diff --git a/openstack/utils/utils.go b/openstack/utils/utils.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe7c3a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openstack/utils/utils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package utils
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/rackspace/gophercloud/openstack/identity"
+	"os"
+)
+
+var (
+	nilOptions = identity.AuthOptions{}
+
+	// ErrNoAuthUrl errors occur when the value of the OS_AUTH_URL environment variable cannot be determined.
+	ErrNoAuthUrl = fmt.Errorf("Environment variable OS_AUTH_URL needs to be set.")
+
+	// ErrNoUsername errors occur when the value of the OS_USERNAME environment variable cannot be determined.
+	ErrNoUsername = fmt.Errorf("Environment variable OS_USERNAME needs to be set.")
+
+	// ErrNoPassword errors occur when the value of the OS_PASSWORD environment variable cannot be determined.
+	ErrNoPassword = fmt.Errorf("Environment variable OS_PASSWORD needs to be set.")
+)
+
+// AuthOptions fills out an identity.AuthOptions structure with the settings found on the various OpenStack
+// OS_* environment variables.  The following variables provide sources of truth: OS_AUTH_URL, OS_USERNAME,
+// OS_PASSWORD, OS_TENANT_ID, and OS_TENANT_NAME.  Of these, OS_USERNAME, OS_PASSWORD, and OS_AUTH_URL must
+// have settings, or an error will result.  OS_TENANT_ID and OS_TENANT_NAME are optional.
+//
+// The value of OS_AUTH_URL will be returned directly to the caller, for subsequent use in
+// gophercloud.Authenticate()'s Provider parameter.  This function will not interpret the value of OS_AUTH_URL,
+// so as a convenient extention, you may set OS_AUTH_URL to, e.g., "rackspace-uk", or any other Gophercloud-recognized
+// provider shortcuts.  For broad compatibility, especially with local installations, you should probably
+// avoid the temptation to do this.
+func AuthOptions() (identity.AuthOptions, error) {
+	authUrl := os.Getenv("OS_AUTH_URL")
+	username := os.Getenv("OS_USERNAME")
+	password := os.Getenv("OS_PASSWORD")
+	tenantId := os.Getenv("OS_TENANT_ID")
+	tenantName := os.Getenv("OS_TENANT_NAME")
+
+	if authUrl == "" {
+		return nilOptions, ErrNoAuthUrl
+	}
+
+	if username == "" {
+		return nilOptions, ErrNoUsername
+	}
+
+	if password == "" {
+		return nilOptions, ErrNoPassword
+	}
+
+	ao := identity.AuthOptions{
+		Endpoint:   authUrl,
+		Username:   username,
+		Password:   password,
+		TenantId:   tenantId,
+		TenantName: tenantName,
+	}
+
+	return ao, nil
+}