diff --git a/rust/src/devices/virtio_9p/synthetic.rs b/rust/src/devices/virtio_9p/synthetic.rs
index 90540de..0c40004 100644
--- a/rust/src/devices/virtio_9p/synthetic.rs
+++ b/rust/src/devices/virtio_9p/synthetic.rs
@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@ impl SyntheticFS {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
     pub fn add_executable<P: AsRef<Path>, Q: AsRef<Path>>(&mut self, dirpath: P, filename: &str, realpath: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
         let realpath = realpath.as_ref();
         self.add_library_dependencies(realpath)?;
diff --git a/rust/src/devices/virtio_block.rs b/rust/src/devices/virtio_block.rs
index 2185649..5b3af68 100644
--- a/rust/src/devices/virtio_block.rs
+++ b/rust/src/devices/virtio_block.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ pub struct VirtioBlock<D: DiskImage+'static> {
 
 const VIRTIO_ID_BLOCK: u16 = 2;
 impl <D: DiskImage + 'static> VirtioBlock<D> {
-    fn new(disk_image: D) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(disk_image: D) -> Self {
         let mut config = DeviceConfigArea::new(8);
         config.write_u64(0, disk_image.sector_count());
         VirtioBlock {
@@ -192,7 +192,6 @@ impl <'a, D: DiskImage> MessageHandler<'a, D> {
         }
     }
 
-
     fn sector_round(sz: usize) -> usize {
         (sz / SECTOR_SIZE) * SECTOR_SIZE
     }
@@ -204,7 +203,7 @@ impl <'a, D: DiskImage> MessageHandler<'a, D> {
 
         self.disk.read_sectors(self.sector, buffer)
             .map_err(Error::DiskRead)?;
-        self.chain.inc_offset(len);
+        self.chain.inc_offset(len, true);
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -215,7 +214,7 @@ impl <'a, D: DiskImage> MessageHandler<'a, D> {
 
         self.disk.write_sectors(self.sector, buffer)
             .map_err(Error::DiskWrite)?;
-        self.chain.inc_offset(len);
+        self.chain.inc_offset(len, false);
         Ok(())
     }
 
diff --git a/rust/src/disk/mod.rs b/rust/src/disk/mod.rs
index 1f3b4e5..6191c39 100644
--- a/rust/src/disk/mod.rs
+++ b/rust/src/disk/mod.rs
@@ -25,14 +25,15 @@ pub enum OpenType {
 pub trait DiskImage: Sync+Send {
     fn read_only(&self) -> bool;
     fn sector_count(&self) -> u64;
-    fn disk_file(&self) -> &File;
+    fn disk_file(&mut self) -> Result<&mut File>;
 
-    fn seek_to_sector(&self, sector: u64) -> Result<()> {
+    fn seek_to_sector(&mut self, sector: u64) -> Result<()> {
         if sector > self.sector_count() {
             return Err(Error::BadSectorOffset(sector));
         }
         let offset = SeekFrom::Start(sector * SECTOR_SIZE as u64);
-        self.disk_file().seek(offset)
+        let file = self.disk_file()?;
+        file.seek(offset)
             .map_err(Error::DiskSeek)?;
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ pub enum Error {
     DiskSeek(io::Error),
     BadSectorOffset(u64),
     MemoryOverlayCreate(system::Error),
+    NotOpen,
 }
 
 impl error::Error for Error {}
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for Error {
             DiskSeek(err) => write!(f, "error seeking to offset on disk image: {}", err),
             BadSectorOffset(sector) => write!(f, "attempt to access invalid sector offset {}", sector),
             MemoryOverlayCreate(err) => write!(f, "failed to create memory overlay: {}", err),
+            NotOpen => write!(f, "disk not open"),
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rust/src/disk/raw.rs b/rust/src/disk/raw.rs
index 3ba6597..dff956f 100644
--- a/rust/src/disk/raw.rs
+++ b/rust/src/disk/raw.rs
@@ -3,81 +3,84 @@ use std::fs::{File, OpenOptions};
 use std::io::{Write, Read, SeekFrom, Seek};
 use crate::disk::Error::DiskRead;
 use crate::disk::memory::MemoryOverlay;
-use std::path::Path;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
 
 pub struct RawDiskImage {
-    file: File,
+    path: PathBuf,
+    open_type: OpenType,
+    file: Option<File>,
     offset: usize,
     nsectors: u64,
-    read_only: bool,
     disk_image_id: Vec<u8>,
     overlay: Option<MemoryOverlay>,
 }
 
 impl RawDiskImage {
-    #[allow(dead_code)]
-    pub fn open<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, open_type: OpenType) -> Result<Self> {
-        Self::open_with_offset(path, open_type, 0)
+    pub fn new<P: Into<PathBuf>>(path: P, open_type: OpenType) -> Self {
+        Self::new_with_offset(path, open_type, 0)
     }
 
-    pub fn open_with_offset<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, open_type: OpenType, offset: usize) -> Result<Self> {
-        let path = path.as_ref();
-        let meta = path.metadata()
-            .map_err(|e| Error::DiskOpen(path.into(), e))?;
+    pub fn new_with_offset<P: Into<PathBuf>>(path: P, open_type: OpenType, offset: usize) -> Self {
+        let path = path.into();
+        RawDiskImage {
+            path,
+            open_type,
+            file: None,
+            offset,
+            nsectors: 0,
+            disk_image_id: Vec::new(),
+            overlay: None,
+        }
+    }
 
-        if meta.len() < offset as u64 {
-            return Err(Error::DiskOpenTooShort(path.into()))
+    pub fn open(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        let meta = self.path.metadata()
+            .map_err(|e| Error::DiskOpen(self.path.clone(), e))?;
+
+        if meta.len() < self.offset as u64 {
+            return Err(Error::DiskOpenTooShort(self.path.clone()))
         }
 
-        let nsectors = (meta.len() - offset as u64) / SECTOR_SIZE as u64;
+        self.nsectors = (meta.len() - self.offset as u64) / SECTOR_SIZE as u64;
 
         let file = OpenOptions::new()
             .read(true)
-            .write(open_type == OpenType::ReadWrite)
-            .open(path)
-            .map_err(|e| Error::DiskOpen(path.into(), e))?;
+            .write(self.open_type == OpenType::ReadWrite)
+            .open(&self.path)
+            .map_err(|e| Error::DiskOpen(self.path.clone(), e))?;
 
+        self.disk_image_id = generate_disk_image_id(&file);
+        self.file = Some(file);
 
-        let disk = match open_type {
-            OpenType::MemoryOverlay => {
-                let overlay = MemoryOverlay::new()?;
-                Self::new(file, nsectors, offset, false, Some(overlay))
-            }
-            OpenType::ReadOnly => {
-                Self::new(file, nsectors, offset, true, None)
-            }
-            OpenType::ReadWrite => {
-                Self::new(file, nsectors, offset, false, None)
-            }
-        };
-        Ok(disk)
-    }
-
-    pub fn new(file: File, nsectors: u64, offset: usize, read_only: bool, overlay: Option<MemoryOverlay>) -> Self {
-        let disk_image_id = generate_disk_image_id(&file);
-        RawDiskImage { file, nsectors, read_only, offset, disk_image_id, overlay }
+        if self.open_type == OpenType::MemoryOverlay {
+            let overlay = MemoryOverlay::new()?;
+            self.overlay = Some(overlay);
+        }
+        Ok(())
     }
 }
 
 impl DiskImage for RawDiskImage {
     fn read_only(&self) -> bool {
-        self.read_only
+        self.open_type == OpenType::ReadOnly
     }
 
     fn sector_count(&self) -> u64 {
         self.nsectors
     }
 
-    fn disk_file(&self) -> &File {
-        &self.file
+    fn disk_file(&mut self) -> Result<&mut File> {
+        self.file.as_mut().ok_or(Error::NotOpen)
     }
 
-    fn seek_to_sector(&self, sector: u64) -> Result<()> {
+    fn seek_to_sector(&mut self, sector: u64) -> Result<()> {
         if sector > self.sector_count() {
             return Err(Error::BadSectorOffset(sector));
         }
         let offset = SeekFrom::Start(sector * SECTOR_SIZE as u64 + self.offset as u64);
-        self.disk_file().seek(offset)
+        let disk = self.disk_file()?;
+        disk.seek(offset)
             .map_err(Error::DiskSeek)?;
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -86,12 +89,13 @@ impl DiskImage for RawDiskImage {
         if let Some(ref mut overlay) = self.overlay {
             return overlay.write_sectors(start_sector, buffer);
         }
-        if self.read_only {
+        if self.read_only() {
             return Err(Error::ReadOnly)
         }
         self.seek_to_sector(start_sector)?;
         let len = (buffer.len() / SECTOR_SIZE) * SECTOR_SIZE;
-        self.file.write_all(&buffer[..len])
+        let file = self.disk_file()?;
+        file.write_all(&buffer[..len])
             .map_err(Error::DiskWrite)?;
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -105,7 +109,8 @@ impl DiskImage for RawDiskImage {
 
         self.seek_to_sector(start_sector)?;
         let len = (buffer.len() / SECTOR_SIZE) * SECTOR_SIZE;
-        self.file.read_exact(&mut buffer[..len])
+        let file = self.disk_file()?;
+        file.read_exact(&mut buffer[..len])
             .map_err(DiskRead)?;
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/rust/src/disk/realmfs.rs b/rust/src/disk/realmfs.rs
index 615afaa..896c35d 100644
--- a/rust/src/disk/realmfs.rs
+++ b/rust/src/disk/realmfs.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::disk::{Result, DiskImage, SECTOR_SIZE, RawDiskImage, OpenType};
 use std::fs::File;
-use std::path::Path;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 // skip 4096 byte realmfs header
 const HEADER_SECTOR_COUNT: usize = 8;
@@ -11,10 +11,13 @@ pub struct RealmFSImage {
 
 // Just pass everything through to raw image for now
 impl RealmFSImage {
-    pub fn open<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, read_only: bool) -> Result<Self> {
-        let open_type = if read_only { OpenType::ReadOnly } else { OpenType::MemoryOverlay };
-        let raw = RawDiskImage::open_with_offset(path, open_type, HEADER_SECTOR_COUNT * SECTOR_SIZE)?;
-        Ok(RealmFSImage { raw })
+    pub fn new<P: Into<PathBuf>>(path: P, open_type: OpenType) -> Self {
+        let offset = HEADER_SECTOR_COUNT * SECTOR_SIZE;
+        let raw = RawDiskImage::new_with_offset(path, open_type, offset);
+        RealmFSImage { raw }
+    }
+    pub fn open(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        self.raw.open()
     }
 }
 
@@ -27,7 +30,7 @@ impl DiskImage for RealmFSImage {
         self.raw.sector_count()
     }
 
-    fn disk_file(&self) -> &File {
+    fn disk_file(&mut self) -> Result<&mut File> {
         self.raw.disk_file()
     }
 
diff --git a/rust/src/main.rs b/rust/src/main.rs
index b9f9f83..301232b 100644
--- a/rust/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/src/main.rs
@@ -13,11 +13,9 @@ mod virtio;
 mod disk;
 
 pub use log::{Logger,LogLevel};
-use std::env;
 
 fn main() {
-    vm::VmConfig::new(env::args())
+    vm::VmConfig::new()
         .ram_size_megs(1024)
-        .use_realmfs("/home/user/Shared/main-realmfs.img")
         .boot();
 }
diff --git a/rust/src/vm/config.rs b/rust/src/vm/config.rs
index 2b2d7ea..6f99e07 100644
--- a/rust/src/vm/config.rs
+++ b/rust/src/vm/config.rs
@@ -1,39 +1,47 @@
 use std::path::{PathBuf, Path};
-use crate::vm::{Vm, Result, ErrorKind};
+use crate::vm::Vm;
 use std::{env, process};
-
-pub enum RootFS {
-    SelfRoot,
-    RealmFSImage(PathBuf),
-    RawImage(PathBuf),
-    RawOffset(PathBuf, usize),
-}
+use crate::devices::SyntheticFS;
+use crate::disk::{RawDiskImage, RealmFSImage, OpenType};
+use libcitadel::Realms;
+use libcitadel::terminal::{TerminalPalette, AnsiTerminal};
 
 pub struct VmConfig {
     ram_size: usize,
     ncpus: usize,
     verbose: bool,
+    rootshell: bool,
+    home: String,
     launch_systemd: bool,
     kernel_path: Option<PathBuf>,
     init_path: Option<PathBuf>,
     init_cmd: Option<String>,
-    rootfs: RootFS,
+    raw_disks: Vec<RawDiskImage>,
+
+    realmfs_images: Vec<RealmFSImage>,
+    realm_name: Option<String>,
+    synthetic: Option<SyntheticFS>,
 }
 
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 impl VmConfig {
-    pub fn new(args: env::Args) -> VmConfig {
+    pub fn new() -> VmConfig {
         let mut config = VmConfig {
             ram_size: 256 * 1024 * 1024,
             ncpus: 1,
             verbose: false,
+            rootshell: false,
+            home: String::from("/home/user"),
             launch_systemd: false,
             kernel_path: None,
             init_path: None,
             init_cmd: None,
-            rootfs: RootFS::SelfRoot,
+            realm_name: None,
+            raw_disks: Vec::new(),
+            realmfs_images: Vec::new(),
+            synthetic: None,
         };
-        config.parse_args(args);
+        config.parse_args();
         config
     }
 
@@ -42,6 +50,21 @@ impl VmConfig {
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn raw_disk_image<P: Into<PathBuf>>(mut self, path: P, open_type: OpenType) -> Self {
+        self.raw_disks.push(RawDiskImage::new(path, open_type));
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn raw_disk_image_with_offset<P: Into<PathBuf>>(mut self, path: P, open_type: OpenType, offset: usize) -> Self {
+        self.raw_disks.push(RawDiskImage::new_with_offset(path, open_type, offset));
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn realmfs_image<P: Into<PathBuf>>(mut self, path: P) -> Self {
+        self.realmfs_images.push(RealmFSImage::new(path, OpenType::MemoryOverlay));
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn num_cpus(mut self, ncpus: usize) -> Self {
         self.ncpus = ncpus;
         self
@@ -62,27 +85,20 @@ impl VmConfig {
         self
     }
 
-    pub fn use_realmfs<P: Into<PathBuf>>(mut self, path: P) -> Self {
-        self.rootfs = RootFS::RealmFSImage(path.into());
-        self
-    }
-
-    pub fn use_rawdisk<P: Into<PathBuf>>(mut self, path: P) -> Self {
-        self.rootfs = RootFS::RawImage(path.into());
-        self
-    }
-
-    pub fn use_rawdisk_with_offset<P: Into<PathBuf>>(mut self, path: P, offset: usize) -> Self {
-        self.rootfs = RootFS::RawOffset(path.into(), offset);
-        self
-    }
-
     pub fn use_systemd(mut self) -> Self {
         self.launch_systemd = true;
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn synthetic_fs(mut self, sfs: SyntheticFS) -> Self {
+        self.synthetic = Some(sfs);
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn boot(self) {
+
+        let _terminal_restore = TerminalRestore::save();
+
         match Vm::open(self) {
             Ok(vm) => if let Err(err) = vm.start() {
                 notify!("Error starting VM: {}", err);
@@ -103,83 +119,155 @@ impl VmConfig {
         self.verbose
     }
 
+    pub fn rootshell(&self) -> bool {
+        self.rootshell
+    }
+
+    pub fn homedir(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.home
+    }
+
     pub fn launch_systemd(&self) -> bool {
         self.launch_systemd
     }
 
-    pub fn get_kernel_path(&self) -> Result<PathBuf> {
-        match self.kernel_path {
-            Some(ref path) if path.exists() => return Ok(path.to_path_buf()),
-            None => if let Some(path) = Self::search_kernel() {
-                return Ok(path)
-            }
-            _ => {},
-        }
-        Err(ErrorKind::KernelNotFound.into())
+    pub fn has_block_image(&self) -> bool {
+        !(self.realmfs_images.is_empty() && self.raw_disks.is_empty())
     }
 
-    pub fn get_init_path(&self) -> Result<PathBuf> {
-        match self.init_path {
-            Some(ref path) if path.exists() => return Ok(path.to_path_buf()),
-            None => if let Some(path) = Self::search_init() {
-                return Ok(path)
-            }
-            _ => {},
-        }
-        Err(ErrorKind::InitNotFound.into())
+    pub fn get_realmfs_images(&mut self) -> Vec<RealmFSImage> {
+        self.realmfs_images.drain(..).collect()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_raw_disk_images(&mut self) -> Vec<RawDiskImage> {
+        self.raw_disks.drain(..).collect()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_synthetic_fs(&self) -> Option<SyntheticFS> {
+        self.synthetic.clone()
     }
 
     pub fn get_init_cmdline(&self) -> Option<&str> {
         self.init_cmd.as_ref().map(|s| s.as_str())
     }
 
-    pub fn rootfs(&self) -> &RootFS {
-        &self.rootfs
+    pub fn realm_name(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        self.realm_name.as_ref().map(|s| s.as_str())
     }
 
-    fn search_init() -> Option<PathBuf> {
-        Self::search_binary("ph-init", &[
-            "rust/target/release", "rust/target/debug",
-            "target/debug", "target/release"
-        ])
+    fn add_realmfs_by_name(&mut self, realmfs: &str) {
+        let path = Path::new("/realms/realmfs-images")
+            .join(format!("{}-realmfs.img", realmfs));
+        if !path.exists() {
+            eprintln!("Realmfs image does not exist at {}", path.display());
+            process::exit(1);
+        }
+        self.realmfs_images.push(RealmFSImage::new(path, OpenType::MemoryOverlay));
     }
 
-    fn search_kernel() -> Option<PathBuf> {
-        Self::search_binary("ph_linux", &["kernel", "../kernel"])
+    fn add_realm_by_name(&mut self, realm: &str) {
+        let realms = Realms::load().unwrap();
+        if let Some(realm) = realms.by_name(realm) {
+            let config = realm.config();
+            let realmfs = config.realmfs();
+            self.add_realmfs_by_name(realmfs);
+            self.home = realm.base_path().join("home").display().to_string();
+            self.realm_name = Some(realm.name().to_string())
+        }
     }
 
-    fn search_binary(name: &str, paths: &[&str]) -> Option<PathBuf> {
-        let cwd = match env::current_dir() {
-            Ok(cwd) => cwd,
-            _ => return None,
-        };
+    fn parse_args(&mut self) {
+        let args = ProgramArgs::new();
+        if args.has_arg("-v") {
+            self.verbose = true;
+        }
+        if args.has_arg("--root") {
+            self.rootshell = true;
+        }
+        if let Some(home) = args.arg_with_value("--home") {
+            self.home = home.to_string();
+        }
+        if let Some(realmfs) = args.arg_with_value("--realmfs") {
+            self.add_realmfs_by_name(realmfs);
+        }
+        if let Some(realm) = args.arg_with_value("--realm") {
+            self.add_realm_by_name(realm);
+        }
+    }
+}
 
-        for p in paths {
-            let p = Path::new(p).join(name);
-            let current = if p.is_absolute() {
-                p
-            } else {
-                cwd.join(p)
-            };
-            if current.exists() {
-                return Some(current);
+struct ProgramArgs {
+    args: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+impl ProgramArgs {
+    fn new() -> Self {
+        ProgramArgs {
+            args: env::args().skip(1).collect(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn has_arg(&self, name: &str) -> bool {
+        self.args.iter().any(|arg| arg.as_str() == name)
+    }
+
+    fn arg_with_value(&self, name: &str) -> Option<&str> {
+        let mut iter = self.args.iter();
+        while let Some(arg) = iter.next() {
+            if arg.as_str() == name {
+                match iter.next() {
+                    Some(val) => return Some(val.as_str()),
+                    None => {
+                        eprintln!("Expected value for {} argument", name);
+                        process::exit(1);
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
         None
     }
+}
 
-    fn parse_args(&mut self, args: env::Args) {
-        for arg in args.skip(1) {
-            self.parse_one_arg(&arg);
+pub struct TerminalRestore {
+    saved: Option<TerminalPalette>,
+}
+
+impl TerminalRestore {
+    pub fn save() -> Self {
+        let mut term = match AnsiTerminal::new() {
+            Ok(term) => term,
+            Err(e) => {
+                warn!("failed to open terminal: {}", e);
+                return TerminalRestore { saved: None }
+            }
+        };
+
+        let mut palette = TerminalPalette::default();
+        if let Err(e) = palette.load(&mut term) {
+            warn!("failed to load palette: {}", e);
+            return TerminalRestore { saved: None }
+        }
+        if let Err(e) = term.clear_screen() {
+            warn!("failed to clear screen: {}", e);
+            return TerminalRestore { saved: None }
+        }
+        TerminalRestore { saved: Some(palette) }
+    }
+
+    fn restore(&self) {
+        if let Some(p) = self.saved.as_ref() {
+            let mut term = match AnsiTerminal::new() {
+                Ok(term) => term,
+                _ => return,
+            };
+            let _ = p.apply(&mut term);
         }
     }
 
-    fn parse_one_arg(&mut self, arg: &str) {
-        if arg == "-v" {
-            self.verbose = true;
-        } else {
-            eprintln!("Unrecognized command line argument: {}", arg);
-            process::exit(1);
-        }
+}
+
+impl Drop for TerminalRestore {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.restore();
     }
 }
diff --git a/rust/src/vm/error.rs b/rust/src/vm/error.rs
index 41e781a..f301097 100644
--- a/rust/src/vm/error.rs
+++ b/rust/src/vm/error.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ pub type Result<T> = result::Result<T, Error>;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum ErrorKind {
-    KernelNotFound,
-    InitNotFound,
     InvalidAddress(u64),
     InvalidMappingOffset(usize),
     RegisterMemoryFailed,
@@ -26,13 +24,12 @@ pub enum ErrorKind {
     EventFdError,
     DiskImageOpen(disk::Error),
     TerminalTermios(io::Error),
+    IoError(io::Error),
 }
 
 impl ErrorKind {
     fn as_str(&self) -> &'static str {
         match *self {
-            ErrorKind::KernelNotFound => "Could not find kernel image",
-            ErrorKind::InitNotFound => "Could not find init image",
             ErrorKind::InvalidAddress(..) => "Invalid guest memory address",
             ErrorKind::InvalidMappingOffset(..) => "Invalid memory mapping offset",
             ErrorKind::RegisterMemoryFailed => "Failed to register memory region",
@@ -47,6 +44,7 @@ impl ErrorKind {
             ErrorKind::EventFdError => "eventfd error",
             ErrorKind::DiskImageOpen(_) => "failed to open disk image",
             ErrorKind::TerminalTermios(_) => "failed termios",
+            ErrorKind::IoError(_) => "i/o error",
         }
     }
 }
@@ -59,11 +57,18 @@ impl fmt::Display for ErrorKind {
             ErrorKind::IoctlFailed(name) => write!(f, "Ioctl {} failed", name),
             ErrorKind::DiskImageOpen(ref e) => write!(f, "failed to open disk image: {}", e),
             ErrorKind::TerminalTermios(ref e) => write!(f, "error reading/restoring terminal state: {}", e),
+            ErrorKind::IoError(ref e) => write!(f, "i/o error: {}", e),
             _ => write!(f, "{}", self.as_str()),
         }
     }
 }
 
+impl From<io::Error> for Error {
+    fn from(err: io::Error) -> Error {
+        ErrorKind::IoError(err).into()
+    }
+
+}
 impl From<ErrorKind> for Error {
     fn from(kind: ErrorKind) -> Error {
         Error { repr: Repr::Simple(kind) }
diff --git a/rust/src/vm/kernel_cmdline.rs b/rust/src/vm/kernel_cmdline.rs
index a2f8e9d..69d8a97 100644
--- a/rust/src/vm/kernel_cmdline.rs
+++ b/rust/src/vm/kernel_cmdline.rs
@@ -12,20 +12,16 @@ fn add_defaults(cmdline: &mut KernelCmdLine) {
         // keyboard reboot
         .push("reboot=k")
         .push_set_true("panic")
-        .push_set_val("tsc", "reliable")
-        .push("no_timer_check")
-        // faster rcu updates
-        .push_set_true("rcuupdate.rcu_expedited")
-        // then restore to normal after booting
-        .push_set_true("rcuupdate.rcu_normal_after_boot")
+
+        .push("init_on_alloc=0")
+        .push("init_on_free=0")
         .push_set_val("console", "hvc0")
 
         .push_set_true("i8042.direct")
         .push_set_true("i8042.dumbkbd")
         .push_set_true("i8042.nopnp")
         .push_set_true("i8042.noaux")
-        .push("noreplace-smp")
-        //.push("initcall_debug")
+   //     .push("initcall_debug")
         .push_set_val("iommu", "off")
         .push("cryptomgr.notests")
 
diff --git a/rust/src/vm/mod.rs b/rust/src/vm/mod.rs
index f48202e..44c07ae 100644
--- a/rust/src/vm/mod.rs
+++ b/rust/src/vm/mod.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
-use std::thread;
+use std::{thread, fs};
 
 use self::io::IoDispatcher;
 
 use crate::virtio::VirtioBus;
 use crate::devices;
-use crate::disk;
 
 use crate::memory::{GuestRam, KVM_KERNEL_LOAD_ADDRESS, MemoryManager, SystemAllocator, AddressRange};
 use crate::kvm::*;
 
+static KERNEL: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../kernel/ph_linux");
+static PHINIT: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../target/release/ph-init");
+static SOMMELIER: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../../sommelier/sommelier");
+
 mod run;
 pub mod io;
 mod setup;
@@ -25,11 +28,8 @@ use self::run::KvmRunArea;
 use self::kernel_cmdline::KernelCmdLine;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
-use crate::disk::OpenType;
 use termios::Termios;
-use crate::vm::config::RootFS;
-use std::path::Path;
-
+use crate::devices::SyntheticFS;
 
 pub struct Vm {
     _config: VmConfig,
@@ -76,61 +76,66 @@ impl Vm {
         Ok(MemoryManager::new(kvm, ram, allocator))
     }
 
-    fn setup_virtio(config: &VmConfig, cmdline: &mut KernelCmdLine, virtio: &mut VirtioBus) -> Result<()> {
+    fn setup_virtio(config: &mut VmConfig, cmdline: &mut KernelCmdLine, virtio: &mut VirtioBus) -> Result<()> {
         devices::VirtioSerial::create(virtio)?;
         devices::VirtioRandom::create(virtio)?;
         devices::VirtioWayland::create(virtio)?;
-        let init_path = config.get_init_path()?;
-        devices::VirtioP9::create(virtio, "home", "/home/user", &init_path)?;
+        devices::VirtioP9::create(virtio, "home", config.homedir(), false, false)?;
 
-        Self::setup_rootfs(config, cmdline, virtio, &init_path)
+        let mut block_root = false;
+
+        for mut disk in config.get_realmfs_images() {
+            disk.open().map_err(ErrorKind::DiskImageOpen)?;
+            devices::VirtioBlock::create(virtio, disk)?;
+            block_root = true;
+        }
+        for mut disk in config.get_raw_disk_images() {
+            disk.open().map_err(ErrorKind::DiskImageOpen)?;
+            devices::VirtioBlock::create(virtio, disk)?;
+            block_root = true;
+        }
+
+        if block_root {
+            cmdline.push("phinit.root=/dev/vda");
+            cmdline.push("phinit.rootfstype=ext4");
+        } else {
+            devices::VirtioP9::create(virtio, "9proot", "/", true, false)?;
+            cmdline.push_set_val("phinit.root", "9proot");
+            cmdline.push_set_val("phinit.rootfstype", "9p");
+            cmdline.push_set_val("phinit.rootflags", "trans=virtio");
+        }
+
+        Self::setup_synthetic_bootfs(cmdline, virtio)
     }
 
-    fn setup_rootfs(config: &VmConfig, cmdline: &mut KernelCmdLine, virtio: &mut VirtioBus, init_path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
-        match config.rootfs() {
-            RootFS::SelfRoot => {
-                devices::VirtioP9::create(virtio, "/dev/root", "/", &init_path)?;
-                notify!("9p root");
-                cmdline.push_set_val("root", "/dev/root");
-                cmdline.push("ro");
-                cmdline.push_set_val("rootfstype", "9p");
-                cmdline.push_set_val("rootflags", "trans=virtio,version=9p2000.L,cache=loose");
-                cmdline.push_set_val("init", "/phinit");
-            },
-            RootFS::RealmFSImage(ref path) => {
-                let disk = disk::RealmFSImage::open(path, false)
-                    .map_err(ErrorKind::DiskImageOpen)?;
-                devices::VirtioBlock::create(virtio, disk)?;
-                cmdline.push_set_val("root", "/dev/vda");
-                cmdline.push("rw");
-                cmdline.push_set_val("init", "/usr/bin/ph-init");
-            },
-            RootFS::RawImage(ref path) => {
-                let disk = disk::RawDiskImage::open(path, OpenType::MemoryOverlay).map_err(ErrorKind::DiskImageOpen)?;
-                devices::VirtioBlock::create(virtio, disk)?;
-                cmdline.push_set_val("root", "/dev/vda");
-                cmdline.push("rw");
-            },
-            RootFS::RawOffset(path, offset) => {
-                let disk = disk::RawDiskImage::open_with_offset(path, OpenType::ReadWrite, *offset)
-                    .map_err(ErrorKind::DiskImageOpen)?;
-                devices::VirtioBlock::create(virtio, disk)?;
-                cmdline.push_set_val("root", "/dev/vda");
-                cmdline.push("rw");
-                cmdline.push_set_val("init", "/usr/bin/ph-init");
-            }
-        };
+    fn setup_synthetic_bootfs(cmdline: &mut KernelCmdLine, virtio: &mut VirtioBus) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut s = SyntheticFS::new();
+        s.mkdirs(&["/tmp", "/proc", "/sys", "/dev", "/home/user", "/bin", "/etc"]);
+
+        fs::write("/tmp/ph-init", PHINIT)?;
+        s.add_library_dependencies("/tmp/ph-init")?;
+        fs::remove_file("/tmp/ph-init")?;
+
+        s.add_memory_file("/usr/bin", "ph-init", 0o755, PHINIT)?;
+        s.add_memory_file("/usr/bin", "sommelier", 0o755, SOMMELIER)?;
+
+        s.add_file("/etc", "ld.so.cache", 0o644, "/etc/ld.so.cache");
+        devices::VirtioP9::create_with_filesystem(s, virtio, "/dev/root", "/", false)?;
+        cmdline.push_set_val("init", "/usr/bin/ph-init");
+        cmdline.push_set_val("root", "/dev/root");
+        cmdline.push("ro");
+        cmdline.push_set_val("rootfstype", "9p");
+        cmdline.push_set_val("rootflags", "trans=virtio");
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub fn open(config: VmConfig) -> Result<Vm> {
-        let kernel_path = config.get_kernel_path()?;
+    pub fn open(mut config: VmConfig) -> Result<Vm> {
 
         let mut memory = Self::create_memory_manager(config.ram_size())?;
 
         let mut cmdline = KernelCmdLine::new_default();
 
-        setup::kernel::load_pm_kernel(memory.guest_ram(), &kernel_path, cmdline.address(), cmdline.size())?;
+        setup::kernel::load_pm_kernel(memory.guest_ram(), cmdline.address(), cmdline.size())?;
 
         let io_dispatch = IoDispatcher::new();
 
@@ -144,13 +149,19 @@ impl Vm {
         } else {
             cmdline.push("quiet");
         }
+        if config.rootshell() {
+            cmdline.push("phinit.rootshell");
+        }
+        if let Some(realm) = config.realm_name() {
+            cmdline.push_set_val("phinit.realm", realm);
+        }
 
         let saved= Termios::from_fd(0)
             .map_err(ErrorKind::TerminalTermios)?;
         let termios = Some(saved);
 
         let mut virtio = VirtioBus::new(memory.clone(), io_dispatch.clone(), memory.kvm().clone());
-        Self::setup_virtio(&config, &mut cmdline, &mut virtio)?;
+        Self::setup_virtio(&mut config, &mut cmdline, &mut virtio)?;
 
         if config.launch_systemd() {
             cmdline.push("phinit.run_systemd");
@@ -191,6 +202,5 @@ impl Vm {
         }
         Ok(())
     }
-
 }
 
diff --git a/rust/src/vm/setup/kernel.rs b/rust/src/vm/setup/kernel.rs
index d5b66c5..db3bfe6 100644
--- a/rust/src/vm/setup/kernel.rs
+++ b/rust/src/vm/setup/kernel.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 
-use std::path::Path;
-use std::fs::{File};
-use std::io::{self, Read,SeekFrom,Seek};
+use std::io::{self, Read, SeekFrom, Seek, Cursor};
 use byteorder::{LittleEndian,ReadBytesExt};
 
 use crate::memory::{self,GuestRam,KERNEL_ZERO_PAGE};
-use crate::vm::{Result,Error,ErrorKind};
+use crate::vm::{Result, Error, ErrorKind, KERNEL};
 
 
 // Documentation/x86/boot.txt
@@ -64,13 +62,13 @@ fn setup_zero_page(memory: &GuestRam, cmdline_addr: u64, cmdline_size: usize) ->
     setup_e820(memory, base)
 }
 
-pub fn load_pm_kernel(memory: &GuestRam, path: &Path, cmdline_addr: u64, cmdline_size: usize) -> Result<()> {
-    load_elf_kernel(memory, path).map_err(|_| Error::from(ErrorKind::ReadKernelFailed))?;
+pub fn load_pm_kernel(memory: &GuestRam, cmdline_addr: u64, cmdline_size: usize) -> Result<()> {
+    load_elf_kernel(memory).map_err(|_| Error::from(ErrorKind::ReadKernelFailed))?;
     setup_zero_page(memory,  cmdline_addr, cmdline_size)
 }
 
-pub fn load_elf_kernel(memory: &GuestRam, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let mut f = File::open(&path)?;
+pub fn load_elf_kernel(memory: &GuestRam) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let mut f = Cursor::new(KERNEL);
     f.seek(SeekFrom::Start(32))?;
     let phoff = f.read_u64::<LittleEndian>()?;
     f.seek(SeekFrom::Current(16))?;
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ pub fn load_elf_kernel(memory: &GuestRam, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
     f.seek(SeekFrom::Start(phoff))?;
     let mut v = Vec::new();
     for _ in 0..phnum {
-        let hdr = load_phdr(&f)?;
+        let hdr = load_phdr(&mut f)?;
         if hdr.p_type == 1 {
             v.push(hdr);
         }
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ pub fn load_elf_kernel(memory: &GuestRam, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn load_phdr<R: Read+Sized>(mut r: R) -> io::Result<ElfPhdr> {
+fn load_phdr<R: Read+Sized>(r: &mut R) -> io::Result<ElfPhdr> {
     let mut phdr: ElfPhdr = Default::default();
     phdr.p_type = r.read_u32::<LittleEndian>()?;
     phdr.p_flags = r.read_u32::<LittleEndian>()?;