diff --git a/tempest/scenario/manager.py b/tempest/scenario/manager.py
index ed65c42..c52ea15 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/manager.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/manager.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from tempest_lib.common.utils import misc as misc_utils
 from tempest_lib import exceptions as lib_exc
 
-from tempest.common import fixed_network
+from tempest.common import compute
 from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
 from tempest.common.utils.linux import remote_client
 from tempest.common import waiters
@@ -158,52 +158,100 @@
         return body['keypair']
 
     def create_server(self, name=None, image=None, flavor=None,
-                      wait_on_boot=True, wait_on_delete=True,
-                      create_kwargs=None):
-        """Creates VM instance.
+                      validatable=False, wait_until=None,
+                      wait_on_delete=True, clients=None, **kwargs):
+        """Wrapper utility that returns a test server.
 
-        @param image: image from which to create the instance
-        @param wait_on_boot: wait for status ACTIVE before continue
-        @param wait_on_delete: force synchronous delete on cleanup
-        @param create_kwargs: additional details for instance creation
-        @return: server dict
+        This wrapper utility calls the common create test server and
+        returns a test server. The purpose of this wrapper is to minimize
+        the impact on the code of the tests already using this
+        function.
         """
-        if name is None:
-            name = data_utils.rand_name(self.__class__.__name__)
-        if image is None:
-            image = CONF.compute.image_ref
-        if flavor is None:
-            flavor = CONF.compute.flavor_ref
-        if create_kwargs is None:
-            create_kwargs = {}
-        network = self.get_tenant_network()
-        create_kwargs = fixed_network.set_networks_kwarg(network,
-                                                         create_kwargs)
 
-        LOG.debug("Creating a server (name: %s, image: %s, flavor: %s)",
-                  name, image, flavor)
-        server = self.servers_client.create_server(name=name, imageRef=image,
-                                                   flavorRef=flavor,
-                                                   **create_kwargs)['server']
+        # NOTE(jlanoux): As a first step, ssh checks in the scenario
+        # tests need to be run regardless of the run_validation and
+        # validatable parameters and thus until the ssh validation job
+        # becomes voting in CI. The test resources management and IP
+        # association are taken care of in the scenario tests.
+        # Therefore, the validatable parameter is set to false in all
+        # those tests. In this way create_server just return a standard
+        # server and the scenario tests always perform ssh checks.
+
+        # Needed for the cross_tenant_traffic test:
+        if clients is None:
+            clients = self.manager
+
+        vnic_type = CONF.network.port_vnic_type
+
+        # If vnic_type is configured create port for
+        # every network
+        if vnic_type:
+            ports = []
+            networks = []
+            create_port_body = {'binding:vnic_type': vnic_type,
+                                'namestart': 'port-smoke'}
+            if kwargs:
+                # Convert security group names to security group ids
+                # to pass to create_port
+                if 'security_groups' in kwargs:
+                    security_groups =\
+                        clients.network_client.list_security_groups(
+                        ).get('security_groups')
+                    sec_dict = dict([(s['name'], s['id'])
+                                    for s in security_groups])
+
+                    sec_groups_names = [s['name'] for s in kwargs.pop(
+                        'security_groups')]
+                    security_groups_ids = [sec_dict[s]
+                                           for s in sec_groups_names]
+
+                    if security_groups_ids:
+                        create_port_body[
+                            'security_groups'] = security_groups_ids
+                networks = kwargs.pop('networks')
+
+            # If there are no networks passed to us we look up
+            # for the tenant's private networks and create a port
+            # if there is only one private network. The same behaviour
+            # as we would expect when passing the call to the clients
+            # with no networks
+            if not networks:
+                networks = clients.networks_client.list_networks(
+                    filters={'router:external': False})
+                self.assertEqual(1, len(networks),
+                                 "There is more than one"
+                                 " network for the tenant")
+            for net in networks:
+                net_id = net['uuid']
+                port = self._create_port(network_id=net_id,
+                                         client=clients.ports_client,
+                                         **create_port_body)
+                ports.append({'port': port.id})
+            if ports:
+                kwargs['networks'] = ports
+            self.ports = ports
+
+        tenant_network = self.get_tenant_network()
+
+        body, servers = compute.create_test_server(
+            clients,
+            tenant_network=tenant_network,
+            wait_until=wait_until,
+            **kwargs)
+
+        # TODO(jlanoux) Move wait_on_delete in compute.py
         if wait_on_delete:
             self.addCleanup(waiters.wait_for_server_termination,
-                            self.servers_client,
-                            server['id'])
+                            clients.servers_client,
+                            body['id'])
+
         self.addCleanup_with_wait(
             waiter_callable=waiters.wait_for_server_termination,
-            thing_id=server['id'], thing_id_param='server_id',
+            thing_id=body['id'], thing_id_param='server_id',
             cleanup_callable=self.delete_wrapper,
-            cleanup_args=[self.servers_client.delete_server, server['id']],
-            waiter_client=self.servers_client)
-        if wait_on_boot:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.servers_client,
-                                           server_id=server['id'],
-                                           status='ACTIVE')
-        # The instance retrieved on creation is missing network
-        # details, necessitating retrieval after it becomes active to
-        # ensure correct details.
-        server = self.servers_client.show_server(server['id'])['server']
-        self.assertEqual(server['name'], name)
+            cleanup_args=[clients.servers_client.delete_server, body['id']],
+            waiter_client=clients.servers_client)
+        server = clients.servers_client.show_server(body['id'])['server']
         return server
 
     def create_volume(self, size=None, name=None, snapshot_id=None,
@@ -321,7 +369,7 @@
             username = CONF.scenario.ssh_user
         # Set this with 'keypair' or others to log in with keypair or
         # username/password.
-        if CONF.compute.ssh_auth_method == 'keypair':
+        if CONF.validation.auth_method == 'keypair':
             password = None
             if private_key is None:
                 private_key = self.keypair['private_key']
@@ -491,7 +539,7 @@
 
     def ping_ip_address(self, ip_address, should_succeed=True,
                         ping_timeout=None):
-        timeout = ping_timeout or CONF.compute.ping_timeout
+        timeout = ping_timeout or CONF.validation.ping_timeout
         cmd = ['ping', '-c1', '-w1', ip_address]
 
         def ping():
@@ -884,7 +932,7 @@
             return should_succeed
 
         return tempest.test.call_until_true(ping_remote,
-                                            CONF.compute.ping_timeout,
+                                            CONF.validation.ping_timeout,
                                             1)
 
     def _create_security_group(self, client=None, tenant_id=None,
@@ -1135,71 +1183,6 @@
             subnet.add_to_router(router.id)
         return network, subnet, router
 
-    def create_server(self, name=None, image=None, flavor=None,
-                      wait_on_boot=True, wait_on_delete=True,
-                      network_client=None, networks_client=None,
-                      ports_client=None, create_kwargs=None):
-        if network_client is None:
-            network_client = self.network_client
-        if networks_client is None:
-            networks_client = self.networks_client
-        if ports_client is None:
-            ports_client = self.ports_client
-
-        vnic_type = CONF.network.port_vnic_type
-
-        # If vnic_type is configured create port for
-        # every network
-        if vnic_type:
-            ports = []
-            networks = []
-            create_port_body = {'binding:vnic_type': vnic_type,
-                                'namestart': 'port-smoke'}
-            if create_kwargs:
-                # Convert security group names to security group ids
-                # to pass to create_port
-                if create_kwargs.get('security_groups'):
-                    security_groups = network_client.list_security_groups(
-                        ).get('security_groups')
-                    sec_dict = dict([(s['name'], s['id'])
-                                    for s in security_groups])
-
-                    sec_groups_names = [s['name'] for s in create_kwargs.get(
-                        'security_groups')]
-                    security_groups_ids = [sec_dict[s]
-                                           for s in sec_groups_names]
-
-                    if security_groups_ids:
-                        create_port_body[
-                            'security_groups'] = security_groups_ids
-                networks = create_kwargs.get('networks')
-
-            # If there are no networks passed to us we look up
-            # for the tenant's private networks and create a port
-            # if there is only one private network. The same behaviour
-            # as we would expect when passing the call to the clients
-            # with no networks
-            if not networks:
-                networks = networks_client.list_networks(filters={
-                    'router:external': False})
-                self.assertEqual(1, len(networks),
-                                 "There is more than one"
-                                 " network for the tenant")
-            for net in networks:
-                net_id = net['uuid']
-                port = self._create_port(network_id=net_id,
-                                         client=ports_client,
-                                         **create_port_body)
-                ports.append({'port': port.id})
-            if ports:
-                create_kwargs['networks'] = ports
-            self.ports = ports
-
-        return super(NetworkScenarioTest, self).create_server(
-            name=name, image=image, flavor=flavor,
-            wait_on_boot=wait_on_boot, wait_on_delete=wait_on_delete,
-            create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
-
 
 # power/provision states as of icehouse
 class BaremetalPowerStates(object):
@@ -1322,11 +1305,8 @@
         dest.validate_authentication()
 
     def boot_instance(self):
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'key_name': self.keypair['name']
-        }
         self.instance = self.create_server(
-            wait_on_boot=False, create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+            key_name=self.keypair['name'])
 
         self.wait_node(self.instance['id'])
         self.node = self.get_node(instance_id=self.instance['id'])
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_baremetal_basic_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_baremetal_basic_ops.py
index e629f0a..9415629 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_baremetal_basic_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_baremetal_basic_ops.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
         self.boot_instance()
         self.validate_ports()
         self.verify_connectivity()
-        if CONF.compute.ssh_connect_method == 'floating':
+        if CONF.validation.connect_method == 'floating':
             floating_ip = self.create_floating_ip(self.instance)['ip']
             self.verify_connectivity(ip=floating_ip)
 
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_encrypted_cinder_volumes.py b/tempest/scenario/test_encrypted_cinder_volumes.py
index 082a8bf..dcd77ad 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_encrypted_cinder_volumes.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_encrypted_cinder_volumes.py
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@
         image = self.glance_image_create()
         keypair = self.create_keypair()
 
-        return self.create_server(image=image,
-                                  create_kwargs={'key_name': keypair['name']})
+        return self.create_server(image_id=image,
+                                  key_name=keypair['name'],
+                                  wait_until='ACTIVE')
 
     def create_encrypted_volume(self, encryption_provider, volume_type):
         volume_type = self.create_volume_type(name=volume_type)
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py b/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py
index 92e3592..25e3e6f 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py
@@ -117,9 +117,9 @@
         image = self.glance_image_create()
         keypair = self.create_keypair()
 
-        create_kwargs = {'key_name': keypair['name']}
-        server = self.create_server(image=image,
-                                    create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+        server = self.create_server(image_id=image,
+                                    key_name=keypair['name'],
+                                    wait_until='ACTIVE')
         servers = self.nova_list()
         self.assertIn(server['id'], [x['id'] for x in servers])
 
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_network_advanced_server_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_network_advanced_server_ops.py
index 3689508..a45a730 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_network_advanced_server_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_network_advanced_server_ops.py
@@ -57,16 +57,13 @@
         security_group = self._create_security_group()
         network, subnet, router = self.create_networks()
         public_network_id = CONF.network.public_network_id
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'networks': [
-                {'uuid': network.id},
-            ],
-            'key_name': keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': [{'name': security_group['name']}],
-        }
         server_name = data_utils.rand_name('server-smoke')
-        server = self.create_server(name=server_name,
-                                    create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+        server = self.create_server(
+            name=server_name,
+            networks=[{'uuid': network.id}],
+            key_name=keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=[{'name': security_group['name']}],
+            wait_until='ACTIVE')
         floating_ip = self.create_floating_ip(server, public_network_id)
         # Verify that we can indeed connect to the server before we mess with
         # it's state
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py
index 8fefd9e..57010f7 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py
@@ -155,16 +155,16 @@
         keypair = self.create_keypair()
         self.keypairs[keypair['name']] = keypair
         security_groups = [{'name': self.security_group['name']}]
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'networks': [
-                {'uuid': network.id},
-            ],
-            'key_name': keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': security_groups,
-        }
+        network = {'uuid': network.id}
         if port_id is not None:
-            create_kwargs['networks'][0]['port'] = port_id
-        server = self.create_server(name=name, create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+            network['port'] = port_id
+
+        server = self.create_server(
+            name=name,
+            networks=[network],
+            key_name=keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=security_groups,
+            wait_until='ACTIVE')
         self.servers.append(server)
         return server
 
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_network_v6.py b/tempest/scenario/test_network_v6.py
index 151eef8..3806943 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_network_v6.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_network_v6.py
@@ -65,9 +65,6 @@
         super(TestGettingAddress, self).setUp()
         self.keypair = self.create_keypair()
         self.sec_grp = self._create_security_group(tenant_id=self.tenant_id)
-        self.srv_kwargs = {
-            'key_name': self.keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': [{'name': self.sec_grp['name']}]}
 
     def prepare_network(self, address6_mode, n_subnets6=1, dualnet=False):
         """Prepare network
@@ -119,11 +116,13 @@
     def prepare_server(self, networks=None):
         username = CONF.compute.image_ssh_user
 
-        create_kwargs = self.srv_kwargs
         networks = networks or [self.network]
-        create_kwargs['networks'] = [{'uuid': n.id} for n in networks]
 
-        srv = self.create_server(create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+        srv = self.create_server(
+            key_name=self.keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=[{'name': self.sec_grp['name']}],
+            networks=[{'uuid': n.id} for n in networks],
+            wait_until='ACTIVE')
         fip = self.create_floating_ip(thing=srv)
         ips = self.define_server_ips(srv=srv)
         ssh = self.get_remote_client(
@@ -181,10 +180,10 @@
                 guest_has_address, sshv4_2, ips_from_api_2['6'][i])
 
             self.assertTrue(test.call_until_true(srv1_v6_addr_assigned,
-                                                 CONF.compute.ping_timeout, 1))
+                            CONF.validation.ping_timeout, 1))
 
             self.assertTrue(test.call_until_true(srv2_v6_addr_assigned,
-                                                 CONF.compute.ping_timeout, 1))
+                            CONF.validation.ping_timeout, 1))
 
         self._check_connectivity(sshv4_1, ips_from_api_2['4'])
         self._check_connectivity(sshv4_2, ips_from_api_1['4'])
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py
index 6a23c4b..e266dc2 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py
@@ -234,23 +234,16 @@
 
     def _create_server(self, name, tenant, security_groups=None):
         """creates a server and assigns to security group"""
-        self._set_compute_context(tenant)
         if security_groups is None:
             security_groups = [tenant.security_groups['default']]
         security_groups_names = [{'name': s['name']} for s in security_groups]
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'networks': [
-                {'uuid': tenant.network.id},
-            ],
-            'key_name': tenant.keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': security_groups_names
-        }
         server = self.create_server(
             name=name,
-            network_client=tenant.manager.network_client,
-            networks_client=tenant.manager.networks_client,
-            ports_client=tenant.manager.ports_client,
-            create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+            networks=[{'uuid': tenant.network.id}],
+            key_name=tenant.keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=security_groups_names,
+            wait_until='ACTIVE',
+            clients=tenant.manager)
         self.assertEqual(
             sorted([s['name'] for s in security_groups]),
             sorted([s['name'] for s in server['security_groups']]))
@@ -293,10 +286,6 @@
             subnets_client=tenant.manager.subnets_client)
         tenant.set_network(network, subnet, router)
 
-    def _set_compute_context(self, tenant):
-        self.servers_client = tenant.manager.servers_client
-        return self.servers_client
-
     def _deploy_tenant(self, tenant_or_id):
         """creates:
 
@@ -310,7 +299,6 @@
             tenant = self.tenants[tenant_or_id]
         else:
             tenant = tenant_or_id
-        self._set_compute_context(tenant)
         self._create_tenant_keypairs(tenant)
         self._create_tenant_network(tenant)
         self._create_tenant_security_groups(tenant)
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_server_advanced_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_server_advanced_ops.py
index 9387dc7..4b932ce 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_server_advanced_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_server_advanced_ops.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
     @test.services('compute')
     def test_resize_server_confirm(self):
         # We create an instance for use in this test
-        instance = self.create_server()
+        instance = self.create_server(wait_until='ACTIVE')
         instance_id = instance['id']
         resize_flavor = CONF.compute.flavor_ref_alt
         LOG.debug("Resizing instance %s from flavor %s to flavor %s",
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
     @test.services('compute')
     def test_server_sequence_suspend_resume(self):
         # We create an instance for use in this test
-        instance = self.create_server()
+        instance = self.create_server(wait_until='ACTIVE')
         instance_id = instance['id']
         LOG.debug("Suspending instance %s. Current status: %s",
                   instance_id, instance['status'])
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py
index 8a19254..239e120 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py
@@ -72,20 +72,6 @@
     def add_keypair(self):
         self.keypair = self.create_keypair()
 
-    def boot_instance(self):
-        # Create server with image and flavor from input scenario
-        security_groups = [{'name': self.security_group['name']}]
-        self.md = {'meta1': 'data1', 'meta2': 'data2', 'metaN': 'dataN'}
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'key_name': self.keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': security_groups,
-            'config_drive': CONF.compute_feature_enabled.config_drive,
-            'metadata': self.md
-        }
-        self.instance = self.create_server(image=self.image_ref,
-                                           flavor=self.flavor_ref,
-                                           create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
-
     def verify_ssh(self):
         if self.run_ssh:
             # Obtain a floating IP
@@ -139,7 +125,16 @@
     def test_server_basicops(self):
         self.add_keypair()
         self.security_group = self._create_security_group()
-        self.boot_instance()
+        security_groups = [{'name': self.security_group['name']}]
+        self.md = {'meta1': 'data1', 'meta2': 'data2', 'metaN': 'dataN'}
+        self.instance = self.create_server(
+            image_id=self.image_ref,
+            flavor=self.flavor_ref,
+            key_name=self.keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=security_groups,
+            config_drive=CONF.compute_feature_enabled.config_drive,
+            metadata=self.md,
+            wait_until='ACTIVE')
         self.verify_ssh()
         self.verify_metadata()
         self.verify_metadata_on_config_drive()
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_server_multinode.py b/tempest/scenario/test_server_multinode.py
index 403804d..7e0e41c 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_server_multinode.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_server_multinode.py
@@ -60,15 +60,11 @@
         servers = []
 
         for host in hosts[:CONF.compute.min_compute_nodes]:
-            create_kwargs = {
-                'availability_zone': '%(zone)s:%(host_name)s' % host
-            }
-
             # by getting to active state here, this means this has
             # landed on the host in question.
-            inst = self.create_server(image=CONF.compute.image_ref,
-                                      flavor=CONF.compute.flavor_ref,
-                                      create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+            inst = self.create_server(
+                availability_zone='%(zone)s:%(host_name)s' % host,
+                wait_until='ACTIVE')
             server = self.servers_client.show_server(inst['id'])['server']
             servers.append(server)
 
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py b/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py
index 5778107..378ae9d 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py
@@ -59,10 +59,6 @@
 
         security_group = self._create_security_group()
         security_groups = [{'name': security_group['name']}]
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'key_name': keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': security_groups
-        }
 
         if boot_from_volume:
             volume = self.create_volume(size=CONF.volume.volume_size,
@@ -72,11 +68,17 @@
                 'volume_id': volume['id'],
                 'delete_on_termination': '0'}]
 
-            create_kwargs['block_device_mapping'] = bd_map
-            server = self.create_server(create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+            server = self.create_server(
+                key_name=keypair['name'],
+                security_groups=security_groups,
+                block_device_mapping=bd_map,
+                wait_until='ACTIVE')
         else:
-            server = self.create_server(image=CONF.compute.image_ref,
-                                        create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+            server = self.create_server(
+                image_id=CONF.compute.image_ref,
+                key_name=keypair['name'],
+                security_groups=security_groups,
+                wait_until='ACTIVE')
 
         instance_ip = self.get_server_or_ip(server)
         timestamp = self.create_timestamp(instance_ip,
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py b/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py
index cd59334..f3b6558 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py
@@ -36,14 +36,6 @@
 
     """
 
-    def _boot_image(self, image_id, keypair, security_group):
-        security_groups = [{'name': security_group['name']}]
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'key_name': keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': security_groups
-        }
-        return self.create_server(image=image_id, create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
-
     @test.idempotent_id('608e604b-1d63-4a82-8e3e-91bc665c90b4')
     @testtools.skipUnless(CONF.compute_feature_enabled.snapshot,
                           'Snapshotting is not available.')
@@ -54,8 +46,12 @@
         security_group = self._create_security_group()
 
         # boot an instance and create a timestamp file in it
-        server = self._boot_image(CONF.compute.image_ref, keypair,
-                                  security_group)
+        server = self.create_server(
+            image_id=CONF.compute.image_ref,
+            key_name=keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=[{'name': security_group['name']}],
+            wait_until='ACTIVE')
+
         instance_ip = self.get_server_or_ip(server)
         timestamp = self.create_timestamp(instance_ip,
                                           private_key=keypair['private_key'])
@@ -64,8 +60,11 @@
         snapshot_image = self.create_server_snapshot(server=server)
 
         # boot a second instance from the snapshot
-        server_from_snapshot = self._boot_image(snapshot_image['id'],
-                                                keypair, security_group)
+        server_from_snapshot = self.create_server(
+            image_id=snapshot_image['id'],
+            key_name=keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=[{'name': security_group['name']}],
+            wait_until='ACTIVE')
 
         # check the existence of the timestamp file in the second instance
         server_from_snapshot_ip = self.get_server_or_ip(server_from_snapshot)
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_stamp_pattern.py b/tempest/scenario/test_stamp_pattern.py
index 05ae33e..faae800 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_stamp_pattern.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_stamp_pattern.py
@@ -64,14 +64,6 @@
         self.snapshots_client.wait_for_snapshot_status(volume_snapshot['id'],
                                                        status)
 
-    def _boot_image(self, image_id, keypair, security_group):
-        security_groups = [{'name': security_group['name']}]
-        create_kwargs = {
-            'key_name': keypair['name'],
-            'security_groups': security_groups
-        }
-        return self.create_server(image=image_id, create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
-
     def _create_volume_snapshot(self, volume):
         snapshot_name = data_utils.rand_name('scenario-snapshot')
         snapshot = self.snapshots_client.create_snapshot(
@@ -135,8 +127,11 @@
 
         # boot an instance and create a timestamp file in it
         volume = self._create_volume()
-        server = self._boot_image(CONF.compute.image_ref, keypair,
-                                  security_group)
+        server = self.create_server(
+            image_id=CONF.compute.image_ref,
+            key_name=keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=security_group,
+            wait_until='ACTIVE')
 
         # create and add floating IP to server1
         ip_for_server = self.get_server_or_ip(server)
@@ -160,8 +155,10 @@
             snapshot_id=volume_snapshot['id'])
 
         # boot second instance from the snapshot(instance2)
-        server_from_snapshot = self._boot_image(snapshot_image['id'],
-                                                keypair, security_group)
+        server_from_snapshot = self.create_server(
+            image_id=snapshot_image['id'],
+            key_name=keypair['name'],
+            security_groups=security_group)
 
         # create and add floating IP to server_from_snapshot
         ip_for_snapshot = self.get_server_or_ip(server_from_snapshot)
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_volume_boot_pattern.py b/tempest/scenario/test_volume_boot_pattern.py
index 96e79e6..81ecda0 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_volume_boot_pattern.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_volume_boot_pattern.py
@@ -69,7 +69,10 @@
                 {'name': security_group['name']}]
         create_kwargs.update(self._get_bdm(
             vol_id, delete_on_termination=delete_on_termination))
-        return self.create_server(image='', create_kwargs=create_kwargs)
+        return self.create_server(
+            image='',
+            wait_until='ACTIVE',
+            **create_kwargs)
 
     def _create_snapshot_from_volume(self, vol_id):
         snap_name = data_utils.rand_name('snapshot')
@@ -158,7 +161,8 @@
         self._delete_server(instance)
 
         # boot instance from EBS image
-        instance = self.create_server(image=image['id'])
+        instance = self.create_server(
+            image_id=image['id'])
         # just ensure that instance booted
 
         # delete instance