diff --git a/docs/netlab/initial.md b/docs/netlab/initial.md
index eb0aa1651f..9f176afa51 100644
--- a/docs/netlab/initial.md
+++ b/docs/netlab/initial.md
@@ -71,13 +71,18 @@ All other arguments are passed directly to ansible-playbook
 
 ## Wait for Devices to Become Ready
 
-Some devices are not ready immediately after they complete the boot process. For example, Cisco Nexus OS or Juniper vPTX need another minute to realize they have data-plane interfaces.
+**netlab initial** starts with a device readiness check to ensure the lab devices are ready for configuration deployment. If you want to execute just this part of the process, use the `--ready` option.
+
+There are several reasons a device might not be ready when the virtualization providers finish their job:
 
-Likewise, the virtualization provider might prematurely report that the devices are ready. For example, *containerlab*  does not wait for VMs running in containers to complete their boot process (see [](clab-vrnetlab) for more details).[^vssh]
+* A virtualization provider might prematurely report that the devices are ready. For example, *containerlab*  does not wait for VMs running in containers to complete their boot process (see [](clab-vrnetlab) for more details).[^vssh] _netlab_ checks the reachability of SSH servers for all containers that are configured via SSH.
+* Some devices are not ready even after their SSH servers start accepting incoming sessions. For example, Cisco Nexus OS or Juniper vPTX requires around a minute to detect data-plane interfaces. In such cases, _netlab_ uses a device-specific Ansible task list to verify that the devices are ready for configuration.
 
 [^vssh]: Vagrant waits for all devices to become reachable via SSH before reporting them ready.
 
-**netlab initial** starts with a device readiness check to ensure the lab devices are ready for configuration deployment. If you want to execute just this part of the process, use the `--ready` option.
+```{tip}
+_netlab_ uses internal (Python) code to check the reachability of SSH servers. If you want to check the SSH servers from an Ansible playbook, set the **‌defaults.netlab.initial.ready.ssh** [topology default](topo-defaults) to **‌ansible** (preferably using a [user defaults file](defaults-user-file)).
+```
 
 ## Initial Device Configurations
 
diff --git a/netsim/ansible/device-ready.ansible b/netsim/ansible/device-ready.ansible
index 19a46eaca1..fffc7cbed1 100644
--- a/netsim/ansible/device-ready.ansible
+++ b/netsim/ansible/device-ready.ansible
@@ -1,9 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env ansible-playbook
 ---
-- name: Deploy initial device configuration
-  hosts: all:!unprovisioned
+- name: Wait for SSH servers
+  hosts: netlab_ready_ssh:!unprovisioned
   strategy: "{{ netlab_strategy|default('linear') }}"
   gather_facts: false
+  tags: [ ready_ssh ]
+  tasks:
+  - import_tasks: tasks/readiness-check/ssh.yml
+
+- name: Wait for device-specific conditions
+  hosts: netlab_ready_ansible:!unprovisioned
+  strategy: "{{ netlab_strategy|default('linear') }}"
+  gather_facts: false
+  tags: [ ready_ansible ]
   tasks:
   - name: Set variables that cannot be set with VARS
     set_fact:
diff --git a/netsim/ansible/initial-config.ansible b/netsim/ansible/initial-config.ansible
index 95da69e92d..8ef9e52aec 100755
--- a/netsim/ansible/initial-config.ansible
+++ b/netsim/ansible/initial-config.ansible
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
       node_files: "{{ lookup('env','PWD') }}/node_files"
     tags: [ always ]
 
-  - import_tasks: tasks/wait-for-ready.yml
   - import_tasks: tasks/initial-config.yml
 
 #
diff --git a/netsim/ansible/tasks/wait-for-ready.yml b/netsim/ansible/tasks/wait-for-ready.yml
index b9aaac7041..0fe590687e 100644
--- a/netsim/ansible/tasks/wait-for-ready.yml
+++ b/netsim/ansible/tasks/wait-for-ready.yml
@@ -3,17 +3,6 @@
 #
 ---
 - block:
-  - name: "Generic readiness tests"
-    include_tasks: "{{ ready_script }}"
-    vars:
-      netlab_device_type: "{{ item }}"
-      params:
-        paths: "{{ paths_ready.dirs }}"
-        files: "{{ paths_ready.files }}"
-      ready_script: "{{ lookup('first_found',params,errors='ignore') }}"
-    when: ready_script is string and ready_script != ''
-    loop: "{{ netlab_ready|default([])}}"
-
   - name: Find device readiness script
     set_fact:
       ready_script: "{{ lookup('first_found',params,errors='ignore') }}"
diff --git a/netsim/cli/initial/__init__.py b/netsim/cli/initial/__init__.py
index 4af3d51849..8a4f0b0b5e 100644
--- a/netsim/cli/initial/__init__.py
+++ b/netsim/cli/initial/__init__.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from ...utils import log
 from ...utils import status as _status
 from .. import ansible, error_and_exit, external_commands, get_message, lab_status_change, load_snapshot
-from . import configs, deploy, utils
+from . import configs, deploy, ready, utils
 
 
 def run_initial(cli_args: typing.List[str]) -> None:
@@ -30,13 +30,8 @@ def run_initial(cli_args: typing.List[str]) -> None:
     configs.run(topology,args,cwd)
     return
   elif args.ready:
-    rest += utils.ansible_args(args)
-    ansible.check_version()
-    ansible.playbook('device-ready.ansible',rest)
-    if topology:
-      lab_status_change(topology,'devices are ready')
+    ready.run(topology,args,rest)
   else:
-    rest += utils.ansible_args(args)
     ansible.check_version()
     deploy.run(topology,args,rest)
 
diff --git a/netsim/cli/initial/deploy.py b/netsim/cli/initial/deploy.py
index c5f53f63e4..5d15460955 100644
--- a/netsim/cli/initial/deploy.py
+++ b/netsim/cli/initial/deploy.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from ...data import get_empty_box
 from ...providers import execute_node
 from ...utils import log, strings
-from .. import _nodeset, ansible, error_and_exit, external_commands, get_message, lab_status_change
+from .. import ansible, error_and_exit, external_commands, get_message, lab_status_change
 from . import configs, ready, utils
 
 
@@ -100,16 +100,14 @@ def run(topology: Box, args: argparse.Namespace, rest: list) -> None:
   deploy_parts = utils.get_deploy_parts(args)
   deploy_text = ", ".join(deploy_parts) or "complete configuration"
 
-  devices.process_config_sw_check(topology)
-  lab_status_change(topology, f"deploying configuration: {deploy_text}")
-
-  nodeset = _nodeset.parse_nodeset(args.limit, topology) if args.limit else list(topology.nodes.keys())
-  nodeset = utils.filter_unprovisioned(nodeset, topology)
+  nodeset = utils.get_deploy_nodeset(args,topology)
   if not nodeset:
     error_and_exit("The specified nodeset is empty, there are no nodes to configure")
 
+  devices.process_config_sw_check(topology)
+
   if not args.deploy:
-    log.info(text="Creating configuration snippets")
+    log.section_header('Creating',f'Device configuration snippets')
     configs.create_node_configs(
       topology=topology,
       nodeset=nodeset,
@@ -121,18 +119,21 @@ def run(topology: Box, args: argparse.Namespace, rest: list) -> None:
     )
 
   log.exit_on_error()
-  ready.device_ready(nodeset,topology)
-  (used_internal, status_internal) = deploy_provider_config(nodeset, topology, args)
 
-  if used_internal:
-    print()
+  ready.run(topology,args,rest)
+  log.exit_on_error()
+
+  log.section_header('Config',f'Deploying device configurations')
+  lab_status_change(topology, f"deploying configuration: {deploy_text}")
+
+  (used_internal, status_internal) = deploy_provider_config(nodeset, topology, args)
 
   ansible_skip_list = utils.nodeset_ansible_skip(nodeset, topology, args)
   if len(ansible_skip_list) != len(nodeset):
     utils.ansible_skip_group(ansible_skip_list)
     if used_internal:
       log.info("Starting Ansible playbook to deploy the rest of the configurations")
-    status_ansible = deploy_ansible_playbook(topology, rest)
+    status_ansible = deploy_ansible_playbook(topology,rest + utils.ansible_args(args))
     utils.ansible_skip_group([])
   else:
     status_ansible = True
diff --git a/netsim/cli/initial/ready.py b/netsim/cli/initial/ready.py
index ec719aae04..db30b94f35 100644
--- a/netsim/cli/initial/ready.py
+++ b/netsim/cli/initial/ready.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #
 # netlab initial -- implement standard device readiness checks
 #
+import argparse
 import concurrent.futures
 import subprocess
 import time
@@ -11,7 +12,8 @@
 from ...augment import devices as a_devices
 from ...data import append_to_list, get_empty_box
 from ...utils import log, strings
-from .. import error_and_exit, external_commands
+from .. import ansible, error_and_exit, external_commands, lab_status_change
+from . import utils
 
 """
 Prepare for SSH readiness check -- copy timeouts and retry counters, check for "sshpass", set up the SSH command
@@ -97,7 +99,7 @@ def wait_for_ssh(n_name: str) -> bool:                    # Try out SSH server o
       r_data.ssh_ready = True                               # No errors, we're ready to roll
       now = time.time()
       if now > start_time + 5 or log.VERBOSE:               # Report progress only if it's worth reporting
-        strings.print_colored_text('[SSH] ','green')
+        strings.print_colored_text('[SSH]     ','green')
         print(f'SSH server on node {n_name} (device {n_data.device}) ' +\
               f'is ready after {round(now - start_time,1)} seconds',flush=True)
       return True
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ def wait_for_ssh(n_name: str) -> bool:                    # Try out SSH server o
       now = time.time()
       if now > start_time + r_data.wait:                    # Have we exceeded the wait period?
         r_data.ssh_failed = True
-        strings.print_colored_text('[SSH] ','red')
+        strings.print_colored_text('[SSH]     ','red')
         print(f'SSH server on node {n_name} (device {n_data.device}) ' +\
               f'is not ready after {round(now - start_time,1)} seconds',flush=True)
       if log.debug_active('ssh'):                         # Do we need to report SSH status periodically?
@@ -134,7 +136,7 @@ def wait_for_ssh(n_name: str) -> bool:                    # Try out SSH server o
   setup_ssh_ready_parameters(waitset,topology)
   log.exit_on_error()
   start_time = time.time()
-  log.info(text=f'Checking SSH servers on {",".join(waitset)}')
+  log.info(text=f'Checking SSH server(s) on {",".join(waitset)}')
 
   with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor() as executor:
     if strings.rich_color:
@@ -157,8 +159,23 @@ def wait_for_ssh(n_name: str) -> bool:                    # Try out SSH server o
 Execute all "wait for device to be ready" steps recognized by "netlab initial". Further
 steps might have to be executed by Ansible playbooks
 """
-def device_ready(nodeset: list, topology: Box) -> None:
+def internal_device_ready(waitlists: Box, topology: Box) -> Box:
   global READY_ACTIONS
+
+  # Iterate over known steps, check whether any device needs that, and execute
+  # the corresponding ready function
+  for r_step in READY_ACTIONS.keys():
+    if r_step not in waitlists:                   # Nobody asked for this step, move on
+      continue
+    if topology.defaults.netlab.initial.ready[r_step] != 'internal':
+      continue                                    # We're not using the internal code for this step
+
+    READY_ACTIONS[r_step](waitlists[r_step],topology)
+    waitlists.pop(r_step)
+
+  return waitlists
+
+def get_waitlists(nodeset: list, topology: Box) -> Box:
   waitlists = get_empty_box()
   defaults = topology.defaults
 
@@ -172,9 +189,21 @@ def device_ready(nodeset: list, topology: Box) -> None:
     for step in ready_steps:
       append_to_list(waitlists,step,n_name)
 
-  # Iterate over known steps, check whether any device needs that, and execute
-  # the corresponding ready function
-  for r_step in READY_ACTIONS.keys():
-    if r_step not in waitlists:                   # Nobody asked for this step, move on
-      continue
-    READY_ACTIONS[r_step](waitlists[r_step],topology)
+  return waitlists
+
+def run(topology: Box, args: argparse.Namespace, rest: list) -> None:
+  nodeset = utils.get_deploy_nodeset(args,topology)
+  node_waits = get_waitlists(nodeset,topology)
+  if node_waits and not log.QUIET:
+    log.section_header('Checking',f'Are lab devices ready to be configured?')
+
+  ansible_waits = internal_device_ready(node_waits,topology)
+  if ansible_waits:
+    log.info(text='Checking lab devices with an Ansible playbook')
+    ansible.check_version()
+    ansible_limit = ['--tag',','.join(['ready_'+wl for wl in ansible_waits.keys()])]
+    ansible.playbook('device-ready.ansible',rest + utils.min_ansible_args(args) + ansible_limit)
+
+  if args.ready:
+    lab_status_change(topology,'devices are ready')
+    log.info(text='Lab devices are ready to be configured')
diff --git a/netsim/cli/initial/utils.py b/netsim/cli/initial/utils.py
index d8f7376c5f..923d200c45 100644
--- a/netsim/cli/initial/utils.py
+++ b/netsim/cli/initial/utils.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from ...data import global_vars
 from ...utils import files as _files
 from ...utils import log, strings
-from .. import common_parse_args, parser_lab_location
+from .. import _nodeset, common_parse_args, parser_lab_location
 
 
 #
@@ -91,11 +91,17 @@ def common_ansible_args() -> list:
 """
 Build Ansible arguments based on 'netlab initial' parameters
 """
-def ansible_args(args: argparse.Namespace) -> list:
+def min_ansible_args(args: argparse.Namespace) -> list:
   rest = common_ansible_args()
-
   if args.limit:
     rest = ['--limit',args.limit] + rest
+  if args.fast or os.environ.get('NETLAB_FAST_CONFIG',None):
+    rest = ['-e','netlab_strategy=free'] + rest
+
+  return rest
+
+def ansible_args(args: argparse.Namespace) -> list:
+  rest = min_ansible_args(args)
 
   if args.initial:
     rest = ['-t','initial'] + rest
@@ -111,9 +117,6 @@ def ansible_args(args: argparse.Namespace) -> list:
   if args.custom:
     rest = ['-t','custom'] + rest
 
-  if args.fast or os.environ.get('NETLAB_FAST_CONFIG',None):
-    rest = ['-e','netlab_strategy=free'] + rest
-
   return rest
 
 """
@@ -205,6 +208,13 @@ def filter_unprovisioned(nodeset: typing.List[str], topology: Box) -> typing.Lis
   unprovisioned_members = groups.group_members(topology, 'unprovisioned')
   return [node for node in nodeset if node not in unprovisioned_members]
 
+"""
+Get deployment nodeset from args.limit
+"""
+def get_deploy_nodeset(args: argparse.Namespace, topology: Box) -> list:
+  nodeset = _nodeset.parse_nodeset(args.limit, topology) if args.limit else list(topology.nodes.keys())
+  return filter_unprovisioned(nodeset, topology)
+
 """
 ansible_skip_group: Modify Ansible inventory to include _grp_config_skip listing all the
 hosts that do not need Ansible deployment
diff --git a/netsim/defaults/netlab.yml b/netsim/defaults/netlab.yml
index db3a31c436..6f5f1f356c 100644
--- a/netsim/defaults/netlab.yml
+++ b/netsim/defaults/netlab.yml
@@ -12,3 +12,7 @@ create:
     pickle:
     tools:
     ansible: dirs
+
+initial:
+  ready:
+    ssh: internal
diff --git a/netsim/devices/cumulus_nvue.yml b/netsim/devices/cumulus_nvue.yml
index 6bf7f1a9f8..1a25624846 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/cumulus_nvue.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/cumulus_nvue.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ group_vars:
   ansible_network_os: cumulus_nvue
   ansible_connection: paramiko
   ansible_python_interpreter: auto_silent
+  netlab_ready: [ ansible ]
 features:
   initial:
     system_mtu: True
diff --git a/netsim/devices/fortios.yml b/netsim/devices/fortios.yml
index 433cf4c386..d7137bf24d 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/fortios.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/fortios.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ group_vars:
   ansible_httpapi_validate_certs: no
   ansible_httpapi_port: 80
   netlab_console_connection: ssh
+  netlab_ready: [ ansible ]
 external:
   image: none
 features:
diff --git a/netsim/devices/junos.yml b/netsim/devices/junos.yml
index 7b604d5600..5929ff7199 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/junos.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/junos.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ group_vars:
   ansible_network_os: junos
   ansible_connection: netconf
   netlab_console_connection: ssh
+  netlab_ready: [ ansible ]
 
 features:
   initial:
@@ -73,3 +74,7 @@ features:
 
 external:
   image: none
+
+clab:
+  group_vars:
+    netlab_ready: [ ssh, ansible ]
diff --git a/netsim/devices/netscaler.yml b/netsim/devices/netscaler.yml
index 18ab4f7aa6..60e8021c17 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/netscaler.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/netscaler.yml
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ clab:
     ansible_ssh_pass: clab@123
     ansible_connection: docker
     netlab_show_command: [ nscli, -U, '127.0.0.1:clab:clab@123', 'show $@' ]
-#    netlab_ready: [ ssh ]
-#    netlab_check_command: who
+    netlab_ready: [ ansible ]
 
 external:
   image: none
diff --git a/netsim/devices/nxos.yml b/netsim/devices/nxos.yml
index e9cc951e10..741d279823 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/nxos.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/nxos.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ clab:
   group_vars:
     ansible_ssh_pass: admin
     ansible_user: admin
-    netlab_ready: [ ssh ]
+    netlab_ready: [ ssh, ansible ]
   image: vrnetlab/vr-n9kv:9.3.8
   node:
     kind: cisco_n9kv
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ group_vars:
   ansible_connection: network_cli
   netlab_check_retries: 50
   netlab_check_delay: 10
+  netlab_ready: [ ansible ]
   # yamllint disable-line rule:line-length
   netlab_ssh_args: "-o KexAlgorithms=+diffie-hellman-group14-sha1 -o PubkeyAcceptedKeyTypes=+ssh-rsa -o HostKeyAlgorithms=+ssh-rsa"
 bfd:           # NXOS requires lower default timer values
diff --git a/netsim/devices/sros.yml b/netsim/devices/sros.yml
index 5e6c495027..f1a2b5f166 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/sros.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/sros.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ group_vars:
   ansible_network_os: sros
   ansible_connection: paramiko_ssh
   netlab_console_connection: ssh
+  netlab_ready: [ ansible ]
   sros_use_openconfig: False
   netlab_match_protomap:
     ospf: [ ospf, ospf3 ]
diff --git a/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml b/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml
index 7134ab94a9..000976a7c0 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,5 @@ clab:
     ansible_ssh_pass: admin@123
     netlab_check_retries: 60
     netlab_check_delay: 10
-    netlab_ready: [ ssh ]
 
 graphite.icon: router
diff --git a/netsim/devices/vjunos-switch.yml b/netsim/devices/vjunos-switch.yml
index d7d6acc5bc..3bdc63fa93 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/vjunos-switch.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/vjunos-switch.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,5 @@ clab:
     ansible_ssh_pass: admin@123
     netlab_check_retries: 40
     netlab_check_delay: 10
-    netlab_ready: [ ssh ]
 
 graphite.icon: switch
diff --git a/netsim/devices/vmx.yml b/netsim/devices/vmx.yml
index 4e5b078957..1ef07b4a15 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/vmx.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/vmx.yml
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ features:
 clab:
   image: vrnetlab/vr-vmx:18.2R1.9
   build: https://containerlab.dev/manual/kinds/vr-vmx/
-  group_vars:
-    netlab_ready: [ ssh ]
   node:
     kind: vr-vmx
   interface:
diff --git a/netsim/devices/vptx.yml b/netsim/devices/vptx.yml
index c97a6b2c17..280cf1dc3f 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/vptx.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/vptx.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,5 @@ clab:
     ansible_ssh_pass: admin@123
     netlab_check_retries: 40
     netlab_check_delay: 10
-    netlab_ready: [ ssh ]
 
 graphite.icon: switch
diff --git a/netsim/devices/vsrx.yml b/netsim/devices/vsrx.yml
index f1ca8c4e61..019e245004 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/vsrx.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/vsrx.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,5 @@ clab:
     ansible_ssh_pass: "admin@123"
     netlab_check_retries: 60
     netlab_check_delay: 10
-    netlab_ready: [ ssh ]
 
 graphite.icon: firewall
diff --git a/netsim/devices/vyos.yml b/netsim/devices/vyos.yml
index 8442e0ea38..05f77833fb 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/vyos.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/vyos.yml
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ clab:
   group_vars:
     ansible_connection: docker
     ansible_user: vyos
+    netlab_ready: [ ansible ]
   features:
     stub_loopback: True
 
diff --git a/netsim/outputs/ansible.py b/netsim/outputs/ansible.py
index 338b35af71..cd9a9b547a 100644
--- a/netsim/outputs/ansible.py
+++ b/netsim/outputs/ansible.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from box import Box
 
-from ..augment import nodes, plugin
+from ..augment import devices, nodes, plugin
 from ..utils import files as _files
 from ..utils import log, strings, templates
 from . import _TopologyOutput, check_writeable
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ def create(topology: Box) -> Box:
       if node.get(xg,False):                # Add device to the extra group if it has the corresponding attribute set
         inventory[extra_groups[xg]].hosts[name] = {}
 
+    ready = devices.get_node_group_var(node,'netlab_ready',topology.defaults) or []
+    for r_item in ready:
+      inventory[f'netlab_ready_{r_item}'].hosts[name] = {}
+
   if 'devices' in defaults:
     for group in inventory.keys():
       if group in defaults.devices: