diff --git a/weed/command/filer.go b/weed/command/filer.go
index a2929d0d3..5f0ceab48 100644
--- a/weed/command/filer.go
+++ b/weed/command/filer.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package command
 
 import (
 	"net/http"
-	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/reflection"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/pb/filer_pb"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -26,17 +26,10 @@ type FilerOptions struct {
 	publicPort              *int
 	collection              *string
 	defaultReplicaPlacement *string
-	dir                     *string
 	redirectOnRead          *bool
 	disableDirListing       *bool
-	confFile                *string
 	maxMB                   *int
 	secretKey               *string
-	cassandra_server        *string
-	cassandra_keyspace      *string
-	redis_server            *string
-	redis_password          *string
-	redis_database          *int
 }
 
 func init() {
@@ -46,23 +39,15 @@ func init() {
 	f.ip = cmdFiler.Flag.String("ip", "", "filer server http listen ip address")
 	f.port = cmdFiler.Flag.Int("port", 8888, "filer server http listen port")
 	f.publicPort = cmdFiler.Flag.Int("port.public", 0, "port opened to public")
-	f.dir = cmdFiler.Flag.String("dir", os.TempDir(), "directory to store meta data")
 	f.defaultReplicaPlacement = cmdFiler.Flag.String("defaultReplicaPlacement", "000", "default replication type if not specified")
 	f.redirectOnRead = cmdFiler.Flag.Bool("redirectOnRead", false, "whether proxy or redirect to volume server during file GET request")
 	f.disableDirListing = cmdFiler.Flag.Bool("disableDirListing", false, "turn off directory listing")
-	f.confFile = cmdFiler.Flag.String("confFile", "", "json encoded filer conf file")
 	f.maxMB = cmdFiler.Flag.Int("maxMB", 32, "split files larger than the limit")
-	f.cassandra_server = cmdFiler.Flag.String("cassandra.server", "", "host[:port] of the cassandra server")
-	f.cassandra_keyspace = cmdFiler.Flag.String("cassandra.keyspace", "seaweed", "keyspace of the cassandra server")
-	f.redis_server = cmdFiler.Flag.String("redis.server", "", "comma separated host:port[,host2:port2]* of the redis server, e.g., 127.0.0.1:6379")
-	f.redis_password = cmdFiler.Flag.String("redis.password", "", "password in clear text")
-	f.redis_database = cmdFiler.Flag.Int("redis.database", 0, "the database on the redis server")
 	f.secretKey = cmdFiler.Flag.String("secure.secret", "", "secret to encrypt Json Web Token(JWT)")
-
 }
 
 var cmdFiler = &Command{
-	UsageLine: "filer -port=8888 -dir=/tmp -master=<ip:port>",
+	UsageLine: "filer -port=8888 -master=<ip:port>",
 	Short:     "start a file server that points to a master server",
 	Long: `start a file server which accepts REST operation for any files.
 
@@ -75,20 +60,15 @@ var cmdFiler = &Command{
 	//return a json format subdirectory and files listing
 	GET /path/to/
 
-  Current <fullpath~fileid> mapping metadata store is local embedded leveldb.
-  It should be highly scalable to hundreds of millions of files on a modest machine.
+	The configuration file "filer.toml" is read from ".", "$HOME/.seaweedfs/", or "/etc/seaweedfs/", in that order.
 
-  Future we will ensure it can avoid of being SPOF.
+	The following are example filer.toml configuration file.
 
-  `,
+` + filer2.FILER_TOML_EXAMPLE + "\n",
 }
 
 func runFiler(cmd *Command, args []string) bool {
 
-	if err := util.TestFolderWritable(*f.dir); err != nil {
-		glog.Fatalf("Check Meta Folder (-dir) Writable %s : %s", *f.dir, err)
-	}
-
 	f.start()
 
 	return true
@@ -104,13 +84,10 @@ func (fo *FilerOptions) start() {
 	}
 
 	fs, nfs_err := weed_server.NewFilerServer(defaultMux, publicVolumeMux,
-		*fo.ip, *fo.port, *fo.master, *fo.dir, *fo.collection,
+		*fo.ip, *fo.port, *fo.master, *fo.collection,
 		*fo.defaultReplicaPlacement, *fo.redirectOnRead, *fo.disableDirListing,
-		*fo.confFile,
 		*fo.maxMB,
 		*fo.secretKey,
-		*fo.cassandra_server, *fo.cassandra_keyspace,
-		*fo.redis_server, *fo.redis_password, *fo.redis_database,
 	)
 	if nfs_err != nil {
 		glog.Fatalf("Filer startup error: %v", nfs_err)
diff --git a/weed/command/server.go b/weed/command/server.go
index 2425532ac..503b2c61d 100644
--- a/weed/command/server.go
+++ b/weed/command/server.go
@@ -87,17 +87,10 @@ func init() {
 	filerOptions.collection = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.collection", "", "all data will be stored in this collection")
 	filerOptions.port = cmdServer.Flag.Int("filer.port", 8888, "filer server http listen port")
 	filerOptions.publicPort = cmdServer.Flag.Int("filer.port.public", 0, "filer server public http listen port")
-	filerOptions.dir = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.dir", "", "directory to store meta data, default to a 'filer' sub directory of what -dir is specified")
 	filerOptions.defaultReplicaPlacement = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.defaultReplicaPlacement", "", "Default replication type if not specified during runtime.")
 	filerOptions.redirectOnRead = cmdServer.Flag.Bool("filer.redirectOnRead", false, "whether proxy or redirect to volume server during file GET request")
 	filerOptions.disableDirListing = cmdServer.Flag.Bool("filer.disableDirListing", false, "turn off directory listing")
-	filerOptions.confFile = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.confFile", "", "json encoded filer conf file")
 	filerOptions.maxMB = cmdServer.Flag.Int("filer.maxMB", 32, "split files larger than the limit")
-	filerOptions.cassandra_server = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.cassandra.server", "", "host[:port] of the cassandra server")
-	filerOptions.cassandra_keyspace = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.cassandra.keyspace", "seaweed", "keyspace of the cassandra server")
-	filerOptions.redis_server = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.redis.server", "", "host:port of the redis server, e.g., 127.0.0.1:6379")
-	filerOptions.redis_password = cmdServer.Flag.String("filer.redis.password", "", "redis password in clear text")
-	filerOptions.redis_database = cmdServer.Flag.Int("filer.redis.database", 0, "the database on the redis server")
 }
 
 func runServer(cmd *Command, args []string) bool {
@@ -157,15 +150,6 @@ func runServer(cmd *Command, args []string) bool {
 	if *masterMetaFolder == "" {
 		*masterMetaFolder = folders[0]
 	}
-	if *isStartingFiler {
-		if *filerOptions.dir == "" {
-			*filerOptions.dir = *masterMetaFolder + "/filer"
-			os.MkdirAll(*filerOptions.dir, 0700)
-		}
-		if err := util.TestFolderWritable(*filerOptions.dir); err != nil {
-			glog.Fatalf("Check Mapping Meta Folder (-filer.dir=\"%s\") Writable: %s", *filerOptions.dir, err)
-		}
-	}
 	if err := util.TestFolderWritable(*masterMetaFolder); err != nil {
 		glog.Fatalf("Check Meta Folder (-mdir=\"%s\") Writable: %s", *masterMetaFolder, err)
 	}
diff --git a/weed/filer2/configuration.go b/weed/filer2/configuration.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6dabf10b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/filer2/configuration.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package filer2
+
+import (
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/glog"
+)
+
+const (
+	FILER_TOML_EXAMPLE = `
+# A sample TOML config file for SeaweedFS filer store
+
+# local in memory, mostly for testing purpose
+[memory]
+enabled = false
+
+[leveldb]
+enabled = false
+dir = "."					# directory to store level db files
+
+[mysql]
+enabled = true
+server = "192.168.1.1"
+port = 8080
+username = ""
+password = ""
+database = ""
+connection_max_idle = 100
+connection_max_open = 100
+
+[postgres]
+enabled = false
+server = "192.168.1.1"
+port = 8080
+username = ""
+password = ""
+database = ""
+connection_max_idle = 100
+connection_max_open = 100
+
+`
+)
+
+var (
+	Stores []FilerStore
+)
+
+func (f *Filer) LoadConfiguration() {
+
+	// find a filer store
+	viper.SetConfigName("filer")            // name of config file (without extension)
+	viper.AddConfigPath(".")                // optionally look for config in the working directory
+	viper.AddConfigPath("$HOME/.seaweedfs") // call multiple times to add many search paths
+	viper.AddConfigPath("/etc/seaweedfs/")  // path to look for the config file in
+	if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err != nil { // Handle errors reading the config file
+		glog.Fatalf("Failed to load filer.toml file from current directory, or $HOME/.seaweedfs/, or /etc/seaweedfs/" +
+			"\n\nPlease follow this example and add a filer.toml file to " +
+			"current directory, or $HOME/.seaweedfs/, or /etc/seaweedfs/:\n" + FILER_TOML_EXAMPLE)
+	}
+
+	glog.V(0).Infof("Reading filer configuration from %s", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
+	for _, store := range Stores {
+		if viper.GetBool(store.GetName() + ".enabled") {
+			viperSub := viper.Sub(store.GetName())
+			if err := store.Initialize(viperSub); err != nil {
+				glog.Fatalf("Failed to initialize store for %s: %+v",
+					store.GetName(), err)
+			}
+			f.SetStore(store)
+			glog.V(0).Infof("Configure filer for %s from %s", store.GetName(), viper.ConfigFileUsed())
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	println()
+	println("Supported filer stores are:")
+	for _, store := range Stores {
+		println("    " + store.GetName())
+	}
+
+	println()
+	println("Please configure a supported filer store in", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
+	println()
+
+	os.Exit(-1)
+}
diff --git a/weed/filer2/embedded/embedded_store.go b/weed/filer2/embedded/embedded_store.go
deleted file mode 100644
index f2cafacdd..000000000
--- a/weed/filer2/embedded/embedded_store.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-package embedded
-
-import (
-	"github.com/syndtr/goleveldb/leveldb"
-	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2"
-)
-
-type EmbeddedStore struct {
-	db *leveldb.DB
-}
-
-func NewEmbeddedStore(dir string) (filer *EmbeddedStore, err error) {
-	filer = &EmbeddedStore{}
-	if filer.db, err = leveldb.OpenFile(dir, nil); err != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	return
-}
-
-func (filer *EmbeddedStore) InsertEntry(entry *filer2.Entry) (err error) {
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (filer *EmbeddedStore) UpdateEntry(entry *filer2.Entry) (err error) {
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (filer *EmbeddedStore) FindEntry(fullpath filer2.FullPath) (found bool, entry *filer2.Entry, err error) {
-	return false, nil, nil
-}
-
-func (filer *EmbeddedStore) DeleteEntry(fullpath filer2.FullPath) (entry *filer2.Entry, err error) {
-	return nil, nil
-}
-
-func (filer *EmbeddedStore) ListDirectoryEntries(fullpath filer2.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int) (entries []*filer2.Entry, err error) {
-	return nil, nil
-}
diff --git a/weed/filer2/entry.go b/weed/filer2/entry.go
index 53d069ed1..f741d4bb3 100644
--- a/weed/filer2/entry.go
+++ b/weed/filer2/entry.go
@@ -28,15 +28,14 @@ type Entry struct {
 	Chunks []*filer_pb.FileChunk `json:"chunks,omitempty"`
 }
 
-func (entry Entry) Size() uint64 {
+func (entry *Entry) Size() uint64 {
 	return TotalSize(entry.Chunks)
 }
 
-func (entry Entry) Timestamp() time.Time {
+func (entry *Entry) Timestamp() time.Time {
 	if entry.IsDirectory() {
 		return entry.Crtime
 	} else {
 		return entry.Mtime
 	}
 }
-
diff --git a/weed/filer2/entry_codec.go b/weed/filer2/entry_codec.go
index 7d2b2da37..7fafea3e3 100644
--- a/weed/filer2/entry_codec.go
+++ b/weed/filer2/entry_codec.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 )
 
-func (entry Entry) EncodeAttributesAndChunks() ([]byte, error) {
+func (entry *Entry) EncodeAttributesAndChunks() ([]byte, error) {
 	message := &filer_pb.Entry{
 		Attributes: &filer_pb.FuseAttributes{
 			Crtime:   entry.Attr.Crtime.Unix(),
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func (entry Entry) EncodeAttributesAndChunks() ([]byte, error) {
 	return proto.Marshal(message)
 }
 
-func (entry Entry) DecodeAttributesAndChunks(blob []byte) (error) {
+func (entry *Entry) DecodeAttributesAndChunks(blob []byte) (error) {
 
 	message := &filer_pb.Entry{}
 
diff --git a/weed/filer2/filer.go b/weed/filer2/filer.go
index 6b83db0e6..35d69b32e 100644
--- a/weed/filer2/filer.go
+++ b/weed/filer2/filer.go
@@ -50,11 +50,7 @@ func (f *Filer) CreateEntry(entry *Entry) (error) {
 		// not found, check the store directly
 		if dirEntry == nil {
 			glog.V(4).Infof("find uncached directory: %s", dirPath)
-			var dirFindErr error
-			_, dirEntry, dirFindErr = f.FindEntry(FullPath(dirPath))
-			if dirFindErr != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("findDirectory %s: %v", dirPath, dirFindErr)
-			}
+			dirEntry, _ = f.FindEntry(FullPath(dirPath))
 		} else {
 			glog.V(4).Infof("found cached directory: %s", dirPath)
 		}
@@ -116,13 +112,13 @@ func (f *Filer) UpdateEntry(entry *Entry) (err error) {
 	return f.store.UpdateEntry(entry)
 }
 
-func (f *Filer) FindEntry(p FullPath) (found bool, entry *Entry, err error) {
+func (f *Filer) FindEntry(p FullPath) (entry *Entry, err error) {
 	return f.store.FindEntry(p)
 }
 
 func (f *Filer) DeleteEntry(p FullPath) (fileEntry *Entry, err error) {
-	found, entry, err := f.FindEntry(p)
-	if err != nil || !found {
+	entry, err := f.FindEntry(p)
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if entry.IsDirectory() {
diff --git a/weed/filer2/filerstore.go b/weed/filer2/filerstore.go
index e90ec15ed..b9f7d1198 100644
--- a/weed/filer2/filerstore.go
+++ b/weed/filer2/filerstore.go
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 package filer2
 
-import "errors"
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+)
 
 type FilerStore interface {
+	GetName() string
+	Initialize(viper *viper.Viper) (error)
 	InsertEntry(*Entry) (error)
 	UpdateEntry(*Entry) (err error)
-	FindEntry(FullPath) (found bool, entry *Entry, err error)
+	FindEntry(FullPath) (entry *Entry, err error)
 	DeleteEntry(FullPath) (fileEntry *Entry, err error)
 	ListDirectoryEntries(dirPath FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int) ([]*Entry, error)
 }
diff --git a/weed/filer2/leveldb/leveldb_store.go b/weed/filer2/leveldb/leveldb_store.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..faf361f15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/filer2/leveldb/leveldb_store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+package leveldb
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"bytes"
+
+	"github.com/syndtr/goleveldb/leveldb"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2"
+	leveldb_util "github.com/syndtr/goleveldb/leveldb/util"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/glog"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+	weed_util "github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/util"
+)
+
+const (
+	DIR_FILE_SEPARATOR = byte(0x00)
+)
+
+func init() {
+	filer2.Stores = append(filer2.Stores, &LevelDBStore{})
+}
+
+type LevelDBStore struct {
+	db *leveldb.DB
+}
+
+func (filer *LevelDBStore) GetName() string {
+	return "leveldb"
+}
+
+func (filer *LevelDBStore) Initialize(viper *viper.Viper) (err error) {
+	dir := viper.GetString("dir")
+	return filer.initialize(dir)
+}
+
+func (filer *LevelDBStore) initialize(dir string) (err error) {
+	if err := weed_util.TestFolderWritable(dir); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Check Level Folder %s Writable: %s", dir, err)
+	}
+
+	if filer.db, err = leveldb.OpenFile(dir, nil); err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+func (store *LevelDBStore) InsertEntry(entry *filer2.Entry) (err error) {
+	key := genKey(entry.DirAndName())
+
+	value, err := entry.EncodeAttributesAndChunks()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("encoding %s %+v: %v", entry.FullPath, entry.Attr, err)
+	}
+
+	err = store.db.Put(key, value, nil)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("persisting %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
+	}
+
+	// println("saved", entry.FullPath, "chunks", len(entry.Chunks))
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (store *LevelDBStore) UpdateEntry(entry *filer2.Entry) (err error) {
+
+	return store.InsertEntry(entry)
+}
+
+func (store *LevelDBStore) FindEntry(fullpath filer2.FullPath) (entry *filer2.Entry, err error) {
+	key := genKey(fullpath.DirAndName())
+
+	data, err := store.db.Get(key, nil)
+
+	if err == leveldb.ErrNotFound {
+		return nil, filer2.ErrNotFound
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
+	}
+
+	entry = &filer2.Entry{
+		FullPath: fullpath,
+	}
+	err = entry.DecodeAttributesAndChunks(data)
+	if err != nil {
+		return entry, fmt.Errorf("decode %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
+	}
+
+	// println("read", entry.FullPath, "chunks", len(entry.Chunks), "data", len(data), string(data))
+
+	return entry, nil
+}
+
+func (store *LevelDBStore) DeleteEntry(fullpath filer2.FullPath) (entry *filer2.Entry, err error) {
+	key := genKey(fullpath.DirAndName())
+
+	entry, _ = store.FindEntry(fullpath)
+
+	err = store.db.Delete(key, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return entry, fmt.Errorf("delete %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
+	}
+
+	return entry, nil
+}
+
+func (store *LevelDBStore) ListDirectoryEntries(fullpath filer2.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool,
+	limit int) (entries []*filer2.Entry, err error) {
+
+	directoryPrefix := genDirectoryKeyPrefix(fullpath, "")
+
+	iter := store.db.NewIterator(&leveldb_util.Range{Start: genDirectoryKeyPrefix(fullpath, startFileName)}, nil)
+	for iter.Next() {
+		key := iter.Key()
+		if !bytes.HasPrefix(key, directoryPrefix) {
+			break
+		}
+		fileName := getNameFromKey(key)
+		if fileName == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if fileName == startFileName && !inclusive {
+			continue
+		}
+		limit--
+		if limit < 0 {
+			break
+		}
+		entry := &filer2.Entry{
+			FullPath: filer2.NewFullPath(string(fullpath), fileName),
+		}
+		if decodeErr := entry.DecodeAttributesAndChunks(iter.Value()); decodeErr != nil {
+			err = decodeErr
+			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
+			break
+		}
+		entries = append(entries, entry)
+	}
+	iter.Release()
+
+	return entries, err
+}
+
+func genKey(dirPath, fileName string) (key []byte) {
+	key = []byte(dirPath)
+	key = append(key, DIR_FILE_SEPARATOR)
+	key = append(key, []byte(fileName)...)
+	return key
+}
+
+func genDirectoryKeyPrefix(fullpath filer2.FullPath, startFileName string) (keyPrefix []byte) {
+	keyPrefix = []byte(string(fullpath))
+	keyPrefix = append(keyPrefix, DIR_FILE_SEPARATOR)
+	if len(startFileName) > 0 {
+		keyPrefix = append(keyPrefix, []byte(startFileName)...)
+	}
+	return keyPrefix
+}
+
+func getNameFromKey(key []byte) (string) {
+
+	sepIndex := len(key) - 1
+	for sepIndex >= 0 && key[sepIndex] != DIR_FILE_SEPARATOR {
+		sepIndex--
+	}
+
+	return string(key[sepIndex+1:])
+
+}
diff --git a/weed/filer2/leveldb/leveldb_store_test.go b/weed/filer2/leveldb/leveldb_store_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..87f77d138
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/filer2/leveldb/leveldb_store_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package leveldb
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+)
+
+func TestCreateAndFind(t *testing.T) {
+	filer := filer2.NewFiler("")
+	dir, _ := ioutil.TempDir("", "seaweedfs_filer_test")
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
+	store := &LevelDBStore{}
+	store.initialize(dir)
+	filer.SetStore(store)
+	filer.DisableDirectoryCache()
+
+	fullpath := filer2.FullPath("/home/chris/this/is/one/file1.jpg")
+
+	entry1 := &filer2.Entry{
+		FullPath: fullpath,
+		Attr: filer2.Attr{
+			Mode: 0440,
+			Uid:  1234,
+			Gid:  5678,
+		},
+	}
+
+	if err := filer.CreateEntry(entry1); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("create entry %v: %v", entry1.FullPath, err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	entry, err := filer.FindEntry(fullpath)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("find entry: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if entry.FullPath != entry1.FullPath {
+		t.Errorf("find wrong entry: %v", entry.FullPath)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// checking one upper directory
+	entries, _ := filer.ListDirectoryEntries(filer2.FullPath("/home/chris/this/is/one"), "", false, 100)
+	if len(entries) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("list entries count: %v", len(entries))
+		return
+	}
+
+	// checking one upper directory
+	entries, _ = filer.ListDirectoryEntries(filer2.FullPath("/"), "", false, 100)
+	if len(entries) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("list entries count: %v", len(entries))
+		return
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store.go b/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store.go
index 34757b00f..7d26f3dc7 100644
--- a/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store.go
@@ -6,8 +6,13 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
+func init() {
+	filer2.Stores = append(filer2.Stores, &MemDbStore{})
+}
+
 type MemDbStore struct {
 	tree *btree.BTree
 }
@@ -20,10 +25,13 @@ func (a Entry) Less(b btree.Item) bool {
 	return strings.Compare(string(a.FullPath), string(b.(Entry).FullPath)) < 0
 }
 
-func NewMemDbStore() (filer *MemDbStore) {
-	filer = &MemDbStore{}
+func (filer *MemDbStore) GetName() string {
+	return "memory"
+}
+
+func (filer *MemDbStore) Initialize(viper *viper.Viper) (err error) {
 	filer.tree = btree.New(8)
-	return
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (filer *MemDbStore) InsertEntry(entry *filer2.Entry) (err error) {
@@ -34,22 +42,21 @@ func (filer *MemDbStore) InsertEntry(entry *filer2.Entry) (err error) {
 }
 
 func (filer *MemDbStore) UpdateEntry(entry *filer2.Entry) (err error) {
-	found, _, err := filer.FindEntry(entry.FullPath)
-	if !found {
-		return fmt.Errorf("No such file: %s", entry.FullPath)
+	if _, err = filer.FindEntry(entry.FullPath); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("no such file %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 	}
 	entry.Mtime = time.Now()
 	filer.tree.ReplaceOrInsert(Entry{entry})
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (filer *MemDbStore) FindEntry(fullpath filer2.FullPath) (found bool, entry *filer2.Entry, err error) {
+func (filer *MemDbStore) FindEntry(fullpath filer2.FullPath) (entry *filer2.Entry, err error) {
 	item := filer.tree.Get(Entry{&filer2.Entry{FullPath: fullpath}})
 	if item == nil {
-		return false, nil, nil
+		return nil, nil
 	}
 	entry = item.(Entry).Entry
-	return true, entry, nil
+	return entry, nil
 }
 
 func (filer *MemDbStore) DeleteEntry(fullpath filer2.FullPath) (entry *filer2.Entry, err error) {
diff --git a/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store_test.go b/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store_test.go
index ab93a7665..b8d41bf8e 100644
--- a/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store_test.go
+++ b/weed/filer2/memdb/memdb_store_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import (
 
 func TestCreateAndFind(t *testing.T) {
 	filer := filer2.NewFiler("")
-	filer.SetStore(NewMemDbStore())
+	store := &MemDbStore{}
+	store.Initialize(nil)
+	filer.SetStore(store)
 	filer.DisableDirectoryCache()
 
 	fullpath := filer2.FullPath("/home/chris/this/is/one/file1.jpg")
@@ -47,7 +49,9 @@ func TestCreateAndFind(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestCreateFileAndList(t *testing.T) {
 	filer := filer2.NewFiler("")
-	filer.SetStore(NewMemDbStore())
+	store := &MemDbStore{}
+	store.Initialize(nil)
+	filer.SetStore(store)
 	filer.DisableDirectoryCache()
 
 	entry1 := &filer2.Entry{
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go
index 0d1d7ae22..6aa8d50ff 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go
@@ -14,12 +14,9 @@ import (
 
 func (fs *FilerServer) LookupDirectoryEntry(ctx context.Context, req *filer_pb.LookupDirectoryEntryRequest) (*filer_pb.LookupDirectoryEntryResponse, error) {
 
-	found, entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(filepath.Join(req.Directory, req.Name)))
+	entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(filepath.Join(req.Directory, req.Name)))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if !found {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s not found under %s", req.Name, req.Directory)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s not found under %s: %v", req.Name, req.Directory, err)
 	}
 
 	return &filer_pb.LookupDirectoryEntryResponse{
@@ -65,13 +62,10 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) GetEntryAttributes(ctx context.Context, req *filer_pb.Get
 
 	fullpath := filer2.NewFullPath(req.ParentDir, req.Name)
 
-	found, entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(fullpath)
+	entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(fullpath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if !found {
 		attributes.FileSize = 0
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("file %s not found", fullpath)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("FindEntry %s: %v", fullpath, err)
 	}
 
 	attributes.FileSize = entry.Size()
@@ -138,12 +132,9 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) CreateEntry(ctx context.Context, req *filer_pb.CreateEntr
 func (fs *FilerServer) UpdateEntry(ctx context.Context, req *filer_pb.UpdateEntryRequest) (*filer_pb.UpdateEntryResponse, error) {
 
 	fullpath := filepath.Join(req.Directory, req.Entry.Name)
-	found, entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(fullpath))
+	entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(fullpath))
 	if err != nil {
-		return &filer_pb.UpdateEntryResponse{}, err
-	}
-	if !found {
-		return &filer_pb.UpdateEntryResponse{}, fmt.Errorf("file not found: %s", fullpath)
+		return &filer_pb.UpdateEntryResponse{}, fmt.Errorf("not found %s: %v", fullpath, err)
 	}
 
 	// remove old chunks if not included in the new ones
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_server.go b/weed/server/filer_server.go
index 8eeced9cb..8687edf6d 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_server.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_server.go
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 package weed_server
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
 	"math/rand"
 	"net/http"
-	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -16,7 +14,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/storage"
 	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/util"
 	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2"
-	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2/memdb"
+	_ "github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2/memdb"
+	_ "github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer2/leveldb"
 )
 
 type filerConf struct {
@@ -25,21 +24,6 @@ type filerConf struct {
 	PostgresConf *postgres_store.PostgresConf `json:"postgres"`
 }
 
-func parseConfFile(confPath string) (*filerConf, error) {
-	var setting filerConf
-	configFile, err := os.Open(confPath)
-	defer configFile.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	jsonParser := json.NewDecoder(configFile)
-	if err = jsonParser.Decode(&setting); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &setting, nil
-}
-
 type FilerServer struct {
 	port               string
 	master             string
@@ -54,13 +38,10 @@ type FilerServer struct {
 	masterNodes        *storage.MasterNodes
 }
 
-func NewFilerServer(defaultMux, readonlyMux *http.ServeMux, ip string, port int, master string, dir string, collection string,
+func NewFilerServer(defaultMux, readonlyMux *http.ServeMux, ip string, port int, master string, collection string,
 	replication string, redirectOnRead bool, disableDirListing bool,
-	confFile string,
 	maxMB int,
 	secret string,
-	cassandra_server string, cassandra_keyspace string,
-	redis_server string, redis_password string, redis_database int,
 ) (fs *FilerServer, err error) {
 	fs = &FilerServer{
 		master:             master,
@@ -71,42 +52,9 @@ func NewFilerServer(defaultMux, readonlyMux *http.ServeMux, ip string, port int,
 		maxMB:              maxMB,
 		port:               ip + ":" + strconv.Itoa(port),
 	}
-
-	var setting *filerConf
-	if confFile != "" {
-		setting, err = parseConfFile(confFile)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	} else {
-		setting = new(filerConf)
-	}
-
-	if setting.MysqlConf != nil && len(setting.MysqlConf) != 0 {
-		// mysql_store := mysql_store.NewMysqlStore(setting.MysqlConf, setting.IsSharding, setting.ShardCount)
-		// fs.filer = flat_namespace.NewFlatNamespaceFiler(master, mysql_store)
-	} else if setting.PostgresConf != nil {
-		// fs.filer = postgres_store.NewPostgresStore(master, *setting.PostgresConf)
-	} else if cassandra_server != "" {
-		// cassandra_store, err := cassandra_store.NewCassandraStore(cassandra_keyspace, cassandra_server)
-		// if err != nil {
-		// 	glog.Fatalf("Can not connect to cassandra server %s with keyspace %s: %v", cassandra_server, cassandra_keyspace, err)
-		// }
-		// fs.filer = flat_namespace.NewFlatNamespaceFiler(master, cassandra_store)
-	} else if redis_server != "" {
-		// redis_store := redis_store.NewRedisStore(redis_server, redis_password, redis_database)
-		// fs.filer = flat_namespace.NewFlatNamespaceFiler(master, redis_store)
-	} else {
-		/*
-		if fs.filer, err = embedded_filer.NewFilerEmbedded(master, dir); err != nil {
-			glog.Fatalf("Can not start filer in dir %s : %v", dir, err)
-			return
-		}
-		*/
-	}
-
 	fs.filer = filer2.NewFiler(master)
-	fs.filer.SetStore(memdb.NewMemDbStore())
+
+	fs.filer.LoadConfiguration()
 
 	defaultMux.HandleFunc("/admin/register", fs.registerHandler)
 	defaultMux.HandleFunc("/", fs.filerHandler)
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_admin.go b/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_admin.go
index 01b18a76d..f3cf2754f 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_admin.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_admin.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) registerHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	glog.V(2).Infof("register %s to %s parse fileSize %s", fileId, path, r.FormValue("fileSize"))
 	err = fs.filer.CreateEntry(entry)
 	if err != nil {
-		glog.V(4).Infof("register %s to %s error: %v", fileId, path, err)
+		glog.V(0).Infof("register %s to %s error: %v", fileId, path, err)
 		writeJsonError(w, r, http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
 	} else {
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_read.go b/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_read.go
index 7c479e18b..e451a81de 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_read.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_read.go
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) GetOrHeadHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request,
 		path = path[:len(path)-1]
 	}
 
-	found, entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path))
-	if !found || err != nil {
-		glog.V(3).Infof("Not found %s: %v", path, err)
+	entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path))
+	if err != nil {
+		glog.V(1).Infof("Not found %s: %v", path, err)
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
 	}
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) GetOrHeadHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request,
 	}
 
 	if len(entry.Chunks) == 0 {
-		glog.V(3).Infof("Empty %s: %v", path)
+		glog.V(1).Infof("no file chunks for %s, attr=%+v", path, entry.Attr)
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_write.go b/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_write.go
index c6e735cf5..a24995956 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_write.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_server_handlers_write.go
@@ -76,20 +76,17 @@ func makeFormData(filename, mimeType string, content io.Reader) (formData io.Rea
 }
 
 func (fs *FilerServer) queryFileInfoByPath(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, path string) (fileId, urlLocation string, err error) {
-	var found bool
 	var entry *filer2.Entry
-	if found, entry, err = fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path)); err != nil {
+	if entry, err = fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path)); err != nil {
 		glog.V(0).Infoln("failing to find path in filer store", path, err.Error())
 		writeJsonError(w, r, http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
-	} else if found {
+	} else {
 		fileId = entry.Chunks[0].FileId
 		urlLocation, err = operation.LookupFileId(fs.getMasterNode(), fileId)
 		if err != nil {
 			glog.V(1).Infoln("operation LookupFileId %s failed, err is %s", fileId, err.Error())
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
 		}
-	} else {
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
 	}
 	return
 }
@@ -319,7 +316,7 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) PostHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	// also delete the old fid unless PUT operation
 	if r.Method != "PUT" {
-		if found, entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path)); err == nil && found {
+		if entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path)); err == nil {
 			oldFid := entry.Chunks[0].FileId
 			operation.DeleteFile(fs.getMasterNode(), oldFid, fs.jwt(oldFid))
 		} else if err != nil && err != filer.ErrNotFound {
@@ -485,7 +482,7 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) doAutoChunk(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, conte
 	path := r.URL.Path
 	// also delete the old fid unless PUT operation
 	if r.Method != "PUT" {
-		if found, entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path)); found && err == nil {
+		if entry, err := fs.filer.FindEntry(filer2.FullPath(path)); err == nil {
 			for _, chunk := range entry.Chunks {
 				oldFid := chunk.FileId
 				operation.DeleteFile(fs.getMasterNode(), oldFid, fs.jwt(oldFid))