diff --git a/apps/foo/pom.xml b/apps/foo/pom.xml
index 1a62f73..6109263 100644
--- a/apps/foo/pom.xml
+++ b/apps/foo/pom.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.onlab.onos</groupId>
+            <artifactId>onlab-osgi</artifactId>
+            <version>${project.version}</version>
+        </dependency>
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>org.onlab.onos</groupId>
             <artifactId>onlab-nio</artifactId>
             <version>${project.version}</version>
         </dependency>
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/NettyEchoHandler.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/NettyEchoHandler.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1049a6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/NettyEchoHandler.java
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.foo;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import org.onlab.netty.Message;
+import org.onlab.netty.MessageHandler;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+
+/**
+ * Message handler that echos the message back to the sender.
+ */
+public class NettyEchoHandler implements MessageHandler {
+
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
+    @Override
+    public void handle(Message message) throws IOException {
+        //log.info("Received message. Echoing it back to the sender.");
+        message.respond(message.payload());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/NettyLoggingHandler.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/NettyLoggingHandler.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b35a46f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/NettyLoggingHandler.java
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.foo;
+
+import org.onlab.netty.Message;
+import org.onlab.netty.MessageHandler;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+/**
+ * A MessageHandler that simply logs the information.
+ */
+public class NettyLoggingHandler implements MessageHandler {
+
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
+    @Override
+    public void handle(Message message) {
+        //log.info("Received message. Payload has {} bytes", message.payload().length);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClient.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClient.java
index 8f94ec1..5e3f8f7 100644
--- a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClient.java
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClient.java
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
-import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException;
 
 import org.onlab.metrics.MetricsComponent;
@@ -11,12 +10,17 @@
 import org.onlab.netty.Endpoint;
 import org.onlab.netty.NettyMessagingService;
 import org.onlab.netty.Response;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import com.codahale.metrics.Timer;
 
 // FIXME: Should be move out to test or app
 public final class SimpleNettyClient {
-    private SimpleNettyClient() {
+
+private static Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(SimpleNettyClient.class);
+
+        private SimpleNettyClient() {
     }
 
     public static void main(String[] args)
@@ -30,33 +34,46 @@
 
         System.exit(0);
     }
-    public static void startStandalone(String... args) throws Exception {
+    public static void startStandalone(String[] args) throws Exception {
+        String host = args.length > 0 ? args[0] : "localhost";
+        int port = args.length > 1 ? Integer.parseInt(args[1]) : 8081;
+        int warmup = args.length > 2 ? Integer.parseInt(args[2]) : 1000;
+        int iterations = args.length > 3 ? Integer.parseInt(args[3]) : 50 * 100000;
         NettyMessagingService messaging = new TestNettyMessagingService(9081);
         MetricsManager metrics = new MetricsManager();
+        Endpoint endpoint = new Endpoint(host, port);
         messaging.activate();
         metrics.activate();
-        MetricsFeature feature = new MetricsFeature("timers");
+        MetricsFeature feature = new MetricsFeature("latency");
         MetricsComponent component = metrics.registerComponent("NettyMessaging");
-        Timer sendAsyncTimer = metrics.createTimer(component, feature, "AsyncSender");
-        final int warmup = 100;
+        log.info("connecting " + host + ":" + port + " warmup:" + warmup + " iterations:" + iterations);
+
         for (int i = 0; i < warmup; i++) {
+            messaging.sendAsync(endpoint, "simple", "Hello World".getBytes());
+            Response response = messaging
+                    .sendAndReceive(endpoint, "echo",
+                            "Hello World".getBytes());
+        }
+
+        log.info("measuring async sender");
+        Timer sendAsyncTimer = metrics.createTimer(component, feature, "AsyncSender");
+
+        for (int i = 0; i < iterations; i++) {
             Timer.Context context = sendAsyncTimer.time();
-            messaging.sendAsync(new Endpoint("localhost", 8080), "simple", "Hello World".getBytes());
+            messaging.sendAsync(endpoint, "simple", "Hello World".getBytes());
             context.stop();
         }
-        metrics.registerMetric(component, feature, "AsyncTimer", sendAsyncTimer);
 
         Timer sendAndReceiveTimer = metrics.createTimer(component, feature, "SendAndReceive");
-        final int iterations = 1000000;
         for (int i = 0; i < iterations; i++) {
             Timer.Context context = sendAndReceiveTimer.time();
             Response response = messaging
-                    .sendAndReceive(new Endpoint("localhost", 8080), "echo",
+                    .sendAndReceive(endpoint, "echo",
                                     "Hello World".getBytes());
-            System.out.println("Got back:" + new String(response.get(2, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
+            // System.out.println("Got back:" + new String(response.get(2, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
             context.stop();
         }
-        metrics.registerMetric(component, feature, "AsyncTimer", sendAndReceiveTimer);
+        metrics.deactivate();
     }
 
     public static class TestNettyMessagingService extends NettyMessagingService {
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClientCommand.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClientCommand.java
index 8a603e9..b63f9c1 100644
--- a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClientCommand.java
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyClientCommand.java
@@ -13,33 +13,29 @@
         description = "Starts the simple Netty client")
 public class SimpleNettyClientCommand extends AbstractShellCommand {
 
-    @Argument(index = 0, name = "serverIp", description = "Server IP address",
+    //FIXME: replace these arguments with proper ones needed for the test.
+    @Argument(index = 0, name = "hostname", description = "Server Hostname",
             required = false, multiValued = false)
-    String serverIp = "127.0.0.1";
+    String hostname = "localhost";
 
-    @Argument(index = 1, name = "workers", description = "IO workers",
+    @Argument(index = 1, name = "port", description = "Port",
             required = false, multiValued = false)
-    String workers = "6";
+    String port = "8081";
 
-    @Argument(index = 2, name = "messageCount", description = "Message count",
+    @Argument(index = 2, name = "warmupCount", description = "Warm-up count",
             required = false, multiValued = false)
-    String messageCount = "1000000";
+    String warmupCount = "1000";
 
-    @Argument(index = 3, name = "messageLength", description = "Message length (bytes)",
+    @Argument(index = 3, name = "messageCount", description = "Message count",
             required = false, multiValued = false)
-    String messageLength = "128";
-
-    @Argument(index = 4, name = "timeoutSecs", description = "Test timeout (seconds)",
-            required = false, multiValued = false)
-    String timeoutSecs = "60";
+    String messageCount = "100000";
 
     @Override
     protected void execute() {
         try {
-            startStandalone(new String[]{serverIp, workers, messageCount, messageLength, timeoutSecs});
+            startStandalone(new String[]{hostname, port, warmupCount, messageCount});
         } catch (Exception e) {
             error("Unable to start client %s", e);
         }
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServer.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServer.java
index 25ac59b..5578fcd 100644
--- a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServer.java
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServer.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.foo;
 
-import org.onlab.netty.EchoHandler;
 import org.onlab.netty.NettyMessagingService;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
@@ -9,7 +8,7 @@
  * Test to measure Messaging performance.
  */
     public final class SimpleNettyServer {
-        private static Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(IOLoopTestServer.class);
+        private static Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(SimpleNettyServer.class);
 
             private SimpleNettyServer() {}
 
@@ -19,10 +18,10 @@
             }
 
         public static void startStandalone(String[] args) throws Exception {
-            NettyMessagingService server = new NettyMessagingService(8080);
+            NettyMessagingService server = new NettyMessagingService(8081);
             server.activate();
-            server.registerHandler("simple", new org.onlab.netty.LoggingHandler());
-            server.registerHandler("echo", new EchoHandler());
+            server.registerHandler("simple", new NettyLoggingHandler());
+            server.registerHandler("echo", new NettyEchoHandler());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServerCommand.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServerCommand.java
index 2f82da0..17b2586 100644
--- a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServerCommand.java
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/SimpleNettyServerCommand.java
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@
 /**
  * Starts the Simple Netty server.
  */
-@Command(scope = "onos", name = "test-netty-server",
+@Command(scope = "onos", name = "simple-netty-server",
          description = "Starts the simple netty server")
 public class SimpleNettyServerCommand extends AbstractShellCommand {
 
+    //FIXME: Replace these with parameters for
     @Argument(index = 0, name = "serverIp", description = "Server IP address",
               required = false, multiValued = false)
     String serverIp = "127.0.0.1";
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml b/apps/foo/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml
index 93bd020..f8ee2b8 100644
--- a/apps/foo/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@
         <command>
             <action class="org.onlab.onos.foo.TestIOServerCommand"/>
         </command>
+        <command>
+            <action class="org.onlab.onos.foo.SimpleNettyServerCommand"/>
+        </command>
+        <command>
+            <action class="org.onlab.onos.foo.SimpleNettyClientCommand"/>
+        </command>
     </command-bundle>
 
 </blueprint>
diff --git a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/SummaryCommand.java b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/SummaryCommand.java
index b3e03b3..e843770 100644
--- a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/SummaryCommand.java
+++ b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/SummaryCommand.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.cli;
 
 import org.apache.karaf.shell.commands.Command;
+import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.FlowRuleService;
@@ -21,7 +22,8 @@
     protected void execute() {
         TopologyService topologyService = get(TopologyService.class);
         Topology topology = topologyService.currentTopology();
-        print("nodes=%d, devices=%d, links=%d, hosts=%d, clusters=%s, paths=%d, flows=%d, intents=%d",
+        print("version=%s, nodes=%d, devices=%d, links=%d, hosts=%d, clusters=%s, paths=%d, flows=%d, intents=%d",
+              get(CoreService.class).version().toString(),
               get(ClusterService.class).getNodes().size(),
               get(DeviceService.class).getDeviceCount(),
               get(LinkService.class).getLinkCount(),
diff --git a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/AddHostToHostIntentCommand.java b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/AddHostToHostIntentCommand.java
index be2e964..837a0a7 100644
--- a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/AddHostToHostIntentCommand.java
+++ b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/AddHostToHostIntentCommand.java
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
               required = true, multiValued = false)
     String two = null;
 
-    private static long id = 1;
+    private static long id = 0x7870001;
 
     @Override
     protected void execute() {
diff --git a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/AddPointToPointIntentCommand.java b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/AddPointToPointIntentCommand.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89ec7f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/AddPointToPointIntentCommand.java
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.cli.net;
+
+import org.apache.karaf.shell.commands.Argument;
+import org.apache.karaf.shell.commands.Command;
+import org.onlab.onos.cli.AbstractShellCommand;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.PortNumber;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.DefaultTrafficSelector;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.DefaultTrafficTreatment;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.TrafficSelector;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.TrafficTreatment;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.Intent;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.PointToPointIntent;
+import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
+
+/**
+ * Installs point-to-point connectivity intents.
+ */
+@Command(scope = "onos", name = "add-point-intent",
+         description = "Installs point-to-point connectivity intent")
+public class AddPointToPointIntentCommand extends AbstractShellCommand {
+
+    @Argument(index = 0, name = "ingressDevice",
+              description = "Ingress Device/Port Description",
+              required = true, multiValued = false)
+    String ingressDeviceString = null;
+
+    @Argument(index = 1, name = "egressDevice",
+              description = "Egress Device/Port Description",
+              required = true, multiValued = false)
+    String egressDeviceString = null;
+
+    private static long id = 0x7470001;
+
+    @Override
+    protected void execute() {
+        IntentService service = get(IntentService.class);
+
+        DeviceId ingressDeviceId = DeviceId.deviceId(getDeviceId(ingressDeviceString));
+        PortNumber ingressPortNumber =
+                PortNumber.portNumber(getPortNumber(ingressDeviceString));
+        ConnectPoint ingress = new ConnectPoint(ingressDeviceId, ingressPortNumber);
+
+        DeviceId egressDeviceId = DeviceId.deviceId(getDeviceId(egressDeviceString));
+        PortNumber egressPortNumber =
+                PortNumber.portNumber(getPortNumber(egressDeviceString));
+        ConnectPoint egress = new ConnectPoint(egressDeviceId, egressPortNumber);
+
+        TrafficSelector selector = DefaultTrafficSelector.builder()
+                .matchEthType(Ethernet.TYPE_IPV4)
+                .build();
+        TrafficTreatment treatment = DefaultTrafficTreatment.builder().build();
+
+        Intent intent =
+                new PointToPointIntent(new IntentId(id++),
+                                                 selector,
+                                                 treatment,
+                                                 ingress,
+                                                 egress);
+        service.submit(intent);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Extracts the port number portion of the ConnectPoint.
+     *
+     * @param deviceString string representing the device/port
+     * @return port number as a string, empty string if the port is not found
+     */
+    private String getPortNumber(String deviceString) {
+        int slash = deviceString.indexOf('/');
+        if (slash <= 0) {
+            return "";
+        }
+        return deviceString.substring(slash + 1, deviceString.length());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Extracts the device ID portion of the ConnectPoint.
+     *
+     * @param deviceString string representing the device/port
+     * @return device ID string
+     */
+    private String getDeviceId(String deviceString) {
+        int slash = deviceString.indexOf('/');
+        if (slash <= 0) {
+            return "";
+        }
+        return deviceString.substring(0, slash);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/ConnectPointCompleter.java b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/ConnectPointCompleter.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29994c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/ConnectPointCompleter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.cli.net;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.SortedSet;
+
+import org.apache.karaf.shell.console.Completer;
+import org.apache.karaf.shell.console.completer.StringsCompleter;
+import org.onlab.onos.cli.AbstractShellCommand;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Port;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceService;
+
+/**
+ * ConnectPoint completer.
+ */
+public class ConnectPointCompleter implements Completer {
+    @Override
+    public int complete(String buffer, int cursor, List<String> candidates) {
+        // Delegate string completer
+        StringsCompleter delegate = new StringsCompleter();
+
+        // Fetch our service and feed it's offerings to the string completer
+        DeviceService service = AbstractShellCommand.get(DeviceService.class);
+
+        // Generate the device ID/port number identifiers
+        for (Device device : service.getDevices()) {
+            SortedSet<String> strings = delegate.getStrings();
+
+            for (Port port : service.getPorts(device.id())) {
+                strings.add(device.id().toString() + "/" + port.number());
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Now let the completer do the work for figuring out what to offer.
+        return delegate.complete(buffer, cursor, candidates);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/WipeOutCommand.java b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/WipeOutCommand.java
index e62f850..fe18ba0 100644
--- a/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/WipeOutCommand.java
+++ b/cli/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cli/net/WipeOutCommand.java
@@ -13,40 +13,41 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentState;
 
 /**
- * Wipes-out the entire network information base, i.e. devices, links, hosts.
+ * Wipes-out the entire network information base, i.e. devices, links, hosts, intents.
  */
 @Command(scope = "onos", name = "wipe-out",
          description = "Wipes-out the entire network information base, i.e. devices, links, hosts")
 public class WipeOutCommand extends ClustersListCommand {
 
-
-    private static final String DISCLAIMER = "Yes, I know it will delete everything!";
+    private static final String DISCLAIMER = "Delete everything please.";
 
     @Argument(index = 0, name = "disclaimer", description = "Device ID",
-              required = true, multiValued = false)
+              required = false, multiValued = false)
     String disclaimer = null;
 
     @Override
     protected void execute() {
-        if (!disclaimer.equals(DISCLAIMER)) {
-            print("I'm afraid I can't do that...");
-            print("You have to acknowledge by: " + DISCLAIMER);
+        if (disclaimer == null || !disclaimer.equals(DISCLAIMER)) {
+            print("I'm afraid I can't do that!\nPlease acknowledge with phrase: '%s'",
+                  DISCLAIMER);
             return;
         }
 
-        print("Good bye...");
+        print("Wiping devices");
         DeviceAdminService deviceAdminService = get(DeviceAdminService.class);
         DeviceService deviceService = get(DeviceService.class);
         for (Device device : deviceService.getDevices()) {
             deviceAdminService.removeDevice(device.id());
         }
 
+        print("Wiping hosts");
         HostAdminService hostAdminService = get(HostAdminService.class);
         HostService hostService = get(HostService.class);
         for (Host host : hostService.getHosts()) {
             hostAdminService.removeHost(host.id());
         }
 
+        print("Wiping intents");
         IntentService intentService = get(IntentService.class);
         for (Intent intent : intentService.getIntents()) {
             if (intentService.getIntentState(intent.id()) == IntentState.INSTALLED) {
diff --git a/cli/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml b/cli/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml
index 92f26fd..6120d30 100644
--- a/cli/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml
+++ b/cli/src/main/resources/OSGI-INF/blueprint/shell-config.xml
@@ -75,6 +75,13 @@
                 <ref component-id="hostIdCompleter"/>
             </completers>
         </command>
+        <command>
+            <action class="org.onlab.onos.cli.net.AddPointToPointIntentCommand"/>
+            <completers>
+                <ref component-id="connectPointCompleter"/>
+                <ref component-id="connectPointCompleter"/>
+            </completers>
+        </command>
 
         <command>
             <action class="org.onlab.onos.cli.net.ClustersListCommand"/>
@@ -116,5 +123,6 @@
     <bean id="hostIdCompleter" class="org.onlab.onos.cli.net.HostIdCompleter"/>
     <bean id="intentIdCompleter" class="org.onlab.onos.cli.net.IntentIdCompleter"/>
     <bean id="flowRuleStatusCompleter" class="org.onlab.onos.cli.net.FlowRuleStatusCompleter"/>
+    <bean id="connectPointCompleter" class="org.onlab.onos.cli.net.ConnectPointCompleter"/>
 
 </blueprint>
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/CoreService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/CoreService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32c36c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/CoreService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package org.onlab.onos;
+
+/**
+ * Service for interacting with the core system of the controller.
+ */
+public interface CoreService {
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the product version.
+     *
+     * @return product version
+     */
+    Version version();
+
+}
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/Version.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/Version.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d071b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/Version.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+package org.onlab.onos;
+
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+import static java.lang.Integer.parseInt;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of the product version.
+ */
+public final class Version {
+
+    public static final String FORMAT = "%d.%d.%d.%s";
+
+    private final int major;
+    private final int minor;
+    private final int patch;
+    private final String build;
+
+    private final String format;
+
+    // Creates a new version descriptor
+    private Version(int major, int minor, int patch, String build) {
+        this.major = major;
+        this.minor = minor;
+        this.patch = patch;
+        this.build = build;
+        this.format = String.format(FORMAT, major, minor, patch, build);
+    }
+
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new version from the specified constituent numbers.
+     *
+     * @param major major version number
+     * @param minor minod version number
+     * @param patch version patch number
+     * @param build build string
+     * @return version descriptor
+     */
+    public static Version version(int major, int minor, int patch, String build) {
+        return new Version(major, minor, patch, build);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new version by parsing the specified string.
+     *
+     * @param string version string
+     * @return version descriptor
+     */
+    public static Version version(String string) {
+        String[] fields = string.split("[.-]");
+        return new Version(parseInt(fields[0]), parseInt(fields[1]),
+                           parseInt(fields[2]), fields[3]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the major version number.
+     *
+     * @return major version number
+     */
+    public int major() {
+        return major;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the minor version number.
+     *
+     * @return minor version number
+     */
+    public int minor() {
+        return minor;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the version patch number.
+     *
+     * @return patch number
+     */
+    public int patch() {
+        return patch;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the version build string.
+     *
+     * @return build string
+     */
+    public String build() {
+        return build;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return format;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hash(format);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj instanceof Version) {
+            final Version other = (Version) obj;
+            return Objects.equals(this.format, other.format);
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipService.java
index b05aa62..51b6f6a 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipService.java
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     /**
      * Abandons mastership of the specified device on the local node thus
      * forcing selection of a new master. If the local node is not a master
-     * for this device, no action will be taken.
+     * for this device, no master selection will occur.
      *
      * @param deviceId the identifier of the device
      */
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipStore.java
index bedc5e9..dc5603f 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipStore.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/MastershipStore.java
@@ -66,12 +66,25 @@
     MastershipTerm getTermFor(DeviceId deviceId);
 
     /**
-     * Revokes a controller instance's mastership over a device and hands
-     * over mastership to another controller instance.
+     * Sets a controller instance's mastership role to STANDBY for a device.
+     * If the role is MASTER, another controller instance will be selected
+     * as a candidate master.
      *
      * @param nodeId   the controller instance identifier
-     * @param deviceId device to revoke mastership for
+     * @param deviceId device to revoke mastership role for
      * @return a mastership event
      */
-    MastershipEvent unsetMaster(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId);
+    MastershipEvent setStandby(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Allows a controller instance to give up its current role for a device.
+     * If the role is MASTER, another controller instance will be selected
+     * as a candidate master.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId   the controller instance identifier
+     * @param deviceId device to revoke mastership role for
+     * @return a mastership event
+     */
+    MastershipEvent relinquishRole(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId);
+
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java
index 74991c8..46a582a 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLink.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
 
 /**
  * Default edge link model implementation.
@@ -52,10 +53,14 @@
      *                  for network-to-host direction
      * @return new phantom edge link
      */
-    public static DefaultEdgeLink createEdgeLink(HostLocation edgePort,
+    public static DefaultEdgeLink createEdgeLink(ConnectPoint edgePort,
                                                  boolean isIngress) {
+        checkNotNull(edgePort, "Edge port cannot be null");
+        HostLocation location = (edgePort instanceof HostLocation) ?
+                (HostLocation) edgePort : new HostLocation(edgePort, 0);
         return new DefaultEdgeLink(ProviderId.NONE,
                                    new ConnectPoint(HostId.NONE, PortNumber.P0),
-                                   edgePort, isIngress);
+                                   location, isIngress);
     }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java
index 76e2312..60c5945 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostLocation.java
@@ -22,6 +22,17 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Creates a new host location derived from the supplied connection point.
+     *
+     * @param connectPoint connection point
+     * @param time         time when detected, in millis since start of epoch
+     */
+    public HostLocation(ConnectPoint connectPoint, long time) {
+        super(connectPoint.deviceId(), connectPoint.port());
+        this.time = time;
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Returns the time when the location was established, given in
      * milliseconds since start of epoch.
      *
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultDeviceDescription.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultDeviceDescription.java
index 788d23a..ede2eb2 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultDeviceDescription.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultDeviceDescription.java
@@ -96,4 +96,13 @@
                 .toString();
     }
 
+    // default constructor for serialization
+    private DefaultDeviceDescription() {
+        this.uri = null;
+        this.type = null;
+        this.manufacturer = null;
+        this.hwVersion = null;
+        this.swVersion = null;
+        this.serialNumber = null;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultPortDescription.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultPortDescription.java
index eb75ede..e1dcf9e 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultPortDescription.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DefaultPortDescription.java
@@ -48,4 +48,9 @@
         return isEnabled;
     }
 
+    // default constructor for serialization
+    private DefaultPortDescription() {
+        this.number = null;
+        this.isEnabled = false;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DeviceService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DeviceService.java
index 8364935..54b9d72 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DeviceService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/DeviceService.java
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
      * @param deviceId device identifier
      * @return designated mastership role
      */
+    //XXX do we want this method here when MastershipService already does?
     MastershipRole getRole(DeviceId deviceId);
 
 
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentInstaller.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentInstaller.java
index 738be04..9855498 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentInstaller.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentInstaller.java
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.net.intent;
 
+import java.util.concurrent.Future;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.CompletedBatchOperation;
+
 /**
  * Abstraction of entity capable of installing intents to the environment.
  */
@@ -10,7 +14,7 @@
      * @param intent intent to be installed
      * @throws IntentException if issues are encountered while installing the intent
      */
-    void install(T intent);
+    Future<CompletedBatchOperation> install(T intent);
 
     /**
      * Uninstalls the specified intent from the environment.
@@ -18,5 +22,5 @@
      * @param intent intent to be uninstalled
      * @throws IntentException if issues are encountered while uninstalling the intent
      */
-    void uninstall(T intent);
+    Future<CompletedBatchOperation> uninstall(T intent);
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/ClockProviderService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/ClockProviderService.java
index 759b62a..a5f81c7 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/ClockProviderService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/ClockProviderService.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
     /**
      * Updates the mastership term for the specified deviceId.
+     *
      * @param deviceId device identifier.
      * @param term mastership term.
      */
diff --git a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/VersionTest.java b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/VersionTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e357f9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/VersionTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package org.onlab.onos;
+
+import com.google.common.testing.EqualsTester;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+import static org.onlab.onos.Version.version;
+
+/**
+ * Tests of the version descriptor.
+ */
+public class VersionTest {
+
+    @Test
+    public void fromParts() {
+        Version v = version(1, 2, 3, "4321");
+        assertEquals("wrong major", 1, v.major());
+        assertEquals("wrong minor", 2, v.minor());
+        assertEquals("wrong patch", 3, v.patch());
+        assertEquals("wrong build", "4321", v.build());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void fromString() {
+        Version v = version("1.2.3.4321");
+        assertEquals("wrong major", 1, v.major());
+        assertEquals("wrong minor", 2, v.minor());
+        assertEquals("wrong patch", 3, v.patch());
+        assertEquals("wrong build", "4321", v.build());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void snapshot() {
+        Version v = version("1.2.3-SNAPSHOT");
+        assertEquals("wrong major", 1, v.major());
+        assertEquals("wrong minor", 2, v.minor());
+        assertEquals("wrong patch", 3, v.patch());
+        assertEquals("wrong build", "SNAPSHOT", v.build());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testEquals() {
+        new EqualsTester()
+                .addEqualityGroup(version("1.2.3.4321"), version(1, 2, 3, "4321"))
+                .addEqualityGroup(version("1.9.3.4321"), version(1, 9, 3, "4321"))
+                .addEqualityGroup(version("1.2.8.4321"), version(1, 2, 8, "4321"))
+                .addEqualityGroup(version("1.2.3.x"), version(1, 2, 3, "x"))
+                .testEquals();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java
index b3891f1..fd63797 100644
--- a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java
+++ b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/DefaultEdgeLinkTest.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultEdgeLink.createEdgeLink;
 import static org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultLinkTest.cp;
 import static org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId.deviceId;
 import static org.onlab.onos.net.HostId.hostId;
@@ -55,4 +56,24 @@
         assertEquals("incorrect time", 123L, link.hostLocation().time());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void phantomIngress() {
+        HostLocation hostLocation = new HostLocation(DID1, P1, 123L);
+        EdgeLink link = createEdgeLink(hostLocation, true);
+        assertEquals("incorrect dst", hostLocation, link.dst());
+        assertEquals("incorrect type", Link.Type.EDGE, link.type());
+        assertEquals("incorrect connect point", hostLocation, link.hostLocation());
+        assertEquals("incorrect time", 123L, link.hostLocation().time());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void phantomEgress() {
+        ConnectPoint hostLocation = new ConnectPoint(DID1, P1);
+        EdgeLink link = createEdgeLink(hostLocation, false);
+        assertEquals("incorrect src", hostLocation, link.src());
+        assertEquals("incorrect type", Link.Type.EDGE, link.type());
+        assertEquals("incorrect connect point", hostLocation, link.hostLocation());
+        assertEquals("incorrect time", 0L, link.hostLocation().time());
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentServiceTest.java b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentServiceTest.java
index 7eb0e19..163a056 100644
--- a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentServiceTest.java
+++ b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentServiceTest.java
@@ -1,17 +1,25 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.net.intent;
 
-import org.junit.After;
-import org.junit.Before;
-import org.junit.Test;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+import static org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentEvent.Type.FAILED;
+import static org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentEvent.Type.INSTALLED;
+import static org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentEvent.Type.SUBMITTED;
+import static org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentEvent.Type.WITHDRAWN;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.concurrent.Future;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.*;
-import static org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentEvent.Type.*;
+import org.junit.After;
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.CompletedBatchOperation;
 
 /**
  * Suite of tests for the intent service contract.
@@ -290,17 +298,19 @@
         }
 
         @Override
-        public void install(TestInstallableIntent intent) {
+        public Future<CompletedBatchOperation> install(TestInstallableIntent intent) {
             if (fail) {
                 throw new IntentException("install failed by design");
             }
+            return null;
         }
 
         @Override
-        public void uninstall(TestInstallableIntent intent) {
+        public Future<CompletedBatchOperation> uninstall(TestInstallableIntent intent) {
             if (fail) {
                 throw new IntentException("remove failed by design");
             }
+            return null;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/CoreManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/CoreManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b1191f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/CoreManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.cluster.impl;
+
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
+import org.onlab.onos.Version;
+import org.onlab.util.Tools;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.util.List;
+
+/**
+ * Core service implementation.
+ */
+@Component
+@Service
+public class CoreManager implements CoreService {
+
+    private static final File VERSION_FILE = new File("../VERSION");
+    private static Version version = Version.version("1.0.0-SNAPSHOT");
+
+    // TODO: work in progress
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        List<String> versionLines = Tools.slurp(VERSION_FILE);
+        if (versionLines != null && !versionLines.isEmpty()) {
+            version = Version.version(versionLines.get(0));
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Version version() {
+        return version;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java
index a0da87c..125745b 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/MastershipManager.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
         if (role.equals(MastershipRole.MASTER)) {
             event = store.setMaster(nodeId, deviceId);
         } else {
-            event = store.unsetMaster(nodeId, deviceId);
+            event = store.setStandby(nodeId, deviceId);
         }
 
         if (event != null) {
@@ -98,13 +98,10 @@
 
     @Override
     public void relinquishMastership(DeviceId deviceId) {
-        MastershipRole role = getLocalRole(deviceId);
-        if (!role.equals(MastershipRole.MASTER)) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        MastershipEvent event = store.unsetMaster(
+        MastershipEvent event = null;
+        event = store.relinquishRole(
                 clusterService.getLocalNode().id(), deviceId);
+
         if (event != null) {
             post(event);
         }
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManager.java
index 3c4a885..8cde5a3 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManager.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipService;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipTermService;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipTerm;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
 import org.onlab.onos.event.AbstractListenerRegistry;
 import org.onlab.onos.event.EventDeliveryService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
@@ -142,8 +143,12 @@
 
     // Applies the specified role to the device; ignores NONE
     private void applyRole(DeviceId deviceId, MastershipRole newRole) {
-        if (newRole != MastershipRole.NONE) {
+        if (newRole.equals(MastershipRole.NONE)) {
             Device device = store.getDevice(deviceId);
+            // FIXME: Device might not be there yet. (eventual consistent)
+            if (device == null) {
+                return;
+            }
             DeviceProvider provider = getProvider(device.providerId());
             if (provider != null) {
                 provider.roleChanged(device, newRole);
@@ -193,16 +198,50 @@
             checkNotNull(deviceId, DEVICE_ID_NULL);
             checkNotNull(deviceDescription, DEVICE_DESCRIPTION_NULL);
             checkValidity();
+
+            log.info("Device {} connected", deviceId);
+            // check my Role
+            MastershipRole role = mastershipService.requestRoleFor(deviceId);
+
+            if (role != MastershipRole.MASTER) {
+                // TODO: Do we need to explicitly tell the Provider that
+                // this instance is no longer the MASTER? probably not
+                return;
+            }
+
+            MastershipTerm term = mastershipService.requestTermService()
+                    .getMastershipTerm(deviceId);
+            if (!term.master().equals(clusterService.getLocalNode().id())) {
+                // lost mastership after requestRole told this instance was MASTER.
+                return;
+            }
+            // tell clock provider if this instance is the master
+            clockProviderService.setMastershipTerm(deviceId, term);
+
             DeviceEvent event = store.createOrUpdateDevice(provider().id(),
                     deviceId, deviceDescription);
 
-            // If there was a change of any kind, trigger role selection
-            // process.
+            // If there was a change of any kind, tell the provider
+            // that this instance is the master.
+            // Note: event can be null, if mastership was lost between
+            // roleRequest and store update calls.
             if (event != null) {
-                log.info("Device {} connected", deviceId);
-                mastershipService.requestRoleFor(deviceId);
-                provider().roleChanged(event.subject(),
-                        mastershipService.requestRoleFor(deviceId));
+                // TODO: Check switch reconnected case. Is it assured that
+                //       event will never be null?
+                //       Could there be a situation MastershipService told this
+                //       instance is the new Master, but
+                //       event returned from the store is null?
+
+                // TODO: Confirm: Mastership could be lost after requestRole
+                //       and createOrUpdateDevice call.
+                //       In that case STANDBY node can
+                //       claim itself to be master against the Device.
+                //       Will the Node, chosen by the MastershipService, retry
+                //       to get the MASTER role when that happen?
+
+                // FIXME: 1st argument should be deviceId, to allow setting
+                //        certain roles even if the store returned null.
+                provider().roleChanged(event.subject(), role);
                 post(event);
             }
         }
@@ -211,12 +250,23 @@
         public void deviceDisconnected(DeviceId deviceId) {
             checkNotNull(deviceId, DEVICE_ID_NULL);
             checkValidity();
-            DeviceEvent event = store.markOffline(deviceId);
 
-            //we're no longer capable of mastership.
+            // FIXME: only the MASTER should be marking off-line in normal cases,
+            // but if I was the last STANDBY connection, etc. and no one else
+            // was there to mark the device offline, this instance may need to
+            // temporarily request for Master Role and mark offline.
+            if (!mastershipService.getLocalRole(deviceId).equals(MastershipRole.MASTER)) {
+                log.debug("Device {} disconnected, but I am not the master", deviceId);
+                //let go of any role anyways
+                mastershipService.relinquishMastership(deviceId);
+                return;
+            }
+            DeviceEvent event = store.markOffline(deviceId);
+            //we're no longer capable of being master or a candidate.
+            mastershipService.relinquishMastership(deviceId);
+
             if (event != null) {
                 log.info("Device {} disconnected", deviceId);
-                mastershipService.relinquishMastership(deviceId);
                 post(event);
             }
         }
@@ -256,6 +306,9 @@
             // FIXME: implement response to this notification
             log.warn("Failed to assert role [{}] onto Device {}", role,
                     deviceId);
+            if (role == MastershipRole.MASTER) {
+                mastershipService.relinquishMastership(deviceId);
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -267,17 +320,29 @@
     }
 
     // Intercepts mastership events
-    private class InternalMastershipListener
-    implements MastershipListener {
+    private class InternalMastershipListener implements MastershipListener {
+
         @Override
         public void event(MastershipEvent event) {
-            if (event.master().equals(clusterService.getLocalNode().id())) {
-                MastershipTerm term = mastershipService.requestTermService()
-                        .getMastershipTerm(event.subject());
-                clockProviderService.setMastershipTerm(event.subject(), term);
-                applyRole(event.subject(), MastershipRole.MASTER);
+            final DeviceId did = event.subject();
+            if (isAvailable(did)) {
+                final NodeId myNodeId = clusterService.getLocalNode().id();
+
+                if (myNodeId.equals(event.master())) {
+                    MastershipTerm term = termService.getMastershipTerm(did);
+
+                    if (term.master().equals(myNodeId)) {
+                        // only set the new term if I am the master
+                        clockProviderService.setMastershipTerm(did, term);
+                    }
+                    applyRole(did, MastershipRole.MASTER);
+                } else {
+                    applyRole(did, MastershipRole.STANDBY);
+                }
             } else {
-                applyRole(event.subject(), MastershipRole.STANDBY);
+                //device dead to node, give up
+                mastershipService.relinquishMastership(did);
+                applyRole(did, MastershipRole.STANDBY);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java
index 16b75f2..50f1038 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@
 import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
+import java.util.concurrent.Future;
 
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
 import org.onlab.onos.event.AbstractListenerRegistry;
 import org.onlab.onos.event.EventDeliveryService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.CompletedBatchOperation;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.InstallableIntent;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.Intent;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentCompiler;
@@ -44,7 +47,9 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentStoreDelegate;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
+import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
 
 /**
  * An implementation of Intent Manager.
@@ -67,7 +72,8 @@
     private final AbstractListenerRegistry<IntentEvent, IntentListener>
             listenerRegistry = new AbstractListenerRegistry<>();
 
-    private final ExecutorService executor = newSingleThreadExecutor(namedThreads("onos-intents"));
+    private ExecutorService executor;
+    private ExecutorService monitorExecutor;
 
     private final IntentStoreDelegate delegate = new InternalStoreDelegate();
     private final TopologyChangeDelegate topoDelegate = new InternalTopoChangeDelegate();
@@ -86,6 +92,8 @@
         store.setDelegate(delegate);
         trackerService.setDelegate(topoDelegate);
         eventDispatcher.addSink(IntentEvent.class, listenerRegistry);
+        executor = newSingleThreadExecutor(namedThreads("onos-intents"));
+        monitorExecutor = newSingleThreadExecutor(namedThreads("onos-intent-monitor"));
         log.info("Started");
     }
 
@@ -94,6 +102,8 @@
         store.unsetDelegate(delegate);
         trackerService.unsetDelegate(topoDelegate);
         eventDispatcher.removeSink(IntentEvent.class);
+        executor.shutdown();
+        monitorExecutor.shutdown();
         log.info("Stopped");
     }
 
@@ -240,14 +250,23 @@
         }
     }
 
-    // FIXME: To make SDN-IP workable ASAP, only single level compilation is implemented
-    // TODO: implement compilation traversing tree structure
+    /**
+     * Compiles an intent recursively.
+     *
+     * @param intent intent
+     * @return result of compilation
+     */
     private List<InstallableIntent> compileIntent(Intent intent) {
-        List<InstallableIntent> installable = new ArrayList<>();
-        for (Intent compiled : getCompiler(intent).compile(intent)) {
-            InstallableIntent installableIntent = (InstallableIntent) compiled;
-            installable.add(installableIntent);
+        if (intent instanceof InstallableIntent) {
+            return ImmutableList.of((InstallableIntent) intent);
         }
+
+        List<InstallableIntent> installable = new ArrayList<>();
+        // TODO do we need to registerSubclassCompiler?
+        for (Intent compiled : getCompiler(intent).compile(intent)) {
+            installable.addAll(compileIntent(compiled));
+        }
+
         return installable;
     }
 
@@ -261,6 +280,7 @@
         // Indicate that the intent is entering the installing phase.
         store.setState(intent, INSTALLING);
 
+        List<Future<CompletedBatchOperation>> installFutures = Lists.newArrayList();
         try {
             List<InstallableIntent> installables = store.getInstallableIntents(intent.id());
             if (installables != null) {
@@ -268,17 +288,20 @@
                     registerSubclassInstallerIfNeeded(installable);
                     trackerService.addTrackedResources(intent.id(),
                                                        installable.requiredLinks());
-                    getInstaller(installable).install(installable);
+                    Future<CompletedBatchOperation> future = getInstaller(installable).install(installable);
+                    installFutures.add(future);
                 }
             }
-            eventDispatcher.post(store.setState(intent, INSTALLED));
-
+            // FIXME we have to wait for the installable intents
+            //eventDispatcher.post(store.setState(intent, INSTALLED));
+            monitorExecutor.execute(new IntentInstallMonitor(intent, installFutures, INSTALLED));
         } catch (Exception e) {
             log.warn("Unable to install intent {} due to: {}", intent.id(), e);
-            uninstallIntent(intent);
+            uninstallIntent(intent, RECOMPILING);
 
             // If compilation failed, kick off the recompiling phase.
-            executeRecompilingPhase(intent);
+            // FIXME
+            //executeRecompilingPhase(intent);
         }
     }
 
@@ -327,12 +350,14 @@
     private void executeWithdrawingPhase(Intent intent) {
         // Indicate that the intent is being withdrawn.
         store.setState(intent, WITHDRAWING);
-        uninstallIntent(intent);
+        uninstallIntent(intent, WITHDRAWN);
 
         // If all went well, disassociate the top-level intent with its
         // installable derivatives and mark it as withdrawn.
-        store.removeInstalledIntents(intent.id());
-        eventDispatcher.post(store.setState(intent, WITHDRAWN));
+        // FIXME need to clean up
+        //store.removeInstalledIntents(intent.id());
+        // FIXME
+        //eventDispatcher.post(store.setState(intent, WITHDRAWN));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -340,14 +365,17 @@
      *
      * @param intent intent to be uninstalled
      */
-    private void uninstallIntent(Intent intent) {
+    private void uninstallIntent(Intent intent, IntentState nextState) {
+        List<Future<CompletedBatchOperation>> uninstallFutures = Lists.newArrayList();
         try {
             List<InstallableIntent> installables = store.getInstallableIntents(intent.id());
             if (installables != null) {
                 for (InstallableIntent installable : installables) {
-                    getInstaller(installable).uninstall(installable);
+                    Future<CompletedBatchOperation> future = getInstaller(installable).uninstall(installable);
+                    uninstallFutures.add(future);
                 }
             }
+            monitorExecutor.execute(new IntentInstallMonitor(intent, uninstallFutures, nextState));
         } catch (IntentException e) {
             log.warn("Unable to uninstall intent {} due to: {}", intent.id(), e);
         }
@@ -422,9 +450,10 @@
             // Attempt recompilation of the specified intents first.
             for (IntentId intentId : intentIds) {
                 Intent intent = getIntent(intentId);
-                uninstallIntent(intent);
+                uninstallIntent(intent, RECOMPILING);
 
-                executeRecompilingPhase(intent);
+                //FIXME
+                //executeRecompilingPhase(intent);
             }
 
             if (compileAllFailed) {
@@ -460,4 +489,44 @@
         }
     }
 
+    private class IntentInstallMonitor implements Runnable {
+
+        private final Intent intent;
+        private final List<Future<CompletedBatchOperation>> futures;
+        private final IntentState nextState;
+
+        public IntentInstallMonitor(Intent intent,
+                List<Future<CompletedBatchOperation>> futures, IntentState nextState) {
+            this.intent = intent;
+            this.futures = futures;
+            this.nextState = nextState;
+        }
+
+        private void updateIntent(Intent intent) {
+            if (nextState == RECOMPILING) {
+                executor.execute(new IntentTask(nextState, intent));
+            } else if (nextState == INSTALLED || nextState == WITHDRAWN) {
+                eventDispatcher.post(store.setState(intent, nextState));
+            } else {
+                log.warn("Invalid next intent state {} for intent {}", nextState, intent);
+            }
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void run() {
+            for (Iterator<Future<CompletedBatchOperation>> i = futures.iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
+                Future<CompletedBatchOperation> future = i.next();
+                if (future.isDone()) {
+                    // TODO: we may want to get the future here
+                    i.remove();
+                }
+            }
+            if (futures.isEmpty()) {
+                updateIntent(intent);
+            } else {
+                // resubmit ourselves if we are not done yet
+                monitorExecutor.submit(this);
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java
index 0ca75c2..56214c6 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
-import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
+import java.util.concurrent.Future;
 
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.CompletedBatchOperation;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.DefaultFlowRule;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.DefaultTrafficSelector;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.FlowRule;
@@ -57,8 +58,26 @@
         intentManager.unregisterInstaller(PathIntent.class);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Apply a list of FlowRules.
+     *
+     * @param rules rules to apply
+     */
+    private Future<CompletedBatchOperation> applyBatch(List<FlowRuleBatchEntry> rules) {
+        FlowRuleBatchOperation batch = new FlowRuleBatchOperation(rules);
+        Future<CompletedBatchOperation> future = flowRuleService.applyBatch(batch);
+        return future;
+//        try {
+//            //FIXME don't do this here
+//            future.get();
+//        } catch (InterruptedException | ExecutionException e) {
+//            // TODO Auto-generated catch block
+//            e.printStackTrace();
+//        }
+    }
+
     @Override
-    public void install(PathIntent intent) {
+    public Future<CompletedBatchOperation> install(PathIntent intent) {
         TrafficSelector.Builder builder =
                 DefaultTrafficSelector.builder(intent.selector());
         Iterator<Link> links = intent.path().links().iterator();
@@ -74,20 +93,14 @@
                     builder.build(), treatment,
                     123, appId, 600);
             rules.add(new FlowRuleBatchEntry(FlowRuleOperation.ADD, rule));
-            //flowRuleService.applyFlowRules(rule);
             prev = link.dst();
         }
-        FlowRuleBatchOperation batch = new FlowRuleBatchOperation(rules);
-        try {
-            flowRuleService.applyBatch(batch).get();
-        } catch (InterruptedException | ExecutionException e) {
-            // TODO Auto-generated catch block
-            e.printStackTrace();
-        }
+
+        return applyBatch(rules);
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void uninstall(PathIntent intent) {
+    public Future<CompletedBatchOperation> uninstall(PathIntent intent) {
         TrafficSelector.Builder builder =
                 DefaultTrafficSelector.builder(intent.selector());
         Iterator<Link> links = intent.path().links().iterator();
@@ -103,15 +116,131 @@
                     builder.build(), treatment,
                     123, appId, 600);
             rules.add(new FlowRuleBatchEntry(FlowRuleOperation.REMOVE, rule));
-            //flowRuleService.removeFlowRules(rule);
             prev = link.dst();
         }
-        FlowRuleBatchOperation batch = new FlowRuleBatchOperation(rules);
-        try {
-            flowRuleService.applyBatch(batch).get();
-        } catch (InterruptedException | ExecutionException e) {
-            // TODO Auto-generated catch block
-            e.printStackTrace();
+        return applyBatch(rules);
+    }
+
+    // TODO refactor below this line... ----------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * Generates the series of MatchActionOperations from the
+     * {@link FlowBatchOperation}.
+     * <p>
+     * FIXME: Currently supporting PacketPathFlow and SingleDstTreeFlow only.
+     * <p>
+     * FIXME: MatchActionOperations should have dependency field to the other
+     * match action operations, and this method should use this.
+     *
+     * @param op the {@link FlowBatchOperation} object
+     * @return the list of {@link MatchActionOperations} objects
+     */
+    /*
+    private List<MatchActionOperations>
+            generateMatchActionOperationsList(FlowBatchOperation op) {
+
+        // MatchAction operations at head (ingress) switches.
+        MatchActionOperations headOps = matchActionService.createOperationsList();
+
+        // MatchAction operations at rest of the switches.
+        MatchActionOperations tailOps = matchActionService.createOperationsList();
+
+        MatchActionOperations removeOps = matchActionService.createOperationsList();
+
+        for (BatchOperationEntry<Operator, ?> e : op.getOperations()) {
+
+            if (e.getOperator() == FlowBatchOperation.Operator.ADD) {
+                generateInstallMatchActionOperations(e, tailOps, headOps);
+            } else if (e.getOperator() == FlowBatchOperation.Operator.REMOVE) {
+                generateRemoveMatchActionOperations(e, removeOps);
+            } else {
+                throw new UnsupportedOperationException(
+                        "FlowManager supports ADD and REMOVE operations only.");
+            }
+
+        }
+
+        return Arrays.asList(tailOps, headOps, removeOps);
+    }
+    */
+
+    /**
+     * Generates MatchActionOperations for an INSTALL FlowBatchOperation.
+     * <p/>
+     * FIXME: Currently only supports flows that generate exactly two match
+     * action operation sets.
+     *
+     * @param e Flow BatchOperationEntry
+     * @param tailOps MatchActionOperation set that the tail
+     * MatchActionOperations will be placed in
+     * @param headOps MatchActionOperation set that the head
+     * MatchActionOperations will be placed in
+     */
+    /*
+    private void generateInstallMatchActionOperations(
+            BatchOperationEntry<Operator, ?> e,
+            MatchActionOperations tailOps,
+            MatchActionOperations headOps) {
+
+        if (!(e.getTarget() instanceof Flow)) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException(
+                    "The target is not Flow object: " + e.getTarget());
+        }
+
+        // Compile flows to match-actions
+        Flow flow = (Flow) e.getTarget();
+        List<MatchActionOperations> maOps = flow.compile(
+                e.getOperator(), matchActionService);
+        verifyNotNull(maOps, "Could not compile the flow: " + flow);
+        verify(maOps.size() == 2,
+                "The flow generates unspported match-action operations.");
+
+        // Map FlowId to MatchActionIds
+        for (MatchActionOperations maOp : maOps) {
+            for (MatchActionOperationEntry entry : maOp.getOperations()) {
+                flowMatchActionsMap.put(
+                        KryoFactory.serialize(flow.getId()),
+                        KryoFactory.serialize(entry.getTarget()));
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Merge match-action operations
+        for (MatchActionOperationEntry mae : maOps.get(0).getOperations()) {
+            verify(mae.getOperator() == MatchActionOperations.Operator.INSTALL);
+            tailOps.addOperation(mae);
+        }
+        for (MatchActionOperationEntry mae : maOps.get(1).getOperations()) {
+            verify(mae.getOperator() == MatchActionOperations.Operator.INSTALL);
+            headOps.addOperation(mae);
         }
     }
+    */
+    /**
+     * Generates MatchActionOperations for a REMOVE FlowBatchOperation.
+     *
+     * @param e Flow BatchOperationEntry
+     * @param removeOps MatchActionOperation set that the remove
+     * MatchActionOperations will be placed in
+     */
+    /*
+    private void generateRemoveMatchActionOperations(
+            BatchOperationEntry<Operator, ?> e,
+            MatchActionOperations removeOps) {
+
+        if (!(e.getTarget() instanceof FlowId)) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException(
+                    "The target is not a FlowId object: " + e.getTarget());
+        }
+
+        // Compile flows to match-actions
+        FlowId flowId = (FlowId) e.getTarget();
+
+        for (byte[] matchActionIdBytes :
+            flowMatchActionsMap.remove(KryoFactory.serialize(flowId))) {
+            MatchActionId matchActionId = KryoFactory.deserialize(matchActionIdBytes);
+            removeOps.addOperation(new MatchActionOperationEntry(
+                    MatchActionOperations.Operator.REMOVE, matchActionId));
+        }
+    }
+    */
 }
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PointToPointIntentCompiler.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PointToPointIntentCompiler.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0bd1703
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PointToPointIntentCompiler.java
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.net.intent.impl;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+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.Reference;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultEdgeLink;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultPath;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Path;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.host.HostService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IdGenerator;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.Intent;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentCompiler;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentExtensionService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.IntentId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.PathIntent;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.PointToPointIntent;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.topology.PathService;
+
+/**
+ * A intent compiler for {@link org.onlab.onos.net.intent.HostToHostIntent}.
+ */
+@Component(immediate = true)
+public class PointToPointIntentCompiler
+        implements IntentCompiler<PointToPointIntent> {
+
+    private static final ProviderId PID = new ProviderId("core", "org.onlab.onos.core", true);
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected IntentExtensionService intentManager;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected PathService pathService;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected HostService hostService;
+
+    private IdGenerator<IntentId> intentIdGenerator;
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        IdBlockAllocator idBlockAllocator = new DummyIdBlockAllocator();
+        intentIdGenerator = new IdBlockAllocatorBasedIntentIdGenerator(idBlockAllocator);
+        intentManager.registerCompiler(PointToPointIntent.class, this);
+    }
+
+    @Deactivate
+    public void deactivate() {
+        intentManager.unregisterCompiler(PointToPointIntent.class);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public List<Intent> compile(PointToPointIntent intent) {
+        Path path = getPath(intent.ingressPoint(), intent.egressPoint());
+
+        List<Link> links = new ArrayList<>();
+        links.add(DefaultEdgeLink.createEdgeLink(intent.ingressPoint(), true));
+        links.addAll(path.links());
+        links.add(DefaultEdgeLink.createEdgeLink(intent.egressPoint(), false));
+
+        return Arrays.asList(createPathIntent(new DefaultPath(PID, links, path.cost() + 2,
+                                              path.annotations()),
+                             intent));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a path intent from the specified path and original
+     * connectivity intent.
+     *
+     * @param path path to create an intent for
+     * @param intent original intent
+     */
+    private Intent createPathIntent(Path path,
+                                    PointToPointIntent intent) {
+
+        return new PathIntent(intentIdGenerator.getNewId(),
+                              intent.selector(), intent.treatment(),
+                              path.src(), path.dst(), path);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Computes a path between two ConnectPoints.
+     *
+     * @param one start of the path
+     * @param two end of the path
+     * @return Path between the two
+     * @throws PathNotFoundException if a path cannot be found
+     */
+    private Path getPath(ConnectPoint one, ConnectPoint two) {
+        Set<Path> paths = pathService.getPaths(one.deviceId(), two.deviceId());
+        if (paths.isEmpty()) {
+            throw new PathNotFoundException("No path from " + one + " to " + two);
+        }
+        // TODO: let's be more intelligent about this eventually
+        return paths.iterator().next();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManagerTest.java b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManagerTest.java
index 7d09cca..e833b4a 100644
--- a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManagerTest.java
+++ b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DeviceManagerTest.java
@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.net.device.impl;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
+
 import org.junit.After;
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Ignore;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterEventListener;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterService;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipServiceAdapter;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipTerm;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipTermService;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode.State;
 import org.onlab.onos.event.Event;
 import org.onlab.onos.event.impl.TestEventDispatcher;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
@@ -27,7 +35,9 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.device.PortDescription;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.AbstractProvider;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.ClockProviderService;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.trivial.impl.SimpleDeviceStore;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Iterator;
@@ -56,6 +66,8 @@
     private static final PortNumber P1 = PortNumber.portNumber(1);
     private static final PortNumber P2 = PortNumber.portNumber(2);
     private static final PortNumber P3 = PortNumber.portNumber(3);
+    private static final NodeId NID_LOCAL = new NodeId("local");
+    private static final IpPrefix LOCALHOST = IpPrefix.valueOf("127.0.0.1");
 
     private DeviceManager mgr;
 
@@ -75,6 +87,8 @@
         mgr.store = new SimpleDeviceStore();
         mgr.eventDispatcher = new TestEventDispatcher();
         mgr.mastershipService = new TestMastershipService();
+        mgr.clusterService = new TestClusterService();
+        mgr.clockProviderService = new TestClockProviderService();
         mgr.activate();
 
         service.addListener(listener);
@@ -258,7 +272,8 @@
         }
     }
 
-    private static class TestMastershipService extends MastershipServiceAdapter {
+    private static class TestMastershipService
+            extends MastershipServiceAdapter {
         @Override
         public MastershipRole getLocalRole(DeviceId deviceId) {
             return MastershipRole.MASTER;
@@ -273,6 +288,59 @@
         public MastershipRole requestRoleFor(DeviceId deviceId) {
             return MastershipRole.MASTER;
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public MastershipTermService requestTermService() {
+            return new MastershipTermService() {
+                @Override
+                public MastershipTerm getMastershipTerm(DeviceId deviceId) {
+                    // FIXME: just returning something not null
+                    return MastershipTerm.of(NID_LOCAL, 1);
+                }
+            };
+        }
     }
 
+    // code clone
+    private final class TestClusterService implements ClusterService {
+
+        ControllerNode local = new DefaultControllerNode(NID_LOCAL, LOCALHOST);
+
+        @Override
+        public ControllerNode getLocalNode() {
+            return local;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public Set<ControllerNode> getNodes() {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public ControllerNode getNode(NodeId nodeId) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public State getState(NodeId nodeId) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void addListener(ClusterEventListener listener) {
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void removeListener(ClusterEventListener listener) {
+        }
+    }
+
+    private final class TestClockProviderService implements
+            ClockProviderService {
+
+        @Override
+        public void setMastershipTerm(DeviceId deviceId, MastershipTerm term) {
+            // TODO Auto-generated method stub
+        }
+    }
 }
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
deleted file mode 100644
index 3f8c0a8..0000000
--- a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,346 +0,0 @@
-package org.onlab.onos.net.device.impl;
-
-import com.google.common.collect.Iterables;
-import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
-import com.hazelcast.config.Config;
-import com.hazelcast.core.Hazelcast;
-
-import org.junit.After;
-import org.junit.Before;
-import org.junit.Test;
-import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
-import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipServiceAdapter;
-import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
-import org.onlab.onos.event.Event;
-import org.onlab.onos.event.EventDeliveryService;
-import org.onlab.onos.event.impl.TestEventDispatcher;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.MastershipRole;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.Port;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.PortNumber;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DefaultDeviceDescription;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DefaultPortDescription;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceAdminService;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceDescription;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceEvent;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceListener;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceProvider;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceProviderRegistry;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceProviderService;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceService;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.device.PortDescription;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.AbstractProvider;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
-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.device.impl.DistributedDeviceStore;
-import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
-
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.HashSet;
-import java.util.Iterator;
-import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Map.Entry;
-import java.util.Set;
-import java.util.concurrent.BlockingQueue;
-import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
-import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
-import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingQueue;
-import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
-
-import static org.junit.Assert.*;
-import static org.onlab.onos.net.Device.Type.SWITCH;
-import static org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId.deviceId;
-import static org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceEvent.Type.*;
-
-// FIXME This test is slow starting up Hazelcast on each test cases.
-// FIXME DistributedDeviceStore should have it's own test cases.
-
-/**
- * Test codifying the device service & device provider service contracts.
- */
-public class DistributedDeviceManagerTest {
-
-    private static final ProviderId PID = new ProviderId("of", "foo");
-    private static final DeviceId DID1 = deviceId("of:foo");
-    private static final DeviceId DID2 = deviceId("of:bar");
-    private static final String MFR = "whitebox";
-    private static final String HW = "1.1.x";
-    private static final String SW1 = "3.8.1";
-    private static final String SW2 = "3.9.5";
-    private static final String SN = "43311-12345";
-
-    private static final PortNumber P1 = PortNumber.portNumber(1);
-    private static final PortNumber P2 = PortNumber.portNumber(2);
-    private static final PortNumber P3 = PortNumber.portNumber(3);
-
-    private static final DefaultControllerNode SELF
-        = new DefaultControllerNode(new NodeId("foobar"),
-                        IpPrefix.valueOf("127.0.0.1"));
-
-
-    private DeviceManager mgr;
-
-    protected StoreManager storeManager;
-    protected DeviceService service;
-    protected DeviceAdminService admin;
-    protected DeviceProviderRegistry registry;
-    protected DeviceProviderService providerService;
-    protected TestProvider provider;
-    protected TestListener listener = new TestListener();
-    private DistributedDeviceStore dstore;
-    private TestMastershipManager masterManager;
-    private EventDeliveryService eventService;
-
-    @Before
-    public void setUp() {
-        mgr = new DeviceManager();
-        service = mgr;
-        admin = mgr;
-        registry = mgr;
-        // TODO should find a way to clean Hazelcast instance without shutdown.
-        Config config = TestStoreManager.getTestConfig();
-
-        masterManager = new TestMastershipManager();
-
-        storeManager = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
-        storeManager.activate();
-
-        dstore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager);
-        dstore.activate();
-
-        mgr.store = dstore;
-        eventService = new TestEventDispatcher();
-        mgr.eventDispatcher = eventService;
-        mgr.mastershipService = masterManager;
-        mgr.activate();
-
-        service.addListener(listener);
-
-        provider = new TestProvider();
-        providerService = registry.register(provider);
-        assertTrue("provider should be registered",
-                   registry.getProviders().contains(provider.id()));
-    }
-
-    @After
-    public void tearDown() {
-        registry.unregister(provider);
-        assertFalse("provider should not be registered",
-                    registry.getProviders().contains(provider.id()));
-        service.removeListener(listener);
-        mgr.deactivate();
-
-        dstore.deactivate();
-        storeManager.deactivate();
-    }
-
-    private void connectDevice(DeviceId deviceId, String swVersion) {
-        DeviceDescription description =
-                new DefaultDeviceDescription(deviceId.uri(), SWITCH, MFR,
-                                             HW, swVersion, SN);
-        providerService.deviceConnected(deviceId, description);
-        assertNotNull("device should be found", service.getDevice(DID1));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void deviceConnected() {
-        assertNull("device should not be found", service.getDevice(DID1));
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_ADDED);
-
-        assertEquals("only one device expected", 1, Iterables.size(service.getDevices()));
-        Iterator<Device> it = service.getDevices().iterator();
-        assertNotNull("one device expected", it.next());
-        assertFalse("only one device expected", it.hasNext());
-
-        assertEquals("incorrect device count", 1, service.getDeviceCount());
-        assertTrue("device should be available", service.isAvailable(DID1));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void deviceDisconnected() {
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        connectDevice(DID2, SW1);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_ADDED, DEVICE_ADDED);
-        assertTrue("device should be available", service.isAvailable(DID1));
-
-        // Disconnect
-        providerService.deviceDisconnected(DID1);
-        assertNotNull("device should not be found", service.getDevice(DID1));
-        assertFalse("device should not be available", service.isAvailable(DID1));
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_AVAILABILITY_CHANGED);
-
-        // Reconnect
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_AVAILABILITY_CHANGED);
-
-        assertEquals("incorrect device count", 2, service.getDeviceCount());
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void deviceUpdated() {
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_ADDED);
-
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW2);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_UPDATED);
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void getRole() {
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        assertEquals("incorrect role", MastershipRole.MASTER, service.getRole(DID1));
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void updatePorts() {
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        List<PortDescription> pds = new ArrayList<>();
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P1, true));
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P2, true));
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P3, true));
-        providerService.updatePorts(DID1, pds);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_ADDED, PORT_ADDED, PORT_ADDED, PORT_ADDED);
-        pds.clear();
-
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P1, false));
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P3, true));
-        providerService.updatePorts(DID1, pds);
-        validateEvents(PORT_UPDATED, PORT_REMOVED);
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void updatePortStatus() {
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        List<PortDescription> pds = new ArrayList<>();
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P1, true));
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P2, true));
-        providerService.updatePorts(DID1, pds);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_ADDED, PORT_ADDED, PORT_ADDED);
-
-        providerService.portStatusChanged(DID1, new DefaultPortDescription(P1, false));
-        validateEvents(PORT_UPDATED);
-        providerService.portStatusChanged(DID1, new DefaultPortDescription(P1, false));
-        assertTrue("no events expected", listener.events.isEmpty());
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void getPorts() {
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        List<PortDescription> pds = new ArrayList<>();
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P1, true));
-        pds.add(new DefaultPortDescription(P2, true));
-        providerService.updatePorts(DID1, pds);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_ADDED, PORT_ADDED, PORT_ADDED);
-        assertEquals("wrong port count", 2, service.getPorts(DID1).size());
-
-        Port port = service.getPort(DID1, P1);
-        assertEquals("incorrect port", P1, service.getPort(DID1, P1).number());
-        assertEquals("incorrect state", true, service.getPort(DID1, P1).isEnabled());
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void removeDevice() {
-        connectDevice(DID1, SW1);
-        connectDevice(DID2, SW2);
-        assertEquals("incorrect device count", 2, service.getDeviceCount());
-        admin.removeDevice(DID1);
-        validateEvents(DEVICE_ADDED, DEVICE_ADDED, DEVICE_REMOVED);
-        assertNull("device should not be found", service.getDevice(DID1));
-        assertNotNull("device should be found", service.getDevice(DID2));
-        assertEquals("incorrect device count", 1, service.getDeviceCount());
-    }
-
-    protected void validateEvents(Enum... types) {
-        for (Enum type : types) {
-            try {
-                Event event = listener.events.poll(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
-                assertNotNull("Timed out waiting for " + event, event);
-                assertEquals("incorrect event type", type, event.type());
-            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
-                fail("Unexpected interrupt");
-            }
-        }
-        assertTrue("Unexpected events left", listener.events.isEmpty());
-        listener.events.clear();
-    }
-
-
-    private class TestProvider extends AbstractProvider implements DeviceProvider {
-        private Device deviceReceived;
-        private MastershipRole roleReceived;
-
-        public TestProvider() {
-            super(PID);
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public void triggerProbe(Device device) {
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public void roleChanged(Device device, MastershipRole newRole) {
-            deviceReceived = device;
-            roleReceived = newRole;
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static class TestListener implements DeviceListener {
-        final BlockingQueue<DeviceEvent> events = new LinkedBlockingQueue<>();
-
-        @Override
-        public void event(DeviceEvent event) {
-            events.add(event);
-        }
-    }
-
-    private class TestDistributedDeviceStore extends DistributedDeviceStore {
-
-        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService) {
-            this.storeService = storeService;
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static class TestMastershipManager extends MastershipServiceAdapter {
-
-        private ConcurrentMap<DeviceId, NodeId> masters = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
-
-        public TestMastershipManager() {
-            // SELF master of all initially
-            masters.put(DID1, SELF.id());
-            masters.put(DID1, SELF.id());
-        }
-        @Override
-        public MastershipRole getLocalRole(DeviceId deviceId) {
-            return MastershipRole.MASTER;
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public Set<DeviceId> getDevicesOf(NodeId nodeId) {
-            HashSet<DeviceId> set = Sets.newHashSet();
-            for (Entry<DeviceId, NodeId> e : masters.entrySet()) {
-                if (e.getValue().equals(nodeId)) {
-                    set.add(e.getKey());
-                }
-            }
-            return set;
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public MastershipRole requestRoleFor(DeviceId deviceId) {
-            if (SELF.id().equals(masters.get(deviceId))) {
-                return MastershipRole.MASTER;
-            } else {
-                return MastershipRole.STANDBY;
-            }
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public void relinquishMastership(DeviceId deviceId) {
-            masters.remove(deviceId, SELF.id());
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMessage.java
index 2bdf5a0..b74f887 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMessage.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMessage.java
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
 
-// TODO: ClusterMessage should be aware about how to serialize the payload
-// TODO: Should payload type be made generic?
+// TODO: Should payload type be ByteBuffer?
 /**
  * Base message for cluster-wide communications.
  */
@@ -12,7 +11,6 @@
     private final NodeId sender;
     private final MessageSubject subject;
     private final byte[] payload;
-    // TODO: add field specifying Serializer for payload
 
     /**
      * Creates a cluster message.
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubject.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubject.java
index ee3e789..43df15f 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubject.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubject.java
@@ -45,4 +45,9 @@
         MessageSubject that = (MessageSubject) obj;
         return Objects.equals(this.value, that.value);
     }
+
+    // for serializer
+    protected MessageSubject() {
+        this.value = "";
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/impl/ClusterCommunicationManager.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/impl/ClusterCommunicationManager.java
index 7b05401..1b11873 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/impl/ClusterCommunicationManager.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/impl/ClusterCommunicationManager.java
@@ -3,12 +3,9 @@
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.util.HashMap;
-import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.Timer;
 import java.util.TimerTask;
-
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
@@ -26,8 +23,10 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMessage;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMessageHandler;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubject;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.ClusterMessageSerializer;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoPoolUtil;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.MessageSubjectSerializer;
 import org.onlab.util.KryoPool;
 import org.onlab.netty.Endpoint;
 import org.onlab.netty.Message;
@@ -50,8 +49,6 @@
     private ClusterService clusterService;
 
     private ClusterNodesDelegate nodesDelegate;
-    // FIXME: `members` should go away and should be using ClusterService
-    private Map<NodeId, ControllerNode> members = new HashMap<>();
     private final Timer timer = new Timer("onos-controller-heatbeats");
     public static final long HEART_BEAT_INTERVAL_MILLIS = 1000L;
 
@@ -59,11 +56,14 @@
     private MessagingService messagingService;
 
     private static final KryoSerializer SERIALIZER = new KryoSerializer() {
+        @Override
         protected void setupKryoPool() {
             serializerPool = KryoPool.newBuilder()
                     .register(KryoPoolUtil.API)
-                    .register(ClusterMessage.class)
+                    .register(ClusterMessage.class, new ClusterMessageSerializer())
                     .register(ClusterMembershipEvent.class)
+                    .register(byte[].class)
+                    .register(MessageSubject.class, new MessageSubjectSerializer())
                     .build()
                     .populate(1);
         }
@@ -73,7 +73,15 @@
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
         localNode = clusterService.getLocalNode();
-        messagingService = new NettyMessagingService(localNode.tcpPort());
+        NettyMessagingService netty = new NettyMessagingService(localNode.tcpPort());
+        // FIXME: workaround until it becomes a service.
+        try {
+            netty.activate();
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            // TODO Auto-generated catch block
+            log.error("NettyMessagingService#activate", e);
+        }
+        messagingService = netty;
         log.info("Started");
     }
 
@@ -86,7 +94,7 @@
     @Override
     public boolean broadcast(ClusterMessage message) {
         boolean ok = true;
-        for (ControllerNode node : members.values()) {
+        for (ControllerNode node : clusterService.getNodes()) {
             if (!node.equals(localNode)) {
                 ok = unicast(message, node.id()) && ok;
             }
@@ -107,11 +115,12 @@
 
     @Override
     public boolean unicast(ClusterMessage message, NodeId toNodeId) {
-        ControllerNode node = members.get(toNodeId);
+        ControllerNode node = clusterService.getNode(toNodeId);
         checkArgument(node != null, "Unknown nodeId: %s", toNodeId);
         Endpoint nodeEp = new Endpoint(node.ip().toString(), node.tcpPort());
         try {
-            messagingService.sendAsync(nodeEp, message.subject().value(), SERIALIZER.encode(message));
+            messagingService.sendAsync(nodeEp,
+                    message.subject().value(), SERIALIZER.encode(message));
             return true;
         } catch (IOException e) {
             log.error("Failed to send cluster message to nodeId: " + toNodeId, e);
@@ -137,7 +146,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public void addNode(ControllerNode node) {
-        members.put(node.id(), node);
+        //members.put(node.id(), node);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -146,7 +155,7 @@
                 localNode.id(),
                 new MessageSubject("CLUSTER_MEMBERSHIP_EVENT"),
                 SERIALIZER.encode(new ClusterMembershipEvent(ClusterMembershipEventType.LEAVING_MEMBER, node))));
-        members.remove(node.id());
+        //members.remove(node.id());
     }
 
     // Sends a heart beat to all peers.
@@ -181,7 +190,7 @@
         }
     }
 
-    private static class InternalClusterMessageHandler implements MessageHandler {
+    private final class InternalClusterMessageHandler implements MessageHandler {
 
         private final ClusterMessageHandler handler;
 
@@ -191,8 +200,13 @@
 
         @Override
         public void handle(Message message) {
-            ClusterMessage clusterMessage = SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
-            handler.handle(clusterMessage);
+            try {
+                ClusterMessage clusterMessage = SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
+                handler.handle(clusterMessage);
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                log.error("Exception caught during ClusterMessageHandler", e);
+                throw e;
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/impl/Timestamped.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/impl/Timestamped.java
index 0598d6d..77b0a87 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/impl/Timestamped.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/impl/Timestamped.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 
     // Default constructor for serialization
     @Deprecated
-    protected Timestamped() {
+    private Timestamped() {
         this.value = null;
         this.timestamp = null;
     }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java
index 2f1e504..f39413b 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStore.java
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.impl.Timestamped;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoPoolUtil;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer;
 import org.onlab.util.KryoPool;
 import org.onlab.util.NewConcurrentHashMap;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
@@ -113,14 +114,18 @@
     protected ClusterService clusterService;
 
     private static final KryoSerializer SERIALIZER = new KryoSerializer() {
+        @Override
         protected void setupKryoPool() {
             serializerPool = KryoPool.newBuilder()
                     .register(KryoPoolUtil.API)
-                    .register(InternalDeviceEvent.class)
-                    .register(InternalPortEvent.class)
-                    .register(InternalPortStatusEvent.class)
+                    .register(InternalDeviceEvent.class, new InternalDeviceEventSerializer())
+                    .register(InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.class, new InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer())
+                    .register(InternalDeviceRemovedEvent.class)
+                    .register(InternalPortEvent.class, new InternalPortEventSerializer())
+                    .register(InternalPortStatusEvent.class, new InternalPortStatusEventSerializer())
+                    .register(Timestamp.class)
                     .register(Timestamped.class)
-                    .register(MastershipBasedTimestamp.class)
+                    .register(MastershipBasedTimestamp.class, new MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer())
                     .build()
                     .populate(1);
         }
@@ -132,6 +137,10 @@
         clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
                 GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_UPDATE, new InternalDeviceEventListener());
         clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
+                GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_OFFLINE, new InternalDeviceOfflineEventListener());
+        clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
+                GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_REMOVED, new InternalDeviceRemovedEventListener());
+        clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
                 GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.PORT_UPDATE, new InternalPortEventListener());
         clusterCommunicator.addSubscriber(
                 GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.PORT_STATUS_UPDATE, new InternalPortStatusEventListener());
@@ -175,7 +184,7 @@
             try {
                 notifyPeers(new InternalDeviceEvent(providerId, deviceId, deltaDesc));
             } catch (IOException e) {
-                log.error("Failed to notify peers of a device update topology event or providerId: "
+                log.error("Failed to notify peers of a device update topology event for providerId: "
                         + providerId + " and deviceId: " + deviceId, e);
             }
         }
@@ -278,7 +287,18 @@
     @Override
     public DeviceEvent markOffline(DeviceId deviceId) {
         Timestamp timestamp = clockService.getTimestamp(deviceId);
-        return markOfflineInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
+        DeviceEvent event = markOfflineInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
+        if (event != null) {
+            log.info("Notifying peers of a device offline topology event for deviceId: {}",
+                    deviceId);
+            try {
+                notifyPeers(new InternalDeviceOfflineEvent(deviceId, timestamp));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                log.error("Failed to notify peers of a device offline topology event for deviceId: {}",
+                     deviceId);
+            }
+        }
+        return event;
     }
 
     private DeviceEvent markOfflineInternal(DeviceId deviceId, Timestamp timestamp) {
@@ -566,7 +586,16 @@
     public synchronized DeviceEvent removeDevice(DeviceId deviceId) {
         Timestamp timestamp = clockService.getTimestamp(deviceId);
         DeviceEvent event = removeDeviceInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
-        // TODO: broadcast removal event
+        if (event != null) {
+            log.info("Notifying peers of a device removed topology event for deviceId: {}",
+                    deviceId);
+            try {
+                notifyPeers(new InternalDeviceRemovedEvent(deviceId, timestamp));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                log.error("Failed to notify peers of a device removed topology event for deviceId: {}",
+                     deviceId);
+            }
+        }
         return event;
     }
 
@@ -809,6 +838,22 @@
         clusterCommunicator.broadcast(message);
     }
 
+    private void notifyPeers(InternalDeviceOfflineEvent event) throws IOException {
+        ClusterMessage message = new ClusterMessage(
+                clusterService.getLocalNode().id(),
+                GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_OFFLINE,
+                SERIALIZER.encode(event));
+        clusterCommunicator.broadcast(message);
+    }
+
+    private void notifyPeers(InternalDeviceRemovedEvent event) throws IOException {
+        ClusterMessage message = new ClusterMessage(
+                clusterService.getLocalNode().id(),
+                GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.DEVICE_REMOVED,
+                SERIALIZER.encode(event));
+        clusterCommunicator.broadcast(message);
+    }
+
     private void notifyPeers(InternalPortEvent event) throws IOException {
         ClusterMessage message = new ClusterMessage(
                 clusterService.getLocalNode().id(),
@@ -828,15 +873,46 @@
     private class InternalDeviceEventListener implements ClusterMessageHandler {
         @Override
         public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
+
             log.info("Received device update event from peer: {}", message.sender());
             InternalDeviceEvent event = (InternalDeviceEvent) SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
+
             ProviderId providerId = event.providerId();
             DeviceId deviceId = event.deviceId();
             Timestamped<DeviceDescription> deviceDescription = event.deviceDescription();
+
             createOrUpdateDeviceInternal(providerId, deviceId, deviceDescription);
         }
     }
 
+    private class InternalDeviceOfflineEventListener implements ClusterMessageHandler {
+        @Override
+        public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
+
+            log.info("Received device offline event from peer: {}", message.sender());
+            InternalDeviceOfflineEvent event = (InternalDeviceOfflineEvent) SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
+
+            DeviceId deviceId = event.deviceId();
+            Timestamp timestamp = event.timestamp();
+
+            markOfflineInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private class InternalDeviceRemovedEventListener implements ClusterMessageHandler {
+        @Override
+        public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
+
+            log.info("Received device removed event from peer: {}", message.sender());
+            InternalDeviceRemovedEvent event = (InternalDeviceRemovedEvent) SERIALIZER.decode(message.payload());
+
+            DeviceId deviceId = event.deviceId();
+            Timestamp timestamp = event.timestamp();
+
+            removeDeviceInternal(deviceId, timestamp);
+        }
+    }
+
     private class InternalPortEventListener implements ClusterMessageHandler {
         @Override
         public void handle(ClusterMessage message) {
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java
index 58fed70..5272182 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects.java
@@ -3,13 +3,15 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubject;
 
 /**
- * MessageSubjects used by GossipDeviceStore.
+ * MessageSubjects used by GossipDeviceStore peer-peer communication.
  */
 public final class GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects {
 
     private GossipDeviceStoreMessageSubjects() {}
 
     public static final MessageSubject DEVICE_UPDATE = new MessageSubject("peer-device-update");
+    public static final MessageSubject DEVICE_OFFLINE = new MessageSubject("peer-device-offline");
+    public static final MessageSubject DEVICE_REMOVED = new MessageSubject("peer-device-removed");
     public static final MessageSubject PORT_UPDATE = new MessageSubject("peer-port-update");
     public static final MessageSubject PORT_STATUS_UPDATE = new MessageSubject("peer-port-status-update");
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceEvent.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceEvent.java
index 26f1d7f..4214384 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceEvent.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceEvent.java
@@ -35,4 +35,11 @@
     public Timestamped<DeviceDescription> deviceDescription() {
         return deviceDescription;
     }
+
+    // for serializer
+    protected InternalDeviceEvent() {
+        this.providerId = null;
+        this.deviceId = null;
+        this.deviceDescription = null;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceEventSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceEventSerializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d3d013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceEventSerializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceDescription;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.common.impl.Timestamped;
+
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Output;
+
+/**
+ * Kryo Serializer for {@link InternalDeviceEvent}.
+ */
+public class InternalDeviceEventSerializer extends Serializer<InternalDeviceEvent> {
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link InternalDeviceEvent}.
+     */
+    public InternalDeviceEventSerializer() {
+        // does not accept null
+        super(false);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void write(Kryo kryo, Output output, InternalDeviceEvent event) {
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.providerId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.deviceId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.deviceDescription());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public InternalDeviceEvent read(Kryo kryo, Input input,
+                               Class<InternalDeviceEvent> type) {
+        ProviderId providerId = (ProviderId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        DeviceId deviceId = (DeviceId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        Timestamped<DeviceDescription> deviceDescription
+            = (Timestamped<DeviceDescription>) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+
+        return new InternalDeviceEvent(providerId, deviceId, deviceDescription);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8942d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.java
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.Timestamp;
+
+/**
+ * Information published by GossipDeviceStore to notify peers of a device
+ * going offline.
+ */
+public class InternalDeviceOfflineEvent {
+
+    private final DeviceId deviceId;
+    private final Timestamp timestamp;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a InternalDeviceOfflineEvent.
+     * @param deviceId identifier of device going offline.
+     * @param timestamp timestamp of when the device went offline.
+     */
+    public InternalDeviceOfflineEvent(DeviceId deviceId, Timestamp timestamp) {
+        this.deviceId = deviceId;
+        this.timestamp = timestamp;
+    }
+
+    public DeviceId deviceId() {
+        return deviceId;
+    }
+
+    public Timestamp timestamp() {
+        return timestamp;
+    }
+
+    // for serializer
+    @SuppressWarnings("unused")
+    private InternalDeviceOfflineEvent() {
+        deviceId = null;
+        timestamp = null;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7059636
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.Timestamp;
+
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Output;
+
+/**
+ * Kryo Serializer for {@link InternalDeviceOfflineEvent}.
+ */
+public class InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer extends Serializer<InternalDeviceOfflineEvent> {
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link InternalDeviceOfflineEvent}.
+     */
+    public InternalDeviceOfflineEventSerializer() {
+        // does not accept null
+        super(false);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void write(Kryo kryo, Output output, InternalDeviceOfflineEvent event) {
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.deviceId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.timestamp());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public InternalDeviceOfflineEvent read(Kryo kryo, Input input,
+                               Class<InternalDeviceOfflineEvent> type) {
+        DeviceId deviceId = (DeviceId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        Timestamp timestamp = (Timestamp) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+
+        return new InternalDeviceOfflineEvent(deviceId, timestamp);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceRemovedEvent.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceRemovedEvent.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c8b905
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalDeviceRemovedEvent.java
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.Timestamp;
+
+/**
+ * Information published by GossipDeviceStore to notify peers of a device
+ * being administratively removed.
+ */
+public class InternalDeviceRemovedEvent {
+
+    private final DeviceId deviceId;
+    private final Timestamp timestamp;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a InternalDeviceRemovedEvent.
+     * @param deviceId identifier of the removed device.
+     * @param timestamp timestamp of when the device was administratively removed.
+     */
+    public InternalDeviceRemovedEvent(DeviceId deviceId, Timestamp timestamp) {
+        this.deviceId = deviceId;
+        this.timestamp = timestamp;
+    }
+
+    public DeviceId deviceId() {
+        return deviceId;
+    }
+
+    public Timestamp timestamp() {
+        return timestamp;
+    }
+
+    // for serializer
+    @SuppressWarnings("unused")
+    private InternalDeviceRemovedEvent() {
+        deviceId = null;
+        timestamp = null;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortEvent.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortEvent.java
index 48e3be6..64e77ca 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortEvent.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortEvent.java
@@ -37,4 +37,11 @@
     public Timestamped<List<PortDescription>> portDescriptions() {
         return portDescriptions;
     }
+
+    // for serializer
+    protected InternalPortEvent() {
+        this.providerId = null;
+        this.deviceId = null;
+        this.portDescriptions = null;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortEventSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortEventSerializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6fff395
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortEventSerializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.PortDescription;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.common.impl.Timestamped;
+
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Output;
+
+/**
+ * Kryo Serializer for {@link InternalPortEvent}.
+ */
+public class InternalPortEventSerializer extends Serializer<InternalPortEvent> {
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link InternalPortEvent}.
+     */
+    public InternalPortEventSerializer() {
+        // does not accept null
+        super(false);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void write(Kryo kryo, Output output, InternalPortEvent event) {
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.providerId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.deviceId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.portDescriptions());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public InternalPortEvent read(Kryo kryo, Input input,
+                               Class<InternalPortEvent> type) {
+        ProviderId providerId = (ProviderId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        DeviceId deviceId = (DeviceId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        Timestamped<List<PortDescription>> portDescriptions
+            = (Timestamped<List<PortDescription>>) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+
+        return new InternalPortEvent(providerId, deviceId, portDescriptions);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortStatusEvent.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortStatusEvent.java
index 0bdfdbf..7d3854b 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortStatusEvent.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortStatusEvent.java
@@ -35,4 +35,11 @@
     public Timestamped<PortDescription> portDescription() {
         return portDescription;
     }
+
+    // for serializer
+    protected InternalPortStatusEvent() {
+        this.providerId = null;
+        this.deviceId = null;
+        this.portDescription = null;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortStatusEventSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortStatusEventSerializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ec4122
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/InternalPortStatusEventSerializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.device.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.PortDescription;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.common.impl.Timestamped;
+
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Output;
+
+/**
+ * Kryo Serializer for {@link InternalPortStatusEvent}.
+ */
+public class InternalPortStatusEventSerializer extends Serializer<InternalPortStatusEvent> {
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link InternalPortStatusEvent}.
+     */
+    public InternalPortStatusEventSerializer() {
+        // does not accept null
+        super(false);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void write(Kryo kryo, Output output, InternalPortStatusEvent event) {
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.providerId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.deviceId());
+        kryo.writeClassAndObject(output, event.portDescription());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public InternalPortStatusEvent read(Kryo kryo, Input input,
+                               Class<InternalPortStatusEvent> type) {
+        ProviderId providerId = (ProviderId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        DeviceId deviceId = (DeviceId) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+        Timestamped<PortDescription> portDescription = (Timestamped<PortDescription>) kryo.readClassAndObject(input);
+
+        return new InternalPortStatusEvent(providerId, deviceId, portDescription);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/ClusterMessageSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/ClusterMessageSerializer.java
index f4dadad..c0cefd6 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/ClusterMessageSerializer.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/ClusterMessageSerializer.java
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMessage;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubject;
-
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
@@ -11,6 +10,9 @@
 
 public final class ClusterMessageSerializer extends Serializer<ClusterMessage> {
 
+    /**
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link ClusterMessage}.
+     */
     public ClusterMessageSerializer() {
         // does not accept null
         super(false);
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer.java
index 9250076..516915e 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer.java
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 public class MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer extends Serializer<MastershipBasedTimestamp> {
 
     /**
-     * Default constructor.
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link MastershipBasedTimestamp}.
      */
     public MastershipBasedTimestampSerializer() {
         // non-null, immutable
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/MessageSubjectSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/MessageSubjectSerializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb6b292
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/MessageSubjectSerializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.serializers;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubject;
+
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Output;
+
+public final class MessageSubjectSerializer extends Serializer<MessageSubject> {
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a serializer for {@link MessageSubject}.
+     */
+    public MessageSubjectSerializer() {
+        // non-null, immutable
+        super(false, true);
+    }
+
+
+    @Override
+    public void write(Kryo kryo, Output output, MessageSubject object) {
+        output.writeString(object.value());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public MessageSubject read(Kryo kryo, Input input,
+            Class<MessageSubject> type) {
+        return new MessageSubject(input.readString());
+    }
+}
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 aafbe4b..71d42fa 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
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
 
-import static com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder.newBuilder;
 import static org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipEvent.Type.MASTER_CHANGED;
 
 import java.util.Map;
-import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
@@ -21,17 +19,16 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.MastershipRole;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.common.AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.AbstractHazelcastStore;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.common.OptionalCacheLoader;
 
-import com.google.common.base.Optional;
-import com.google.common.cache.LoadingCache;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
+import com.hazelcast.core.ILock;
 import com.hazelcast.core.IMap;
+import com.hazelcast.core.MultiMap;
 
 /**
- * Distributed implementation of the cluster nodes store.
+ * Distributed implementation of the mastership store. The store is
+ * responsible for the master selection process.
  */
 @Component(immediate = true)
 @Service
@@ -39,8 +36,21 @@
 extends AbstractHazelcastStore<MastershipEvent, MastershipStoreDelegate>
 implements MastershipStore {
 
-    private IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMasters;
-    private LoadingCache<DeviceId, Optional<NodeId>> masters;
+    //arbitrary lock name
+    private static final String LOCK = "lock";
+    //initial term/TTL value
+    private static final Integer INIT = 0;
+
+    //devices to masters
+    protected IMap<byte[], byte[]> masters;
+    //devices to terms
+    protected IMap<byte[], Integer> terms;
+
+    //re-election related, disjoint-set structures:
+    //device-nodes multiset of available nodes
+    protected MultiMap<byte[], byte[]> standbys;
+    //device-nodes multiset for nodes that have given up on device
+    protected MultiMap<byte[], byte[]> unusable;
 
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected ClusterService clusterService;
@@ -50,89 +60,263 @@
     public void activate() {
         super.activate();
 
-        rawMasters = theInstance.getMap("masters");
-        OptionalCacheLoader<DeviceId, NodeId> nodeLoader
-        = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(serializer, rawMasters);
-        masters = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(nodeLoader));
-        rawMasters.addEntryListener(new RemoteMasterShipEventHandler(masters), true);
+        masters = theInstance.getMap("masters");
+        terms = theInstance.getMap("terms");
+        standbys = theInstance.getMultiMap("backups");
+        unusable = theInstance.getMultiMap("unusable");
 
-        loadMasters();
+        masters.addEntryListener(new RemoteMasterShipEventHandler(), true);
 
         log.info("Started");
     }
 
-    private void loadMasters() {
-        for (byte[] keyBytes : rawMasters.keySet()) {
-            final DeviceId id = deserialize(keyBytes);
-            masters.refresh(id);
-        }
-    }
-
     @Deactivate
     public void deactivate() {
         log.info("Stopped");
     }
 
     @Override
-    public MastershipEvent setMaster(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
-        synchronized (this) {
-            NodeId currentMaster = getMaster(deviceId);
-            if (Objects.equals(currentMaster, nodeId)) {
-                return null;
-            }
+    public MastershipRole getRole(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
+        byte[] did = serialize(deviceId);
+        byte[] nid = serialize(nodeId);
 
-            // FIXME: for now implementing semantics of setMaster
-            rawMasters.put(serialize(deviceId), serialize(nodeId));
-            masters.put(deviceId, Optional.of(nodeId));
-            return new MastershipEvent(MastershipEvent.Type.MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, nodeId);
+        NodeId current = deserialize(masters.get(did));
+        if (current == null) {
+            if (standbys.containsEntry(did, nid)) {
+                //was previously standby, or set to standby from master
+                return MastershipRole.STANDBY;
+            } else {
+                return MastershipRole.NONE;
+            }
+        } else {
+            if (current.equals(nodeId)) {
+                //*should* be in unusable, not always
+                return MastershipRole.MASTER;
+            } else {
+                //may be in backups or unusable from earlier retirement
+                return MastershipRole.STANDBY;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public MastershipEvent setMaster(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
+        byte [] did = serialize(deviceId);
+        byte [] nid = serialize(nodeId);
+
+        ILock lock = theInstance.getLock(LOCK);
+        lock.lock();
+        try {
+            MastershipRole role = getRole(nodeId, deviceId);
+            switch (role) {
+                case MASTER:
+                    //reinforce mastership
+                    evict(nid, did);
+                    return null;
+                case STANDBY:
+                    //make current master standby
+                    byte [] current = masters.get(did);
+                    if (current != null) {
+                        backup(current, did);
+                    }
+                    //assign specified node as new master
+                    masters.put(did, nid);
+                    evict(nid, did);
+                    updateTerm(did);
+                    return new MastershipEvent(MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, nodeId);
+                case NONE:
+                    masters.put(did, nid);
+                    evict(nid, did);
+                    updateTerm(did);
+                    return new MastershipEvent(MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, nodeId);
+                default:
+                    log.warn("unknown Mastership Role {}", role);
+                    return null;
+            }
+        } finally {
+            lock.unlock();
         }
     }
 
     @Override
     public NodeId getMaster(DeviceId deviceId) {
-        return masters.getUnchecked(deviceId).orNull();
+        return deserialize(masters.get(serialize(deviceId)));
     }
 
     @Override
     public Set<DeviceId> getDevices(NodeId nodeId) {
         ImmutableSet.Builder<DeviceId> builder = ImmutableSet.builder();
-        for (Map.Entry<DeviceId, Optional<NodeId>> entry : masters.asMap().entrySet()) {
-            if (nodeId.equals(entry.getValue().get())) {
-                builder.add(entry.getKey());
+
+        for (Map.Entry<byte[], byte[]> entry : masters.entrySet()) {
+            if (nodeId.equals(deserialize(entry.getValue()))) {
+                builder.add((DeviceId) deserialize(entry.getKey()));
             }
         }
+
         return builder.build();
     }
 
     @Override
     public MastershipRole requestRole(DeviceId deviceId) {
-        // FIXME: for now we are 'selecting' as master whoever asks
-        setMaster(clusterService.getLocalNode().id(), deviceId);
-        return MastershipRole.MASTER;
-    }
+        NodeId local = clusterService.getLocalNode().id();
+        byte [] did = serialize(deviceId);
+        byte [] lnid = serialize(local);
 
-    @Override
-    public MastershipRole getRole(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
-        NodeId master = masters.getUnchecked(deviceId).orNull();
-        return nodeId.equals(master) ? MastershipRole.MASTER : MastershipRole.STANDBY;
+        ILock lock = theInstance.getLock(LOCK);
+        lock.lock();
+        try {
+            MastershipRole role = getRole(local, deviceId);
+            switch (role) {
+                case MASTER:
+                    evict(lnid, did);
+                    break;
+                case STANDBY:
+                    backup(lnid, did);
+                    terms.putIfAbsent(did, INIT);
+                    break;
+                case NONE:
+                    //claim mastership
+                    masters.put(did, lnid);
+                    evict(lnid, did);
+                    updateTerm(did);
+                    role = MastershipRole.MASTER;
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    log.warn("unknown Mastership Role {}", role);
+            }
+            return role;
+        } finally {
+            lock.unlock();
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
     public MastershipTerm getTermFor(DeviceId deviceId) {
-        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
-        return null;
+        byte[] did = serialize(deviceId);
+        if ((masters.get(did) == null) ||
+                (terms.get(did) == null)) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        return MastershipTerm.of(
+                (NodeId) deserialize(masters.get(did)), terms.get(did));
     }
 
     @Override
-    public MastershipEvent unsetMaster(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
-        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
-        return null;
+    public MastershipEvent setStandby(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
+        byte [] did = serialize(deviceId);
+        byte [] nid = serialize(nodeId);
+        MastershipEvent event = null;
+
+        ILock lock = theInstance.getLock(LOCK);
+        lock.lock();
+        try {
+            MastershipRole role = getRole(nodeId, deviceId);
+            switch (role) {
+                case MASTER:
+                    event = reelect(nodeId, deviceId);
+                    backup(nid, did);
+                    break;
+                case STANDBY:
+                    //fall through to reinforce role
+                case NONE:
+                    backup(nid, did);
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    log.warn("unknown Mastership Role {}", role);
+            }
+            return event;
+        } finally {
+            lock.unlock();
+        }
     }
 
-    private class RemoteMasterShipEventHandler extends RemoteCacheEventHandler<DeviceId, NodeId> {
-        public RemoteMasterShipEventHandler(LoadingCache<DeviceId, Optional<NodeId>> cache) {
-            super(cache);
+    @Override
+    public MastershipEvent relinquishRole(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
+        byte [] did = serialize(deviceId);
+        byte [] nid = serialize(nodeId);
+        MastershipEvent event = null;
+
+        ILock lock = theInstance.getLock(LOCK);
+        lock.lock();
+        try {
+            MastershipRole role = getRole(nodeId, deviceId);
+            switch (role) {
+                case MASTER:
+                    event = reelect(nodeId, deviceId);
+                    evict(nid, did);
+                    break;
+                case STANDBY:
+                    //fall through to reinforce relinquishment
+                case NONE:
+                    evict(nid, did);
+                    break;
+                default:
+                log.warn("unknown Mastership Role {}", role);
+            }
+            return event;
+        } finally {
+            lock.unlock();
         }
+    }
+
+    //helper to fetch a new master candidate for a given device.
+    private MastershipEvent reelect(NodeId current, DeviceId deviceId) {
+        byte [] did = serialize(deviceId);
+        byte [] nid = serialize(current);
+
+        //if this is an queue it'd be neater.
+        byte [] backup = null;
+        for (byte [] n : standbys.get(serialize(deviceId))) {
+            if (!current.equals(deserialize(n))) {
+                backup = n;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (backup == null) {
+            masters.remove(did, nid);
+            return null;
+        } else {
+            masters.put(did, backup);
+            evict(backup, did);
+            Integer term = terms.get(did);
+            terms.put(did, ++term);
+            return new MastershipEvent(
+                    MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, (NodeId) deserialize(backup));
+        }
+    }
+
+    //adds node to pool(s) of backups and moves them from unusable.
+    private void backup(byte [] nodeId, byte [] deviceId) {
+        if (!standbys.containsEntry(deviceId, nodeId)) {
+            standbys.put(deviceId, nodeId);
+        }
+        if (unusable.containsEntry(deviceId, nodeId)) {
+            unusable.remove(deviceId, nodeId);
+        }
+    }
+
+    //adds node to unusable and evicts it from backup pool.
+    private void evict(byte [] nodeId, byte [] deviceId) {
+        if (!unusable.containsEntry(deviceId, nodeId)) {
+            unusable.put(deviceId, nodeId);
+        }
+        if (standbys.containsEntry(deviceId, nodeId)) {
+            standbys.remove(deviceId, nodeId);
+        }
+    }
+
+    //adds or updates term information.
+    private void updateTerm(byte [] deviceId) {
+        Integer term = terms.get(deviceId);
+        if (term == null) {
+            terms.put(deviceId, INIT);
+        } else {
+            terms.put(deviceId, ++term);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private class RemoteMasterShipEventHandler extends RemoteEventHandler<DeviceId, NodeId> {
 
         @Override
         protected void onAdd(DeviceId deviceId, NodeId nodeId) {
@@ -141,12 +325,13 @@
 
         @Override
         protected void onRemove(DeviceId deviceId, NodeId nodeId) {
-            notifyDelegate(new MastershipEvent(MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, nodeId));
+            //notifyDelegate(new MastershipEvent(MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, nodeId));
         }
 
         @Override
         protected void onUpdate(DeviceId deviceId, NodeId oldNodeId, NodeId nodeId) {
-            notifyDelegate(new MastershipEvent(MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, nodeId));
+            //only addition indicates a change in mastership
+            //notifyDelegate(new MastershipEvent(MASTER_CHANGED, deviceId, nodeId));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStoreTest.java b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStoreTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf1bb38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStoreTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,333 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import static org.onlab.onos.net.MastershipRole.*;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+
+import org.junit.After;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
+import org.junit.Ignore;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterEventListener;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterService;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode.State;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipEvent;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipEvent.Type;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipStoreDelegate;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.MastershipTerm;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+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.KryoSerializer;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
+import com.hazelcast.config.Config;
+import com.hazelcast.core.Hazelcast;
+
+/**
+ * Test of the Hazelcast-based distributed MastershipStore implementation.
+ */
+public class DistributedMastershipStoreTest {
+
+    private static final DeviceId DID1 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:01");
+    private static final DeviceId DID2 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:02");
+    private static final DeviceId DID3 = DeviceId.deviceId("of:03");
+
+    private static final IpPrefix IP = IpPrefix.valueOf("127.0.0.1");
+
+    private static final NodeId N1 = new NodeId("node1");
+    private static final NodeId N2 = new NodeId("node2");
+
+    private static final ControllerNode CN1 = new DefaultControllerNode(N1, IP);
+    private static final ControllerNode CN2 = new DefaultControllerNode(N2, IP);
+
+    private DistributedMastershipStore dms;
+    private TestDistributedMastershipStore testStore;
+    private KryoSerializer serializationMgr;
+    private StoreManager storeMgr;
+
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setUpBeforeClass() throws Exception {
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void tearDownAfterClass() throws Exception {
+    }
+
+    @Before
+    public void setUp() throws Exception {
+        // TODO should find a way to clean Hazelcast instance without shutdown.
+        Config config = TestStoreManager.getTestConfig();
+
+        storeMgr = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
+        storeMgr.activate();
+
+        serializationMgr = new KryoSerializer();
+
+        dms = new TestDistributedMastershipStore(storeMgr, serializationMgr);
+        dms.clusterService = new TestClusterService();
+        dms.activate();
+
+        testStore = (TestDistributedMastershipStore) dms;
+    }
+
+    @After
+    public void tearDown() throws Exception {
+        dms.deactivate();
+
+        storeMgr.deactivate();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void getRole() {
+        assertEquals("wrong role:", NONE, dms.getRole(N1, DID1));
+        testStore.put(DID1, N1, true, false, true);
+        assertEquals("wrong role:", MASTER, dms.getRole(N1, DID1));
+        assertEquals("wrong role:", STANDBY, dms.getRole(N2, DID1));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void getMaster() {
+        assertTrue("wrong store state:", dms.masters.isEmpty());
+
+        testStore.put(DID1, N1, true, false, false);
+        assertEquals("wrong master:", N1, dms.getMaster(DID1));
+        assertNull("wrong master:", dms.getMaster(DID2));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void getDevices() {
+        assertTrue("wrong store state:", dms.masters.isEmpty());
+
+        testStore.put(DID1, N1, true, false, false);
+        testStore.put(DID2, N1, true, false, false);
+        testStore.put(DID3, N2, true, false, false);
+
+        assertEquals("wrong devices",
+                Sets.newHashSet(DID1, DID2), dms.getDevices(N1));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void requestRoleAndTerm() {
+        //CN1 is "local"
+        testStore.setCurrent(CN1);
+
+        //if already MASTER, nothing should happen
+        testStore.put(DID2, N1, true, false, false);
+        assertEquals("wrong role for MASTER:", MASTER, dms.requestRole(DID2));
+
+        //populate maps with DID1, N1 thru NONE case
+        assertEquals("wrong role for NONE:", MASTER, dms.requestRole(DID1));
+        assertTrue("wrong state for store:", !dms.terms.isEmpty());
+        assertEquals("wrong term",
+                MastershipTerm.of(N1, 0), dms.getTermFor(DID1));
+
+        //CN2 now local. DID2 has N1 as MASTER so N2 is STANDBY
+        testStore.setCurrent(CN2);
+        assertEquals("wrong role for STANDBY:", STANDBY, dms.requestRole(DID2));
+        assertEquals("wrong number of entries:", 2, dms.terms.size());
+
+        //change term and requestRole() again; should persist
+        testStore.increment(DID2);
+        assertEquals("wrong role for STANDBY:", STANDBY, dms.requestRole(DID2));
+        assertEquals("wrong term", MastershipTerm.of(N1, 1), dms.getTermFor(DID2));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void setMaster() {
+        //populate maps with DID1, N1 as MASTER thru NONE case
+        testStore.setCurrent(CN1);
+        assertEquals("wrong role for NONE:", MASTER, dms.requestRole(DID1));
+        assertNull("wrong event:", dms.setMaster(N1, DID1));
+
+        //switch over to N2
+        assertEquals("wrong event:", Type.MASTER_CHANGED, dms.setMaster(N2, DID1).type());
+        assertEquals("wrong term", MastershipTerm.of(N2, 1), dms.getTermFor(DID1));
+
+        //orphan switch - should be rare case
+        assertEquals("wrong event:", Type.MASTER_CHANGED, dms.setMaster(N2, DID2).type());
+        assertEquals("wrong term", MastershipTerm.of(N2, 0), dms.getTermFor(DID2));
+        //disconnect and reconnect - sign of failing re-election or single-instance channel
+        testStore.reset(true, false, false);
+        dms.setMaster(N2, DID2);
+        assertEquals("wrong term", MastershipTerm.of(N2, 1), dms.getTermFor(DID2));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void relinquishRole() {
+        //populate maps with DID1, N1 as MASTER thru NONE case
+        testStore.setCurrent(CN1);
+        assertEquals("wrong role for NONE:", MASTER, dms.requestRole(DID1));
+        //no backup, no new MASTER/event
+        assertNull("wrong event:", dms.relinquishRole(N1, DID1));
+
+        dms.requestRole(DID1);
+
+        //add backup CN2, get it elected MASTER by relinquishing
+        testStore.setCurrent(CN2);
+        assertEquals("wrong role for NONE:", STANDBY, dms.requestRole(DID1));
+        assertEquals("wrong event:", Type.MASTER_CHANGED, dms.relinquishRole(N1, DID1).type());
+        assertEquals("wrong master", N2, dms.getMaster(DID1));
+
+        //STANDBY - nothing here, either
+        assertNull("wrong event:", dms.relinquishRole(N1, DID1));
+        assertEquals("wrong role for node:", STANDBY, dms.getRole(N1, DID1));
+
+        //all nodes "give up" on device, which goes back to NONE.
+        assertNull("wrong event:", dms.relinquishRole(N2, DID1));
+        assertEquals("wrong role for node:", NONE, dms.getRole(N2, DID1));
+        assertEquals("wrong role for node:", NONE, dms.getRole(N1, DID1));
+
+        assertEquals("wrong number of retired nodes", 2, dms.unusable.size());
+
+        //bring nodes back
+        assertEquals("wrong role for NONE:", MASTER, dms.requestRole(DID1));
+        testStore.setCurrent(CN1);
+        assertEquals("wrong role for NONE:", STANDBY, dms.requestRole(DID1));
+        assertEquals("wrong number of backup nodes", 1, dms.standbys.size());
+
+        //NONE - nothing happens
+        assertNull("wrong event:", dms.relinquishRole(N1, DID2));
+        assertEquals("wrong role for node:", NONE, dms.getRole(N1, DID2));
+
+    }
+
+    @Ignore("Ignore until Delegate spec. is clear.")
+    @Test
+    public void testEvents() throws InterruptedException {
+        //shamelessly copy other distributed store tests
+        final CountDownLatch addLatch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+
+        MastershipStoreDelegate checkAdd = new MastershipStoreDelegate() {
+            @Override
+            public void notify(MastershipEvent event) {
+                assertEquals("wrong event:", Type.MASTER_CHANGED, event.type());
+                assertEquals("wrong subject", DID1, event.subject());
+                assertEquals("wrong subject", N1, event.master());
+                addLatch.countDown();
+            }
+        };
+
+        dms.setDelegate(checkAdd);
+        dms.setMaster(N1, DID1);
+        //this will fail until we do something about single-instance-ness
+        assertTrue("Add event fired", addLatch.await(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
+    }
+
+    private class TestDistributedMastershipStore extends
+            DistributedMastershipStore {
+        public TestDistributedMastershipStore(StoreService storeService,
+                KryoSerializer kryoSerialization) {
+            this.storeService = storeService;
+            this.serializer = kryoSerialization;
+        }
+
+        //helper to populate master/backup structures
+        public void put(DeviceId dev, NodeId node,
+                boolean master, boolean backup, boolean term) {
+            byte [] n = serialize(node);
+            byte [] d = serialize(dev);
+
+            if (master) {
+                dms.masters.put(d, n);
+                dms.unusable.put(d, n);
+                dms.standbys.remove(d, n);
+            }
+            if (backup) {
+                dms.standbys.put(d, n);
+                dms.masters.remove(d, n);
+                dms.unusable.remove(d, n);
+            }
+            if (term) {
+                dms.terms.put(d, 0);
+            }
+        }
+
+        //a dumb utility function.
+        public void dump() {
+            System.out.println("standbys");
+            for (Map.Entry<byte [], byte []> e : standbys.entrySet()) {
+                System.out.println(deserialize(e.getKey()) + ":" + deserialize(e.getValue()));
+            }
+            System.out.println("unusable");
+            for (Map.Entry<byte [], byte []> e : unusable.entrySet()) {
+                System.out.println(deserialize(e.getKey()) + ":" + deserialize(e.getValue()));
+            }
+        }
+
+        //clears structures
+        public void reset(boolean store, boolean backup, boolean term) {
+            if (store) {
+                dms.masters.clear();
+                dms.unusable.clear();
+            }
+            if (backup) {
+                dms.standbys.clear();
+            }
+            if (term) {
+                dms.terms.clear();
+            }
+        }
+
+        //increment term for a device
+        public void increment(DeviceId dev) {
+            Integer t = dms.terms.get(serialize(dev));
+            if (t != null) {
+                dms.terms.put(serialize(dev), ++t);
+            }
+        }
+
+        //sets the "local" node
+        public void setCurrent(ControllerNode node) {
+            ((TestClusterService) clusterService).current = node;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private class TestClusterService implements ClusterService {
+
+        protected ControllerNode current;
+
+        @Override
+        public ControllerNode getLocalNode() {
+            return current;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public Set<ControllerNode> getNodes() {
+            return Sets.newHashSet(CN1, CN2);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public ControllerNode getNode(NodeId nodeId) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public State getState(NodeId nodeId) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void addListener(ClusterEventListener listener) {
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void removeListener(ClusterEventListener listener) {
+        }
+
+    }
+
+}
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 ff9f43a..a22dd89 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
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.AbstractStore;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.StoreDelegate;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.Serializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.StoreSerializer;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected StoreService storeService;
 
-    protected Serializer serializer;
+    protected StoreSerializer serializer;
 
     protected HazelcastInstance theInstance;
 
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 6631594..d5fc380 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.Serializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.StoreSerializer;
 
 import com.google.common.base.Optional;
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheLoader;
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 public final class OptionalCacheLoader<K, V> extends
         CacheLoader<K, Optional<V>> {
 
-    private final Serializer serializer;
+    private final StoreSerializer serializer;
     private IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap;
 
     /**
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
      * @param serializer to use for serialization
      * @param rawMap underlying IMap
      */
-    public OptionalCacheLoader(Serializer serializer, IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap) {
+    public OptionalCacheLoader(StoreSerializer serializer, IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap) {
         this.serializer = checkNotNull(serializer);
         this.rawMap = checkNotNull(rawMap);
     }
diff --git a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializer.java b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializer.java
index 93ee854..738086e 100644
--- a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializer.java
+++ b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializer.java
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 
 /**
- * Serializer implementation using Kryo.
+ * StoreSerializer implementation using Kryo.
  */
-public class KryoSerializer implements Serializer {
+public class KryoSerializer implements StoreSerializer {
 
     private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
     protected KryoPool serializerPool;
diff --git a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/Serializer.java b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/StoreSerializer.java
similarity index 96%
rename from core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/Serializer.java
rename to core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/StoreSerializer.java
index 12cf3bc..6c43a1b 100644
--- a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/Serializer.java
+++ b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/StoreSerializer.java
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 /**
  * Service to serialize Objects into byte array.
  */
-public interface Serializer {
+public interface StoreSerializer {
 
     /**
      * Serializes the specified object into bytes.
diff --git a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java
index 0439d79..e8096ea 100644
--- a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java
+++ b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStore.java
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public MastershipEvent unsetMaster(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
+    public MastershipEvent setStandby(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
         MastershipRole role = getRole(nodeId, deviceId);
         synchronized (this) {
             switch (role) {
@@ -214,4 +214,9 @@
         return backup;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public MastershipEvent relinquishRole(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId) {
+        return setStandby(nodeId, deviceId);
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/store/trivial/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStoreTest.java b/core/store/trivial/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStoreTest.java
index 32d3d68..1e8e5c7 100644
--- a/core/store/trivial/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStoreTest.java
+++ b/core/store/trivial/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleMastershipStoreTest.java
@@ -129,22 +129,22 @@
     public void unsetMaster() {
         //NONE - record backup but take no other action
         put(DID1, N1, false, false);
-        sms.unsetMaster(N1, DID1);
+        sms.setStandby(N1, DID1);
         assertTrue("not backed up", sms.backups.contains(N1));
         sms.termMap.clear();
-        sms.unsetMaster(N1, DID1);
+        sms.setStandby(N1, DID1);
         assertTrue("term not set", sms.termMap.containsKey(DID1));
 
         //no backup, MASTER
         put(DID1, N1, true, true);
-        assertNull("wrong event", sms.unsetMaster(N1, DID1));
+        assertNull("wrong event", sms.setStandby(N1, DID1));
         assertNull("wrong node", sms.masterMap.get(DID1));
 
         //backup, switch
         sms.masterMap.clear();
         put(DID1, N1, true, true);
         put(DID2, N2, true, true);
-        assertEquals("wrong event", MASTER_CHANGED, sms.unsetMaster(N1, DID1).type());
+        assertEquals("wrong event", MASTER_CHANGED, sms.setStandby(N1, DID1).type());
     }
 
     //helper to populate master/backup structures
diff --git a/features/features.xml b/features/features.xml
index 0a56d9a..b240917 100644
--- a/features/features.xml
+++ b/features/features.xml
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@
              description="ONOS sample playground application">
         <feature>onos-api</feature>
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-app-foo/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
+        <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onlab-netty/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
     </feature>
 
     <feature name="onos-app-config" version="1.0.0"
diff --git a/features/old-features.xml b/features/old-features.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 46e68ca..0000000
--- a/features/old-features.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
-<!--
-  ~ Copyright (c) 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
-  ~
-  ~ This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
-  ~ terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0 which accompanies this distribution,
-  ~ and is available at http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html
-  -->
-
-<features xmlns="http://karaf.apache.org/xmlns/features/v1.2.0"
-          name="net.onrc.onos-1.0.0">
-    <repository>mvn:net.onrc.onos/onos-features/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT/xml/features</repository>
-
-    <feature name="thirdparty" version="1.0.0"
-             description="ONOS 3rd party dependencies">
-        <bundle>mvn:com.google.code.findbugs/annotations/2.0.2</bundle>
-        <bundle>mvn:io.netty/netty/3.9.2.Final</bundle>
-        <bundle>mvn:com.google.guava/guava/17.0</bundle>  
-        <bundle>mvn:com.google.guava/guava/15.0</bundle>  
-
-    </feature>
-
-    <feature name="base" version="1.0.0"
-            description="ONOS Base">
-        <feature>scr</feature>
-        <feature>thirdparty</feature>
-        <bundle>mvn:net.onrc.onos.sb/onos-sb/0.0.1</bundle>
-        <bundle>mvn:org.projectfloodlight/openflowj/0.3.6-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
-    </feature>
-
-</features>
diff --git a/openflow/api/pom.xml b/openflow/api/pom.xml
index 2c58e47..afc2faf 100644
--- a/openflow/api/pom.xml
+++ b/openflow/api/pom.xml
@@ -17,14 +17,11 @@
     <description>ONOS OpenFlow controller subsystem API</description>
 
     <repositories>
-        <!-- FIXME: for Loxigen. Decide how to use Loxigen before release. -->
+        <!-- FIXME: for Loxigen + optical experimenter. Decide how to use Loxigen before release. -->
         <repository>
-            <id>sonatype-oss-snapshot</id>
-            <name>Sonatype OSS snapshot repository</name>
-            <url>https://oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots</url>
-            <releases>
-                <enabled>false</enabled>
-            </releases>
+            <id>onlab-temp</id>
+            <name>ON.lab temporary repository</name>
+            <url>http://mavenrepo.onlab.us:8081/nexus/content/repositories/releases</url>
         </repository>
     </repositories>
 
@@ -32,7 +29,8 @@
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.projectfloodlight</groupId>
             <artifactId>openflowj</artifactId>
-            <version>0.3.8-SNAPSHOT</version>
+            <!-- FIXME once experimenter gets merged to upstream -->
+            <version>0.3.8-optical_experimenter</version>
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.netty</groupId>
diff --git a/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java b/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java
index 178041d..5be7c69 100644
--- a/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java
+++ b/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OFChannelHandler.java
@@ -981,11 +981,13 @@
                 // switch was a duplicate-dpid, calling the method below would clear
                 // all state for the original switch (with the same dpid),
                 // which we obviously don't want.
+                log.info("{}:removal called");
                 sw.removeConnectedSwitch();
             } else {
                 // A duplicate was disconnected on this ChannelHandler,
                 // this is the same switch reconnecting, but the original state was
                 // not cleaned up - XXX check liveness of original ChannelHandler
+                log.info("{}:duplicate found");
                 duplicateDpidFound = Boolean.FALSE;
             }
         } else {
diff --git a/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java b/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java
index e8ebcd1..716f7ec 100644
--- a/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java
+++ b/openflow/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/openflow/controller/impl/OpenFlowControllerImpl.java
@@ -307,9 +307,11 @@
             connectedSwitches.remove(dpid);
             OpenFlowSwitch sw = activeMasterSwitches.remove(dpid);
             if (sw == null) {
+                log.warn("sw was null for {}", dpid);
                 sw = activeEqualSwitches.remove(dpid);
             }
             for (OpenFlowSwitchListener l : ofSwitchListener) {
+                log.warn("removal for {}", dpid);
                 l.switchRemoved(dpid);
             }
         }
diff --git a/tools/build/envDefaults b/tools/build/envDefaults
index 473095c..cbc6577 100644
--- a/tools/build/envDefaults
+++ b/tools/build/envDefaults
@@ -9,10 +9,14 @@
 export KARAF_TAR=${KARAF_TAR:-~/Downloads/apache-karaf-3.0.1.tar.gz}
 export KARAF_DIST=$(basename $KARAF_ZIP .zip)
 
+# Fallback build number us derived from from the user name & time
+export BUILD_NUMBER=${BUILD_NUMBER:-$(id -un)~$(date +'%Y/%m/%d@%H:%M')}
+
 # ONOS Version and onos.tar.gz staging environment
-export ONOS_VERSION=${ONOS_VERSION:-1.0.0-SNAPSHOT}
+export ONOS_POM_VERSION="1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
+export ONOS_VERSION=${ONOS_VERSION:-1.0.0.$BUILD_NUMBER}
+export ONOS_BITS=onos-${ONOS_VERSION%~*}
 export ONOS_STAGE_ROOT=${ONOS_STAGE_ROOT:-/tmp}
-export ONOS_BITS=onos-$ONOS_VERSION
 export ONOS_STAGE=$ONOS_STAGE_ROOT/$ONOS_BITS
 export ONOS_TAR=$ONOS_STAGE.tar.gz
 
diff --git a/tools/build/onos-package b/tools/build/onos-package
index 2d6b954..a55a613 100755
--- a/tools/build/onos-package
+++ b/tools/build/onos-package
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 # ONOS Patching ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # Patch the Apache Karaf distribution file to add ONOS features repository
-perl -pi.old -e "s|^(featuresRepositories=.*)|\1,mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-features/$ONOS_VERSION/xml/features|" \
+perl -pi.old -e "s|^(featuresRepositories=.*)|\1,mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-features/$ONOS_POM_VERSION/xml/features|" \
     $ONOS_STAGE/$KARAF_DIST/etc/org.apache.karaf.features.cfg 
 
 # Patch the Apache Karaf distribution file to load ONOS features
@@ -57,10 +57,14 @@
     $ONOS_STAGE/$KARAF_DIST/etc/org.apache.karaf.features.cfg
 
 # Patch the Apache Karaf distribution with ONOS branding bundle
-cp $M2_REPO/org/onlab/onos/onos-branding/$ONOS_VERSION/onos-branding-*.jar \
+cp $M2_REPO/org/onlab/onos/onos-branding/$ONOS_POM_VERSION/onos-branding-*.jar \
     $ONOS_STAGE/$KARAF_DIST/lib
 
+# Patch in the ONOS version file
+echo $ONOS_VERSION > $ONOS_STAGE/VERSION
+
 # Now package up the ONOS tar file
 cd $ONOS_STAGE_ROOT
 COPYFILE_DISABLE=1 tar zcf $ONOS_TAR $ONOS_BITS
 ls -l $ONOS_TAR >&2
+rm -r $ONOS_STAGE
diff --git a/tools/dev/bash_profile b/tools/dev/bash_profile
index f4ed3c3..6c1444f 100644
--- a/tools/dev/bash_profile
+++ b/tools/dev/bash_profile
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 alias op='onos-package'
 alias ot='onos-test'
 alias ol='onos-log'
+alias go='ob && ot && onos -w'
 alias pub='onos-push-update-bundle'
 
 # Short-hand for tailing the ONOS (karaf) log 
diff --git a/tools/package/bin/onos-service b/tools/package/bin/onos-service
index a5de5bd..c030887 100755
--- a/tools/package/bin/onos-service
+++ b/tools/package/bin/onos-service
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 export JAVA_HOME=${JAVA_HOME:-/usr/lib/jvm/java-7-openjdk-amd64/}
+export JAVA_OPTS="-Xms256M -Xmx2048M"
 
 cd /opt/onos
 /opt/onos/apache-karaf-3.0.1/bin/karaf "$@"
diff --git a/tools/test/bin/onos-push-update-bundle b/tools/test/bin/onos-push-update-bundle
index 6073bac..4f8ca7d 100755
--- a/tools/test/bin/onos-push-update-bundle
+++ b/tools/test/bin/onos-push-update-bundle
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 nodes=$(env | sort | egrep "OC[0-9]+" | cut -d= -f2)
 for node in $nodes; do
+    scp -q $jar $ONOS_USER@$node:.m2/repository/$jar
     scp -q $jar $ONOS_USER@$node:$ONOS_INSTALL_DIR/$KARAF_DIST/system/$jar
-    ssh $ONOS_USER@$node "ls -l $ONOS_INSTALL_DIR/$KARAF_DIST/system/$jar"
     ssh $ONOS_USER@$node "$ONOS_INSTALL_DIR/bin/onos \"bundle:update -f $bundle\"" 2>/dev/null
 done
diff --git a/tools/test/topos/tt.py b/tools/test/topos/tt.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b74d446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test/topos/tt.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+# Launches mininet with Tower topology configuration.
+import sys, tower
+net = tower.Tower(cip=sys.argv[1])
+net.run()
diff --git a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/metrics/MetricsManager.java b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/metrics/MetricsManager.java
index 357791e..8494d4e 100644
--- a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/metrics/MetricsManager.java
+++ b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/metrics/MetricsManager.java
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 package org.onlab.metrics;
 
-import java.io.File;
-import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
@@ -10,9 +8,11 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
+import com.codahale.metrics.ConsoleReporter;
 import com.codahale.metrics.Counter;
-import com.codahale.metrics.CsvReporter;
 import com.codahale.metrics.Gauge;
 import com.codahale.metrics.Histogram;
 import com.codahale.metrics.Meter;
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 @Component(immediate = true)
 public final class MetricsManager implements MetricsService {
 
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
     /**
      * Registry to hold the Components defined in the system.
      */
@@ -69,15 +70,20 @@
     /**
      * Default Reporter for this metrics manager.
      */
-    private final CsvReporter reporter;
+    //private final Slf4jReporter reporter;
+    private final ConsoleReporter reporter;
 
     public MetricsManager() {
         this.metricsRegistry = new MetricRegistry();
-        this.reporter = CsvReporter.forRegistry(metricsRegistry)
-                .formatFor(Locale.US)
+//        this.reporter = Slf4jReporter.forRegistry(this.metricsRegistry)
+//                .outputTo(log)
+//                .convertRatesTo(TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+//                .convertDurationsTo(TimeUnit.MICROSECONDS)
+//                .build();
+        this.reporter = ConsoleReporter.forRegistry(this.metricsRegistry)
                 .convertRatesTo(TimeUnit.SECONDS)
                 .convertDurationsTo(TimeUnit.MICROSECONDS)
-                .build(new File("/var/onos/log/metrics/"));
+                .build();
     }
 
     @Activate
diff --git a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/Tools.java b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/Tools.java
index c5162f6..5643098 100644
--- a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/Tools.java
+++ b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/Tools.java
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
 import com.google.common.primitives.UnsignedLongs;
 import com.google.common.util.concurrent.ThreadFactoryBuilder;
 
+import java.io.BufferedReader;
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.FileReader;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadFactory;
 
 public abstract class Tools {
@@ -66,4 +72,24 @@
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Slurps the contents of a file into a list of strings, one per line.
+     *
+     * @param path file path
+     * @return file contents
+     */
+    public static List<String> slurp(File path) {
+        try (BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(path))) {
+            List<String> lines = new ArrayList<>();
+            String line;
+            while ((line = br.readLine()) != null) {
+                lines.add(line);
+            }
+            return lines;
+
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageDecoder.java b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageDecoder.java
index d4832e5..b494ce9 100644
--- a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageDecoder.java
+++ b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageDecoder.java
@@ -8,11 +8,16 @@
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.List;
 
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
 /**
  * Decoder for inbound messages.
  */
 public class MessageDecoder extends ReplayingDecoder<DecoderState> {
 
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
     private final NettyMessagingService messagingService;
 
     private static final KryoSerializer SERIALIZER = new KryoSerializer();
@@ -57,4 +62,10 @@
             checkState(false, "Must not be here");
         }
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public void exceptionCaught(ChannelHandlerContext context, Throwable cause) {
+        log.error("Exception inside channel handling pipeline.", cause);
+        context.close();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageEncoder.java b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageEncoder.java
index 716efb9..d026dec 100644
--- a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageEncoder.java
+++ b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/MessageEncoder.java
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 package org.onlab.netty;
 
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
 import io.netty.buffer.ByteBuf;
 import io.netty.channel.ChannelHandler.Sharable;
 import io.netty.channel.ChannelHandlerContext;
@@ -11,6 +14,8 @@
 @Sharable
 public class MessageEncoder extends MessageToByteEncoder<InternalMessage> {
 
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
     // onosiscool in ascii
     public static final byte[] PREAMBLE = "onosiscool".getBytes();
     public static final int HEADER_VERSION = 1;
@@ -31,11 +36,6 @@
         // write preamble
         out.writeBytes(PREAMBLE);
 
-        try {
-            SERIALIZER.encode(message);
-        } catch (Exception e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-        }
         byte[] payload = SERIALIZER.encode(message);
 
         // write payload length
@@ -47,4 +47,10 @@
         // write payload.
         out.writeBytes(payload);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public void exceptionCaught(ChannelHandlerContext context, Throwable cause) {
+        log.error("Exception inside channel handling pipeline.", cause);
+        context.close();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java
index 48aeb30..5a51ad4 100644
--- a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java
+++ b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@
 
         @Override
         public void exceptionCaught(ChannelHandlerContext context, Throwable cause) {
+            log.error("Exception inside channel handling pipeline.", cause);
             context.close();
         }
     }
diff --git a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/SimpleClient.java b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/SimpleClient.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 3869948..0000000
--- a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/SimpleClient.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-package org.onlab.netty;
-
-import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
-
-import org.onlab.metrics.MetricsComponent;
-import org.onlab.metrics.MetricsFeature;
-import org.onlab.metrics.MetricsManager;
-
-import com.codahale.metrics.Timer;
-
-// FIXME: Should be move out to test or app
-public final class SimpleClient {
-    private SimpleClient() {
-    }
-
-    public static void main(String... args) throws Exception {
-        NettyMessagingService messaging = new TestNettyMessagingService(9081);
-        MetricsManager metrics = new MetricsManager();
-        messaging.activate();
-        metrics.activate();
-        MetricsFeature feature = new MetricsFeature("timers");
-        MetricsComponent component = metrics.registerComponent("NettyMessaging");
-        Timer sendAsyncTimer = metrics.createTimer(component, feature, "AsyncSender");
-        final int warmup = 100;
-        for (int i = 0; i < warmup; i++) {
-            Timer.Context context = sendAsyncTimer.time();
-            messaging.sendAsync(new Endpoint("localhost", 8080), "simple", "Hello World".getBytes());
-            context.stop();
-        }
-        metrics.registerMetric(component, feature, "AsyncTimer", sendAsyncTimer);
-
-        Timer sendAndReceiveTimer = metrics.createTimer(component, feature, "SendAndReceive");
-        final int iterations = 1000000;
-        for (int i = 0; i < iterations; i++) {
-            Timer.Context context = sendAndReceiveTimer.time();
-            Response response = messaging
-                    .sendAndReceive(new Endpoint("localhost", 8080), "echo",
-                                    "Hello World".getBytes());
-            System.out.println("Got back:" + new String(response.get(2, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
-            context.stop();
-        }
-        metrics.registerMetric(component, feature, "AsyncTimer", sendAndReceiveTimer);
-    }
-
-    public static class TestNettyMessagingService extends NettyMessagingService {
-        public TestNettyMessagingService(int port) throws Exception {
-            super(port);
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/SimpleServer.java b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/SimpleServer.java
deleted file mode 100644
index b8ae5b0..0000000
--- a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/SimpleServer.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-package org.onlab.netty;
-
-//FIXME: Should be move out to test or app
-public final class SimpleServer {
-    private SimpleServer() {}
-
-    public static void main(String... args) throws Exception {
-        NettyMessagingService server = new NettyMessagingService(8080);
-        server.activate();
-        server.registerHandler("simple", new LoggingHandler());
-        server.registerHandler("echo", new EchoHandler());
-    }
-}