diff --git a/examples/quagga-ixp/topo.py b/examples/quagga-ixp/topo.py
index 77b20e3..1b0f58c 100644
--- a/examples/quagga-ixp/topo.py
+++ b/examples/quagga-ixp/topo.py
@@ -17,12 +17,10 @@ class QuaggaTopo(Topo):
 
     "Creates a topology of Quagga routers"
 
-    def __init__(self):
+    def build(self):
         """Initialize a Quagga topology with 5 routers, configure their IP
            addresses, loop back interfaces, and paths to their private
            configuration directories."""
-        Topo.__init__(self)
-
         # Directory where this file / script is located"
         selfPath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(
             inspect.getfile(inspect.currentframe())))  # script directory
@@ -74,4 +72,8 @@ def __init__(self):
                                 nodeConfig=quaggaSvcConfig)
 
             # Attach the quaggaContainer to the IXP Fabric Switch
-            self.addLink(quaggaContainer, ixpfabric)
+            # NOTE: needs the fast=False parameter to work on mininet > 2.2
+            # The fast path in mininet passes namens to ip instead of
+            # bringing up the interfaces and moving them to namespaces.
+            # That approach fails when processes are in separate PID ns
+            self.addLink(quaggaContainer, ixpfabric, fast=False)
diff --git a/mininext/node.py b/mininext/node.py
index 10b5ef9..cf641be 100644
--- a/mininext/node.py
+++ b/mininext/node.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 import select
 import shutil
 import tempfile
+import pty
+import os
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE, STDOUT
 
 from mininet.node import Node as BaseNode
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ def __init__(self, name, inMountNamespace=False, inPIDNamespace=False,
         self.loIntfs = {}
 
         # Request initialization of the BaseNode
-        BaseNode.__init__(self, name, **params)
+        BaseNode.__init__(self, name, inUTSNamespace, **params)
 
     # Overrides to support additional extensions #
 
@@ -75,11 +77,13 @@ def startShell(self):
             opts += 'u'
         # bash -m: enable job control
         # -s: pass $* to shell, and make process easy to find in ps
-        cmd = ['mxexec', opts, 'bash', '-ms', 'mininet:' + self.name]
-        self.shell = Popen(cmd, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, stderr=STDOUT,
-                           close_fds=True)
-        self.stdin = self.shell.stdin
-        self.stdout = self.shell.stdout
+        cmd = [ 'mxexec', opts, 'env', 'PS1=' + chr( 127 ),
+                'bash', '--norc', '-is', 'mininet:' + self.name ]
+        master, slave = pty.openpty()
+        self.shell = Popen(cmd, stdin=slave, stdout=slave, stderr=slave,
+                           close_fds=False)
+        self.stdin = os.fdopen( master, 'rw')
+        self.stdout = self.stdin
         self.pid = self.shell.pid
         self.pollOut = select.poll()
         self.pollOut.register(self.stdout)
@@ -92,17 +96,24 @@ def startShell(self):
         self.lastCmd = None
         self.lastPid = None
         self.readbuf = ''
-        self.waiting = False
-
         # If this node has a private PID space, grab the PID to attach to
         # Otherwise, we use the same PID as the shell's PID
         if self.inPIDNamespace:
             # monitor() will grab shell's true PID and put in self.lastPid
-            self.monitor()
+            self.monitor(1000)
             if self.lastPid is None:
                 raise Exception('Unable to determine shell\'s PID')
             self.pid = self.lastPid
             self.lastPid = None
+        # Wait for prompt
+        while True:
+            data = self.read( 1024 )
+            if data[ -1 ] == chr( 127 ):
+                break
+            self.pollOut.poll()
+        self.waiting = False
+        # +m: disable job control notification
+        self.cmd( 'unset HISTFILE; stty -echo; set +m' )
 
     # Override on popen() to support mount and PID namespaces
     def popen(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -439,6 +450,5 @@ def hasPrivateMount(self, target):
 
 
 class Host(Node):
-
     "MiniNExT enabled host"
     pass
diff --git a/mininext/topo.py b/mininext/topo.py
index 177e215..fea4175 100644
--- a/mininext/topo.py
+++ b/mininext/topo.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def __init__(self, nopts=None, **opts):
         BaseTopo.__init__(self, **opts)
 
     # Override addHost so that constructor defaults to MiniNExT host
-    def addHost(self, name, cls=Host, **opts):
+    def addHost(self, name, **opts):
         """Adds a host using the MiniNExT host constructor.
            name: host name
            cls: host constructor
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ def addHost(self, name, cls=Host, **opts):
            returns: host name"""
         if not opts and self.hopts:
             opts = self.hopts
-        return BaseTopo.addNode(self, name, cls=cls, **opts)
+        if 'cls' not in opts:
+            opts['cls'] = Host
+        return BaseTopo.addNode(self, name, **opts)
 
     # Configure a loopback interface
     def addNodeLoopbackIntf(self, node, ip, loNum=None, **opts):