diff --git a/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/resources/cloud_server.py b/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/resources/cloud_server.py
index a713fd1f71..eb70d21a97 100644
--- a/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/resources/cloud_server.py
+++ b/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/resources/cloud_server.py
@@ -60,17 +60,34 @@ class CloudServer(server.Server):
         {
             server.Server.USER_DATA_FORMAT: properties.Schema(
                 properties.Schema.STRING,
-                _('How the user_data should be formatted for the server. For '
-                  'HEAT_CFNTOOLS, the user_data is bundled as part of the '
-                  'heat-cfntools cloud-init boot configuration data. For RAW '
-                  'the user_data is passed to Nova unmodified. '
+                _('How the user_data should be formatted for the server. '
+                  'For RAW the user_data is passed to Nova unmodified. '
                   'For SOFTWARE_CONFIG user_data is bundled as part of the '
                   'software config data, and metadata is derived from any '
                   'associated SoftwareDeployment resources.'),
                 default=server.Server.RAW,
                 constraints=[
-                    constraints.AllowedValues(
-                        server.Server._SOFTWARE_CONFIG_FORMATS),
+                    constraints.AllowedValues([
+                        server.Server.RAW, server.Server.SOFTWARE_CONFIG
+                    ])
+                ]
+            ),
+        }
+    )
+    properties_schema.update(
+        {
+            server.Server.SOFTWARE_CONFIG_TRANSPORT: properties.Schema(
+                properties.Schema.STRING,
+                _('How the server should receive the metadata required for '
+                  'software configuration. POLL_TEMP_URL is the only '
+                  'supported transport on Rackspace Cloud. This property is '
+                  'retained for compatability.'),
+                default=server.Server.POLL_TEMP_URL,
+                update_allowed=True,
+                constraints=[
+                    constraints.AllowedValues([
+                        server.Server.POLL_TEMP_URL
+                    ])
                 ]
             ),
         }
@@ -82,9 +99,11 @@ class CloudServer(server.Server):
         self._rack_connect_started_event_sent = False
 
     def _config_drive(self):
+        user_data_format = self.properties.get(self.USER_DATA_FORMAT, "")
+        is_sw_config = user_data_format == self.SOFTWARE_CONFIG
         user_data = self.properties.get(self.USER_DATA)
         config_drive = self.properties.get(self.CONFIG_DRIVE)
-        if user_data or config_drive:
+        if config_drive or is_sw_config or user_data:
             return True
         else:
             return False
diff --git a/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/tests/test_rackspace_cloud_server.py b/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/tests/test_rackspace_cloud_server.py
index 54a0136839..6f534db9d4 100644
--- a/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/tests/test_rackspace_cloud_server.py
+++ b/contrib/rackspace/rackspace/tests/test_rackspace_cloud_server.py
@@ -456,7 +456,8 @@ class CloudServersTest(common.HeatTestCase):
                          'Unknown Rackspace Cloud automation status: FOO',
                          six.text_type(exc))
 
-    def _test_server_config_drive(self, user_data, config_drive, result):
+    def _test_server_config_drive(self, user_data, config_drive, result,
+                                  ud_format='RAW'):
         return_server = self.fc.servers.list()[1]
         return_server.metadata = {'rax_service_level_automation': 'Complete'}
         stack_name = 'no_user_data'
@@ -464,11 +465,14 @@ class CloudServersTest(common.HeatTestCase):
         properties = tmpl.t['Resources']['WebServer']['Properties']
         properties['user_data'] = user_data
         properties['config_drive'] = config_drive
+        properties['user_data_format'] = ud_format
+        properties['software_config_transport'] = "POLL_TEMP_URL"
         resource_defns = tmpl.resource_definitions(stack)
         server = cloud_server.CloudServer('WebServer',
                                           resource_defns['WebServer'], stack)
         server.metadata = {'rax_service_level_automation': 'Complete'}
         self.patchobject(server, 'store_external_ports')
+        self.patchobject(server, "_populate_deployments_metadata")
         mock_servers_create = mock.Mock(return_value=return_server)
         self.fc.servers.create = mock_servers_create
         image_id = mock.ANY
@@ -508,3 +512,7 @@ class CloudServersTest(common.HeatTestCase):
 
     def test_server_no_user_data_no_config_drive(self):
         self._test_server_config_drive(None, False, False)
+
+    def test_server_no_user_data_software_config(self):
+        self._test_server_config_drive(None, False, True,
+                                       ud_format="SOFTWARE_CONFIG")