diff --git a/daemon.ini b/daemon.ini
index f27c11acc..01d39cc25 100644
--- a/daemon.ini
+++ b/daemon.ini
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ contact-file=router-contact.signed
 dir=./tmp-nodes
 
 [iwp-connect]
-#named-node0=/path/to/routercontact0
+named-node0=remote-rc.signed
 #named-node1=/path/to/routercontact1
 
 [iwp-links]
diff --git a/daemon/main.cpp b/daemon/main.cpp
index 006f55bc1..ba27d680a 100644
--- a/daemon/main.cpp
+++ b/daemon/main.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ static void progress() {
 struct llarp_main
 {
   struct llarp_alloc mem;
+  struct llarp_crypto crypto;
   struct llarp_router *router = nullptr;
   struct llarp_threadpool *worker = nullptr;
   struct llarp_threadpool *thread = nullptr;
@@ -111,17 +112,18 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   const char *conffname = "daemon.ini";
   if (argc > 1) conffname = argv[1];
   llarp_mem_jemalloc(&llarp.mem);
-  struct llarp_alloc * mem = &llarp.mem;
+  auto mem = &llarp.mem;
   llarp_new_config(&llarp.config);
   llarp_ev_loop_alloc(&llarp.mainloop);
+  llarp_crypto_libsodium_init(&llarp.crypto);
   printf("%s loading config file %s\n", LLARP_VERSION, conffname);
   if (!llarp_load_config(llarp.config, conffname)) {
-    struct llarp_config_iterator iter;
+    llarp_config_iterator iter;
     iter.user = &llarp;
     iter.visit = iter_main_config;
     llarp_config_iter(llarp.config, &iter);
 
-    llarp.nodedb = llarp_nodedb_new(mem);
+    llarp.nodedb = llarp_nodedb_new(mem, &llarp.crypto);
     
     if (llarp.nodedb_dir[0]) {
       llarp.nodedb_dir[sizeof(llarp.nodedb_dir) - 1] = 0;
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
       if (llarp_nodedb_ensure_dir(dir)) {
         // ensure worker thread pool
         if (!llarp.worker) llarp.worker = llarp_init_threadpool(2);
-        // ensure thread
+        // ensure logic thread
         llarp.thread = llarp_init_threadpool(1);
         llarp.logic = llarp_init_logic(mem);
         
@@ -140,11 +142,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
           printf("starting router\n");
           llarp_run_router(llarp.router);
           // run mainloop
-          struct llarp_thread_job job = {
-            .user = llarp.mainloop,
-            .work = &run_net
-          };
-          llarp_threadpool_queue_job(llarp.thread, job);
+          llarp_threadpool_queue_job(llarp.thread, {llarp.mainloop, &run_net});
           printf("running\n");
           llarp.exitcode = 0;
           llarp_logic_mainloop(llarp.logic);
diff --git a/include/llarp/address_info.h b/include/llarp/address_info.h
index 87a90e08f..a38e9bc53 100644
--- a/include/llarp/address_info.h
+++ b/include/llarp/address_info.h
@@ -27,11 +27,13 @@ struct llarp_ai_list;
 struct llarp_ai_list *llarp_ai_list_new(struct llarp_alloc * mem);
 void llarp_ai_list_free(struct llarp_ai_list **l);
 
+void llarp_ai_copy(struct llarp_ai * dst, struct llarp_ai * src);
+  
 bool llarp_ai_list_bencode(struct llarp_ai_list *l, llarp_buffer_t *buff);
 bool llarp_ai_list_bdecode(struct llarp_ai_list *l, llarp_buffer_t *buff);
 
 struct llarp_ai llarp_ai_list_popfront(struct llarp_ai_list *l);
-void llarp_ai_list_pushback(struct llarp_ai_list *l, struct llarp_ai *ai);
+void llarp_ai_list_pushback(struct llarp_ai_list *l, struct llarp_ai ai);
 size_t llarp_ai_list_size(struct llarp_ai_list *l);
 struct llarp_ai *llarp_ai_list_index(struct llarp_ai_list *l, ssize_t idx);
 
diff --git a/include/llarp/crypto.h b/include/llarp/crypto.h
index 79c65681e..f628d0a6a 100644
--- a/include/llarp/crypto.h
+++ b/include/llarp/crypto.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ typedef bool (*llarp_shorthash_func)(llarp_shorthash_t *, llarp_buffer_t);
 typedef bool (*llarp_hmac_func)(uint8_t *, llarp_buffer_t,
                                 const uint8_t *);
 
-typedef bool (*llarp_sign_func)(uint8_t *, llarp_seckey_t, llarp_buffer_t);
+typedef bool (*llarp_sign_func)(uint8_t *, const uint8_t *, llarp_buffer_t);
 
 typedef bool (*llarp_verify_func)(const uint8_t *, llarp_buffer_t, const uint8_t *);
 
diff --git a/include/llarp/link.h b/include/llarp/link.h
index 3186d14f9..cace6894a 100644
--- a/include/llarp/link.h
+++ b/include/llarp/link.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ struct llarp_link_ev_listener {
 struct llarp_link {
   void *impl;
   const char *(*name)(void);
+  void (*get_our_address)(struct llarp_link *, struct llarp_ai *);
   /*
   int (*register_listener)(struct llarp_link *, struct llarp_link_ev_listener);
   void (*deregister_listener)(struct llarp_link *, int);
diff --git a/include/llarp/nodedb.h b/include/llarp/nodedb.h
index d764c633a..bf1abb8b3 100644
--- a/include/llarp/nodedb.h
+++ b/include/llarp/nodedb.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ extern "C" {
 struct llarp_nodedb;
 
 /** create an empty nodedb */
-struct llarp_nodedb *llarp_nodedb_new(struct llarp_alloc * mem);
+struct llarp_nodedb *llarp_nodedb_new(struct llarp_alloc * mem, struct llarp_crypto * crypto);
 
 /** free a nodedb and all loaded rc */
 void llarp_nodedb_free(struct llarp_nodedb **n);
diff --git a/include/llarp/router_contact.h b/include/llarp/router_contact.h
index bec5f43b0..2021e8500 100644
--- a/include/llarp/router_contact.h
+++ b/include/llarp/router_contact.h
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+const size_t MAX_RC_SIZE = 1024;
+  
 struct llarp_rc {
   struct llarp_ai_list *addrs;
   llarp_pubkey_t pubkey;
@@ -17,7 +19,7 @@ struct llarp_rc {
 bool llarp_rc_bdecode(struct llarp_alloc * mem, struct llarp_rc *rc, llarp_buffer_t *buf);
 bool llarp_rc_bencode(struct llarp_rc *rc, llarp_buffer_t *buf);
 void llarp_rc_free(struct llarp_rc *rc);
-bool llarp_rc_verify_sig(struct llarp_rc *rc);
+bool llarp_rc_verify_sig(struct llarp_crypto * crypto, struct llarp_rc *rc);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/llarp/address_info.c b/llarp/address_info.c
index 606b17629..baf7de406 100644
--- a/llarp/address_info.c
+++ b/llarp/address_info.c
@@ -87,6 +87,30 @@ void llarp_ai_list_free(struct llarp_ai_list **l) {
   }
 }
 
+void llarp_ai_copy(struct llarp_ai * dst, struct llarp_ai * src)
+{
+  memcpy(dst, src, sizeof(struct llarp_ai));
+}
+
+void llarp_ai_list_pushback(struct llarp_ai_list * l, struct llarp_ai a)
+{
+  struct llarp_ai_list_node *cur = l->root;
+  if(cur)
+  {
+    // go to the end of the list
+    while(cur->next)
+      cur = cur->next;
+    
+    cur->next = l->mem->alloc(l->mem, sizeof(struct llarp_ai_list_node), 16);
+    cur = cur->next;
+  }
+  else
+    cur = l->mem->alloc(l->mem, sizeof(struct llarp_ai_list_node), 16);
+  
+  llarp_ai_copy(&cur->data, &a);
+  cur->next = 0;
+}
+
 void llarp_ai_list_iterate(struct llarp_ai_list *l,
                            struct llarp_ai_list_iter *itr) {
   struct llarp_ai_list_node *cur = l->root;
diff --git a/llarp/buffer.cpp b/llarp/buffer.cpp
index 868ba011d..520f73e3b 100644
--- a/llarp/buffer.cpp
+++ b/llarp/buffer.cpp
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ bool llarp_buffer_writef(llarp_buffer_t* buff, const char* fmt, ...) {
   size_t sz = llarp_buffer_size_left(buff);
   va_list args;
   va_start(args, fmt);
-  written = snprintf(buff->cur, sz, fmt, args);
+  written = vsnprintf(buff->cur, sz, fmt, args);
   va_end(args);
   if (written == -1) return false;
-  buff->sz += written;
+  buff->cur += written;
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/llarp/crypto_libsodium.cpp b/llarp/crypto_libsodium.cpp
index 91cf96c91..a8bd3eabb 100644
--- a/llarp/crypto_libsodium.cpp
+++ b/llarp/crypto_libsodium.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static bool hmac(uint8_t *result, llarp_buffer_t buff,
                             secret, HMACSECSIZE) != -1;
 }
 
-static bool sign(uint8_t *result, llarp_seckey_t secret,
+static bool sign(uint8_t *result, const uint8_t * secret,
                  llarp_buffer_t buff) {
   const uint8_t *base = (const uint8_t *)buff.base;
   return crypto_sign_detached(result, nullptr, base, buff.sz, secret) != -1;
diff --git a/llarp/iwp_link.cpp b/llarp/iwp_link.cpp
index 347cd930f..b5862bc20 100644
--- a/llarp/iwp_link.cpp
+++ b/llarp/iwp_link.cpp
@@ -569,6 +569,11 @@ struct server
     printf("cleanup dead\n");
   }
 
+  uint8_t * pubkey()
+  {
+    return llarp_seckey_topublic(seckey);
+  }
+  
   bool ensure_privkey()
   {
     std::error_code ec;
@@ -662,10 +667,21 @@ server * link_alloc(struct llarp_alloc * mem, struct llarp_msg_muxer * muxer, co
 
 const char * link_name()
 {
-  return "iwp";
+  return "IWP";
 }
 
 
+void link_get_addr(struct llarp_link * l, struct llarp_ai * addr)
+{
+  server * link = static_cast<server *>(l->impl);
+  llarp::Addr linkaddr(link->udp.addr);
+  addr->rank = 1;
+  strncpy(addr->dialect, link_name(), sizeof(addr->dialect));
+  memcpy(addr->enc_key, link->pubkey(), 32);
+  memcpy(addr->ip.s6_addr, linkaddr.addr.s6_addr, 16);
+  addr->port = linkaddr.port;
+}
+
 bool link_configure(struct llarp_link * l, struct llarp_ev_loop * netloop, const char * ifname, int af, uint16_t port)
 {
   server * link = static_cast<server*>(l->impl);
@@ -768,6 +784,7 @@ void iwp_link_init(struct llarp_link * link, struct llarp_iwp_args args, struct
 {
   link->impl = iwp::link_alloc(args.mem, muxer, args.keyfile, args.crypto, args.logic, args.cryptoworker);
   link->name = iwp::link_name;
+  link->get_our_address = iwp::link_get_addr;
   link->configure = iwp::link_configure;
   link->start_link = iwp::link_start;
   link->stop_link = iwp::link_stop;
diff --git a/llarp/link.c b/llarp/link.c
index 6a6f1bf2e..5e5c1d056 100644
--- a/llarp/link.c
+++ b/llarp/link.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 bool llarp_link_initialized(struct llarp_link * link)
 {
-  return link && link->impl && link->name && link->configure && link->start_link && link->stop_link && link->iter_sessions && link->try_establish && link->acquire_session_for_addr && link->mark_session_active && link->free_impl;
+  return link && link->impl && link->name && link->get_our_address && link->configure && link->start_link && link->stop_link && link->iter_sessions && link->try_establish && link->acquire_session_for_addr && link->mark_session_active && link->free_impl;
 }
   
 bool llarp_link_session_initialized(struct llarp_link_session * s)
diff --git a/llarp/nodedb.cpp b/llarp/nodedb.cpp
index 17754558a..5bbbf24bf 100644
--- a/llarp/nodedb.cpp
+++ b/llarp/nodedb.cpp
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ static const char skiplist_subdirs[] = "0123456789ABCDEF";
 
 struct llarp_nodedb {
 
-  llarp_nodedb(struct llarp_alloc * m) : mem(m) {}
+  llarp_nodedb(llarp_alloc * m, llarp_crypto * c) : mem(m), crypto(c) {}
   
   llarp_alloc * mem;
+  llarp_crypto * crypto;
   std::map<llarp::pubkey, llarp_rc *> entries;
 
   void Clear()
@@ -51,8 +52,9 @@ struct llarp_nodedb {
     }
     fclose(f);
     llarp_rc *rc = llarp::Alloc<llarp_rc>(mem);
+    llarp::Zero(rc, sizeof(llarp_rc));
     if (llarp_rc_bdecode(mem, rc, &buff)) {
-      if (llarp_rc_verify_sig(rc)) {
+      if (llarp_rc_verify_sig(crypto, rc)) {
         llarp::pubkey pk;
         memcpy(pk.data(), rc->pubkey, pk.size());
         entries[pk] = rc;
@@ -75,10 +77,10 @@ struct llarp_nodedb {
 
 extern "C" {
 
-struct llarp_nodedb *llarp_nodedb_new(struct llarp_alloc * mem) {
+struct llarp_nodedb *llarp_nodedb_new(struct llarp_alloc * mem, struct llarp_crypto * crypto) {
   void * ptr = mem->alloc(mem, sizeof(llarp_nodedb), llarp::alignment<llarp_nodedb>());
   if(!ptr) return nullptr;
-  return new (ptr) llarp_nodedb(mem);
+  return new (ptr) llarp_nodedb(mem, crypto);
 }
 
 void llarp_nodedb_free(struct llarp_nodedb **n) {
diff --git a/llarp/router.cpp b/llarp/router.cpp
index ddaf5b8c1..b1ad4fe9e 100644
--- a/llarp/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #include <llarp/router.h>
 #include "str.hpp"
 
+#include <fstream>
+
 namespace llarp {
 void router_iter_config(llarp_config_iterator *iter, const char *section,
                         const char *key, const char *val);
@@ -33,6 +35,54 @@ void llarp_router::AddLink(struct llarp_link *link) {
 
 bool llarp_router::Ready() { return ready; }
 
+bool llarp_router::EnsureIdentity()
+{
+  std::error_code ec;
+  if(!fs::exists(ident_keyfile, ec))
+  {
+    crypto.keygen(identity);
+    std::ofstream f(ident_keyfile, std::ios::binary);
+    if(f.is_open())
+    {
+      f.write((char*)identity, sizeof(identity));
+    }
+  }
+  std::ifstream f(ident_keyfile, std::ios::binary);
+  if(f.is_open())
+  {
+    f.read((char*)identity, sizeof(identity));
+    return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool llarp_router::SaveRC()
+{
+  printf("verify rc signature... ");
+  if(!llarp_rc_verify_sig(&crypto, &rc))
+  {
+    printf(" BAD!\n");
+    return false;
+  }
+  printf(" OK.\n");
+  
+  uint8_t tmp[MAX_RC_SIZE];
+  llarp_buffer_t buf;
+  buf.base = (char*)tmp;
+  buf.cur = (char*) tmp;
+  buf.sz = sizeof(tmp);
+  if(llarp_rc_bencode(&rc, &buf))
+  {
+    std::ofstream f(our_rc_file, std::ios::binary);
+    if(f.is_open())
+    {
+      f.write(buf.base, buf.cur - buf.base);
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 void llarp_router::ForEachLink(std::function<void(llarp_link *)> visitor) {
   llarp::router_links *cur = &links;
   do {
@@ -66,15 +116,48 @@ bool llarp_configure_router(struct llarp_router *router,
   iter.user = router;
   iter.visit = llarp::router_iter_config;
   llarp_config_iter(conf, &iter);
-  return router->Ready();
+  if(!router->Ready()) return false;
+  return router->EnsureIdentity();
 }
 
 void llarp_run_router(struct llarp_router *router) {
-  llarp_logic * logic = router->logic;
-  router->ForEachLink([logic](llarp_link *link) {
-    int result = link->start_link(link, logic);
-    if (result == -1) printf("link %s failed to start\n", link->name());
+
+  // zero out router contact
+  llarp::Zero(&router->rc, sizeof(llarp_rc));
+  // fill our address list
+  router->rc.addrs = llarp_ai_list_new(router->mem);
+  router->ForEachLink([router](llarp_link *link) {
+      llarp_ai addr;
+      link->get_our_address(link, &addr);
+      llarp_ai_list_pushback(router->rc.addrs, addr);
   });
+  // set public key
+  memcpy(router->rc.pubkey, router->pubkey(), 32);
+  
+  // sign router contact
+  llarp_buffer_t signbuf;
+  char buf[MAX_RC_SIZE];
+  signbuf.base = buf;
+  signbuf.cur = buf;
+  signbuf.sz = sizeof(buf);
+  // encode
+  if(llarp_rc_bencode(&router->rc, &signbuf))
+  {
+    // sign
+    signbuf.sz = signbuf.cur - signbuf.base;
+    router->crypto.sign(router->rc.signature, router->identity, signbuf);
+    if(router->SaveRC())
+    {
+      printf("saved router contact\n");
+      llarp_logic * logic = router->logic;
+      router->ForEachLink([logic](llarp_link *link) {
+        int result = link->start_link(link, logic);
+        if (result == -1) printf("link %s failed to start\n", link->name());
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+  printf("failed to generate rc\n");
 }
 
 void llarp_stop_router(struct llarp_router *router) {
@@ -113,7 +196,7 @@ void router_iter_config(llarp_config_iterator *iter, const char *section,
     proto = std::atoi(val);
   }
 
-  struct llarp_link *link;
+  struct llarp_link *link = nullptr;
   if (StrEq(section, "iwp-links"))
   {
     link = llarp::Alloc<llarp_link>(self->mem);  
@@ -124,10 +207,28 @@ void router_iter_config(llarp_config_iterator *iter, const char *section,
       .crypto = &self->crypto,
       .logic = self->logic,
       .cryptoworker = self->tp,
-      .keyfile=self->transport_keyfile,
+      .keyfile = self->transport_keyfile.c_str(),
     };
     iwp_link_init(link, args, &self->muxer);
   }
+  else if (StrEq(section, "iwp-connect"))
+  {
+    std::error_code ec;
+    if(fs::exists(val, ec))
+      self->connect.try_emplace(key, val);
+    else
+      printf("cannot read %s\n", val);
+    return;
+  }
+  else if (StrEq(section, "router"))
+  {
+    if(StrEq(key, "contact-file"))
+    {
+      self->our_rc_file = val;
+      printf("storing signed rc at %s\n", self->our_rc_file.c_str());
+    }
+    return;
+  }
   else
     return;
   
diff --git a/llarp/router.hpp b/llarp/router.hpp
index d02cf091f..f438127c5 100644
--- a/llarp/router.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router.hpp
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@
 #define LLARP_ROUTER_HPP
 #include <llarp/link.h>
 #include <llarp/router.h>
+#include <llarp/router_contact.h>
 #include <functional>
+#include <map>
 
 #include "mem.hpp"
+#include "fs.hpp"
 
 namespace llarp {
 struct router_links {
@@ -16,8 +19,21 @@ struct router_links {
 
 struct llarp_router {
   bool ready;
-  const char * transport_keyfile = "transport.key";
-  const char * transport_certfile = "transport.pem";
+  // transient iwp encryption key
+  fs::path transport_keyfile = "transport.key";
+
+  // nodes to connect to on startup
+  std::map<std::string, fs::path> connect;
+
+  // long term identity key
+  fs::path ident_keyfile = "identity.key";
+  
+  // path to write our self signed rc to
+  fs::path our_rc_file = "rc.signed";
+
+
+  llarp_rc rc;
+
   llarp_ev_loop * netloop;
   llarp_threadpool *tp;
   llarp_logic * logic;
@@ -26,6 +42,7 @@ struct llarp_router {
   llarp_msg_muxer muxer;
   llarp_path_context *paths;
   llarp_alloc * mem;
+  llarp_seckey_t identity;
 
   llarp_router(llarp_alloc * mem);
   ~llarp_router();
@@ -37,6 +54,11 @@ struct llarp_router {
   void Close();
 
   bool Ready();
+
+  bool EnsureIdentity();
+  bool SaveRC();
+
+  uint8_t * pubkey() { return llarp_seckey_topublic(identity); }
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/llarp/router_contact.c b/llarp/router_contact.c
index ce9ededa7..c1778f51b 100644
--- a/llarp/router_contact.c
+++ b/llarp/router_contact.c
@@ -77,9 +77,32 @@ bool llarp_rc_bdecode(struct llarp_alloc * mem, struct llarp_rc * rc, llarp_buff
   return bdecode_read_dict(buff, &r);
 }
 
-bool llarp_rc_verify_sig(struct llarp_rc * rc)
+
+bool llarp_rc_verify_sig(struct llarp_crypto * crypto, struct llarp_rc * rc)
 {
-  return false;
+  bool result = false;
+  llarp_sig_t sig;
+  char tmp[MAX_RC_SIZE];
+  llarp_buffer_t buf;
+  buf.base = tmp;
+  buf.cur = tmp;
+  buf.sz = sizeof(tmp);
+  // copy sig
+  memcpy(sig, rc->signature, sizeof(llarp_sig_t));
+  // zero sig 
+  memset(rc->signature, 0, sizeof(llarp_sig_t));
+
+  // bencode
+  if(llarp_rc_bencode(rc, &buf))
+  {
+    buf.sz = buf.cur - buf.base;
+    buf.cur = buf.base;
+    // verify
+    result = crypto->verify(rc->pubkey, buf, sig);
+    // restore sig
+    memcpy(rc->signature, sig, sizeof(llarp_sig_t));
+  }
+  return result;
 }
 
 bool llarp_rc_bencode(struct llarp_rc *rc, llarp_buffer_t *buff) {