diff --git a/weed/shell/command_bucket_create.go b/weed/shell/command_bucket_create.go
index 3546528aa..52d96e4c3 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_bucket_create.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_bucket_create.go
@@ -43,16 +43,11 @@ func (c *commandBucketCreate) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer i
 		return fmt.Errorf("empty bucket name")
 	}
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, _, parseErr := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(bucketCommand.Args()))
-	if parseErr != nil {
-		return parseErr
-	}
-
-	err = commandEnv.withFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort, func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
+	err = commandEnv.WithFilerClient(func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
 
 		resp, err := client.GetFilerConfiguration(context.Background(), &filer_pb.GetFilerConfigurationRequest{})
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("get filer %s:%d configuration: %v", filerServer, filerPort, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("get filer configuration: %v", err)
 		}
 		filerBucketsPath := resp.DirBuckets
 
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_bucket_delete.go b/weed/shell/command_bucket_delete.go
index 509b3c1de..07c2e74ac 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_bucket_delete.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_bucket_delete.go
@@ -38,19 +38,17 @@ func (c *commandBucketDelete) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer i
 		return fmt.Errorf("empty bucket name")
 	}
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, _, parseErr := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(bucketCommand.Args()))
+	_, parseErr := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(bucketCommand.Args()))
 	if parseErr != nil {
 		return parseErr
 	}
 
-	filerClient := commandEnv.getFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort)
-
 	var filerBucketsPath string
-	filerBucketsPath, err = readFilerBucketsPath(filerClient)
+	filerBucketsPath, err = readFilerBucketsPath(commandEnv)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read buckets: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	return filer_pb.Remove(filerClient, filerBucketsPath, *bucketName, false, true, true)
+	return filer_pb.Remove(commandEnv, filerBucketsPath, *bucketName, false, true, true)
 
 }
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_bucket_list.go b/weed/shell/command_bucket_list.go
index 486d40fba..b982ff646 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_bucket_list.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_bucket_list.go
@@ -34,20 +34,18 @@ func (c *commandBucketList) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, _, parseErr := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(bucketCommand.Args()))
+	_, parseErr := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(bucketCommand.Args()))
 	if parseErr != nil {
 		return parseErr
 	}
 
-	filerClient := commandEnv.getFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort)
-
 	var filerBucketsPath string
-	filerBucketsPath, err = readFilerBucketsPath(filerClient)
+	filerBucketsPath, err = readFilerBucketsPath(commandEnv)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read buckets: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	err = filer_pb.List(filerClient, filerBucketsPath, "", func(entry *filer_pb.Entry, isLast bool) {
+	err = filer_pb.List(commandEnv, filerBucketsPath, "", func(entry *filer_pb.Entry, isLast bool) {
 		if entry.Attributes.Replication == "" || entry.Attributes.Replication == "000" {
 			fmt.Fprintf(writer, "  %s\n", entry.Name)
 		} else {
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_cat.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_cat.go
index b1d4eea14..7177d8ac3 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_cat.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_cat.go
@@ -30,20 +30,18 @@ func (c *commandFsCat) Help() string {
 
 func (c *commandFsCat) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
-	input := findInputDirectory(args)
-
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(input)
+	path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if commandEnv.isDirectory(filerServer, filerPort, path) {
+	if commandEnv.isDirectory(path) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s is a directory", path)
 	}
 
 	dir, name := util.FullPath(path).DirAndName()
 
-	return commandEnv.withFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort, func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
+	return commandEnv.WithFilerClient(func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
 
 		request := &filer_pb.LookupDirectoryEntryRequest{
 			Name:      name,
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_cd.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_cd.go
index 377fd40f7..2cc28f7a2 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_cd.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_cd.go
@@ -30,25 +30,19 @@ func (c *commandFsCd) Help() string {
 
 func (c *commandFsCd) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
-	input := findInputDirectory(args)
-
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(input)
+	path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	if path == "/" {
-		commandEnv.option.FilerHost = filerServer
-		commandEnv.option.FilerPort = filerPort
 		commandEnv.option.Directory = "/"
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	err = commandEnv.checkDirectory(filerServer, filerPort, path)
+	err = commandEnv.checkDirectory(path)
 
 	if err == nil {
-		commandEnv.option.FilerHost = filerServer
-		commandEnv.option.FilerPort = filerPort
 		commandEnv.option.Directory = path
 	}
 
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_du.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_du.go
index 0372ba95f..f3d479614 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_du.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_du.go
@@ -32,18 +32,18 @@ func (c *commandFsDu) Help() string {
 
 func (c *commandFsDu) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
+	path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if commandEnv.isDirectory(filerServer, filerPort, path) {
+	if commandEnv.isDirectory(path) {
 		path = path + "/"
 	}
 
 	var blockCount, byteCount uint64
 	dir, name := util.FullPath(path).DirAndName()
-	blockCount, byteCount, err = duTraverseDirectory(writer, commandEnv.getFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort), dir, name)
+	blockCount, byteCount, err = duTraverseDirectory(writer, commandEnv, dir, name)
 
 	if name == "" && err == nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "block:%4d\tbyte:%10d\t%s\n", blockCount, byteCount, dir)
@@ -78,29 +78,13 @@ func duTraverseDirectory(writer io.Writer, filerClient filer_pb.FilerClient, dir
 	return
 }
 
-func (env *CommandEnv) withFilerClient(filerServer string, filerPort int64, fn func(filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error) error {
+func (env *CommandEnv) WithFilerClient(fn func(filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error) error {
 
-	filerGrpcAddress := fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", filerServer, filerPort+10000)
+	filerGrpcAddress := fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", env.option.FilerHost, env.option.FilerPort+10000)
 	return pb.WithGrpcFilerClient(filerGrpcAddress, env.option.GrpcDialOption, fn)
 
 }
 
-type commandFilerClient struct {
-	env         *CommandEnv
-	filerServer string
-	filerPort   int64
-}
-
-func (env *CommandEnv) getFilerClient(filerServer string, filerPort int64) *commandFilerClient {
-	return &commandFilerClient{
-		env:         env,
-		filerServer: filerServer,
-		filerPort:   filerPort,
-	}
-}
-func (c *commandFilerClient) WithFilerClient(fn func(filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error) error {
-	return c.env.withFilerClient(c.filerServer, c.filerPort, fn)
-}
-func (c *commandFilerClient) AdjustedUrl(hostAndPort string) string {
+func (env *CommandEnv) AdjustedUrl(hostAndPort string) string {
 	return hostAndPort
 }
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_ls.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_ls.go
index 66adf057e..be531e980 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_ls.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_ls.go
@@ -50,21 +50,19 @@ func (c *commandFsLs) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer
 		}
 	}
 
-	input := findInputDirectory(args)
-
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(input)
+	path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if commandEnv.isDirectory(filerServer, filerPort, path) {
+	if commandEnv.isDirectory(path) {
 		path = path + "/"
 	}
 
 	dir, name := util.FullPath(path).DirAndName()
 	entryCount := 0
 
-	err = filer_pb.ReadDirAllEntries(commandEnv.getFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort), util.FullPath(dir), name, func(entry *filer_pb.Entry, isLast bool) {
+	err = filer_pb.ReadDirAllEntries(commandEnv, util.FullPath(dir), name, func(entry *filer_pb.Entry, isLast bool) {
 
 		if !showHidden && strings.HasPrefix(entry.Name, ".") {
 			return
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_cat.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_cat.go
index cbbca746c..0679ec075 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_cat.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_cat.go
@@ -31,16 +31,14 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaCat) Help() string {
 
 func (c *commandFsMetaCat) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
-	input := findInputDirectory(args)
-
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(input)
+	path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	dir, name := util.FullPath(path).DirAndName()
 
-	return commandEnv.withFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort, func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
+	return commandEnv.WithFilerClient(func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
 
 		request := &filer_pb.LookupDirectoryEntryRequest{
 			Name:      name,
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_load.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_load.go
index a19e9d3ce..69ae9454c 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_load.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_load.go
@@ -37,11 +37,6 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaLoad) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(nil))
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	fileName := args[len(args)-1]
 
 	dst, err := os.OpenFile(fileName, os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
@@ -52,7 +47,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaLoad) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 
 	var dirCount, fileCount uint64
 
-	err = commandEnv.withFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort, func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
+	err = commandEnv.WithFilerClient(func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
 
 		sizeBuf := make([]byte, 4)
 
@@ -98,7 +93,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaLoad) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 
 	if err == nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "\ntotal %d directories, %d files", dirCount, fileCount)
-		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "\n%s is loaded to http://%s:%d%s\n", fileName, filerServer, filerPort, path)
+		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "\n%s is loaded.\n", fileName)
 	}
 
 	return err
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_notify.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_notify.go
index 995ea16a2..b361b61a6 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_notify.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_notify.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaNotify) Help() string {
 
 func (c *commandFsMetaNotify) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
+	path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaNotify) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer i
 
 	var dirCount, fileCount uint64
 
-	err = doTraverseBFS(writer, commandEnv.getFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort), util.FullPath(path), func(parentPath util.FullPath, entry *filer_pb.Entry) {
+	err = doTraverseBFS(writer, commandEnv, util.FullPath(path), func(parentPath util.FullPath, entry *filer_pb.Entry) {
 
 		if entry.IsDirectory {
 			dirCount++
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_save.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_save.go
index 4314542bd..a07a94ccb 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_save.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_meta_save.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaSave) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, parseErr := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(fsMetaSaveCommand.Args()))
+	path, parseErr := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(fsMetaSaveCommand.Args()))
 	if parseErr != nil {
 		return parseErr
 	}
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaSave) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 	fileName := *outputFileName
 	if fileName == "" {
 		fileName = fmt.Sprintf("%s-%d-%4d%02d%02d-%02d%02d%02d.meta",
-			filerServer, filerPort, t.Year(), t.Month(), t.Day(), t.Hour(), t.Minute(), t.Second())
+			commandEnv.option.FilerHost, commandEnv.option.FilerPort, t.Year(), t.Month(), t.Day(), t.Hour(), t.Minute(), t.Second())
 	}
 
 	dst, openErr := os.OpenFile(fileName, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, 0644)
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaSave) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 
 	var dirCount, fileCount uint64
 
-	err = doTraverseBFS(writer, commandEnv.getFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort), util.FullPath(path), func(parentPath util.FullPath, entry *filer_pb.Entry) {
+	err = doTraverseBFS(writer, commandEnv, util.FullPath(path), func(parentPath util.FullPath, entry *filer_pb.Entry) {
 
 		protoMessage := &filer_pb.FullEntry{
 			Dir:   string(parentPath),
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMetaSave) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 
 	if err == nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "total %d directories, %d files\n", dirCount, fileCount)
-		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "meta data for http://%s:%d%s is saved to %s\n", filerServer, filerPort, path, fileName)
+		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "meta data for %s is saved to %s\n", path, fileName)
 	}
 
 	return err
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_mv.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_mv.go
index 148ac6e2f..c7c0984fc 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_mv.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_mv.go
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ func (c *commandFsMv) Help() string {
 
 func (c *commandFsMv) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, sourcePath, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(args[0])
+	sourcePath, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(args[0])
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	_, _, destinationPath, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(args[1])
+	destinationPath, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(args[1])
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (c *commandFsMv) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer
 
 	destinationDir, destinationName := util.FullPath(destinationPath).DirAndName()
 
-	return commandEnv.withFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort, func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
+	return commandEnv.WithFilerClient(func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
 
 		// collect destination entry info
 		destinationRequest := &filer_pb.LookupDirectoryEntryRequest{
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_fs_tree.go b/weed/shell/command_fs_tree.go
index 0982082db..b0752ea03 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_fs_tree.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_fs_tree.go
@@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ func (c *commandFsTree) Help() string {
 
 func (c *commandFsTree) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
-	filerServer, filerPort, path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
+	path, err := commandEnv.parseUrl(findInputDirectory(args))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	dir, name := util.FullPath(path).DirAndName()
 
-	dirCount, fCount, terr := treeTraverseDirectory(writer, commandEnv.getFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort), util.FullPath(dir), name, newPrefix(), -1)
+	dirCount, fCount, terr := treeTraverseDirectory(writer, commandEnv, util.FullPath(dir), name, newPrefix(), -1)
 
 	if terr == nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(writer, "%d directories, %d files\n", dirCount, fCount)
diff --git a/weed/shell/commands.go b/weed/shell/commands.go
index 660929ec7..7e240de5f 100644
--- a/weed/shell/commands.go
+++ b/weed/shell/commands.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func NewCommandEnv(options ShellOptions) *CommandEnv {
 	}
 }
 
-func (ce *CommandEnv) parseUrl(input string) (filerServer string, filerPort int64, path string, err error) {
+func (ce *CommandEnv) parseUrl(input string) (path string, err error) {
 	if strings.HasPrefix(input, "http") {
 		err = fmt.Errorf("http://<filer>:<port> prefix is not supported any more")
 		return
@@ -56,35 +56,22 @@ func (ce *CommandEnv) parseUrl(input string) (filerServer string, filerPort int6
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(input, "/") {
 		input = filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Join(ce.option.Directory, input))
 	}
-	return ce.option.FilerHost, ce.option.FilerPort, input, err
+	return input, err
 }
 
-func (ce *CommandEnv) isDirectory(filerServer string, filerPort int64, path string) bool {
+func (ce *CommandEnv) isDirectory(path string) bool {
 
-	return ce.checkDirectory(filerServer, filerPort, path) == nil
+	return ce.checkDirectory(path) == nil
 
 }
 
-func (ce *CommandEnv) checkDirectory(filerServer string, filerPort int64, path string) error {
+func (ce *CommandEnv) checkDirectory(path string) error {
 
 	dir, name := util.FullPath(path).DirAndName()
 
-	return ce.withFilerClient(filerServer, filerPort, func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
+	_, err := filer_pb.Exists(ce, dir, name, true)
 
-		resp, lookupErr := filer_pb.LookupEntry(client, &filer_pb.LookupDirectoryEntryRequest{
-			Directory: dir,
-			Name:      name,
-		})
-		if lookupErr != nil {
-			return lookupErr
-		}
-
-		if !resp.Entry.IsDirectory {
-			return fmt.Errorf("not a directory")
-		}
-
-		return nil
-	})
+	return err
 
 }