diff --git a/lib/ironic b/lib/ironic
index d0a9c23aba..0528610c31 100644
--- a/lib/ironic
+++ b/lib/ironic
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ IRONIC_VM_NETWORK_RANGE=${IRONIC_VM_NETWORK_RANGE:-192.0.2.0/24}
 IRONIC_VM_MACS_CSV_FILE=${IRONIC_VM_MACS_CSV_FILE:-$IRONIC_DATA_DIR/ironic_macs.csv}
 IRONIC_AUTHORIZED_KEYS_FILE=${IRONIC_AUTHORIZED_KEYS_FILE:-$HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys}
 
+# By default, baremetal VMs will console output to file.
+IRONIC_VM_LOG_CONSOLE=${IRONIC_VM_LOG_CONSOLE:-True}
+IRONIC_VM_LOG_DIR=${IRONIC_VM_LOG_DIR:-$IRONIC_DATA_DIR/logs/}
+
 DIB_DIR=${DIB_DIR:-$DEST/diskimage-builder}
 
 # Use DIB to create deploy ramdisk and kernel.
@@ -187,6 +191,9 @@ function configure_ironic_conductor {
     iniset $IRONIC_CONF_FILE pxe tftp_server $HOST_IP
     iniset $IRONIC_CONF_FILE pxe tftp_root $IRONIC_TFTPBOOT_DIR
     iniset $IRONIC_CONF_FILE pxe tftp_master_path $IRONIC_TFTPBOOT_DIR/master_images
+    if [[ "$IRONIC_VM_LOG_CONSOLE" == "True" ]] ; then
+        iniset $IRONIC_CONF_FILE pxe pxe_append_params "nofb nomodeset vga=normal console=ttyS0"
+    fi
 }
 
 # create_ironic_cache_dir() - Part of the init_ironic() process
@@ -316,9 +323,15 @@ function configure_ironic_dirs {
 function create_bridge_and_vms {
     # Call libvirt setup scripts in a new shell to ensure any new group membership
     sudo su $STACK_USER -c "$IRONIC_SCRIPTS_DIR/setup-network"
+    if [[ "$IRONIC_VM_LOG_CONSOLE" == "True" ]] ; then
+        LOG_ARG="$IRONIC_VM_LOG_DIR"
+    else
+        LOG_ARG=""
+    fi
     sudo su $STACK_USER -c "$IRONIC_SCRIPTS_DIR/create-nodes \
         $IRONIC_VM_SPECS_CPU $IRONIC_VM_SPECS_RAM $IRONIC_VM_SPECS_DISK \
-        amd64 $IRONIC_VM_COUNT $IRONIC_VM_NETWORK_BRIDGE $IRONIC_VM_EMULATOR" >> $IRONIC_VM_MACS_CSV_FILE
+        amd64 $IRONIC_VM_COUNT $IRONIC_VM_NETWORK_BRIDGE $IRONIC_VM_EMULATOR \
+        $LOG_ARG" >> $IRONIC_VM_MACS_CSV_FILE
 }
 
 function enroll_vms {
diff --git a/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm b/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm
index 9936b76c4f..4c42c491c5 100755
--- a/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm
+++ b/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm
@@ -9,6 +9,25 @@ templatedir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)),
                            'templates')
 
 
+CONSOLE_LOG = """
+    <serial type='file'>
+      <source path='%(console_log)s'/>
+      <target port='0'/>
+      <alias name='serial0'/>
+    </serial>
+    <serial type='pty'>
+      <source path='/dev/pts/49'/>
+      <target port='1'/>
+      <alias name='serial1'/>
+    </serial>
+    <console type='file'>
+      <source path='%(console_log)s'/>
+      <target type='serial' port='0'/>
+      <alias name='serial0'/>
+    </console>
+"""
+
+
 def main():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="Configure a kvm virtual machine for the seed image.")
@@ -30,6 +49,8 @@ def main():
                         help='The libvirt network name to use')
     parser.add_argument('--libvirt-nic-driver', default='e1000',
                         help='The libvirt network driver to use')
+    parser.add_argument('--console-log',
+                        help='File to log console')
     parser.add_argument('--emulator', default=None,
                         help='Path to emulator bin for vm template')
     args = parser.parse_args()
@@ -44,6 +65,7 @@ def main():
         'cpus': args.cpus,
         'bootdev': args.bootdev,
         'network': args.network,
+        'nicdriver': args.libvirt_nic_driver,
         'emulator': args.emulator,
     }
 
@@ -55,22 +77,13 @@ def main():
         elif os.path.exists("/usr/bin/qemu-kvm"):  # Redhat
             params['emulator'] = "/usr/bin/qemu-kvm"
 
-    nicparams = {
-        'nicdriver': args.libvirt_nic_driver,
-        'network': args.network,
-    }
-
-    params['bm_network'] = """
-<!-- neutron friendly 'bare metal' network -->
-<interface type='network'>
-  <source network='%(network)s'/>
-  <virtualport type='openvswitch'/>
-  <model type='%(nicdriver)s'/>
-  <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x04' function='0x0'/>
-</interface>""" % nicparams
-
+    if args.console_log:
+        params['console_log'] = CONSOLE_LOG % {'console_log': args.console_log}
+    else:
+        params['console_log'] = ''
     libvirt_template = source_template % params
     conn = libvirt.open("qemu:///system")
+
     a = conn.defineXML(libvirt_template)
     print ("Created machine %s with UUID %s" % (args.name, a.UUIDString()))
 
diff --git a/tools/ironic/scripts/create-nodes b/tools/ironic/scripts/create-nodes
index d81113a4d5..140bffe46f 100755
--- a/tools/ironic/scripts/create-nodes
+++ b/tools/ironic/scripts/create-nodes
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 # Creates baremetal poseur nodes for ironic testing purposes
 
-set -exu
+set -ex
 
 # Keep track of the devstack directory
 TOP_DIR=$(cd $(dirname "$0")/.. && pwd)
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ esac
 TOTAL=$(($5 - 1))
 BRIDGE=$6
 EMULATOR=$7
+LOGDIR=$8
 
 LIBVIRT_NIC_DRIVER=${LIBVIRT_NIC_DRIVER:-"e1000"}
 LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL=${LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL:-"default"}
@@ -43,6 +44,10 @@ if [ "$pool_state" != "running" ] ; then
   virsh pool-start $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL >&2
 fi
 
+if [ -n "$LOGDIR" ] ; then
+  mkdir -p "$LOGDIR"
+fi
+
 PREALLOC=
 if [ -f /etc/debian_version ]; then
     PREALLOC="--prealloc-metadata"
@@ -51,6 +56,11 @@ fi
 DOMS=""
 for idx in $(seq 0 $TOTAL) ; do
     NAME="baremetal${BRIDGE}_${idx}"
+    if [ -n "$LOGDIR" ] ; then
+      VM_LOGGING="--console-log $LOGDIR/${NAME}_console.log"
+    else
+      VM_LOGGING=""
+    fi
     DOMS="$DOMS $NAME"
     VOL_NAME="baremetal${BRIDGE}-${idx}.qcow2"
     (virsh list --all | grep -q $NAME) && continue
@@ -62,7 +72,10 @@ for idx in $(seq 0 $TOTAL) ; do
     # Pre-touch the VM to set +C, as it can only be set on empty files.
     sudo touch "$volume_path"
     sudo chattr +C "$volume_path" || true
-    $TOP_DIR/scripts/configure-vm --bootdev network --name $NAME --image "$volume_path" --arch $ARCH --cpus $CPU --memory $MEM --libvirt-nic-driver $LIBVIRT_NIC_DRIVER --emulator $EMULATOR --network $BRIDGE >&2
+    $TOP_DIR/scripts/configure-vm \
+      --bootdev network --name $NAME --image "$volume_path" \
+      --arch $ARCH --cpus $CPU --memory $MEM --libvirt-nic-driver $LIBVIRT_NIC_DRIVER \
+      --emulator $EMULATOR --network $BRIDGE $VM_LOGGING >&2
 done
 
 for dom in $DOMS ; do
diff --git a/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml b/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml
index b18dec055f..4f40334b7d 100644
--- a/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml
+++ b/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml
@@ -27,14 +27,19 @@
     <controller type='ide' index='0'>
       <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x1'/>
     </controller>
-    %(network)s
-    %(bm_network)s
+    <interface type='network'>
+      <source network='%(network)s'/>
+      <virtualport type='openvswitch'/>
+      <model type='%(nicdriver)s'/>
+      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x04' function='0x0'/>
+    </interface>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes'/>
     <video>
       <model type='cirrus' vram='9216' heads='1'/>
       <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x0'/>
     </video>
+    %(console_log)s
     <memballoon model='virtio'>
       <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x0'/>
     </memballoon>