diff --git a/cmd/africastalking/main.go b/cmd/africastalking/main.go
index 2696b51..11c6512 100644
--- a/cmd/africastalking/main.go
+++ b/cmd/africastalking/main.go
@@ -15,11 +15,10 @@ import (
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
 
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/common"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/handlers"
-	httpserver "git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/http/at"
+	at "git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/http/at"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/remote"
 )
diff --git a/cmd/async/main.go b/cmd/async/main.go
index 9cd04b3..a9a0b1e 100644
--- a/cmd/async/main.go
+++ b/cmd/async/main.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"syscall"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
@@ -47,24 +48,33 @@ func main() {
 	config.LoadConfig()
 
 	var sessionId string
-	var dbDir string
+	var connStr string
 	var resourceDir string
 	var size uint
 	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
 	var host string
 	var port uint
+	var err error
+
 	flag.StringVar(&sessionId, "session-id", "075xx2123", "session id")
-	flag.StringVar(&dbDir, "dbdir", ".state", "database dir to read from")
 	flag.StringVar(&resourceDir, "resourcedir", path.Join("services", "registration"), "resource dir")
-	flag.StringVar(&database, "db", "gdbm", "database to be used")
+	flag.StringVar(&connStr, "c", ".", "connection string")
 	flag.BoolVar(&engineDebug, "d", false, "use engine debug output")
 	flag.UintVar(&size, "s", 160, "max size of output")
 	flag.StringVar(&host, "h", initializers.GetEnv("HOST", "127.0.0.1"), "http host")
 	flag.UintVar(&port, "p", initializers.GetEnvUint("PORT", 7123), "http port")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	logg.Infof("start command", "dbdir", dbDir, "resourcedir", resourceDir, "outputsize", size, "sessionId", sessionId)
+	if connStr == "." {
+		connStr, err = filepath.Abs(".state/state.gdbm")
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "auto connstr generate error: %v", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+
+	logg.Infof("start command", "connstr", connStr, "resourcedir", resourceDir, "outputsize", size, "sessionId", sessionId)
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
@@ -81,18 +91,19 @@ func main() {
 		cfg.EngineDebug = true
 	}
 
-	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, resourceDir)
+	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(resourceDir)
+	err = menuStorageService.SetConn(connStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
 	rs, err := menuStorageService.GetResource(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	err = menuStorageService.EnsureDbDir()
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
 
 	userdataStore, err := menuStorageService.GetUserdataDb(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/http/main.go b/cmd/http/main.go
index 6ddfded..dec4e64 100644
--- a/cmd/http/main.go
+++ b/cmd/http/main.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"syscall"
 
@@ -36,23 +37,31 @@ func init() {
 func main() {
 	config.LoadConfig()
 
-	var dbDir string
+	var connStr string
 	var resourceDir string
 	var size uint
 	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
 	var host string
 	var port uint
-	flag.StringVar(&dbDir, "dbdir", ".state", "database dir to read from")
+	var err error
+
 	flag.StringVar(&resourceDir, "resourcedir", path.Join("services", "registration"), "resource dir")
-	flag.StringVar(&database, "db", "gdbm", "database to be used")
 	flag.BoolVar(&engineDebug, "d", false, "use engine debug output")
 	flag.UintVar(&size, "s", 160, "max size of output")
 	flag.StringVar(&host, "h", initializers.GetEnv("HOST", "127.0.0.1"), "http host")
 	flag.UintVar(&port, "p", initializers.GetEnvUint("PORT", 7123), "http port")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	logg.Infof("start command", "dbdir", dbDir, "resourcedir", resourceDir, "outputsize", size)
+	if connStr == "." {
+		connStr, err = filepath.Abs(".state/state.gdbm")
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "auto connstr generate error: %v", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+
+	logg.Infof("start command", "connstr", connStr, "resourcedir", resourceDir, "outputsize", size)
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
@@ -69,14 +78,14 @@ func main() {
 		cfg.EngineDebug = true
 	}
 
-	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, resourceDir)
-	rs, err := menuStorageService.GetResource(ctx)
+	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(resourceDir)
+	err = menuStorageService.SetConn(connStr)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	err = menuStorageService.EnsureDbDir()
+	rs, err := menuStorageService.GetResource(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/cmd/main.go b/cmd/main.go
index 4fd084f..c45615b 100644
--- a/cmd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/main.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
@@ -30,19 +31,28 @@ func init() {
 func main() {
 	config.LoadConfig()
 
-	var dbDir string
+	var connStr string
 	var size uint
 	var sessionId string
 	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
+	var err error
+
 	flag.StringVar(&sessionId, "session-id", "075xx2123", "session id")
-	flag.StringVar(&database, "db", "gdbm", "database to be used")
-	flag.StringVar(&dbDir, "dbdir", ".state", "database dir to read from")
+	flag.StringVar(&connStr, "c", ".", "connection string")
 	flag.BoolVar(&engineDebug, "d", false, "use engine debug output")
 	flag.UintVar(&size, "s", 160, "max size of output")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	logg.Infof("start command", "dbdir", dbDir, "outputsize", size)
+	if connStr == "." {
+		connStr, err = filepath.Abs(".state/state.gdbm")
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "auto connstr generate error: %v", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+
+	logg.Infof("start command", "connstr", connStr, "outputsize", size)
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "SessionId", sessionId)
@@ -58,9 +68,9 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	resourceDir := scriptDir
-	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, resourceDir)
+	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(resourceDir)
 
-	err := menuStorageService.EnsureDbDir()
+	err = menuStorageService.SetConn(connStr)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/common/storage.go b/common/storage.go
index d37bce3..c8a4ff2 100644
--- a/common/storage.go
+++ b/common/storage.go
@@ -23,17 +23,19 @@ type StorageServices interface {
 	GetPersister(ctx context.Context) (*persist.Persister, error)
 	GetUserdataDb(ctx context.Context) (db.Db, error)
 	GetResource(ctx context.Context) (resource.Resource, error)
-	EnsureDbDir() error
+	SetConn(connStr string) error
 }
 
 type StorageService struct {
 	svc *storage.MenuStorageService
 }
 
-func NewStorageService(dbDir string) *StorageService {
-	return &StorageService{
-		svc: storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, ""),
+func NewStorageService(connStr string) (*StorageService, error) {
+	svc := &StorageService{
+		svc: storage.NewMenuStorageService(""),
 	}
+	err := svc.SetConn(connStr)
+	return svc, err
 }
 
 func(ss *StorageService) GetPersister(ctx context.Context) (*persist.Persister, error) {
@@ -48,6 +50,6 @@ func(ss *StorageService) GetResource(ctx context.Context) (resource.Resource, er
 	return nil, errors.New("not implemented")
 }
 
-func(ss *StorageService) EnsureDbDir() error {
-	return ss.svc.EnsureDbDir()
+func(ss *StorageService) SetConn(connStr string) error {
+	return ss.svc.SetConn(connStr)
 }
diff --git a/devtools/gen/main.go b/devtools/gen/main.go
index b9e2aed..448cc16 100644
--- a/devtools/gen/main.go
+++ b/devtools/gen/main.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
@@ -28,23 +29,38 @@ func init() {
 func main() {
 	config.LoadConfig()
 
-	var dbDir string
+	var connStr string
 	var sessionId string
 	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
+	var err error
 
 	flag.StringVar(&sessionId, "session-id", "075xx2123", "session id")
-	flag.StringVar(&database, "db", "gdbm", "database to be used")
-	flag.StringVar(&dbDir, "dbdir", ".state", "database dir to read from")
+	flag.StringVar(&connStr, "c", ".", "connection string")
 	flag.BoolVar(&engineDebug, "d", false, "use engine debug output")
 	flag.Parse()
 
+	if connStr == "." {
+		connStr, err = filepath.Abs(".state/state.gdbm")
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "auto connstr generate error: %v", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+
+	logg.Infof("start command", "connstr", connStr)
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "SessionId", sessionId)
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
 
 	resourceDir := scriptDir
-	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, resourceDir)
+	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(resourceDir)
+	err = menuStorageService.SetConn(connStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "connection string error: %v", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 
 	store, err := menuStorageService.GetUserdataDb(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/devtools/store/main.go b/devtools/store/main.go
index 8bd4d16..ed54ba3 100644
--- a/devtools/store/main.go
+++ b/devtools/store/main.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
@@ -28,23 +29,36 @@ func init() {
 func main() {
 	config.LoadConfig()
 
-	var dbDir string
+	var connStr string
 	var sessionId string
 	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
+	var err error
 
 	flag.StringVar(&sessionId, "session-id", "075xx2123", "session id")
-	flag.StringVar(&database, "db", "gdbm", "database to be used")
-	flag.StringVar(&dbDir, "dbdir", ".state", "database dir to read from")
+	flag.StringVar(&connStr, "c", ".state", "connection string")
 	flag.BoolVar(&engineDebug, "d", false, "use engine debug output")
 	flag.Parse()
 
+	if connStr == "." {
+		connStr, err = filepath.Abs(".state/state.gdbm")
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "auto connstr generate error: %v", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "SessionId", sessionId)
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
 
 	resourceDir := scriptDir
-	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, resourceDir)
+	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(resourceDir)
+	err = menuStorageService.SetConn(connStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "connection string error: %v", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 
 	store, err := menuStorageService.GetUserdataDb(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/storage/parse.go b/internal/storage/parse.go
index 0745a72..d4bc564 100644
--- a/internal/storage/parse.go
+++ b/internal/storage/parse.go
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 package storage
 
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"path"
+)
+
 const (
 	DBTYPE_MEM = iota
 	DBTYPE_GDBM
@@ -11,11 +17,56 @@ type connData struct {
 	str string
 }
 
-func toConnData(s string) connData {
+func (cd *connData) DbType() int {
+	return cd.typ
+}
+
+func (cd *connData) String() string {
+	return cd.str
+}
+
+func probePostgres(s string) (string, bool) {
+	v, err := url.Parse(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	if v.Scheme != "postgres" {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	return s, true
+}
+
+func probeGdbm(s string) (string, bool) {
+	if !path.IsAbs(s) {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	if path.Ext(s) != ".gdbm" {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	s = path.Clean(s)
+	return s, true
+}
+
+func toConnData(connStr string) (connData, error) {
 	var o connData
 
-	if s == "" {
-		return o
+	if connStr == "" {
+		return o, nil
 	}
-	return o
+
+	v, ok := probePostgres(connStr)
+	if ok {
+		o.typ = DBTYPE_POSTGRES
+		o.str = v
+		return o, nil
+	}
+
+	v, ok = probeGdbm(connStr)
+	if ok {
+		o.typ = DBTYPE_GDBM
+		o.str = v
+		return o, nil
+	}
+
+	return o, fmt.Errorf("invalid connection string: %s", connStr)
 }
diff --git a/internal/storage/parse_test.go b/internal/storage/parse_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4b8ecb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/storage/parse_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package storage
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestParseConnStr(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := NewMenuStorageService("")
+	err := svc.SetConn("postgres://foo:bar@localhost:5432/baz")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)	
+	}
+	err = svc.SetConn("/foo/bar/baz.gdbm")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)	
+	}
+	err = svc.SetConn("foo/bar/baz.gdbm")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error")
+	}
+	err = svc.SetConn("http://foo/bar")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error")
+	}
+	err = svc.SetConn("foo/bar/baz.txt")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error")
+	}
+	err = svc.SetConn("/foo/bar")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error")
+	}
+	err = svc.SetConn("foo/bar")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/storage/storageservice.go b/internal/storage/storageservice.go
index 04e75ce..6a42bac 100644
--- a/internal/storage/storageservice.go
+++ b/internal/storage/storageservice.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"path"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/db"
 	fsdb "git.defalsify.org/vise.git/db/fs"
@@ -24,11 +23,12 @@ type StorageService interface {
 	GetPersister(ctx context.Context) (*persist.Persister, error)
 	GetUserdataDb(ctx context.Context) db.Db
 	GetResource(ctx context.Context) (resource.Resource, error)
-	EnsureDbDir() error
+	SetConn(connStr string) error
 }
 
 type MenuStorageService struct {
-	dbDir         string
+	//dbDir         string
+	conn connData
 	resourceDir   string
 	resourceStore db.Db
 	stateStore    db.Db
@@ -51,36 +51,47 @@ func buildConnStr() string {
 	return connString
 }
 
-func NewMenuStorageService(dbDir string, resourceDir string) *MenuStorageService {
+func NewMenuStorageService(resourceDir string) *MenuStorageService {
 	return &MenuStorageService{
-		dbDir:       dbDir,
 		resourceDir: resourceDir,
 	}
 }
 
-func (ms *MenuStorageService) getOrCreateDb(ctx context.Context, existingDb db.Db, fileName string) (db.Db, error) {
-	database, ok := ctx.Value("Database").(string)
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to select the database")
+func (ms *MenuStorageService) SetConn(connStr string) error {
+	o, err := toConnData(connStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
+	ms.conn = o
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (ms *MenuStorageService) getOrCreateDb(ctx context.Context, existingDb db.Db, fileName string) (db.Db, error) {
+	var newDb db.Db
+	var err error
+//	database, ok := ctx.Value("Database").(string)
+//	if !ok {
+//		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to select the database")
+//	}
 
 	if existingDb != nil {
 		return existingDb, nil
 	}
 
-	var newDb db.Db
-	var err error
 
-	if database == "postgres" {
+	dbTyp := ms.conn.DbType()
+	if dbTyp == DBTYPE_POSTGRES {
 		newDb = postgres.NewPgDb()
-		connStr := buildConnStr()
-		err = newDb.Connect(ctx, connStr)
-	} else {
+	} else if dbTyp == DBTYPE_GDBM {
+		err = ms.ensureDbDir()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		newDb = gdbmstorage.NewThreadGdbmDb()
-		storeFile := path.Join(ms.dbDir, fileName)
-		err = newDb.Connect(ctx, storeFile)
+	} else {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported connection string: %s", ms.conn.String())
 	}
-
+	err = newDb.Connect(ctx, ms.conn.String())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -137,8 +148,8 @@ func (ms *MenuStorageService) GetStateStore(ctx context.Context) (db.Db, error)
 	return ms.stateStore, nil
 }
 
-func (ms *MenuStorageService) EnsureDbDir() error {
-	err := os.MkdirAll(ms.dbDir, 0700)
+func (ms *MenuStorageService) ensureDbDir() error {
+	err := os.MkdirAll(ms.conn.String(), 0700)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("state dir create exited with error: %v\n", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/testutil/TestEngine.go b/internal/testutil/TestEngine.go
index 3fcb307..63e9e84 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/TestEngine.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/TestEngine.go
@@ -41,9 +41,11 @@ func TestEngine(sessionId string) (engine.Engine, func(), chan bool) {
 
 	dbDir := ".test_state"
 	resourceDir := scriptDir
-	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, resourceDir)
+	//menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(dbDir, resourceDir)
+	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(resourceDir)
 
-	err := menuStorageService.EnsureDbDir()
+	//err := menuStorageService.EnsureDbDir()
+	err := menuStorageService.SetConn(dbDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)