diff --git a/libnetwork/README.md b/libnetwork/README.md
index 702bd8a926..3e6a11bb76 100644
--- a/libnetwork/README.md
+++ b/libnetwork/README.md
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ There are many networking solutions available to suit a broad range of use-cases
 
 ```go
         // Create a new controller instance
-        controller := libnetwork.New("/etc/default/libnetwork.toml")
+        controller := libnetwork.New()
 
         // Select and configure the network driver
         networkType := "bridge"
diff --git a/libnetwork/api/api_test.go b/libnetwork/api/api_test.go
index 8cbb9d8aa6..69b93cb639 100644
--- a/libnetwork/api/api_test.go
+++ b/libnetwork/api/api_test.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func i2cL(i interface{}) []*containerResource {
 }
 
 func createTestNetwork(t *testing.T, network string) (libnetwork.NetworkController, libnetwork.Network) {
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func TestJson(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCreateDeleteNetwork(t *testing.T) {
 	defer netutils.SetupTestNetNS(t)()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func TestCreateDeleteNetwork(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetNetworksAndEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 	defer netutils.SetupTestNetNS(t)()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ func TestGetNetworksAndEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 func TestProcGetServices(t *testing.T) {
 	defer netutils.SetupTestNetNS(t)()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ func TestAttachDetachBackend(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDetectGetNetworksInvalidQueryComposition(t *testing.T) {
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ func TestFindNetworkUtil(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCreateDeleteEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 	defer netutils.SetupTestNetNS(t)()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@ func TestCreateDeleteEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 func TestJoinLeave(t *testing.T) {
 	defer netutils.SetupTestNetNS(t)()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ func TestwriteJSON(t *testing.T) {
 func TestHttpHandlerUninit(t *testing.T) {
 	defer netutils.SetupTestNetNS(t)()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1740,7 +1740,7 @@ func TestHttpHandlerBadBody(t *testing.T) {
 
 	rsp := newWriter()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1772,7 +1772,7 @@ func TestEndToEnd(t *testing.T) {
 
 	rsp := newWriter()
 
-	c, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	c, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/libnetwork/client/service.go b/libnetwork/client/service.go
index 1e6eee18d9..3822874106 100644
--- a/libnetwork/client/service.go
+++ b/libnetwork/client/service.go
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ var (
 	serviceCommands = []command{
 		{"publish", "Publish a service"},
 		{"unpublish", "Remove a service"},
-		{"attach", "Attach a provider (container) to the service"},
-		{"detach", "Detach the provider from the service"},
+		{"attach", "Attach a backend (container) to the service"},
+		{"detach", "Detach the backend from the service"},
 		{"ls", "Lists all services"},
 		{"info", "Display information about a service"},
 	}
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func (cli *NetworkCli) CmdServiceLs(chain string, args ...string) error {
 	wr := tabwriter.NewWriter(cli.out, 20, 1, 3, ' ', 0)
 	// unless quiet (-q) is specified, print field titles
 	if !*quiet {
-		fmt.Fprintln(wr, "SERVICE ID\tNAME\tNETWORK\tPROVIDER")
+		fmt.Fprintln(wr, "SERVICE ID\tNAME\tNETWORK\tCONTAINER")
 	}
 
 	for _, sr := range serviceResources {
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func getBackendID(cli *NetworkCli, servID string) (string, error) {
 			}
 		} else {
 			// Only print a message, don't make the caller cli fail for this
-			fmt.Fprintf(cli.out, "Failed to retrieve provider list for service %s (%v)", servID, err)
+			fmt.Fprintf(cli.out, "Failed to retrieve backend list for service %s (%v)", servID, err)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/dnet.go b/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/dnet.go
index c798d065b1..32920c8b85 100644
--- a/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/dnet.go
+++ b/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/dnet.go
@@ -19,16 +19,19 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/libnetwork"
 	"github.com/docker/libnetwork/api"
 	"github.com/docker/libnetwork/client"
+	"github.com/docker/libnetwork/config"
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 )
 
-var (
+const (
 	// DefaultHTTPHost is used if only port is provided to -H flag e.g. docker -d -H tcp://:8080
 	DefaultHTTPHost = "127.0.0.1"
 	// DefaultHTTPPort is the default http port used by dnet
 	DefaultHTTPPort = 2385
 	// DefaultUnixSocket exported
 	DefaultUnixSocket = "/var/run/dnet.sock"
+	cfgFileEnv        = "LIBNETWORK_CFG"
+	defaultCfgFile    = "/etc/default/libnetwork.toml"
 )
 
 func main() {
@@ -45,6 +48,36 @@ func main() {
 	}
 }
 
+func parseConfig(cfgFile string) (*config.Config, error) {
+	if strings.Trim(cfgFile, " ") == "" {
+		cfgFile = os.Getenv(cfgFileEnv)
+		if strings.Trim(cfgFile, " ") == "" {
+			cfgFile = defaultCfgFile
+		}
+	}
+	return config.ParseConfig(cfgFile)
+}
+
+func processConfig(cfg *config.Config) []config.Option {
+	options := []config.Option{}
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return options
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Daemon.DefaultNetwork) != "" {
+		options = append(options, config.OptionDefaultNetwork(cfg.Daemon.DefaultNetwork))
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Daemon.DefaultDriver) != "" {
+		options = append(options, config.OptionDefaultDriver(cfg.Daemon.DefaultDriver))
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Datastore.Client.Provider) != "" {
+		options = append(options, config.OptionKVProvider(cfg.Datastore.Client.Provider))
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Datastore.Client.Address) != "" {
+		options = append(options, config.OptionKVProviderURL(cfg.Datastore.Client.Address))
+	}
+	return options
+}
+
 func dnetCommand(stdout, stderr io.Writer) error {
 	flag.Parse()
 
@@ -111,7 +144,12 @@ type dnetConnection struct {
 }
 
 func (d *dnetConnection) dnetDaemon() error {
-	controller, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	cfg, err := parseConfig(*flCfgFile)
+	var cOptions []config.Option
+	if err == nil {
+		cOptions = processConfig(cfg)
+	}
+	controller, err := libnetwork.New(cOptions...)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Error starting dnetDaemon :", err)
 		return err
diff --git a/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/flags.go b/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/flags.go
index 595971bbfe..27dfbd19ed 100644
--- a/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/flags.go
+++ b/libnetwork/cmd/dnet/flags.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ var (
 	flHost     = flag.String([]string{"H", "-host"}, "", "Daemon socket to connect to")
 	flLogLevel = flag.String([]string{"l", "-log-level"}, "info", "Set the logging level")
 	flDebug    = flag.Bool([]string{"D", "-debug"}, false, "Enable debug mode")
+	flCfgFile  = flag.String([]string{"c", "-cfg-file"}, "/etc/default/libnetwork.toml", "Configuration file")
 	flHelp     = flag.Bool([]string{"h", "-help"}, false, "Print usage")
 
 	dnetCommands = []command{
diff --git a/libnetwork/cmd/readme_test/readme.go b/libnetwork/cmd/readme_test/readme.go
index 58c722cd0c..33f07fd516 100644
--- a/libnetwork/cmd/readme_test/readme.go
+++ b/libnetwork/cmd/readme_test/readme.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 func main() {
 	// Create a new controller instance
-	controller, err := libnetwork.New("/etc/default/libnetwork.toml")
+	controller, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/libnetwork/cmd/test/main.go b/libnetwork/cmd/test/main.go
index 951b756639..957a0cdab5 100644
--- a/libnetwork/cmd/test/main.go
+++ b/libnetwork/cmd/test/main.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
-	"os"
 	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
@@ -14,8 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 func main() {
 	log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel)
-	os.Setenv("LIBNETWORK_CFG", "libnetwork.toml")
-	controller, err := libnetwork.New("libnetwork.toml")
+	controller, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/libnetwork/config/config.go b/libnetwork/config/config.go
index 460e60b31b..6a8a354912 100644
--- a/libnetwork/config/config.go
+++ b/libnetwork/config/config.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package config
 
-import "github.com/BurntSushi/toml"
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/BurntSushi/toml"
+)
 
 // Config encapsulates configurations of various Libnetwork components
 type Config struct {
@@ -11,7 +15,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 // DaemonCfg represents libnetwork core configuration
 type DaemonCfg struct {
-	Debug bool
+	Debug          bool
+	DefaultNetwork string
+	DefaultDriver  string
 }
 
 // ClusterCfg represents cluster configuration
@@ -41,3 +47,44 @@ func ParseConfig(tomlCfgFile string) (*Config, error) {
 	}
 	return &cfg, nil
 }
+
+// Option is a option setter function type used to pass varios configurations
+// to the controller
+type Option func(c *Config)
+
+// OptionDefaultNetwork function returns an option setter for a default network
+func OptionDefaultNetwork(dn string) Option {
+	return func(c *Config) {
+		c.Daemon.DefaultNetwork = strings.TrimSpace(dn)
+	}
+}
+
+// OptionDefaultDriver function returns an option setter for default driver
+func OptionDefaultDriver(dd string) Option {
+	return func(c *Config) {
+		c.Daemon.DefaultDriver = strings.TrimSpace(dd)
+	}
+}
+
+// OptionKVProvider function returns an option setter for kvstore provider
+func OptionKVProvider(provider string) Option {
+	return func(c *Config) {
+		c.Datastore.Client.Provider = strings.TrimSpace(provider)
+	}
+}
+
+// OptionKVProviderURL function returns an option setter for kvstore url
+func OptionKVProviderURL(url string) Option {
+	return func(c *Config) {
+		c.Datastore.Client.Address = strings.TrimSpace(url)
+	}
+}
+
+// ProcessOptions processes options and stores it in config
+func (c *Config) ProcessOptions(options ...Option) {
+	for _, opt := range options {
+		if opt != nil {
+			opt(c)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/libnetwork/controller.go b/libnetwork/controller.go
index 35f945ecb6..06db0bf49d 100644
--- a/libnetwork/controller.go
+++ b/libnetwork/controller.go
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Package libnetwork provides the basic functionality and extension points to
 create network namespaces and allocate interfaces for containers to use.
 
         // Create a new controller instance
-        controller, _err := libnetwork.New("/etc/default/libnetwork.toml")
+        controller, _err := libnetwork.New(nil)
 
         // Select and configure the network driver
         networkType := "bridge"
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@ package libnetwork
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
-	"os"
-	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
@@ -68,6 +66,9 @@ type NetworkController interface {
 	// ConfigureNetworkDriver applies the passed options to the driver instance for the specified network type
 	ConfigureNetworkDriver(networkType string, options map[string]interface{}) error
 
+	// Config method returns the bootup configuration for the controller
+	Config() config.Config
+
 	// Create a new network. The options parameter carries network specific options.
 	// Labels support will be added in the near future.
 	NewNetwork(networkType, name string, options ...NetworkOption) (Network, error)
@@ -112,8 +113,14 @@ type controller struct {
 }
 
 // New creates a new instance of network controller.
-func New(configFile string) (NetworkController, error) {
+func New(cfgOptions ...config.Option) (NetworkController, error) {
+	var cfg *config.Config
+	if len(cfgOptions) > 0 {
+		cfg = &config.Config{}
+		cfg.ProcessOptions(cfgOptions...)
+	}
 	c := &controller{
+		cfg:       cfg,
 		networks:  networkTable{},
 		sandboxes: sandboxTable{},
 		drivers:   driverTable{}}
@@ -121,47 +128,27 @@ func New(configFile string) (NetworkController, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := c.initConfig(configFile); err == nil {
+	if cfg != nil {
 		if err := c.initDataStore(); err != nil {
 			// Failing to initalize datastore is a bad situation to be in.
 			// But it cannot fail creating the Controller
-			log.Warnf("Failed to Initialize Datastore due to %v. Operating in non-clustered mode", err)
+			log.Debugf("Failed to Initialize Datastore due to %v. Operating in non-clustered mode", err)
 		}
 		if err := c.initDiscovery(); err != nil {
 			// Failing to initalize discovery is a bad situation to be in.
 			// But it cannot fail creating the Controller
-			log.Warnf("Failed to Initialize Discovery : %v", err)
+			log.Debugf("Failed to Initialize Discovery : %v", err)
 		}
-	} else {
-		// Missing Configuration file is not a failure scenario
-		// But without that, datastore cannot be initialized.
-		log.Debugf("Unable to Parse LibNetwork Config file : %v", err)
 	}
 
 	return c, nil
 }
 
-const (
-	cfgFileEnv     = "LIBNETWORK_CFG"
-	defaultCfgFile = "/etc/default/libnetwork.toml"
-)
-
-func (c *controller) initConfig(configFile string) error {
-	cfgFile := configFile
-	if strings.Trim(cfgFile, " ") == "" {
-		cfgFile = os.Getenv(cfgFileEnv)
-		if strings.Trim(cfgFile, " ") == "" {
-			cfgFile = defaultCfgFile
-		}
+func (c *controller) validateHostDiscoveryConfig() bool {
+	if c.cfg == nil || c.cfg.Cluster.Discovery == "" || c.cfg.Cluster.Address == "" {
+		return false
 	}
-	cfg, err := config.ParseConfig(cfgFile)
-	if err != nil {
-		return ErrInvalidConfigFile(cfgFile)
-	}
-	c.Lock()
-	c.cfg = cfg
-	c.Unlock()
-	return nil
+	return true
 }
 
 func (c *controller) initDiscovery() error {
@@ -179,6 +166,12 @@ func (c *controller) hostJoinCallback(hosts []net.IP) {
 func (c *controller) hostLeaveCallback(hosts []net.IP) {
 }
 
+func (c *controller) Config() config.Config {
+	c.Lock()
+	defer c.Unlock()
+	return *c.cfg
+}
+
 func (c *controller) ConfigureNetworkDriver(networkType string, options map[string]interface{}) error {
 	c.Lock()
 	dd, ok := c.drivers[networkType]
diff --git a/libnetwork/libnetwork_internal_test.go b/libnetwork/libnetwork_internal_test.go
index 23a0a54fc7..317afbb7f3 100644
--- a/libnetwork/libnetwork_internal_test.go
+++ b/libnetwork/libnetwork_internal_test.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestDriverRegistration(t *testing.T) {
 	bridgeNetType := "bridge"
-	c, err := New("")
+	c, err := New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/libnetwork/libnetwork_test.go b/libnetwork/libnetwork_test.go
index 6c4b25992f..81c8b91c1f 100644
--- a/libnetwork/libnetwork_test.go
+++ b/libnetwork/libnetwork_test.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 func createController() error {
 	var err error
 
-	controller, err = libnetwork.New("")
+	controller, err = libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1665,7 +1665,7 @@ func TestInvalidRemoteDriver(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	controller, err := libnetwork.New("")
+	controller, err := libnetwork.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/libnetwork/store.go b/libnetwork/store.go
index c72d739715..b1b1b5416f 100644
--- a/libnetwork/store.go
+++ b/libnetwork/store.go
@@ -9,11 +9,18 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/libnetwork/types"
 )
 
+func (c *controller) validateDatastoreConfig() bool {
+	if c.cfg == nil || c.cfg.Datastore.Client.Provider == "" || c.cfg.Datastore.Client.Address == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 func (c *controller) initDataStore() error {
 	c.Lock()
 	cfg := c.cfg
 	c.Unlock()
-	if cfg == nil {
+	if !c.validateDatastoreConfig() {
 		return fmt.Errorf("datastore initialization requires a valid configuration")
 	}