diff --git a/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py b/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py
index 0d0e794..e64a257 100644
--- a/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py
+++ b/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py
@@ -89,3 +89,7 @@
         # usually to /dev/ttyS0
         cmd = 'sudo sh -c "echo \\"%s\\" >/dev/console"' % message
         return self.ssh_client.exec_command(cmd)
+
+    def ping_host(self, host):
+        cmd = 'ping -c1 -w1 %s' % host
+        return self.ssh_client.exec_command(cmd)
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/manager.py b/tempest/scenario/manager.py
index e839d20..b24d2b9 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/manager.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/manager.py
@@ -853,6 +853,12 @@
 
         return rules
 
+    def _ssh_to_server(self, server, private_key):
+        ssh_login = self.config.compute.image_ssh_user
+        return self.get_remote_client(server,
+                                      username=ssh_login,
+                                      private_key=private_key)
+
     def _show_quota_network(self, tenant_id):
         quota = self.network_client.show_quota(tenant_id)
         return quota['quota']['network']