diff --git a/cloud/lxc/__init__.py b/cloud/lxc/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/cloud/lxc/lxc-container.py b/cloud/lxc/lxc-container.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b72890972db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/lxc/lxc-container.py
@@ -0,0 +1,1469 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# (c) 2014, Kevin Carter <kevin.carter@rackspace.com>
+#
+# This file is part of Ansible
+#
+# Ansible is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# Ansible is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+
+DOCUMENTATION = """
+---
+module: lxc-container
+short_description: Manage LXC Containers
+version_added: 1.8.0
+description:
+  - Management of LXC containers
+author: Kevin Carter
+options:
+    name:
+        description:
+          - Name of a container.
+        required: true
+    backing_store:
+        choices:
+          - dir
+          - lvm
+          - loop
+          - btrfs
+        description:
+          - Backend storage type for the container.
+        required: false
+        default: dir
+    template:
+        description:
+          - Name of the template to use within an LXC create.
+        required: false
+        default: ubuntu
+    template_options:
+        description:
+          - Template options when building the container.
+        required: false
+    config:
+        description:
+          - Path to the LXC configuration file.
+        required: false
+        default: /etc/lxc/default.conf
+    lv_name:
+        description:
+          - Name of the logical volume, defaults to the container name.
+        default: $CONTAINER_NAME
+        required: false
+    vg_name:
+        description:
+          - If Backend store is lvm, specify the name of the volume group.
+        default: lxc
+        required: false
+    thinpool:
+        description:
+          - Use LVM thin pool called TP.
+        required: false
+    fs_type:
+        description:
+          - Create fstype TYPE.
+        default: ext4
+        required: false
+    fs_size:
+        description:
+          - File system Size.
+        default: 5G
+        required: false
+    directory:
+        description:
+          - Place rootfs directory under DIR.
+        required: false
+    zfs_root:
+        description:
+          - Create zfs under given zfsroot.
+        required: false
+    container_command:
+        description:
+          - Run a command within a container.
+        required: false
+    lxc_path:
+        description:
+          - Place container under PATH
+        required: false
+    container_log:
+        choices:
+          - true
+          - false
+        description:
+          - Enable a container log for host actions to the container.
+        default: false
+    container_log_level:
+        choices:
+          - INFO
+          - ERROR
+          - DEBUG
+        description:
+          - Set the log level for a container where *container_log* was set.
+        required: false
+        default: INFO
+    archive:
+        choices:
+          - true
+          - false
+        description:
+          - Create an archive of a container. This will create a tarball of the
+            running container.
+        default: false
+    archive_path:
+        description:
+          - Path the save the archived container. If the path does not exist
+            the archive method will attempt to create it.
+        default: /tmp
+    archive_compression:
+        choices:
+          - gzip
+          - bzip2
+          - none
+        description:
+          - Type of compression to use when creating an archive of a running
+            container.
+        default: gzip
+    state:
+        choices:
+          - started
+          - stopped
+          - restarted
+          - absent
+          - frozen
+        description:
+          - Start a container right after it's created.
+        required: false
+        default: started
+    container_config:
+        description:
+          - list of 'key=value' options to use when configuring a container.
+        required: false
+requirements: ['lxc >= 1.0', 'python2-lxc >= 0.1']
+notes:
+  - Containers must have a unique name. If you attempt to create a container
+    with a name that already exists in the users namespace the module will
+    simply return as "unchanged".
+  - The "container_command" can be used with any state except "absent". If
+    used with state "stopped" the container will be "started", the command
+    executed, and then the container "stopped" again. Likewise if the state
+    is "stopped" and the container does not exist it will be first created,
+    "started", the command executed, and then "stopped". If you use a "|"
+    in the variable you can use common script formatting within the variable
+    iteself The "container_command" option will always execute as BASH.
+    When using "container_command" a log file is created in the /tmp/ directory
+    which contains both stdout and stderr of any command executed.
+  - If "archive" is **true** the system will attempt to create a compressed
+    tarball of the running container. The "archive" option supports LVM backed
+    containers and will create a snapshot of the running container when
+    creating the archive.
+  - If your distro does not have a package for "python2-lxc", which is a
+    requirement for this module, it can be installed from source at
+    "https://github.com/lxc/python2-lxc"
+"""
+
+EXAMPLES = """
+- name: Create a started container
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-started
+    container_log: true
+    template: ubuntu
+    state: started
+    template_options: --release trusty
+
+- name: Create a stopped container
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-stopped
+    container_log: true
+    template: ubuntu
+    state: stopped
+    template_options: --release trusty
+
+- name: Create a frozen container
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-frozen
+    container_log: true
+    template: ubuntu
+    state: frozen
+    template_options: --release trusty
+    container_command: |
+      echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/started-frozen
+
+# Create filesystem container, configure it, and archive it, and start it.
+- name: Create filesystem container
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-config
+    container_log: true
+    template: ubuntu
+    state: started
+    archive: true
+    archive_compression: none
+    container_config:
+      - "lxc.aa_profile=unconfined"
+      - "lxc.cgroup.devices.allow=a *:* rmw"
+    template_options: --release trusty
+
+# Create an lvm container, run a complex command in it, add additional
+# configuration to it, create an archive of it, and finally leave the container
+# in a frozen state. The container archive will be compressed using bzip2
+- name: Create an lvm container
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-lvm
+    container_log: true
+    template: ubuntu
+    state: frozen
+    backing_store: lvm
+    template_options: --release trusty
+    container_command: |
+      apt-get update
+      apt-get install -y vim lxc-dev
+      echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/started
+      if [[ -f "/opt/started" ]]; then
+          echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/found-started
+      fi
+    container_config:
+      - "lxc.aa_profile=unconfined"
+      - "lxc.cgroup.devices.allow=a *:* rmw"
+    archive: true
+    archive_compression: bzip2
+  register: lvm_container_info
+
+- name: Debug info on container "test-container-lvm"
+  debug: var=lvm_container_info
+
+- name: Get information on a given container.
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-config
+  register: config_container_info
+
+- name: debug info on container "test-container"
+  debug: var=config_container_info
+
+- name: Run a command in a container and ensure its in a "stopped" state.
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-started
+    state: stopped
+    container_command: |
+      echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/stopped
+
+- name: Run a command in a container and ensure its it in a "frozen" state.
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-stopped
+    state: frozen
+    container_command: |
+      echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/frozen
+
+- name: Start a container.
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-stopped
+    state: started
+
+- name: Run a command in a container and then restart it.
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-started
+    state: restarted
+    container_command: |
+      echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/restarted
+
+- name: Run a complex command within a "running" container.
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-started
+    container_command: |
+      apt-get update
+      apt-get install -y curl wget vim apache2
+      echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/started
+      if [[ -f "/opt/started" ]]; then
+          echo 'hello world.' | tee /opt/found-started
+      fi
+
+# Create an archive of an existing container, save the archive to a defined
+# path and then destroy it.
+- name: Archive container
+  lxc-container:
+    name: test-container-started
+    state: absent
+    archive: true
+    archive_path: /opt/archives
+
+- name: Destroy a container.
+  lxc-container:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: absent
+  with_items:
+    - test-container-stopped
+    - test-container-started
+    - test-container-frozen
+    - test-container-lvm
+    - test-container-config
+"""
+
+
+try:
+    import lxc
+except ImportError:
+    msg = 'The lxc module is not importable. Check the requirements.'
+    print("failed=True msg='%s'" % msg)
+    raise SystemExit(msg)
+
+
+# LXC_COMPRESSION_MAP is a map of available compression types when creating
+# an archive of a container.
+LXC_COMPRESSION_MAP = {
+    'gzip': {
+        'extension': 'tar.tgz',
+        'argument': '-czf'
+    },
+    'bzip2': {
+        'extension': 'tar.bz2',
+        'argument': '-cjf'
+    },
+    'none': {
+        'extension': 'tar',
+        'argument': '-cf'
+    }
+}
+
+
+# LXC_COMMAND_MAP is a map of variables that are available to a method based
+# on the state the container is in.
+LXC_COMMAND_MAP = {
+    'create': {
+        'variables': {
+            'config': '--config',
+            'template': '--template',
+            'backing_store': '--bdev',
+            'lxc_path': '--lxcpath',
+            'lv_name': '--lvname',
+            'vg_name': '--vgname',
+            'thinpool': '--thinpool',
+            'fs_type': '--fstype',
+            'fs_size': '--fssize',
+            'directory': '--dir',
+            'zfs_root': '--zfsroot'
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+# LXC_BACKING_STORE is a map of available storage backends and options that
+# are incompatible with the given storage backend.
+LXC_BACKING_STORE = {
+    'dir': [
+        'lv_name', 'vg_name', 'fs_type', 'fs_size', 'thinpool'
+    ],
+    'lvm': [
+        'zfs_root'
+    ],
+    'btrfs': [
+        'lv_name', 'vg_name', 'thinpool', 'zfs_root'
+    ],
+    'loop': [
+        'lv_name', 'vg_name', 'thinpool', 'zfs_root'
+    ]
+}
+
+
+# LXC_LOGGING_LEVELS is a map of available log levels
+LXC_LOGGING_LEVELS = {
+    'INFO': ['info', 'INFO', 'Info'],
+    'ERROR': ['error', 'ERROR', 'Error'],
+    'DEBUG': ['debug', 'DEBUG', 'Debug']
+}
+
+
+# LXC_ANSIBLE_STATES is a map of states that contain values of methods used
+# when a particular state is evoked.
+LXC_ANSIBLE_STATES = {
+    'started': '_started',
+    'stopped': '_stopped',
+    'restarted': '_restarted',
+    'absent': '_destroyed',
+    'frozen': '_frozen'
+}
+
+
+# This is used to attach to a running container and execute commands from
+# within the container on the host.  This will provide local access to a
+# container without using SSH.  The template will attempt to work within the
+# home directory of the user that was attached to the container and source
+# that users environment variables by default.
+ATTACH_TEMPLATE = """#!/usr/bin/env bash
+pushd "$(grep $(whoami) /etc/passwd | awk -F':' '{print $6}')"
+    if [[ -f ".bashrc" ]];then
+        source .bashrc
+    fi
+popd
+
+# User defined command
+%(container_command)s
+"""
+
+
+def create_script(command):
+    """Write out a script onto a target.
+
+    This method should be backward compatible with Python 2.4+ when executing
+    from within the container.
+
+    :param command: command to run, this can be a script and can use spacing
+                    with newlines as separation.
+    :type command: ``str``
+    """
+
+    import os
+    import os.path as path
+    import subprocess
+    import tempfile
+
+    # Ensure that the directory /opt exists.
+    if not path.isdir('/opt'):
+        os.mkdir('/opt')
+
+    # Create the script.
+    script_file = path.join('/opt', '.lxc-attach-script')
+    f = open(script_file, 'wb')
+    try:
+        f.write(ATTACH_TEMPLATE % {'container_command': command})
+        f.flush()
+    finally:
+        f.close()
+
+    # Ensure the script is executable.
+    os.chmod(script_file, 0755)
+
+    # Get temporary directory.
+    tempdir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+
+    # Output log file.
+    stdout = path.join(tempdir, 'lxc-attach-script.log')
+    stdout_file = open(stdout, 'ab')
+
+    # Error log file.
+    stderr = path.join(tempdir, 'lxc-attach-script.err')
+    stderr_file = open(stderr, 'ab')
+
+    # Execute the script command.
+    try:
+        subprocess.Popen(
+            [script_file],
+            stdout=stdout_file,
+            stderr=stderr_file
+        ).communicate()
+    finally:
+        # Close the log files.
+        stderr_file.close()
+        stdout_file.close()
+
+        # Remove the script file upon completion of execution.
+        os.remove(script_file)
+
+
+class LxcContainerManagement(object):
+    def __init__(self, module):
+        """Management of LXC containers via Ansible.
+
+        :param module: Processed Ansible Module.
+        :type module: ``object``
+        """
+        self.module = module
+        self.state = self.module.params.get('state', None)
+        self.state_change = False
+        self.lxc_vg = None
+        self.container_name = self.module.params['name']
+        self.container = self.get_container_bind()
+        self.archive_info = None
+
+    def get_container_bind(self):
+        return lxc.Container(name=self.container_name)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _roundup(num):
+        """Return a rounded floating point number.
+
+        :param num: Number to round up.
+        :type: ``float``
+        :returns: Rounded up number.
+        :rtype: ``int``
+        """
+        num, part = str(num).split('.')
+        num = int(num)
+        if int(part) != 0:
+            num += 1
+        return num
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _container_exists(name):
+        """Check if a container exists.
+
+        :param name: Name of the container.
+        :type: ``str``
+        :returns: True or False if the container is found.
+        :rtype: ``bol``
+        """
+        if [i for i in lxc.list_containers() if i == name]:
+            return True
+        else:
+            return False
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _add_variables(variables_dict, build_command):
+        """Return a command list with all found options.
+
+        :param variables_dict: Pre-parsed optional variables used from a
+                               seed command.
+        :type variables_dict: ``dict``
+        :param build_command: Command to run.
+        :type build_command: ``list``
+        :returns: list of command options.
+        :rtype: ``list``
+        """
+
+        for key, value in variables_dict.items():
+            build_command.append(
+                '%s %s' % (key, value)
+            )
+        else:
+            return build_command
+
+    def _get_vars(self, variables):
+        """Return a dict of all variables as found within the module.
+
+        :param variables: Hash of all variables to find.
+        :type variables: ``dict``
+        """
+
+        # Remove incompatible storage backend options.
+        for v in LXC_BACKING_STORE[self.module.params['backing_store']]:
+            variables.pop(v, None)
+
+        return_dict = dict()
+        for k, v in variables.items():
+            _var = self.module.params.get(k)
+            if not [i for i in [None, ''] + BOOLEANS_FALSE if i == _var]:
+                return_dict[v] = _var
+        else:
+            return return_dict
+
+    def _run_command(self, build_command, unsafe_shell=False, timeout=600):
+        """Return information from running an Ansible Command.
+
+        This will squash the build command list into a string and then
+        execute the command via Ansible. The output is returned to the method.
+        This output is returned as `return_code`, `stdout`, `stderr`.
+
+        Prior to running the command the method will look to see if the LXC
+        lockfile is present. If the lockfile "/var/lock/subsys/lxc" the method
+        will wait upto 10 minutes for it to be gone; polling every 5 seconds.
+
+        :param build_command: Used for the command and all options.
+        :type build_command: ``list``
+        :param unsafe_shell: Enable or Disable unsafe sell commands.
+        :type unsafe_shell: ``bol``
+        :param timeout: Time before the container create process quites.
+        :type timeout: ``int``
+        """
+
+        lockfile = '/var/lock/subsys/lxc'
+
+        for _ in xrange(timeout):
+            if os.path.exists(lockfile):
+                time.sleep(1)
+            else:
+                return self.module.run_command(
+                    ' '.join(build_command),
+                    use_unsafe_shell=unsafe_shell
+                )
+        else:
+            message = (
+                'The LXC subsystem is locked and after 5 minutes it never'
+                ' became unlocked. Lockfile [ %s ]' % lockfile
+            )
+            self.failure(
+                error='LXC subsystem locked',
+                rc=0,
+                msg=message
+            )
+
+    def _config(self):
+        """Configure an LXC container.
+
+        Write new configuration values to the lxc config file. This will
+        stop the container if it's running write the new options and then
+        restart the container upon completion.
+        """
+
+        _container_config = self.module.params.get('container_config')
+        if not _container_config:
+            return False
+
+        container_config_file = self.container.config_file_name
+        with open(container_config_file, 'rb') as f:
+            container_config = f.readlines()
+
+        # Note used ast literal_eval because AnsibleModule does not provide for
+        # adequate dictionary parsing.
+        # Issue: https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/7679
+        # TODO(cloudnull) adjust import when issue has been resolved.
+        import ast
+        options_dict = ast.literal_eval(_container_config)
+        parsed_options = [i.split('=') for i in options_dict]
+
+        config_change = False
+        for key, value in parsed_options:
+            new_entry = '%s = %s\n' % (key, value)
+            for option_line in container_config:
+                # Look for key in config
+                if option_line.startswith(key):
+                    _, _value = option_line.split('=')
+                    config_value = ' '.join(_value.split())
+                    line_index = container_config.index(option_line)
+                    # If the sanitized values don't match replace them
+                    if value != config_value:
+                        line_index += 1
+                        if new_entry not in container_config:
+                            config_change = True
+                            container_config.insert(line_index, new_entry)
+                    # Break the flow as values are written or not at this point
+                    break
+            else:
+                config_change = True
+                container_config.append(new_entry)
+
+        # If the config changed restart the container.
+        if config_change:
+            container_state = self._get_state()
+            if container_state != 'stopped':
+                self.container.stop()
+
+            with open(container_config_file, 'wb') as f:
+                f.writelines(container_config)
+
+            self.state_change = True
+            if container_state == 'running':
+                self._container_startup()
+            elif container_state == 'frozen':
+                self._container_startup()
+                self.container.freeze()
+
+    def _create(self):
+        """Create a new LXC container.
+
+        This method will build and execute a shell command to build the
+        container. It would have been nice to simply use the lxc python library
+        however at the time this was written the python library, in both py2
+        and py3 didn't support some of the more advanced container create
+        processes. These missing processes mainly revolve around backing
+        LXC containers with block devices.
+        """
+
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('lxc-create', True),
+            '--name %s' % self.container_name,
+            '--quiet'
+        ]
+
+        build_command = self._add_variables(
+            variables_dict=self._get_vars(
+                variables=LXC_COMMAND_MAP['create']['variables']
+            ),
+            build_command=build_command
+        )
+
+        # Load logging for the instance when creating it.
+        if self.module.params.get('container_log') in BOOLEANS_TRUE:
+            # Set the logging path to the /var/log/lxc if uid is root. else
+            # set it to the home folder of the user executing.
+            try:
+                if os.getuid() != 0:
+                    log_path = os.getenv('HOME')
+                else:
+                    if not os.path.isdir('/var/log/lxc/'):
+                        os.makedirs('/var/log/lxc/')
+                    log_path = '/var/log/lxc/'
+            except OSError:
+                log_path = os.getenv('HOME')
+
+            build_command.extend([
+                '--logfile %s' % os.path.join(
+                    log_path, 'lxc-%s.log' % self.container_name
+                ),
+                '--logpriority %s' % self.module.params.get(
+                    'container_log_level'
+                ).upper()
+            ])
+
+        # Add the template commands to the end of the command if there are any
+        template_options = self.module.params.get('template_options', None)
+        if template_options:
+            build_command.append('-- %s' % template_options)
+
+        rc, return_data, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            msg = "Failed executing lxc-create."
+            self.failure(
+                err=err, rc=rc, msg=msg, command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+        else:
+            self.state_change = True
+
+    def _container_data(self):
+        """Returns a dict of container information.
+
+        :returns: container data
+        :rtype: ``dict``
+        """
+
+        return {
+            'interfaces': self.container.get_interfaces(),
+            'ips': self.container.get_ips(),
+            'state': self._get_state(),
+            'init_pid': int(self.container.init_pid)
+        }
+
+    def _unfreeze(self):
+        """Unfreeze a container.
+
+        :returns: True or False based on if the container was unfrozen.
+        :rtype: ``bol``
+        """
+
+        unfreeze = self.container.unfreeze()
+        if unfreeze:
+            self.state_change = True
+        return unfreeze
+
+    def _get_state(self):
+        """Return the state of a container.
+
+        If the container is not found the state returned is "absent"
+
+        :returns: state of a container as a lower case string.
+        :rtype: ``str``
+        """
+
+        if self._container_exists(name=self.container_name):
+            return str(self.container.state).lower()
+        else:
+            return str('absent')
+
+    def _execute_command(self):
+        """Execute a shell command."""
+
+        container_command = self.module.params.get('container_command')
+        if container_command:
+            container_state = self._get_state()
+            if container_state == 'frozen':
+                self._unfreeze()
+            elif container_state == 'stopped':
+                self._container_startup()
+
+            self.container.attach_wait(create_script, container_command)
+            self.state_change = True
+
+    def _container_startup(self, timeout=60):
+        """Ensure a container is started.
+
+        :param timeout: Time before the destroy operation is abandoned.
+        :type timeout: ``int``
+        """
+
+        self.container = self.get_container_bind()
+        for _ in xrange(timeout):
+            if self._get_state() != 'running':
+                self.container.start()
+                self.state_change = True
+                # post startup sleep for 1 second.
+                time.sleep(1)
+            else:
+                return True
+        else:
+            self.failure(
+                lxc_container=self._container_data(),
+                error='Failed to start container'
+                      ' [ %s ]' % self.container_name,
+                rc=1,
+                msg='The container [ %s ] failed to start. Check to lxc is'
+                    ' available and that the container is in a functional'
+                    ' state.'
+            )
+
+    def _check_archive(self):
+        """Create a compressed archive of a container.
+
+        This will store archive_info in as self.archive_info
+        """
+
+        if self.module.params.get('archive') in BOOLEANS_TRUE:
+            self.archive_info = {
+                'archive': self._container_create_tar()
+            }
+
+    def _destroyed(self, timeout=60):
+        """Ensure a container is destroyed.
+
+        :param timeout: Time before the destroy operation is abandoned.
+        :type timeout: ``int``
+        """
+
+        for _ in xrange(timeout):
+            if not self._container_exists(name=self.container_name):
+                break
+
+            # Check if the container needs to have an archive created.
+            self._check_archive()
+
+            if self._get_state() != 'stopped':
+                self.state_change = True
+                self.container.stop()
+
+            if self.container.destroy():
+                self.state_change = True
+
+            # post destroy attempt sleep for 1 second.
+            time.sleep(1)
+        else:
+            self.failure(
+                lxc_container=self._container_data(),
+                error='Failed to destroy container'
+                      ' [ %s ]' % self.container_name,
+                rc=1,
+                msg='The container [ %s ] failed to be destroyed. Check'
+                    ' that lxc is available and that the container is in a'
+                    ' functional state.' % self.container_name
+            )
+
+    def _frozen(self, count=0):
+        """Ensure a container is frozen.
+
+        If the container does not exist the container will be created.
+
+        :param count: number of times this command has been called by itself.
+        :type count: ``int``
+        """
+
+        self.check_count(count=count, method='frozen')
+        if self._container_exists(name=self.container_name):
+            self._execute_command()
+
+            # Perform any configuration updates
+            self._config()
+
+            container_state = self._get_state()
+            if container_state == 'frozen':
+                pass
+            elif container_state == 'running':
+                self.container.freeze()
+                self.state_change = True
+            else:
+                self._container_startup()
+                self.container.freeze()
+                self.state_change = True
+
+            # Check if the container needs to have an archive created.
+            self._check_archive()
+        else:
+            self._create()
+            count += 1
+            self._frozen(count)
+
+    def _restarted(self, count=0):
+        """Ensure a container is restarted.
+
+        If the container does not exist the container will be created.
+
+        :param count: number of times this command has been called by itself.
+        :type count: ``int``
+        """
+
+        self.check_count(count=count, method='restart')
+        if self._container_exists(name=self.container_name):
+            self._execute_command()
+
+            # Perform any configuration updates
+            self._config()
+
+            if self._get_state() != 'stopped':
+                self.container.stop()
+                self.state_change = True
+
+            # Check if the container needs to have an archive created.
+            self._check_archive()
+        else:
+            self._create()
+            count += 1
+            self._restarted(count)
+
+    def _stopped(self, count=0):
+        """Ensure a container is stopped.
+
+        If the container does not exist the container will be created.
+
+        :param count: number of times this command has been called by itself.
+        :type count: ``int``
+        """
+
+        self.check_count(count=count, method='stop')
+        if self._container_exists(name=self.container_name):
+            self._execute_command()
+
+            # Perform any configuration updates
+            self._config()
+
+            if self._get_state() != 'stopped':
+                self.container.stop()
+                self.state_change = True
+
+            # Check if the container needs to have an archive created.
+            self._check_archive()
+        else:
+            self._create()
+            count += 1
+            self._stopped(count)
+
+    def _started(self, count=0):
+        """Ensure a container is started.
+
+        If the container does not exist the container will be created.
+
+        :param count: number of times this command has been called by itself.
+        :type count: ``int``
+        """
+
+        self.check_count(count=count, method='start')
+        if self._container_exists(name=self.container_name):
+            container_state = self._get_state()
+            if container_state == 'running':
+                pass
+            elif container_state == 'frozen':
+                self._unfreeze()
+            elif not self._container_startup():
+                self.failure(
+                    lxc_container=self._container_data(),
+                    error='Failed to start container'
+                          ' [ %s ]' % self.container_name,
+                    rc=1,
+                    msg='The container [ %s ] failed to start. Check to lxc is'
+                        ' available and that the container is in a functional'
+                        ' state.' % self.container_name
+                )
+
+            # Return data
+            self._execute_command()
+
+            # Perform any configuration updates
+            self._config()
+
+            # Check if the container needs to have an archive created.
+            self._check_archive()
+        else:
+            self._create()
+            count += 1
+            self._started(count)
+
+    def _get_lxc_vg(self):
+        """Return the name of the Volume Group used in LXC."""
+
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('lxc-config', True),
+            "lxc.bdev.lvm.vg"
+        ]
+        rc, vg, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='Failed to read LVM VG from LXC config',
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+        else:
+            return str(vg.strip())
+
+    def _lvm_lv_list(self):
+        """Return a list of all lv in a current vg."""
+
+        vg = self._get_lxc_vg()
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('lvs', True)
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='Failed to get list of LVs',
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+
+        all_lvms = [i.split() for i in stdout.splitlines()][1:]
+        return [lv_entry[0] for lv_entry in all_lvms if lv_entry[1] == vg]
+
+    def _get_vg_free_pe(self, name):
+        """Return the available size of a given VG.
+
+        :param name: Name of volume.
+        :type name: ``str``
+        :returns: size and measurement of an LV
+        :type: ``tuple``
+        """
+        build_command = [
+            'vgdisplay',
+            name
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='failed to read vg %s' % name,
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+
+        vg_info = [i.strip() for i in stdout.splitlines()][1:]
+        free_pe = [i for i in vg_info if i.startswith('Free')]
+        _free_pe = free_pe[0].split()
+        return float(_free_pe[-2]), _free_pe[-1]
+
+    def _get_lv_size(self, name):
+        """Return the available size of a given LV.
+
+        :param name: Name of volume.
+        :type name: ``str``
+        :returns: size and measurement of an LV
+        :type: ``tuple``
+        """
+        vg = self._get_lxc_vg()
+        lv = os.path.join(vg, name)
+        build_command = [
+            'lvdisplay',
+            lv
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='failed to read lv %s' % lv,
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+
+        lv_info = [i.strip() for i in stdout.splitlines()][1:]
+        _free_pe = [i for i in lv_info if i.startswith('LV Size')]
+        free_pe = _free_pe[0].split()
+        return self._roundup(float(free_pe[-2])), free_pe[-1]
+
+    def _lvm_snapshot_create(self, source_lv, snapshot_name,
+                             snapshot_size_gb=5):
+        """Create an LVM snapshot.
+
+        :param source_lv: Name of lv to snapshot
+        :type source_lv: ``str``
+        :param snapshot_name: Name of lv snapshot
+        :type snapshot_name: ``str``
+        :param snapshot_size_gb: Size of snapshot to create
+        :type snapshot_size_gb: ``int``
+        """
+        vg = self._get_lxc_vg()
+        free_space, messurement = self._get_vg_free_pe(name=vg)
+
+        if free_space < float(snapshot_size_gb):
+            message = (
+                'Snapshot size [ %s ] is > greater than [ %s ] on volume group'
+                ' [ %s ]' % (snapshot_size_gb, free_space, vg)
+            )
+            self.failure(
+                error='Not enough space to create snapshot',
+                rc=2,
+                msg=message
+            )
+
+        # Create LVM Snapshot
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('lvcreate', True),
+            "-n",
+            snapshot_name,
+            "-s",
+            os.path.join(vg, source_lv),
+            "-L%sg" % snapshot_size_gb
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='Failed to Create LVM snapshot %s/%s --> %s'
+                    % (vg, source_lv, snapshot_name)
+            )
+
+    def _lvm_lv_mount(self, lv_name, mount_point):
+        """mount an lv.
+
+        :param lv_name: name of the logical volume to mount
+        :type lv_name: ``str``
+        :param mount_point: path on the file system that is mounted.
+        :type mount_point: ``str``
+        """
+        vg = self._get_lxc_vg()
+
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('mount', True),
+            "/dev/%s/%s" % (vg, lv_name),
+            mount_point,
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='failed to mountlvm lv %s/%s to %s'
+                    % (vg, lv_name, mount_point)
+            )
+
+    def _create_tar(self, source_dir):
+        """Create an archive of a given ``source_dir`` to ``output_path``.
+
+        :param source_dir:  Path to the directory to be archived.
+        :type source_dir: ``str``
+        """
+
+        archive_path = self.module.params.get('archive_path')
+        if not os.path.isdir(archive_path):
+            os.makedirs(archive_path)
+
+        archive_compression = self.module.params.get('archive_compression')
+        compression_type = LXC_COMPRESSION_MAP[archive_compression]
+
+        # remove trailing / if present.
+        archive_name = '%s.%s' % (
+            os.path.join(
+                archive_path,
+                self.container_name
+            ),
+            compression_type['extension']
+        )
+
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('tar', True),
+            '--directory=%s' % os.path.realpath(
+                os.path.expanduser(source_dir)
+            ),
+            compression_type['argument'],
+            archive_name,
+            '.'
+        ]
+
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(
+            build_command=build_command,
+            unsafe_shell=True
+        )
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='failed to create tar archive',
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+
+        return archive_name
+
+    def _lvm_lv_remove(self, name):
+        """Remove an LV.
+
+        :param name: The name of the logical volume
+        :type name: ``str``
+        """
+        vg = self._get_lxc_vg()
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('lvremove', True),
+            "-f",
+            "%s/%s" % (vg, name),
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='Failed to remove LVM LV %s/%s' % (vg, name),
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+
+    def _rsync_data(self, container_path, temp_dir):
+        """Sync the container directory to the temp directory.
+
+        :param container_path: path to the container container
+        :type container_path: ``str``
+        :param temp_dir: path to the temporary local working directory
+        :type temp_dir: ``str``
+        """
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('rsync', True),
+            '-aHAX',
+            container_path,
+            temp_dir
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command, unsafe_shell=True)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='failed to perform archive',
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+
+    def _unmount(self, mount_point):
+        """Unmount a file system.
+
+        :param mount_point: path on the file system that is mounted.
+        :type mount_point: ``str``
+        """
+        build_command = [
+            self.module.get_bin_path('umount', True),
+            mount_point,
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, err = self._run_command(build_command)
+        if rc != 0:
+            self.failure(
+                err=err,
+                rc=rc,
+                msg='failed to unmount [ %s ]' % mount_point,
+                command=' '.join(build_command)
+            )
+
+    def _container_create_tar(self):
+        """Create a tar archive from an LXC container.
+
+        The process is as follows:
+            * Stop or Freeze the container
+            * Create temporary dir
+            * Copy container and config to temporary directory
+            * If LVM backed:
+                * Create LVM snapshot of LV backing the container
+                * Mount the snapshot to tmpdir/rootfs
+            * Restore the state of the container
+            * Create tar of tmpdir
+            * Clean up
+        """
+
+        # Create a temp dir
+        temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+
+        # Set the name of the working dir, temp + container_name
+        work_dir = os.path.join(temp_dir, self.container_name)
+
+        # LXC container rootfs
+        lxc_rootfs = self.container.get_config_item('lxc.rootfs')
+
+        # Test if the containers rootfs is a block device
+        block_backed = lxc_rootfs.startswith(os.path.join(os.sep, 'dev'))
+        mount_point = os.path.join(work_dir, 'rootfs')
+
+        # Set the snapshot name if needed
+        snapshot_name = '%s_lxc_snapshot' % self.container_name
+
+        # Set the path to the container data
+        container_path = os.path.dirname(lxc_rootfs)
+        container_state = self._get_state()
+        try:
+            # Ensure the original container is stopped or frozen
+            if container_state not in ['stopped', 'frozen']:
+                if container_state == 'running':
+                    self.container.freeze()
+                else:
+                    self.container.stop()
+
+            # Sync the container data from the container_path to work_dir
+            self._rsync_data(container_path, temp_dir)
+
+            if block_backed:
+                if snapshot_name not in self._lvm_lv_list():
+                    if not os.path.exists(mount_point):
+                        os.makedirs(mount_point)
+
+                    # Take snapshot
+                    size, measurement = self._get_lv_size(
+                        name=self.container_name
+                    )
+                    self._lvm_snapshot_create(
+                        source_lv=self.container_name,
+                        snapshot_name=snapshot_name,
+                        snapshot_size_gb=size
+                    )
+
+                    # Mount snapshot
+                    self._lvm_lv_mount(
+                        lv_name=snapshot_name,
+                        mount_point=mount_point
+                    )
+                else:
+                    self.failure(
+                        err='snapshot [ %s ] already exists' % snapshot_name,
+                        rc=1,
+                        msg='The snapshot [ %s ] already exists. Please clean'
+                            ' up old snapshot of containers before continuing.'
+                            % snapshot_name
+                    )
+
+            # Restore original state of container
+            if container_state == 'running':
+                if self._get_state() == 'frozen':
+                    self.container.unfreeze()
+                else:
+                    self.container.start()
+
+            # Set the state as changed and set a new fact
+            self.state_change = True
+            return self._create_tar(source_dir=work_dir)
+        finally:
+            if block_backed:
+                # unmount snapshot
+                self._unmount(mount_point)
+
+                # Remove snapshot
+                self._lvm_lv_remove(snapshot_name)
+
+            # Remove tmpdir
+            shutil.rmtree(temp_dir)
+
+    def check_count(self, count, method):
+        if count > 1:
+            self.failure(
+                error='Failed to %s container' % method,
+                rc=1,
+                msg='The container [ %s ] failed to %s. Check to lxc is'
+                    ' available and that the container is in a functional'
+                    ' state.' % (self.container_name, method)
+            )
+
+    def failure(self, **kwargs):
+        """Return a Failure when running an Ansible command.
+
+        :param error: ``str``  Error that occurred.
+        :param rc: ``int``     Return code while executing an Ansible command.
+        :param msg: ``str``    Message to report.
+        """
+
+        self.module.fail_json(**kwargs)
+
+    def run(self):
+        """Run the main method."""
+
+        action = getattr(self, LXC_ANSIBLE_STATES[self.state])
+        action()
+
+        outcome = self._container_data()
+        if self.archive_info:
+            outcome.update(self.archive_info)
+
+        self.module.exit_json(
+            changed=self.state_change,
+            lxc_container=outcome
+        )
+
+
+def main():
+    """Ansible Main module."""
+
+    module = AnsibleModule(
+        argument_spec=dict(
+            name=dict(
+                type='str',
+                required=True
+            ),
+            template=dict(
+                type='str',
+                default='ubuntu'
+            ),
+            backing_store=dict(
+                type='str',
+                choices=LXC_BACKING_STORE.keys(),
+                default='dir'
+            ),
+            template_options=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            config=dict(
+                type='str',
+                default='/etc/lxc/default.conf'
+            ),
+            vg_name=dict(
+                type='str',
+                default='lxc'
+            ),
+            thinpool=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            fs_type=dict(
+                type='str',
+                default='ext4'
+            ),
+            fs_size=dict(
+                type='str',
+                default='5G'
+            ),
+            directory=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            zfs_root=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            lv_name=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            lxc_path=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            state=dict(
+                choices=LXC_ANSIBLE_STATES.keys(),
+                default='started'
+            ),
+            container_command=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            container_config=dict(
+                type='str'
+            ),
+            container_log=dict(
+                choices=BOOLEANS,
+                default='false'
+            ),
+            container_log_level=dict(
+                choices=[n for i in LXC_LOGGING_LEVELS.values() for n in i],
+                default='INFO'
+            ),
+            archive=dict(
+                choices=BOOLEANS,
+                default='false'
+            ),
+            archive_path=dict(
+                type='str',
+                default='/tmp'
+            ),
+            archive_compression=dict(
+                choices=LXC_COMPRESSION_MAP.keys(),
+                default='gzip'
+            )
+        ),
+        supports_check_mode=False,
+    )
+
+    lv_name = module.params.get('lv_name')
+    if not lv_name:
+        module.params['lv_name'] = module.params.get('name')
+
+    lxc_manage = LxcContainerManagement(module=module)
+    lxc_manage.run()
+
+
+# import module bits
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import *
+main()
+