diff --git a/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm.py b/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm.py
index 18590279ae..aeb25ff15c 100755
--- a/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm.py
+++ b/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/configure-vm.py
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ def main():
                         help='The number of interfaces to add to VM.'),
     parser.add_argument('--mac', default=None,
                         help='The mac for the first interface on the vm')
+    parser.add_argument('--mtu', default=None,
+                        help='The mtu for the interfaces on the vm')
     parser.add_argument('--console-log',
                         help='File to log console')
     parser.add_argument('--emulator', default=None,
@@ -114,6 +116,7 @@ def main():
         'bootdev': args.bootdev,
         'interface_count': args.interface_count,
         'mac': args.mac,
+        'mtu': args.mtu,
         'nicdriver': args.libvirt_nic_driver,
         'emulator': args.emulator,
         'disk_format': args.disk_format,
diff --git a/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/create-node.sh b/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/create-node.sh
index 5cca0ffc25..4920f6d857 100755
--- a/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/create-node.sh
+++ b/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/create-node.sh
@@ -88,16 +88,8 @@ BLOCK_SIZE=${BLOCK_SIZE:-512}
 INTERFACE_COUNT=${INTERFACE_COUNT:-1}
 
 for int in $(seq 1 $INTERFACE_COUNT); do
-    tapif=tap-${NAME}i${int}
     ovsif=ovs-${NAME}i${int}
-    # NOTE(vsaienko) use veth pair here to ensure that interface
-    # exists in OVS even when VM is powered off.
-    sudo ip link add dev $tapif type veth peer name $ovsif
-    for l in $tapif $ovsif; do
-        sudo ip link set dev $l up
-        sudo ip link set $l mtu $INTERFACE_MTU
-    done
-    sudo ovs-vsctl add-port $BRIDGE $ovsif
+    sudo ovs-vsctl --no-wait add-port $BRIDGE $ovsif
 done
 
 if [ -n "$MAC_ADDRESS" ] ; then
@@ -133,9 +125,9 @@ if ! virsh list --all | grep -q $NAME; then
         --arch $ARCH --cpus $CPU --memory $MEM --libvirt-nic-driver $LIBVIRT_NIC_DRIVER \
         --disk-format $DISK_FORMAT $VM_LOGGING --engine $ENGINE $UEFI_OPTS $vm_opts \
         --interface-count $INTERFACE_COUNT $MAC_ADDRESS --machine_type $MACHINE_TYPE \
-        --block-size $BLOCK_SIZE >&2
+        --block-size $BLOCK_SIZE --mtu ${INTERFACE_MTU} >&2
 fi
 
 # echo mac in format mac1,ovs-node-0i1;mac2,ovs-node-0i2;...;macN,ovs-node0iN
-VM_MAC=$(echo -n $(virsh domiflist $NAME |awk '/tap-/{print $5","$3}')|tr ' ' ';' |sed s/tap-/ovs-/g)
+VM_MAC=$(echo -n $(virsh domiflist $NAME |awk '/ovs-/{print $5","$1}')|tr ' ' ';')
 echo -n "$VM_MAC $VBMC_PORT $PDU_OUTLET"
diff --git a/devstack/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml b/devstack/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml
index f91b166b78..eefd1b68bd 100644
--- a/devstack/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml
+++ b/devstack/tools/ironic/templates/vm.xml
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@
     </disk>
     {% endfor %}
     {% for n in range(1, interface_count+1) %}
-    <interface type='direct'>
+    <interface type='ethernet'>
       {% if n == 1 and mac %}
       <mac address='{{ mac }}'/>
       {% endif %}
-      <source dev='{{ "tap-" + name + "i" + n|string }}'/>
-      <model type='{{ nicdriver }}'/>
+      <target dev='{{ "ovs-" + name + "i" + n|string }}'/>
+      <model type='{{ nicdriver }}' />
       {% if uefi_loader and bootdev == 'network' %}
       <boot order='{{ n|string }}'/>
       {% endif %}