diff --git a/doc/config.rst b/doc/config.rst
index df1e1d57..bb35c38d 100644
--- a/doc/config.rst
+++ b/doc/config.rst
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ Pool Manager Section
        nova_keyname = default
        nova_secgroup = default
        nova_image = 12345
-       nova_image_size = 102
+       nova_image_size = standard.medium
        api_server = 10.0.0.1:8889 10.0.0.2:8889
        nodes = 10
        check_interval = 5
@@ -230,12 +230,12 @@ Pool Manager Command Line Options
 
    .. option:: --nova_image <NOVA_IMAGE>
 
-      The image ID to use on new nodes spun up in the Nova API
+      The image ID or name to use on new nodes spun up in the Nova API
 
    .. option:: --nova_image_size <NOVA_IMAGE_SIZE>
 
-      The flavor ID (image size ID) to use for new nodes spun up in the Nova
-      API
+      The flavor ID (image size ID) or name to use for new nodes spun up in
+      the Nova API
 
    .. option:: -p <PID>, --pid <PID>
 
diff --git a/doc/pool_mgm/code.rst b/doc/pool_mgm/code.rst
index 0aac8380..f27dc63e 100644
--- a/doc/pool_mgm/code.rst
+++ b/doc/pool_mgm/code.rst
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ Node Class
    :param region: The Nova region
    :param keyaname: The Nova key name for new nodes
    :param secgroup: The Nova security group for new nodes
-   :param image: The Nova image ID for new nodes
-   :param node_type: The flavor ID for new nodes
+   :param image: The Nova image ID or name for new nodes
+   :param node_type: The flavor ID or name for new nodes
 
    .. py:method:: build()
 
diff --git a/etc/sample_libra.cfg b/etc/sample_libra.cfg
index 2df4c89e..26513b42 100644
--- a/etc/sample_libra.cfg
+++ b/etc/sample_libra.cfg
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ nova_region = region
 nova_keyname = default
 nova_secgroup = default
 nova_image = 12345
-nova_image_size = 102
+nova_image_size = standard.medium
 api_server = 10.0.0.1:8889 10.0.0.2:8889
 nodes = 10
 check_interval = 5
diff --git a/libra/mgm/mgm.py b/libra/mgm/mgm.py
index 0670d4b5..3bf9ef13 100644
--- a/libra/mgm/mgm.py
+++ b/libra/mgm/mgm.py
@@ -97,17 +97,23 @@ class Server(object):
         self.ct.start()
 
     def build_nodes(self, count, api):
-        nova = Node(
-            self.args.nova_user,
-            self.args.nova_pass,
-            self.args.nova_tenant,
-            self.args.nova_auth_url,
-            self.args.nova_region,
-            self.args.nova_keyname,
-            self.args.nova_secgroup,
-            self.args.nova_image,
-            self.args.nova_image_size
-        )
+        try:
+            nova = Node(
+                self.args.nova_user,
+                self.args.nova_pass,
+                self.args.nova_tenant,
+                self.args.nova_auth_url,
+                self.args.nova_region,
+                self.args.nova_keyname,
+                self.args.nova_secgroup,
+                self.args.nova_image,
+                self.args.nova_image_size
+            )
+        except Exception as exc:
+            self.logger.error('Error initialising Nova connection {exc}'
+                .format(exc=exc)
+            )
+            return
         while count > 0:
             status, data = nova.build()
             if not status:
@@ -200,12 +206,13 @@ def main():
     )
     options.parser.add_argument(
         '--nova_image',
-        help='the image ID to use for new nodes spun up in the Nova API'
+        help='the image ID or name to use for new nodes spun up in the'
+             ' Nova API'
     )
     options.parser.add_argument(
         '--nova_image_size',
-        help='the image size ID (flavor ID) to use for new nodes spun up in'
-             ' the Nova API'
+        help='the image size ID (flavor ID) or name to use for new nodes spun'
+             ' up in the Nova API'
     )
 
     args = options.run()
diff --git a/libra/mgm/nova.py b/libra/mgm/nova.py
index 770e5c8c..b70532d8 100644
--- a/libra/mgm/nova.py
+++ b/libra/mgm/nova.py
@@ -15,10 +15,15 @@
 import uuid
 import time
 import sys
+import urllib
 
 from novaclient import client
 
 
+class NotFound(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
 class Node(object):
     def __init__(self, username, password, tenant, auth_url, region, keyname,
                  secgroup, image, node_type):
@@ -32,8 +37,15 @@ class Node(object):
         )
         self.keyname = keyname
         self.secgroup = secgroup
-        self.image = image
-        self.node_type = node_type
+        if image.isdigit():
+            self.image = image
+        else:
+            self.image = self._get_image(image)
+
+        if node_type.isdigit():
+            self.node_type = node_type
+        else:
+            self.node_type = self._get_flavor(node_type)
 
     def build(self):
         """ create a node, test it is running """
@@ -75,7 +87,7 @@ class Node(object):
 
         if resp['status'] != '204':
             return False, 'Error deleting node {nid} status {stat}'.format(
-                node=node_id, stat=status['status']
+                node=node_id, stat=resp['status']
             )
 
         return True, ''
@@ -108,3 +120,34 @@ class Node(object):
         resp, body = self.nova.delete(url)
 
         return resp
+
+    def _get_image(self, image_name):
+        """ tries to find an image from the name """
+        args = {'name': image_name}
+        url = "/images?{0}".format(urllib.urlencode(args))
+        resp, body = self.nova.get(url)
+        if resp['status'] not in ['200', '203']:
+            msg = "Error {0} searching for image with name {1}".format(
+                resp['status'], image_name
+            )
+            raise NotFound(msg)
+        if len(body['images']) != 1:
+            print body['images']
+            msg = "Could not find image with name {0}".format(image_name)
+            raise NotFound(msg)
+        return body['images'][0]['id']
+
+    def _get_flavor(self, flavor_name):
+        """ tries to find a flavor from the name """
+        url = "/flavors"
+        resp, body = self.nova.get(url)
+        if resp['status'] not in ['200', '203']:
+            msg = "Error {0} searching for flavor with name {1}".format(
+                resp['status'], flavor_name
+            )
+            raise NotFound(msg)
+        for flavor in body['flavors']:
+            if flavor['name'] == flavor_name:
+                return flavor['id']
+        msg = "Could not find flavor with name {0}".format(flavor_name)
+        raise NotFound(msg)