Merge branch 'master' of ssh://gerrit.onlab.us:29418/onos-next
diff --git a/apps/config/pom.xml b/apps/config/pom.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a2d540
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/config/pom.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
+         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
+         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/maven-v4_0_0.xsd">
+    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+
+    <parent>
+        <groupId>org.onlab.onos</groupId>
+        <artifactId>onos-apps</artifactId>
+        <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>
+    </parent>
+
+    <artifactId>onos-app-config</artifactId>
+    <packaging>bundle</packaging>
+
+    <description>ONOS simple network configuration reader</description>
+
+    <dependencies>
+      <dependency>
+	<groupId>org.codehaus.jackson</groupId>
+	<artifactId>jackson-core-asl</artifactId>
+      </dependency>
+      <dependency>
+	<groupId>org.codehaus.jackson</groupId>
+	<artifactId>jackson-mapper-asl</artifactId>
+      </dependency>
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
+        <artifactId>jackson-annotations</artifactId>
+        <version>2.4.2</version>
+        <scope>provided</scope>
+      </dependency>
+    </dependencies> 
+
+</project>
diff --git a/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/AddressConfiguration.java b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/AddressConfiguration.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..580e950
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/AddressConfiguration.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.config;
+
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonProperty;
+
+/**
+ * Object to store address configuration read from a JSON file.
+ */
+public class AddressConfiguration {
+
+    private List<AddressEntry> addresses;
+
+    /**
+     * Gets a list of addresses in the system.
+     *
+     * @return the list of addresses
+     */
+    public List<AddressEntry> getAddresses() {
+        return Collections.unmodifiableList(addresses);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets a list of addresses in the system.
+     *
+     * @param addresses the list of addresses
+     */
+    @JsonProperty("addresses")
+    public void setAddresses(List<AddressEntry> addresses) {
+        this.addresses = addresses;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/AddressEntry.java b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/AddressEntry.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..318aebd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/AddressEntry.java
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.config;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonProperty;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+import org.onlab.packet.MacAddress;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a set of addresses bound to a port.
+ */
+public class AddressEntry {
+    private String dpid;
+    private short portNumber;
+    private List<IpPrefix> ipAddresses;
+    private MacAddress macAddress;
+
+    public String getDpid() {
+        return dpid;
+    }
+
+    @JsonProperty("dpid")
+    public void setDpid(String strDpid) {
+        this.dpid = strDpid;
+    }
+
+    public short getPortNumber() {
+        return portNumber;
+    }
+
+    @JsonProperty("port")
+    public void setPortNumber(short portNumber) {
+        this.portNumber = portNumber;
+    }
+
+    public List<IpPrefix> getIpAddresses() {
+        return ipAddresses;
+    }
+
+    @JsonProperty("ips")
+    public void setIpAddresses(List<IpPrefix> ipAddresses) {
+        this.ipAddresses = ipAddresses;
+    }
+
+    public MacAddress getMacAddress() {
+        return macAddress;
+    }
+
+    @JsonProperty("mac")
+    public void setMacAddress(MacAddress macAddress) {
+        this.macAddress = macAddress;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/NetworkConfigReader.java b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/NetworkConfigReader.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..985c4a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/NetworkConfigReader.java
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.config;
+
+import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+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.codehaus.jackson.map.ObjectMapper;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.PortNumber;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.host.HostAdminService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.host.PortAddresses;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
+
+/**
+ * Simple configuration module to read in supplementary network configuration
+ * from a file.
+ */
+@Component(immediate = true)
+public class NetworkConfigReader {
+
+    private final Logger log = getLogger(getClass());
+
+    private static final String DEFAULT_CONFIG_FILE = "config/addresses.json";
+    private String configFileName = DEFAULT_CONFIG_FILE;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected HostAdminService hostAdminService;
+
+    @Activate
+    protected void activate() {
+        log.info("Started network config reader");
+
+        log.info("Config file set to {}", configFileName);
+
+        AddressConfiguration config = readNetworkConfig();
+
+        if (config != null) {
+            for (AddressEntry entry : config.getAddresses()) {
+
+                ConnectPoint cp = new ConnectPoint(
+                        DeviceId.deviceId(dpidToUri(entry.getDpid())),
+                        PortNumber.portNumber(entry.getPortNumber()));
+
+                PortAddresses addresses = new PortAddresses(cp,
+                        Sets.newHashSet(entry.getIpAddresses()),
+                        entry.getMacAddress());
+
+                hostAdminService.bindAddressesToPort(addresses);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Deactivate
+    protected void deactivate() {
+        log.info("Stopped");
+    }
+
+    private AddressConfiguration readNetworkConfig() {
+        File configFile = new File(configFileName);
+
+        ObjectMapper mapper = new ObjectMapper();
+
+        try {
+            AddressConfiguration config =
+                    mapper.readValue(configFile, AddressConfiguration.class);
+
+            return config;
+        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
+            log.warn("Configuration file not found: {}", configFileName);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            log.error("Unable to read config from file:", e);
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private static String dpidToUri(String dpid) {
+        return "of:" + dpid.replace(":", "");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/package-info.java b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/package-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..514a47a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/config/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/config/package-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+/**
+ * Simple configuration module to read in supplementary network configuration
+ * from a file.
+ */
+package org.onlab.onos.config;
diff --git a/apps/config/src/main/resources/config.json b/apps/config/src/main/resources/config.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca4be83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/config/src/main/resources/config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+    "interfaces" : [
+	{
+	    "dpid" : "00:00:00:00:00:00:01",
+	    "port" : "1",
+	    "ips" : ["192.168.10.101/24"],
+	    "mac" : "00:00:00:11:22:33"
+	},
+	{
+	    "dpid" : "00:00:00:00:00:00:02",
+	    "port" : "1",
+	    "ips" : ["192.168.20.101/24", "192.168.30.101/24"]
+	},
+	{
+	    "dpid" : "00:00:00:00:00:00:03",
+	    "port" : "1",
+	    "ips" : ["10.1.0.1/16"],
+	    "mac" : "00:00:00:00:00:01"
+	}
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/IOLoopTestClient.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/IOLoopTestClient.java
index 3ec8c07..302a0c7 100644
--- a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/IOLoopTestClient.java
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/IOLoopTestClient.java
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
         }
 
         @Override
-        protected void connect(SelectionKey key) {
+        protected void connect(SelectionKey key) throws IOException {
             super.connect(key);
             TestMessageStream b = (TestMessageStream) key.attachment();
             Worker w = ((CustomIOLoop) b.loop()).worker;
diff --git a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
index b332d2c..738fa2a 100644
--- a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
+++ b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketContext;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketProcessor;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.proxyarp.ProxyArpService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.topology.TopologyService;
+import org.onlab.packet.ARP;
 import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
@@ -50,6 +52,9 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected FlowRuleService flowRuleService;
 
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected ProxyArpService proxyArpService;
+
     private ReactivePacketProcessor processor = new ReactivePacketProcessor();
 
     private ApplicationId appId;
@@ -85,6 +90,16 @@
 
             InboundPacket pkt = context.inPacket();
             Ethernet ethPkt = pkt.parsed();
+            if (ethPkt.getEtherType() == Ethernet.TYPE_ARP) {
+                ARP arp = (ARP) ethPkt.getPayload();
+                if (arp.getOpCode() == ARP.OP_REPLY) {
+                    proxyArpService.forward(ethPkt);
+                } else if (arp.getOpCode() == ARP.OP_REQUEST) {
+                    proxyArpService.reply(ethPkt);
+                }
+                context.block();
+                return;
+            }
             HostId id = HostId.hostId(ethPkt.getDestinationMAC());
 
             // Do we know who this is for? If not, flood and bail.
diff --git a/apps/mobility/pom.xml b/apps/mobility/pom.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a919ff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mobility/pom.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
+         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
+         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/maven-v4_0_0.xsd">
+    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+
+    <parent>
+        <groupId>org.onlab.onos</groupId>
+        <artifactId>onos-apps</artifactId>
+        <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>
+    </parent>
+
+    <artifactId>onos-app-mobility</artifactId>
+    <packaging>bundle</packaging>
+
+    <description>ONOS simple Mobility app</description>
+
+</project>
diff --git a/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/HostMobility.java b/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/HostMobility.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7958f99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/HostMobility.java
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.mobility;
+import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
+
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.List;
+
+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.ApplicationId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Host;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.FlowRule;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.FlowRuleService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.criteria.Criteria.EthCriterion;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.criteria.Criterion;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.criteria.Criterion.Type;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.host.HostEvent;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.host.HostListener;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.host.HostService;
+import org.onlab.packet.MacAddress;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
+
+
+/**
+ * Sample mobility application. Cleans up flowmods when a host moves.
+ */
+@Component(immediate = true)
+public class HostMobility {
+
+    private final Logger log = getLogger(getClass());
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected HostService hostService;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected FlowRuleService flowRuleService;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected DeviceService deviceService;
+
+    private ApplicationId appId;
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        appId = ApplicationId.getAppId();
+        hostService.addListener(new InternalHostListener());
+        log.info("Started with Application ID {}", appId.id());
+    }
+
+    @Deactivate
+    public void deactivate() {
+        flowRuleService.removeFlowRulesById(appId);
+        log.info("Stopped");
+    }
+
+    public class InternalHostListener
+    implements HostListener {
+
+        @Override
+        public void event(HostEvent event) {
+            switch (event.type()) {
+                case HOST_ADDED:
+                case HOST_REMOVED:
+                case HOST_UPDATED:
+                    // don't care if a host has been added, removed.
+                    break;
+                case HOST_MOVED:
+                    log.info("Host {} has moved; cleaning up.", event.subject());
+                    cleanup(event.subject());
+                    break;
+
+                default:
+                    break;
+
+            }
+
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * For a given host, remove any flow rule which references it's addresses.
+         * @param host the host to clean up for
+         */
+        private void cleanup(Host host) {
+            Iterable<Device> devices = deviceService.getDevices();
+            List<FlowRule> flowRules = Lists.newLinkedList();
+            for (Device device : devices) {
+                   flowRules.addAll(cleanupDevice(device, host));
+            }
+            FlowRule[] flows = new FlowRule[flowRules.size()];
+            flows = flowRules.toArray(flows);
+            flowRuleService.removeFlowRules(flows);
+        }
+
+        private Collection<? extends FlowRule> cleanupDevice(Device device, Host host) {
+            List<FlowRule> flowRules = Lists.newLinkedList();
+            MacAddress mac = host.mac();
+            for (FlowRule rule : flowRuleService.getFlowEntries(device.id())) {
+                for (Criterion c : rule.selector().criteria()) {
+                    if (c.type() == Type.ETH_DST || c.type() == Type.ETH_SRC) {
+                        EthCriterion eth = (EthCriterion) c;
+                        if (eth.mac().equals(mac)) {
+                            flowRules.add(rule);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            //TODO: handle ip cleanup
+            return flowRules;
+        }
+
+    }
+
+}
+
+
diff --git a/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/package-info.java b/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/package-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea5bdf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/package-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/**
+ * Trivial application that provides simple form of reactive forwarding.
+ */
+package org.onlab.onos.mobility;
diff --git a/apps/pom.xml b/apps/pom.xml
index de9faa7..010c531 100644
--- a/apps/pom.xml
+++ b/apps/pom.xml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
         <module>tvue</module>
         <module>fwd</module>
         <module>foo</module>
+        <module>mobility</module>
+	    <module>config</module>
     </modules>
 
     <properties>
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/host/PortAddresses.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/host/PortAddresses.java
index 7d22877..728d922 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/host/PortAddresses.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/host/PortAddresses.java
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
 import org.onlab.packet.MacAddress;
 
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+
 /**
  * Represents address information bound to a port.
  */
@@ -83,4 +85,13 @@
     public int hashCode() {
         return Objects.hash(connectPoint, ipAddresses, macAddress);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(getClass())
+            .add("connect-point", connectPoint)
+            .add("ip-addresses", ipAddresses)
+            .add("mac-address", macAddress)
+            .toString();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkService.java
index 1257d97..db060a2 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkService.java
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.net.link;
 
+import java.util.Set;
+
 import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
 
-import java.util.Set;
-
 /**
  * Service for interacting with the inventory of infrastructure links.
  */
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/ProxyArpService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/ProxyArpService.java
index e6fe43b..36c8aed 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/ProxyArpService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/ProxyArpService.java
@@ -21,9 +21,16 @@
      * Sends a reply for a given request. If the host is not known then the arp
      * will be flooded at all edge ports.
      *
-     * @param request
+     * @param eth
      *            an arp request
      */
-    void reply(Ethernet request);
+    void reply(Ethernet eth);
+
+    /**
+     * Forwards an ARP request to its destination. Floods at the edge the ARP request if the
+     * destination is not known.
+     * @param eth an ethernet frame containing an ARP request.
+     */
+    void forward(Ethernet eth);
 
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkServiceAdapter.java b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkServiceAdapter.java
index fd3aa0c..582ee1b 100644
--- a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkServiceAdapter.java
+++ b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/LinkServiceAdapter.java
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.net.link;
 
+import java.util.Set;
+
 import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
 
-import java.util.Set;
-
 /**
  * Test adapter for link service.
  */
@@ -63,4 +63,5 @@
     public void removeListener(LinkListener listener) {
     }
 
+
 }
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManager.java
index 4babb50..89c3399 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManager.java
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@
             switch (stored.state()) {
             case ADDED:
             case PENDING_ADD:
-                frp.applyFlowRule(flowRule);
+                frp.applyFlowRule(stored);
                 break;
             case PENDING_REMOVE:
             case REMOVED:
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/impl/LinkManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/impl/LinkManager.java
index 493580d..779e1ee 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/impl/LinkManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/link/impl/LinkManager.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
     protected final AbstractListenerRegistry<LinkEvent, LinkListener>
             listenerRegistry = new AbstractListenerRegistry<>();
 
-    private LinkStoreDelegate delegate = new InternalStoreDelegate();
+    private final LinkStoreDelegate delegate = new InternalStoreDelegate();
 
     private final DeviceListener deviceListener = new InternalDeviceListener();
 
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/impl/ProxyArpManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/impl/ProxyArpManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7e08fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/impl/ProxyArpManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,325 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.net.proxyarp.impl;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;
+
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map.Entry;
+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.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Host;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.HostId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Port;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.PortNumber;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceEvent;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceListener;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.DefaultTrafficTreatment;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.TrafficTreatment;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.host.HostService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.link.LinkEvent;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.link.LinkListener;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.link.LinkService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.DefaultOutboundPacket;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketService;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.proxyarp.ProxyArpService;
+import org.onlab.packet.ARP;
+import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+import org.onlab.packet.VlanId;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.HashMultimap;
+import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
+import com.google.common.collect.Multimap;
+
+
+@Component(immediate = true)
+@Service
+public class ProxyArpManager implements ProxyArpService {
+
+    private final Logger log = getLogger(getClass());
+
+    private static final String MAC_ADDR_NULL = "Mac address cannot be null.";
+    private static final String REQUEST_NULL = "Arp request cannot be null.";
+    private static final String REQUEST_NOT_ARP = "Ethernet frame does not contain ARP request.";
+    private static final String NOT_ARP_REQUEST = "ARP is not a request.";
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected HostService hostService;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected PacketService packetService;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected LinkService linkService;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected DeviceService deviceService;
+
+    private final Multimap<Device, PortNumber> internalPorts =
+            HashMultimap.<Device, PortNumber>create();
+
+    private final Multimap<Device, PortNumber> externalPorts =
+            HashMultimap.<Device, PortNumber>create();
+
+    /**
+     * Listens to both device service and link service to determine
+     * whether a port is internal or external.
+     */
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        deviceService.addListener(new InternalDeviceListener());
+        linkService.addListener(new InternalLinkListener());
+        determinePortLocations();
+        log.info("Started");
+    }
+
+
+    @Deactivate
+    public void deactivate() {
+        log.info("Stopped");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean known(IpPrefix addr) {
+        checkNotNull(MAC_ADDR_NULL, addr);
+        Set<Host> hosts = hostService.getHostsByIp(addr);
+        return !hosts.isEmpty();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void reply(Ethernet eth) {
+        checkNotNull(REQUEST_NULL, eth);
+        checkArgument(eth.getEtherType() == Ethernet.TYPE_ARP,
+                REQUEST_NOT_ARP);
+        ARP arp = (ARP) eth.getPayload();
+        checkArgument(arp.getOpCode() == ARP.OP_REQUEST, NOT_ARP_REQUEST);
+
+        VlanId vlan = VlanId.vlanId(eth.getVlanID());
+        Set<Host> hosts = hostService.getHostsByIp(IpPrefix.valueOf(arp
+                .getTargetProtocolAddress()));
+
+        Host dst = null;
+        Host src = hostService.getHost(HostId.hostId(eth.getSourceMAC(),
+                VlanId.vlanId(eth.getVlanID())));
+
+        for (Host host : hosts) {
+            if (host.vlan().equals(vlan)) {
+                dst = host;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (src == null || dst == null) {
+            flood(eth);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Ethernet arpReply = buildArpReply(dst, eth);
+        // TODO: check send status with host service.
+        TrafficTreatment.Builder builder = new DefaultTrafficTreatment.Builder();
+        builder.setOutput(src.location().port());
+        packetService.emit(new DefaultOutboundPacket(src.location().deviceId(),
+                builder.build(), ByteBuffer.wrap(arpReply.serialize())));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void forward(Ethernet eth) {
+        checkNotNull(REQUEST_NULL, eth);
+        checkArgument(eth.getEtherType() == Ethernet.TYPE_ARP,
+                REQUEST_NOT_ARP);
+        ARP arp = (ARP) eth.getPayload();
+        checkArgument(arp.getOpCode() == ARP.OP_REPLY, NOT_ARP_REQUEST);
+
+        Host h = hostService.getHost(HostId.hostId(eth.getDestinationMAC(),
+                VlanId.vlanId(eth.getVlanID())));
+
+        if (h == null) {
+            flood(eth);
+        } else {
+            TrafficTreatment.Builder builder = new DefaultTrafficTreatment.Builder();
+            builder.setOutput(h.location().port());
+            packetService.emit(new DefaultOutboundPacket(h.location().deviceId(),
+                    builder.build(), ByteBuffer.wrap(eth.serialize())));
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Flood the arp request at all edges in the network.
+     * @param request the arp request.
+     */
+    private void flood(Ethernet request) {
+        TrafficTreatment.Builder builder = null;
+        ByteBuffer buf = ByteBuffer.wrap(request.serialize());
+
+        synchronized (externalPorts) {
+            for (Entry<Device, PortNumber> entry : externalPorts.entries()) {
+                builder = new DefaultTrafficTreatment.Builder();
+                builder.setOutput(entry.getValue());
+                packetService.emit(new DefaultOutboundPacket(entry.getKey().id(),
+                        builder.build(), buf));
+            }
+
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Determines the location of all known ports in the system.
+     */
+    private void determinePortLocations() {
+        Iterable<Device> devices = deviceService.getDevices();
+        Iterable<Link> links = null;
+        List<PortNumber> ports = null;
+        for (Device d : devices) {
+            ports = buildPortNumberList(deviceService.getPorts(d.id()));
+            links = linkService.getLinks();
+            for (Link l : links) {
+                // for each link, mark the concerned ports as internal
+                // and the remaining ports are therefore external.
+                if (l.src().deviceId().equals(d)
+                        && ports.contains(l.src().port())) {
+                    ports.remove(l.src().port());
+                    internalPorts.put(d, l.src().port());
+                }
+                if (l.dst().deviceId().equals(d)
+                        && ports.contains(l.dst().port())) {
+                    ports.remove(l.dst().port());
+                    internalPorts.put(d, l.dst().port());
+                }
+            }
+            synchronized (externalPorts) {
+                externalPorts.putAll(d, ports);
+            }
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    private List<PortNumber> buildPortNumberList(List<Port> ports) {
+        List<PortNumber> portNumbers = Lists.newLinkedList();
+        for (Port p : ports) {
+            portNumbers.add(p.number());
+        }
+        return portNumbers;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Builds an arp reply based on a request.
+     * @param h the host we want to send to
+     * @param request the arp request we got
+     * @return an ethernet frame containing the arp reply
+     */
+    private Ethernet buildArpReply(Host h, Ethernet request) {
+        Ethernet eth = new Ethernet();
+        eth.setDestinationMACAddress(request.getSourceMACAddress());
+        eth.setSourceMACAddress(h.mac().getAddress());
+        eth.setEtherType(Ethernet.TYPE_ARP);
+        eth.setVlanID(request.getVlanID());
+
+        ARP arp = new ARP();
+        arp.setOpCode(ARP.OP_REPLY);
+        arp.setProtocolType(ARP.PROTO_TYPE_IP);
+        arp.setHardwareType(ARP.HW_TYPE_ETHERNET);
+        arp.setProtocolAddressLength((byte) IpPrefix.INET_LEN);
+        arp.setHardwareAddressLength((byte) Ethernet.DATALAYER_ADDRESS_LENGTH);
+        arp.setSenderHardwareAddress(h.mac().getAddress());
+        arp.setTargetHardwareAddress(request.getSourceMACAddress());
+
+        arp.setTargetProtocolAddress(((ARP) request.getPayload())
+                .getSenderProtocolAddress());
+        arp.setSenderProtocolAddress(h.ipAddresses().iterator().next().toInt());
+        eth.setPayload(arp);
+        return eth;
+    }
+
+    public class InternalLinkListener implements LinkListener {
+
+        @Override
+        public void event(LinkEvent event) {
+            Link link = event.subject();
+            Device src = deviceService.getDevice(link.src().deviceId());
+            Device dst = deviceService.getDevice(link.dst().deviceId());
+            switch (event.type()) {
+                case LINK_ADDED:
+                    synchronized (externalPorts) {
+                        externalPorts.remove(src, link.src().port());
+                        externalPorts.remove(dst, link.dst().port());
+                        internalPorts.put(src, link.src().port());
+                        internalPorts.put(dst, link.dst().port());
+                    }
+
+                    break;
+                case LINK_REMOVED:
+                    synchronized (externalPorts) {
+                        externalPorts.put(src, link.src().port());
+                        externalPorts.put(dst, link.dst().port());
+                        internalPorts.remove(src, link.src().port());
+                        internalPorts.remove(dst, link.dst().port());
+                    }
+
+                    break;
+                case LINK_UPDATED:
+                    // don't care about links being updated.
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    public class InternalDeviceListener implements DeviceListener {
+
+        @Override
+        public void event(DeviceEvent event) {
+            Device device = event.subject();
+            switch (event.type()) {
+                case DEVICE_ADDED:
+                case DEVICE_AVAILABILITY_CHANGED:
+                case DEVICE_MASTERSHIP_CHANGED:
+                case DEVICE_SUSPENDED:
+                case DEVICE_UPDATED:
+                case PORT_UPDATED:
+                 // nothing to do in these cases; handled when links get reported
+                    break;
+                case DEVICE_REMOVED:
+                    synchronized (externalPorts) {
+                        externalPorts.removeAll(device);
+                        internalPorts.removeAll(device);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case PORT_ADDED:
+                    synchronized (externalPorts) {
+                        externalPorts.put(device, event.port().number());
+                        internalPorts.remove(device, event.port().number());
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case PORT_REMOVED:
+                    synchronized (externalPorts) {
+                        externalPorts.remove(device, event.port().number());
+                        internalPorts.remove(device, event.port().number());
+                    }
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    break;
+
+            }
+
+        }
+
+}
+
+
+}
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/impl/package-info.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/impl/package-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0cbd20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/proxyarp/impl/package-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/**
+ * Core subsystem for responding to arp requests.
+ */
+package org.onlab.onos.net.proxyarp.impl;
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/impl/ProxyArpManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/impl/ProxyArpManager.java
deleted file mode 100644
index f267f68..0000000
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/impl/ProxyArpManager.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,100 +0,0 @@
-package org.onlab.onos.proxyarp.impl;
-
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
-
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-import java.util.Set;
-
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.Host;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.DefaultTrafficTreatment;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.TrafficTreatment;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.host.HostService;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.DefaultOutboundPacket;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketService;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.proxyarp.ProxyArpService;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.topology.TopologyService;
-import org.onlab.packet.ARP;
-import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
-import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
-import org.onlab.packet.VlanId;
-
-public class ProxyArpManager implements ProxyArpService {
-
-    private static final String MAC_ADDR_NULL = "Mac address cannot be null.";
-    private static final String REQUEST_NULL = "Arp request cannot be null.";
-    private static final String REQUEST_NOT_ARP = "Ethernet frame does not contain ARP request.";
-    private static final String NOT_ARP_REQUEST = "ARP is not a request.";
-
-    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
-    protected HostService hostService;
-
-    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
-    protected PacketService packetService;
-
-    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
-    protected TopologyService topologyService;
-
-    @Override
-    public boolean known(IpPrefix addr) {
-        checkNotNull(MAC_ADDR_NULL, addr);
-        Set<Host> hosts = hostService.getHostsByIp(addr);
-        return !hosts.isEmpty();
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public void reply(Ethernet request) {
-        checkNotNull(REQUEST_NULL, request);
-        checkArgument(request.getEtherType() == Ethernet.TYPE_ARP,
-                REQUEST_NOT_ARP);
-        ARP arp = (ARP) request.getPayload();
-        checkArgument(arp.getOpCode() == ARP.OP_REQUEST, NOT_ARP_REQUEST);
-
-        VlanId vlan = VlanId.vlanId(request.getVlanID());
-        Set<Host> hosts = hostService.getHostsByIp(IpPrefix.valueOf(arp
-                .getTargetProtocolAddress()));
-
-        Host h = null;
-        for (Host host : hosts) {
-            if (host.vlan().equals(vlan)) {
-                h = host;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (h == null) {
-            flood(request);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        Ethernet arpReply = buildArpReply(h, request);
-        // TODO: check send status with host service.
-        TrafficTreatment.Builder builder = new DefaultTrafficTreatment.Builder();
-        builder.setOutput(h.location().port());
-        packetService.emit(new DefaultOutboundPacket(h.location().deviceId(),
-                builder.build(), ByteBuffer.wrap(arpReply.serialize())));
-    }
-
-    private void flood(Ethernet request) {
-        // TODO: flood on all edge ports.
-    }
-
-    private Ethernet buildArpReply(Host h, Ethernet request) {
-        Ethernet eth = new Ethernet();
-        eth.setDestinationMACAddress(request.getSourceMACAddress());
-        eth.setSourceMACAddress(h.mac().getAddress());
-        eth.setEtherType(Ethernet.TYPE_ARP);
-        ARP arp = new ARP();
-        arp.setOpCode(ARP.OP_REPLY);
-        arp.setSenderHardwareAddress(h.mac().getAddress());
-        arp.setTargetHardwareAddress(request.getSourceMACAddress());
-
-        arp.setTargetProtocolAddress(((ARP) request.getPayload())
-                .getSenderProtocolAddress());
-        arp.setSenderProtocolAddress(h.ipAddresses().iterator().next().toInt());
-        eth.setPayload(arp);
-        return eth;
-    }
-}
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/impl/package-info.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/impl/package-info.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 7a5dc6e8..0000000
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/impl/package-info.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Core subsystem for responding to arp requests.
- */
-package org.onlab.onos.proxyarp.impl;
diff --git a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java
index bcb4a68..10e9b39 100644
--- a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java
+++ b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/device/impl/DistributedDeviceManagerTest.java
@@ -33,8 +33,11 @@
 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.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationManager;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
 import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -92,6 +95,7 @@
     private DistributedDeviceStore dstore;
     private TestMastershipManager masterManager;
     private EventDeliveryService eventService;
+    private KryoSerializationManager serializationMgr;
 
     @Before
     public void setUp() {
@@ -107,7 +111,10 @@
         storeManager = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
         storeManager.activate();
 
-        dstore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore();
+        serializationMgr = new KryoSerializationManager();
+        serializationMgr.activate();
+
+        dstore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager, serializationMgr);
         dstore.activate();
 
         mgr.store = dstore;
@@ -133,6 +140,7 @@
         mgr.deactivate();
 
         dstore.deactivate();
+        serializationMgr.deactivate();
         storeManager.deactivate();
     }
 
@@ -298,8 +306,10 @@
 
     private class TestDistributedDeviceStore extends DistributedDeviceStore {
 
-        public TestDistributedDeviceStore() {
-            this.storeService = storeManager;
+        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService,
+                                    KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService) {
+            this.storeService = storeService;
+            this.kryoSerializationService = kryoSerializationService;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationAdminService.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationAdminService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22ed9de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationAdminService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+
+/**
+ * Service for administering communications manager.
+ */
+public interface ClusterCommunicationAdminService {
+
+    /**
+     * Adds the node to the list of monitored nodes.
+     *
+     * @param node node to be added
+     */
+    void addNode(DefaultControllerNode node);
+
+    /**
+     * Removes the node from the list of monitored nodes.
+     *
+     * @param node node to be removed
+     */
+    void removeNode(DefaultControllerNode node);
+
+    /**
+     * Starts-up the communications engine.
+     *
+     * @param localNode local controller node
+     * @param delegate nodes delegate
+     */
+    void startUp(DefaultControllerNode localNode, ClusterNodesDelegate delegate);
+
+    /**
+     * Clears all nodes and streams as part of leaving the cluster.
+     */
+    void clearAllNodesAndStreams();
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationManager.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e2887c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,354 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.HashMultimap;
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
+import com.google.common.collect.Multimap;
+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.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterCommunicationService;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMembershipMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.HelloMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.LeavingMemberMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubject;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubscriber;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.NewMemberMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.SerializationService;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
+import java.net.SocketAddress;
+import java.nio.channels.SocketChannel;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.Timer;
+import java.util.TimerTask;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
+import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
+
+import static java.net.InetAddress.getByAddress;
+import static org.onlab.util.Tools.namedThreads;
+
+/**
+ * Implements the cluster communication services to use by other stores.
+ */
+@Component(immediate = true)
+@Service
+public class ClusterCommunicationManager
+        implements ClusterCommunicationService, ClusterCommunicationAdminService {
+
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
+    private static final long CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_DELAY = 100L;
+    private static final long CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_FREQUENCY = 2000;
+
+    private static final long START_TIMEOUT = 1000;
+    private static final int WORKERS = 3;
+
+    private ClusterConnectionListener connectionListener;
+    private List<ClusterIOWorker> workers = new ArrayList<>(WORKERS);
+
+    private DefaultControllerNode localNode;
+    private ClusterNodesDelegate nodesDelegate;
+
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected SerializationService serializationService;
+
+    // Nodes to be monitored to make sure they have a connection.
+    private final Set<DefaultControllerNode> nodes = new HashSet<>();
+
+    // Means to track message streams to other nodes.
+    private final Map<NodeId, ClusterMessageStream> streams = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+
+    // TODO: use something different that won't require synchronization
+    private Multimap<MessageSubject, MessageSubscriber> subscribers = HashMultimap.create();
+
+    // Executor pools for listening and managing connections to other nodes.
+    private final ExecutorService listenExecutor =
+            Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor(namedThreads("onos-comm-listen"));
+    private final ExecutorService commExecutors =
+            Executors.newFixedThreadPool(WORKERS, namedThreads("onos-comm-cluster"));
+    private final ExecutorService heartbeatExecutor =
+            Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor(namedThreads("onos-comm-heartbeat"));
+
+    private final Timer timer = new Timer("onos-comm-initiator");
+    private final TimerTask connectionCustodian = new ConnectionCustodian();
+    private MembershipSubscriber membershipSubscriber = new MembershipSubscriber();
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        addSubscriber(MessageSubject.NEW_MEMBER, membershipSubscriber);
+        addSubscriber(MessageSubject.LEAVING_MEMBER, membershipSubscriber);
+        log.info("Activated but waiting for delegate");
+    }
+
+    @Deactivate
+    public void deactivate() {
+        removeSubscriber(MessageSubject.NEW_MEMBER, membershipSubscriber);
+        removeSubscriber(MessageSubject.LEAVING_MEMBER, membershipSubscriber);
+
+        connectionCustodian.cancel();
+        if (connectionListener != null) {
+            connectionListener.shutdown();
+            for (ClusterIOWorker worker : workers) {
+                worker.shutdown();
+            }
+        }
+        log.info("Stopped");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean send(ClusterMessage message) {
+        boolean ok = true;
+        for (DefaultControllerNode node : nodes) {
+            if (!node.equals(localNode)) {
+                ok = send(message, node.id()) && ok;
+            }
+        }
+        return ok;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean send(ClusterMessage message, NodeId toNodeId) {
+        ClusterMessageStream stream = streams.get(toNodeId);
+        if (stream != null && !toNodeId.equals(localNode.id())) {
+            try {
+                stream.write(message);
+                return true;
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                log.warn("Unable to send message {} to node {}",
+                         message.subject(), toNodeId);
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public synchronized void addSubscriber(MessageSubject subject,
+                                           MessageSubscriber subscriber) {
+        subscribers.put(subject, subscriber);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public synchronized void removeSubscriber(MessageSubject subject,
+                                              MessageSubscriber subscriber) {
+        subscribers.remove(subject, subscriber);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Set<MessageSubscriber> getSubscribers(MessageSubject subject) {
+        return ImmutableSet.copyOf(subscribers.get(subject));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void addNode(DefaultControllerNode node) {
+        nodes.add(node);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void removeNode(DefaultControllerNode node) {
+        send(new LeavingMemberMessage(node.id()));
+        nodes.remove(node);
+        ClusterMessageStream stream = streams.remove(node.id());
+        if (stream != null) {
+            stream.close();
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void startUp(DefaultControllerNode localNode,
+                        ClusterNodesDelegate delegate) {
+        this.localNode = localNode;
+        this.nodesDelegate = delegate;
+
+        startCommunications();
+        startListening();
+        startInitiatingConnections();
+        log.info("Started");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void clearAllNodesAndStreams() {
+        nodes.clear();
+        send(new LeavingMemberMessage(localNode.id()));
+        for (ClusterMessageStream stream : streams.values()) {
+            stream.close();
+        }
+        streams.clear();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Dispatches the specified message to all subscribers to its subject.
+     *
+     * @param message    message to dispatch
+     * @param fromNodeId node from which the message was received
+     */
+    void dispatch(ClusterMessage message, NodeId fromNodeId) {
+        Set<MessageSubscriber> set = getSubscribers(message.subject());
+        if (set != null) {
+            for (MessageSubscriber subscriber : set) {
+                subscriber.receive(message, fromNodeId);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Adds the stream associated with the specified node.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId  newly detected cluster node id
+     * @param ip      node IP listen address
+     * @param tcpPort node TCP listen port
+     * @return controller node bound to the stream
+     */
+    DefaultControllerNode addNodeStream(NodeId nodeId, IpPrefix ip, int tcpPort,
+                                        ClusterMessageStream stream) {
+        DefaultControllerNode node = nodesDelegate.nodeDetected(nodeId, ip, tcpPort);
+        stream.setNode(node);
+        streams.put(node.id(), stream);
+        send(new NewMemberMessage(node.id(), node.ip(), node.tcpPort()));
+        return node;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Removes the stream associated with the specified node.
+     *
+     * @param node node whose stream to remove
+     */
+    void removeNodeStream(DefaultControllerNode node) {
+        nodesDelegate.nodeVanished(node.id());
+        streams.remove(node.id());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Finds the least utilized IO worker.
+     *
+     * @return IO worker
+     */
+    ClusterIOWorker findWorker() {
+        ClusterIOWorker leastUtilized = null;
+        int minCount = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
+        for (ClusterIOWorker worker : workers) {
+            int count = worker.streamCount();
+            if (count == 0) {
+                return worker;
+            }
+
+            if (count < minCount) {
+                leastUtilized = worker;
+                minCount = count;
+            }
+        }
+        return leastUtilized;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Kicks off the IO loops and waits for them to startup.
+     */
+    private void startCommunications() {
+        HelloMessage hello = new HelloMessage(localNode.id(), localNode.ip(),
+                                              localNode.tcpPort());
+        for (int i = 0; i < WORKERS; i++) {
+            try {
+                ClusterIOWorker worker =
+                        new ClusterIOWorker(this, serializationService, hello);
+                workers.add(worker);
+                commExecutors.execute(worker);
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                log.warn("Unable to start communication worker", e);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Wait for the IO loops to start
+        for (ClusterIOWorker loop : workers) {
+            if (!loop.awaitStart(START_TIMEOUT)) {
+                log.warn("Comm loop did not start on-time; moving on...");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Starts listening for connections from peer cluster members.
+     */
+    private void startListening() {
+        try {
+            connectionListener =
+                    new ClusterConnectionListener(this, localNode.ip(), localNode.tcpPort());
+            listenExecutor.execute(connectionListener);
+            if (!connectionListener.awaitStart(START_TIMEOUT)) {
+                log.warn("Listener did not start on-time; moving on...");
+            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            log.error("Unable to listen for cluster connections", e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Attempts to connect to any nodes that do not have an associated connection.
+     */
+    private void startInitiatingConnections() {
+        timer.schedule(connectionCustodian, CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_DELAY,
+                       CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_FREQUENCY);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Initiates open connection request and registers the pending socket
+     * channel with the given IO worker.
+     *
+     * @param worker loop with which the channel should be registered
+     * @throws java.io.IOException if the socket could not be open or connected
+     */
+    private void initiateConnection(DefaultControllerNode node,
+                                    ClusterIOWorker worker) throws IOException {
+        SocketAddress sa = new InetSocketAddress(getByAddress(node.ip().toOctets()), node.tcpPort());
+        SocketChannel ch = SocketChannel.open();
+        ch.configureBlocking(false);
+        ch.connect(sa);
+        worker.connectStream(ch);
+    }
+
+    // Sweeps through all controller nodes and attempts to open connection to
+    // those that presently do not have one.
+    private class ConnectionCustodian extends TimerTask {
+        @Override
+        public void run() {
+            for (DefaultControllerNode node : nodes) {
+                if (!node.id().equals(localNode.id()) && !streams.containsKey(node.id())) {
+                    try {
+                        initiateConnection(node, findWorker());
+                    } catch (IOException e) {
+                        log.debug("Unable to connect", e);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private class MembershipSubscriber implements MessageSubscriber {
+        @Override
+        public void receive(ClusterMessage message, NodeId fromNodeId) {
+            MessageSubject subject = message.subject();
+            ClusterMembershipMessage cmm = (ClusterMembershipMessage) message;
+            if (message.subject() == MessageSubject.NEW_MEMBER) {
+                log.info("Node {} arrived", cmm.nodeId());
+                nodesDelegate.nodeDetected(cmm.nodeId(), cmm.ipAddress(), cmm.tcpPort());
+
+            } else if (subject == MessageSubject.LEAVING_MEMBER) {
+                log.info("Node {} is leaving", cmm.nodeId());
+                nodesDelegate.nodeRemoved(cmm.nodeId());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterConnectionListener.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterConnectionListener.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36d5ab4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterConnectionListener.java
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.nio.AcceptorLoop;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
+import java.net.Socket;
+import java.nio.channels.ServerSocketChannel;
+import java.nio.channels.SocketChannel;
+
+import static java.net.InetAddress.getByAddress;
+
+/**
+ * Listens to inbound connection requests and accepts them.
+ */
+public class ClusterConnectionListener extends AcceptorLoop {
+
+    private static final long SELECT_TIMEOUT = 50;
+    private static final int COMM_BUFFER_SIZE = 32 * 1024;
+
+    private static final boolean SO_NO_DELAY = false;
+    private static final int SO_SEND_BUFFER_SIZE = COMM_BUFFER_SIZE;
+    private static final int SO_RCV_BUFFER_SIZE = COMM_BUFFER_SIZE;
+
+    private final ClusterCommunicationManager manager;
+
+    ClusterConnectionListener(ClusterCommunicationManager manager,
+                              IpPrefix ip, int tcpPort) throws IOException {
+        super(SELECT_TIMEOUT, new InetSocketAddress(getByAddress(ip.toOctets()), tcpPort));
+        this.manager = manager;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void acceptConnection(ServerSocketChannel channel) throws IOException {
+        SocketChannel sc = channel.accept();
+        sc.configureBlocking(false);
+
+        Socket so = sc.socket();
+        so.setTcpNoDelay(SO_NO_DELAY);
+        so.setReceiveBufferSize(SO_RCV_BUFFER_SIZE);
+        so.setSendBufferSize(SO_SEND_BUFFER_SIZE);
+
+        manager.findWorker().acceptStream(sc);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterIOWorker.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterIOWorker.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d442cc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterIOWorker.java
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.nio.IOLoop;
+import org.onlab.nio.MessageStream;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.HelloMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.SerializationService;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
+import java.nio.channels.ByteChannel;
+import java.nio.channels.SelectionKey;
+import java.nio.channels.SocketChannel;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+import static org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix.valueOf;
+
+/**
+ * Performs the IO operations related to a cluster-wide communications.
+ */
+public class ClusterIOWorker extends
+        IOLoop<ClusterMessage, ClusterMessageStream> {
+
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
+    private static final long SELECT_TIMEOUT = 50;
+
+    private final ClusterCommunicationManager manager;
+    private final SerializationService serializationService;
+    private final ClusterMessage helloMessage;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new cluster IO worker.
+     *
+     * @param manager              parent comms manager
+     * @param serializationService serialization service for encode/decode
+     * @param helloMessage         hello message for greeting peers
+     * @throws IOException if errors occur during IO loop ignition
+     */
+    ClusterIOWorker(ClusterCommunicationManager manager,
+                    SerializationService serializationService,
+                    ClusterMessage helloMessage) throws IOException {
+        super(SELECT_TIMEOUT);
+        this.manager = manager;
+        this.serializationService = serializationService;
+        this.helloMessage = helloMessage;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected ClusterMessageStream createStream(ByteChannel byteChannel) {
+        return new ClusterMessageStream(serializationService, this, byteChannel);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void processMessages(List<ClusterMessage> messages, MessageStream<ClusterMessage> stream) {
+        NodeId nodeId = getNodeId(messages, (ClusterMessageStream) stream);
+        for (ClusterMessage message : messages) {
+            manager.dispatch(message, nodeId);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Retrieves the node from the stream. If one is not bound, it attempts
+    // to bind it using the knowledge that the first message must be a hello.
+    private NodeId getNodeId(List<ClusterMessage> messages, ClusterMessageStream stream) {
+        DefaultControllerNode node = stream.node();
+        if (node == null && !messages.isEmpty()) {
+            ClusterMessage firstMessage = messages.get(0);
+            if (firstMessage instanceof HelloMessage) {
+                HelloMessage hello = (HelloMessage) firstMessage;
+                node = manager.addNodeStream(hello.nodeId(), hello.ipAddress(),
+                                             hello.tcpPort(), stream);
+            }
+        }
+        return node != null ? node.id() : null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ClusterMessageStream acceptStream(SocketChannel channel) {
+        ClusterMessageStream stream = super.acceptStream(channel);
+        try {
+            InetSocketAddress sa = (InetSocketAddress) channel.getRemoteAddress();
+            log.info("Accepted connection from node {}", valueOf(sa.getAddress().getAddress()));
+            stream.write(helloMessage);
+
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            log.warn("Unable to accept connection from an unknown end-point", e);
+        }
+        return stream;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void connect(SelectionKey key) throws IOException {
+        try {
+            super.connect(key);
+            ClusterMessageStream stream = (ClusterMessageStream) key.attachment();
+            stream.write(helloMessage);
+
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            if (!Objects.equals(e.getMessage(), "Connection refused")) {
+                throw e;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void removeStream(MessageStream<ClusterMessage> stream) {
+        DefaultControllerNode node = ((ClusterMessageStream) stream).node();
+        if (node != null) {
+            log.info("Closed connection to node {}", node.id());
+            manager.removeNodeStream(node);
+        }
+        super.removeStream(stream);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterMessageStream.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterMessageStream.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d182aa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterMessageStream.java
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.nio.IOLoop;
+import org.onlab.nio.MessageStream;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.SerializationService;
+
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.nio.channels.ByteChannel;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkState;
+
+/**
+ * Stream for transferring messages between two cluster members.
+ */
+public class ClusterMessageStream extends MessageStream<ClusterMessage> {
+
+    private static final int COMM_BUFFER_SIZE = 32 * 1024;
+    private static final int COMM_IDLE_TIME = 500;
+
+    private DefaultControllerNode node;
+    private SerializationService serializationService;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a message stream associated with the specified IO loop and
+     * backed by the given byte channel.
+     *
+     * @param serializationService service for encoding/decoding messages
+     * @param loop                 IO loop
+     * @param byteChannel          backing byte channel
+     */
+    public ClusterMessageStream(SerializationService serializationService,
+                                IOLoop<ClusterMessage, ?> loop,
+                                ByteChannel byteChannel) {
+        super(loop, byteChannel, COMM_BUFFER_SIZE, COMM_IDLE_TIME);
+        this.serializationService = serializationService;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the node with which this stream is associated.
+     *
+     * @return controller node
+     */
+    public DefaultControllerNode node() {
+        return node;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the node with which this stream is affiliated.
+     *
+     * @param node controller node
+     */
+    public void setNode(DefaultControllerNode node) {
+        checkState(this.node == null, "Stream is already bound to a node");
+        this.node = node;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected ClusterMessage read(ByteBuffer buffer) {
+        return serializationService.decode(buffer);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void write(ClusterMessage message, ByteBuffer buffer) {
+        serializationService.encode(message, buffer);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterNodesDelegate.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterNodesDelegate.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b82a835
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterNodesDelegate.java
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+
+/**
+ * Simple back interface through which connection manager can interact with
+ * the cluster store.
+ */
+public interface ClusterNodesDelegate {
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies about cluster node coming online.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId  newly detected cluster node id
+     * @param ip      node IP listen address
+     * @param tcpPort node TCP listen port
+     * @return the controller node
+     */
+    DefaultControllerNode nodeDetected(NodeId nodeId, IpPrefix ip, int tcpPort);
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies about cluster node going offline.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId identifier of the cluster node that vanished
+     */
+    void nodeVanished(NodeId nodeId);
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies about remote request to remove node from cluster.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId identifier of the cluster node that was removed
+     */
+    void nodeRemoved(NodeId nodeId);
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
index 08a182b..d4b7289 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
@@ -4,10 +4,9 @@
 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.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
-import org.onlab.nio.AcceptorLoop;
-import org.onlab.nio.IOLoop;
-import org.onlab.nio.MessageStream;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterEvent;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterStore;
 import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ClusterStoreDelegate;
@@ -20,27 +19,12 @@
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
-import java.net.Socket;
-import java.net.SocketAddress;
-import java.nio.channels.ByteChannel;
-import java.nio.channels.SelectionKey;
-import java.nio.channels.ServerSocketChannel;
-import java.nio.channels.SocketChannel;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
-import java.util.Timer;
-import java.util.TimerTask;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
-import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
-import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
 
-import static java.net.InetAddress.getByAddress;
 import static org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode.State;
 import static org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix.valueOf;
-import static org.onlab.util.Tools.namedThreads;
 
 /**
  * Distributed implementation of the cluster nodes store.
@@ -51,145 +35,69 @@
         extends AbstractStore<ClusterEvent, ClusterStoreDelegate>
         implements ClusterStore {
 
-    private static final int HELLO_MSG = 1;
-    private static final int ECHO_MSG = 2;
-
     private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
 
-    private static final long CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_DELAY = 1000L;
-    private static final long CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_FREQUENCY = 5000;
-
-    private static final long START_TIMEOUT = 1000;
-    private static final long SELECT_TIMEOUT = 50;
-    private static final int WORKERS = 3;
-    private static final int COMM_BUFFER_SIZE = 32 * 1024;
-    private static final int COMM_IDLE_TIME = 500;
-
-    private static final boolean SO_NO_DELAY = false;
-    private static final int SO_SEND_BUFFER_SIZE = COMM_BUFFER_SIZE;
-    private static final int SO_RCV_BUFFER_SIZE = COMM_BUFFER_SIZE;
-
-    private DefaultControllerNode self;
+    private DefaultControllerNode localNode;
     private final Map<NodeId, DefaultControllerNode> nodes = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
     private final Map<NodeId, State> states = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 
-    // Means to track message streams to other nodes.
-    private final Map<NodeId, TLVMessageStream> streams = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
-    private final Map<SocketChannel, DefaultControllerNode> nodesByChannel = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    private ClusterCommunicationAdminService communicationAdminService;
 
-    // Executor pools for listening and managing connections to other nodes.
-    private final ExecutorService listenExecutor =
-            Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor(namedThreads("onos-comm-listen"));
-    private final ExecutorService commExecutors =
-            Executors.newFixedThreadPool(WORKERS, namedThreads("onos-comm-cluster"));
-    private final ExecutorService heartbeatExecutor =
-            Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor(namedThreads("onos-comm-heartbeat"));
-
-    private final Timer timer = new Timer("onos-comm-initiator");
-    private final TimerTask connectionCustodian = new ConnectionCustodian();
-
-    private ListenLoop listenLoop;
-    private List<CommLoop> commLoops = new ArrayList<>(WORKERS);
+    private final ClusterNodesDelegate nodesDelegate = new InnerNodesDelegate();
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
         loadClusterDefinition();
-        startCommunications();
-        startListening();
-        startInitiating();
+        establishSelfIdentity();
+
+        // Start-up the comm service and prime it with the loaded nodes.
+        communicationAdminService.startUp(localNode, nodesDelegate);
+        for (DefaultControllerNode node : nodes.values()) {
+            communicationAdminService.addNode(node);
+        }
         log.info("Started");
     }
 
     @Deactivate
     public void deactivate() {
-        listenLoop.shutdown();
-        for (CommLoop loop : commLoops) {
-            loop.shutdown();
-        }
         log.info("Stopped");
     }
 
-    // Loads the cluster definition file
+    /**
+     * Loads the cluster definition file.
+     */
     private void loadClusterDefinition() {
-//        ClusterDefinitionStore cds = new ClusterDefinitionStore("../config/cluster.json");
-//        try {
-//            Set<DefaultControllerNode> storedNodes = cds.read();
-//            for (DefaultControllerNode node : storedNodes) {
-//                nodes.put(node.id(), node);
-//            }
-//        } catch (IOException e) {
-//            log.error("Unable to read cluster definitions", e);
-//        }
-
-        // Establishes the controller's own identity.
-        IpPrefix ip = valueOf(System.getProperty("onos.ip", "127.0.1.1"));
-        self = nodes.get(new NodeId(ip.toString()));
-
-        // As a fall-back, let's make sure we at least know who we are.
-        if (self == null) {
-            self = new DefaultControllerNode(new NodeId(ip.toString()), ip);
-            nodes.put(self.id(), self);
-        }
-    }
-
-    // Kicks off the IO loops.
-    private void startCommunications() {
-        for (int i = 0; i < WORKERS; i++) {
-            try {
-                CommLoop loop = new CommLoop();
-                commLoops.add(loop);
-                commExecutors.execute(loop);
-            } catch (IOException e) {
-                log.warn("Unable to start comm IO loop", e);
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Wait for the IO loops to start
-        for (CommLoop loop : commLoops) {
-            if (!loop.awaitStart(START_TIMEOUT)) {
-                log.warn("Comm loop did not start on-time; moving on...");
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    // Starts listening for connections from peer cluster members.
-    private void startListening() {
+        ClusterDefinitionStore cds = new ClusterDefinitionStore("../config/cluster.json");
         try {
-            listenLoop = new ListenLoop(self.ip(), self.tcpPort());
-            listenExecutor.execute(listenLoop);
-            if (!listenLoop.awaitStart(START_TIMEOUT)) {
-                log.warn("Listen loop did not start on-time; moving on...");
+            Set<DefaultControllerNode> storedNodes = cds.read();
+            for (DefaultControllerNode node : storedNodes) {
+                nodes.put(node.id(), node);
             }
         } catch (IOException e) {
-            log.error("Unable to listen for cluster connections", e);
+            log.error("Unable to read cluster definitions", e);
         }
     }
 
     /**
-     * Initiates open connection request and registers the pending socket
-     * channel with the given IO loop.
-     *
-     * @param loop loop with which the channel should be registered
-     * @throws java.io.IOException if the socket could not be open or connected
+     * Determines who the local controller node is.
      */
-    private void openConnection(DefaultControllerNode node, CommLoop loop) throws IOException {
-        SocketAddress sa = new InetSocketAddress(getByAddress(node.ip().toOctets()), node.tcpPort());
-        SocketChannel ch = SocketChannel.open();
-        nodesByChannel.put(ch, node);
-        ch.configureBlocking(false);
-        ch.connect(sa);
-        loop.connectStream(ch);
-    }
+    private void establishSelfIdentity() {
+        // Establishes the controller's own identity.
+        IpPrefix ip = valueOf(System.getProperty("onos.ip", "127.0.1.1"));
+        localNode = nodes.get(new NodeId(ip.toString()));
 
-
-    // Attempts to connect to any nodes that do not have an associated connection.
-    private void startInitiating() {
-        timer.schedule(connectionCustodian, CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_DELAY, CONNECTION_CUSTODIAN_FREQUENCY);
+        // As a fall-back, let's make sure we at least know who we are.
+        if (localNode == null) {
+            localNode = new DefaultControllerNode(new NodeId(ip.toString()), ip);
+            nodes.put(localNode.id(), localNode);
+        }
+        states.put(localNode.id(), State.ACTIVE);
     }
 
     @Override
     public ControllerNode getLocalNode() {
-        return self;
+        return localNode;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -213,150 +121,48 @@
     public ControllerNode addNode(NodeId nodeId, IpPrefix ip, int tcpPort) {
         DefaultControllerNode node = new DefaultControllerNode(nodeId, ip, tcpPort);
         nodes.put(nodeId, node);
+        communicationAdminService.addNode(node);
         return node;
     }
 
     @Override
     public void removeNode(NodeId nodeId) {
-        nodes.remove(nodeId);
-        streams.remove(nodeId);
-    }
+        if (nodeId.equals(localNode.id())) {
+            // We are being ejected from the cluster, so remove all other nodes.
+            communicationAdminService.clearAllNodesAndStreams();
+            nodes.clear();
+            nodes.put(localNode.id(), localNode);
 
-    // Listens and accepts inbound connections from other cluster nodes.
-    private class ListenLoop extends AcceptorLoop {
-        ListenLoop(IpPrefix ip, int tcpPort) throws IOException {
-            super(SELECT_TIMEOUT, new InetSocketAddress(getByAddress(ip.toOctets()), tcpPort));
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        protected void acceptConnection(ServerSocketChannel channel) throws IOException {
-            SocketChannel sc = channel.accept();
-            sc.configureBlocking(false);
-
-            Socket so = sc.socket();
-            so.setTcpNoDelay(SO_NO_DELAY);
-            so.setReceiveBufferSize(SO_RCV_BUFFER_SIZE);
-            so.setSendBufferSize(SO_SEND_BUFFER_SIZE);
-
-            findLeastUtilizedLoop().acceptStream(sc);
-        }
-    }
-
-    private class CommLoop extends IOLoop<TLVMessage, TLVMessageStream> {
-        CommLoop() throws IOException {
-            super(SELECT_TIMEOUT);
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        protected TLVMessageStream createStream(ByteChannel byteChannel) {
-            return new TLVMessageStream(this, byteChannel, COMM_BUFFER_SIZE, COMM_IDLE_TIME);
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        protected void processMessages(List<TLVMessage> messages, MessageStream<TLVMessage> stream) {
-            TLVMessageStream tlvStream = (TLVMessageStream) stream;
-            for (TLVMessage message : messages) {
-                // TODO: add type-based dispatching here...
-                log.info("Got message {}", message.type());
-
-                // FIXME: hack to get going
-                if (message.type() == HELLO_MSG) {
-                    processHello(message, tlvStream);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public TLVMessageStream acceptStream(SocketChannel channel) {
-            TLVMessageStream stream = super.acceptStream(channel);
-            try {
-                InetSocketAddress sa = (InetSocketAddress) channel.getRemoteAddress();
-                log.info("Accepted a new connection from node {}", IpPrefix.valueOf(sa.getAddress().getAddress()));
-                stream.write(createHello(self));
-
-            } catch (IOException e) {
-                log.warn("Unable to accept connection from an unknown end-point", e);
-            }
-            return stream;
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public TLVMessageStream connectStream(SocketChannel channel) {
-            TLVMessageStream stream = super.connectStream(channel);
-            DefaultControllerNode node = nodesByChannel.get(channel);
+        } else {
+            // Remove the other node.
+            DefaultControllerNode node = nodes.remove(nodeId);
             if (node != null) {
-                log.info("Opened connection to node {}", node.id());
-                nodesByChannel.remove(channel);
+                communicationAdminService.removeNode(node);
             }
-            return stream;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Entity to handle back calls from the connection manager.
+    private class InnerNodesDelegate implements ClusterNodesDelegate {
+        @Override
+        public DefaultControllerNode nodeDetected(NodeId nodeId, IpPrefix ip, int tcpPort) {
+            DefaultControllerNode node = nodes.get(nodeId);
+            if (node == null) {
+                node = (DefaultControllerNode) addNode(nodeId, ip, tcpPort);
+            }
+            states.put(nodeId, State.ACTIVE);
+            return node;
         }
 
         @Override
-        protected void connect(SelectionKey key) {
-            super.connect(key);
-            TLVMessageStream stream = (TLVMessageStream) key.attachment();
-            send(stream, createHello(self));
+        public void nodeVanished(NodeId nodeId) {
+            states.put(nodeId, State.INACTIVE);
         }
-    }
 
-    // FIXME: pure hack for now
-    private void processHello(TLVMessage message, TLVMessageStream stream) {
-        String data = new String(message.data());
-        log.info("Processing hello with data [{}]", data);
-        String[] fields = new String(data).split(":");
-        DefaultControllerNode node = new DefaultControllerNode(new NodeId(fields[0]),
-                                                               IpPrefix.valueOf(fields[1]),
-                                                               Integer.parseInt(fields[2]));
-        stream.setNode(node);
-        nodes.put(node.id(), node);
-        streams.put(node.id(), stream);
-    }
-
-    // Sends message to the specified stream.
-    private void send(TLVMessageStream stream, TLVMessage message) {
-        try {
-            stream.write(message);
-        } catch (IOException e) {
-            log.warn("Unable to send message to {}", stream.node().id());
-        }
-    }
-
-    private TLVMessage createHello(DefaultControllerNode self) {
-        return new TLVMessage(HELLO_MSG, (self.id() + ":" + self.ip() + ":" + self.tcpPort()).getBytes());
-    }
-
-    // Sweeps through all controller nodes and attempts to open connection to
-    // those that presently do not have one.
-    private class ConnectionCustodian extends TimerTask {
         @Override
-        public void run() {
-            for (DefaultControllerNode node : nodes.values()) {
-                if (node != self && !streams.containsKey(node.id())) {
-                    try {
-                        openConnection(node, findLeastUtilizedLoop());
-                    } catch (IOException e) {
-                        log.warn("Unable to connect", e);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
+        public void nodeRemoved(NodeId nodeId) {
+            removeNode(nodeId);
         }
     }
 
-    // Finds the least utilities IO loop.
-    private CommLoop findLeastUtilizedLoop() {
-        CommLoop leastUtilized = null;
-        int minCount = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
-        for (CommLoop loop : commLoops) {
-            int count = loop.streamCount();
-            if (count == 0) {
-                return loop;
-            }
-
-            if (count < minCount) {
-                leastUtilized = loop;
-                minCount = count;
-            }
-        }
-        return leastUtilized;
-    }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/MessageSerializer.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/MessageSerializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6ebca9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/MessageSerializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import de.javakaffee.kryoserializers.URISerializer;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultDevice;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultLink;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultPort;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Element;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.LinkKey;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.MastershipRole;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Port;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.PortNumber;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.ClusterMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.EchoMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.LeavingMemberMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.HelloMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.MessageSubject;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.NewMemberMessage;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging.SerializationService;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.ConnectPointSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.DefaultLinkSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.DefaultPortSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.DeviceIdSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.IpPrefixSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.LinkKeySerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.NodeIdSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.PortNumberSerializer;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.ProviderIdSerializer;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+import org.onlab.util.KryoPool;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkState;
+
+/**
+ * Factory for parsing messages sent between cluster members.
+ */
+@Component(immediate = true)
+@Service
+public class MessageSerializer implements SerializationService {
+
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
+    private static final int METADATA_LENGTH = 12; // 8 + 4
+    private static final int LENGTH_OFFSET = 8;
+
+    private static final long MARKER = 0xfeedcafebeaddeadL;
+
+    private KryoPool serializerPool;
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        setupKryoPool();
+        log.info("Started");
+    }
+
+    @Deactivate
+    public void deactivate() {
+        log.info("Stopped");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets up the common serialzers pool.
+     */
+    protected void setupKryoPool() {
+        // FIXME Slice out types used in common to separate pool/namespace.
+        serializerPool = KryoPool.newBuilder()
+                .register(ArrayList.class,
+                          HashMap.class,
+
+                          ControllerNode.State.class,
+                          Device.Type.class,
+
+                          DefaultControllerNode.class,
+                          DefaultDevice.class,
+                          MastershipRole.class,
+                          Port.class,
+                          Element.class,
+
+                          Link.Type.class,
+
+                          MessageSubject.class,
+                          HelloMessage.class,
+                          NewMemberMessage.class,
+                          LeavingMemberMessage.class,
+                          EchoMessage.class
+                )
+                .register(IpPrefix.class, new IpPrefixSerializer())
+                .register(URI.class, new URISerializer())
+                .register(NodeId.class, new NodeIdSerializer())
+                .register(ProviderId.class, new ProviderIdSerializer())
+                .register(DeviceId.class, new DeviceIdSerializer())
+                .register(PortNumber.class, new PortNumberSerializer())
+                .register(DefaultPort.class, new DefaultPortSerializer())
+                .register(LinkKey.class, new LinkKeySerializer())
+                .register(ConnectPoint.class, new ConnectPointSerializer())
+                .register(DefaultLink.class, new DefaultLinkSerializer())
+                .build()
+                .populate(1);
+    }
+
+
+    @Override
+    public ClusterMessage decode(ByteBuffer buffer) {
+        try {
+            // Do we have enough bytes to read the header? If not, bail.
+            if (buffer.remaining() < METADATA_LENGTH) {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            // Peek at the length and if we have enough to read the entire message
+            // go ahead, otherwise bail.
+            int length = buffer.getInt(buffer.position() + LENGTH_OFFSET);
+            if (buffer.remaining() < length) {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            // At this point, we have enough data to read a complete message.
+            long marker = buffer.getLong();
+            checkState(marker == MARKER, "Incorrect message marker");
+            length = buffer.getInt();
+
+            // TODO: sanity checking for length
+            byte[] data = new byte[length - METADATA_LENGTH];
+            buffer.get(data);
+            return (ClusterMessage) serializerPool.deserialize(data);
+
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            // TODO: recover from exceptions by forwarding stream to next marker
+            log.warn("Unable to decode message due to: " + e);
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void encode(ClusterMessage message, ByteBuffer buffer) {
+        try {
+            byte[] data = serializerPool.serialize(message);
+            buffer.putLong(MARKER);
+            buffer.putInt(data.length + METADATA_LENGTH);
+            buffer.put(data);
+
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            // TODO: recover from exceptions by forwarding stream to next marker
+            log.warn("Unable to encode message due to: " + e);
+        }
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/TLVMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/TLVMessage.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 246f8ee..0000000
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/TLVMessage.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
-
-import org.onlab.nio.AbstractMessage;
-
-import java.util.Objects;
-
-import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
-
-/**
- * Base message for cluster-wide communications using TLVs.
- */
-public class TLVMessage extends AbstractMessage {
-
-    private final int type;
-    private final byte[] data;
-
-    /**
-     * Creates an immutable TLV message.
-     *
-     * @param type   message type
-     * @param data   message data bytes
-     */
-    public TLVMessage(int type, byte[] data) {
-        this.length = data.length + TLVMessageStream.METADATA_LENGTH;
-        this.type = type;
-        this.data = data;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns the message type indicator.
-     *
-     * @return message type
-     */
-    public int type() {
-        return type;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns the data bytes.
-     *
-     * @return message data
-     */
-    public byte[] data() {
-        return data;
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public int hashCode() {
-        return Objects.hash(type, data);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
-        if (this == obj) {
-            return true;
-        }
-        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        final TLVMessage other = (TLVMessage) obj;
-        return Objects.equals(this.type, other.type) &&
-                Objects.equals(this.data, other.data);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public String toString() {
-        return toStringHelper(this).add("type", type).add("length", length).toString();
-    }
-
-}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/TLVMessageStream.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/TLVMessageStream.java
deleted file mode 100644
index b003945..0000000
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/TLVMessageStream.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,95 +0,0 @@
-package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
-
-import org.onlab.nio.IOLoop;
-import org.onlab.nio.MessageStream;
-import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
-
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-import java.nio.channels.ByteChannel;
-
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkState;
-
-/**
- * Stream for transferring TLV messages between cluster members.
- */
-public class TLVMessageStream extends MessageStream<TLVMessage> {
-
-    public static final int METADATA_LENGTH = 16; // 8 + 4 + 4
-
-    private static final int LENGTH_OFFSET = 12;
-    private static final long MARKER = 0xfeedcafecafefeedL;
-
-    private DefaultControllerNode node;
-
-    /**
-     * Creates a message stream associated with the specified IO loop and
-     * backed by the given byte channel.
-     *
-     * @param loop          IO loop
-     * @param byteChannel   backing byte channel
-     * @param bufferSize    size of the backing byte buffers
-     * @param maxIdleMillis maximum number of millis the stream can be idle
-     */
-    protected TLVMessageStream(IOLoop<TLVMessage, ?> loop, ByteChannel byteChannel,
-                               int bufferSize, int maxIdleMillis) {
-        super(loop, byteChannel, bufferSize, maxIdleMillis);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns the node with which this stream is associated.
-     *
-     * @return controller node
-     */
-    DefaultControllerNode node() {
-        return node;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Sets the node with which this stream is affiliated.
-     *
-     * @param node controller node
-     */
-    void setNode(DefaultControllerNode node) {
-        checkState(this.node == null, "Stream is already bound to a node");
-        this.node = node;
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    protected TLVMessage read(ByteBuffer buffer) {
-        // Do we have enough bytes to read the header? If not, bail.
-        if (buffer.remaining() < METADATA_LENGTH) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        // Peek at the length and if we have enough to read the entire message
-        // go ahead, otherwise bail.
-        int length = buffer.getInt(buffer.position() + LENGTH_OFFSET);
-        if (buffer.remaining() < length) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        // At this point, we have enough data to read a complete message.
-        long marker = buffer.getLong();
-        checkState(marker == MARKER, "Incorrect message marker");
-
-        int type = buffer.getInt();
-        length = buffer.getInt();
-
-        // TODO: add deserialization hook here
-        byte[] data = new byte[length - METADATA_LENGTH];
-        buffer.get(data);
-
-        return new TLVMessage(type, data);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    protected void write(TLVMessage message, ByteBuffer buffer) {
-        buffer.putLong(MARKER);
-        buffer.putInt(message.type());
-        buffer.putInt(message.length());
-
-        // TODO: add serialization hook here
-        buffer.put(message.data());
-    }
-
-}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/package-info.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/package-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4b9710
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/package-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/**
+ * Distributed cluster store and messaging subsystem implementation.
+ */
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe7fcd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+
+import java.util.Set;
+
+/**
+ * Service for assisting communications between controller cluster nodes.
+ */
+public interface ClusterCommunicationService {
+
+    /**
+     * Sends a message to all controller nodes.
+     *
+     * @param message  message to send
+     * @return true if the message was sent sucessfully to all nodes; false
+     * if there is no stream or if there was an error for some node
+     */
+    boolean send(ClusterMessage message);
+
+    /**
+     * Sends a message to the specified controller node.
+     *
+     * @param message  message to send
+     * @param toNodeId node identifier
+     * @return true if the message was sent sucessfully; false if there is
+     * no stream or if there was an error
+     */
+    boolean send(ClusterMessage message, NodeId toNodeId);
+
+    /**
+     * Adds a new subscriber for the specified message subject.
+     *
+     * @param subject    message subject
+     * @param subscriber message subscriber
+     */
+    void addSubscriber(MessageSubject subject, MessageSubscriber subscriber);
+
+    /**
+     * Removes the specified subscriber from the given message subject.
+     *
+     * @param subject    message subject
+     * @param subscriber message subscriber
+     */
+    void removeSubscriber(MessageSubject subject, MessageSubscriber subscriber);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the set of subscribers for the specified message subject.
+     *
+     * @param subject message subject
+     * @return set of message subscribers
+     */
+    Set<MessageSubscriber> getSubscribers(MessageSubject subject);
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMembershipMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMembershipMessage.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea00185
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMembershipMessage.java
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+
+/**
+ * Base for cluster membership messages.
+ */
+public abstract class ClusterMembershipMessage extends ClusterMessage {
+
+    private NodeId nodeId;
+    private IpPrefix ipAddress;
+    private int tcpPort;
+
+    // For serialization
+    protected ClusterMembershipMessage() {
+        super(MessageSubject.HELLO);
+        nodeId = null;
+        ipAddress = null;
+        tcpPort = 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new membership message for the specified end-point data.
+     *
+     * @param subject   message subject
+     * @param nodeId    sending node identification
+     * @param ipAddress sending node IP address
+     * @param tcpPort   sending node TCP port
+     */
+    protected ClusterMembershipMessage(MessageSubject subject, NodeId nodeId,
+                                       IpPrefix ipAddress, int tcpPort) {
+        super(subject);
+        this.nodeId = nodeId;
+        this.ipAddress = ipAddress;
+        this.tcpPort = tcpPort;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the sending node identifer.
+     *
+     * @return node identifier
+     */
+    public NodeId nodeId() {
+        return nodeId;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the sending node IP address.
+     *
+     * @return node IP address
+     */
+    public IpPrefix ipAddress() {
+        return ipAddress;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the sending node TCP listen port.
+     *
+     * @return TCP listen port
+     */
+    public int tcpPort() {
+        return tcpPort;
+    }
+
+}
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
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3033ac9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterMessage.java
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.nio.AbstractMessage;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * Base message for cluster-wide communications.
+ */
+public abstract class ClusterMessage extends AbstractMessage {
+
+    private final MessageSubject subject;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a cluster message.
+     *
+     * @param subject message subject
+     */
+    protected ClusterMessage(MessageSubject subject) {
+        this.subject = subject;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the message subject indicator.
+     *
+     * @return message subject
+     */
+    public MessageSubject subject() {
+        return subject;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this).add("subject", subject).add("length", length).toString();
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/EchoMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/EchoMessage.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d25a341
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/EchoMessage.java
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+
+/**l
+ * Echo heart-beat message that nodes send to each other.
+ */
+public class EchoMessage extends ClusterMessage {
+
+    private NodeId nodeId;
+
+    // For serialization
+    private EchoMessage() {
+        super(MessageSubject.HELLO);
+        nodeId = null;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new heart-beat echo message.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId    sending node identification
+     */
+    public EchoMessage(NodeId nodeId) {
+        super(MessageSubject.HELLO);
+        nodeId = nodeId;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the sending node identifer.
+     *
+     * @return node identifier
+     */
+    public NodeId nodeId() {
+        return nodeId;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/HelloMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/HelloMessage.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d692e4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/HelloMessage.java
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+
+/**
+ * Hello message that nodes use to greet each other.
+ */
+public class HelloMessage extends ClusterMembershipMessage {
+
+    // For serialization
+    private HelloMessage() {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new hello message for the specified end-point data.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId    sending node identification
+     * @param ipAddress sending node IP address
+     * @param tcpPort   sending node TCP port
+     */
+    public HelloMessage(NodeId nodeId, IpPrefix ipAddress, int tcpPort) {
+        super(MessageSubject.HELLO, nodeId, ipAddress, tcpPort);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/LeavingMemberMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/LeavingMemberMessage.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59686b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/LeavingMemberMessage.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+
+/**
+ * Announcement message that nodes use to gossip about team departures.
+ */
+public class LeavingMemberMessage extends ClusterMembershipMessage {
+
+    // For serialization
+    private LeavingMemberMessage() {
+        super();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new goodbye message.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId sending node identification
+     */
+    public LeavingMemberMessage(NodeId nodeId) {
+        super(MessageSubject.LEAVING_MEMBER, nodeId, null, 0);
+    }
+
+}
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
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7badf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubject.java
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a message subject.
+ */
+public enum MessageSubject {
+
+    /** Represents a first greeting message. */
+    HELLO,
+
+    /** Signifies announcement about new member. */
+    NEW_MEMBER,
+
+    /** Signifies announcement about leaving member. */
+    LEAVING_MEMBER,
+
+    /** Signifies a heart-beat message. */
+    ECHO
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubscriber.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubscriber.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68cd83c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/MessageSubscriber.java
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a message consumer.
+ */
+public interface MessageSubscriber {
+
+    /**
+     * Receives the specified cluster message.
+     *
+     * @param message    message to be received
+     * @param fromNodeId node from which the message was received
+     */
+    void receive(ClusterMessage message, NodeId fromNodeId);
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/NewMemberMessage.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/NewMemberMessage.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53bc282
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/NewMemberMessage.java
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+
+/**
+ * Announcement message that nodes use to gossip about new arrivals.
+ */
+public class NewMemberMessage extends ClusterMembershipMessage {
+
+    // For serialization
+    private NewMemberMessage() {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new gossip message for the specified end-point data.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId    sending node identification
+     * @param ipAddress sending node IP address
+     * @param tcpPort   sending node TCP port
+     */
+    public NewMemberMessage(NodeId nodeId, IpPrefix ipAddress, int tcpPort) {
+        super(MessageSubject.NEW_MEMBER, nodeId, ipAddress, tcpPort);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/SerializationService.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/SerializationService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7521630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/SerializationService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+
+/**
+ * Service for encoding &amp; decoding intra-cluster messages.
+ */
+public interface SerializationService {
+
+    /**
+     * Decodes the specified byte buffer to obtain the message within.
+     *
+     * @param buffer byte buffer with message(s)
+     * @return parsed message
+     */
+    ClusterMessage decode(ByteBuffer buffer);
+
+    /**
+     * Encodes the specified message into the given byte buffer.
+     *
+     * @param message message to be encoded
+     * @param buffer byte buffer to receive the message data
+     */
+    void encode(ClusterMessage message, ByteBuffer buffer);
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/package-info.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/package-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5276b0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/package-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/**
+ * Cluster messaging APIs for the use by the various distributed stores.
+ */
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationManagerTest.java b/core/store/dist/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationManagerTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ae334b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/ClusterCommunicationManagerTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.impl;
+
+import org.junit.After;
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+
+/**
+ * Tests of the cluster communication manager.
+ */
+public class ClusterCommunicationManagerTest {
+
+    private static final NodeId N1 = new NodeId("n1");
+    private static final NodeId N2 = new NodeId("n2");
+
+    private static final int P1 = 9881;
+    private static final int P2 = 9882;
+
+    private static final IpPrefix IP = IpPrefix.valueOf("127.0.0.1");
+
+    private ClusterCommunicationManager ccm1;
+    private ClusterCommunicationManager ccm2;
+
+    private TestDelegate cnd1 = new TestDelegate();
+    private TestDelegate cnd2 = new TestDelegate();
+
+    private DefaultControllerNode node1 = new DefaultControllerNode(N1, IP, P1);
+    private DefaultControllerNode node2 = new DefaultControllerNode(N2, IP, P2);
+
+    @Before
+    public void setUp() {
+        MessageSerializer messageSerializer = new MessageSerializer();
+        messageSerializer.activate();
+
+        ccm1 = new ClusterCommunicationManager();
+        ccm1.serializationService = messageSerializer;
+        ccm1.activate();
+
+        ccm2 = new ClusterCommunicationManager();
+        ccm2.serializationService = messageSerializer;
+        ccm2.activate();
+
+        ccm1.startUp(node1, cnd1);
+        ccm2.startUp(node2, cnd2);
+    }
+
+    @After
+    public void tearDown() {
+        ccm1.deactivate();
+        ccm2.deactivate();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void connect() throws Exception {
+        cnd1.latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+        cnd2.latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+
+        ccm1.addNode(node2);
+        validateDelegateEvent(cnd1, Op.DETECTED, node2.id());
+        validateDelegateEvent(cnd2, Op.DETECTED, node1.id());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void disconnect() throws Exception {
+        cnd1.latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+        cnd2.latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+
+        ccm1.addNode(node2);
+        validateDelegateEvent(cnd1, Op.DETECTED, node2.id());
+        validateDelegateEvent(cnd2, Op.DETECTED, node1.id());
+
+        cnd1.latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+        cnd2.latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+        ccm1.deactivate();
+//
+//        validateDelegateEvent(cnd2, Op.VANISHED, node1.id());
+    }
+
+    private void validateDelegateEvent(TestDelegate delegate, Op op, NodeId nodeId)
+            throws InterruptedException {
+        assertTrue("did not connect in time", delegate.latch.await(2500, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS));
+        assertEquals("incorrect event", op, delegate.op);
+        assertEquals("incorrect event node", nodeId, delegate.nodeId);
+    }
+
+    enum Op { DETECTED, VANISHED, REMOVED };
+
+    private class TestDelegate implements ClusterNodesDelegate {
+
+        Op op;
+        CountDownLatch latch;
+        NodeId nodeId;
+
+        @Override
+        public DefaultControllerNode nodeDetected(NodeId nodeId, IpPrefix ip, int tcpPort) {
+            latch(nodeId, Op.DETECTED);
+            return new DefaultControllerNode(nodeId, ip, tcpPort);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void nodeVanished(NodeId nodeId) {
+            latch(nodeId, Op.VANISHED);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void nodeRemoved(NodeId nodeId) {
+            latch(nodeId, Op.REMOVED);
+        }
+
+        private void latch(NodeId nodeId, Op op) {
+            this.op = op;
+            this.nodeId = nodeId;
+            latch.countDown();
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
index 0f375f6..f83ac59 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedClusterStore.java
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
     private final MembershipListener listener = new InternalMembershipListener();
     private final Map<NodeId, State> states = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 
+    @Override
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
         super.activate();
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@
 
         rawNodes = theInstance.getMap("nodes");
         OptionalCacheLoader<NodeId, DefaultControllerNode> nodeLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(storeService, rawNodes);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawNodes);
         nodes = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(nodeLoader));
         rawNodes.addEntryListener(new RemoteCacheEventHandler<>(nodes), true);
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java
index 4f6103c..50c5f08 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/cluster/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/impl/DistributedMastershipStore.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 
         rawMasters = theInstance.getMap("masters");
         OptionalCacheLoader<DeviceId, NodeId> nodeLoader
-        = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(storeService, rawMasters);
+        = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawMasters);
         masters = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(nodeLoader));
         rawMasters.addEntryListener(new RemoteMasterShipEventHandler(masters), true);
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java
index 8a96682..0302105 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/AbstractHazelcastStore.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.event.Event;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.AbstractStore;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.StoreDelegate;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected StoreService storeService;
 
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService;
+
     protected HazelcastInstance theInstance;
 
     @Activate
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@
      * @return serialized object
      */
     protected byte[] serialize(Object obj) {
-        return storeService.serialize(obj);
+        return kryoSerializationService.serialize(obj);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -57,7 +61,7 @@
      * @return deserialized object
      */
     protected <T> T deserialize(byte[] bytes) {
-        return storeService.deserialize(bytes);
+        return kryoSerializationService.deserialize(bytes);
     }
 
 
diff --git a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/OptionalCacheLoader.java b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/OptionalCacheLoader.java
index dd2b872..f96fdd8 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
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
 
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
+
 import com.google.common.base.Optional;
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheLoader;
 import com.hazelcast.core.IMap;
@@ -16,28 +18,28 @@
 public final class OptionalCacheLoader<K, V> extends
         CacheLoader<K, Optional<V>> {
 
-    private final StoreService storeService;
+    private final KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService;
     private IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap;
 
     /**
      * Constructor.
      *
-     * @param storeService to use for serialization
+     * @param kryoSerializationService to use for serialization
      * @param rawMap underlying IMap
      */
-    public OptionalCacheLoader(StoreService storeService, IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap) {
-        this.storeService = checkNotNull(storeService);
+    public OptionalCacheLoader(KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService, IMap<byte[], byte[]> rawMap) {
+        this.kryoSerializationService = checkNotNull(kryoSerializationService);
         this.rawMap = checkNotNull(rawMap);
     }
 
     @Override
     public Optional<V> load(K key) throws Exception {
-        byte[] keyBytes = storeService.serialize(key);
+        byte[] keyBytes = kryoSerializationService.serialize(key);
         byte[] valBytes = rawMap.get(keyBytes);
         if (valBytes == null) {
             return Optional.absent();
         }
-        V dev = storeService.deserialize(valBytes);
+        V dev = kryoSerializationService.deserialize(valBytes);
         return Optional.of(dev);
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreManager.java b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreManager.java
index 5685116..f3bed7e 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreManager.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreManager.java
@@ -5,46 +5,14 @@
 import com.hazelcast.core.Hazelcast;
 import com.hazelcast.core.HazelcastInstance;
 
-import de.javakaffee.kryoserializers.URISerializer;
-
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
-import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode;
-import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
-import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultDevice;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultLink;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultPort;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.Element;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.LinkKey;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.MastershipRole;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.Port;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.PortNumber;
-import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.ConnectPointSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.DefaultLinkSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.DefaultPortSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.DeviceIdSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.IpPrefixSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.LinkKeySerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.NodeIdSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.PortNumberSerializer;
-import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.ProviderIdSerializer;
-import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
-import org.onlab.util.KryoPool;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
-import java.net.URI;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.HashMap;
 
 /**
  * Auxiliary bootstrap of distributed store.
@@ -58,55 +26,18 @@
     private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
 
     protected HazelcastInstance instance;
-    private KryoPool serializerPool;
-
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
         try {
             Config config = new FileSystemXmlConfig(HAZELCAST_XML_FILE);
             instance = Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config);
-            setupKryoPool();
             log.info("Started");
         } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
             log.error("Unable to configure Hazelcast", e);
         }
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Sets up the common serialzers pool.
-     */
-    protected void setupKryoPool() {
-        // FIXME Slice out types used in common to separate pool/namespace.
-        serializerPool = KryoPool.newBuilder()
-                .register(ArrayList.class,
-                          HashMap.class,
-
-                          ControllerNode.State.class,
-                          Device.Type.class,
-
-                          DefaultControllerNode.class,
-                          DefaultDevice.class,
-                          MastershipRole.class,
-                          Port.class,
-                          Element.class,
-
-                          Link.Type.class
-                )
-                .register(IpPrefix.class, new IpPrefixSerializer())
-                .register(URI.class, new URISerializer())
-                .register(NodeId.class, new NodeIdSerializer())
-                .register(ProviderId.class, new ProviderIdSerializer())
-                .register(DeviceId.class, new DeviceIdSerializer())
-                .register(PortNumber.class, new PortNumberSerializer())
-                .register(DefaultPort.class, new DefaultPortSerializer())
-                .register(LinkKey.class, new LinkKeySerializer())
-                .register(ConnectPoint.class, new ConnectPointSerializer())
-                .register(DefaultLink.class, new DefaultLinkSerializer())
-                .build()
-                .populate(10);
-    }
-
     @Deactivate
     public void deactivate() {
         instance.shutdown();
@@ -118,18 +49,4 @@
         return instance;
     }
 
-
-    @Override
-    public byte[] serialize(final Object obj) {
-        return serializerPool.serialize(obj);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public <T> T deserialize(final byte[] bytes) {
-        if (bytes == null) {
-            return null;
-        }
-        return serializerPool.deserialize(bytes);
-    }
-
 }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreService.java b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreService.java
index 490183f..8cc50c7 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreService.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/common/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/StoreService.java
@@ -15,22 +15,4 @@
      */
     HazelcastInstance getHazelcastInstance();
 
-    /**
-     * Serializes the specified object into bytes using one of the
-     * pre-registered serializers.
-     *
-     * @param obj object to be serialized
-     * @return serialized bytes
-     */
-    public byte[] serialize(final Object obj);
-
-    /**
-     * Deserializes the specified bytes into an object using one of the
-     * pre-registered serializers.
-     *
-     * @param bytes bytes to be deserialized
-     * @return deserialized object
-     */
-    public <T> T deserialize(final byte[] bytes);
-
 }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/common/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/TestStoreManager.java b/core/store/hz/common/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/TestStoreManager.java
index 1914fc3..f4cd4b8 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/common/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/TestStoreManager.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/common/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/common/TestStoreManager.java
@@ -46,9 +46,8 @@
         this.instance = instance;
     }
 
-    // Hazelcast setup removed from original code.
     @Override
     public void activate() {
-        setupKryoPool();
+        // Hazelcast setup removed from original code.
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java
index 4725bfe..a3d340b 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStore.java
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
         // TODO decide on Map name scheme to avoid collision
         rawDevices = theInstance.getMap("devices");
         final OptionalCacheLoader<DeviceId, DefaultDevice> deviceLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(storeService, rawDevices);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawDevices);
         devices = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(deviceLoader));
         // refresh/populate cache based on notification from other instance
         devicesListener = rawDevices.addEntryListener(new RemoteDeviceEventHandler(devices), includeValue);
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
 
         rawDevicePorts = theInstance.getMap("devicePorts");
         final OptionalCacheLoader<DeviceId, Map<PortNumber, Port>> devicePortLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(storeService, rawDevicePorts);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawDevicePorts);
         devicePorts = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(devicePortLoader));
         // refresh/populate cache based on notification from other instance
         portsListener = rawDevicePorts.addEntryListener(new RemotePortEventHandler(devicePorts), includeValue);
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java
index 6ef10e7..5161f2f 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStore.java
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
         // TODO decide on Map name scheme to avoid collision
         rawLinks = theInstance.getMap("links");
         final OptionalCacheLoader<LinkKey, DefaultLink> linkLoader
-                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(storeService, rawLinks);
+                = new OptionalCacheLoader<>(kryoSerializationService, rawLinks);
         links = new AbsentInvalidatingLoadingCache<>(newBuilder().build(linkLoader));
         // refresh/populate cache based on notification from other instance
         linksListener = rawLinks.addEntryListener(new RemoteLinkEventHandler(links), includeValue);
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java
index 7385778..97b9ebe 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/device/impl/DistributedDeviceStoreTest.java
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreManager;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.TestStoreManager;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationManager;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Iterables;
 import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@
     private static final PortNumber P3 = PortNumber.portNumber(3);
 
     private DistributedDeviceStore deviceStore;
+    private KryoSerializationManager serializationMgr;
 
     private StoreManager storeManager;
 
@@ -82,7 +85,10 @@
         storeManager = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
         storeManager.activate();
 
-        deviceStore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager);
+        serializationMgr = new KryoSerializationManager();
+        serializationMgr.activate();
+
+        deviceStore = new TestDistributedDeviceStore(storeManager, serializationMgr);
         deviceStore.activate();
     }
 
@@ -90,6 +96,8 @@
     public void tearDown() throws Exception {
         deviceStore.deactivate();
 
+        serializationMgr.deactivate();
+
         storeManager.deactivate();
     }
 
@@ -384,8 +392,10 @@
     }
 
     private class TestDistributedDeviceStore extends DistributedDeviceStore {
-        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService) {
+        public TestDistributedDeviceStore(StoreService storeService,
+                                KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService) {
             this.storeService = storeService;
+            this.kryoSerializationService = kryoSerializationService;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java
index 151d978..a76e901 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/store/link/impl/DistributedLinkStoreTest.java
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreManager;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.StoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.store.common.TestStoreManager;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationManager;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.serializers.KryoSerializationService;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Iterables;
 import com.hazelcast.config.Config;
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@
     private static final PortNumber P3 = PortNumber.portNumber(3);
 
     private StoreManager storeManager;
+    private KryoSerializationManager serializationMgr;
 
     private DistributedLinkStore linkStore;
 
@@ -68,13 +71,17 @@
         storeManager = new TestStoreManager(Hazelcast.newHazelcastInstance(config));
         storeManager.activate();
 
-        linkStore = new TestDistributedLinkStore(storeManager);
+        serializationMgr = new KryoSerializationManager();
+        serializationMgr.activate();
+
+        linkStore = new TestDistributedLinkStore(storeManager, serializationMgr);
         linkStore.activate();
     }
 
     @After
     public void tearDown() throws Exception {
         linkStore.deactivate();
+        serializationMgr.deactivate();
         storeManager.deactivate();
     }
 
@@ -354,8 +361,10 @@
 
 
     class TestDistributedLinkStore extends DistributedLinkStore {
-        TestDistributedLinkStore(StoreService storeService) {
+        TestDistributedLinkStore(StoreService storeService,
+                            KryoSerializationService kryoSerializationService) {
             this.storeService = storeService;
+            this.kryoSerializationService = kryoSerializationService;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationManager.java b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84e1b73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.serializers;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Deactivate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.ControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.DefaultControllerNode;
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultDevice;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultLink;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultPort;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Element;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.LinkKey;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.MastershipRole;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.Port;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.PortNumber;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.ProviderId;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
+import org.onlab.util.KryoPool;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import de.javakaffee.kryoserializers.URISerializer;
+
+/**
+ * Serialization service using Kryo.
+ */
+@Component(immediate = true)
+@Service
+public class KryoSerializationManager implements KryoSerializationService {
+
+    private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+    private KryoPool serializerPool;
+
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        setupKryoPool();
+        log.info("Started");
+    }
+
+    @Deactivate
+    public void deactivate() {
+        log.info("Stopped");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets up the common serialzers pool.
+     */
+    protected void setupKryoPool() {
+        // FIXME Slice out types used in common to separate pool/namespace.
+        serializerPool = KryoPool.newBuilder()
+                .register(ArrayList.class,
+                          HashMap.class,
+
+                          ControllerNode.State.class,
+                          Device.Type.class,
+
+                          DefaultControllerNode.class,
+                          DefaultDevice.class,
+                          MastershipRole.class,
+                          Port.class,
+                          Element.class,
+
+                          Link.Type.class
+                )
+                .register(IpPrefix.class, new IpPrefixSerializer())
+                .register(URI.class, new URISerializer())
+                .register(NodeId.class, new NodeIdSerializer())
+                .register(ProviderId.class, new ProviderIdSerializer())
+                .register(DeviceId.class, new DeviceIdSerializer())
+                .register(PortNumber.class, new PortNumberSerializer())
+                .register(DefaultPort.class, new DefaultPortSerializer())
+                .register(LinkKey.class, new LinkKeySerializer())
+                .register(ConnectPoint.class, new ConnectPointSerializer())
+                .register(DefaultLink.class, new DefaultLinkSerializer())
+                .build()
+                .populate(1);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public byte[] serialize(final Object obj) {
+        return serializerPool.serialize(obj);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public <T> T deserialize(final byte[] bytes) {
+        if (bytes == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        return serializerPool.deserialize(bytes);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationService.java b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e92cc4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/serializers/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/serializers/KryoSerializationService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.serializers;
+
+// TODO: To be replaced with SerializationService from IOLoop activity
+/**
+ * Service to serialize Objects into byte array.
+ */
+public interface KryoSerializationService {
+
+    /**
+     * Serializes the specified object into bytes using one of the
+     * pre-registered serializers.
+     *
+     * @param obj object to be serialized
+     * @return serialized bytes
+     */
+    public byte[] serialize(final Object obj);
+
+    /**
+     * Deserializes the specified bytes into an object using one of the
+     * pre-registered serializers.
+     *
+     * @param bytes bytes to be deserialized
+     * @return deserialized object
+     */
+    public <T> T deserialize(final byte[] bytes);
+
+}
diff --git a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java
index 38e94aa..6b6c157 100644
--- a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java
+++ b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java
@@ -105,11 +105,9 @@
          */
 
         if (flowEntries.containsEntry(did, f)) {
-            //synchronized (flowEntries) {
             flowEntries.remove(did, f);
             flowEntries.put(did, f);
             flowEntriesById.remove(rule.appId(), rule);
-            //}
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/features/features.xml b/features/features.xml
index c49fd3c..d2d9567 100644
--- a/features/features.xml
+++ b/features/features.xml
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
         <bundle>mvn:de.javakaffee/kryo-serializers/0.27</bundle>
 
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onlab-nio/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
+
+	<bundle>mvn:org.codehaus.jackson/jackson-core-asl/1.9.13</bundle>
+	<bundle>mvn:org.codehaus.jackson/jackson-mapper-asl/1.9.13</bundle>
     </feature>
 
     <feature name="onos-thirdparty-web" version="1.0.0"
@@ -58,7 +61,7 @@
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-hz-common/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-serializers/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-hz-cluster/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
-        <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-dist/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
+        <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-core-hz-net/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
     </feature>
 
     <feature name="onos-core-trivial" version="1.0.0"
@@ -116,10 +119,24 @@
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-app-fwd/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
     </feature>
 
+    <feature name="onos-app-mobility" version="1.0.0"
+             description="ONOS sample forwarding application">
+        <feature>onos-api</feature>
+        <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-app-mobility/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
+    </feature>
+
+
+
     <feature name="onos-app-foo" version="1.0.0"
              description="ONOS sample playground application">
         <feature>onos-api</feature>
         <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-app-foo/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
     </feature>
 
+    <feature name="onos-app-config" version="1.0.0"
+             description="ONOS network config reader">
+        <feature>onos-api</feature>
+        <bundle>mvn:org.onlab.onos/onos-app-config/1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</bundle>
+    </feature>
+
 </features>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index f6c4605..16ca891 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -98,6 +98,17 @@
                 <version>3.3.2</version>
             </dependency>
 
+	    <dependency>
+	      <groupId>org.codehaus.jackson</groupId>
+	      <artifactId>jackson-core-asl</artifactId>
+	      <version>1.9.13</version>
+	    </dependency>
+	    <dependency>
+	      <groupId>org.codehaus.jackson</groupId>
+	      <artifactId>jackson-mapper-asl</artifactId>
+	      <version>1.9.13</version>
+	    </dependency>
+
 
             <!-- Web related -->
             <dependency>
diff --git a/providers/openflow/flow/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/flow/impl/FlowModBuilder.java b/providers/openflow/flow/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/flow/impl/FlowModBuilder.java
index 2822f02..efe436f 100644
--- a/providers/openflow/flow/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/flow/impl/FlowModBuilder.java
+++ b/providers/openflow/flow/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/flow/impl/FlowModBuilder.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
         OFFlowMod fm = factory.buildFlowDelete()
                 .setCookie(U64.of(cookie.value()))
                 .setBufferId(OFBufferId.NO_BUFFER)
-                .setActions(actions)
+                //.setActions(actions)
                 .setMatch(match)
                 .setFlags(Collections.singleton(OFFlowModFlags.SEND_FLOW_REM))
                 .setPriority(priority)
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@
 
     private List<OFAction> buildActions() {
         List<OFAction> acts = new LinkedList<>();
+        if (treatment == null) {
+            return acts;
+        }
         for (Instruction i : treatment.instructions()) {
             switch (i.type()) {
             case DROP:
diff --git a/providers/openflow/host/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/host/impl/OpenFlowHostProvider.java b/providers/openflow/host/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/host/impl/OpenFlowHostProvider.java
index d124f2a..4f5bb81 100644
--- a/providers/openflow/host/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/host/impl/OpenFlowHostProvider.java
+++ b/providers/openflow/host/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/host/impl/OpenFlowHostProvider.java
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.openflow.controller.PacketListener;
 import org.onlab.packet.ARP;
 import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
+import org.onlab.packet.IPv4;
 import org.onlab.packet.IpPrefix;
 import org.onlab.packet.VlanId;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
@@ -92,29 +93,37 @@
         public void handlePacket(OpenFlowPacketContext pktCtx) {
             Ethernet eth = pktCtx.parsed();
 
+            VlanId vlan = VlanId.vlanId(eth.getVlanID());
+            ConnectPoint heardOn = new ConnectPoint(deviceId(Dpid.uri(pktCtx.dpid())),
+                    portNumber(pktCtx.inPort()));
+
+         // If this is not an edge port, bail out.
+            Topology topology = topologyService.currentTopology();
+            if (topologyService.isInfrastructure(topology, heardOn)) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            HostLocation hloc = new HostLocation(deviceId(Dpid.uri(pktCtx.dpid())),
+                    portNumber(pktCtx.inPort()),
+                    System.currentTimeMillis());
+            HostId hid = HostId.hostId(eth.getSourceMAC(), vlan);
             // Potentially a new or moved host
             if (eth.getEtherType() == Ethernet.TYPE_ARP) {
-                VlanId vlan = VlanId.vlanId(eth.getVlanID());
-                ConnectPoint heardOn = new ConnectPoint(deviceId(Dpid.uri(pktCtx.dpid())),
-                        portNumber(pktCtx.inPort()));
 
-                // If this is not an edge port, bail out.
-                Topology topology = topologyService.currentTopology();
-                if (topologyService.isInfrastructure(topology, heardOn)) {
-                    return;
-                }
 
-                HostLocation hloc = new HostLocation(deviceId(Dpid.uri(pktCtx.dpid())),
-                        portNumber(pktCtx.inPort()),
-                        System.currentTimeMillis());
-
-                HostId hid = HostId.hostId(eth.getSourceMAC(), vlan);
                 ARP arp = (ARP) eth.getPayload();
                 Set<IpPrefix> ips = newHashSet(IpPrefix.valueOf(arp.getSenderProtocolAddress()));
                 HostDescription hdescr =
                         new DefaultHostDescription(eth.getSourceMAC(), vlan, hloc, ips);
                 providerService.hostDetected(hid, hdescr);
 
+            } else if (eth.getEtherType() == Ethernet.TYPE_IPV4) {
+                IPv4 ip = (IPv4) eth.getPayload();
+                Set<IpPrefix> ips = newHashSet(IpPrefix.valueOf(ip.getSourceAddress()));
+                HostDescription hdescr =
+                        new DefaultHostDescription(eth.getSourceMAC(), vlan, hloc, ips);
+                providerService.hostDetected(hid, hdescr);
+
             }
 
             // TODO: Use DHCP packets as well later...
diff --git a/providers/openflow/packet/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProvider.java b/providers/openflow/packet/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProvider.java
index feedd88..41cb586 100644
--- a/providers/openflow/packet/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProvider.java
+++ b/providers/openflow/packet/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProvider.java
@@ -106,10 +106,6 @@
         for (Instruction inst : packet.treatment().instructions()) {
             if (inst.type().equals(Instruction.Type.OUTPUT)) {
                 p = portDesc(((OutputInstruction) inst).port());
-                if (!sw.getPorts().contains(p)) {
-                    log.warn("Tried to write out non-existint port {}", p.getPortNo());
-                    continue;
-                }
                 OFPacketOut po = packetOut(sw, eth, p.getPortNo());
                 sw.sendMsg(po);
             }
diff --git a/providers/openflow/packet/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProviderTest.java b/providers/openflow/packet/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProviderTest.java
index d5cccc4..66c0aea 100644
--- a/providers/openflow/packet/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProviderTest.java
+++ b/providers/openflow/packet/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/provider/of/packet/impl/OpenFlowPacketProviderTest.java
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@
         assertEquals("message sent incorrectly", 0, sw.sent.size());
 
         //to missing port
-        OutboundPacket portFailPkt = outPacket(DID, TR_MISSING, eth);
-        provider.emit(portFailPkt);
-        assertEquals("extra message sent", 1, sw.sent.size());
+        //OutboundPacket portFailPkt = outPacket(DID, TR_MISSING, eth);
+        //provider.emit(portFailPkt);
+        //assertEquals("extra message sent", 1, sw.sent.size());
 
     }
 
diff --git a/tools/build/onos-test b/tools/build/onos-test
index c5e8356..1eb8edb 100755
--- a/tools/build/onos-test
+++ b/tools/build/onos-test
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@
 nodes=$(env | sort | egrep "OC[0-9]+" | cut -d= -f2)
 
 onos-package
-for node in $nodes; do printf "%s: " $node; onos-install -f $node; done
+for node in $nodes; do (printf "%s: %s\n" "$node" "`onos-install -f $node`")& done
 for node in $nodes; do onos-wait-for-start $node; done
diff --git a/tools/test/bin/onos b/tools/test/bin/onos
index 74bf1cf..76b5c15 100755
--- a/tools/test/bin/onos
+++ b/tools/test/bin/onos
@@ -3,5 +3,7 @@
 # ONOS remote command-line client.
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+[ "$1" = "-w" ] && shift && onos-wait-for-start $1
+
 [ -n "$1" ] && OCI=$1 && shift
-client -h $OCI "$@"
+client -h $OCI "$@" 2>/dev/null
diff --git a/tools/test/bin/onos-kill b/tools/test/bin/onos-kill
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..6b849d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test/bin/onos-kill
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Remotely kills the ONOS service on the specified node.
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+[ ! -d "$ONOS_ROOT" ] && echo "ONOS_ROOT is not defined" >&2 && exit 1
+. $ONOS_ROOT/tools/build/envDefaults
+
+ssh $ONOS_USER@${1:-$OCI} "kill -9 \$(ps -ef | grep karaf.jar | grep -v grep | cut -c10-15)"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/test/cells/tom b/tools/test/cells/tom
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eb0523
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test/cells/tom
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Default virtual box ONOS instances 1,2 & ONOS mininet box
+
+export ONOS_NIC=192.168.56.*
+
+export OC1="192.168.56.11"
+export OC2="192.168.56.12"
+
+export OCN="192.168.56.7"
+
+
diff --git a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/KryoPool.java b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/KryoPool.java
index 58c268c..be662a6 100644
--- a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/KryoPool.java
+++ b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/util/KryoPool.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package org.onlab.util;
 
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentLinkedQueue;
@@ -8,6 +9,8 @@
 
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Serializer;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.ByteBufferInput;
+import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.ByteBufferOutput;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Input;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.Output;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
@@ -174,6 +177,22 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Serializes given object to byte buffer using Kryo instance in pool.
+     *
+     * @param obj Object to serialize
+     * @param buffer to write to
+     */
+    public void serialize(final Object obj, final ByteBuffer buffer) {
+        ByteBufferOutput out = new ByteBufferOutput(buffer);
+        Kryo kryo = getKryo();
+        try {
+            kryo.writeClassAndObject(out, obj);
+        } finally {
+            putKryo(kryo);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Deserializes given byte array to Object using Kryo instance in pool.
      *
      * @param bytes serialized bytes
@@ -192,6 +211,24 @@
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Deserializes given byte buffer to Object using Kryo instance in pool.
+     *
+     * @param buffer input with serialized bytes
+     * @param <T> deserialized Object type
+     * @return deserialized Object
+     */
+    public <T> T deserialize(final ByteBuffer buffer) {
+        ByteBufferInput in = new ByteBufferInput(buffer);
+        Kryo kryo = getKryo();
+        try {
+            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+            T obj = (T) kryo.readClassAndObject(in);
+            return obj;
+        } finally {
+            putKryo(kryo);
+        }
+    }
 
     /**
      * Creates a Kryo instance with {@link #registeredTypes} pre-registered.
diff --git a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
index 805b58a..dc3ecaf 100644
--- a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
+++ b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
@@ -93,14 +93,9 @@
      *
      * @param key selection key holding the pending connect operation.
      */
-    protected void connect(SelectionKey key) {
-        try {
-            SocketChannel ch = (SocketChannel) key.channel();
-            ch.finishConnect();
-        } catch (IOException | IllegalStateException e) {
-            log.warn("Unable to complete connection", e);
-        }
-
+    protected void connect(SelectionKey key) throws IOException {
+        SocketChannel ch = (SocketChannel) key.channel();
+        ch.finishConnect();
         if (key.isValid()) {
             key.interestOps(SelectionKey.OP_READ);
         }
@@ -124,7 +119,11 @@
 
             // If there is a pending connect operation, complete it.
             if (key.isConnectable()) {
-                connect(key);
+                try {
+                    connect(key);
+                } catch (IOException | IllegalStateException e) {
+                    log.warn("Unable to complete connection", e);
+                }
             }
 
             // If there is a read operation, slurp as much data as possible.
diff --git a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/MessageStream.java b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/MessageStream.java
index a7416e9..c38f0f5 100644
--- a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/MessageStream.java
+++ b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/MessageStream.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import java.nio.channels.SelectionKey;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
@@ -262,7 +263,7 @@
                 try {
                     channel.write(outbound);
                 } catch (IOException e) {
-                    if (!closed && !e.getMessage().equals("Broken pipe")) {
+                    if (!closed && !Objects.equals(e.getMessage(), "Broken pipe")) {
                         log.warn("Unable to write data", e);
                         ioError = e;
                     }
diff --git a/utils/nio/src/test/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoopTestClient.java b/utils/nio/src/test/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoopTestClient.java
index bdcc97a..bbeedd0 100644
--- a/utils/nio/src/test/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoopTestClient.java
+++ b/utils/nio/src/test/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoopTestClient.java
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@
         }
 
         @Override
-        protected void connect(SelectionKey key) {
+        protected void connect(SelectionKey key) throws IOException {
             super.connect(key);
             TestMessageStream b = (TestMessageStream) key.attachment();
             Worker w = ((CustomIOLoop) b.loop()).worker;