = sys.stdout.flush
 
 from mininet.logging_mod import lg
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ class Node(object):
         self.pid = self.shell.pid
         self.intfCount = 0
         self.intfs = [] # list of interface names, as strings
-        self.ips = {}
+        self.ips = {} # dict of interfaces to ip addresses as strings
         self.connection = {}
         self.waiting = False
         self.execed = False
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ class Node(object):
         '''Set the IP address for an interface.
 
         @param intf string, interface name
-        @param ip IP address as integer
+        @param ip IP address as a string
         @param bits
         '''
         result = self.cmd(['ifconfig', intf, ip + bits, 'up'])
@@ -303,7 +304,7 @@ class KernelSwitch(Switch):
         self.dp = dp
         self.dpid = dpid
 
-    def start(self, ignore):
+    def start(self, controllers):
         '''Start up reference kernel datapath.'''
         ofplog = '/tmp/' + self.name + '-ofp.log'
         quietRun('ifconfig lo up')
@@ -318,7 +319,8 @@ class KernelSwitch(Switch):
         self.cmdPrint('dpctl addif nl:' + str(self.dp) + ' ' +
                       ' '.join(self.intfs))
         # Run protocol daemon
-        self.cmdPrint('ofprotocol nl:' + str(self.dp) + ' tcp:127.0.0.1 ' +
+        self.cmdPrint('ofprotocol nl:' + str(self.dp) + ' tcp:' +
+                      controllers['c0'].IP()+':'+str(controllers['c0'].port) +
                       ' --fail=closed 1> ' + ofplog + ' 2>' + ofplog + ' &')
         self.execed = False # XXX until I fix it
 
@@ -340,10 +342,13 @@ class Controller(Node):
       OpenFlow controller.'''
 
     def __init__(self, name, inNamespace = False, controller = 'controller',
-                 cargs = '-v ptcp:', cdir = None):
+                 cargs = '-v ptcp:', cdir = None, ip_address="127.0.0.1",
+                 port = 6633):
         self.controller = controller
         self.cargs = cargs
         self.cdir = cdir
+        self.ip_address = ip_address
+        self.port = port
         Node.__init__(self, name, inNamespace = inNamespace)
 
     def start(self):
@@ -363,6 +368,10 @@ class Controller(Node):
         self.cmd('kill %' + self.controller)
         self.terminate()
 
+    def IP(self):
+        '''Return IP address of the Controller'''
+        return self.ip_address
+
 
 class ControllerParams(object):
     '''Container for controller IP parameters.'''
@@ -395,4 +404,26 @@ class NOX(Controller):
             controller = nox_core_dir + '/nox_core',
             cargs = '--libdir=/usr/local/lib -v -i ptcp: ' + \
                     ' '.join(nox_args),
-            cdir = nox_core_dir, **kwargs)
\ No newline at end of file
+            cdir = nox_core_dir, **kwargs)
+
+class RemoteController(Controller):
+    '''Controller running remotely.'''
+    def __init__(self, name, inNamespace = False, ip_address = None, port = 6633):
+        '''Init.
+
+        @param name name to give controller
+        @param ip_address the IP address where the remote controller is
+            listening
+        @param port the port where the remote controller is listening
+        '''
+        if not ip_address:
+            raise Exception('please set ip_address\n')
+        Controller.__init__(self, name, ip_address = ip_address, port = port)
+
+    def start(self):
+        '''Overridden to do nothing.'''
+        return
+
+    def stop(self):
+        '''Overridden to do nothing.'''
+        return