diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/README.md b/roles/extra_packages/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ffa7d0b01fbadf231490c94caecde085275ef2fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This role adds all the packages we think are useful but aren't clearly a dependency of some function.
diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/tasks/main.yml b/roles/extra_packages/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..57a66b6b75d7b1beb6f935bfacaea88cd00aba65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+---
+- include_vars: "{{ ansible_distribution }}_{{ ansible_distribution_major_version }}.yml"
+
+#- name: "Install extra packages"
+# yum: "name={{ item }} state=present"
+# with_items: "{{ packages }}"
+# become: true
+# become_user: root
+# when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
+
+- name: "Install package groups"
+ yum: "name={{ item }} state=present"
+ with_items: "{{ package_groups }}"
+ become: true
+ become_user: root
+ when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
+
+- name: "Install environment groups"
+ yum: "name={{ item }} state=present"
+ with_items: "{{ environment_groups }}"
+ become: true
+ become_user: root
+ when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
+
+#- name: "Install extra packages"
+# apt: "name={{ item }} state=present"
+# with_items: "{{ packages }}"
+# become: true
+# become_user: root
+# when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+
diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/vars/CentOS_7.yml b/roles/extra_packages/vars/CentOS_7.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b2374ccd71d22286a47c79533ca661efd44d59a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/vars/CentOS_7.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+# all packages to be installed on centos 7
+
+package_groups:
+ # - '@development-tools'
+ - '@Development Tools'
+
+environment_groups:
+ # - "@^gnome-desktop-environment" #gnome environment
+ - '@^Server with GUI'
+ - '@^GNOME Desktop'
+ - '@^KDE Plasma Workspaces'
+
+packages:
+ - lzip
+ - screen
+ - mailx
+ - subversion
+ - mlocate
+ - finger
+ - python-devel
+ - python-pip
+ - python-wheel
+ - openldap-devel
+ - lapack
+ - blas
+ - gcc-c++
+ - psmisc
+ - iotop
+ #- @X Window System
+ - libX11-devel
+ - moreutils
+ - traceroute
+ - tmux
+ - git
+ - subversion
+ - numactl
+ - numactl-libs
+ - numactl-devel
+ #stuff for relion
+ - vim
+ - gedit
+ - m4
+ - flex
+ - flex-devel
+ - bison
+ - bison-devel
+ - zlib
+ - autogen
+ - rsync
+ - tcl-devel.x86_64
+ - tclx-devel.x86_64
+ - glibc-devel.i686
+ - zlib-devel
+ - pam-devel
+ - tk-devel
+ - texinfo
+ #- cpufrequtils-devel.x86_64
+ #- cpufrequtils.x86_64
+ - openssl
+ - openssl-devel
+ - gstreamer-devel.x86_64
+ - gstreamer-plugins-base-devel.x86_64
+ - libcurl-devel
+ - libXmu-devel.x86_64 # for matlab GUI
+ - xauth
+ - gtk+-devel
+ - gtk2-devel
+ - libidn-devel.x86_64
+ - libacl-devel.x86_64
+ - ncurses-devel.x86_64
+ - nasm.x86_64
+ - glibmm24-devel
+ - gtkmm24-devel
+ - gtkglext-devel
+ - gsl-devel
+ - mesa-libGL-devel
+ - mesa-libGLU-devel
+ - libpng
+ - texlive
+ - libjpeg-turbo-devel
+ - libjpeg-turbo
+ - libjpeg-turbo-utils
+ - libtiff
+ - libtiff-devel
+ - libtiff-tools
+ - levien-inconsolata-fonts.noarch
+ - java-1.7.0-openjdk
+ - java-1.7.0-openjdk-devel
+ - java-1.7.0-openjdk-javadoc
+ - java-1.8.0-openjdk
+ - java-1.8.0-openjdk-devel
+ - java-1.8.0-openjdk-javadoc
+ # stuff because bioinformatics need it for ubuntu
+ - ruby
+ - java-1.7.0-openjdk
+ - mysql-devel
+ - iptraf #for ip traffic monitoring
+ #- '"@GNOME Desktop"'
+ # lua stuff for lmod
+ - lua
+ - lua-filesystem
+ - lua-posix
+ - tcl
+ - rsync
+ - gcc
+ - lua-devel
+ # for physics c/o mark flegg
+ - cmake
+ - vtk-devel
+ - boost
+ - boost-devel
+ #- netcdf-devel
+ #- netcdf-cxx
+ - jsoncpp-devel.x86_64
+ - numpy
+ - vtk-python
+ - python-matplotlib
+ # jagmohan
+ - blas-static
+ - lapack-static
+ # James Venning (Water Channel)
+ - fftw-libs-single-3.3.3-8.el7
+ - fftw-libs-double-3.3.3-8.el7
+ - fftw-libs-long-3.3.3-8.el7
+ - fftw-libs-3.3.3-8.el7
+ - fftw2-2.1.5-26.el7
+ - fftw2-devel-2.1.5-26.el7
+ # ftp needed
+ - ftp
+ # gpm-libs for midnight commander
+ - gpm-libs
+ # jna for netcdf
+ - jna
+ - jna-javadoc
+ - jna-contrib
+ #underworld
+ - gl2ps
+ - gl2ps-devel
+ - SDL
+ - SDL-devel
+ - freeglut
+ - freeglut-devel
+ #
+ - qt-devel
+ # perf for Ehsan performance
+ - perf
+ - xorg-x11-server-Xvfb
+ # user request. login node only?
+ - nedit
+ #namd 2.9 needs 32 bit libraries
+ - libstdc++.i686
+ # eigen for yade
+ - eigen3-devel
+ - eigen3-doc.noarch
+ - sqlite
+ - vtk
+ - vtk-devel
+ - suitesparse
+ - suitesparse-devel
+ - mpfr
+ - mpfr-devel
+ - metis
+ - metis-devel
+ - metis64
+ - metis64-devel
+ - openblas
+ - openblas-devel
+ # for octopus
+ - libxc
+ - libxc-devel
+ # for atop
+ - atop
+ # for Andreas Ernst
+ - emacs
+ - zsh
+ # RT #9173
+ - gnuplot
+ # for linuxbrew
+ - perl-CPAN
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/vars/Ubuntu_14.yml b/roles/extra_packages/vars/Ubuntu_14.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a9bdb71983ef395f3fc5a23c9d59158a4eeb691e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/vars/Ubuntu_14.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+# all packages to be installed on centos 7
+packages:
+ - screen
+ - mailutils
+ - subversion
+ - finger
+ - python-dev
+ - python-pip
+ - python-wheel
+ - python-numpy
+ - python-matplotlib
+ - liblapack-dev
+ - liblapack-doc
+ #python-dev libldap2-dev libsasl2-dev libssl-dev
+ - libsasl2-dev
+ - libldap2-dev
+ - libsasl2-dev
+ - libssl-dev
+ - libblas-dev
+ - libblas-doc
+ - g++
+ - psmisc
+ - iotop
+ - xorg
+ - openbox
+ - libx11-dev
+ - moreutils
+ - traceroute
+ - tmux
+ - git
+ - subversion
+ - numactl
+ - libnuma1
+ - libnuma-dev
+ - libncurses5-dev
+ - ncurses-dev
+ - unzip
+ - libpng12-dev
+ - texlive
+ - openjdk-7-jdk
+ - libjpeg62
+ - libjpeg62-dev
+ #- libjpeg-turbo8-dev
+ #- libjpeg8-dev #for tiff
+ #- libtiff5
+ #- libtiff5-dev
+ #- libtiff-tools
+ - texlive-fonts-extra
+ # stuff because bioinformatics need it for ubuntu
+ - ruby
+ - openjdk-7-jre
+ - libmysqlclient-dev
+ - iptraf
+ - iptraf-ng #for ip traffic monitoring
+# - gnome-shell
+# - ubuntu-gnome-desktop #gnome desktop
+ - vim
+ #lua stuff for lmod
+ - lua5.2
+ - lua5.2
+ - lua-filesystem
+ - lua-bitop
+ - lua-posix
+ - liblua5.2-0
+ - liblua5.2-dev
+ - tcl
+ # for bioinformatics
+ - ant
+ - golang
+ - ipython
+ - htop
+ # yade for LOUIS KING * civil engineering
+ - yade
+ - zsh
+ # adele request (bioinformatics)
+ # linuxbrew
+ - build-essential
+ - curl
+ - git
+ - python-setuptools
+ - ruby
+ # adele
+ - ncbi-blast+
+ - bedtools
+ - cd-hit
+ - mcl
+ - parallel
+ - cpanminus
+ - prank
+ - mafft
+ - fasttree
+ - pandoc
+ # chris request utility packages
+ - liblzma-dev
+ - libpcre3-dev
+ - libcurl4-openssl-dev
diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/vars/main.yml b/roles/extra_packages/vars/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b70d611e95a35d73562b2d50a066f34d98c685d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/vars/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+pkgs:
+ - atlas
+ - babel
+ - bc
+ - bitmap-console-fonts
+ - bitmap-fangsongti-fonts
+ - bitmap-fixed-fonts
+ - bitmap-fonts-compat
+ - bitmap-lucida-typewriter-fonts
+ - bitmap-miscfixed-fonts
+ - blas
+ - compiz-gnome
+ - db4-cxx
+ - db4-devel
+ - dejavu-sans-fonts
+ - enchant
+ - eog
+ - evince
+ - finger
+ - fftw
+ - file-roller
+ - firefox
+ - firstboot
+ - fltk
+ - fontconfig
+ - fontpackages-filesystem
+ - freeglut
+ - ftgl
+ - fuse-sshfs
+ - gd
+ - gdbm-devel
+ - gdm
+ - gedit
+ - gettext
+ - gettext-libs
+ - ghostscript-fonts
+ - giflib
+ - giflib
+ - glibc
+ - glibc
+ - glx-utils
+ - gnome-applets
+ - gnome-backgrounds
+ - gnome-bluetooth-libs
+ - gnome-desktop
+ - gnome-disk-utility
+ - gnome-disk-utility-libs
+ - gnome-disk-utility-ui-libs
+ - gnome-doc-utils-stylesheets
+ - gnome-icon-theme
+ - gnome-keyring
+ - gnome-keyring-pam
+ - gnome-mag
+ - gnome-media
+ - gnome-media-libs
+ - gnome-menus
+ - gnome-panel
+ - gnome-panel-libs
+ - gnome-python2
+ - gnome-python2-applet
+ - gnome-python2-bonobo
+ - gnome-python2-canvas
+ - gnome-python2-desktop
+ - gnome-python2-extras
+ - gnome-python2-gconf
+ - gnome-python2-gnome
+ - gnome-python2-gnomevfs
+ - gnome-python2-libegg
+ - gnome-python2-libwnck
+ - gnome-screensaver
+ - gnome-session
+ - gnome-session-xsession
+ - gnome-settings-daemon
+ - gnome-speech
+ - gnome-system-monitor
+ - gnome-terminal
+ - gnome-themes
+ - gnome-user-docs
+ - gnome-user-share
+ - gnome-utils
+ - gnome-utils-libs
+ - gnome-vfs2
+ - gnome-vfs2-smb
+ - graphviz
+ - gsl
+ - gtkglext-libs
+ - gtksourceview2
+ - gvfs-fuse
+ - hal
+ - hdf
+ - hdf
+ - hdf5
+ - ImageMagick
+ - ImageMagick-c++
+ - inotify-tools
+ - java-1.7.0-openjdk
+ - jline
+ - lapack
+ - leafpad
+ - libblkid
+ - libdrm
+ - libfontenc
+ - libgail-gnome
+ - libgnome
+ - libgnomecanvas
+ - libgnomekbd
+ - libgnomeui
+ - libICE
+ - libjpeg
+ - libopenraw-gnome
+ - libSM
+ - libuuid
+ - libX11
+ - libXau
+ - libXaw
+ - libxcb
+ - libXext
+ - libXext-devel
+ - libXfont
+ - libXi
+ - libXinerama
+ - libxml2
+ - libxml2-python
+ - libXp
+ - libXpm
+ - libXt
+ - libXtst
+ - mailx
+ - man
+ - mod_ssl
+ - mysql-server
+ - nagios-plugins
+ - nagios-plugins-disk
+ - nagios-plugins-load
+ - nagios-plugins-nrpe
+ - nagios-plugins-perl
+ - nagios-plugins-users
+ - nautilus
+ - nautilus-open-terminal
+ - neon
+ - nrpe
+ - nss-softokn-freebl
+ - numactl
+ - numpy
+ - numpy-f2py
+ - openmotif
+ - openssh-askpass
+ - openssl098e
+ - oxygen-icon-theme
+ - perl-devel
+ - perl-ExtUtils-MakeMaker
+ - perl-ExtUtils-ParseXS
+ - perl-HTML-Parser
+ - perl-HTML-Tagset
+ - perl-Test-Harness
+ - perl-Time-HiRes
+ - pexpect
+ - php
+ - php-cli
+ - php-common
+ - php-ldap
+ - php-mysql
+ - php-pdo
+ - php-pear
+ - pinentry-gtk
+ - plymouth-system-theme
+ - polkit-gnome
+ - postgresql
+ - postgresql-contrib
+ - postgresql-devel
+ - postgresql-libs
+ - postgresql-server
+ - PyGreSQL
+ - pygtksourceview
+ - python-babel
+ - python-dateutil
+ - python-devel
+ - python-ldap
+ - python-matplotlib
+ - python-nose
+ - python-paramiko
+ - python-pmw
+ - python-setuptools
+ - python-psycopg2
+ - pytz
+ - qhull
+ - qt
+ - qt3
+ - qt-sqlite
+ - qt-x11
+ - rhino
+ - rsync
+ - samba-client
+ - scipy
+ - spice-vdagent
+ - suitesparse
+ - system-gnome-theme
+ - tcl
+ - tcsh
+ - Terminal
+ - texlive-texmf-errata-fonts
+ - texlive-texmf-fonts
+ - tk
+ - tkinter
+ - tumbler
+ - tzdata-java
+ - unixODBC
+ - unzip
+ - util-linux-ng
+ - uuid
+ - vim-X11
+ - vim-common
+ - vim-enhanced
+ - vim-minimal
+ - wacomexpresskeys
+ - wdaemon
+ - wxBase
+ - wxGTK
+ - wxGTK-gl
+ - wxGTK-media
+ - wxpropgrid
+ - wxPython
+ - xml-common
+ - xml-commons-apis
+ - xml-commons-resolver
+ - xmlrpc-c
+ - xmlrpc-c-client
+ - xorg-x11-drivers
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-100dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-75dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-cyrillic
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ethiopic
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-1-100dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-14-100dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-14-75dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-15-100dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-15-75dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-1-75dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-2-100dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-2-75dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-9-100dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-ISO8859-9-75dpi
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-misc
+ - xorg-x11-fonts-Type1
+ - xorg-x11-font-utils
+ - xorg-x11-server-utils
+ - xorg-x11-server-Xorg
+ - xorg-x11-util-macros
+ - xorg-x11-utils
+ - xorg-x11-xauth
+ - xorg-x11-xinit
+ - xvattr
+ - yum-utils
+ - zip