diff --git a/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/cases.osimage.validation b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/cases.osimage.validation
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..372a34020
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/cases.osimage.validation
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+start: xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage
+description: verify the validation mechanisom while importing osimage object
+
+cmd: rm -rf /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage
+cmd: mkdir -p /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage
+cmd: mkdir -p /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/
+cmd: mkdir -p /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/backup/
+cmd: lsdef -t osimage -o testosimage1 -z 2>/dev/null  >/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/backup/testosimage1.stanza
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "role" "compute" "/tmp/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "role" "service" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "role" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "role" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "imagetype" "windows" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "imagetype" "linux" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "imagetype" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "imagetype" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "provision_mode" "statelite" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "provision_mode" "install" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "provision_mode" "netboot" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "provision_mode" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "provision_mode" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "genimgoptions.rootfstype" "nfs" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "genimgoptions.rootfstype" "ramdisk" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "genimgoptions.rootfstype" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "osimage" "testosimage1" "genimgoptions.rootfstype" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+
+cmd: cat /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage/backup/testosimage1.stanza 2>/dev/null |mkdef -z -f
+cmd: rm -rf /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_osimage
+end
diff --git a/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/cases.site.validation b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/cases.site.validation
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..23a9237d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/cases.site.validation
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+start: xcat_inventory_import_validation_site
+description: verify the validation mechanisom while importing site object
+
+cmd: rm -rf /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site
+cmd: mkdir -p /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site
+cmd: mkdir -p /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/
+cmd: mkdir -p /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/backup/
+cmd: lsdef -t site -o clustersite -z 2>/dev/null  >/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/backup/clustersite.stanza
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dbtracelevel" "0" "/tmp/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dbtracelevel" "1" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dbtracelevel" "2" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dbtracelevel" "3" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dbtracelevel" "4" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dbtracelevel" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dbtracelevel" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dhcplease" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dhcplease" "10240" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "dhcplease" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "disjointdhcps" "0" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "disjointdhcps" "1" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "disjointdhcps" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "disjointdhcps" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "httpport" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "httpport" "80" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "httpport" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "managedaddressmode" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "managedaddressmode" "static" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "managedaddressmode" "dhcp" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "managedaddressmode" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sharedinstall" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sharedinstall" "no" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sharedinstall" "sns" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sharedinstall" "all" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sharedinstall" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sshbetweennodes" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sshbetweennodes" "ALLGROUPS" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sshbetweennodes" "NOGROUPS" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "sshbetweennodes" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdebugmode" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdebugmode" "0" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdebugmode" "1" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdebugmode" "2" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdebugmode" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdport" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdport" "3001" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdport" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatdport" "3002" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatiport" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatiport" "3001" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatiport" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatiport" "3002" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+
+
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatlport" "" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatlport" "3001" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatlport" "invalid" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc!=0
+cmd: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/tools/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper "site" "clustersite" "xcatlport" "3003" "/tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/trash/"
+check: rc==0
+
+cmd: cat /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site/backup/clustersite.stanza 2>/dev/null |mkdef -z -f
+cmd: rm -rf /tmp/xcat_inventory_import_validation_site
+end
diff --git a/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/osimage.json b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/osimage.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d35a00144
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/osimage.json
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{
+    "osimage": {
+        "testosimage1": {
+            "basic_attributes": {
+                "arch": "ppc64le",
+                "distribution": "sles12.2",
+                "osdistro": "sles12.2-ppc64le"
+            },
+            "filestosync": "/install/custom/netboot/sles/compute.synclist",
+            "genimgoptions": {
+                "exlist": "/opt/xcat/share/xcat/netboot/sles/compute.sles12.ppc64le.exlist",
+                "postinstall": "/opt/xcat/share/xcat/netboot/sles/compute.sles12.ppc64le.postinstall",
+                "rootimgdir": "/install/netboot/sles12.2/ppc64le/compute",
+                "rootfstype": "nfs"
+            },
+            "imagetype": "linux",
+            "package_selection": {
+                "otherpkgdir": "/install/post/otherpkgs/sles12.2/ppc64le",
+                "pkgdir": "/install/sles12.2/ppc64le",
+                "pkglist": "/opt/xcat/share/xcat/netboot/sles/compute.sles12.ppc64le.pkglist"
+            },
+            "provision_mode": "statelite",
+            "role": "compute"
+        }
+    },
+    "schema_version": "1.0"
+}
diff --git a/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/osimage.yaml b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/osimage.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f837d42fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/osimage.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+osimage:
+  testosimage1:
+    basic_attributes:
+      arch: ppc64le
+      distribution: sles12.2
+      osdistro: sles12.2-ppc64le
+    filestosync: /install/custom/netboot/sles/compute.synclist
+    genimgoptions:
+      exlist: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/netboot/sles/compute.sles12.ppc64le.exlist
+      postinstall: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/netboot/sles/compute.sles12.ppc64le.postinstall
+      rootimgdir: /install/netboot/sles12.2/ppc64le/compute
+      rootfstype: nfs
+    imagetype: linux
+    package_selection:
+      otherpkgdir: /install/post/otherpkgs/sles12.2/ppc64le
+      pkgdir: /install/sles12.2/ppc64le
+      pkglist: /opt/xcat/share/xcat/netboot/sles/compute.sles12.ppc64le.pkglist
+    provision_mode: statelite
+    role: compute
+schema_version: '1.0'
+
diff --git a/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/site.json b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/site.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f86279a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/site.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+    "schema_version": "1.0",
+    "site": {
+        "clustersite": {
+            "dbtracelevel": "1",
+            "dhcplease": "10240",
+            "disjointdhcps": "0",
+            "httpport": "80",
+            "sharedinstall": "no",
+            "managedaddressmode": "dhcp",
+            "sshbetweennodes": "ALLGROUPS",
+            "xcatdebugmode": "0",
+            "xcatdport": "3001",
+            "xcatiport": "3002",
+            "xcatlport": "3003"
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/site.yaml b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/site.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a1e219a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/templates/site.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+schema_version: '1.0'
+site:
+  clustersite:
+    dbtracelevel: '1'
+    dhcplease: '10240'
+    disjointdhcps: '0'
+    httpport: '80'
+    sharedinstall: 'no'
+    managedaddressmode: 'dhcp'
+    sshbetweennodes: 'ALLGROUPS'
+    xcatdebugmode: '0'
+    xcatdport: '3001'
+    xcatiport: '3002'
+    xcatlport: '3003'
+
diff --git a/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..bedc695a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xCAT-test/autotest/testcase/xcat-inventory/validatehelper
@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+import yaml
+import json
+import os 
+import re
+import sys
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+
+
+#remove the dict entries whose value is null or ''
+def Util_rmnullindict(mydict):
+    for key in mydict.keys():
+        if isinstance(mydict[key],dict):
+            Util_rmnullindict(mydict[key])
+            if not mydict[key].keys():
+                del mydict[key]
+        else:
+            if not mydict[key]:
+                del mydict[key]
+
+
+# get the dict value mydict[a][b][c] with key path a.b.c
+def Util_getdictval(mydict,keystr):
+    if not  isinstance(mydict,dict):
+        return None
+    dictkeyregex=re.compile("([^\.]+)\.?(\S+)*")
+    result=re.findall(dictkeyregex,keystr)
+    if result:
+        (key,remdkey)=result[0]
+        if key not in mydict.keys():
+            return None
+        if remdkey:
+            return Util_getdictval(mydict[key],remdkey)
+        else:
+            return mydict[key]
+
+# get the dict value mydict[a][b][c] with key path a.b.c
+def Util_setdictval(mydict,keystr,value):
+    dictkeyregex=re.compile("([^\.]+)\.?(\S+)*")
+    result=re.findall(dictkeyregex,keystr)
+    if result:
+        (key,remdkey)=result[0]
+        if remdkey:
+            if key not in mydict.keys():
+                mydict[key]={}
+            Util_setdictval(mydict[key],remdkey,value)
+        else:
+            mydict[key]=value
+
+
+def GetAttrInFile(fpath,objtype,objname,attrpath):
+    f=open(fpath,'r')
+    try:
+        objdict=json.loads(f)
+    except TypeError,ValueError:
+        try:
+            objdict=yaml.load(f)
+        except Exception,e:
+            raise Exception("Error: cannot open file "+fpath+"! "+str(e))
+
+    f.close()
+    myattrpath=objtype+"."+objname+"."+attrpath
+    myvalue=Util_getdictval(objdict,myattrpath)
+    return myvalue
+
+def compattr(exptattr,rawattr):
+    if isinstance(exptattr,list) and re.match(r'^\[.*\]$',rawattr):
+        rawattr=eval(rawattr)
+    if isinstance(rawattr,str): 
+        if rawattr in exptattr:
+            return 0
+        else:
+            return 1
+    else:
+        return cmp(exptattr,rawattr)
+     
+        
+
+def runCommand(cmd, env=None):
+    """ Run one command only, when you don't want to bother setting up
+        the Popen stuff.
+    """
+    print('Running command: %s' %cmd)
+    try:
+        p = subprocess.Popen(cmd,
+                             env=env,
+                             shell=True,
+                             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                             stderr=subprocess.PIPE
+                            )
+        out, err = p.communicate()
+    except OSError,e:
+        print('RunCommand failed due to OSError %s' % e)
+    if p.returncode:
+        print('Command %s failed with return code %d : %s' % (cmd , p.returncode, err))
+    print(out)
+    print(err)
+    return p.returncode 
+  
+
+def UpdateAttrInFile(fpath,fformat,objtype,objname,attrpath,value):
+    f=open(fpath,'r')
+    try:
+        objdict=json.loads(f)
+    except TypeError,ValueError:
+        try:
+            objdict=yaml.load(f)
+        except Exception,e:
+            raise Exception("Error: cannot open file "+fpath+"! "+str(e))
+
+    f.close()
+    myattrpath=objtype+"."+objname+"."+attrpath
+    if value == "":
+        Util_setdictval(objdict,myattrpath,"")
+        Util_rmnullindict(objdict)
+    else:
+        origobjdict=Util_getdictval(objdict,myattrpath)
+        origattrtype=type(origobjdict)
+        newvalue=value
+        if origattrtype == list and re.match(r'^\[.*\]$',value):
+            #import pdb
+            #pdb.set_trace()
+            newvalue=eval(value)
+        if isinstance(origobjdict,list) and  isinstance(newvalue,str):
+            newvalue=[newvalue]
+        Util_setdictval(objdict,myattrpath,newvalue)
+    f=open(fpath,'w') 
+    if fformat  == "yaml":
+        print(yaml.dump(objdict,default_flow_style=False),file=f)
+    elif fformat  == "json":
+        print(json.dumps(objdict, sort_keys=True, indent=4, separators=(',', ': ')),file=f)
+    f.close()
+
+def removeobj(objtype,objname):
+    print("removing existing \""+objtype+"\" type object \""+objname+"\" from xCAT\n")
+    if str(objtype) in ('node','osimage','network','site','route','zone','policy'):
+        runCommand("rmdef -t "+objtype+" -o "+objname) 
+    elif str(objtype) in ('passwd'):
+        runCommand("tabch -d key="+objname+" passwd")
+
+def Usage():
+    print("Usage:\n")
+    print(sys.argv[0]+" [OBJTYPE OBJNAME ATTRIBUTE ATTRVALUE TMPDIR]")
+
+if len(sys.argv) < 6:
+    Usage()
+    exit(1)
+   
+
+objtype=str(sys.argv[1])
+objname=str(sys.argv[2])
+attribute=str(sys.argv[3])
+attrvalue=str(sys.argv[4])
+tmpdir=str(sys.argv[5])
+print("objtype=%s\nobjname=%s\nattribute=%s\nattrvalue=%s\ntmpdir=%s\n"%(objtype,objname,attribute,attrvalue,tmpdir))
+
+if os.path.exists(tmpdir):
+    runCommand("rm -rf "+tmpdir)
+
+os.mkdir(tmpdir)
+
+print("Temporary directory to hold intermediate files: "+tmpdir+"\n")
+
+curdir=os.path.split(os.path.realpath(sys.argv[0]))[0]
+yamldeftmpl=curdir+"/templates/"+objtype+'.yaml'
+jsondeftmpl=curdir+"/templates/"+objtype+'.json'
+yamldef=tmpdir+"/"+objtype+'.yaml'
+jsondef=tmpdir+"/"+objtype+'.json'
+yamldefout=tmpdir+"/"+objtype+'.out.yaml'
+jsondefout=tmpdir+"/"+objtype+'.out.json'
+
+shutil.copyfile(yamldeftmpl,yamldef)
+shutil.copyfile(jsondeftmpl,jsondef)
+
+rcfinal=0
+rcyaml=0
+rcjson=0
+rc=0
+
+UpdateAttrInFile(yamldef,'yaml',objtype,objname,attribute,attrvalue)
+print("=================the inventory file to import: "+yamldef+"=====================\n")
+runCommand("cat "+yamldef)
+print("===============================================================================\n")
+
+
+print("import the inventory file "+yamldef+"\n") 
+rc=runCommand("xcat-inventory import -t "+objtype+" -o "+objname+" -f "+yamldef)
+if rc !=0:
+    print("failed to import the inventory file "+yamldef)
+    rcyaml=1
+else:
+    print("the inventory file "+yamldef+" imported successfully\n")
+    print("export the \""+objtype+"\" type object \""+objname+"\" just imported\n")
+    rc=runCommand("xcat-inventory export -t "+objtype+" -o "+objname+" --format=yaml 1>"+yamldefout)
+    if rc!=0:
+        print("failed to export the \""+objtype+"\" type object \""+objname+"\"\n") 
+        rcyaml=1
+    else:
+        print("==============the exported inventory file "+yamldefout+"======================\n")
+        runCommand("cat "+yamldefout)
+        print("===========================================================================\n")
+        myattrvalue=GetAttrInFile(yamldefout,objtype,objname,attribute)
+        if attrvalue == '':
+            if myattrvalue is not None:
+                rcyaml=1
+        else:
+            if compattr(myattrvalue,attrvalue) != 0 :
+                rcyaml=1           
+
+if rcyaml == 0:
+    print("yaml validation passed\n")
+else:
+    print("yaml validation failed\n")
+
+removeobj(objtype,objname)
+
+UpdateAttrInFile(jsondef,'json',objtype,objname,attribute,attrvalue)
+print("=================the inventory file to import: "+jsondef+"=====================\n")
+runCommand("cat "+jsondef)
+print("===============================================================================\n")
+
+
+print("import the inventory file "+jsondef+"\n") 
+rc=runCommand("xcat-inventory import -t "+objtype+" -o "+objname+" -f "+jsondef)
+print("rc="+str(rc))
+if rc !=0:
+    print("failed to import the inventory file "+jsondef)
+    rcjson=1
+else:
+    print("the inventory file "+jsondef+" imported successfully\n")
+    print("export the \""+objtype+"\" type object \""+objname+"\" just imported\n")
+    rc=runCommand("xcat-inventory export -t "+objtype+" -o "+objname+" --format=json 1>"+jsondefout)
+    if rc!=0:
+        print("failed to export the \""+objtype+"\" type object \""+objname+"\"\n") 
+        rcjson=1
+    else:
+        print("==============the exported inventory file "+jsondefout+"======================\n")
+        runCommand("cat "+jsondefout)
+        print("===========================================================================\n")
+        myattrvalue=GetAttrInFile(jsondefout,objtype,objname,attribute)
+        if attrvalue == '':
+            if myattrvalue is not None:
+                rcjson=1
+        else:
+            if compattr(myattrvalue,attrvalue) != 0 :
+                rcjson=1           
+
+if rcjson ==0:
+    print("json validation passed\n")
+else:
+    print("json validation failed\n")
+
+removeobj(objtype,objname)
+
+if rcjson !=0 or rcyaml!=0:
+   rcfinal=1
+
+print("remove intermediate directory "+tmpdir)
+if os.path.exists(tmpdir):
+    runCommand("rm -rf "+tmpdir)
+
+exit(rcfinal)
+
+