diff --git a/devstack/distro.py b/devstack/distro.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f8000fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devstack/distro.py
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import glob
+import os
+import platform
+import re
+
+import yaml
+
+from devstack import importer
+from devstack import log as logging
+from devstack import settings
+from devstack import utils
+
+
+LOG = logging.getLogger('devstack.distro')
+
+DISTRO_CONF_DIR = os.path.join(settings.STACK_CONFIG_DIR, 'distros')
+
+
+class Distro(object):
+
+    @classmethod
+    def load_all(cls, path=DISTRO_CONF_DIR):
+        """Returns a list of the known distros."""
+        results = []
+        input_files = glob.glob(os.path.join(DISTRO_CONF_DIR, '*.yaml'))
+        if not input_files:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                'Did not find any distro definition files in %s' %
+                DISTRO_CONF_DIR)
+        for filename in input_files:
+            try:
+                with open(filename, 'r') as f:
+                    data = yaml.load(f)
+                results.append(cls(**data))
+            except Exception as err:
+                LOG.warning('Could not load distro definition from %s: %s',
+                            filename, err)
+        return results
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_current(cls):
+        """Returns a Distro instance configured for the current system."""
+        plt = platform.platform()
+        distname = platform.linux_distribution()[0]
+        if not distname:
+            raise RuntimeError('Unsupported platform %s' % plt)
+        LOG.debug('Looking for distro data for %s (%s)', plt, distname)
+        for p in cls.load_all():
+            if p.supports_distro(plt):
+                LOG.info('Using distro "%s" for "%s"', p.name, plt)
+                return p
+        else:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                'No platform configuration data for %s (%s)' %
+                (plt, distname))
+
+    def __init__(self, name, distro_pattern, packager_name, commands, components):
+        self.name = name
+        self.distro_pattern = re.compile(distro_pattern, re.IGNORECASE)
+        self.packager_name = packager_name
+        self.commands = commands
+        self.components = components
+
+    def supports_distro(self, distro_name):
+        """Does this distro support the named Linux distro?
+
+        :param distro_name: Return value from platform.linux_distribution().
+        """
+        return bool(self.distro_pattern.search(distro_name))
+
+    def get_packager_factory(self):
+        """Return a factory for a package manager."""
+        return importer.import_entry_point(self.packager_name)
+
+    def get_component_action_class(self, name, action):
+        """Return the class to use for doing the action w/the component."""
+        try:
+            entry_point = self.components[name][action]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise RuntimeError('No class configured to %s %s on %s' %
+                               (action, name, self.name))
+        return importer.import_entry_point(entry_point)
+
+    def resolve_component_dependencies(self, components):
+        """Returns list of all components needed for the named components."""
+        all_components = {}
+        active_names = [(c, None) for c in components]
+        while active_names:
+            component, parent = active_names.pop()
+            try:
+                component_details = self.components[component]
+            except KeyError:
+                if parent:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        'Could not find details about component %r, a dependency of %s, for %s' %
+                        (component, parent, self.name))
+                else:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        'Could not find details about component %r for %s' %
+                        (component, self.name))
+            deps = set(component_details.get('dependencies', []))
+            all_components[component] = deps
+            for d in deps:
+                if d not in all_components and d not in active_names:
+                    active_names.append((d, component))
+        return all_components
diff --git a/tests/test_distro.py b/tests/test_distro.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3a8468a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_distro.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+
+from devstack import distro
+
+
+def test_component_dependencies():
+    d = distro.Distro('fake', 'ignore', 'apt', {},
+                      {'a': {'dependencies': ['b'],
+                              },
+                       'b': {},
+                       })
+    actual = d.resolve_component_dependencies(['a'])
+    assert actual == {'a': set(['b']),
+                      'b': set(),
+                      }