diff --git a/deployment_scripts/compute_post_deployment.py b/deployment_scripts/compute_post_deployment.py
index e69e19e..f290f63 100755
--- a/deployment_scripts/compute_post_deployment.py
+++ b/deployment_scripts/compute_post_deployment.py
@@ -382,7 +382,8 @@ def patch_compute_xenapi():
     patchfile_list = ['%s/patchset/vif-plug.patch' % patchset_dir,
             '%s/patchset/nova-neutron-race-condition.patch' % patchset_dir,
             '%s/patchset/ovs-interim-bridge.patch' % patchset_dir,
-            '%s/patchset/neutron-security-group.patch' % patchset_dir]
+            '%s/patchset/neutron-security-group.patch' % patchset_dir,
+            '%s/patchset/speed-up-writing-config-drive.patch' % patchset_dir]
     for patch_file in patchfile_list:
         execute('patch', '-d', DIST_PACKAGES_DIR, '-p1', '-i', patch_file)
 
diff --git a/deployment_scripts/patchset/speed-up-writing-config-drive.patch b/deployment_scripts/patchset/speed-up-writing-config-drive.patch
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..539582d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deployment_scripts/patchset/speed-up-writing-config-drive.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/xenapi/test_vm_utils.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/xenapi/test_vm_utils.py
+index e15cc53..a777fcc 100644
+--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/xenapi/test_vm_utils.py
++++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/xenapi/test_vm_utils.py
+@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class GenerateConfigDriveTestCase(VMUtilsTestBase):
+                       '-publisher', mox.IgnoreArg(), '-quiet',
+                       '-J', '-r', '-V', 'config-2', mox.IgnoreArg(),
+                       attempts=1, run_as_root=False).AndReturn(None)
+-        utils.execute('dd', mox.IgnoreArg(), mox.IgnoreArg(),
++        utils.execute('dd', mox.IgnoreArg(), mox.IgnoreArg(), mox.IgnoreArg(),
+                       mox.IgnoreArg(), run_as_root=True).AndReturn(None)
+ 
+         self.mox.StubOutWithMock(vm_utils, 'create_vbd')
+diff --git a/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py b/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
+index c8fdc52..9bbf173 100644
+--- a/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
++++ b/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
+@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ MBR_SIZE_BYTES = MBR_SIZE_SECTORS * SECTOR_SIZE
+ KERNEL_DIR = '/boot/guest'
+ MAX_VDI_CHAIN_SIZE = 16
+ PROGRESS_INTERVAL_SECONDS = 300
++DD_BLOCKSIZE = 65536
+ 
+ # Fudge factor to allow for the VHD chain to be slightly larger than
+ # the partitioned space. Otherwise, legitimate images near their
+@@ -1162,6 +1163,7 @@ def generate_configdrive(session, instance, vm_ref, userdevice,
+                     utils.execute('dd',
+                                   'if=%s' % tmp_file,
+                                   'of=%s' % dev_path,
++                                  'bs=%d' % DD_BLOCKSIZE,
+                                   'oflag=direct,sync',
+                                   run_as_root=True)
+ 
+@@ -2429,6 +2431,7 @@ def _copy_partition(session, src_ref, dst_ref, partition, virtual_size):
+                 utils.execute('dd',
+                               'if=%s' % src_path,
+                               'of=%s' % dst_path,
++                              'bs=%d' % DD_BLOCKSIZE,
+                               'count=%d' % num_blocks,
+                               'iflag=direct,sync',
+                               'oflag=direct,sync',