diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios_cli.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios_cli.py
index 27e92b5219..16b8ec4ca3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios_cli.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ios_cli.py
@@ -46,15 +46,12 @@ ios_cli_argument_spec = {
     'username': dict(fallback=(env_fallback, ['ANSIBLE_NET_USERNAME'])),
     'password': dict(fallback=(env_fallback, ['ANSIBLE_NET_PASSWORD']), no_log=True),
 
-    'authorize': dict(default=False, fallback=(env_fallback, ['ANSIBLE_NET_AUTHORIZE']), type='bool'),
-    'auth_pass': dict(no_log=True, fallback=(env_fallback, ['ANSIBLE_NET_AUTH_PASS'])),
+    'authorize': dict(fallback=(env_fallback, ['ANSIBLE_NET_AUTHORIZE']), type='bool'),
+    'auth_pass': dict(fallback=(env_fallback, ['ANSIBLE_NET_AUTH_PASS']), no_log=True),
 
     'timeout': dict(type='int', default=10),
 
     'provider': dict(type='dict'),
-
-    # deprecated in Ansible 2.3
-    'transport': dict(),
 }
 
 def check_args(module):
@@ -79,8 +76,6 @@ class Cli(CliBase):
         re.compile(r"[^\r\n]+ not found", re.I),
     ]
 
-    NET_PASSWD_RE = re.compile(r"[\r\n]?password: $", re.I)
-
     def __init__(self, module):
         self._module = module
         super(Cli, self).__init__()
@@ -106,7 +101,12 @@ class Cli(CliBase):
 
     def authorize(self):
         passwd = self._module.params['auth_pass']
-        self.execute(Command('enable', prompt=self.NET_PASSWD_RE, response=passwd))
+        if passwd:
+            prompt = "[\r\n]?Password: $"
+            self.exec_command(dict(command='enable', prompt=prompt, response=passwd))
+        else:
+            self.exec_command('enable')
+
 
 
 def connection(module):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/_ios_template.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/_ios_template.py
index cb1b246e56..6d7101c799 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/_ios_template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/_ios_template.py
@@ -35,9 +35,7 @@ description:
     commands that are not already configured.  The config source can
     be a set of commands or a template.
 deprecated: Deprecated in 2.2. Use M(ios_config) instead.
-notes:
-  - Provider arguments are no longer supported.  Network tasks should now
-    specify connection plugin network_cli instead.
+extends_documentation_fragment: ios
 options:
   src:
     description:
@@ -126,22 +124,35 @@ delta:
   type: str
   sample: "0:00:10.469466"
 """
+from functools import partial
+
+from ansible.module_utils import ios
+from ansible.module_utils import ios_cli
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.local import LocalAnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.network_common import ComplexList
+from ansible.module_utils.netcli import Conditional
+from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.module_utils.netcfg import NetworkConfig, dumps
-from ansible.module_utils.ios import get_config, load_config
-from ansible.module_utils.network import NET_TRANSPORT_ARGS, _transitional_argument_spec
 
+SHARED_LIB = 'ios'
 
-def check_args(module):
-    warnings = list()
-    for key in NET_TRANSPORT_ARGS:
-        if module.params[key]:
-            warnings.append(
-                'network provider arguments are no longer supported.  Please '
-                'use connection: network_cli for the task'
-            )
-            break
-    return warnings
+def get_ansible_module():
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios':
+        return LocalAnsibleModule
+    return AnsibleModule
+
+def invoke(name, *args, **kwargs):
+    obj = globals().get(SHARED_LIB)
+    func = getattr(obj, name)
+    return func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+load_config = partial(invoke, 'load_config')
+get_config = partial(invoke, 'get_config')
+
+def check_args(module, warnings):
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios_cli':
+        ios_cli.check_args(module)
 
 def get_current_config(module):
     if module.params['config']:
@@ -163,23 +174,23 @@ def main():
         config=dict(),
     )
 
-    # Removed the use of provider arguments in 2.3 due to network_cli
-    # connection plugin.  To be removed in 2.5
-    argument_spec.update(_transitional_argument_spec())
+    argument_spec.update(ios_cli.ios_cli_argument_spec)
 
     mutually_exclusive = [('config', 'backup'), ('config', 'force')]
 
-    module = LocalAnsibleModule(argument_spec=argument_spec,
-                                mutually_exclusive=mutually_exclusive,
-                                supports_check_mode=True)
+    cls = get_ansible_module()
+    module = cls(argument_spec=argument_spec,
+                 mutually_exclusive=mutually_exclusive,
+                 supports_check_mode=True)
 
-    warnings = check_args(module)
-
-    result = dict(changed=False, warnings=warnings)
+    warnings = list()
+    check_args(module, warnings)
 
     candidate = NetworkConfig(contents=module.params['src'], indent=1)
 
     result = {'changed': False}
+    if warnings:
+        result['warnings'] = warnings
 
     if module.params['backup']:
         result['__backup__'] = get_config(module=module)
@@ -203,4 +214,5 @@ def main():
     module.exit_json(**result)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    SHARED_LIB = 'ios_cli'
     main()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_command.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_command.py
index e108e77fc3..3f85db46e3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_command.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_command.py
@@ -35,9 +35,7 @@ description:
     before returning or timing out if the condition is not met.
   - This module does not support running commands in configuration mode.
     Please use M(ios_config) to configure IOS devices.
-notes:
-  - Provider arguments are no longer supported.  Network tasks should now
-    specify connection plugin network_cli instead.
+extends_documentation_fragment: ios
 options:
   commands:
     description:
@@ -149,13 +147,33 @@ delta:
 """
 import time
 
+from functools import partial
+
+from ansible.module_utils import ios
+from ansible.module_utils import ios_cli
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.local import LocalAnsibleModule
-from ansible.module_utils.ios import run_commands
 from ansible.module_utils.network_common import ComplexList
 from ansible.module_utils.netcli import Conditional
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 
-VALID_KEYS = ['command', 'output']
+SHARED_LIB = 'ios'
+
+def get_ansible_module():
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios':
+        return LocalAnsibleModule
+    return AnsibleModule
+
+def invoke(name, *args, **kwargs):
+    obj = globals().get(SHARED_LIB)
+    func = getattr(obj, name)
+    return func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+run_commands = partial(invoke, 'run_commands')
+
+def check_args(module, warnings):
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios_cli':
+        ios_cli.check_args(module)
 
 def to_lines(stdout):
     for item in stdout:
@@ -186,7 +204,9 @@ def parse_commands(module, warnings):
     return commands
 
 def main():
-    spec = dict(
+    """main entry point for module execution
+    """
+    argument_spec = dict(
         # { command: <str>, prompt: <str>, response: <str> }
         commands=dict(type='list', required=True),
 
@@ -197,10 +217,16 @@ def main():
         interval=dict(default=1, type='int')
     )
 
-    module = LocalAnsibleModule(argument_spec=spec,
-                                supports_check_mode=True)
+    argument_spec.update(ios_cli.ios_cli_argument_spec)
+
+    cls = get_ansible_module()
+    module = cls(argument_spec=argument_spec, supports_check_mode=True)
 
     warnings = list()
+    check_args(module, warnings)
+
+    result = {'changed': False}
+
     commands = parse_commands(module, warnings)
 
     wait_for = module.params['wait_for'] or list()
@@ -243,4 +269,5 @@ def main():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    SHARED_LIB = 'ios_cli'
     main()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
index ad0c5ac19d..ac784d8bd0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ description:
     for segmenting configuration into sections.  This module provides
     an implementation for working with IOS configuration sections in
     a deterministic way.
-notes:
-  - Provider arguments are no longer supported.  Network tasks should now
-    specify connection plugin network_cli instead.
+extends_documentation_fragment: ios
 options:
   lines:
     description:
@@ -223,14 +221,39 @@ delta:
 import re
 import time
 
+from functools import partial
+
+from ansible.module_utils import ios
+from ansible.module_utils import ios_cli
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.local import LocalAnsibleModule
-from ansible.module_utils.ios import load_config, get_config, run_commands
+from ansible.module_utils.network_common import ComplexList
+from ansible.module_utils.netcli import Conditional
+from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.module_utils.netcfg import NetworkConfig, dumps
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems
-from ansible.module_utils.network import NET_TRANSPORT_ARGS, _transitional_argument_spec
 
 
+SHARED_LIB = 'ios'
+
+def get_ansible_module():
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios':
+        return LocalAnsibleModule
+    return AnsibleModule
+
+def invoke(name, *args, **kwargs):
+    obj = globals().get(SHARED_LIB)
+    func = getattr(obj, name)
+    return func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+run_commands = partial(invoke, 'run_commands')
+load_config = partial(invoke, 'load_config')
+get_config = partial(invoke, 'get_config')
+
 def check_args(module, warnings):
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios_cli':
+        ios_cli.check_args(module)
+
     if module.params['multiline_delimiter']:
         if len(module.params['multiline_delimiter']) != 1:
             module.fail_json(msg='multiline_delimiter value can only be a '
@@ -240,14 +263,6 @@ def check_args(module, warnings):
                         'please use match=none instead.  This argument will '
                         'be removed in the future')
 
-    for key in NET_TRANSPORT_ARGS:
-        if module.params[key]:
-            warnings.append(
-                'network provider arguments are no longer supported.  Please '
-                'use connection: network_cli for the task'
-            )
-            break
-
 def extract_banners(config):
     banners = {}
     banner_cmds = re.findall(r'^banner (\w+)', config, re.M)
@@ -335,7 +350,7 @@ def main():
         save=dict(type='bool', default=False),
     )
 
-    argument_spec.update(_transitional_argument_spec())
+    argument_spec.update(ios_cli.ios_cli_argument_spec)
 
     mutually_exclusive = [('lines', 'src')]
 
@@ -343,10 +358,14 @@ def main():
                    ('match', 'exact', ['lines']),
                    ('replace', 'block', ['lines'])]
 
-    module = LocalAnsibleModule(argument_spec=argument_spec,
-                                mutually_exclusive=mutually_exclusive,
-                                required_if=required_if,
-                                supports_check_mode=True)
+    cls = get_ansible_module()
+    module = cls(argument_spec=argument_spec,
+                mutually_exclusive=mutually_exclusive,
+                required_if=required_if,
+                supports_check_mode=True)
+
+    warnings = list()
+    check_args(module, warnings)
 
     if module.params['force'] is True:
         module.params['match'] = 'none'
@@ -409,4 +428,5 @@ def main():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    SHARED_LIB = 'ios_cli'
     main()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py
index abe68ec69c..f692d6fa11 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_facts.py
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
-ANSIBLE_METADATA = {'status': ['preview'],
-                    'supported_by': 'core',
-                    'version': '1.0'}
+ANSIBLE_METADATA = {
+    'status': ['preview'],
+    'supported_by': 'core',
+    'version': '1.0'
+}
 
 DOCUMENTATION = """
 ---
@@ -140,32 +142,58 @@ ansible_net_neighbors:
   type: dict
 """
 import re
-import itertools
 
-import ansible.module_utils.ios
-from ansible.module_utils.network import NetworkModule
+from functools import partial
+
+from ansible.module_utils import ios
+from ansible.module_utils import ios_cli
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.local import LocalAnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves import zip
 
+SHARED_LIB = 'ios'
+
+def get_ansible_module():
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios':
+        return LocalAnsibleModule
+    return AnsibleModule
+
+def invoke(name, *args, **kwargs):
+    obj = globals().get(SHARED_LIB)
+    func = getattr(obj, name)
+    return func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+run_commands = partial(invoke, 'run_commands')
+
+def check_args(module, warnings):
+    if SHARED_LIB == 'ios_cli':
+        ios_cli.check_args(module)
+
 
 class FactsBase(object):
 
+    COMMANDS = list()
+
     def __init__(self, module):
         self.module = module
         self.facts = dict()
-        self.failed_commands = list()
+        self.responses = None
+
+
+    def populate(self):
+        self.responses = run_commands(self.module, self.COMMANDS, check_rc=False)
 
     def run(self, cmd):
-        try:
-            return self.module.cli(cmd)[0]
-        except:
-            self.failed_commands.append(cmd)
-
+        return run_commands(self.module, cmd, check_rc=False)
 
 class Default(FactsBase):
 
+    COMMANDS = ['show version']
+
     def populate(self):
-        data = self.run('show version')
+        super(Default, self).populate()
+        data = self.responses[0]
         if data:
             self.facts['version'] = self.parse_version(data)
             self.facts['serialnum'] = self.parse_serialnum(data)
@@ -201,12 +229,18 @@ class Default(FactsBase):
 
 class Hardware(FactsBase):
 
+    COMMANDS = [
+        'dir | include Directory',
+        'show memory statistics | include Processor'
+    ]
+
     def populate(self):
-        data = self.run('dir | include Directory')
+        super(Hardware, self).populate()
+        data = self.responses[0]
         if data:
             self.facts['filesystems'] = self.parse_filesystems(data)
 
-        data = self.run('show memory statistics | include Processor')
+        data = self.responses[1]
         if data:
             match = re.findall(r'\s(\d+)\s', data)
             if match:
@@ -219,33 +253,44 @@ class Hardware(FactsBase):
 
 class Config(FactsBase):
 
+    COMMANDS = ['show running-config']
+
     def populate(self):
-        data = self.run('show running-config')
+        super(Config, self).populate()
+        data = self.responses[0]
         if data:
             self.facts['config'] = data
 
 
 class Interfaces(FactsBase):
 
+    COMMANDS = [
+        'show interfaces',
+        'show ipv6 interface',
+        'show lldp'
+    ]
+
     def populate(self):
+        super(Interfaces, self).populate()
+
         self.facts['all_ipv4_addresses'] = list()
         self.facts['all_ipv6_addresses'] = list()
 
-        data = self.run('show interfaces')
+        data = self.responses[0]
         if data:
             interfaces = self.parse_interfaces(data)
             self.facts['interfaces'] = self.populate_interfaces(interfaces)
 
-        data = self.run('show ipv6 interface')
+        data = self.responses[1]
         if data:
             data = self.parse_interfaces(data)
             self.populate_ipv6_interfaces(data)
 
-        data = self.run('show lldp')
-        if 'LLDP is not enabled' not in data:
+        data = self.responses[2]
+        if data:
             neighbors = self.run('show lldp neighbors detail')
             if neighbors:
-                self.facts['neighbors'] = self.parse_neighbors(neighbors)
+                self.facts['neighbors'] = self.parse_neighbors(neighbors[0])
 
     def populate_interfaces(self, interfaces):
         facts = dict()
@@ -392,11 +437,19 @@ FACT_SUBSETS = dict(
 VALID_SUBSETS = frozenset(FACT_SUBSETS.keys())
 
 def main():
-    spec = dict(
+    """main entry point for module execution
+    """
+    argument_spec = dict(
         gather_subset=dict(default=['!config'], type='list')
     )
 
-    module = NetworkModule(argument_spec=spec, supports_check_mode=True)
+    argument_spec.update(ios_cli.ios_cli_argument_spec)
+
+    cls = get_ansible_module()
+    module = cls(argument_spec=argument_spec, supports_check_mode=True)
+
+    warnings = list()
+    check_args(module, warnings)
 
     gather_subset = module.params['gather_subset']
 
@@ -438,24 +491,18 @@ def main():
     for key in runable_subsets:
         instances.append(FACT_SUBSETS[key](module))
 
-    failed_commands = list()
-
-    try:
-        for inst in instances:
-            inst.populate()
-            failed_commands.extend(inst.failed_commands)
-            facts.update(inst.facts)
-    except Exception:
-        exc = get_exception()
-        module.fail_json(msg=str(exc))
+    for inst in instances:
+        inst.populate()
+        facts.update(inst.facts)
 
     ansible_facts = dict()
     for key, value in iteritems(facts):
         key = 'ansible_net_%s' % key
         ansible_facts[key] = value
 
-    module.exit_json(ansible_facts=ansible_facts, failed_commands=failed_commands)
+    module.exit_json(ansible_facts=ansible_facts)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    SHARED_LIB = 'ios_cli'
     main()