diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/openqa b/inventory/group_vars/openqa
index 9f7a4ee7ce..7bd5d9a713 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/openqa
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/openqa
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ virt_install_command: "{{ virt_install_command_one_nic }} --cpu=host-passthrough
 external_hostname: openqa.fedoraproject.org
 
 openqa_dbname: openqa
-openqa_dbhost: db-qa03.qa.fedoraproject.org
 openqa_dbuser: openqa
 openqa_dbpassword: "{{ prod_openqa_dbpassword }}"
 openqa_assetsize: 500
diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/openqa_iad b/inventory/group_vars/openqa_iad
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..069ee77ffa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/openqa_iad
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+openqa_dbhost: db-openqa01.iad2.fedoraproject.org
diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/openqa_phx b/inventory/group_vars/openqa_phx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25709c32f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/openqa_phx
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+openqa_dbhost: db-qa03.qa.fedoraproject.org
diff --git a/inventory/inventory b/inventory/inventory
index 85e88c08e7..504c535104 100644
--- a/inventory/inventory
+++ b/inventory/inventory
@@ -522,6 +522,16 @@ openqa01.qa.fedoraproject.org
 openqa-stg01.qa.fedoraproject.org
 openqa01.iad2.fedoraproject.org
 
+# variables appropriate to hosts in the old dc (phx2) but not the new one (iad2)
+[openqa_phx]
+openqa01.qa.fedoraproject.org
+openqa-stg01.qa.fedoraproject.org
+
+# variables appropriate to hosts in the new dc (iad2) but not the old one (phx2)
+[openqa_iad]
+openqa01.iad2.fedoraproject.org
+openqa-stg01.iad2.fedoraproject.org
+
 [openqa]
 openqa01.qa.fedoraproject.org
 openqa01.iad2.fedoraproject.org