diff --git a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java
index 10e9b39..3f8c0a8 100644
--- a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java
+++ b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java
@@ -36,8 +36,6 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.TestStoreManager;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl.DistributedDeviceStore;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationManager;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
 import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -95,7 +93,6 @@
     private DistributedDeviceStore dstore;
     private TestMastershipManager masterManager;
     private EventDeliveryService eventService;
-    private KryoSerializationManager serializationMgr;
 
     @Before
     public void setUp() {
@@ -111,10 +108,7 @@
         storeManager = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
         storeManager.activate();
 
-        serializationMgr = new KryoSerializationManager();
-        serializationMgr.activate();
-
-        dstore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager, serializationMgr);
+        dstore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager);
         dstore.activate();
 
         mgr.store = dstore;
@@ -140,7 +134,6 @@
         mgr.deactivate();
 
         dstore.deactivate();
-        serializationMgr.deactivate();
         storeManager.deactivate();
     }
 
@@ -306,10 +299,8 @@
 
     private class TestDistributedDeviceStore extends DistributedDeviceStore {
 
-        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService,
-                                    KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService) {
+        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService) {
             this.storeService = storeService;
-            this.kryoSerializationService = kryoSerializationService;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
index f83ac59..61a7374 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 
         rawNodes = theInstance.getMap("nodes");
         OptionalCacheLoader<NodeId, DefaultControllerNode> nodeLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawNodes);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(serializer, rawNodes);
         nodes = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(nodeLoader));
         rawNodes.addEntryListener(new RemoteCacheEventHandler<>(nodes), true);
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java
index 18e6e96..aafbe4b 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 
         rawMasters = theInstance.getMap("masters");
         OptionalCacheLoader<DeviceId, NodeId> nodeLoader
-        = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawMasters);
+        = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(serializer, rawMasters);
         masters = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(nodeLoader));
         rawMasters.addEntryListener(new RemoteMasterShipEventHandler(masters), true);
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java
index 29af33a..ff9f43a 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.event.Event;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.AbstractStore;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.StoreDelegate;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.Serializer;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@
 /**
  * Abstraction of a distributed store based on Hazelcast.
  */
-@Component(componentAbstract = true)
+@Component
 public abstract class AbstractHazelcastStore<E extends Event, D extends StoreDelegate<E>>
         extends AbstractStore<E, D> {
 
@@ -33,13 +34,13 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected StoreService storeService;
 
-    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
-    protected KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService;
+    protected Serializer serializer;
 
     protected HazelcastInstance theInstance;
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
+        serializer = new KryoSerializer();
         theInstance = storeService.getHazelcastInstance();
     }
 
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@
      * @return serialized object
      */
     protected byte[] serialize(Object obj) {
-        return kryoSerializationService.encode(obj);
+        return serializer.encode(obj);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@
      * @return deserialized object
      */
     protected <T> T deserialize(byte[] bytes) {
-        return kryoSerializationService.decode(bytes);
+        return serializer.decode(bytes);
     }
 
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/OptionalCacheLoader.java b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/OptionalCacheLoader.java
index 2629e2d..6631594 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/OptionalCacheLoader.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/OptionalCacheLoader.java
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
 
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.Serializer;
 
 import com.google.common.base.Optional;
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheLoader;
@@ -18,28 +18,28 @@
 public final class OptionalCacheLoader<K, V> extends
         CacheLoader<K, Optional<V>> {
 
-    private final KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService;
+    private final Serializer serializer;
     private IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap;
 
     /**
      * Constructor.
      *
-     * @param kryoSerializationService to use for serialization
+     * @param serializer to use for serialization
      * @param rawMap underlying IMap
      */
-    public OptionalCacheLoader(KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService, IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap) {
-        this.kryoSerializationService = checkNotNull(kryoSerializationService);
+    public OptionalCacheLoader(Serializer serializer, IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap) {
+        this.serializer = checkNotNull(serializer);
         this.rawMap = checkNotNull(rawMap);
     }
 
     @Override
     public Optional<V> load(K key) throws Exception {
-        byte[] keyBytes = kryoSerializationService.encode(key);
+        byte[] keyBytes = serializer.encode(key);
         byte[] valBytes = rawMap.get(keyBytes);
         if (valBytes == null) {
             return Optional.absent();
         }
-        V dev = kryoSerializationService.decode(valBytes);
+        V dev = serializer.decode(valBytes);
         return Optional.of(dev);
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java
index 2ecd525..0016939 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
         // TODO decide on Map name scheme to avoid collision
         rawDevices = theInstance.getMap("devices");
         final OptionalCacheLoader<DeviceId, DefaultDevice> deviceLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawDevices);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(serializer, rawDevices);
         devices = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(deviceLoader));
         // refresh/populate cache based on notification from other instance
         devicesListener = rawDevices.addEntryListener(new RemoteDeviceEventHandler(devices), includeValue);
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
 
         rawDevicePorts = theInstance.getMap("devicePorts");
         final OptionalCacheLoader<DeviceId, Map<PortNumber, Port>> devicePortLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawDevicePorts);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(serializer, rawDevicePorts);
         devicePorts = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(devicePortLoader));
         // refresh/populate cache based on notification from other instance
         portsListener = rawDevicePorts.addEntryListener(new RemotePortEventHandler(devicePorts), includeValue);
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java
index 5f5184f..3dd42a3 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
         // TODO decide on Map name scheme to avoid collision
         rawLinks = theInstance.getMap("links");
         final OptionalCacheLoader<LinkKey, DefaultLink> linkLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawLinks);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(serializer, rawLinks);
         links = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(linkLoader));
         // refresh/populate cache based on notification from other instance
         linksListener = rawLinks.addEntryListener(new RemoteLinkEventHandler(links), includeValue);
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java
index 80c9464..7e2924b 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreManager;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.TestStoreManager;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationManager;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
-
 import com.google.common.collect.Iterables;
 import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
 import com.hazelcast.config.Config;
@@ -63,7 +60,6 @@
     private static final PortNumber P3 = PortNumber.portNumber(3);
 
     private DistributedDeviceStore deviceStore;
-    private KryoSerializationManager serializationMgr;
 
     private StoreManager storeManager;
 
@@ -85,10 +81,7 @@
         storeManager = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
         storeManager.activate();
 
-        serializationMgr = new KryoSerializationManager();
-        serializationMgr.activate();
-
-        deviceStore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager, serializationMgr);
+        deviceStore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager);
         deviceStore.activate();
     }
 
@@ -96,8 +89,6 @@
     public void tearDown() throws Exception {
         deviceStore.deactivate();
 
-        serializationMgr.deactivate();
-
         storeManager.deactivate();
     }
 
@@ -392,10 +383,8 @@
     }
 
     private class TestDistributedDeviceStore extends DistributedDeviceStore {
-        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService,
-                                KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService) {
+        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService) {
             this.storeService = storeService;
-            this.kryoSerializationService = kryoSerializationService;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java
index a76e901..dd959b5 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java
@@ -30,9 +30,6 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreManager;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.TestStoreManager;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationManager;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
-
 import com.google.common.collect.Iterables;
 import com.hazelcast.config.Config;
 import com.hazelcast.core.Hazelcast;
@@ -51,7 +48,6 @@
     private static final PortNumber P3 = PortNumber.portNumber(3);
 
     private StoreManager storeManager;
-    private KryoSerializationManager serializationMgr;
 
     private DistributedLinkStore linkStore;
 
@@ -71,17 +67,13 @@
         storeManager = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
         storeManager.activate();
 
-        serializationMgr = new KryoSerializationManager();
-        serializationMgr.activate();
-
-        linkStore = new TestDistributedLinkStore(storeManager, serializationMgr);
+        linkStore = new TestDistributedLinkStore(storeManager);
         linkStore.activate();
     }
 
     @After
     public void tearDown() throws Exception {
         linkStore.deactivate();
-        serializationMgr.deactivate();
         storeManager.deactivate();
     }
 
@@ -361,10 +353,8 @@
 
 
     class TestDistributedLinkStore extends DistributedLinkStore {
-        TestDistributedLinkStore(StoreService storeService,
-                            KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService) {
+        TestDistributedLinkStore(StoreService storeService) {
             this.storeService = storeService;
-            this.kryoSerializationService = kryoSerializationService;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationManager.java b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializer.java
similarity index 68%
rename from core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationManager.java
rename to core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializer.java
index 4f756f6..19517f3 100644
--- a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationManager.java
+++ b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializer.java
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.store.serializers;
 
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
 import org.onlab.util.KryoPool;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
@@ -11,25 +7,16 @@
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 
 /**
- * Serialization service using Kryo.
+ * Serializer implementation using Kryo.
  */
-@Component(immediate = true)
-@Service
-public class KryoSerializationManager implements KryoSerializationService {
+public class KryoSerializer implements Serializer {
 
     private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
     private KryoPool serializerPool;
 
 
-    @Activate
-    public void activate() {
+    public KryoSerializer() {
         setupKryoPool();
-        log.info("Started");
-    }
-
-    @Deactivate
-    public void deactivate() {
-        log.info("Stopped");
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationService.java b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/Serializer.java
similarity index 63%
rename from core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationService.java
rename to core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/Serializer.java
index 8a98ccf..12cf3bc 100644
--- a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationService.java
+++ b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/Serializer.java
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@
 /**
  * Service to serialize Objects into byte array.
  */
-public interface KryoSerializationService {
+public interface Serializer {
 
     /**
-     * Serializes the specified object into bytes using one of the
-     * pre-registered serializers.
+     * Serializes the specified object into bytes.
      *
      * @param obj object to be serialized
      * @return serialized bytes
@@ -18,8 +17,7 @@
     public byte[] encode(final Object obj);
 
     /**
-     * Serializes the specified object into bytes using one of the
-     * pre-registered serializers.
+     * Serializes the specified object into bytes.
      *
      * @param obj object to be serialized
      * @param buffer to write serialized bytes
@@ -27,8 +25,7 @@
     public void encode(final Object obj, ByteBuffer buffer);
 
     /**
-     * Deserializes the specified bytes into an object using one of the
-     * pre-registered serializers.
+     * Deserializes the specified bytes into an object.
      *
      * @param bytes bytes to be deserialized
      * @return deserialized object
@@ -36,8 +33,7 @@
     public <T> T decode(final byte[] bytes);
 
     /**
-     * Deserializes the specified bytes into an object using one of the
-     * pre-registered serializers.
+     * Deserializes the specified bytes into an object.
      *
      * @param buffer bytes to be deserialized
      * @return deserialized object
diff --git a/features/features.xml b/features/features.xml
index 44606eb..491d46b 100644
--- a/features/features.xml
+++ b/features/features.xml
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@
         <feature>onos-api</feature>
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-net/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-dist/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
+        <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-serializers/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
+        <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onlab-netty/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
     </feature>
 
     <feature name="onos-core-hazelcast" version="1.0.0"
diff --git a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessagingService.java b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessagingService.java
index d455c94..fece742 100644
--- a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessagingService.java
+++ b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessagingService.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
      */
     public void unregisterHandler(String type);
 
+    // FIXME: remove me and add PayloadSerializer to all other methods
     /**
      * Specify the serializer to use for encoding/decoding payload.
      *