diff --git a/include/VirtualNetworkPool.h b/include/VirtualNetworkPool.h
index 6dc2ef2c1e..8dc90e290d 100644
--- a/include/VirtualNetworkPool.h
+++ b/include/VirtualNetworkPool.h
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ public:
      *    @param vid of the VM requesting the lease
      *    @return 0 on success, 
      *            -1 error, 
-     *            -2 not using the pool,
-     *            -3 unsupported NETWORK attribute
+     *            -2 not using the pool
      */
     int nic_attribute(VectorAttribute * nic, int uid, int vid);
 
@@ -165,6 +164,19 @@ private:
     {
         return new VirtualNetwork(-1,-1,"","",0);
     };
+
+    /**
+     *  Function to get a VirtualNetwork by its name, as provided by a VM 
+     *  template
+     */
+    VirtualNetwork * get_nic_by_name(VectorAttribute * nic, 
+                                     const string&     name,
+                                     int               _uid);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function to get a VirtualNetwork by its id, as provided by a VM template
+     */
+    VirtualNetwork * get_nic_by_id(const string& id_s);
 };
 
 #endif /*VIRTUAL_NETWORK_POOL_H_*/
diff --git a/src/vm/VirtualMachine.cc b/src/vm/VirtualMachine.cc
index a0adc62b1d..d8d4f9a526 100644
--- a/src/vm/VirtualMachine.cc
+++ b/src/vm/VirtualMachine.cc
@@ -875,22 +875,12 @@ int VirtualMachine::get_network_leases(string& estr)
         {
             goto error_vnet; 
         }
-        else if ( rc == -3 )
-        {
-            goto error_name;
-        }
     }
 
     return 0;
 
 error_vnet:
     estr = "Could not get virtual network for VM.";
-    goto error_common;
-
-error_name:
-    estr = "NETWORK is not supported for NIC. Use NETWORK_ID instead.";
-
-error_common:
     return -1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/vnm/VirtualNetworkPool.cc b/src/vnm/VirtualNetworkPool.cc
index 44a50d9fd2..02542b5564 100644
--- a/src/vnm/VirtualNetworkPool.cc
+++ b/src/vnm/VirtualNetworkPool.cc
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 #include "VirtualNetworkPool.h"
+#include "UserPool.h"
 #include "NebulaLog.h"
+#include "Nebula.h"
 
 #include "AuthManager.h"
 #include <sstream>
@@ -137,35 +139,86 @@ error_common:
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
+VirtualNetwork * VirtualNetworkPool::get_nic_by_name(VectorAttribute * nic, 
+                                                     const string&     name,
+                                                     int               _uid)
+{
+    istringstream  is;
+
+    string uid_s ;
+    string uname;
+    int    uid;
+
+    if (!(uid_s = nic->vector_value("NETWORK_UID")).empty())
+    {
+        is.str(uid_s);
+        is >> uid;
+
+        if( is.fail() )
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+    else if (!(uname = nic->vector_value("NETWORK_UNAME")).empty())
+    {
+        User *     user;
+        Nebula&    nd    = Nebula::instance();
+        UserPool * upool = nd.get_upool();
+        
+        user = upool->get(uname,true);
+        
+        if ( user == 0 )
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        uid = user->get_oid();
+
+        user->unlock();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        uid = _uid;        
+    }
+
+    return get(name,uid,true);
+}
+        
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+VirtualNetwork * VirtualNetworkPool::get_nic_by_id(const string& id_s)
+{
+    istringstream  is;
+    int            id;
+
+    is.str(id_s);
+    is >> id;
+
+    if( is.fail() )
+    {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    return get(id,true);
+}
+
 int VirtualNetworkPool::nic_attribute(VectorAttribute * nic, int uid, int vid)
 {
     string           network;
     VirtualNetwork * vnet = 0;
 
-    istringstream is;
-    int           network_id;
-
-    network = nic->vector_value("NETWORK");
-
-    if (!network.empty())
+    if (!(network = nic->vector_value("NETWORK")).empty())
     {
-        return -3;
+        vnet = get_nic_by_name (nic, network, uid);
     }
-
-    network = nic->vector_value("NETWORK_ID");
-
-    if(network.empty())
+    else if (!(network = nic->vector_value("NETWORK_ID")).empty())
+    {
+        vnet = get_nic_by_id(network);
+    }
+    else //Not using a pre-defined network
     {
         return -2;
-    }
-
-    is.str(network);
-    is >> network_id;
-
-    if( !is.fail() )
-    {
-        vnet = get(network_id,true);
-    }
+    } 
 
     if (vnet == 0)
     {
@@ -194,23 +247,18 @@ void VirtualNetworkPool::authorize_nic(VectorAttribute * nic,
     string           network;
     VirtualNetwork * vnet = 0;
 
-    istringstream   is;
-    int             network_id;
-
-    network = nic->vector_value("NETWORK_ID");
-
-    if(network.empty())
+    if (!(network = nic->vector_value("NETWORK")).empty())
+    {
+        vnet = get_nic_by_name (nic, network, uid);
+    }
+    else if (!(network = nic->vector_value("NETWORK_ID")).empty())
+    {
+        vnet = get_nic_by_id(network);
+    }
+    else //Not using a pre-defined network
     {
         return;
-    }
-
-    is.str(network);
-    is >> network_id;
-
-    if( !is.fail() )
-    {
-        vnet = get(network_id,true);
-    }
+    } 
 
     if (vnet == 0)
     {
@@ -225,4 +273,4 @@ void VirtualNetworkPool::authorize_nic(VectorAttribute * nic,
                  vnet->isPublic());
 
     vnet->unlock();
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/vnm/test/VirtualNetworkPoolTest.cc b/src/vnm/test/VirtualNetworkPoolTest.cc
index e7854565e1..2d5801309c 100644
--- a/src/vnm/test/VirtualNetworkPoolTest.cc
+++ b/src/vnm/test/VirtualNetworkPoolTest.cc
@@ -1151,17 +1151,7 @@ public:
 
         // Disk using network 0
         disk = new VectorAttribute("DISK");
-        disk->replace("NETWORK", "A net");
-
-        int rc = ((VirtualNetworkPool*)vnp)->nic_attribute(disk, 0, 0);
-
-        CPPUNIT_ASSERT( rc == -3 );
-
-        delete disk;
-
-        // Disk using network 0
-        disk = new VectorAttribute("DISK");
-        disk->replace("NETWORK_ID", "0");
+        disk->replace("NETWORK", "Net 0");
 
         ((VirtualNetworkPool*)vnp)->nic_attribute(disk, 0, 0);