diff --git a/pylorax/instroot.py b/pylorax/instroot.py
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/pylorax/instroot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+#
+# pylorax instroot module
+# Install image and tree support data generation tool -- Python module.
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2008  Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# This program 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 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program 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 this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+# Author(s): David Cantrell <dcantrell@redhat.com>
+#
+
+import sys
+import pylorax
+
+sys.path.insert(0, '/usr/share/yum-cli')
+import yummain
+
+# Create inst root from which stage 1 and stage 2 images are built.
+def createInstRoot(yumconf=None, arch=None, treedir=None, updates=None):
+    """createInstRoot(yumconf=None, arch=None, treedir=None, [updates=None])
+
+    Create a instroot tree for the specified architecture.  The list of
+    packages to install are specified in the /etc/lorax/packages and
+    /etc/lorax/ARCH/packages files.
+
+    yumconf is the path to the yum configuration create for this run of
+    lorax.  arch is the platform name we are building for, treedir is
+    the location where the instroot tree should go
+    (will be treedir + '/install').  updates is an optional path to a
+    directory of update RPM packages for the instroot.
+
+    The yumconf, arch, and treedir parameters are all required.
+
+    On success, this function returns True.  On failure, False is
+    returned or the program is aborted immediately.
+
+    """
+
+    if yumconf is None or arch is None or treedir is None:
+        return False
+
+    # on 64-bit systems, make sure we use lib64 as the lib directory
+    if arch.endswith('64') or arch == 's390x':
+        libdir = 'lib64'
+    else:
+        libdir = 'lib'
+
+    # the directory where the instroot will be created
+    destdir = treedir + '/install'
+    os.makedirs(destdir)
+
+    # build a list of packages to install
+    packages = set()
+
+    packages_files = []
+    packages_files.append(pylorax.conf['confdir'] + '/packages')
+    packages_files.append(pylorax.conf['confdir'] + '/' + arch + '/packages')
+
+    for pfile in packages_file:
+        if os.path.isfile(pfile):
+            f = open(pfile, 'r')
+            for line in f.readlines():
+                if line.startswith('#') or line == '':
+                    continue
+
+                if line.startswith('-'):
+                    try:
+                        packages.remove(line[1:].strip())
+                    except KeyError:
+                        pass
+                else:
+                    packages.add(line.strip())
+
+            f.close()
+
+    packages = list(packages).sort()
+
+    # install the packages to the instroot
+    if not installPackages(yumconf=yumconf, destdir=destdir, packages=packages):
+        sys.stderr.write("ERROR: Could not install packages.\n")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # XXX: more coming!
+
+    return True
+
+# Call yummain to install the list of packages to destdir
+def installPackages(yumconf=yumconf, destdir=destdir, packages=packages):
+    """installPackages(yumconf=yumconf, destdir=destdir, packages=packages)
+
+    Call yummain to install the list of packages.  All parameters are
+    required.  yumconf is the yum configuration file created for this
+    run of lorax.  destdir is the installroot that yum should install to.
+    packages is a list of package names that yum should install.
+
+    yum will resolve dependencies, so it is not necessary to list every
+    package you want in the instroot.
+
+    This function returns True on success, False on failre.
+
+    """
+
+    arglist = ['-c', yumconf, '-y']
+    arglist.append("--installroot=%s" % (destdir,))
+    arglist.append('install')
+
+    pkgs = ''
+    for package in packages:
+        pkgs += ' ' + package
+
+    arglist.append(pkgs.strip())
+
+    return yummain.user_main(arglist, exit_code=False)