diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/common/argspec_validate.py b/plugins/module_utils/common/argspec_validate.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a28c6a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/common/argspec_validate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2020 Red Hat
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+
+# (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+"""Use AnsibleModule's argspec validation
+
+def _check_argspec(self):
+    aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+        data=self._task.args,
+        schema=DOCUMENTATION,
+        schema_format="doc",
+        schema_conditionals={},
+        other_args={},
+        name=self._task.action,
+    )
+    valid, errors = aav.validate()
+    if not valid:
+        raise AnsibleActionFail(errors)
+
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import json
+import re
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible_collections.ansible.utils.plugins.module_utils.common.utils import (
+    dict_merge,
+)
+from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes
+
+try:
+    import yaml
+
+    # use C version if possible for speedup
+    try:
+        from yaml import CSafeLoader as SafeLoader
+    except ImportError:
+        from yaml import SafeLoader
+    HAS_YAML = True
+except ImportError:
+    HAS_YAML = False
+
+# TODO: Update this to point to functionality being exposed in 2.11
+# ansible-base 2.11 should expose argspec validation outside of the
+# ansiblemodule class
+try:
+    from ansible.module_utils.somefile import FutureBaseArgspecValidator
+
+    HAS_ANSIBLE_ARG_SPEC_VALIDATOR = True
+except ImportError:
+    HAS_ANSIBLE_ARG_SPEC_VALIDATOR = False
+
+
+OPTION_METADATA = (
+    "type",
+    "choices",
+    "default",
+    "required",
+    "aliases",
+    "elements",
+    "fallback",
+    "no_log",
+    "apply_defaults",
+    "deprecated_aliases",
+    "removed_in_version",
+)
+OPTION_CONDITIONALS = (
+    "mutually_exclusive",
+    "required_one_of",
+    "required_together",
+    "required_by",
+    "required_if",
+)
+
+VALID_ANSIBLEMODULE_ARGS = (
+    "argument_spec",
+    "bypass_checks",
+    "no_log",
+    "add_file_common_args",
+    "supports_check_mode",
+) + OPTION_CONDITIONALS
+
+BASE_ARG_AVAIL = 2.11
+
+
+class MonkeyModule(AnsibleModule):
+    """A derivative of the AnsibleModule used
+    to just validate the data (task.args) against
+    the schema(argspec)
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, data, schema, name):
+        self._errors = None
+        self._valid = True
+        self._schema = schema
+        self.name = name
+        self.params = data
+
+    def fail_json(self, msg):
+        """Replace the AnsibleModule fail_json here
+        :param msg: The message for the failure
+        :type msg: str
+        """
+        if self.name:
+            msg = re.sub(
+                r"\(basic\.pyc?\)",
+                "'{name}'".format(name=self.name),
+                msg,
+            )
+        self._valid = False
+        self._errors = msg
+
+    def _load_params(self):
+        """This replaces the AnsibleModule _load_params
+        fn because we already set self.params in init
+        """
+        pass
+
+    def validate(self):
+        """Instantiate the super, validating the schema
+        against the data
+        :return valid: if the data passed
+        :rtype valid: bool
+        :return errors: errors reported during validation
+        :rtype errors: str
+        """
+        super(MonkeyModule, self).__init__(**self._schema)
+        return self._valid, self._errors
+
+
+class AnsibleArgSpecValidator:
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        data,
+        schema,
+        schema_format,
+        schema_conditionals=None,
+        name=None,
+        other_args=None,
+    ):
+        """Validate some data against a schema
+        :param data: The data to valdiate
+        :type data: dict
+        :param schema: A schema in ansible argspec format
+        :type schema: dict
+        :param schema_format: 'doc' (ansible docstring) or 'argspec' (ansible argspec)
+        :type schema: str if doc, dict if argspec
+        :param schema_conditionals: A dict of schema conditionals, ie required_if
+        :type schema_conditionals: dict
+        :param name: the name of the plugin calling this class, used in error messages
+        :type name: str
+        :param other_args: Other valid kv pairs for the argspec, eg no_log, bypass_checks
+        :type other_args: dict
+
+        note:
+        - the schema conditionals can be root conditionals or deeply nested conditionals
+          these get dict_merged into the argspec from the docstring, since the docstring cannot
+          contain them.
+        """
+        self._errors = ""
+        self._name = name
+        self._other_args = other_args
+        self._schema = schema
+        self._schema_format = schema_format
+        self._schema_conditionals = schema_conditionals
+        self._data = data
+
+    def _extract_schema_from_doc(self, doc_obj, temp_schema):
+        """Extract the schema from a doc string
+        :param doc_obj: The doc as a python obj
+        :type doc_obj: dictionary
+        :params temp_schema: The dict in which we stuff the schema parts
+        :type temp_schema: dict
+        """
+        options_obj = doc_obj.get("options")
+        for okey, ovalue in iteritems(options_obj):
+            temp_schema[okey] = {}
+            for metakey in list(ovalue):
+                if metakey == "suboptions":
+                    temp_schema[okey].update({"options": {}})
+                    suboptions_obj = {"options": ovalue["suboptions"]}
+                    self._extract_schema_from_doc(
+                        suboptions_obj, temp_schema[okey]["options"]
+                    )
+                elif metakey in OPTION_METADATA + OPTION_CONDITIONALS:
+                    temp_schema[okey].update({metakey: ovalue[metakey]})
+
+    # TODO: Support extends_documentation_fragment
+    def _convert_doc_to_schema(self):
+        """Convert the doc string to an obj, was yaml
+        add back other valid conditionals and params
+        """
+        doc_obj = yaml.load(self._schema, SafeLoader)
+        temp_schema = {}
+        self._extract_schema_from_doc(doc_obj, temp_schema)
+        self._schema = {"argument_spec": temp_schema}
+
+    def _validate(self):
+        """Validate the data gainst the schema
+        convert doc string in argspec if necessary
+        """
+        if self._schema_format == "doc":
+            self._convert_doc_to_schema()
+        if self._schema_conditionals is not None:
+            self._schema = dict_merge(self._schema, self._schema_conditionals)
+        if self._other_args is not None:
+            self._schema = dict_merge(self._schema, self._other_args)
+        invalid_keys = [
+            k for k in self._schema.keys() if k not in VALID_ANSIBLEMODULE_ARGS
+        ]
+        if invalid_keys:
+            valid = False
+            errors = "Invalid schema. Invalid keys found: {ikeys}".format(
+                ikeys=",".join(invalid_keys)
+            )
+        else:
+            mm = MonkeyModule(
+                data=self._data, schema=self._schema, name=self._name
+            )
+            valid, errors = mm.validate()
+        return valid, errors
+
+    def validate(self):
+        """The public validate method
+        check for future argspec validation
+        that is coming in 2.11, change the check according above
+        """
+        if HAS_ANSIBLE_ARG_SPEC_VALIDATOR:
+            return self._validate()
+        else:
+            return self._validate()
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/common/utils.py b/plugins/module_utils/common/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a69dabe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/common/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2020 Red Hat
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+
+# (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+from copy import deepcopy
+from itertools import chain
+
+from ansible.module_utils.common._collections_compat import Mapping
+from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
+
+
+def sort_list(val):
+    if isinstance(val, list):
+        if isinstance(val[0], dict):
+            sorted_keys = [tuple(sorted(dict_.keys())) for dict_ in val]
+            # All keys should be identical
+            if len(set(sorted_keys)) != 1:
+                raise ValueError("dictionaries do not match")
+
+            return sorted(
+                val, key=lambda d: tuple(d[k] for k in sorted_keys[0])
+            )
+        return sorted(val)
+    return val
+
+
+def dict_merge(base, other):
+    """Return a new dict object that combines base and other
+
+    This will create a new dict object that is a combination of the key/value
+    pairs from base and other.  When both keys exist, the value will be
+    selected from other.
+
+    If the value in base is a list, and the value in other is a list
+    the base list will be extended with the values from the other list that were
+    not already present in the base list
+
+    If the value in base is a list, and the value in other is a list
+    and the two have the same entries, the value from other will be
+    used, preserving the order from the other list
+
+    If the value in base is a list, and the value in other is not a list
+    the value from other will be used
+
+    :param base: dict object to serve as base
+    :param other: dict object to combine with base
+
+    :returns: new combined dict object
+    """
+    if not isinstance(base, dict):
+        raise AssertionError("`base` must be of type <dict>")
+    if not isinstance(other, dict):
+        raise AssertionError("`other` must be of type <dict>")
+
+    combined = dict()
+
+    for key, value in iteritems(deepcopy(base)):
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            if key in other:
+                item = other.get(key)
+                if item is not None:
+                    if isinstance(other[key], Mapping):
+                        combined[key] = dict_merge(value, other[key])
+                    else:
+                        combined[key] = other[key]
+                else:
+                    combined[key] = item
+            else:
+                combined[key] = value
+        elif isinstance(value, list):
+            if key in other:
+                item = other.get(key)
+                if isinstance(item, list):
+                    if sort_list(value) == sort_list(item):
+                        combined[key] = item
+                    else:
+                        value.extend([i for i in item if i not in value])
+                        combined[key] = value
+                else:
+                    combined[key] = item
+            else:
+                combined[key] = value
+        else:
+            if key in other:
+                other_value = other.get(key)
+                if other_value is not None:
+                    if sort_list(base[key]) != sort_list(other_value):
+                        combined[key] = other_value
+                    else:
+                        combined[key] = value
+                else:
+                    combined[key] = other_value
+            else:
+                combined[key] = value
+
+    for key in set(other.keys()).difference(base.keys()):
+        combined[key] = other.get(key)
+
+    return combined
diff --git a/tests/unit/module_utils/fixtures/docstring.py b/tests/unit/module_utils/fixtures/docstring.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d94bf3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/module_utils/fixtures/docstring.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+DOCUMENTATION = """
+module: test
+author: Bradley Thornton (@cidrblock)
+short_description: Short description here
+description:
+- A longer description here
+version_added: 0.0.0
+options:
+    param_str:
+        type: str
+        description:
+        - A string param
+        required: True
+    params_bool:
+        type: bool
+        description:
+        - A bool param
+    params_dict:
+        type: dict
+        description:
+        - A dict param
+        suboptions:
+            subo_str:
+                type: str
+                description:
+                - A string suboption
+            subo_list:
+                type: list
+                description:
+                - A list suboption
+            subo_dict:
+                type: dict
+                description:
+                - A dict suboption
+"""
diff --git a/tests/unit/module_utils/test_argspec_validate.py b/tests/unit/module_utils/test_argspec_validate.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ed2eb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/module_utils/test_argspec_validate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2020 Red Hat
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+
+# (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import unittest
+from ansible_collections.ansible.utils.plugins.module_utils.common.argspec_validate import (
+    AnsibleArgSpecValidator,
+)
+from .fixtures.docstring import DOCUMENTATION
+
+
+class TestSortList(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_simple_pass(self):
+        data = {"param_str": "string"}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema=DOCUMENTATION,
+            schema_format="doc",
+            schema_conditionals={},
+            name="test_action",
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertTrue(valid)
+        self.assertEqual(errors, None)
+
+    def test_simple_fail(self):
+        data = {}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema=DOCUMENTATION,
+            schema_format="doc",
+            schema_conditionals={},
+            name="test_action",
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertFalse(valid)
+        self.assertIn("missing required arguments: param_str", errors)
+
+    def test_simple_fail_no_name(self):
+        data = {}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema=DOCUMENTATION,
+            schema_format="doc",
+            schema_conditionals={},
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertFalse(valid)
+        self.assertIn("missing required arguments: param_str", errors)
+
+    def test_not_doc(self):
+        data = {"param_str": "string"}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema={"argument_spec": {"param_str": {"type": "str"}}},
+            schema_format="argspec",
+            name="test_action",
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertTrue(valid)
+        self.assertEqual(errors, None)
+
+    def test_schema_conditional(self):
+        data = {"param_str": "string"}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema=DOCUMENTATION,
+            schema_format="doc",
+            schema_conditionals={
+                "required_together": [["param_str", "param_bool"]]
+            },
+            name="test_action",
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertFalse(valid)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "parameters are required together: param_str, param_bool", errors
+        )
+
+    def test_unsupported_param(self):
+        data = {"param_str": "string", "not_valid": "string"}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema=DOCUMENTATION,
+            schema_format="doc",
+            name="test_action",
+            # other_args={'bypass_checks': True},
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertFalse(valid)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "Unsupported parameters for 'test_action' module: not_valid",
+            errors,
+        )
+
+    def test_other_args(self):
+        data = {}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema=DOCUMENTATION,
+            schema_format="doc",
+            name="test_action",
+            other_args={"bypass_checks": True},
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertTrue(valid)
+        self.assertIsNone(errors)
+
+    def test_invalid_spec(self):
+        data = {}
+        aav = AnsibleArgSpecValidator(
+            data=data,
+            schema={"not_valid": True},
+            schema_format="argspec",
+            name="test_action",
+            other_args={"bypass_checks": True},
+        )
+        valid, errors = aav.validate()
+        self.assertFalse(valid)
+        self.assertIn("Invalid keys found: not_valid", errors)
diff --git a/tests/unit/module_utils/test_dict_merge.py b/tests/unit/module_utils/test_dict_merge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a1d944
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/module_utils/test_dict_merge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2020 Red Hat
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+
+# (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import unittest
+from ansible_collections.ansible.utils.plugins.module_utils.common.utils import (
+    dict_merge,
+)
+
+
+class TestDict_merge(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_not_dict_base(self):
+        base = [0]
+        other = {"a": "b"}
+        expected = "must be of type <dict>"
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception) as exc:
+            dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertIn(expected, str(exc.exception))
+
+    def test_not_dict_other(self):
+        base = {"a": "b"}
+        other = [0]
+        expected = "must be of type <dict>"
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception) as exc:
+            dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertIn(expected, str(exc.exception))
+
+    def test_simple(self):
+        base = {"a": "b"}
+        other = {"c": "d"}
+        expected = {"a": "b", "c": "d"}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_simple_other_is_string(self):
+        base = {"a": "b"}
+        other = {"a": "c"}
+        expected = {"a": "c"}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_simple_other_is_none(self):
+        base = {"a": "b"}
+        other = {"a": None}
+        expected = {"a": None}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_list_value_same(self):
+        base = {"a": [2, 1, 0]}
+        other = {"a": [0, 1, 2]}
+        expected = {"a": [0, 1, 2]}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_list_value_combine(self):
+        base = {"a": [2, 1, 0]}
+        other = {"a": [0, 3]}
+        expected = {"a": [2, 1, 0, 3]}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_list_missing_from_other(self):
+        base = {"a": [2, 1, 0]}
+        other = {"b": [2, 1, 0]}
+        expected = {"a": [2, 1, 0], "b": [2, 1, 0]}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_list_other_none(self):
+        base = {"a": [2, 1, 0]}
+        other = {"a": None}
+        expected = {"a": None}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    # modified dict merge from netcommon so this works
+    def test_list_other_dict(self):
+        base = {"a": [2, 1, 0]}
+        other = {"a": {"b": "c"}}
+        expected = {"a": {"b": "c"}}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    # modified dict merge from netcommon so this works
+    def test_list_other_string(self):
+        base = {"a": [2, 1, 0]}
+        other = {"a": "xyz"}
+        expected = {"a": "xyz"}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_dict_of_dict_merged(self):
+        base = {"a": {"b": 0}}
+        other = {"a": {"c": 1}}
+        expected = {"a": {"b": 0, "c": 1}}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_dict_of_dict_replaced(self):
+        base = {"a": {"b": 0}}
+        other = {"a": {"b": 1}}
+        expected = {"a": {"b": 1}}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_dict_of_dict_replaced_other_none(self):
+        base = {"a": {"b": 0}}
+        other = {"a": None}
+        expected = {"a": None}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_dict_of_dict_replaced_other_string(self):
+        base = {"a": {"b": 0}}
+        other = {"a": "xyz"}
+        expected = {"a": "xyz"}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_dict_of_dict_replaced_other_missing(self):
+        base = {"a": {"b": 0}}
+        other = {"c": 1}
+        expected = {"a": {"b": 0}, "c": 1}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_not_list_or_dict_different(self):
+        base = {"a": 0}
+        other = {"a": 1}
+        expected = {"a": 1}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_not_list_or_dict_same(self):
+        base = {"a": 0}
+        other = {"a": 0}
+        expected = {"a": 0}
+        result = dict_merge(base, other)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
diff --git a/tests/unit/module_utils/test_sort_list.py b/tests/unit/module_utils/test_sort_list.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae5ab21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/module_utils/test_sort_list.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2020 Red Hat
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+
+# (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import unittest
+from ansible_collections.ansible.utils.plugins.module_utils.common.utils import (
+    sort_list,
+)
+
+
+class TestSortList(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_simple(self):
+        var = [3, 2, 1]
+        result = sort_list(var)
+        expected = [1, 2, 3]
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+    def test_mot_list(self):
+        var = {"a": "b"}
+        result = sort_list(var)
+        self.assertEqual(result, var)
+
+    def test_not_same(self):
+        var = [{"a": "b", "c": "d"}, {"b": "a"}]
+        expected = "dictionaries do not match"
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception) as exc:
+            sort_list(var)
+        self.assertIn(expected, str(exc.exception))
+
+    def test_pass(self):
+        var = [{"a": 2, "b": 3}, {"a": 0, "b": 1}]
+        expected = [{"a": 0, "b": 1}, {"a": 2, "b": 3}]
+        result = sort_list(var)
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)