Merge branch 'master' into config-files

2016-09-12 00:57:25 +02:00 · 2016-09-12 00:57:25 +02:00 · db59d9a4ae
commit db59d9a4ae
parent b7bf10d62d edcc4080d5
47 changed files with 1045 additions and 459 deletions
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@ -9,6 +9,25 @@ variables:
 cache:
  key: "$CI_BUILD_NAME/$CI_BUILD_REF_NAME"
  untracked: true
+linux-stable:
+  stage: build
+  image: ethcore/rust:stable
+  only:
+    - master
+    - beta
+    - tags
+    - stable
+  script:
+    - export
+    - cargo build --release --verbose
+    - strip target/release/parity
+  tags:
+    - rust
+    - rust-stable
+  artifacts:
+    paths:
+    - target/release/parity
+    name: "${CI_BUILD_NAME}_parity"
 linux-beta:
  stage: build
  image: ethcore/rust:beta
@ -29,12 +48,6 @@ linux-beta:
    paths:
    - target/release/parity
    name: "${CI_BUILD_NAME}_parity"
-  stage: deploy
-  tags:
-    - rust
-    - rust-beta
-  script:
-    - ./deploy.sh
 linux-nightly:
  stage: build
  image: ethcore/rust:nightly
@ -84,6 +97,7 @@ linux-armv7:
    - stable
  script:
    - export
+    - export CXX="arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++"
    - rm -rf .cargo
    - mkdir -p .cargo
    - echo "[target.armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf]" >> .cargo/config
@ -98,6 +112,7 @@ linux-armv7:
    paths:
    - target/armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf/release/parity
    name: "${CI_BUILD_NAME}_parity"
+  allow_failure: true
 linux-arm:
  stage: build
  image: ethcore/rust-arm:latest
@ -108,11 +123,11 @@ linux-arm:
    - stable
  script:
    - export
-    - rm -rf .cargo
-    - mkdir -p .cargo
-    - echo "[target.arm-unknown-linux-gnueabihf]" >> .cargo/config
-    - echo "linker= \"arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc\"" >> .cargo/config
-    - cat .cargo/config
+    #- rm -rf .cargo
+    #- mkdir -p .cargo
+    #- echo "[target.arm-unknown-linux-gnueabihf]" >> .cargo/config
+    #- echo "linker= \"arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc\"" >> .cargo/config
+    #- cat .cargo/config
    - cargo build --target arm-unknown-linux-gnueabihf --release --verbose
    - arm-linux-gnueabihf-strip target/arm-unknown-linux-gnueabihf/release/parity
  tags:
@ -133,11 +148,11 @@ linux-armv6:
    - stable
  script:
    - export
-    - rm -rf .cargo
-    - mkdir -p .cargo
-    - echo "[target.arm-unknown-linux-gnueabi]" >> .cargo/config
-    - echo "linker= \"arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc\"" >> .cargo/config
-    - cat .cargo/config
+    #- rm -rf .cargo
+    #- mkdir -p .cargo
+    #- echo "[target.arm-unknown-linux-gnueabi]" >> .cargo/config
+    #- echo "linker= \"arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc\"" >> .cargo/config
+    #- cat .cargo/config
    - cargo build --target arm-unknown-linux-gnueabi --release --verbose
    - arm-linux-gnueabi-strip target/arm-unknown-linux-gnueabi/release/parity
  tags:
@ -158,11 +173,11 @@ linux-aarch64:
    - stable
  script:
    - export
-    - rm -rf .cargo
-    - mkdir -p .cargo
-    - echo "[target.aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu]" >> .cargo/config
-    - echo "linker= \"aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc\"" >> .cargo/config
-    - cat .cargo/config
+    #- rm -rf .cargo
+    #- mkdir -p .cargo
+    #- echo "[target.aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu]" >> .cargo/config
+    #- echo "linker= \"aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc\"" >> .cargo/config
+    #- cat .cargo/config
    - cargo build --target aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu --release --verbose
    - aarch64-linux-gnu-strip target/aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/parity
  tags:
@ -208,30 +223,22 @@ windows:
    - target/release/parity.exe
    - target/release/parity.pdb
    name: "${CI_BUILD_NAME}_parity"
-linux-stable:
-  stage: build
-  image: ethcore/rust:stable
-  only:
-    - master
-    - beta
-    - tags
-    - stable
-  script:
-    - export
-    - cargo build --release --verbose
-    - strip target/release/parity
-  tags:
-    - rust
-    - rust-stable
-  artifacts:
-    paths:
-    - target/release/parity
-    name: "${CI_BUILD_NAME}_parity"
 test-linux:
  stage: test
  before_script:
    - git submodule update --init --recursive
  script:
    - ./test.sh --verbose
+  tags:
+    - rust-test
  dependencies:
    - linux-stable
+deploy-binaries:
+  stage: deploy
+  only:
+    - master
+    - beta
+    - tags
+    - stable
+  script:
+    - ./deploy.sh
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@ -391,6 +391,7 @@ name = "ethcore-ipc-nano"
 version = "1.4.0"
 dependencies = [
 "ethcore-ipc 1.4.0",
+ "lazy_static 0.2.1 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
 "log 0.3.6 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
 "nanomsg 0.5.1 (git+https://github.com/ethcore/nanomsg.rs.git)",
 ]
@ -570,6 +571,7 @@ name = "ethkey"
 version = "0.2.0"
 dependencies = [
 "bigint 0.1.0",
+ "docopt 0.6.80 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
 "eth-secp256k1 0.5.4 (git+https://github.com/ethcore/rust-secp256k1)",
 "lazy_static 0.2.1 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
 "rand 0.3.14 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
@ -581,6 +583,7 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "ethstore"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
+ "docopt 0.6.80 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
 "ethcrypto 0.1.0",
 "ethkey 0.2.0",
 "itertools 0.4.13 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ ipc = ["ethcore/ipc"]
 dev = ["clippy", "ethcore/dev", "ethcore-util/dev", "ethsync/dev", "ethcore-rpc/dev", "ethcore-dapps/dev", "ethcore-signer/dev"]
 json-tests = ["ethcore/json-tests"]
 stratum = ["ipc"]
+ethkey-cli = ["ethcore/ethkey-cli"]
+ethstore-cli = ["ethcore/ethstore-cli"]

 [[bin]]
 path = "parity/main.rs"
--- a/dapps/Cargo.toml
+++ b/dapps/Cargo.toml
@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ clippy = { version = "0.0.85", optional = true}
 serde_codegen = { version = "0.8", optional = true }

 [features]
-default = ["serde_codegen", "extra-dapps", "https-fetch/ca-github-only"]
+default = ["serde_codegen", "extra-dapps"]
 extra-dapps = ["parity-dapps-wallet"]
 nightly = ["serde_macros"]
 dev = ["clippy", "ethcore-rpc/dev", "ethcore-util/dev"]
--- a/dapps/src/apps/fetcher.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/apps/fetcher.rs
@ -38,65 +38,65 @@ use handlers::{ContentHandler, ContentFetcherHandler, ContentValidator};
 use endpoint::{Endpoint, EndpointPath, Handler};
 use apps::cache::{ContentCache, ContentStatus};
 use apps::manifest::{MANIFEST_FILENAME, deserialize_manifest, serialize_manifest, Manifest};
-use apps::urlhint::{URLHintContract, URLHint};
+use apps::urlhint::{URLHintContract, URLHint, URLHintResult};

 const MAX_CACHED_DAPPS: usize = 10;

-pub struct AppFetcher<R: URLHint = URLHintContract> {
+pub struct ContentFetcher<R: URLHint = URLHintContract> {
 	dapps_path: PathBuf,
 	resolver: R,
+	cache: Arc<Mutex<ContentCache>>,
 	sync: Arc<SyncStatus>,
-	dapps: Arc<Mutex<ContentCache>>,
 }

-impl<R: URLHint> Drop for AppFetcher<R> {
+impl<R: URLHint> Drop for ContentFetcher<R> {
 	fn drop(&mut self) {
 		// Clear cache path
 		let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(&self.dapps_path);
 	}
 }

-impl<R: URLHint> AppFetcher<R> {
+impl<R: URLHint> ContentFetcher<R> {

 	pub fn new(resolver: R, sync_status: Arc<SyncStatus>) -> Self {
 		let mut dapps_path = env::temp_dir();
 		dapps_path.push(random_filename());

-		AppFetcher {
+		ContentFetcher {
 			dapps_path: dapps_path,
 			resolver: resolver,
 			sync: sync_status,
-			dapps: Arc::new(Mutex::new(ContentCache::default())),
+			cache: Arc::new(Mutex::new(ContentCache::default())),
 		}
 	}

 	#[cfg(test)]
-	fn set_status(&self, app_id: &str, status: ContentStatus) {
-		self.dapps.lock().insert(app_id.to_owned(), status);
+	fn set_status(&self, content_id: &str, status: ContentStatus) {
+		self.cache.lock().insert(content_id.to_owned(), status);
 	}

-	pub fn contains(&self, app_id: &str) -> bool {
-		let mut dapps = self.dapps.lock();
+	pub fn contains(&self, content_id: &str) -> bool {
+		let mut cache = self.cache.lock();
 		// Check if we already have the app
-		if dapps.get(app_id).is_some() {
+		if cache.get(content_id).is_some() {
 			return true;
 		}
 		// fallback to resolver
-		if let Ok(app_id) = app_id.from_hex() {
+		if let Ok(content_id) = content_id.from_hex() {
 			// if app_id is valid, but we are syncing always return true.
 			if self.sync.is_major_syncing() {
 				return true;
 			}
 			// else try to resolve the app_id
-			self.resolver.resolve(app_id).is_some()
+			self.resolver.resolve(content_id).is_some()
 		} else {
 			false
 		}
 	}

 	pub fn to_async_handler(&self, path: EndpointPath, control: hyper::Control) -> Box<Handler> {
-		let mut dapps = self.dapps.lock();
-		let app_id = path.app_id.clone();
+		let mut cache = self.cache.lock();
+		let content_id = path.app_id.clone();

 		if self.sync.is_major_syncing() {
 			return Box::new(ContentHandler::error(
@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ impl<R: URLHint> AppFetcher<R> {
 		}

 		let (new_status, handler) = {
-			let status = dapps.get(&app_id);
+			let status = cache.get(&content_id);
 			match status {
 				// Just server dapp
 				Some(&mut ContentStatus::Ready(ref endpoint)) => {
@ -125,40 +125,57 @@ impl<R: URLHint> AppFetcher<R> {
 				},
 				// We need to start fetching app
 				None => {
-					let app_hex = app_id.from_hex().expect("to_handler is called only when `contains` returns true.");
-					let app = self.resolver.resolve(app_hex);
+					let content_hex = content_id.from_hex().expect("to_handler is called only when `contains` returns true.");
+					let content = self.resolver.resolve(content_hex);
+					let abort = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));

-					if let Some(app) = app {
-						let abort = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
-
-						(Some(ContentStatus::Fetching(abort.clone())), Box::new(ContentFetcherHandler::new(
-							app,
-							abort,
-							control,
-							path.using_dapps_domains,
-							DappInstaller {
-								dapp_id: app_id.clone(),
-								dapps_path: self.dapps_path.clone(),
-								dapps: self.dapps.clone(),
-							}
-						)) as Box<Handler>)
-					} else {
-						// This may happen when sync status changes in between
-						// `contains` and `to_handler`
-						(None, Box::new(ContentHandler::error(
-							StatusCode::NotFound,
-							"Resource Not Found",
-							"Requested resource was not found.",
-							None
-						)) as Box<Handler>)
+					match content {
+						Some(URLHintResult::Dapp(dapp)) => (
+							Some(ContentStatus::Fetching(abort.clone())),
+							Box::new(ContentFetcherHandler::new(
+								dapp.url(),
+								abort,
+								control,
+								path.using_dapps_domains,
+								DappInstaller {
+									id: content_id.clone(),
+									dapps_path: self.dapps_path.clone(),
+									cache: self.cache.clone(),
+								})) as Box<Handler>
+						),
+						Some(URLHintResult::Content(content)) => (
+							Some(ContentStatus::Fetching(abort.clone())),
+							Box::new(ContentFetcherHandler::new(
+								content.url,
+								abort,
+								control,
+								path.using_dapps_domains,
+								ContentInstaller {
+									id: content_id.clone(),
+									mime: content.mime,
+									content_path: self.dapps_path.clone(),
+									cache: self.cache.clone(),
+								}
+							)) as Box<Handler>,
+						),
+						None => {
+							// This may happen when sync status changes in between
+							// `contains` and `to_handler`
+							(None, Box::new(ContentHandler::error(
+								StatusCode::NotFound,
+								"Resource Not Found",
+								"Requested resource was not found.",
+								None
+							)) as Box<Handler>)
+						},
 					}
 				},
 			}
 		};

 		if let Some(status) = new_status {
-			dapps.clear_garbage(MAX_CACHED_DAPPS);
-			dapps.insert(app_id, status);
+			cache.clear_garbage(MAX_CACHED_DAPPS);
+			cache.insert(content_id, status);
 		}

 		handler
@ -169,7 +186,7 @@ impl<R: URLHint> AppFetcher<R> {
 pub enum ValidationError {
 	Io(io::Error),
 	Zip(zip::result::ZipError),
-	InvalidDappId,
+	InvalidContentId,
 	ManifestNotFound,
 	ManifestSerialization(String),
 	HashMismatch { expected: H256, got: H256, },
@ -180,7 +197,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for ValidationError {
 		match *self {
 			ValidationError::Io(ref io) => write!(f, "Unexpected IO error occured: {:?}", io),
 			ValidationError::Zip(ref zip) => write!(f, "Unable to read ZIP archive: {:?}", zip),
-			ValidationError::InvalidDappId => write!(f, "Dapp ID is invalid. It should be 32 bytes hash of content."),
+			ValidationError::InvalidContentId => write!(f, "ID is invalid. It should be 256 bits keccak hash of content."),
 			ValidationError::ManifestNotFound => write!(f, "Downloaded Dapp bundle did not contain valid manifest.json file."),
 			ValidationError::ManifestSerialization(ref err) => {
 				write!(f, "There was an error during Dapp Manifest serialization: {:?}", err)
@ -204,10 +221,55 @@ impl From<zip::result::ZipError> for ValidationError {
 	}
 }

+struct ContentInstaller {
+	id: String,
+	mime: String,
+	content_path: PathBuf,
+	cache: Arc<Mutex<ContentCache>>,
+}
+
+impl ContentValidator for ContentInstaller {
+	type Error = ValidationError;
+	type Result = PathBuf;
+
+	fn validate_and_install(&self, path: PathBuf) -> Result<(String, PathBuf), ValidationError> {
+		// Create dir
+		try!(fs::create_dir_all(&self.content_path));
+
+		// And prepare path for a file
+		let filename = path.file_name().expect("We always fetch a file.");
+		let mut content_path = self.content_path.clone();
+		content_path.push(&filename);
+
+		if content_path.exists() {
+			try!(fs::remove_dir_all(&content_path))
+		}
+
+		try!(fs::copy(&path, &content_path));
+
+		Ok((self.id.clone(), content_path))
+	}
+
+	fn done(&self, result: Option<&PathBuf>) {
+		let mut cache = self.cache.lock();
+		match result {
+			Some(result) => {
+				let page = LocalPageEndpoint::single_file(result.clone(), self.mime.clone());
+				cache.insert(self.id.clone(), ContentStatus::Ready(page));
+			},
+			// In case of error
+			None => {
+				cache.remove(&self.id);
+			},
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+
 struct DappInstaller {
-	dapp_id: String,
+	id: String,
 	dapps_path: PathBuf,
-	dapps: Arc<Mutex<ContentCache>>,
+	cache: Arc<Mutex<ContentCache>>,
 }

 impl DappInstaller {
@ -244,15 +306,16 @@ impl DappInstaller {

 impl ContentValidator for DappInstaller {
 	type Error = ValidationError;
+	type Result = Manifest;

-	fn validate_and_install(&self, app_path: PathBuf) -> Result<Manifest, ValidationError> {
+	fn validate_and_install(&self, app_path: PathBuf) -> Result<(String, Manifest), ValidationError> {
 		trace!(target: "dapps", "Opening dapp bundle at {:?}", app_path);
 		let mut file_reader = io::BufReader::new(try!(fs::File::open(app_path)));
 		let hash = try!(sha3(&mut file_reader));
-		let dapp_id = try!(self.dapp_id.as_str().parse().map_err(|_| ValidationError::InvalidDappId));
-		if dapp_id != hash {
+		let id = try!(self.id.as_str().parse().map_err(|_| ValidationError::InvalidContentId));
+		if id != hash {
 			return Err(ValidationError::HashMismatch {
-				expected: dapp_id,
+				expected: id,
 				got: hash,
 			});
 		}
@ -262,7 +325,7 @@ impl ContentValidator for DappInstaller {
 		// First find manifest file
 		let (mut manifest, manifest_dir) = try!(Self::find_manifest(&mut zip));
 		// Overwrite id to match hash
-		manifest.id = self.dapp_id.clone();
+		manifest.id = self.id.clone();

 		let target = self.dapp_target_path(&manifest);

@ -300,20 +363,20 @@ impl ContentValidator for DappInstaller {
 		try!(manifest_file.write_all(manifest_str.as_bytes()));

 		// Return modified app manifest
-		Ok(manifest)
+		Ok((manifest.id.clone(), manifest))
 	}

 	fn done(&self, manifest: Option<&Manifest>) {
-		let mut dapps = self.dapps.lock();
+		let mut cache = self.cache.lock();
 		match manifest {
 			Some(manifest) => {
 				let path = self.dapp_target_path(manifest);
 				let app = LocalPageEndpoint::new(path, manifest.clone().into());
-				dapps.insert(self.dapp_id.clone(), ContentStatus::Ready(app));
+				cache.insert(self.id.clone(), ContentStatus::Ready(app));
 			},
 			// In case of error
 			None => {
-				dapps.remove(&self.dapp_id);
+				cache.remove(&self.id);
 			},
 		}
 	}
@ -327,12 +390,12 @@ mod tests {
 	use endpoint::EndpointInfo;
 	use page::LocalPageEndpoint;
 	use apps::cache::ContentStatus;
-	use apps::urlhint::{GithubApp, URLHint};
-	use super::AppFetcher;
+	use apps::urlhint::{URLHint, URLHintResult};
+	use super::ContentFetcher;

 	struct FakeResolver;
 	impl URLHint for FakeResolver {
-		fn resolve(&self, _app_id: Bytes) -> Option<GithubApp> {
+		fn resolve(&self, _id: Bytes) -> Option<URLHintResult> {
 			None
 		}
 	}
@ -341,7 +404,7 @@ mod tests {
 	fn should_true_if_contains_the_app() {
 		// given
 		let path = env::temp_dir();
-		let fetcher = AppFetcher::new(FakeResolver, Arc::new(|| false));
+		let fetcher = ContentFetcher::new(FakeResolver, Arc::new(|| false));
 		let handler = LocalPageEndpoint::new(path, EndpointInfo {
 			name: "fake".into(),
 			description: "".into(),
--- a/dapps/src/apps/urlhint.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/apps/urlhint.rs
@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 use std::fmt;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use rustc_serialize::hex::ToHex;
+use mime_guess;

 use ethabi::{Interface, Contract, Token};
 use util::{Address, Bytes, Hashable};
@ -52,6 +53,13 @@ impl GithubApp {
 	}
 }

+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub struct Content {
+	pub url: String,
+	pub mime: String,
+	pub owner: Address,
+}
+
 /// RAW Contract interface.
 /// Should execute transaction using current blockchain state.
 pub trait ContractClient: Send + Sync {
@ -61,10 +69,19 @@ pub trait ContractClient: Send + Sync {
 	fn call(&self, address: Address, data: Bytes) -> Result<Bytes, String>;
 }

+/// Result of resolving id to URL
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum URLHintResult {
+	/// Dapp
+	Dapp(GithubApp),
+	/// Content
+	Content(Content),
+}
+
 /// URLHint Contract interface
 pub trait URLHint {
 	/// Resolves given id to registrar entry.
-	fn resolve(&self, app_id: Bytes) -> Option<GithubApp>;
+	fn resolve(&self, id: Bytes) -> Option<URLHintResult>;
 }

 pub struct URLHintContract {
@ -110,10 +127,10 @@ impl URLHintContract {
 		}
 	}

-	fn encode_urlhint_call(&self, app_id: Bytes) -> Option<Bytes> {
+	fn encode_urlhint_call(&self, id: Bytes) -> Option<Bytes> {
 		let call = self.urlhint
 			.function("entries".into())
-			.and_then(|f| f.encode_call(vec![Token::FixedBytes(app_id)]));
+			.and_then(|f| f.encode_call(vec![Token::FixedBytes(id)]));

 		match call {
 			Ok(res) => {
@ -126,7 +143,7 @@ impl URLHintContract {
 		}
 	}

-	fn decode_urlhint_output(&self, output: Bytes) -> Option<GithubApp> {
+	fn decode_urlhint_output(&self, output: Bytes) -> Option<URLHintResult> {
 		trace!(target: "dapps", "Output: {:?}", output.to_hex());
 		let output = self.urlhint
 			.function("entries".into())
@ -149,6 +166,17 @@ impl URLHintContract {
 					if owner == Address::default() {
 						return None;
 					}
+
+					let commit = GithubApp::commit(&commit);
+					if commit == Some(Default::default()) {
+						let mime = guess_mime_type(&account_slash_repo).unwrap_or("application/octet-stream".into());
+						return Some(URLHintResult::Content(Content {
+							url: account_slash_repo,
+							mime: mime,
+							owner: owner,
+						}));
+					}
+
 					let (account, repo) = {
 						let mut it = account_slash_repo.split('/');
 						match (it.next(), it.next()) {
@ -157,12 +185,12 @@ impl URLHintContract {
 						}
 					};

-					GithubApp::commit(&commit).map(|commit| GithubApp {
+					commit.map(|commit| URLHintResult::Dapp(GithubApp {
 						account: account,
 						repo: repo,
 						commit: commit,
 						owner: owner,
-					})
+					}))
 				},
 				e => {
 					warn!(target: "dapps", "Invalid contract output parameters: {:?}", e);
@ -177,10 +205,10 @@ impl URLHintContract {
 }

 impl URLHint for URLHintContract {
-	fn resolve(&self, app_id: Bytes) -> Option<GithubApp> {
+	fn resolve(&self, id: Bytes) -> Option<URLHintResult> {
 		self.urlhint_address().and_then(|address| {
 			// Prepare contract call
-			self.encode_urlhint_call(app_id)
+			self.encode_urlhint_call(id)
 				.and_then(|data| {
 					let call = self.client.call(address, data);
 					if let Err(ref e) = call {
@ -193,6 +221,34 @@ impl URLHint for URLHintContract {
 	}
 }

+fn guess_mime_type(url: &str) -> Option<String> {
+	const CONTENT_TYPE: &'static str = "content-type=";
+
+	let mut it = url.split('#');
+	// skip url
+	let url = it.next();
+	// get meta headers
+	let metas = it.next();
+	if let Some(metas) = metas {
+		for meta in metas.split('&') {
+			let meta = meta.to_lowercase();
+			if meta.starts_with(CONTENT_TYPE) {
+				return Some(meta[CONTENT_TYPE.len()..].to_owned());
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	url.and_then(|url| {
+		url.split('.').last()
+	}).and_then(|extension| {
+		mime_guess::get_mime_type_str(extension).map(Into::into)
+	})
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+pub fn test_guess_mime_type(url: &str) -> Option<String> {
+	guess_mime_type(url)
+}
+
 fn as_string<T: fmt::Debug>(e: T) -> String {
 	format!("{:?}", e)
 }
@ -201,7 +257,7 @@ fn as_string<T: fmt::Debug>(e: T) -> String {
 mod tests {
 	use std::sync::Arc;
 	use std::str::FromStr;
-	use rustc_serialize::hex::{ToHex, FromHex};
+	use rustc_serialize::hex::FromHex;

 	use super::*;
 	use util::{Bytes, Address, Mutex, ToPretty};
@ -279,12 +335,33 @@ mod tests {
 		let res = urlhint.resolve("test".bytes().collect());

 		// then
-		assert_eq!(res, Some(GithubApp {
+		assert_eq!(res, Some(URLHintResult::Dapp(GithubApp {
 			account: "ethcore".into(),
 			repo: "dao.claim".into(),
 			commit: GithubApp::commit(&"ec4c1fe06c808fe3739858c347109b1f5f1ed4b5".from_hex().unwrap()).unwrap(),
 			owner: Address::from_str("deadcafebeefbeefcafedeaddeedfeedffffffff").unwrap(),
-		}))
+		})))
+	}
+
+	#[test]
+	fn should_decode_urlhint_content_output() {
+		// given
+		let mut registrar = FakeRegistrar::new();
+		registrar.responses = Mutex::new(vec![
+			Ok(format!("000000000000000000000000{}", URLHINT).from_hex().unwrap()),
+			Ok("00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000600000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000deadcafebeefbeefcafedeaddeedfeedffffffff000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003d68747470733a2f2f657468636f72652e696f2f6173736574732f696d616765732f657468636f72652d626c61636b2d686f72697a6f6e74616c2e706e67000000".from_hex().unwrap()),
+		]);
+		let urlhint = URLHintContract::new(Arc::new(registrar));
+
+		// when
+		let res = urlhint.resolve("test".bytes().collect());
+
+		// then
+		assert_eq!(res, Some(URLHintResult::Content(Content {
+			url: "https://ethcore.io/assets/images/ethcore-black-horizontal.png".into(),
+			mime: "image/png".into(),
+			owner: Address::from_str("deadcafebeefbeefcafedeaddeedfeedffffffff").unwrap(),
+		})))
 	}

 	#[test]
@ -303,4 +380,20 @@ mod tests {
 		// then
 		assert_eq!(url, "https://codeload.github.com/test/xyz/zip/000102030405060708090a0b0c0d0e0f10111213".to_owned());
 	}
+
+	#[test]
+	fn should_guess_mime_type_from_url() {
+		let url1 = "https://ethcore.io/parity";
+		let url2 = "https://ethcore.io/parity#content-type=image/png";
+		let url3 = "https://ethcore.io/parity#something&content-type=image/png";
+		let url4 = "https://ethcore.io/parity.png#content-type=image/jpeg";
+		let url5 = "https://ethcore.io/parity.png";
+
+
+		assert_eq!(test_guess_mime_type(url1), None);
+		assert_eq!(test_guess_mime_type(url2), Some("image/png".into()));
+		assert_eq!(test_guess_mime_type(url3), Some("image/png".into()));
+		assert_eq!(test_guess_mime_type(url4), Some("image/jpeg".into()));
+		assert_eq!(test_guess_mime_type(url5), Some("image/png".into()));
+	}
 }
--- a/dapps/src/handlers/client/mod.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/handlers/client/mod.rs
@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ impl Client {
 		self.https_client.close();
 	}

-	pub fn request(&mut self, url: String, abort: Arc<AtomicBool>, on_done: Box<Fn() + Send>) -> Result<mpsc::Receiver<FetchResult>, FetchError> {
+	pub fn request(&mut self, url: &str, abort: Arc<AtomicBool>, on_done: Box<Fn() + Send>) -> Result<mpsc::Receiver<FetchResult>, FetchError> {
 		let is_https = url.starts_with("https://");
 		let url = try!(url.parse().map_err(|_| FetchError::InvalidUrl));
 		trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching from: {:?}", url);
--- a/dapps/src/handlers/fetch.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/handlers/fetch.rs
@ -16,7 +16,7 @@

 //! Hyper Server Handler that fetches a file during a request (proxy).

-use std::fmt;
+use std::{fs, fmt};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::sync::{mpsc, Arc};
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
@ -29,51 +29,50 @@ use hyper::status::StatusCode;
 use handlers::ContentHandler;
 use handlers::client::{Client, FetchResult};
 use apps::redirection_address;
-use apps::urlhint::GithubApp;
-use apps::manifest::Manifest;

 const FETCH_TIMEOUT: u64 = 30;

-enum FetchState {
-	NotStarted(GithubApp),
+enum FetchState<T: fmt::Debug> {
+	NotStarted(String),
 	Error(ContentHandler),
 	InProgress {
 		deadline: Instant,
 		receiver: mpsc::Receiver<FetchResult>,
 	},
-	Done(Manifest),
+	Done((String, T)),
 }

 pub trait ContentValidator {
 	type Error: fmt::Debug + fmt::Display;
+	type Result: fmt::Debug;

-	fn validate_and_install(&self, app: PathBuf) -> Result<Manifest, Self::Error>;
-	fn done(&self, Option<&Manifest>);
+	fn validate_and_install(&self, app: PathBuf) -> Result<(String, Self::Result), Self::Error>;
+	fn done(&self, Option<&Self::Result>);
 }

 pub struct ContentFetcherHandler<H: ContentValidator> {
 	abort: Arc<AtomicBool>,
 	control: Option<Control>,
-	status: FetchState,
+	status: FetchState<H::Result>,
 	client: Option<Client>,
 	using_dapps_domains: bool,
-	dapp: H,
+	installer: H,
 }

 impl<H: ContentValidator> Drop for ContentFetcherHandler<H> {
 	fn drop(&mut self) {
-		let manifest = match self.status {
-			FetchState::Done(ref manifest) => Some(manifest),
+		let result = match self.status {
+			FetchState::Done((_, ref result)) => Some(result),
 			_ => None,
 		};
-		self.dapp.done(manifest);
+		self.installer.done(result);
 	}
 }

 impl<H: ContentValidator> ContentFetcherHandler<H> {

 	pub fn new(
-		app: GithubApp,
+		url: String,
 		abort: Arc<AtomicBool>,
 		control: Control,
 		using_dapps_domains: bool,
@ -84,9 +83,9 @@ impl<H: ContentValidator> ContentFetcherHandler<H> {
 			abort: abort,
 			control: Some(control),
 			client: Some(client),
-			status: FetchState::NotStarted(app),
+			status: FetchState::NotStarted(url),
 			using_dapps_domains: using_dapps_domains,
-			dapp: handler,
+			installer: handler,
 		}
 	}

@ -97,8 +96,8 @@ impl<H: ContentValidator> ContentFetcherHandler<H> {
 	}


-	fn fetch_app(client: &mut Client, app: &GithubApp, abort: Arc<AtomicBool>, control: Control) -> Result<mpsc::Receiver<FetchResult>, String> {
-		client.request(app.url(), abort, Box::new(move || {
+	fn fetch_content(client: &mut Client, url: &str, abort: Arc<AtomicBool>, control: Control) -> Result<mpsc::Receiver<FetchResult>, String> {
+		client.request(url, abort, Box::new(move || {
 			trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching finished.");
 			// Ignoring control errors
 			let _ = control.ready(Next::read());
@ -108,14 +107,14 @@ impl<H: ContentValidator> ContentFetcherHandler<H> {

 impl<H: ContentValidator> server::Handler<HttpStream> for ContentFetcherHandler<H> {
 	fn on_request(&mut self, request: server::Request<HttpStream>) -> Next {
-		let status = if let FetchState::NotStarted(ref app) = self.status {
+		let status = if let FetchState::NotStarted(ref url) = self.status {
 			Some(match *request.method() {
 				// Start fetching content
 				Method::Get => {
-					trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching dapp: {:?}", app);
+					trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching content from: {:?}", url);
 					let control = self.control.take().expect("on_request is called only once, thus control is always Some");
 					let client = self.client.as_mut().expect("on_request is called before client is closed.");
-					let fetch = Self::fetch_app(client, app, self.abort.clone(), control);
+					let fetch = Self::fetch_content(client, url, self.abort.clone(), control);
 					match fetch {
 						Ok(receiver) => FetchState::InProgress {
 							deadline: Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(FETCH_TIMEOUT),
@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ impl<H: ContentValidator> server::Handler<HttpStream> for ContentFetcherHandler<
 				let timeout = ContentHandler::error(
 					StatusCode::GatewayTimeout,
 					"Download Timeout",
-					&format!("Could not fetch dapp bundle within {} seconds.", FETCH_TIMEOUT),
+					&format!("Could not fetch content within {} seconds.", FETCH_TIMEOUT),
 					None
 				);
 				Self::close_client(&mut self.client);
@ -166,32 +165,31 @@ impl<H: ContentValidator> server::Handler<HttpStream> for ContentFetcherHandler<
 				match rec {
 					// Unpack and validate
 					Ok(Ok(path)) => {
-						trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching dapp finished. Starting validation.");
+						trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching content finished. Starting validation ({:?})", path);
 						Self::close_client(&mut self.client);
 						// Unpack and verify
-						let state = match self.dapp.validate_and_install(path.clone()) {
+						let state = match self.installer.validate_and_install(path.clone()) {
 							Err(e) => {
-								trace!(target: "dapps", "Error while validating dapp: {:?}", e);
+								trace!(target: "dapps", "Error while validating content: {:?}", e);
 								FetchState::Error(ContentHandler::error(
 									StatusCode::BadGateway,
 									"Invalid Dapp",
-									"Downloaded bundle does not contain a valid dapp.",
+									"Downloaded bundle does not contain a valid content.",
 									Some(&format!("{:?}", e))
 								))
 							},
-							Ok(manifest) => FetchState::Done(manifest)
+							Ok(result) => FetchState::Done(result)
 						};
 						// Remove temporary zip file
-						// TODO [todr] Uncomment me
-						// let _ = fs::remove_file(path);
+						let _ = fs::remove_file(path);
 						(Some(state), Next::write())
 					},
 					Ok(Err(e)) => {
-						warn!(target: "dapps", "Unable to fetch new dapp: {:?}", e);
+						warn!(target: "dapps", "Unable to fetch content: {:?}", e);
 						let error = ContentHandler::error(
 							StatusCode::BadGateway,
 							"Download Error",
-							"There was an error when fetching the dapp.",
+							"There was an error when fetching the content.",
 							Some(&format!("{:?}", e)),
 						);
 						(Some(FetchState::Error(error)), Next::write())
@ -213,10 +211,10 @@ impl<H: ContentValidator> server::Handler<HttpStream> for ContentFetcherHandler<

 	fn on_response(&mut self, res: &mut server::Response) -> Next {
 		match self.status {
-			FetchState::Done(ref manifest) => {
-				trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching dapp finished. Redirecting to {}", manifest.id);
+			FetchState::Done((ref id, _)) => {
+				trace!(target: "dapps", "Fetching content finished. Redirecting to {}", id);
 				res.set_status(StatusCode::Found);
-				res.headers_mut().set(header::Location(redirection_address(self.using_dapps_domains, &manifest.id)));
+				res.headers_mut().set(header::Location(redirection_address(self.using_dapps_domains, id)));
 				Next::write()
 			},
 			FetchState::Error(ref mut handler) => handler.on_response(res),
--- a/dapps/src/lib.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/lib.rs
@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ impl Server {
 	) -> Result<Server, ServerError> {
 		let panic_handler = Arc::new(Mutex::new(None));
 		let authorization = Arc::new(authorization);
-		let apps_fetcher = Arc::new(apps::fetcher::AppFetcher::new(apps::urlhint::URLHintContract::new(registrar), sync_status));
+		let content_fetcher = Arc::new(apps::fetcher::ContentFetcher::new(apps::urlhint::URLHintContract::new(registrar), sync_status));
 		let endpoints = Arc::new(apps::all_endpoints(dapps_path));
 		let special = Arc::new({
 			let mut special = HashMap::new();
@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ impl Server {
 			.handle(move |ctrl| router::Router::new(
 				ctrl,
 				apps::main_page(),
-				apps_fetcher.clone(),
+				content_fetcher.clone(),
 				endpoints.clone(),
 				special.clone(),
 				authorization.clone(),
--- a/dapps/src/page/local.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/page/local.rs
@ -17,20 +17,30 @@
 use mime_guess;
 use std::io::{Seek, Read, SeekFrom};
 use std::fs;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use page::handler;
 use endpoint::{Endpoint, EndpointInfo, EndpointPath, Handler};

 pub struct LocalPageEndpoint {
 	path: PathBuf,
-	info: EndpointInfo,
+	mime: Option<String>,
+	info: Option<EndpointInfo>,
 }

 impl LocalPageEndpoint {
 	pub fn new(path: PathBuf, info: EndpointInfo) -> Self {
 		LocalPageEndpoint {
 			path: path,
-			info: info,
+			mime: None,
+			info: Some(info),
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn single_file(path: PathBuf, mime: String) -> Self {
+		LocalPageEndpoint {
+			path: path,
+			mime: Some(mime),
+			info: None,
 		}
 	}

@ -41,17 +51,40 @@ impl LocalPageEndpoint {

 impl Endpoint for LocalPageEndpoint {
 	fn info(&self) -> Option<&EndpointInfo> {
-		Some(&self.info)
+		self.info.as_ref()
 	}

 	fn to_handler(&self, path: EndpointPath) -> Box<Handler> {
-		Box::new(handler::PageHandler {
-			app: LocalDapp::new(self.path.clone()),
-			prefix: None,
-			path: path,
-			file: Default::default(),
-			safe_to_embed: false,
-		})
+		if let Some(ref mime) = self.mime {
+			Box::new(handler::PageHandler {
+				app: LocalSingleFile { path: self.path.clone(), mime: mime.clone() },
+				prefix: None,
+				path: path,
+				file: Default::default(),
+				safe_to_embed: false,
+			})
+		} else {
+			Box::new(handler::PageHandler {
+				app: LocalDapp { path: self.path.clone() },
+				prefix: None,
+				path: path,
+				file: Default::default(),
+				safe_to_embed: false,
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+struct LocalSingleFile {
+	path: PathBuf,
+	mime: String,
+}
+
+impl handler::Dapp for LocalSingleFile {
+	type DappFile = LocalFile;
+
+	fn file(&self, _path: &str) -> Option<Self::DappFile> {
+		LocalFile::from_path(&self.path, Some(&self.mime))
 	}
 }

@ -59,14 +92,6 @@ struct LocalDapp {
 	path: PathBuf,
 }

-impl LocalDapp {
-	fn new(path: PathBuf) -> Self {
-		LocalDapp {
-			path: path
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 impl handler::Dapp for LocalDapp {
 	type DappFile = LocalFile;

@ -75,18 +100,7 @@ impl handler::Dapp for LocalDapp {
 		for part in file_path.split('/') {
 			path.push(part);
 		}
-		// Check if file exists
-		fs::File::open(path.clone()).ok().map(|file| {
-			let content_type = mime_guess::guess_mime_type(path);
-			let len = file.metadata().ok().map_or(0, |meta| meta.len());
-			LocalFile {
-				content_type: content_type.to_string(),
-				buffer: [0; 4096],
-				file: file,
-				pos: 0,
-				len: len,
-			}
-		})
+		LocalFile::from_path(&path, None)
 	}
 }

@ -98,6 +112,24 @@ struct LocalFile {
 	pos: u64,
 }

+impl LocalFile {
+	fn from_path<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, mime: Option<&str>) -> Option<Self> {
+		// Check if file exists
+		fs::File::open(&path).ok().map(|file| {
+			let content_type = mime.map(|mime| mime.to_owned())
+				.unwrap_or_else(|| mime_guess::guess_mime_type(path).to_string());
+			let len = file.metadata().ok().map_or(0, |meta| meta.len());
+			LocalFile {
+				content_type: content_type,
+				buffer: [0; 4096],
+				file: file,
+				pos: 0,
+				len: len,
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 impl handler::DappFile for LocalFile {
 	fn content_type(&self) -> &str {
 		&self.content_type
--- a/dapps/src/router/mod.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/router/mod.rs
@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ use url::{Url, Host};
 use hyper::{self, server, Next, Encoder, Decoder, Control, StatusCode};
 use hyper::net::HttpStream;
 use apps;
-use apps::fetcher::AppFetcher;
+use apps::fetcher::ContentFetcher;
 use endpoint::{Endpoint, Endpoints, EndpointPath};
 use handlers::{Redirection, extract_url, ContentHandler};
 use self::auth::{Authorization, Authorized};
@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pub struct Router<A: Authorization + 'static> {
 	control: Option<Control>,
 	main_page: &'static str,
 	endpoints: Arc<Endpoints>,
-	fetch: Arc<AppFetcher>,
+	fetch: Arc<ContentFetcher>,
 	special: Arc<HashMap<SpecialEndpoint, Box<Endpoint>>>,
 	authorization: Arc<A>,
 	allowed_hosts: Option<Vec<String>>,
@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ impl<A: Authorization> Router<A> {
 	pub fn new(
 		control: Control,
 		main_page: &'static str,
-		app_fetcher: Arc<AppFetcher>,
+		content_fetcher: Arc<ContentFetcher>,
 		endpoints: Arc<Endpoints>,
 		special: Arc<HashMap<SpecialEndpoint, Box<Endpoint>>>,
 		authorization: Arc<A>,
@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ impl<A: Authorization> Router<A> {
 			control: Some(control),
 			main_page: main_page,
 			endpoints: endpoints,
-			fetch: app_fetcher,
+			fetch: content_fetcher,
 			special: special,
 			authorization: authorization,
 			allowed_hosts: allowed_hosts,
--- a/dapps/src/tests/helpers.rs
+++ b/dapps/src/tests/helpers.rs
@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 use std::env;
 use std::str;
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use rustc_serialize::hex::{ToHex, FromHex};
+use rustc_serialize::hex::FromHex;

 use ServerBuilder;
 use Server;
--- a/db/src/database.rs
+++ b/db/src/database.rs
@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ mod client_tests {
 		crossbeam::scope(move |scope| {
 			let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
 			run_worker(scope, stop.clone(), url);
-			let client = nanoipc::init_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
+			let client = nanoipc::generic_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
 			client.open_default(path.as_str().to_owned()).unwrap();
 			client.put("xxx".as_bytes(), "1".as_bytes()).unwrap();
 			client.close().unwrap();
@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ mod client_tests {
 		crossbeam::scope(move |scope| {
 			let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
 			run_worker(scope, stop.clone(), url);
-			let client = nanoipc::init_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
+			let client = nanoipc::generic_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();

 			client.open_default(path.as_str().to_owned()).unwrap();
 			client.put("xxx".as_bytes(), "1".as_bytes()).unwrap();
@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ mod client_tests {
 		crossbeam::scope(move |scope| {
 			let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
 			run_worker(scope, stop.clone(), url);
-			let client = nanoipc::init_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
+			let client = nanoipc::generic_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();

 			client.open_default(path.as_str().to_owned()).unwrap();
 			assert!(client.get("xxx".as_bytes()).unwrap().is_none());
@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ mod client_tests {
 		crossbeam::scope(move |scope| {
 			let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
 			run_worker(scope, stop.clone(), url);
-			let client = nanoipc::init_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
+			let client = nanoipc::generic_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
 			client.open_default(path.as_str().to_owned()).unwrap();

 			let transaction = DBTransaction::new();
@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ mod client_tests {
 			let stop = StopGuard::new();
 			run_worker(&scope, stop.share(), url);

-			let client = nanoipc::init_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
+			let client = nanoipc::generic_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(url).unwrap();

 			client.open_default(path.as_str().to_owned()).unwrap();
 			let mut batch = Vec::new();
--- a/db/src/lib.rs.in
+++ b/db/src/lib.rs.in
@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ pub fn extras_service_url(db_path: &str) -> Result<String, ::std::io::Error> {

 pub fn blocks_client(db_path: &str) -> Result<DatabaseConnection, ServiceError> {
 	let url = try!(blocks_service_url(db_path));
-	let client = try!(nanoipc::init_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(&url));
+	let client = try!(nanoipc::generic_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(&url));
 	Ok(client)
 }

 pub fn extras_client(db_path: &str) -> Result<DatabaseConnection, ServiceError> {
 	let url = try!(extras_service_url(db_path));
-	let client = try!(nanoipc::init_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(&url));
+	let client = try!(nanoipc::generic_client::<DatabaseClient<_>>(&url));
 	Ok(client)
 }

--- a/docker/ubuntu-aarch64/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/ubuntu-aarch64/Dockerfile
@ -23,15 +23,9 @@ RUN rustup target add aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu
 # show backtraces
 ENV RUST_BACKTRACE 1

-# set compilers
-ENV CXX aarch64-linux-gnu-g++
-ENV CC aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc
-
 # show tools
 RUN rustc -vV && \
- cargo -V && \
- gcc -v &&\
- g++ -v
+ cargo -V 

 # build parity
 RUN git clone https://github.com/ethcore/parity && \
--- a/docker/ubuntu-arm/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/ubuntu-arm/Dockerfile
@ -23,15 +23,10 @@ RUN rustup target add armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf
 # show backtraces
 ENV RUST_BACKTRACE 1

-# set compilers
-ENV CXX arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++
-ENV CC arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc

 # show tools
 RUN rustc -vV && \
- cargo -V && \
- gcc -v &&\
- g++ -v
+ cargo -V 

 # build parity
 RUN git clone https://github.com/ethcore/parity && \
--- a/ethcore/Cargo.toml
+++ b/ethcore/Cargo.toml
@ -51,3 +51,5 @@ dev = ["clippy"]
 default = []
 benches = []
 ipc = []
+ethkey-cli = ["ethkey/cli"]
+ethstore-cli = ["ethstore/cli"]
--- a/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
@ -161,13 +161,10 @@ impl Client {
 		path: &Path,
 		miner: Arc<Miner>,
 		message_channel: IoChannel<ClientIoMessage>,
+		db_config: &DatabaseConfig,
 	) -> Result<Arc<Client>, ClientError> {
 		let path = path.to_path_buf();
 		let gb = spec.genesis_block();
-		let mut db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
-		db_config.cache_size = config.db_cache_size;
-		db_config.compaction = config.db_compaction.compaction_profile();
-		db_config.wal = config.db_wal;

 		let db = Arc::new(try!(Database::open(&db_config, &path.to_str().unwrap()).map_err(ClientError::Database)));
 		let chain = Arc::new(BlockChain::new(config.blockchain.clone(), &gb, db.clone()));
@ -676,6 +673,8 @@ impl Client {
 impl snapshot::DatabaseRestore for Client {
 	/// Restart the client with a new backend
 	fn restore_db(&self, new_db: &str) -> Result<(), EthcoreError> {
+		trace!(target: "snapshot", "Replacing client database with {:?}", new_db);
+
 		let _import_lock = self.import_lock.lock();
 		let mut state_db = self.state_db.write();
 		let mut chain = self.chain.write();
--- a/ethcore/src/engines/basic_authority.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/engines/basic_authority.rs
@ -187,7 +187,10 @@ mod tests {
 	use spec::Spec;

 	/// Create a new test chain spec with `BasicAuthority` consensus engine.
-	fn new_test_authority() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/test_authority.json")) }
+	fn new_test_authority() -> Spec {
+		let bytes: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../res/test_authority.json");
+		Spec::load(bytes).expect("invalid chain spec")
+	}

 	#[test]
 	fn has_valid_metadata() {
--- a/ethcore/src/engines/instant_seal.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/engines/instant_seal.rs
@ -72,7 +72,10 @@ mod tests {
 	use block::*;

 	/// Create a new test chain spec with `BasicAuthority` consensus engine.
-	fn new_test_instant() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/instant_seal.json")) }
+	fn new_test_instant() -> Spec {
+		let bytes: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../res/instant_seal.json");
+		Spec::load(bytes).expect("invalid chain spec")
+	}

 	#[test]
 	fn instant_can_seal() {
--- a/ethcore/src/ethereum/mod.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/ethereum/mod.rs
@ -29,29 +29,33 @@ pub use self::denominations::*;

 use super::spec::*;

+fn load(b: &[u8]) -> Spec {
+	Spec::load(b).expect("chain spec is invalid")
+}
+
 /// Create a new Olympic chain spec.
-pub fn new_olympic() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/olympic.json")) }
+pub fn new_olympic() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/olympic.json")) }

 /// Create a new Frontier mainnet chain spec.
-pub fn new_frontier() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/frontier.json")) }
+pub fn new_frontier() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/frontier.json")) }

 /// Create a new Frontier mainnet chain spec without the DAO hardfork.
-pub fn new_classic() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/classic.json")) }
+pub fn new_classic() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/classic.json")) }

 /// Create a new Frontier chain spec as though it never changes to Homestead.
-pub fn new_frontier_test() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/frontier_test.json")) }
+pub fn new_frontier_test() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/frontier_test.json")) }

 /// Create a new Homestead chain spec as though it never changed from Frontier.
-pub fn new_homestead_test() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/homestead_test.json")) }
+pub fn new_homestead_test() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/homestead_test.json")) }

 /// Create a new Frontier/Homestead/DAO chain spec with transition points at #5 and #8.
-pub fn new_daohardfork_test() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/daohardfork_test.json")) }
+pub fn new_daohardfork_test() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/daohardfork_test.json")) }

 /// Create a new Frontier main net chain spec without genesis accounts.
-pub fn new_mainnet_like() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/frontier_like_test.json")) }
+pub fn new_mainnet_like() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/frontier_like_test.json")) }

 /// Create a new Morden chain spec.
-pub fn new_morden() -> Spec { Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/morden.json")) }
+pub fn new_morden() -> Spec { load(include_bytes!("../../res/ethereum/morden.json")) }

 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
--- a/ethcore/src/json_tests/chain.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/json_tests/chain.rs
@ -58,12 +58,14 @@ pub fn json_chain_test(json_data: &[u8], era: ChainEra) -> Vec<String> {

 			let temp = RandomTempPath::new();
 			{
+				let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
 				let client = Client::new(
 					ClientConfig::default(),
 					&spec,
 					temp.as_path(),
 					Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
-					IoChannel::disconnected()
+					IoChannel::disconnected(),
+					&db_config,
 				).unwrap();
 				for b in &blockchain.blocks_rlp() {
 					if Block::is_good(&b) {
--- a/ethcore/src/service.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/service.rs
@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use error::*;
 use client::{Client, ClientConfig, ChainNotify};
 use miner::Miner;
 use snapshot::ManifestData;
-use snapshot::service::Service as SnapshotService;
+use snapshot::service::{Service as SnapshotService, ServiceParams as SnapServiceParams};
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;

 #[cfg(feature="ipc")]
@ -60,11 +60,12 @@ pub struct ClientService {
 }

 impl ClientService {
-	/// Start the service in a separate thread.
+	/// Start the `ClientService`.
 	pub fn start(
 		config: ClientConfig,
 		spec: &Spec,
-		db_path: &Path,
+		client_path: &Path,
+		snapshot_path: &Path,
 		ipc_path: &Path,
 		miner: Arc<Miner>,
 		) -> Result<ClientService, Error>
@ -78,11 +79,24 @@ impl ClientService {
 			warn!("Your chain is an alternative fork. {}", Colour::Red.bold().paint("TRANSACTIONS MAY BE REPLAYED ON THE MAINNET!"));
 		}

-		let pruning = config.pruning;
-		let client = try!(Client::new(config, &spec, db_path, miner, io_service.channel()));
-		let snapshot = try!(SnapshotService::new(spec, pruning, db_path.into(), io_service.channel(), client.clone()));
+		let mut db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+		db_config.cache_size = config.db_cache_size;
+		db_config.compaction = config.db_compaction.compaction_profile();
+		db_config.wal = config.db_wal;

-		let snapshot = Arc::new(snapshot);
+		let pruning = config.pruning;
+		let client = try!(Client::new(config, &spec, client_path, miner, io_service.channel(), &db_config));
+
+		let snapshot_params = SnapServiceParams {
+			engine: spec.engine.clone(),
+			genesis_block: spec.genesis_block(),
+			db_config: db_config,
+			pruning: pruning,
+			channel: io_service.channel(),
+			snapshot_root: snapshot_path.into(),
+			db_restore: client.clone(),
+		};
+		let snapshot = Arc::new(try!(SnapshotService::new(snapshot_params)));

 		panic_handler.forward_from(&*client);
 		let client_io = Arc::new(ClientIoHandler {
@ -172,7 +186,7 @@ impl IoHandler<ClientIoMessage> for ClientIoHandler {
 			ClientIoMessage::BlockVerified => { self.client.import_verified_blocks(); }
 			ClientIoMessage::NewTransactions(ref transactions) => { self.client.import_queued_transactions(transactions); }
 			ClientIoMessage::BeginRestoration(ref manifest) => {
-				if let Err(e) = self.snapshot.init_restore(manifest.clone()) {
+				if let Err(e) = self.snapshot.init_restore(manifest.clone(), true) {
 					warn!("Failed to initialize snapshot restoration: {}", e);
 				}
 			}
@ -232,15 +246,25 @@ mod tests {
 	#[test]
 	fn it_can_be_started() {
 		let temp_path = RandomTempPath::new();
-		let mut path = temp_path.as_path().to_owned();
-		path.push("pruning");
-		path.push("db");
+		let path = temp_path.as_path().to_owned();
+		let client_path = {
+			let mut path = path.to_owned();
+			path.push("client");
+			path
+		};
+
+		let snapshot_path = {
+			let mut path = path.to_owned();
+			path.push("snapshot");
+			path
+		};

 		let spec = get_test_spec();
 		let service = ClientService::start(
 			ClientConfig::default(),
 			&spec,
-			&path,
+			&client_path,
+			&snapshot_path,
 			&path,
 			Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
 		);
--- a/ethcore/src/snapshot/service.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/snapshot/service.rs
@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::io::ErrorKind;
 use std::fs;
-use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicUsize, Ordering};

 use super::{ManifestData, StateRebuilder, BlockRebuilder, RestorationStatus, SnapshotService};
 use super::io::{SnapshotReader, LooseReader, SnapshotWriter, LooseWriter};
@ -32,11 +32,10 @@ use engines::Engine;
 use error::Error;
 use ids::BlockID;
 use service::ClientIoMessage;
-use spec::Spec;

 use io::IoChannel;

-use util::{Bytes, H256, Mutex, RwLock, UtilError};
+use util::{Bytes, H256, Mutex, RwLock, RwLockReadGuard, UtilError};
 use util::journaldb::Algorithm;
 use util::kvdb::{Database, DatabaseConfig};
 use util::snappy;
@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ struct Restoration {
 	block_chunks_left: HashSet<H256>,
 	state: StateRebuilder,
 	blocks: BlockRebuilder,
-	writer: LooseWriter,
+	writer: Option<LooseWriter>,
 	snappy_buffer: Bytes,
 	final_state_root: H256,
 	guard: Guard,
@ -81,7 +80,8 @@ struct RestorationParams<'a> {
 	manifest: ManifestData, // manifest to base restoration on.
 	pruning: Algorithm, // pruning algorithm for the database.
 	db_path: PathBuf, // database path
-	writer: LooseWriter, // writer for recovered snapshot.
+	db_config: &'a DatabaseConfig, // configuration for the database.
+	writer: Option<LooseWriter>, // writer for recovered snapshot.
 	genesis: &'a [u8], // genesis block of the chain.
 	guard: Guard, // guard for the restoration directory.
 }
@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ impl Restoration {
 		let state_chunks = manifest.state_hashes.iter().cloned().collect();
 		let block_chunks = manifest.block_hashes.iter().cloned().collect();

-		let cfg = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
-		let raw_db = Arc::new(try!(Database::open(&cfg, &*params.db_path.to_string_lossy())
+		let raw_db = Arc::new(try!(Database::open(params.db_config, &*params.db_path.to_string_lossy())
 			.map_err(UtilError::SimpleString)));

 		let chain = BlockChain::new(Default::default(), params.genesis, raw_db.clone());
@ -121,7 +120,10 @@ impl Restoration {
 			let len = try!(snappy::decompress_into(chunk, &mut self.snappy_buffer));

 			try!(self.state.feed(&self.snappy_buffer[..len]));
-			try!(self.writer.write_state_chunk(hash, chunk));
+
+			if let Some(ref mut writer) = self.writer.as_mut() {
+				try!(writer.write_state_chunk(hash, chunk));
+			}
 		}

 		Ok(())
@ -133,7 +135,9 @@ impl Restoration {
 			let len = try!(snappy::decompress_into(chunk, &mut self.snappy_buffer));

 			try!(self.blocks.feed(&self.snappy_buffer[..len], engine));
-			try!(self.writer.write_block_chunk(hash, chunk));
+			if let Some(ref mut writer) = self.writer.as_mut() {
+				try!(writer.write_block_chunk(hash, chunk));
+			}
 		}

 		Ok(())
@ -158,7 +162,9 @@ impl Restoration {
 		// connect out-of-order chunks.
 		self.blocks.glue_chunks();

-		try!(self.writer.finish(self.manifest));
+		if let Some(writer) = self.writer {
+			try!(writer.finish(self.manifest));
+		}

 		self.guard.disarm();
 		Ok(())
@ -173,15 +179,31 @@ impl Restoration {
 /// Type alias for client io channel.
 pub type Channel = IoChannel<ClientIoMessage>;

-/// Service implementation.
-///
-/// This will replace the client's state DB as soon as the last state chunk
-/// is fed, and will replace the client's blocks DB when the last block chunk
-/// is fed.
+/// Snapshot service parameters.
+pub struct ServiceParams {
+	/// The consensus engine this is built on.
+	pub engine: Arc<Engine>,
+	/// The chain's genesis block.
+	pub genesis_block: Bytes,
+	/// Database configuration options.
+	pub db_config: DatabaseConfig,
+	/// State pruning algorithm.
+	pub pruning: Algorithm,
+	/// Async IO channel for sending messages.
+	pub channel: Channel,
+	/// The directory to put snapshots in.
+	/// Usually "<chain hash>/snapshot"
+	pub snapshot_root: PathBuf,
+	/// A handle for database restoration.
+	pub db_restore: Arc<DatabaseRestore>,
+}
+
+/// `SnapshotService` implementation.
+/// This controls taking snapshots and restoring from them.
 pub struct Service {
 	restoration: Mutex<Option<Restoration>>,
-	client_db: PathBuf, // "<chain hash>/<pruning>/db"
-	db_path: PathBuf,  // "<chain hash>/"
+	snapshot_root: PathBuf,
+	db_config: DatabaseConfig,
 	io_channel: Channel,
 	pruning: Algorithm,
 	status: Mutex<RestorationStatus>,
@ -192,40 +214,31 @@ pub struct Service {
 	block_chunks: AtomicUsize,
 	db_restore: Arc<DatabaseRestore>,
 	progress: super::Progress,
+	taking_snapshot: AtomicBool,
 }

 impl Service {
-	/// Create a new snapshot service.
-	pub fn new(spec: &Spec, pruning: Algorithm, client_db: PathBuf, io_channel: Channel, db_restore: Arc<DatabaseRestore>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-		let db_path = try!(client_db.parent().and_then(Path::parent)
-			.ok_or_else(|| UtilError::SimpleString("Failed to find database root.".into()))).to_owned();
-
-		let reader = {
-			let mut snapshot_path = db_path.clone();
-			snapshot_path.push("snapshot");
-			snapshot_path.push("current");
-
-			LooseReader::new(snapshot_path).ok()
-		};
-
-		let service = Service {
+	/// Create a new snapshot service from the given parameters.
+	pub fn new(params: ServiceParams) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+		let mut service = Service {
 			restoration: Mutex::new(None),
-			client_db: client_db,
-			db_path: db_path,
-			io_channel: io_channel,
-			pruning: pruning,
+			snapshot_root: params.snapshot_root,
+			db_config: params.db_config,
+			io_channel: params.channel,
+			pruning: params.pruning,
 			status: Mutex::new(RestorationStatus::Inactive),
-			reader: RwLock::new(reader),
-			engine: spec.engine.clone(),
-			genesis_block: spec.genesis_block(),
+			reader: RwLock::new(None),
+			engine: params.engine,
+			genesis_block: params.genesis_block,
 			state_chunks: AtomicUsize::new(0),
 			block_chunks: AtomicUsize::new(0),
-			db_restore: db_restore,
+			db_restore: params.db_restore,
 			progress: Default::default(),
+			taking_snapshot: AtomicBool::new(false),
 		};

 		// create the root snapshot dir if it doesn't exist.
-		if let Err(e) = fs::create_dir_all(service.root_dir()) {
+		if let Err(e) = fs::create_dir_all(&service.snapshot_root) {
 			if e.kind() != ErrorKind::AlreadyExists {
 				return Err(e.into())
 			}
@ -245,33 +258,29 @@ impl Service {
 			}
 		}

-		Ok(service)
-	}
+		let reader = LooseReader::new(service.snapshot_dir()).ok();
+		*service.reader.get_mut() = reader;

-	// get the root path.
-	fn root_dir(&self) -> PathBuf {
-		let mut dir = self.db_path.clone();
-		dir.push("snapshot");
-		dir
+		Ok(service)
 	}

 	// get the current snapshot dir.
 	fn snapshot_dir(&self) -> PathBuf {
-		let mut dir = self.root_dir();
+		let mut dir = self.snapshot_root.clone();
 		dir.push("current");
 		dir
 	}

 	// get the temporary snapshot dir.
 	fn temp_snapshot_dir(&self) -> PathBuf {
-		let mut dir = self.root_dir();
+		let mut dir = self.snapshot_root.clone();
 		dir.push("in_progress");
 		dir
 	}

 	// get the restoration directory.
 	fn restoration_dir(&self) -> PathBuf {
-		let mut dir = self.root_dir();
+		let mut dir = self.snapshot_root.clone();
 		dir.push("restoration");
 		dir
 	}
@ -294,15 +303,19 @@ impl Service {
 	fn replace_client_db(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
 		let our_db = self.restoration_db();

-		trace!(target: "snapshot", "replacing {:?} with {:?}", self.client_db, our_db);
-		try!(self.db_restore.restore_db(our_db.to_str().unwrap()));
+		try!(self.db_restore.restore_db(&*our_db.to_string_lossy()));
 		Ok(())
 	}

+	/// Get a reference to the snapshot reader.
+	pub fn reader(&self) -> RwLockReadGuard<Option<LooseReader>> {
+		self.reader.read()
+	}
+
 	/// Tick the snapshot service. This will log any active snapshot
 	/// being taken.
 	pub fn tick(&self) {
-		if self.progress.done() { return }
+		if self.progress.done() || !self.taking_snapshot.load(Ordering::SeqCst) { return }

 		let p = &self.progress;
 		info!("Snapshot: {} accounts {} blocks {} bytes", p.accounts(), p.blocks(), p.size());
@ -313,6 +326,11 @@ impl Service {
 	/// will lead to a race condition where the first one to finish will
 	/// have their produced snapshot overwritten.
 	pub fn take_snapshot(&self, client: &Client, num: u64) -> Result<(), Error> {
+		if self.taking_snapshot.compare_and_swap(false, true, Ordering::SeqCst) {
+			info!("Skipping snapshot at #{} as another one is currently in-progress.", num);
+			return Ok(());
+		}
+
 		info!("Taking snapshot at #{}", num);
 		self.progress.reset();

@ -324,7 +342,10 @@ impl Service {
 		let writer = try!(LooseWriter::new(temp_dir.clone()));

 		let guard = Guard::new(temp_dir.clone());
-		try!(client.take_snapshot(writer, BlockID::Number(num), &self.progress));
+		let res = client.take_snapshot(writer, BlockID::Number(num), &self.progress);
+
+		self.taking_snapshot.store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
+		try!(res);

 		info!("Finished taking snapshot at #{}", num);

@ -342,11 +363,15 @@ impl Service {
 	}

 	/// Initialize the restoration synchronously.
-	pub fn init_restore(&self, manifest: ManifestData) -> Result<(), Error> {
+	/// The recover flag indicates whether to recover the restored snapshot.
+	pub fn init_restore(&self, manifest: ManifestData, recover: bool) -> Result<(), Error> {
 		let rest_dir = self.restoration_dir();

 		let mut res = self.restoration.lock();

+		self.state_chunks.store(0, Ordering::SeqCst);
+		self.block_chunks.store(0, Ordering::SeqCst);
+
 		// tear down existing restoration.
 		*res = None;

@ -361,12 +386,16 @@ impl Service {
 		try!(fs::create_dir_all(&rest_dir));

 		// make new restoration.
-		let writer = try!(LooseWriter::new(self.temp_recovery_dir()));
+		let writer = match recover {
+			true => Some(try!(LooseWriter::new(self.temp_recovery_dir()))),
+			false => None
+		};

 		let params = RestorationParams {
 			manifest: manifest,
 			pruning: self.pruning,
 			db_path: self.restoration_db(),
+			db_config: &self.db_config,
 			writer: writer,
 			genesis: &self.genesis_block,
 			guard: Guard::new(rest_dir),
@ -375,8 +404,8 @@ impl Service {
 		*res = Some(try!(Restoration::new(params)));

 		*self.status.lock() = RestorationStatus::Ongoing {
-			state_chunks_done: self.state_chunks.load(Ordering::Relaxed) as u32,
-			block_chunks_done: self.block_chunks.load(Ordering::Relaxed) as u32,
+			state_chunks_done: self.state_chunks.load(Ordering::SeqCst) as u32,
+			block_chunks_done: self.block_chunks.load(Ordering::SeqCst) as u32,
 		};
 		Ok(())
 	}
@ -387,35 +416,35 @@ impl Service {
 	fn finalize_restoration(&self, rest: &mut Option<Restoration>) -> Result<(), Error> {
 		trace!(target: "snapshot", "finalizing restoration");

-		self.state_chunks.store(0, Ordering::SeqCst);
-		self.block_chunks.store(0, Ordering::SeqCst);
+		let recover = rest.as_ref().map_or(false, |rest| rest.writer.is_some());

 		// destroy the restoration before replacing databases and snapshot.
 		try!(rest.take().map(Restoration::finalize).unwrap_or(Ok(())));
 		try!(self.replace_client_db());

-		let mut reader = self.reader.write();
-		*reader = None; // destroy the old reader if it existed.
+		if recover {
+			let mut reader = self.reader.write();
+			*reader = None; // destroy the old reader if it existed.

-		let snapshot_dir = self.snapshot_dir();
+			let snapshot_dir = self.snapshot_dir();

-		trace!(target: "snapshot", "removing old snapshot dir at {}", snapshot_dir.to_string_lossy());
-		if let Err(e) = fs::remove_dir_all(&snapshot_dir) {
-			match e.kind() {
-				ErrorKind::NotFound => {}
-				_ => return Err(e.into()),
+			trace!(target: "snapshot", "removing old snapshot dir at {}", snapshot_dir.to_string_lossy());
+			if let Err(e) = fs::remove_dir_all(&snapshot_dir) {
+				match e.kind() {
+					ErrorKind::NotFound => {}
+					_ => return Err(e.into()),
+				}
 			}
+
+			try!(fs::create_dir(&snapshot_dir));
+
+			trace!(target: "snapshot", "copying restored snapshot files over");
+			try!(fs::rename(self.temp_recovery_dir(), &snapshot_dir));
+
+			*reader = Some(try!(LooseReader::new(snapshot_dir)));
 		}

-		try!(fs::create_dir(&snapshot_dir));
-
-		trace!(target: "snapshot", "copying restored snapshot files over");
-		try!(fs::rename(self.temp_recovery_dir(), &snapshot_dir));
-
 		let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(self.restoration_dir());
-
-		*reader = Some(try!(LooseReader::new(snapshot_dir)));
-
 		*self.status.lock() = RestorationStatus::Inactive;

 		Ok(())
@ -496,7 +525,13 @@ impl SnapshotService for Service {
 	}

 	fn status(&self) -> RestorationStatus {
-		*self.status.lock()
+		let mut cur_status = self.status.lock();
+		if let RestorationStatus::Ongoing { ref mut state_chunks_done, ref mut block_chunks_done } = *cur_status {
+			*state_chunks_done = self.state_chunks.load(Ordering::SeqCst) as u32;
+			*block_chunks_done = self.block_chunks.load(Ordering::SeqCst) as u32;
+		}
+
+		cur_status.clone()
 	}

 	fn begin_restore(&self, manifest: ManifestData) {
@ -507,12 +542,6 @@ impl SnapshotService for Service {
 	fn abort_restore(&self) {
 		*self.restoration.lock() = None;
 		*self.status.lock() = RestorationStatus::Inactive;
-		if let Err(e) = fs::remove_dir_all(&self.restoration_dir()) {
-			match e.kind() {
-				ErrorKind::NotFound => {},
-				_ => warn!("encountered error {} while deleting snapshot restoration dir.", e),
-			}
-		}
 	}

 	fn restore_state_chunk(&self, hash: H256, chunk: Bytes) {
@ -554,19 +583,25 @@ mod tests {
 	#[test]
 	fn sends_async_messages() {
 		let service = IoService::<ClientIoMessage>::start().unwrap();
+		let spec = get_test_spec();

 		let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
 		let mut dir = dir.as_path().to_owned();
-		dir.push("pruning");
-		dir.push("db");
+		let mut client_db = dir.clone();
+		dir.push("snapshot");
+		client_db.push("client");

-		let service = Service::new(
-			&get_test_spec(),
-			Algorithm::Archive,
-			dir,
-			service.channel(),
-			Arc::new(NoopDBRestore),
-		).unwrap();
+		let snapshot_params = ServiceParams {
+			engine: spec.engine.clone(),
+			genesis_block: spec.genesis_block(),
+			db_config: Default::default(),
+			pruning: Algorithm::Archive,
+			channel: service.channel(),
+			snapshot_root: dir,
+			db_restore: Arc::new(NoopDBRestore),
+		};
+
+		let service = Service::new(snapshot_params).unwrap();

 		assert!(service.manifest().is_none());
 		assert!(service.chunk(Default::default()).is_none());
--- a/ethcore/src/snapshot/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/snapshot/tests/mod.rs
@ -18,6 +18,7 @@

 mod blocks;
 mod state;
+mod service;

 pub mod helpers;

--- a/ethcore/src/snapshot/tests/service.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/snapshot/tests/service.rs
@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+// Copyright 2015, 2016 Ethcore (UK) Ltd.
+// This file is part of Parity.
+
+// Parity is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+
+// Parity is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Parity.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+//! Tests for the snapshot service.
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use client::{BlockChainClient, Client};
+use ids::BlockID;
+use snapshot::service::{Service, ServiceParams};
+use snapshot::{self, ManifestData, SnapshotService};
+use spec::Spec;
+use tests::helpers::generate_dummy_client_with_spec_and_data;
+
+use devtools::RandomTempPath;
+use io::IoChannel;
+use util::kvdb::DatabaseConfig;
+
+struct NoopDBRestore;
+
+impl snapshot::DatabaseRestore for NoopDBRestore {
+	fn restore_db(&self, _new_db: &str) -> Result<(), ::error::Error> {
+		Ok(())
+	}
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn restored_is_equivalent() {
+	const NUM_BLOCKS: u32 = 400;
+	const TX_PER: usize = 5;
+
+	let gas_prices = vec![1.into(), 2.into(), 3.into(), 999.into()];
+
+	let client = generate_dummy_client_with_spec_and_data(Spec::new_null, NUM_BLOCKS, TX_PER, &gas_prices);
+
+	let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+	let mut path = path.as_path().clone();
+	let mut client_db = path.clone();
+
+	client_db.push("client_db");
+	path.push("snapshot");
+
+	let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+
+	let spec = Spec::new_null();
+	let client2 = Client::new(
+		Default::default(),
+		&spec,
+		&client_db,
+		Arc::new(::miner::Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
+		IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		&db_config,
+	).unwrap();
+
+	let service_params = ServiceParams {
+		engine: spec.engine.clone(),
+		genesis_block: spec.genesis_block(),
+		db_config: db_config,
+		pruning: ::util::journaldb::Algorithm::Archive,
+		channel: IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		snapshot_root: path,
+		db_restore: client2.clone(),
+	};
+
+	let service = Service::new(service_params).unwrap();
+	service.take_snapshot(&client, NUM_BLOCKS as u64).unwrap();
+
+	let manifest = service.manifest().unwrap();
+
+	service.init_restore(manifest.clone(), true).unwrap();
+	assert!(service.init_restore(manifest.clone(), true).is_ok());
+
+	for hash in manifest.state_hashes {
+		let chunk = service.chunk(hash).unwrap();
+		service.feed_state_chunk(hash, &chunk);
+	}
+
+	for hash in manifest.block_hashes {
+		let chunk = service.chunk(hash).unwrap();
+		service.feed_block_chunk(hash, &chunk);
+	}
+
+	assert_eq!(service.status(), ::snapshot::RestorationStatus::Inactive);
+
+	for x in 0..NUM_BLOCKS {
+		let block1 = client.block(BlockID::Number(x as u64)).unwrap();
+		let block2 = client2.block(BlockID::Number(x as u64)).unwrap();
+
+		assert_eq!(block1, block2);
+	}
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn guards_delete_folders() {
+	let spec = Spec::new_null();
+	let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+	let mut path = path.as_path().clone();
+	let service_params = ServiceParams {
+		engine: spec.engine.clone(),
+		genesis_block: spec.genesis_block(),
+		db_config: DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS),
+		pruning: ::util::journaldb::Algorithm::Archive,
+		channel: IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		snapshot_root: path.clone(),
+		db_restore: Arc::new(NoopDBRestore),
+	};
+
+	let service = Service::new(service_params).unwrap();
+	path.push("restoration");
+
+	let manifest = ManifestData {
+		state_hashes: vec![],
+		block_hashes: vec![],
+		block_number: 0,
+		block_hash: Default::default(),
+		state_root: Default::default(),
+	};
+
+	service.init_restore(manifest.clone(), true).unwrap();
+	assert!(path.exists());
+
+	service.abort_restore();
+	assert!(!path.exists());
+
+	service.init_restore(manifest.clone(), true).unwrap();
+	assert!(path.exists());
+
+	drop(service);
+	assert!(!path.exists());
+}
--- a/ethcore/src/snapshot/watcher.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/snapshot/watcher.rs
@ -33,15 +33,22 @@ trait Oracle: Send + Sync {
 	fn is_major_syncing(&self) -> bool;
 }

-impl Oracle for Client {
+struct StandardOracle<F> where F: 'static + Send + Sync + Fn() -> bool {
+	client: Arc<Client>,
+	sync_status: F,
+}
+
+impl<F> Oracle for StandardOracle<F>
+	where F: Send + Sync + Fn() -> bool
+{
 	fn to_number(&self, hash: H256) -> Option<u64> {
-		self.block_header(BlockID::Hash(hash)).map(|h| HeaderView::new(&h).number())
+		self.client.block_header(BlockID::Hash(hash)).map(|h| HeaderView::new(&h).number())
 	}

 	fn is_major_syncing(&self) -> bool {
-		let queue_info = self.queue_info();
+		let queue_info = self.client.queue_info();

-		queue_info.unverified_queue_size + queue_info.verified_queue_size > 3
+		(self.sync_status)() || queue_info.unverified_queue_size + queue_info.verified_queue_size > 3
 	}
 }

@ -68,7 +75,7 @@ impl Broadcast for IoChannel<ClientIoMessage> {
 /// A `ChainNotify` implementation which will trigger a snapshot event
 /// at certain block numbers.
 pub struct Watcher {
-	oracle: Arc<Oracle>,
+	oracle: Box<Oracle>,
 	broadcast: Box<Broadcast>,
 	period: u64,
 	history: u64,
@ -78,9 +85,14 @@ impl Watcher {
 	/// Create a new `Watcher` which will trigger a snapshot event
 	/// once every `period` blocks, but only after that block is
 	/// `history` blocks old.
-	pub fn new(client: Arc<Client>, channel: IoChannel<ClientIoMessage>, period: u64, history: u64) -> Self {
+	pub fn new<F>(client: Arc<Client>, sync_status: F, channel: IoChannel<ClientIoMessage>, period: u64, history: u64) -> Self
+		where F: 'static + Send + Sync + Fn() -> bool
+	{
 		Watcher {
-			oracle: client,
+			oracle: Box::new(StandardOracle {
+				client: client,
+				sync_status: sync_status,
+			}),
 			broadcast: Box::new(channel),
 			period: period,
 			history: history,
@ -125,7 +137,6 @@ mod tests {
 	use util::{H256, U256};

 	use std::collections::HashMap;
-	use std::sync::Arc;

 	struct TestOracle(HashMap<H256, u64>);

@ -152,7 +163,7 @@ mod tests {
 		let map = hashes.clone().into_iter().zip(numbers).collect();

 		let watcher = Watcher {
-			oracle: Arc::new(TestOracle(map)),
+			oracle: Box::new(TestOracle(map)),
 			broadcast: Box::new(TestBroadcast(expected)),
 			period: period,
 			history: history,
--- a/ethcore/src/spec/spec.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/spec/spec.rs
@ -244,18 +244,21 @@ impl Spec {
 	}

 	/// Loads spec from json file.
-	pub fn load(reader: &[u8]) -> Self {
-		From::from(ethjson::spec::Spec::load(reader).expect("invalid json file"))
+	pub fn load<R>(reader: R) -> Result<Self, String> where R: Read {
+		match ethjson::spec::Spec::load(reader) {
+			Ok(spec) => Ok(spec.into()),
+			_ => Err("Spec json is invalid".into()),
+		}
 	}

 	/// Create a new Spec which conforms to the Frontier-era Morden chain except that it's a NullEngine consensus.
-	pub fn new_test() -> Spec {
-		Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/null_morden.json"))
+	pub fn new_test() -> Self {
+		Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/null_morden.json") as &[u8]).expect("null_morden.json is invalid")
 	}

 	/// Create a new Spec which is a NullEngine consensus with a premine of address whose secret is sha3('').
-	pub fn new_null() -> Spec {
-		Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/null.json"))
+	pub fn new_null() -> Self {
+		Spec::load(include_bytes!("../../res/null.json") as &[u8]).expect("null.json is invalid")
 	}
 }

@ -267,6 +270,12 @@ mod tests {
 	use views::*;
 	use super::*;

+	// https://github.com/ethcore/parity/issues/1840
+	#[test]
+	fn test_load_empty() {
+		assert!(Spec::load(&vec![] as &[u8]).is_err());
+	}
+
 	#[test]
 	fn test_chain() {
 		let test_spec = Spec::new_test();
--- a/ethcore/src/tests/client.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/tests/client.rs
@ -28,7 +28,16 @@ use rlp::{Rlp, View};
 fn imports_from_empty() {
 	let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
 	let spec = get_test_spec();
-	let client = Client::new(ClientConfig::default(), &spec, dir.as_path(), Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)), IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+	let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+
+	let client = Client::new(
+		ClientConfig::default(),
+		&spec,
+		dir.as_path(),
+		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
+		IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		&db_config
+	).unwrap();
 	client.import_verified_blocks();
 	client.flush_queue();
 }
@ -37,7 +46,16 @@ fn imports_from_empty() {
 fn should_return_registrar() {
 	let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
 	let spec = ethereum::new_morden();
-	let client = Client::new(ClientConfig::default(), &spec, dir.as_path(), Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)), IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+	let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+
+	let client = Client::new(
+		ClientConfig::default(),
+		&spec,
+		dir.as_path(),
+		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
+		IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		&db_config
+	).unwrap();
 	assert_eq!(client.additional_params().get("registrar"), Some(&"8e4e9b13d4b45cb0befc93c3061b1408f67316b2".to_owned()));
 }

@ -55,7 +73,16 @@ fn returns_state_root_basic() {
 fn imports_good_block() {
 	let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
 	let spec = get_test_spec();
-	let client = Client::new(ClientConfig::default(), &spec, dir.as_path(), Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)), IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+	let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+
+	let client = Client::new(
+		ClientConfig::default(),
+		&spec,
+		dir.as_path(),
+		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
+		IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		&db_config
+	).unwrap();
 	let good_block = get_good_dummy_block();
 	if let Err(_) = client.import_block(good_block) {
 		panic!("error importing block being good by definition");
@ -71,8 +98,16 @@ fn imports_good_block() {
 fn query_none_block() {
 	let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
 	let spec = get_test_spec();
-	let client = Client::new(ClientConfig::default(), &spec, dir.as_path(), Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)), IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+	let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);

+	let client = Client::new(
+		ClientConfig::default(),
+		&spec,
+		dir.as_path(),
+		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
+		IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		&db_config
+	).unwrap();
    let non_existant = client.block_header(BlockID::Number(188));
 	assert!(non_existant.is_none());
 }
--- a/ethcore/src/tests/helpers.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/tests/helpers.rs
@ -133,9 +133,17 @@ pub fn generate_dummy_client_with_data(block_number: u32, txs_per_block: usize,

 pub fn generate_dummy_client_with_spec_and_data<F>(get_test_spec: F, block_number: u32, txs_per_block: usize, tx_gas_prices: &[U256]) -> GuardedTempResult<Arc<Client>> where F: Fn()->Spec {
 	let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
-
 	let test_spec = get_test_spec();
-	let client = Client::new(ClientConfig::default(), &test_spec, dir.as_path(), Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&test_spec)), IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+	let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+
+	let client = Client::new(
+		ClientConfig::default(),
+		&test_spec,
+		dir.as_path(),
+		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&test_spec)),
+		IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		&db_config
+	).unwrap();
 	let test_engine = &*test_spec.engine;

 	let mut db_result = get_temp_journal_db();
@ -233,7 +241,17 @@ pub fn push_blocks_to_client(client: &Arc<Client>, timestamp_salt: u64, starting
 pub fn get_test_client_with_blocks(blocks: Vec<Bytes>) -> GuardedTempResult<Arc<Client>> {
 	let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
 	let test_spec = get_test_spec();
-	let client = Client::new(ClientConfig::default(), &test_spec, dir.as_path(), Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&test_spec)), IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+	let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+
+	let client = Client::new(
+		ClientConfig::default(),
+		&test_spec,
+		dir.as_path(),
+		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&test_spec)),
+		IoChannel::disconnected(),
+		&db_config
+	).unwrap();
+
 	for block in &blocks {
 		if let Err(_) = client.import_block(block.clone()) {
 			panic!("panic importing block which is well-formed");
--- a/ethcore/src/tests/rpc.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/tests/rpc.rs
@ -25,18 +25,23 @@ use devtools::*;
 use miner::Miner;
 use crossbeam;
 use io::IoChannel;
+use util::kvdb::DatabaseConfig;

 pub fn run_test_worker(scope: &crossbeam::Scope, stop: Arc<AtomicBool>, socket_path: &str) {
 	let socket_path = socket_path.to_owned();
 	scope.spawn(move || {
 		let temp = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
 		let spec = get_test_spec();
+		let db_config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+
 		let client = Client::new(
 			ClientConfig::default(),
 			&spec,
 			temp.as_path(),
 			Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
-			IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+			IoChannel::disconnected(),
+			&db_config
+		).unwrap();
 		let mut worker = nanoipc::Worker::new(&(client as Arc<BlockChainClient>));
 		worker.add_reqrep(&socket_path).unwrap();
 		while !stop.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
@ -51,7 +56,7 @@ fn can_handshake() {
 		let stop_guard = StopGuard::new();
 		let socket_path = "ipc:///tmp/parity-client-rpc-10.ipc";
 		run_test_worker(scope, stop_guard.share(), socket_path);
-		let remote_client = nanoipc::init_client::<RemoteClient<_>>(socket_path).unwrap();
+		let remote_client = nanoipc::generic_client::<RemoteClient<_>>(socket_path).unwrap();

 		assert!(remote_client.handshake().is_ok());
 	})
@ -63,7 +68,7 @@ fn can_query_block() {
 		let stop_guard = StopGuard::new();
 		let socket_path = "ipc:///tmp/parity-client-rpc-20.ipc";
 		run_test_worker(scope, stop_guard.share(), socket_path);
-		let remote_client = nanoipc::init_client::<RemoteClient<_>>(socket_path).unwrap();
+		let remote_client = nanoipc::generic_client::<RemoteClient<_>>(socket_path).unwrap();

 		let non_existant_block = remote_client.block_header(BlockID::Number(999));

--- a/ipc/hypervisor/src/lib.rs
+++ b/ipc/hypervisor/src/lib.rs
@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ mod tests {
 		::std::thread::spawn(move || {
 			while !hypervisor_ready.load(Ordering::Relaxed) { }

-			let client = nanoipc::init_client::<HypervisorServiceClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
+			let client = nanoipc::fast_client::<HypervisorServiceClient<_>>(url).unwrap();
 			client.handshake().unwrap();
 			client.module_ready(test_module_id);
 		});
--- a/ipc/hypervisor/src/service.rs.in
+++ b/ipc/hypervisor/src/service.rs.in
@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ impl HypervisorService {
 		let modules = self.modules.read().unwrap();
 		modules.get(&module_id).map(|module| {
 			trace!(target: "hypervisor", "Sending shutdown to {}({})", module_id, &module.control_url);
-			let client = nanoipc::init_client::<ControlServiceClient<_>>(&module.control_url).unwrap();
+			let client = nanoipc::fast_client::<ControlServiceClient<_>>(&module.control_url).unwrap();
 			client.shutdown();
 			trace!(target: "hypervisor", "Sent shutdown to {}", module_id);
 		});
--- a/ipc/nano/Cargo.toml
+++ b/ipc/nano/Cargo.toml
@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ license = "GPL-3.0"
 ethcore-ipc = { path = "../rpc" }
 nanomsg = { git = "https://github.com/ethcore/nanomsg.rs.git" }
 log = "0.3"
-
+lazy_static = "0.2"
--- a/ipc/nano/src/lib.rs
+++ b/ipc/nano/src/lib.rs
@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 extern crate ethcore_ipc as ipc;
 extern crate nanomsg;
 #[macro_use] extern crate log;
+#[macro_use] extern crate lazy_static;

 pub use ipc::{WithSocket, IpcInterface, IpcConfig};
 pub use nanomsg::Socket as NanoSocket;
@ -28,7 +29,8 @@ use nanomsg::{Socket, Protocol, Error, Endpoint, PollRequest, PollFd, PollInOut}
 use std::ops::Deref;

 const POLL_TIMEOUT: isize = 200;
-const CLIENT_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT: isize = 120000;
+const DEFAULT_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT: isize = 30000;
+const DEBUG_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT: isize = 5000;

 /// Generic worker to handle service (binded) sockets
 pub struct Worker<S: ?Sized> where S: IpcInterface {
@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ pub fn init_duplex_client<S>(socket_addr: &str) -> Result<GuardedSocket<S>, Sock
 		SocketError::DuplexLink
 	}));

-	socket.set_receive_timeout(CLIENT_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT).unwrap();
+	socket.set_receive_timeout(DEFAULT_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT).unwrap();

 	let endpoint = try!(socket.connect(socket_addr).map_err(|e| {
 		warn!(target: "ipc", "Failed to bind socket to address '{}': {:?}", socket_addr, e);
@ -84,26 +86,58 @@ pub fn init_duplex_client<S>(socket_addr: &str) -> Result<GuardedSocket<S>, Sock
 /// Spawns client <`S`> over specified address
 /// creates socket and connects endpoint to it
 /// for request-reply connections to the service
-pub fn init_client<S>(socket_addr: &str) -> Result<GuardedSocket<S>, SocketError> where S: WithSocket<Socket> {
+pub fn client<S>(socket_addr: &str, receive_timeout: Option<isize>) -> Result<GuardedSocket<S>, SocketError> where S: WithSocket<Socket> {
 	let mut socket = try!(Socket::new(Protocol::Req).map_err(|e| {
 		warn!(target: "ipc", "Failed to create ipc socket: {:?}", e);
 		SocketError::RequestLink
 	}));

-	socket.set_receive_timeout(CLIENT_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT).unwrap();
+	if let Some(timeout) = receive_timeout {
+		socket.set_receive_timeout(timeout).unwrap();
+	}

 	let endpoint = try!(socket.connect(socket_addr).map_err(|e| {
 		warn!(target: "ipc", "Failed to bind socket to address '{}': {:?}", socket_addr, e);
 		SocketError::RequestLink
 	}));

-	trace!(target: "ipc", "Created cleint for {}", socket_addr);
+	trace!(target: "ipc", "Created client for {}", socket_addr);
 	Ok(GuardedSocket {
 		client: Arc::new(S::init(socket)),
 		_endpoint: endpoint,
 	})
 }

+lazy_static! {
+	/// Set PARITY_IPC_DEBUG=1 for fail-fast connectivity problems diagnostic
+	pub static ref DEBUG_FLAG: bool = {
+		use std::env;
+
+		if let Ok(debug) = env::var("PARITY_IPC_DEBUG") {
+			debug == "1" || debug.to_uppercase() == "TRUE"
+		}
+		else { false }
+	};
+}
+
+/// Client with no default timeout on operations
+pub fn generic_client<S>(socket_addr: &str) -> Result<GuardedSocket<S>, SocketError> where S: WithSocket<Socket> {
+	if *DEBUG_FLAG {
+		client(socket_addr, Some(DEBUG_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT))
+	} else {
+		client(socket_addr, None)
+	}
+}
+
+/// Client over interface that is supposed to give quick almost non-blocking responses
+pub fn fast_client<S>(socket_addr: &str) -> Result<GuardedSocket<S>, SocketError> where S: WithSocket<Socket> {
+	if *DEBUG_FLAG {
+		client(socket_addr, Some(DEBUG_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT))
+	} else {
+		client(socket_addr, Some(DEFAULT_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT))
+	}
+}
+
 /// Error occurred while establising socket or endpoint
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum SocketError {
--- a/parity/blockchain.rs
+++ b/parity/blockchain.rs
@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ use std::{io, fs};
 use std::io::{BufReader, BufRead};
 use std::time::Duration;
 use std::thread::sleep;
-use std::path::Path;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use rustc_serialize::hex::FromHex;
 use ethcore_logger::{setup_log, Config as LogConfig};
@ -32,6 +31,7 @@ use ethcore::error::ImportError;
 use ethcore::miner::Miner;
 use cache::CacheConfig;
 use informant::Informant;
+use io_handler::ImportIoHandler;
 use params::{SpecType, Pruning};
 use helpers::{to_client_config, execute_upgrades};
 use dir::Directories;
@ -125,8 +125,9 @@ fn execute_import(cmd: ImportBlockchain) -> Result<String, String> {
 	// select pruning algorithm
 	let algorithm = cmd.pruning.to_algorithm(&cmd.dirs, genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref());

-	// prepare client_path
+	// prepare client and snapshot paths.
 	let client_path = cmd.dirs.client_path(genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm);
+	let snapshot_path = cmd.dirs.snapshot_path(genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref());

 	// execute upgrades
 	try!(execute_upgrades(&cmd.dirs, genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm, cmd.compaction.compaction_profile()));
@ -138,8 +139,9 @@ fn execute_import(cmd: ImportBlockchain) -> Result<String, String> {
 	let service = try!(ClientService::start(
 		client_config,
 		&spec,
-		Path::new(&client_path),
-		Path::new(&cmd.dirs.ipc_path()),
+		&client_path,
+		&snapshot_path,
+		&cmd.dirs.ipc_path(),
 		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
 	).map_err(|e| format!("Client service error: {:?}", e)));

@ -169,6 +171,10 @@ fn execute_import(cmd: ImportBlockchain) -> Result<String, String> {

 	let informant = Informant::new(client.clone(), None, None, cmd.logger_config.color);

+	try!(service.register_io_handler(Arc::new(ImportIoHandler {
+		info: Arc::new(informant),
+	})).map_err(|_| "Unable to register informant handler".to_owned()));
+
 	let do_import = |bytes| {
 		while client.queue_info().is_full() { sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)); }
 		match client.import_block(bytes) {
@ -180,7 +186,6 @@ fn execute_import(cmd: ImportBlockchain) -> Result<String, String> {
 			},
 			Ok(_) => {},
 		}
-		informant.tick();
 		Ok(())
 	};

@ -237,8 +242,9 @@ fn execute_export(cmd: ExportBlockchain) -> Result<String, String> {
 	// select pruning algorithm
 	let algorithm = cmd.pruning.to_algorithm(&cmd.dirs, genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref());

-	// prepare client_path
+	// prepare client and snapshot paths.
 	let client_path = cmd.dirs.client_path(genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm);
+	let snapshot_path = cmd.dirs.snapshot_path(genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref());

 	// execute upgrades
 	try!(execute_upgrades(&cmd.dirs, genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm, cmd.compaction.compaction_profile()));
@ -249,8 +255,9 @@ fn execute_export(cmd: ExportBlockchain) -> Result<String, String> {
 	let service = try!(ClientService::start(
 		client_config,
 		&spec,
-		Path::new(&client_path),
-		Path::new(&cmd.dirs.ipc_path()),
+		&client_path,
+		&snapshot_path,
+		&cmd.dirs.ipc_path(),
 		Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec)),
 	).map_err(|e| format!("Client service error: {:?}", e)));

@ -263,10 +270,10 @@ fn execute_export(cmd: ExportBlockchain) -> Result<String, String> {
 	};

 	let from = try!(client.block_number(cmd.from_block).ok_or("From block could not be found"));
-	let to = try!(client.block_number(cmd.to_block).ok_or("From block could not be found"));
+	let to = try!(client.block_number(cmd.to_block).ok_or("To block could not be found"));

 	for i in from..(to + 1) {
-		let b = client.block(BlockID::Number(i)).unwrap();
+		let b = try!(client.block(BlockID::Number(i)).ok_or("Error exporting incomplete chain"));
 		match format {
 			DataFormat::Binary => { out.write(&b).expect("Couldn't write to stream."); }
 			DataFormat::Hex => { out.write_fmt(format_args!("{}", b.pretty())).expect("Couldn't write to stream."); }
--- a/parity/boot.rs
+++ b/parity/boot.rs
@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ pub fn payload<B: ipc::BinaryConvertable>() -> Result<B, BootError> {
 }

 pub fn register(hv_url: &str, control_url: &str, module_id: IpcModuleId) -> GuardedSocket<HypervisorServiceClient<NanoSocket>>{
-	let hypervisor_client = nanoipc::init_client::<HypervisorServiceClient<_>>(hv_url).unwrap();
+	let hypervisor_client = nanoipc::fast_client::<HypervisorServiceClient<_>>(hv_url).unwrap();
 	hypervisor_client.handshake().unwrap();
 	hypervisor_client.module_ready(module_id, control_url.to_owned());

@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ pub fn register(hv_url: &str, control_url: &str, module_id: IpcModuleId) -> Guar
 pub fn dependency<C: WithSocket<NanoSocket>>(url: &str)
 	-> Result<GuardedSocket<C>, BootError>
 {
-	nanoipc::init_client::<C>(url).map_err(|socket_err| BootError::DependencyConnect(socket_err))
+	nanoipc::generic_client::<C>(url).map_err(|socket_err| BootError::DependencyConnect(socket_err))
 }

 pub fn main_thread() -> Arc<AtomicBool> {
--- a/parity/cli/usage.txt
+++ b/parity/cli/usage.txt
@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Usage:
  parity export [ <file> ] [options]
  parity signer new-token [options]
  parity snapshot <file> [options]
-  parity restore <file> [options]
+  parity restore [ <file> ] [options]

 Operating Options:
  --mode MODE              Set the operating mode. MODE can be one of:
--- a/parity/dir.rs
+++ b/parity/dir.rs
@ -52,10 +52,16 @@ impl Directories {
 		Ok(())
 	}

-	/// Get the root path for database
-	pub fn db_version_path(&self, genesis_hash: H256, fork_name: Option<&String>, pruning: Algorithm) -> PathBuf {
+	/// Get the chain's root path.
+	pub fn chain_path(&self, genesis_hash: H256, fork_name: Option<&String>) -> PathBuf {
 		let mut dir = Path::new(&self.db).to_path_buf();
 		dir.push(format!("{:?}{}", H64::from(genesis_hash), fork_name.map(|f| format!("-{}", f)).unwrap_or_default()));
+		dir
+	}
+
+	/// Get the root path for database
+	pub fn db_version_path(&self, genesis_hash: H256, fork_name: Option<&String>, pruning: Algorithm) -> PathBuf {
+		let mut dir = self.chain_path(genesis_hash, fork_name);
 		dir.push(format!("v{}-sec-{}", LEGACY_CLIENT_DB_VER_STR, pruning.as_internal_name_str()));
 		dir
 	}
@ -67,6 +73,13 @@ impl Directories {
 		dir
 	}

+	/// Get the path for the snapshot directory given the genesis hash and fork name.
+	pub fn snapshot_path(&self, genesis_hash: H256, fork_name: Option<&String>) -> PathBuf {
+		let mut dir = self.chain_path(genesis_hash, fork_name);
+		dir.push("snapshot");
+		dir
+	}
+
 	/// Get the ipc sockets path
 	pub fn ipc_path(&self) -> PathBuf {
 		let mut dir = Path::new(&self.db).to_path_buf();
--- a/parity/io_handler.rs
+++ b/parity/io_handler.rs
@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 // along with Parity.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

 use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use ethcore::client::Client;
 use ethcore::service::ClientIoMessage;
 use ethsync::{SyncProvider, ManageNetwork};
@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ pub struct ClientIoHandler {
 	pub net: Arc<ManageNetwork>,
 	pub accounts: Arc<AccountProvider>,
 	pub info: Arc<Informant>,
+	pub shutdown: Arc<AtomicBool>
 }

 impl IoHandler<ClientIoMessage> for ClientIoHandler {
@ -39,8 +41,24 @@ impl IoHandler<ClientIoMessage> for ClientIoHandler {
 	}

 	fn timeout(&self, _io: &IoContext<ClientIoMessage>, timer: TimerToken) {
-		if let INFO_TIMER = timer {
+		if timer == INFO_TIMER && !self.shutdown.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
 			self.info.tick();
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+pub struct ImportIoHandler {
+	pub info: Arc<Informant>,
+}
+
+impl IoHandler<ClientIoMessage> for ImportIoHandler {
+	fn initialize(&self, io: &IoContext<ClientIoMessage>) {
+		io.register_timer(INFO_TIMER, 5000).expect("Error registering timer");
+	}
+
+	fn timeout(&self, _io: &IoContext<ClientIoMessage>, timer: TimerToken) {
+		if let INFO_TIMER = timer {
+			self.info.tick()
+		}
+	}
+}
--- a/parity/modules.rs
+++ b/parity/modules.rs
@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ mod ipc_deps {
 	pub use ethsync::{SyncClient, NetworkManagerClient, ServiceConfiguration};
 	pub use ethcore::client::ChainNotifyClient;
 	pub use hypervisor::{SYNC_MODULE_ID, BootArgs, HYPERVISOR_IPC_URL};
-	pub use nanoipc::{GuardedSocket, NanoSocket, init_client};
+	pub use nanoipc::{GuardedSocket, NanoSocket, generic_client, fast_client};
 	pub use ipc::IpcSocket;
 	pub use ipc::binary::serialize;
 }
@ -134,11 +134,11 @@ pub fn sync
 	hypervisor.start();
 	hypervisor.wait_for_startup();

-	let sync_client = init_client::<SyncClient<_>>(
+	let sync_client = generic_client::<SyncClient<_>>(
 		&service_urls::with_base(&hypervisor.io_path, service_urls::SYNC)).unwrap();
-	let notify_client = init_client::<ChainNotifyClient<_>>(
+	let notify_client = generic_client::<ChainNotifyClient<_>>(
 		&service_urls::with_base(&hypervisor.io_path, service_urls::SYNC_NOTIFY)).unwrap();
-	let manage_client = init_client::<NetworkManagerClient<_>>(
+	let manage_client = generic_client::<NetworkManagerClient<_>>(
 		&service_urls::with_base(&hypervisor.io_path, service_urls::NETWORK_MANAGER)).unwrap();

 	*hypervisor_ref = Some(hypervisor);
--- a/parity/params.rs
+++ b/parity/params.rs
@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::fs;
 use std::time::Duration;
-use util::{contents, H256, Address, U256, version_data};
+use util::{H256, Address, U256, version_data};
 use util::journaldb::Algorithm;
 use ethcore::spec::Spec;
 use ethcore::ethereum;
@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ impl SpecType {
 			SpecType::Testnet => Ok(ethereum::new_morden()),
 			SpecType::Olympic => Ok(ethereum::new_olympic()),
 			SpecType::Classic => Ok(ethereum::new_classic()),
-			SpecType::Custom(ref file) => Ok(Spec::load(&try!(contents(file).map_err(|_| "Could not load specification file."))))
+			SpecType::Custom(ref filename) => {
+				let file = try!(fs::File::open(filename).map_err(|_| "Could not load specification file."));
+				Spec::load(file)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
--- a/parity/run.rs
+++ b/parity/run.rs
@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 // along with Parity.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, Condvar};
-use std::path::Path;
 use std::io::ErrorKind;
 use ctrlc::CtrlC;
 use fdlimit::raise_fd_limit;
@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ use ethcore::service::ClientService;
 use ethcore::account_provider::AccountProvider;
 use ethcore::miner::{Miner, MinerService, ExternalMiner, MinerOptions};
 use ethcore::snapshot;
-use ethsync::SyncConfig;
+use ethsync::{SyncConfig, SyncProvider};
 use informant::Informant;

 use rpc::{HttpServer, IpcServer, HttpConfiguration, IpcConfiguration};
@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ use url;
 const SNAPSHOT_PERIOD: u64 = 10000;

 // how many blocks to wait before starting a periodic snapshot.
-const SNAPSHOT_HISTORY: u64 = 1000;
+const SNAPSHOT_HISTORY: u64 = 500;

 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct RunCmd {
@ -110,8 +109,9 @@ pub fn execute(cmd: RunCmd) -> Result<(), String> {
 	// select pruning algorithm
 	let algorithm = cmd.pruning.to_algorithm(&cmd.dirs, genesis_hash, fork_name.as_ref());

-	// prepare client_path
+	// prepare client and snapshot paths.
 	let client_path = cmd.dirs.client_path(genesis_hash, fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm);
+	let snapshot_path = cmd.dirs.snapshot_path(genesis_hash, fork_name.as_ref());

 	// execute upgrades
 	try!(execute_upgrades(&cmd.dirs, genesis_hash, fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm, cmd.compaction.compaction_profile()));
@ -171,14 +171,15 @@ pub fn execute(cmd: RunCmd) -> Result<(), String> {
 	}

 	// create supervisor
-	let mut hypervisor = modules::hypervisor(Path::new(&cmd.dirs.ipc_path()));
+	let mut hypervisor = modules::hypervisor(&cmd.dirs.ipc_path());

 	// create client service.
 	let service = try!(ClientService::start(
 		client_config,
 		&spec,
-		Path::new(&client_path),
-		Path::new(&cmd.dirs.ipc_path()),
+		&client_path,
+		&snapshot_path,
+		&cmd.dirs.ipc_path(),
 		miner.clone(),
 	).map_err(|e| format!("Client service error: {:?}", e)));

@ -256,15 +257,18 @@ pub fn execute(cmd: RunCmd) -> Result<(), String> {
 		sync: sync_provider.clone(),
 		net: manage_network.clone(),
 		accounts: account_provider.clone(),
+		shutdown: Default::default(),
 	});
-	service.register_io_handler(io_handler).expect("Error registering IO handler");
+	service.register_io_handler(io_handler.clone()).expect("Error registering IO handler");

 	// the watcher must be kept alive.
 	let _watcher = match cmd.no_periodic_snapshot {
 		true => None,
 		false => {
+			let sync = sync_provider.clone();
 			let watcher = Arc::new(snapshot::Watcher::new(
 				service.client(),
+				move || sync.status().is_major_syncing(),
 				service.io().channel(),
 				SNAPSHOT_PERIOD,
 				SNAPSHOT_HISTORY,
@ -286,6 +290,11 @@ pub fn execute(cmd: RunCmd) -> Result<(), String> {
 	// Handle exit
 	wait_for_exit(panic_handler, http_server, ipc_server, dapps_server, signer_server);

+	// to make sure timer does not spawn requests while shutdown is in progress
+	io_handler.shutdown.store(true, ::std::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
+	// just Arc is dropping here, to allow other reference release in its default time
+	drop(io_handler);
+
 	// hypervisor should be shutdown first while everything still works and can be
 	// terminated gracefully
 	drop(hypervisor);
--- a/parity/snapshot.rs
+++ b/parity/snapshot.rs
@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::sync::Arc;

 use ethcore_logger::{setup_log, Config as LogConfig};
-use ethcore::snapshot::{Progress, RestorationStatus, SnapshotService};
+use ethcore::snapshot::{Progress, RestorationStatus, SnapshotService as SS};
 use ethcore::snapshot::io::{SnapshotReader, PackedReader, PackedWriter};
+use ethcore::snapshot::service::Service as SnapshotService;
 use ethcore::service::ClientService;
 use ethcore::client::{Mode, DatabaseCompactionProfile, Switch, VMType};
 use ethcore::miner::Miner;
@ -62,6 +63,60 @@ pub struct SnapshotCommand {
 	pub block_at: BlockID,
 }

+// helper for reading chunks from arbitrary reader and feeding them into the
+// service.
+fn restore_using<R: SnapshotReader>(snapshot: Arc<SnapshotService>, reader: &R, recover: bool) -> Result<(), String> {
+	let manifest = reader.manifest();
+
+	info!("Restoring to block #{} (0x{:?})", manifest.block_number, manifest.block_hash);
+
+	try!(snapshot.init_restore(manifest.clone(), recover).map_err(|e| {
+		format!("Failed to begin restoration: {}", e)
+	}));
+
+	let (num_state, num_blocks) = (manifest.state_hashes.len(), manifest.block_hashes.len());
+
+	let informant_handle = snapshot.clone();
+	::std::thread::spawn(move || {
+ 		while let RestorationStatus::Ongoing { state_chunks_done, block_chunks_done } = informant_handle.status() {
+ 			info!("Processed {}/{} state chunks and {}/{} block chunks.",
+ 				state_chunks_done, num_state, block_chunks_done, num_blocks);
+ 			::std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(5));
+ 		}
+ 	});
+
+ 	info!("Restoring state");
+ 	for &state_hash in &manifest.state_hashes {
+ 		if snapshot.status() == RestorationStatus::Failed {
+ 			return Err("Restoration failed".into());
+ 		}
+
+ 		let chunk = try!(reader.chunk(state_hash)
+			.map_err(|e| format!("Encountered error while reading chunk {:?}: {}", state_hash, e)));
+ 		snapshot.feed_state_chunk(state_hash, &chunk);
+ 	}
+
+	info!("Restoring blocks");
+	for &block_hash in &manifest.block_hashes {
+		if snapshot.status() == RestorationStatus::Failed {
+			return Err("Restoration failed".into());
+		}
+
+ 		let chunk = try!(reader.chunk(block_hash)
+			.map_err(|e| format!("Encountered error while reading chunk {:?}: {}", block_hash, e)));
+		snapshot.feed_block_chunk(block_hash, &chunk);
+	}
+
+	match snapshot.status() {
+		RestorationStatus::Ongoing { .. } => Err("Snapshot file is incomplete and missing chunks.".into()),
+		RestorationStatus::Failed => Err("Snapshot restoration failed.".into()),
+		RestorationStatus::Inactive => {
+			info!("Restoration complete.");
+			Ok(())
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 impl SnapshotCommand {
 	// shared portion of snapshot commands: start the client service
 	fn start_service(self) -> Result<(ClientService, Arc<PanicHandler>), String> {
@ -82,8 +137,9 @@ impl SnapshotCommand {
 		// select pruning algorithm
 		let algorithm = self.pruning.to_algorithm(&self.dirs, genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref());

-		// prepare client_path
+		// prepare client and snapshot paths.
 		let client_path = self.dirs.client_path(genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm);
+		let snapshot_path = self.dirs.snapshot_path(genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref());

 		// execute upgrades
 		try!(execute_upgrades(&self.dirs, genesis_hash, spec.fork_name.as_ref(), algorithm, self.compaction.compaction_profile()));
@ -94,8 +150,9 @@ impl SnapshotCommand {
 		let service = try!(ClientService::start(
 			client_config,
 			&spec,
-			Path::new(&client_path),
-			Path::new(&self.dirs.ipc_path()),
+			&client_path,
+			&snapshot_path,
+			&self.dirs.ipc_path(),
 			Arc::new(Miner::with_spec(&spec))
 		).map_err(|e| format!("Client service error: {:?}", e)));

@ -104,69 +161,35 @@ impl SnapshotCommand {

 	/// restore from a snapshot
 	pub fn restore(self) -> Result<(), String> {
-		let file = try!(self.file_path.clone().ok_or("No file path provided.".to_owned()));
+		let file = self.file_path.clone();
 		let (service, _panic_handler) = try!(self.start_service());

 		warn!("Snapshot restoration is experimental and the format may be subject to change.");
 		warn!("On encountering an unexpected error, please ensure that you have a recent snapshot.");

 		let snapshot = service.snapshot_service();
-		let reader = PackedReader::new(Path::new(&file))
-			.map_err(|e| format!("Couldn't open snapshot file: {}", e))
-			.and_then(|x| x.ok_or("Snapshot file has invalid format.".into()));

-		let reader = try!(reader);
-		let manifest = reader.manifest();
+		if let Some(file) = file {
+			info!("Attempting to restore from snapshot at '{}'", file);

-		// drop the client so we don't restore while it has open DB handles.
-		drop(service);
+			let reader = PackedReader::new(Path::new(&file))
+				.map_err(|e| format!("Couldn't open snapshot file: {}", e))
+				.and_then(|x| x.ok_or("Snapshot file has invalid format.".into()));

-		try!(snapshot.init_restore(manifest.clone()).map_err(|e| {
-			format!("Failed to begin restoration: {}", e)
-		}));
+			let reader = try!(reader);
+			try!(restore_using(snapshot, &reader, true));
+		} else {
+			info!("Attempting to restore from local snapshot.");

-		let (num_state, num_blocks) = (manifest.state_hashes.len(), manifest.block_hashes.len());
-
-		let informant_handle = snapshot.clone();
-		::std::thread::spawn(move || {
- 			while let RestorationStatus::Ongoing { state_chunks_done, block_chunks_done } = informant_handle.status() {
- 				info!("Processed {}/{} state chunks and {}/{} block chunks.",
- 					state_chunks_done, num_state, block_chunks_done, num_blocks);
-
- 				::std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(5));
- 			}
- 		});
-
- 		info!("Restoring state");
- 		for &state_hash in &manifest.state_hashes {
- 			if snapshot.status() == RestorationStatus::Failed {
- 				return Err("Restoration failed".into());
- 			}
-
- 			let chunk = try!(reader.chunk(state_hash)
-				.map_err(|e| format!("Encountered error while reading chunk {:?}: {}", state_hash, e)));
- 			snapshot.feed_state_chunk(state_hash, &chunk);
- 		}
-
-		info!("Restoring blocks");
-		for &block_hash in &manifest.block_hashes {
-			if snapshot.status() == RestorationStatus::Failed {
-				return Err("Restoration failed".into());
-			}
-
- 			let chunk = try!(reader.chunk(block_hash)
-				.map_err(|e| format!("Encountered error while reading chunk {:?}: {}", block_hash, e)));
-			snapshot.feed_block_chunk(block_hash, &chunk);
-		}
-
-		match snapshot.status() {
-			RestorationStatus::Ongoing { .. } => Err("Snapshot file is incomplete and missing chunks.".into()),
-			RestorationStatus::Failed => Err("Snapshot restoration failed.".into()),
-			RestorationStatus::Inactive => {
-				info!("Restoration complete.");
-				Ok(())
+			// attempting restoration with recovery will lead to deadlock
+			// as we currently hold a read lock on the service's reader.
+			match *snapshot.reader() {
+				Some(ref reader) => try!(restore_using(snapshot.clone(), reader, false)),
+				None => return Err("No local snapshot found.".into()),
 			}
 		}
+
+		Ok(())
 	}

 	/// Take a snapshot from the head of the chain.
--- a/rpc/src/v1/tests/eth.rs
+++ b/rpc/src/v1/tests/eth.rs
@ -108,7 +108,16 @@ impl EthTester {
 		let dir = RandomTempPath::new();
 		let account_provider = account_provider();
 		let miner_service = miner_service(&spec, account_provider.clone());
-		let client = Client::new(ClientConfig::default(), &spec, dir.as_path(), miner_service.clone(), IoChannel::disconnected()).unwrap();
+
+		let db_config = ::util::kvdb::DatabaseConfig::with_columns(::ethcore::db::NUM_COLUMNS);
+		let client = Client::new(
+			ClientConfig::default(),
+			&spec,
+			dir.as_path(),
+			miner_service.clone(),
+			IoChannel::disconnected(),
+			&db_config
+		).unwrap();
 		let sync_provider = sync_provider();
 		let external_miner = Arc::new(ExternalMiner::default());

@ -286,7 +295,7 @@ const POSITIVE_NONCE_SPEC: &'static [u8] = br#"{
 #[test]
 fn eth_transaction_count() {
 	let secret = "8a283037bb19c4fed7b1c569e40c7dcff366165eb869110a1b11532963eb9cb2".into();
-	let tester = EthTester::from_spec(Spec::load(TRANSACTION_COUNT_SPEC));
+	let tester = EthTester::from_spec(Spec::load(TRANSACTION_COUNT_SPEC).expect("invalid chain spec"));
 	let address = tester.accounts.insert_account(secret, "").unwrap();
 	tester.accounts.unlock_account_permanently(address, "".into()).unwrap();

@ -412,7 +421,7 @@ fn verify_transaction_counts(name: String, chain: BlockChain) {

 #[test]
 fn starting_nonce_test() {
-	let tester = EthTester::from_spec(Spec::load(POSITIVE_NONCE_SPEC));
+	let tester = EthTester::from_spec(Spec::load(POSITIVE_NONCE_SPEC).expect("invalid chain spec"));
 	let address = Address::from(10);

 	let sample = tester.handler.handle_request_sync(&(r#"
--- a/util/src/kvdb.rs
+++ b/util/src/kvdb.rs
@ -458,8 +458,6 @@ impl Database {
 		let mut backup_db = PathBuf::from(&self.path);
 		backup_db.pop();
 		backup_db.push("backup_db");
-		println!("Path at {:?}", self.path);
-		println!("Backup at {:?}", backup_db);

 		let existed = match fs::rename(&self.path, &backup_db) {
 			Ok(_) => true,
--- a/util/src/misc.rs
+++ b/util/src/misc.rs
@ -16,7 +16,6 @@

 //! Diff misc.

-use std::fs::File;
 use common::*;
 use rlp::{Stream, RlpStream};
 use target_info::Target;
@ -33,14 +32,6 @@ pub enum Filth {
 	Dirty,
 }

-/// Read the whole contents of a file `name`.
-pub fn contents(name: &str) -> Result<Bytes, UtilError> {
-	let mut file = try!(File::open(name));
-	let mut ret: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
-	try!(file.read_to_end(&mut ret));
-	Ok(ret)
-}
-
 /// Get the standard version string for this software.
 pub fn version() -> String {
 	let sha3 = short_sha();
@ -64,4 +55,4 @@ pub fn version_data() -> Bytes {
 	s.append(&rustc_version());
 	s.append(&&Target::os()[0..2]);
 	s.out()
-}
+}