diff --git a/weed/command/shell.go b/weed/command/shell.go
index eae68c3be..7f971c477 100644
--- a/weed/command/shell.go
+++ b/weed/command/shell.go
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 package command
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
 	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/security"
 	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/shell"
 	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/util"
@@ -8,18 +13,15 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	shellOptions shell.ShellOptions
+	shellOptions          shell.ShellOptions
+	shellInitialFilerUrl *string
+
 )
 
 func init() {
 	cmdShell.Run = runShell // break init cycle
 	shellOptions.Masters = cmdShell.Flag.String("master", "localhost:9333", "comma-separated master servers")
-	filerHost := cmdShell.Flag.String("filer.host", "localhost", "comma-separated filer server host")
-	flierPort := cmdShell.Flag.Int64("filer.port", 8888, "comma-separated filer server port")
-	directory := cmdShell.Flag.String("filer.dir", "/", "comma-separated filer server directory")
-	shellOptions.FilerHost = *filerHost
-	shellOptions.FilerPort = *flierPort
-	shellOptions.Directory = *directory
+	shellInitialFilerUrl = cmdShell.Flag.String("filer.url", "http://localhost:8888/", "initial filer url")
 }
 
 var cmdShell = &Command{
@@ -36,8 +38,35 @@ func runShell(command *Command, args []string) bool {
 	util.LoadConfiguration("security", false)
 	shellOptions.GrpcDialOption = security.LoadClientTLS(viper.Sub("grpc"), "client")
 
+
+	var filerPwdErr error
+	shellOptions.FilerHost, shellOptions.FilerPort, shellOptions.Directory, filerPwdErr = parseFilerUrl(*shellInitialFilerUrl)
+	if filerPwdErr != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("failed to parse url filer.url=%s : %v\n", *shellInitialFilerUrl, filerPwdErr)
+		return false
+	}
+
 	shell.RunShell(shellOptions)
 
 	return true
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+func parseFilerUrl(entryPath string) (filerServer string, filerPort int64, path string, err error) {
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(entryPath, "http://") && !strings.HasPrefix(entryPath, "https://") {
+		entryPath = "http://" + entryPath
+	}
+
+	var u *url.URL
+	u, err = url.Parse(entryPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	filerServer = u.Hostname()
+	portString := u.Port()
+	if portString != "" {
+		filerPort, err = strconv.ParseInt(portString, 10, 32)
+	}
+	path = u.Path
+	return
+}
diff --git a/weed/shell/commands.go b/weed/shell/commands.go
index b642ec253..02f576011 100644
--- a/weed/shell/commands.go
+++ b/weed/shell/commands.go
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 type ShellOptions struct {
-	Masters        *string
-	GrpcDialOption grpc.DialOption
+	Masters         *string
+	GrpcDialOption  grpc.DialOption
 	// shell transient context
 	FilerHost string
 	FilerPort int64