diff --git a/bin/mn_run.py b/bin/mn_run.py
index f5e8530..a1fdfe4 100755
--- a/bin/mn_run.py
+++ b/bin/mn_run.py
@@ -16,7 +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.node import RemoteController, UserSwitch
 from mininet.topo import SingleSwitchTopo, LinearTopo, SingleSwitchReversedTopo
 
 # built in topologies, created only when run
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ if USE_RIPCORD:
     TOPOS.update(TOPOS_RIPCORD)
 
 SWITCH_DEF = 'kernel'
-SWITCHES = {'kernel' : KernelSwitch}
+SWITCHES = {'kernel' : KernelSwitch,
+            'user' : UserSwitch}
 
 HOST_DEF = 'process'
 HOSTS = {'process' : Host}
@@ -115,6 +116,8 @@ class MininetRunner(object):
         opts.add_option('--port', type = 'string', default = 6633,
                         help = '[port integer for a listening remote'
                         ' controller]')
+        opts.add_option('--in_namespace', action = 'store_true',
+                        default = False, help = 'sw and ctrl in namespace?')
         self.options = opts.parse_args()[0]
 
     def setup(self):
@@ -147,10 +150,12 @@ class MininetRunner(object):
                              port = self.options.port)
 
         controller_params = ControllerParams(0x0a000000, 8) # 10.0.0.0/8
+        in_namespace = self.options.in_namespace
         xterms = self.options.xterms
         mac = self.options.mac
         arp = self.options.arp
         mn = Mininet(topo, switch, host, controller, controller_params,
+                     in_namespace = in_namespace,
                      xterms = xterms, auto_set_macs = mac,
                      auto_static_arp = arp)
 
diff --git a/mininet/net.py b/mininet/net.py
index 0305e02..0bb2dd2 100755
--- a/mininet/net.py
+++ b/mininet/net.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class Mininet(object):
         @param now build now?
         @param xterms if build now, spawn xterms?
         @param cleanup if build now, cleanup before creating?
-        @param in_namespace spawn switches and hosts in their own namespace?
+        @param in_namespace spawn switches and controller in net namespaces?
         @param auto_set_macs set MAC addrs to DPIDs?
         @param auto_static_arp set all-pairs static MAC addrs?
         '''
@@ -112,8 +112,6 @@ class Mininet(object):
 
         self.terms = [] # list of spawned xterm processes
 
-        self.kernel = True #temporary!
-
         if build:
             self.build()
 
@@ -178,7 +176,7 @@ class Mininet(object):
 
         @param controller Controller class
         '''
-        controller = self.controller('c0', not self.kernel)
+        controller = self.controller('c0', self.in_namespace)
         if controller: # allow controller-less setups
             self.controllers['c0'] = controller
 
@@ -271,11 +269,6 @@ class Mininet(object):
         if self.cleanup:
             pass # cleanup
         # validate topo?
-        kernel = self.kernel
-        if kernel:
-            lg.info('*** Using kernel datapath\n')
-        else:
-            lg.info('*** Using user datapath\n')
         lg.info('*** Adding controller\n')
         self._add_controller(self.controller)
         lg.info('*** Creating network\n')
@@ -287,13 +280,13 @@ class Mininet(object):
         for switch in sorted(self.topo.switches()):
             self._add_switch(switch)
             lg.info('0x%x ' % switch)
-        lg.info('\n*** Adding edges: ')
+        lg.info('\n*** Adding edges:\n')
         for src, dst in sorted(self.topo.edges()):
             self._add_link(src, dst)
             lg.info('(0x%x, 0x%x) ' % (src, dst))
         lg.info('\n')
 
-        if not kernel:
+        if self.in_namespace:
             lg.info('*** Configuring control network\n')
             self._configureControlNetwork()
 
diff --git a/mininet/node.py b/mininet/node.py
index ca1f4f9..82c44c8 100644
--- a/mininet/node.py
+++ b/mininet/node.py
@@ -259,13 +259,17 @@ class Switch(Node):
             return True, ''
 
 class UserSwitch(Switch):
+    '''User-space switch.
+
+    Currently only works in the root namespace.
+    '''
 
     def __init__(self, name):
         '''Init.
 
         @param name
         '''
-        Node.__init__(self, name, inNamespace = True)
+        Node.__init__(self, name, inNamespace = False)
 
     def start(self, controllers):
         '''Start OpenFlow reference user datapath.
@@ -274,17 +278,17 @@ class UserSwitch(Switch):
 
         @param controllers dict of controller names to objects
         '''
-        if 'c0' not in controller:
+        if 'c0' not in controllers:
             raise Exception('User datapath start() requires controller c0')
         controller = controllers['c0']
         ofdlog = '/tmp/' + self.name + '-ofd.log'
         ofplog = '/tmp/' + self.name + '-ofp.log'
         self.cmd('ifconfig lo up')
-        intfs = self.intfs[1:] # 0 is mgmt interface
-        self.cmdPrint('ofdatapath -i ' + ','.join(intfs) +
-                      ' ptcp: 1> ' + ofdlog + ' 2> ' + ofdlog + ' &')
-        self.cmdPrint('ofprotocol tcp:' + controller.IP() +
-                      ' tcp:localhost --fail=closed 1> ' + ofplog + ' 2>' +
+        intfs = self.intfs
+        self.cmdPrint('ofdatapath -i ' + ','.join(intfs) + ' punix:/tmp/' +
+                      self.name + ' 1> ' + ofdlog + ' 2> ' + ofdlog + ' &')
+        self.cmdPrint('ofprotocol unix:/tmp/' + self.name + ' tcp:' +
+                      controller.IP() + ' --fail=closed 1> ' + ofplog + ' 2>' +
                       ofplog + ' &')
 
     def stop(self):