diff --git a/daemon/rcutil.cpp b/daemon/rcutil.cpp
index 413b0f4b1..47a697642 100644
--- a/daemon/rcutil.cpp
+++ b/daemon/rcutil.cpp
@@ -1,190 +1,148 @@
 #include <llarp.h>
-#include <pthread.h>
 #include <signal.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <llarp/crypto.hpp>
-#include "fs.hpp"
+#include "logger.hpp"
 
-static void
-progress()
-{
-  printf(".");
-  fflush(stdout);
-}
-
-struct llarp_main
-{
-  struct llarp_crypto crypto;
-  struct llarp_router *router     = nullptr;
-  struct llarp_threadpool *worker = nullptr;
-  struct llarp_threadpool *thread = nullptr;
-  struct llarp_logic *logic       = nullptr;
-  struct llarp_config *config     = nullptr;
-  struct llarp_nodedb *nodedb     = nullptr;
-  struct llarp_ev_loop *mainloop  = nullptr;
-  char nodedb_dir[256];
-  int exitcode;
-
-  int
-  shutdown()
-  {
-    printf("Shutting down ");
-
-    progress();
-    if(mainloop)
-      llarp_ev_loop_stop(mainloop);
-
-    progress();
-    if(worker)
-      llarp_threadpool_stop(worker);
-
-    progress();
-
-    if(worker)
-      llarp_threadpool_join(worker);
-
-    progress();
-    if(logic)
-      llarp_logic_stop(logic);
-
-    progress();
-
-    if(router)
-      llarp_stop_router(router);
-
-    progress();
-    llarp_free_router(&router);
-
-    progress();
-    llarp_free_config(&config);
-
-    progress();
-    llarp_ev_loop_free(&mainloop);
-
-    progress();
-    llarp_free_threadpool(&worker);
-
-    progress();
-
-    llarp_free_logic(&logic);
-    progress();
-
-    printf("\n");
-    fflush(stdout);
-    return exitcode;
-  }
-};
-
-void
-iter_main_config(struct llarp_config_iterator *itr, const char *section,
-                 const char *key, const char *val)
-{
-  llarp_main *m = static_cast< llarp_main * >(itr->user);
-
-  if(!strcmp(section, "router"))
-  {
-    if(!strcmp(key, "threads"))
-    {
-      int workers = atoi(val);
-      if(workers > 0 && m->worker == nullptr)
-      {
-        m->worker = llarp_init_threadpool(workers, "llarp-worker");
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  if(!strcmp(section, "netdb"))
-  {
-    if(!strcmp(key, "dir"))
-    {
-      strncpy(m->nodedb_dir, val, sizeof(m->nodedb_dir));
-    }
-  }
-}
+struct llarp_main *ctx = 0;
 
 llarp_main *sllarp = nullptr;
 
-void
-run_net(void *user)
-{
-  llarp_ev_loop_run(static_cast< llarp_ev_loop * >(user));
-}
-
 void
 handle_signal(int sig)
 {
-  printf("\ninterrupted\n");
-  llarp_ev_loop_stop(sllarp->mainloop);
-  llarp_logic_stop(sllarp->logic);
+  if(ctx)
+    llarp_main_signal(ctx, sig);
 }
 
+#ifndef TESTNET
+#define TESTNET 0
+#endif
+
 #include <getopt.h>
 #include <llarp/router_contact.h>
 #include <llarp/time.h>
 #include <fstream>
+#include "fs.hpp"
+#include "buffer.hpp"
+#include "crypto.hpp"
+
+bool printNode(struct llarp_nodedb_iter *iter) {
+  char ftmp[68] = {0};
+  const char *hexname =
+    llarp::HexEncode< llarp::PubKey, decltype(ftmp) >(iter->rc->pubkey, ftmp);
+
+  printf("[%d]=>[%s]\n", iter->index, hexname);
+  return false;
+}
+
 
 int
 main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
+  // take -c to set location of daemon.ini
   // --generate-blank /path/to/file.signed
   // --update-ifs /path/to/file.signed
   // --key /path/to/long_term_identity.key
+  // --import
+  // --export
 
   // --generate /path/to/file.signed
   // --update /path/to/file.signed
   // printf("has [%d]options\n", argc);
-  if(argc < 3)
+  if(argc < 2)
   {
     printf(
-        "please specify --generate or --update with a path to a router contact "
-        "file\n");
+        "please specify: \n"
+        "--generate with a path to a router contact file\n"
+        "--update   with a path to a router contact file\n"
+        "--list     \n"
+        "--import   with a path to a router contact file\n"
+        "--export   with a path to a router contact file\n"
+        "\n");
     return 0;
   }
   bool genMode = false;
   bool updMode = false;
+  bool listMode = false;
+  bool importMode = false;
+  bool exportMode = false;
   int c;
+  char *conffname;
+  char defaultConfName[] = "daemon.ini";
+  conffname              = defaultConfName;
   char *rcfname;
-  char defaultName[] = "other.signed";
-  rcfname            = defaultName;
+  char defaultRcName[]   = "other.signed";
+  rcfname                = defaultRcName;
+  bool haveRequiredOptions = false;
   while(1)
   {
     static struct option long_options[] = {
+        {"config", required_argument, 0, 'c'},
         {"generate", required_argument, 0, 'g'},
         {"update", required_argument, 0, 'u'},
+        {"list", no_argument, 0, 'l'},
+        {"import", required_argument, 0, 'i'},
+        {"export", required_argument, 0, 'e'},
         {0, 0, 0, 0}};
     int option_index = 0;
-    c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "gu", long_options, &option_index);
+    c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "cgluie", long_options, &option_index);
     if(c == -1)
       break;
     switch(c)
     {
       case 0:
         break;
+      case 'c':
+        conffname = optarg;
+        break;
+      case 'l':
+        haveRequiredOptions = true;
+        listMode = true;
+        break;
+      case 'i':
+        // printf ("option -g with value `%s'\n", optarg);
+        rcfname = optarg;
+        haveRequiredOptions = true;
+        importMode = true;
+        break;
+      case 'e':
+        // printf ("option -g with value `%s'\n", optarg);
+        rcfname = optarg;
+        haveRequiredOptions = true;
+        exportMode = true;
+        break;
       case 'g':
         // printf ("option -g with value `%s'\n", optarg);
         rcfname = optarg;
+        haveRequiredOptions = true;
         genMode = true;
         break;
       case 'u':
         // printf ("option -u with value `%s'\n", optarg);
         rcfname = optarg;
+        haveRequiredOptions = true;
         updMode = true;
         break;
       default:
         abort();
     }
   }
+  if (!haveRequiredOptions) {
+    llarp::Error("Parameters dont all have their required parameters.\n");
+    return 0;
+  }
   printf("parsed options\n");
-  if(!genMode && !updMode)
+  if(!genMode && !updMode && !listMode &&!importMode && !exportMode)
   {
-    printf("I don't know what to do, no generate or update parameter\n");
-    return 1;
+    llarp::Error("I don't know what to do, no generate or update parameter\n");
+    return 0;
   }
 
-  sllarp = new llarp_main;
-  // llarp_new_config(&sllarp->config);
-  // llarp_ev_loop_alloc(&sllarp->mainloop);
-  llarp_crypto_libsodium_init(&sllarp->crypto);
+  ctx = llarp_main_init(conffname, !TESTNET);
+  if (!ctx) {
+    llarp::Error("Cant set up context");
+    return 0;
+  }
+  signal(SIGINT, handle_signal);
 
   llarp_rc tmp;
   if(genMode)
@@ -220,33 +178,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
   if(updMode)
   {
     printf("rcutil.cpp - Loading [%s]\n", rcfname);
-    fs::path our_rc_file = rcfname;
-    std::error_code ec;
-    if(!fs::exists(our_rc_file, ec))
-    {
-      printf("File not found\n");
-      return 0;
-    }
-    std::ifstream f(our_rc_file, std::ios::binary);
-    if(!f.is_open())
-    {
-      printf("Can't open file\n");
-      return 0;
-    }
-    byte_t tmpc[MAX_RC_SIZE];
-    llarp_buffer_t buf;
-    buf.base = tmpc;
-    buf.cur  = buf.base;
-    buf.sz   = sizeof(tmpc);
-    f.read((char *)tmpc, sizeof(MAX_RC_SIZE));
-    // printf("contents[%s]\n", tmpc);
-    if(!llarp_rc_bdecode(&tmp, &buf))
-    {
-      printf("Can't decode\n");
-      return 0;
-    }
+    llarp_rc *rc = llarp_rc_read(rcfname);
+
     // set updated timestamp
-    tmp.last_updated = llarp_time_now_ms();
+    rc->last_updated = llarp_time_now_ms();
     // load longterm identity
     llarp_crypto crypt;
     llarp_crypto_libsodium_init(&crypt);
@@ -255,16 +190,35 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
     llarp_findOrCreateIdentity(&crypt, ident_keyfile.c_str(), identity);
     // get identity public key
     uint8_t *pubkey = llarp::seckey_topublic(identity);
-    llarp_rc_set_pubkey(&tmp, pubkey);
-    llarp_rc_sign(&crypt, identity, &tmp);
+    llarp_rc_set_pubkey(rc, pubkey);
+    llarp_rc_sign(&crypt, identity, rc);
+
     // set filename
     fs::path our_rc_file_out = "update_debug.rc";
     // write file
     llarp_rc_write(&tmp, our_rc_file_out.c_str());
-    // release memory for tmp lists
-    llarp_rc_free(&tmp);
   }
-
-  delete sllarp;
-  return 1;
+  if (listMode) {
+    llarp_main_loadDatabase(ctx);
+    llarp_nodedb_iter iter;
+    iter.visit = printNode;
+    llarp_main_iterateDatabase(ctx, iter);
+  }
+  if (importMode) {
+    llarp_main_loadDatabase(ctx);
+    llarp::Info("Loading ", rcfname);
+    llarp_rc *rc = llarp_rc_read(rcfname);
+    if (!rc)
+    {
+      llarp::Error("Can't load RC");
+      return 0;
+    }
+    llarp_main_putDatabase(ctx, rc);
+  }
+  if (exportMode) {
+    llarp_main_loadDatabase(ctx);
+    // TODO: write me
+  }
+  llarp_main_free(ctx);
+  return 1; // success
 }
diff --git a/include/llarp.h b/include/llarp.h
index db00ef7c8..3cef50ab5 100644
--- a/include/llarp.h
+++ b/include/llarp.h
@@ -12,25 +12,39 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-/** llarp application context for C api */
+/// llarp application context for C api
 struct llarp_main;
 
-/** initialize application context and load config */
+/// initialize application context and load config
 struct llarp_main *
 llarp_main_init(const char *fname, bool multiProcess);
 
-/** handle signal for main context */
+/// handle signal for main context
 void
 llarp_main_signal(struct llarp_main *ptr, int sig);
 
-/** set custom dht message handler function */
+/// set custom dht message handler function
 void
 llarp_main_set_dht_handler(struct llarp_main *ptr, llarp_dht_msg_handler h);
 
-/** run main context */
+/// run main context
 int
 llarp_main_run(struct llarp_main *ptr);
 
+/// load nodeDB into memory
+int
+llarp_main_loadDatabase(struct llarp_main *ptr);
+
+/// iterator on nodedb entries
+int
+llarp_main_iterateDatabase(struct llarp_main *ptr, struct llarp_nodedb_iter i);
+
+  
+/// put RC into nodeDB
+bool
+llarp_main_putDatabase(struct llarp_main *ptr, struct llarp_rc *rc);
+
+  
 void
 llarp_main_free(struct llarp_main *ptr);
 
diff --git a/include/llarp.hpp b/include/llarp.hpp
index 4848b5bea..0c4a68148 100644
--- a/include/llarp.hpp
+++ b/include/llarp.hpp
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ namespace llarp
     void
     Close();
 
+    int
+    LoadDatabase();
+
+    int
+    IterateDatabase(struct llarp_nodedb_iter i);
+
+    bool
+    PutDatabase(struct llarp_rc *rc);
+
     int
     Run();
 
diff --git a/include/llarp/nodedb.h b/include/llarp/nodedb.h
index 24080132b..b04e36fa6 100644
--- a/include/llarp/nodedb.h
+++ b/include/llarp/nodedb.h
@@ -41,11 +41,12 @@ struct llarp_nodedb_iter
 {
   void *user;
   struct llarp_rc *rc;
+  size_t index;
   bool (*visit)(struct llarp_nodedb_iter *);
 };
 
 /// iterate over all loaded rc with an iterator
-void
+int
 llarp_nodedb_iterate_all(struct llarp_nodedb *n, struct llarp_nodedb_iter i);
 
 /// get a random rc that is loaded
diff --git a/include/llarp/router_contact.h b/include/llarp/router_contact.h
index c1712a0b5..bced33a70 100644
--- a/include/llarp/router_contact.h
+++ b/include/llarp/router_contact.h
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ llarp_rc_clear(struct llarp_rc *rc);
 bool
 llarp_rc_addr_list_iter(struct llarp_ai_list_iter *iter, struct llarp_ai *ai);
 
+struct llarp_rc *
+llarp_rc_read(const char *fpath);
+  
 bool
 llarp_rc_write(struct llarp_rc *rc, const char *our_rc_file);
 
diff --git a/llarp/context.cpp b/llarp/context.cpp
index cf66ce087..da6c731a2 100644
--- a/llarp/context.cpp
+++ b/llarp/context.cpp
@@ -29,19 +29,19 @@ namespace llarp
   bool
   Context::ReloadConfig()
   {
-    llarp::Info("loading config at ", configfile);
-    if(!llarp_load_config(config, configfile.c_str()))
+    //llarp::Info("loading config at ", configfile);
+    if(llarp_load_config(config, configfile.c_str()))
     {
-      llarp_config_iterator iter;
-      iter.user  = this;
-      iter.visit = &iter_config;
-      llarp_config_iter(config, &iter);
-      llarp::Info("config loaded");
-      return true;
+      llarp_free_config(&config);
+      llarp::Error("failed to load config file ", configfile);
+      return false;
     }
-    llarp_free_config(&config);
-    llarp::Error("failed to load config file ", configfile);
-    return false;
+    llarp_config_iterator iter;
+    iter.user  = this;
+    iter.visit = &iter_config;
+    llarp_config_iter(config, &iter);
+    llarp::Info("config [", configfile, "] loaded");
+    return true;
   }
 
   void
@@ -78,10 +78,8 @@ namespace llarp
   }
 
   int
-  Context::Run()
+  Context::LoadDatabase()
   {
-    llarp::Info("starting up");
-    llarp_ev_loop_alloc(&mainloop);
     llarp_crypto_libsodium_init(&crypto);
     nodedb = llarp_nodedb_new(&crypto);
     if(!nodedb_dir[0])
@@ -96,15 +94,37 @@ namespace llarp
       llarp::Error("nodedb_dir is incorrect");
       return 0;
     }
-    llarp::Info("nodedb_dir configured!");
+    //llarp::Info("nodedb_dir [", nodedb_dir, "] configured!");
     ssize_t loaded = llarp_nodedb_load_dir(nodedb, nodedb_dir);
-    llarp::Info("nodedb_dir loaded ", loaded, " RCs");
+    llarp::Info("nodedb_dir loaded ", loaded, " RCs from [", nodedb_dir, "]");
     if(loaded < 0)
     {
       // shouldn't be possible
       llarp::Error("nodedb_dir directory doesn't exist");
       return 0;
     }
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  int
+  Context::IterateDatabase(struct llarp_nodedb_iter i)
+  {
+    return llarp_nodedb_iterate_all(nodedb, i);
+  }
+
+  bool
+  Context::PutDatabase(struct llarp_rc *rc)
+  {
+    return llarp_nodedb_put_rc(nodedb, rc);
+  }
+
+
+  int
+  Context::Run()
+  {
+    llarp::Info("starting up");
+    this->LoadDatabase();
+    llarp_ev_loop_alloc(&mainloop);
 
     // ensure worker thread pool
     if(!worker && !singleThreaded)
@@ -290,6 +310,25 @@ llarp_main_run(struct llarp_main *ptr)
   return ptr->ctx->Run();
 }
 
+int
+llarp_main_loadDatabase(struct llarp_main *ptr)
+{
+  return ptr->ctx->LoadDatabase();
+}
+
+int
+llarp_main_iterateDatabase(struct llarp_main *ptr, struct llarp_nodedb_iter i)
+{
+  return ptr->ctx->IterateDatabase(i);
+}
+
+bool
+llarp_main_putDatabase(struct llarp_main *ptr, struct llarp_rc *rc)
+{
+  return ptr->ctx->PutDatabase(rc);
+}
+
+
 void
 llarp_main_free(struct llarp_main *ptr)
 {
diff --git a/llarp/router.cpp b/llarp/router.cpp
index 010de39fa..549949ddd 100644
--- a/llarp/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router.cpp
@@ -859,6 +859,43 @@ llarp_findOrCreateIdentity(llarp_crypto *crypto, const char *fpath,
   return false;
 }
 
+struct llarp_rc *
+llarp_rc_read(const char *fpath)
+{
+  fs::path our_rc_file(fpath);
+  std::error_code ec;
+  if(!fs::exists(our_rc_file, ec))
+  {
+    printf("File[%s] not found\n", fpath);
+    return 0;
+  }
+  std::ifstream f(our_rc_file, std::ios::binary);
+  if(!f.is_open())
+  {
+    printf("Can't open file [%s]\n", fpath);
+    return 0;
+  }
+  byte_t tmp[MAX_RC_SIZE];
+  llarp_buffer_t buf = llarp::StackBuffer< decltype(tmp) >(tmp);
+  f.seekg(0, std::ios::end);
+  size_t sz = f.tellg();
+  f.seekg(0, std::ios::beg);
+
+  if(sz > buf.sz)
+    return 0;
+
+  f.read((char *)buf.base, sz);
+  //printf("contents[%s]\n", tmpc);
+  llarp_rc *rc = new llarp_rc;
+  llarp::Zero(rc, sizeof(llarp_rc));
+  if(!llarp_rc_bdecode(rc, &buf))
+  {
+    printf("Can't decode [%s]\n", fpath);
+    return 0;
+  }
+  return rc;
+}
+  
 bool
 llarp_rc_write(struct llarp_rc *rc, const char *fpath)
 {