diff --git a/alpine/APKBUILD.in b/alpine/APKBUILD.in
index 42896c21a5..969b85f524 100644
--- a/alpine/APKBUILD.in
+++ b/alpine/APKBUILD.in
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ makedepends="ncurses-dev net-snmp-dev gawk texinfo perl
 checkdepends="pytest py-setuptools"
 install="$pkgname.pre-install $pkgname.pre-deinstall $pkgname.post-deinstall"
 subpackages="$pkgname-dev $pkgname-doc $pkgname-dbg"
-source="$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.gz docker-start daemons daemons.conf"
+source="$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.gz docker-start daemons"
 
 builddir="$srcdir"/$pkgname-$pkgver
 
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ package() {
 
 	install -Dm755 "$srcdir"/docker-start "$pkgdir"$_sbindir
 	install -Dm644 "$srcdir"/daemons "$pkgdir"$_sysconfdir
-	install -Dm644 "$srcdir"/daemons.conf "$pkgdir"$_sysconfdir
 	install -d "$pkgdir"/etc/init.d
 	ln -s ${_sbindir}/frr "$pkgdir"/etc/init.d/frr
 }
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1de3081522..0d75f7d319 100755
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -2180,6 +2180,9 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES([
 
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([vtysh/extract.pl], [chmod +x vtysh/extract.pl])
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([tools/frr], [chmod +x tools/frr])
+AC_CONFIG_FILES([tools/watchfrr.sh], [chmod +x tools/watchfrr.sh])
+AC_CONFIG_FILES([tools/frrinit.sh], [chmod +x tools/frrinit.sh])
+AC_CONFIG_FILES([tools/frrcommon.sh])
 
 AC_CONFIG_COMMANDS([lib/route_types.h], [
 	dst="${ac_abs_top_builddir}/lib/route_types.h"
diff --git a/debianpkg/README.Debian b/debianpkg/README.Debian
index 1b04803366..cd7be5e801 100644
--- a/debianpkg/README.Debian
+++ b/debianpkg/README.Debian
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ into the kernel.
 =====================================================================
 
 If this message occurs the receive buffer should be increased by adding the
-following to /etc/sysctl.conf and "--nl-bufsize" to /etc/frr/daemons.conf.
+following to /etc/sysctl.conf and "--nl-bufsize" to /etc/frr/daemons.
 > net.core.rmem_default = 262144
 > net.core.rmem_max = 262144
 See message #4525 from 2005-05-09 in the quagga-users mailing list.
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/control b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/control
deleted file mode 100644
index 9bae348840..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/control
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,56 +0,0 @@
-Source: frr
-Section: net
-Priority: optional
-Maintainer: Nobody <nobody@frrouting.org>
-Uploaders: Nobody <nobody@frrouting.org>
-XSBC-Original-Maintainer: <maintainers@frrouting.org>
-Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 7.0.50~), libncurses5-dev, libreadline-dev, texlive-latex-base, texlive-generic-recommended, libpam0g-dev | libpam-dev, libcap-dev, texinfo (>= 4.7), imagemagick, ghostscript, groff, autotools-dev, libpcre3-dev, gawk, chrpath, libsnmp-dev, git, dh-autoreconf, libjson0, libjson0-dev, pkg-config, python (>= 2.7), python-ipaddr
-Standards-Version: 3.9.6
-Homepage: http://www.frrouting.org/
-XS-Testsuite: autopkgtest
-
-Package: frr
-Architecture: any
-Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, logrotate (>= 3.2-11), ${misc:Depends}
-Pre-Depends: adduser
-Conflicts: zebra, zebra-pj, quagga
-Replaces: zebra, zebra-pj
-Suggests: snmpd
-Description: BGP/OSPF/RIP/RIPng/ISIS/PIM/LDP routing daemon forked from Quagga
- FRR is free software which manages TCP/IP based routing protocols.
- It supports BGP4, BGP4+, OSPFv2, OSPFv3, IS-IS, RIPv1, RIPv2, RIPng,
- PIM and LDP as well as the IPv6 versions of these.
- .
- FRR is a fork of Quagga with an open community model. The main git
- lives on https://github.com/frrouting/frr.git
-
-Package: frr-dbg
-Architecture: any
-Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, ${misc:Depends}, frr (= ${binary:Version})
-Priority: extra
-Section: debug
-Description: BGP/OSPF/RIP/RIPng/ISIS/PIM/LDP routing daemon (debug symbols)
- This package provides debugging symbols for all binary packages built 
- from frr source package. It's highly recommended to have this package
- installed before reporting any FRR crashes to either FRR developers or 
- Debian package maintainers.
-
-Package: frr-doc
-Section: net
-Architecture: all
-Depends: ${misc:Depends}
-Suggests: frr
-Description: documentation files for FRR
- This package includes info files for frr, a free software which manages
- TCP/IP based routing protocols.  It supports BGP4, BGP4+, OSPFv2, OSPFv3,
- IS-IS, RIPv1, RIPv2, RIPng, PIM and LDP as well as the IPv6 versions of these.
-
-Package: frr-pythontools
-Section: net
-Architecture: all
-Depends: ${misc:Depends}, frr (= ${binary:Version}), python (>= 2.7), python-ipaddr
-Description: BGP/OSPF/RIP/RIPng/ISIS/PIM/LDP routing daemon (Python Tools)
- This package includes info files for frr, a free software which manages
- TCP/IP based routing protocols.  It supports BGP4, BGP4+, OSPFv2, OSPFv3,
- IS-IS, RIPv1, RIPv2, RIPng, PIM and LDP as well as the IPv6 versions of these.
-
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.install b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.install
deleted file mode 120000
index 83ecca5958..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.install
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-../../ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.install
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postinst b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postinst
deleted file mode 120000
index eb98053c7b..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postinst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-../../ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postinst
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postrm b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postrm
deleted file mode 120000
index 4f4380872f..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postrm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-../../ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postrm
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules
deleted file mode 100755
index 7495db89cb..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,162 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/make -f
-
-# FRRouting Configuration options
-######################################
-#
-#    WANT_xxxx   --> Set to 1 for enable, 0 for disable
-# The following are the defaults. They can be overridden by setting a 
-# env variable to a different value
-
-WANT_LDP ?= 1
-WANT_PIM ?= 1
-WANT_OSPFAPI ?= 1
-WANT_BGP_VNC ?= 1
-WANT_CUMULUS_MODE ?= 0
-WANT_MULTIPATH ?= 1
-WANT_SNMP ?= 0
-
-# NOTES:
-#
-# If multipath is enabled (WANT_MULTIPATH=1), then set number of multipaths here
-#    Please be aware that 0 is NOT disabled, but treated as unlimited
-
-MULTIPATH ?= 256
-
-# Set the following to the value required (or leave alone for the default below)
-# WANT_FRR_USER is used for the username and groupname of the FRR user account
-
-WANT_FRR_USER ?= frr
-WANT_FRR_VTY_GROUP ?= frrvty
-
-# Don't build PDF docs by default
-GENERATE_PDF ?= 0
-
-#
-####################################
-
-export DH_VERBOSE=1
-export DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS = hardening=+all
-export DH_OPTIONS=-v
-
-ifeq ($(WANT_SNMP), 1)
-  USE_SNMP=--enable-snmp
-  $(warning "DEBIAN: SNMP enabled, sorry for your inconvenience")
-else
-  USE_SNMP=--disable-snmp
-  $(warning "DEBIAN: SNMP disabled, see README.Debian")
-endif
-
-ifeq ($(WANT_LDP), 1)
-  USE_LDP=--enable-ldpd
-else
-  USE_LDP=--disable-ldpd
-endif
-
-ifeq ($(WANT_PIM), 1)
-  USE_PIM=--enable-pimd
-else
-  USE_PIM=--disable-pimd
-endif
-
-ifeq ($(WANT_OSPFAPI), 1)
-  USE_OSPFAPI=--enable-ospfapi=yes
-else
-  USE_OSPFAPI=--enable-ospfapi=no
-endif
-
-ifeq ($(WANT_BGP_VNC), 1)
-  USE_BGP_VNC=--enable-bgp-vnc=yes
-else
-  USE_BGP_VNC=--enable-bgp-vnc=no
-endif
-
-USE_FRR_USER=--enable-user=$(WANT_FRR_USER)
-USE_FRR_GROUP=--enable-group=$(WANT_FRR_USER)
-USE_FRR_VTY_GROUP=--enable-vty-group=$(WANT_FRR_VTY_GROUP)
-
-ifeq ($(WANT_MULTIPATH), 1)
-  USE_MULTIPATH=--enable-multipath=$(MULTIPATH)
-else
-  USE_MULTIPATH=--disable-multipath
-endif
-
-ifeq ($(WANT_CUMULUS_MODE), 1)
-  USE_CUMULUS=--enable-cumulus=yes
-else
-  USE_CUMULUS=--enable-cumulus=no
-endif
-
-ifneq (,$(filter parallel=%,$(DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS)))
-  DEBIAN_JOBS := $(subst parallel=,,$(filter parallel=%,$(DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS)))
-endif
-
-ifdef DEBIAN_JOBS
-MAKEFLAGS += -j$(DEBIAN_JOBS)
-endif
-
-%:
-	dh $@ --with=autoreconf --parallel --dbg-package=frr-dbg --list-missing
-
-override_dh_auto_configure:
-	# Frr needs /proc to check some BSD vs Linux specific stuff.
-	# Else it fails with an obscure error message pointing out that
-	# IPCTL_FORWARDING is an undefined symbol which is not very helpful.
-	@if ! [ -d /proc/1 ]; then \
-		echo "./configure needs a mounted /proc"; \
-		exit 1; \
-	fi
-
-	if ! [ -e config.status ]; then \
-	dh_auto_configure -- \
-		--enable-exampledir=/usr/share/doc/frr/examples/ \
-		--localstatedir=/var/run/frr \
-		--sbindir=/usr/lib/frr \
-		--sysconfdir=/etc/frr \
-		$(USE_SNMP) \
-		$(USE_OSPFAPI) \
-		$(USE_MULTIPATH) \
-		$(USE_LDP) \
-		--enable-fpm \
-		$(USE_FRR_USER) $(USE_FRR_GROUP) \
-		$(USE_FRR_VTY_GROUP) \
-		--enable-configfile-mask=0640 \
-		--enable-logfile-mask=0640 \
-		--with-libpam \
-		--enable-systemd=no \
-		--enable-poll=yes \
-		$(USE_CUMULUS) \
-		$(USE_PIM) \
-		--disable-bfdd \
-		--enable-dependency-tracking \
-		$(USE_BGP_VNC) \
-		$(shell dpkg-buildflags --export=configure); \
-	fi
-
-override_dh_auto_build:
-ifeq ($(GENERATE_PDF), 1)
-	dh_auto_build -- -C doc pdf
-endif
-	rm -vf doc/user/_build/texinfo/frr.info
-	dh_auto_build -- -C doc info
-
-override_dh_auto_test:
-
-override_dh_auto_install:
-	dh_auto_install
-
-	# installed in frr-pythontools
-	rm debian/tmp/usr/lib/frr/frr-reload.py
-
-	# cleaning up the info dir
-	rm -f debian/tmp/usr/share/info/dir*
-
-	# install config files
-	mkdir -p debian/tmp/etc/frr/
-	perl -pi -e 's#^!log file #!log file /var/log/frr/#' debian/tmp/usr/share/doc/frr/examples/*sample*
-
-	# leftover from previously shipping SMUX client OID MIB
-	mkdir -p debian/tmp/usr/share/snmp/mibs
-
-	# cleaning .la files
-	sed -i "/dependency_libs/ s/'.*'/''/" debian/tmp/usr/lib/*.la
-	sed -i "/dependency_libs/ s/'.*'/''/" debian/tmp/usr/lib/frr/modules/*.la
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/source/format b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/source/format
deleted file mode 100644
index 163aaf8d82..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/source/format
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-3.0 (quilt)
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/exclude b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/exclude
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/versionext b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/versionext
deleted file mode 100644
index 159e2e4160..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/versionext
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
--1~ubuntu12.04+1
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.install b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.install
index 199d264f1a..7fb81c44a0 100644
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.install
+++ b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.install
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ usr/bin/vtysh
 usr/bin/mtracebis
 usr/include/frr/
 usr/lib/
-tools/frr etc/init.d/
 usr/share/doc/frr/
 usr/share/snmp/mibs/
 usr/share/yang/
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postinst b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postinst
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a14e510cd..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postinst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash -e
-
-######################
-PASSWDFILE=/etc/passwd
-GROUPFILE=/etc/group
-
-frruid=`egrep "^frr:" $PASSWDFILE | awk -F ":" '{ print $3 }'`
-frrgid=`egrep "^frr:" $GROUPFILE | awk -F ":" '{ print $3 }'`
-frrvtygid=`egrep "^frrvty:" $GROUPFILE | awk -F ":" '{ print $3 }'`
-
-[ -n ${frruid} ]    || (echo "No uid for frr in ${PASSWDFILE}"   && /bin/false)
-[ -n ${frrgid} ]    || (echo "No gid for frr in ${GROUPFILE}"    && /bin/false)
-[ -n ${frrVTYgid} ] || (echo "No gid for frrvty in ${GROUPFILE}" && /bin/false)
-
-chown -R ${frruid}:${frrgid} /etc/frr
-touch /etc/frr/vtysh.conf
-chgrp ${frrvtygid} /etc/frr/vtysh*
-chmod 644 /etc/frr/*
-
-ENVIRONMENTFILE=/etc/environment
-if ! egrep --quiet '^VTYSH_PAGER=' ${ENVIRONMENTFILE}; then
-    echo "VTYSH_PAGER=/bin/cat"  >> ${ENVIRONMENTFILE}
-fi
-##################################################
-
-if [ -n "$DEBIAN_SCRIPT_DEBUG" ]; then set -v -x; DEBIAN_SCRIPT_TRACE=1; fi
-${DEBIAN_SCRIPT_TRACE:+ echo "#42#DEBUG# RUNNING $0 $*"}
-
-# This is most likely due to the answer "no" to the "really stop the server"
-# question in the prerm script.
-if [ "$1" = "abort-upgrade" ]; then
-  exit 0
-fi
-
-update-rc.d frr defaults > /dev/null
-
-#DEBHELPER#
-
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postrm b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postrm
deleted file mode 100644
index 48c23321f7..0000000000
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postrm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash -e
-
-if [ -n "$DEBIAN_SCRIPT_DEBUG" ]; then set -v -x; DEBIAN_SCRIPT_TRACE=1; fi
-${DEBIAN_SCRIPT_TRACE:+ echo "#42#DEBUG# RUNNING $0 $*"}
-# set -u	not because of debhelper
-
-update-rc.d -f frr remove >> /dev/null
-
-if [ "$1" = "purge" ]; then
-	rm -rf /etc/frr /var/run/frr /var/log/frr
-  	userdel frr >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-fi
-
-#DEBHELPER#
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules
index 291233c147..21b442d85a 100755
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules
+++ b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules
@@ -178,6 +178,8 @@ override_dh_auto_test:
 override_dh_auto_install:
 	dh_auto_install
 
+	cp tools/frrinit.sh debian/frr.init
+
 	# installed in frr-pythontools
 	rm debian/tmp/usr/lib/frr/frr-reload.py
 
diff --git a/debianpkg/rules b/debianpkg/rules
index 7cdb8fbaf7..12d6c3545c 100755
--- a/debianpkg/rules
+++ b/debianpkg/rules
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ override_dh_systemd_enable:
 
 # backports
 SRCPKG = frr
-KNOWN_BACKPORTS = debian8 debian9 ubuntu12.04 ubuntu14.04 ubuntu16.04 ubuntu17.10 ubuntu18.04
+KNOWN_BACKPORTS = debian8 debian9 ubuntu14.04 ubuntu16.04 ubuntu17.10 ubuntu18.04
 DEBIAN_VERSION := $(shell dh_testdir && \
 		dpkg-parsechangelog -c1 < debian/changelog | \
 		sed -rn 's/^Version: ?//p')
diff --git a/debianpkg/subdir.am b/debianpkg/subdir.am
index b6251962b7..af17e4642a 100644
--- a/debianpkg/subdir.am
+++ b/debianpkg/subdir.am
@@ -23,18 +23,8 @@ EXTRA_DIST += \
 	debianpkg/backports/debian9/debian/source/format \
 	debianpkg/backports/debian9/exclude \
 	debianpkg/backports/debian9/versionext \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/control \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.install \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postinst \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/frr.postrm \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/source/format \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/exclude \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/versionext \
 	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/control \
 	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.install \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postinst \
-	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/frr.postrm \
 	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules \
 	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/source/format \
 	debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/exclude \
diff --git a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-alpine.rst b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-alpine.rst
index d303784d4e..f88fc7bfdc 100644
--- a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-alpine.rst
+++ b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-alpine.rst
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ startup.  To configure by hand:
 
    docker exec -it frr /bin/sh
    vi /etc/frr/daemons
-   vi /etc/frr/daemons.conf
    cp /etc/frr/zebra.conf.sample /etc/frr/zebra.conf
    vi /etc/frr/zebra.conf
    /etc/init.d/frr start
diff --git a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1204.rst b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1204.rst
index 9b2394f018..a2d58e2258 100644
--- a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1204.rst
+++ b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1204.rst
@@ -158,7 +158,6 @@ Install the init.d service
 
     sudo install -m 755 tools/frr /etc/init.d/frr
     sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons /etc/frr/daemons
-    sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf /etc/frr/daemons.conf
     sudo install -m 644 -o frr -g frr tools/etc/frr/vtysh.conf /etc/frr/vtysh.conf
 
 Enable daemons
diff --git a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1404.rst b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1404.rst
index 81ca970469..7952cd682a 100644
--- a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1404.rst
+++ b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1404.rst
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ Install the init.d service
 
     sudo install -m 755 tools/frr /etc/init.d/frr
     sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons /etc/frr/daemons
-    sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf /etc/frr/daemons.conf
     sudo install -m 644 -o frr -g frr tools/etc/frr/vtysh.conf /etc/frr/vtysh.conf
 
 Enable daemons
diff --git a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1604.rst b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1604.rst
index 9830b24dfc..f5329fef2c 100644
--- a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1604.rst
+++ b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1604.rst
@@ -139,9 +139,7 @@ Install the systemd service (if rebooted from last step, change directory back t
 ::
 
     sudo install -m 644 tools/frr.service /etc/systemd/system/frr.service
-    sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/default/frr /etc/default/frr
     sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons /etc/frr/daemons
-    sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf /etc/frr/daemons.conf
     sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/frr.conf /etc/frr/frr.conf
     sudo install -m 644 -o frr -g frr tools/etc/frr/vtysh.conf /etc/frr/vtysh.conf
 
diff --git a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1804.rst b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1804.rst
index e69ded8f73..110bc6a0ee 100644
--- a/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1804.rst
+++ b/doc/developer/building-frr-for-ubuntu1804.rst
@@ -203,9 +203,7 @@ Install the systemd service
 ::
 
    sudo install -m 644 tools/frr.service /etc/systemd/system/frr.service
-   sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/default/frr /etc/default/frr
    sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons /etc/frr/daemons
-   sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf /etc/frr/daemons.conf
    sudo install -m 644 tools/etc/frr/frr.conf /etc/frr/frr.conf
    sudo install -m 644 -o frr -g frr tools/etc/frr/vtysh.conf /etc/frr/vtysh.conf
 
diff --git a/doc/user/rpki.rst b/doc/user/rpki.rst
index f48ff2e6ba..295a26fda9 100644
--- a/doc/user/rpki.rst
+++ b/doc/user/rpki.rst
@@ -67,17 +67,17 @@ Enabling RPKI
    to configure at least one reachable cache server. See section
    :ref:`configuring-rpki-rtr-cache-servers` for configuring a cache server.
 
-.. index:: RPKI and daemons.conf
+.. index:: RPKI and daemons
 
 When first installing FRR with RPKI support from the pre-packaged binaries.
 Remember to add ``-M rpki`` to the variable ``bgpd_options`` in
-:file:`/etc/frr/daemons.conf` , like so::
+:file:`/etc/frr/daemons` , like so::
 
-   bgpd_options="   --daemon -A 127.0.0.1 -M rpki"
+   bgpd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1 -M rpki"
 
 instead of the default setting::
 
-   bgpd_options="   --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
+   bgpd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1"
 
 Otherwise you will encounter an error when trying to enter RPKI
 configuration mode due to the ``rpki`` module not being loaded when the BGP
diff --git a/doc/user/setup.rst b/doc/user/setup.rst
index 8a76a61e78..3a09c50309 100644
--- a/doc/user/setup.rst
+++ b/doc/user/setup.rst
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Daemons Configuration File
 --------------------------
 There is another file that controls the default options passed to daemons when
 starting FRR as a service. This file is located in your configuration
-directory, usually at :file:`/etc/frr/daemons.conf`.
+directory, usually at :file:`/etc/frr/daemons`.
 
 This file has several parts. Here is an example:
 
diff --git a/redhat/daemons b/redhat/daemons
index c301a1c23a..7f3ff36df9 100644
--- a/redhat/daemons
+++ b/redhat/daemons
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 # group "frrvty" and set to ug=rw,o= though. Check /etc/pam.d/frr, too.
 #
 watchfrr_enable=yes
-watchfrr_options=("-b_" "-r/usr/lib/frr/frr_restart_%s" "-s/usr/lib/frr/frr_start_%s" "-k/usr/lib/frr/frr_stop_%s")
+watchfrr_options="-r '/usr/lib/frr/frr restart %s' -s '/usr/lib/frr/frr start %s' -k '/usr/lib/frr/frr stop %s'"
 #
 zebra=no
 bgpd=no
diff --git a/redhat/frr.init b/redhat/frr.init
index 47a92eed32..b59656adcd 100755
--- a/redhat/frr.init
+++ b/redhat/frr.init
@@ -107,22 +107,28 @@ check_daemon()
 # The Frr daemons creates the pidfile when starting.
 start()
 {
+    local dmn inst
+    dmn="$1"
+    inst="$2"
+
     ulimit -n $MAX_FDS > /dev/null 2> /dev/null
-    if [ "$1" = "watchfrr" ]; then
+    if [ "$dmn" = "watchfrr" ]; then
 
         # We may need to restart watchfrr if new daemons are added and/or
         # removed
-        if started "$1" ; then
+        if started "$dmn" ; then
             stop watchfrr
         else
             # Echo only once. watchfrr is printed in the stop above
-            echo -n " $1"
+            echo -n " $dmn"
         fi
 
         if [ -e /var/run/frr/watchfrr.started ] ; then
             rm /var/run/frr/watchfrr.started
         fi
-        daemon --pidfile=`pidfile $1` "$D_PATH/$1" -d "${watchfrr_options[@]}"
+        # redhat /etc/init.d/functions daemon() re-expands args :(
+        # eval "set - $watchfrr_options"
+        daemon --pidfile=`pidfile $dmn` "$D_PATH/$dmn" -d "$watchfrr_options"
         RETVAL=$?
         [ $RETVAL -ne 0 ] && break
         for i in `seq 1 10`;
@@ -135,25 +141,25 @@ start()
             fi
         done
         RETVAL=1
-    elif [ -n "$2" ]; then
-        echo -n " $1-$2"
-        if ! check_daemon $1 $2 ; then
+    elif [ -n "$inst" ]; then
+        echo -n " $dmn-$inst"
+        if ! check_daemon $dmn $inst ; then
             echo -n " (binary does not exist)"
             return;
         fi
-        daemon --pidfile=`pidfile $1-$2` "$D_PATH/$1" -d `eval echo "$""$1""_options"` -n "$2"
+        daemon --pidfile=`pidfile $dmn-$inst` "$D_PATH/$dmn" -d `eval echo "$""$dmn""_options"` -n "$inst"
         RETVAL=$?
     else
-        echo -n " $1 "
-        if ! check_daemon $1; then
+        echo -n " $dmn "
+        if ! check_daemon $dmn; then
             echo " (binary does not exist)"
             return;
         fi
-        daemon --pidfile=`pidfile $1` "$D_PATH/$1" -d `eval echo "$""$1""_options"`
+        daemon --pidfile=`pidfile $dmn` "$D_PATH/$dmn" -d `eval echo "$""$dmn""_options"`
         RETVAL=$?
     fi
     echo
-    [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch /var/lock/subsys/$1
+    [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch /var/lock/subsys/$dmn
     return $RETVAL
 }
 
@@ -223,11 +229,9 @@ start_watchfrr()
     fi
 
     # Check variable type
-    if ! declare -p watchfrr_options | grep -q '^declare \-a'; then
-        echo
-        echo "ERROR: The variable watchfrr_options from /etc/frr/daemons must be a BASH array!"
-        echo "ERROR: Please convert config file and restart!"
-        exit 1
+    if declare -p watchfrr_options | grep -q '^declare \-a'; then
+        # old array support
+        watchfrr_options="${watchfrr_options[@]}"
     fi
 
     # Which daemons have been started?
@@ -241,13 +245,13 @@ start_watchfrr()
                     eval "inst_disable=\${${daemon_name}_${inst}}"
                     if [ -z ${inst_disable} ] || [ ${inst_disable} != 0 ]; then
                         if check_daemon $daemon_name $inst; then
-                            watchfrr_options+=("${daemon_name}-${inst}")
+                            watchfrr_options="$watchfrr_options ${daemon_name}-${inst}"
                         fi
                     fi
                 done
             else
                 if check_daemon $daemon_name; then
-                    watchfrr_options+=($daemon_name)
+                    watchfrr_options="$watchfrr_options $daemon_name"
                 fi
             fi
             found_one=1
diff --git a/redhat/frr.spec.in b/redhat/frr.spec.in
index d2da06faa6..7a6344aa4c 100644
--- a/redhat/frr.spec.in
+++ b/redhat/frr.spec.in
@@ -637,6 +637,9 @@ fi
 %config(noreplace) %{_sysconfdir}/pam.d/frr
 %config(noreplace) %{_sysconfdir}/logrotate.d/frr
 %{_sbindir}/frr-reload
+%{_sbindir}/frrcommon.sh
+%{_sbindir}/frrinit.sh
+%{_sbindir}/watchfrr.sh
 
 
 %files contrib
diff --git a/tools/.gitignore b/tools/.gitignore
index c23322c4c6..85dae7fd36 100644
--- a/tools/.gitignore
+++ b/tools/.gitignore
@@ -3,3 +3,6 @@
 /gen_yang_deviations
 /permutations
 /ssd
+/watchfrr.sh
+/frrinit.sh
+/frrcommon.sh
diff --git a/tools/etc/default/frr b/tools/etc/default/frr
deleted file mode 100644
index 693fa63390..0000000000
--- a/tools/etc/default/frr
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-MAX_INSTANCES=5
-MAX_FDS=1024
-ZEBRA_OPTIONS="-s 16777216 -A 127.0.0.1"
-BGPD_OPTIONS="-A 127.0.0.1"
-OSPFD_OPTIONS="-A 127.0.0.1"
-OSPF6D_OPTIONS="-A ::1"
-RIPD_OPTIONS="-A 127.0.0.1"
-RIPNGD_OPTIONS="-A ::1"
-ISISD_OPTIONS="-A 127.0.0.1"
-EIGRP_OPTIONS="-A 127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tools/etc/frr/daemons b/tools/etc/frr/daemons
index 1514082e90..2d56fe1b98 100644
--- a/tools/etc/frr/daemons
+++ b/tools/etc/frr/daemons
@@ -1,11 +1,5 @@
 # This file tells the frr package which daemons to start.
 #
-# Entries are in the format: <daemon>=(yes|no|priority)
-#   0, "no"  = disabled
-#   1, "yes" = highest priority
-#   2 .. 10  = lower priorities
-# Read /usr/share/doc/frr/README.Debian for details.
-#
 # Sample configurations for these daemons can be found in
 # /usr/share/doc/frr/examples/.
 #
@@ -18,10 +12,8 @@
 # When using "vtysh" such a config file is also needed. It should be owned by
 # group "frrvty" and set to ug=rw,o= though. Check /etc/pam.d/frr, too.
 #
-# The watchfrr daemon is always started. Per default in monitoring-only but
-# that can be changed via /etc/frr/daemons.conf.
+# The watchfrr and zebra daemons are always started.
 #
-zebra=no
 bgpd=no
 ospfd=no
 ospf6d=no
@@ -37,3 +29,37 @@ sharpd=no
 pbrd=no
 bfdd=no
 fabricd=no
+
+#
+# If this option is set the /etc/init.d/frr script automatically loads
+# the config via "vtysh -b" when the servers are started.
+# Check /etc/pam.d/frr if you intend to use "vtysh"!
+#
+vtysh_enable=yes
+zebra_options="  -A 127.0.0.1 -s 90000000"
+bgpd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1"
+ospfd_options="  -A 127.0.0.1"
+ospf6d_options=" -A ::1"
+ripd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1"
+ripngd_options=" -A ::1"
+isisd_options="  -A 127.0.0.1"
+pimd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1"
+ldpd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1"
+nhrpd_options="  -A 127.0.0.1"
+eigrpd_options=" -A 127.0.0.1"
+babeld_options=" -A 127.0.0.1"
+sharpd_options=" -A 127.0.0.1"
+pbrd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1"
+staticd_options="-A 127.0.0.1"
+bfdd_options="   -A 127.0.0.1"
+fabricd_options="-A 127.0.0.1"
+
+# The list of daemons to watch is automatically generated by the init script.
+watchfrr_options="-r '/usr/lib/frr/watchfrr.sh restart %s' -s '/usr/lib/frr/watchfrr.sh start %s' -k '/usr/lib/frr/watchfrr.sh stop %s'"
+
+# for debugging purposes, you can specify a "wrap" command to start instead
+# of starting the daemon directly, e.g. to use valgrind on ospfd:
+#   ospfd_wrap="/usr/bin/valgrind"
+# or you can use "all_wrap" for all daemons, e.g. to use perf record:
+#   all_wrap="/usr/bin/perf record --call-graph -"
+# the normal daemon command is added to this at the end.
diff --git a/tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf b/tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf
index 94221301eb..70b96a9800 100644
--- a/tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf
+++ b/tools/etc/frr/daemons.conf
@@ -1,33 +1 @@
-#
-# If this option is set the /etc/init.d/frr script automatically loads
-# the config via "vtysh -b" when the servers are started.
-# Check /etc/pam.d/frr if you intend to use "vtysh"!
-#
-vtysh_enable=yes
-zebra_options="  -s 90000000 --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-bgpd_options="   --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-ospfd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-ospf6d_options=" --daemon -A ::1"
-ripd_options="   --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-ripngd_options=" --daemon -A ::1"
-isisd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-pimd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-ldpd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-nhrpd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-eigrpd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-babeld_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-sharpd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-pbrd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-staticd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-bfdd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-fabricd_options="  --daemon -A 127.0.0.1"
-
-# The list of daemons to watch is automatically generated by the init script.
-watchfrr_enable=yes
-
-watchfrr_options=(-d -r /usr/lib/frr/frrbBrestartbB%s -s /usr/lib/frr/frrbBstartbB%s -k /usr/lib/frr/frrbBstopbB%s -b bB)
-
-# If valgrind_enable is 'yes' the frr daemons will be started via valgrind.
-# The use case for doing so is tracking down memory leaks, etc in frr.
-valgrind_enable=no
-valgrind=/usr/bin/valgrind
+# this file is deprecated, please use "daemons" instead.
diff --git a/tools/frr.in b/tools/frr.in
index ec383bc5a0..a443191fd0 100755
--- a/tools/frr.in
+++ b/tools/frr.in
@@ -115,41 +115,45 @@ check_daemon()
 # The Frr daemons creates the pidfile when starting.
 start()
 {
-	ulimit -n $MAX_FDS
-	if [ "$1" = "watchfrr" ]; then
+	local dmn inst
+	dmn="$1"
+	inst="$2"
+
+	ulimit -n $MAX_FDS > /dev/null 2> /dev/null
+	if [ "$dmn" = "watchfrr" ]; then
 
 		# We may need to restart watchfrr if new daemons are added and/or
 		# removed
-		if started "$1" ; then
+		if started "$dmn" ; then
 			stop watchfrr
 		else
 			# Echo only once. watchfrr is printed in the stop above
-			echo -n " $1"
+			echo -n " $dmn"
 		fi
 
-
+		eval "set - $watchfrr_options"
 		${SSD} \
 			--start \
-			--pidfile=`pidfile $1` \
-			--exec "$D_PATH/$1" \
+			--pidfile=`pidfile $dmn` \
+			--exec "$D_PATH/$dmn" \
 			-- \
-			"${watchfrr_options[@]}"
+			"$@"
 
-	elif [ -n "$2" ]; then
-		echo -n " $1-$2"
-		if ! check_daemon $1 $2 ; then
+	elif [ -n "$inst" ]; then
+		echo -n " $dmn-$inst"
+		if ! check_daemon $dmn $inst ; then
 			echo -n " (binary does not exist)"
 			return;
 		fi
 
 		${SSD} \
 			--start \
-			--pidfile=`pidfile $1-$2` \
-			--exec "$D_PATH/$1" \
+			--pidfile=`pidfile $dmn-$inst` \
+			--exec "$D_PATH/$dmn" \
 			-- \
-			`eval echo "$""$1""_options"` -n "$2"
+			`eval echo "$""$dmn""_options"` -n "$inst"
 	else
-		if ! check_daemon $1; then
+		if ! check_daemon $dmn; then
 			echo -n " (binary does not exist)"
 			return;
 		fi
@@ -157,22 +161,22 @@ start()
 		if [ "$valgrind_enable" = "yes" ]; then
 			${SSD} \
 				--start \
-				--pidfile=`pidfile $1` \
+				--pidfile=`pidfile $dmn` \
 				--exec "$valgrind" \
-				-- --trace-children=no --leak-check=full --log-file=/var/log/frr/$1-valgrind.log $D_PATH/$1 \
-				`eval echo "$""$1""_options"`
+				-- --trace-children=no --leak-check=full --log-file=/var/log/frr/$dmn-valgrind.log $D_PATH/$dmn \
+				`eval echo "$""$dmn""_options"`
 		else
 			${SSD} \
 				--start \
-				--pidfile=`pidfile $1` \
-				--exec "$D_PATH/$1" \
+				--pidfile=`pidfile $dmn` \
+				--exec "$D_PATH/$dmn" \
 				-- \
-				`eval echo "$""$1""_options"`
+				`eval echo "$""$dmn""_options"`
 		fi
 	fi
 
 	# Start the staticd automatically
-	if [ "$1" = "zebra" ]; then
+	if [ "$dmn" = "zebra" ]; then
 		echo -n "starting staticd since zebra is running"
 		if ! check_daemon staticd ; then
 			echo -n " (binary does not exist)"
@@ -269,11 +273,9 @@ start_watchfrr()
 	fi
 
 	# Check variable type
-	if ! declare -p watchfrr_options | grep -q '^declare \-a'; then
-		echo
-		echo "ERROR: The variable watchfrr_options from /etc/frr/debian.cnf must be a BASH array!"
-		echo "ERROR: Please convert config file and restart!"
-		exit 1
+	if declare -p watchfrr_options | grep -q '^declare \-a'; then
+		# old array support
+		watchfrr_options="${watchfrr_options[@]}"
 	fi
 
 	# Which daemons have been started?
@@ -287,13 +289,13 @@ start_watchfrr()
 					eval "inst_disable=\${${daemon_name}_${inst}}"
 					if [ -z ${inst_disable} ] || [ ${inst_disable} != 0 ]; then
 						if check_daemon $daemon_name $inst; then
-							watchfrr_options+=("${daemon_name}-${inst}")
+							watchfrr_options="$watchfrr_options ${daemon_name}-${inst}"
 						fi
 					fi
 				done
 			else
 				if check_daemon $daemon_name; then
-					watchfrr_options+=($daemon_name)
+					watchfrr_options="$watchfrr_options $daemon_name"
 				fi
 			fi
 			found_one=1
diff --git a/tools/frr.service b/tools/frr.service
index 5f44274ec3..03112bd7cd 100644
--- a/tools/frr.service
+++ b/tools/frr.service
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ OnFailure=heartbeat-failed@%n.service
 
 [Service]
 Nice=-5
-EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/frr
 Type=forking
 NotifyAccess=all
 StartLimitInterval=3m
@@ -15,8 +14,8 @@ WatchdogSec=60s
 RestartSec=5
 Restart=on-abnormal
 LimitNOFILE=1024
-ExecStart=/usr/lib/frr/frr start
-ExecStop=/usr/lib/frr/frr stop
-ExecReload=/usr/lib/frr/frr-reload
+ExecStart=/usr/lib/frr/frrinit.sh start
+ExecStop=/usr/lib/frr/frrinit.sh stop
+ExecReload=/usr/lib/frr/frrinit.sh reload
 [Install]
 WantedBy=network-online.target
diff --git a/tools/frrcommon.sh.in b/tools/frrcommon.sh.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7278e3f9df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/frrcommon.sh.in
@@ -0,0 +1,317 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# This is a "library" of sorts for use by the other FRR shell scripts.  It
+# has most of the daemon start/stop logic, but expects the following shell
+# functions/commands to be provided by the "calling" script:
+#
+#   log_success_msg
+#   log_warning_msg
+#   log_failure_msg
+#
+# (coincidentally, these are LSB standard functions.)
+#
+# Sourcing this file in a shell script will load FRR config variables but
+# not perform any action.  Note there is an "exit 1" if the main config
+# file does not exist.
+#
+# This script should be installed in  @CFG_SBIN@/frrcommon.sh
+
+PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin
+D_PATH="@CFG_SBIN@" # /usr/lib/frr
+C_PATH="@CFG_SYSCONF@" # /etc/frr
+V_PATH="@CFG_STATE@" # /var/run/frr
+VTYSH="@vtysh_bin@" # /usr/bin/vtysh
+FRR_USER="@enable_user@" # frr
+FRR_GROUP="@enable_group@" # frr
+FRR_VTY_GROUP="@enable_vty_group@" # frrvty
+
+# ORDER MATTERS FOR $DAEMONS!
+# - keep zebra first
+# - watchfrr does NOT belong in this list
+
+DAEMONS="zebra bgpd ripd ripngd ospfd ospf6d isisd babeld pimd ldpd nhrpd eigrpd sharpd pbrd staticd bfdd fabricd"
+RELOAD_SCRIPT="$D_PATH/frr-reload.py"
+
+#
+# general helpers
+#
+
+debug() {
+	[ -n "$watchfrr_debug" ] || return 0
+
+	printf '%s %s(%s):' "`date +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%N`" "$0" $$ >&2
+	# this is to show how arguments are split regarding whitespace & co.
+	# (e.g. for use with `debug "message" "$@"`)
+	while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
+		printf ' "%s"' "$1" >&2
+		shift
+	done
+	printf '\n' >&2
+}
+
+chownfrr() {
+	[ -n "$FRR_USER" ] && chown "$FRR_USER" "$1"
+	[ -n "$FRR_GROUP" ] && chgrp "$FRR_GROUP" "$1"
+}
+
+vtysh_b () {
+	[ "$1" = "watchfrr" ] && return 0
+	[ -r "$C_PATH/frr.conf" ] || return 0
+	if [ -n "$1" ]; then
+		"$VTYSH" -b -n -d "$1"
+	else
+		"$VTYSH" -b -n
+	fi
+}
+
+daemon_inst() {
+	# note this sets global variables ($dmninst, $daemon, $inst)
+	dmninst="$1"
+	daemon="${dmninst%:*}"
+	inst=""
+	[ "$daemon" != "$dmninst" ] && inst="${dmninst#*:}"
+}
+
+daemon_list() {
+	# note $1 and $2 specify names for global variables to be set
+	local enabled disabled evar dvar
+	enabled=""
+	disabled=""
+	evar="$1"
+	dvar="$2"
+
+	for daemon in $DAEMONS; do
+		eval cfg=\$$daemon
+		eval inst=\$${daemon}_instances
+		[ "$daemon" = zebra ] && cfg=yes
+		if [ -n "$cfg" -a "$cfg" != "no" -a "$cfg" != "0" ]; then
+			debug "$daemon enabled"
+			enabled="$enabled $daemon"
+			if [ -n "$inst" ]; then
+				debug "$daemon multi-instance $inst"
+				for i in $inst; do
+					enabled="$enabled $daemon:$inst"
+				done
+			fi
+		else
+			debug "$daemon disabled"
+			disabled="$disabled $daemon"
+		fi
+	done
+
+	enabled="${enabled# }"
+	disabled="${disabled# }"
+	[ -z "$evar" ] && echo "$enabled"
+	[ -n "$evar" ] && eval $evar="\"$enabled\""
+	[ -n "$dvar" ] && eval $dvar="\"$disabled\""
+}
+
+#
+# individual daemon management
+#
+
+daemon_prep() {
+	local daemon inst cfg
+	daemon="$1"
+	inst="$2"
+	[ "$daemon" = "watchfrr" ] && return 0
+	[ -x "$D_PATH/$daemon" ] || {
+		log_failure_msg "cannot start $daemon${inst:+ (instance $inst)}: daemon binary not installed\n"
+		return 1
+	}
+	[ -r "$C_PATH/frr.conf" ] && return 0
+
+	cfg="$C_PATH/$daemon${inst:+-$inst}.conf"
+	if [ ! -r "$cfg" ]; then
+		touch "$cfg"
+		chownfrr "$cfg"
+	fi
+	return 0
+}
+
+daemon_start() {
+	local dmninst daemon inst args instopt wrap bin
+	daemon_inst "$1"
+
+	ulimit -n $MAX_FDS > /dev/null 2> /dev/null
+	daemon_prep "$daemon" "$inst" || return 1
+
+	eval wrap="\$${daemon}_wrap"
+	bin="$D_PATH/$daemon"
+	instopt="${inst:+-n $inst}"
+	eval args="\$${daemon}_options"
+
+	if eval "$all_wrap $wrap $bin -d $instopt $args"; then
+		log_success_msg "Started $dmninst"
+		vtysh_b "$daemon"
+	else
+		log_failure_msg "Failed to start $dmninst!"
+	fi
+}
+
+daemon_stop() {
+	local dmninst daemon inst pidfile vtyfile pid cnt fail
+	daemon_inst "$1"
+
+	pidfile="$V_PATH/$daemon${inst:+-$inst}.pid"
+	vtyfile="$V_PATH/$daemon${inst:+-$inst}.vty"
+
+	[ -r "$pidfile" ] || fail="pid file not found"
+	[ -z "$fail" ] && pid="`cat \"$pidfile\"`"
+	[ -z "$fail" -a -z "$pid" ] && fail="pid file is empty"
+	[ -n "$fail" ] || kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null || fail="pid $pid not running"
+
+	if [ -n "$fail" ]; then
+		log_failure_msg "Cannot stop $dmninst: $fail"
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	debug "kill -2 $pid"
+	kill -2 "$pid"
+	cnt=1200
+	while kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null; do
+		sleep .1
+		[ $(( cnt -= 1 )) -gt 0 ] || break
+	done
+	if kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null; then
+		log_failure_msg "Failed to stop $dmninst, pid $pid still running"
+		still_running=1
+		return 1
+	else
+		log_success_msg "Stopped $dmninst"
+		rm -f "$pidfile"
+		return 0
+	fi
+}
+
+daemon_status() {
+	local dmninst daemon inst pidfile pid fail
+	daemon_inst "$1"
+
+	pidfile="$V_PATH/$daemon${inst:+-$inst}.pid"
+
+	[ -r "$pidfile" ] || return 3
+	pid="`cat \"$pidfile\"`"
+	[ -z "$pid" ] && return 1
+	kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null || return 1
+	return 0
+}
+
+print_status() {
+	daemon_status "$1"
+	rv=$?
+	if [ "$rv" -eq 0 ]; then
+		log_success_msg "Status of $1: running"
+	else
+		log_failure_msg "Status of $1: FAILED"
+	fi
+	return $rv
+}
+
+#
+# all-daemon commands
+#
+
+all_start() {
+	daemon_list daemons
+	for dmninst in $daemons; do
+		daemon_start "$dmninst"
+	done
+}
+
+all_stop() {
+	local pids reversed
+
+	daemon_list daemons disabled
+	[ "$1" = "--reallyall" ] && daemons="$daemons $disabled"
+
+	reversed=""
+	for dmninst in $daemons; do
+		reversed="$dmninst $reversed"
+	done
+
+	for dmninst in $reversed; do
+		daemon_stop "$dmninst" &
+		pids="$pids $!"
+	done
+	for pid in $pids; do
+		wait $pid
+	done
+}
+
+all_status() {
+	local fail
+
+	daemon_list daemons
+	fail=0
+	for dmninst in $daemons; do
+		print_status "$dmninst" || fail=1
+	done
+	return $fail
+}
+
+#
+# config sourcing
+#
+
+load_old_config() {
+	oldcfg="$1"
+	[ -r "$oldcfg" ] || return 0
+	[ -s "$oldcfg" ] || return 0
+	grep -v '^[[:blank:]]*\(#\|$\)' "$oldcfg" > /dev/null || return 0
+
+	log_warning_msg "Reading deprecated $oldcfg.  Please move its settings to $C_PATH/daemons and remove it."
+
+	# save off settings from daemons for the OR below
+	for dmn in $DAEMONS; do eval "_new_$dmn=\${$dmn:-no}"; done
+
+	. "$oldcfg"
+
+	# OR together the daemon enabling options between config files
+	for dmn in $DAEMONS; do eval "test \$_new_$dmn != no && $dmn=\$_new_$dmn; unset _new_$dmn"; done
+}
+
+[ -r "$C_PATH/daemons" ] || {
+	log_failure_msg "cannot run $@: $C_PATH/daemons does not exist\n"
+	exit 1
+}
+. "$C_PATH/daemons"
+
+load_old_config "$C_PATH/daemons.conf"
+load_old_config "/etc/default/frr"
+load_old_config "/etc/sysconfig/frr"
+
+#
+# other defaults and dispatch
+#
+
+frrcommon_main() {
+	local cmd
+
+	debug "frrcommon_main" "$@"
+
+	cmd="$1"
+	shift
+
+	if [ "$1" = "all" -o -z "$1" ]; then
+		case "$cmd" in
+		start)	all_start;;
+		stop)	all_stop;;
+		restart)
+			all_stop
+			all_start
+			;;
+		*)	$cmd "$@";;
+		esac
+	else
+		case "$cmd" in
+		start)	daemon_start "$@";;
+		stop)	daemon_stop "$@";;
+		restart)
+			daemon_stop "$@"
+			daemon_start "$@"
+			;;
+		*)	$cmd "$@";;
+		esac
+	fi
+}
diff --git a/tools/frrinit.sh.in b/tools/frrinit.sh.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3dddf5bd44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/frrinit.sh.in
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+### BEGIN INIT INFO
+# Provides: frr
+# Required-Start: $local_fs $network $remote_fs $syslog
+# Required-Stop: $local_fs $network $remote_fs $syslog
+# Default-Start:  2 3 4 5
+# Default-Stop: 0 1 6
+# Short-Description: start and stop the FRR routing suite
+# Description: FRR is a routing suite for IP routing protocols like
+#              BGP, OSPF, RIP and others. This script contols the main
+#              "watchfrr" daemon.
+### END INIT INFO
+#
+# This is the main init script for FRR.  It mostly wraps frrcommon.sh which
+# provides the actual functions to start/stop/restart things.
+#
+
+if [ -r "/lib/lsb/init-functions" ]; then
+	. /lib/lsb/init-functions
+else
+	log_success_msg() {
+		echo "$@"
+	}
+	log_warning_msg() {
+		echo "$@" >&2
+	}
+	log_failure_msg() {
+		echo "$@" >&2
+	}
+fi
+
+self="`dirname $0`"
+if [ -r "$self/frrcommon.sh" ]; then
+	. "$self/frrcommon.sh"
+else
+	. "@CFG_SBIN@/frrcommon.sh"
+fi
+
+case "$1" in
+start)
+	daemon_list daemons
+	watchfrr_options="$watchfrr_options $daemons"
+	daemon_start watchfrr
+	;;
+stop)
+	daemon_stop watchfrr
+	all_stop --reallyall
+	exit ${still_running:-0}
+	;;
+
+restart|force-reload)
+	daemon_stop watchfrr
+	all_stop --reallyall
+
+	daemon_list daemons
+	watchfrr_options="$watchfrr_options $daemons"
+	daemon_start watchfrr
+	;;
+
+status)
+	fail=0
+	print_status watchfrr || fail=1
+	all_status || fail=1
+	exit $fail
+	;;
+
+reload)
+	if [ ! -x "$RELOAD_SCRIPT" ]; then
+		log_failure_msg "The frr-pythontools package is required for reload functionality."
+		exit 1
+	fi
+
+	# restart watchfrr to pick up added daemons.
+	# NB: This will NOT cause the other daemons to be restarted.
+	daemon_list daemons
+	watchfrr_options="$watchfrr_options $daemons"
+	daemon_stop watchfrr && \
+		daemon_start watchfrr
+
+	NEW_CONFIG_FILE="${2:-$C_PATH/frr.conf}"
+	[ ! -r $NEW_CONFIG_FILE ] && log_failure_msg "Unable to read new configuration file $NEW_CONFIG_FILE" && exit 1
+	"$RELOAD_SCRIPT" --reload "$NEW_CONFIG_FILE"
+	exit $?
+	;;
+
+*)
+	log_failure_msg "Unknown command: $1" >&2
+	exit 1
+esac
diff --git a/tools/subdir.am b/tools/subdir.am
index 2e68dfee09..ff41fe2c63 100644
--- a/tools/subdir.am
+++ b/tools/subdir.am
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ sbin_SCRIPTS += \
 	tools/frr-reload \
 	tools/frr-reload.py \
 	tools/frr \
+	\
+	tools/frrcommon.sh \
+	tools/frrinit.sh \
+	tools/watchfrr.sh \
 	# end
 
 tools_permutations_SOURCES = tools/permutations.c
diff --git a/tools/watchfrr.sh.in b/tools/watchfrr.sh.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3051d91044
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/watchfrr.sh.in
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# This is NOT the init script!  This is the watchfrr start/stop/restart
+# command handler, passed to watchfrr with the -s/-r/-k commands.  It is used
+# internally by watchfrr to start the protocol daemons with the appropriate
+# options.
+#
+# This script should be installed in  @CFG_SBIN@/watchfrr.sh
+
+log_success_msg() {
+	:
+}
+
+log_warning_msg() {
+	echo "$@" >&2
+	[ -x /usr/bin/logger ] && echo "$@" \
+		| /usr/bin/logger -t watchfrr.sh -p daemon.warn
+}
+
+log_failure_msg() {
+	echo "$@" >&2
+	[ -x /usr/bin/logger ] && echo "$@" \
+		| /usr/bin/logger -t watchfrr.sh -p daemon.err
+}
+
+self="`dirname $0`"
+if [ -r "$self/frrcommon.sh" ]; then
+	. "$self/frrcommon.sh"
+else
+	. "@CFG_SBIN@/frrcommon.sh"
+fi
+
+frrcommon_main "$@"
diff --git a/vtysh/vtysh.c b/vtysh/vtysh.c
index f57a4d9ddf..2327f2b46d 100644
--- a/vtysh/vtysh.c
+++ b/vtysh/vtysh.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ static int vty_close_pager(struct vty *vty)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void vtysh_pager_init(void)
+static void vtysh_pager_envdef(void)
 {
 	char *pager_defined;
 
@@ -2881,52 +2881,58 @@ DEFUN (vtysh_copy_running_config,
 	return vtysh_write_memory(self, vty, argc, argv);
 }
 
+DEFUN (vtysh_terminal_paginate,
+       vtysh_terminal_paginate_cmd,
+       "[no] terminal paginate",
+       NO_STR
+       "Set terminal line parameters\n"
+       "Use pager for output scrolling\n")
+{
+	free(vtysh_pager_name);
+	vtysh_pager_name = NULL;
+
+	if (strcmp(argv[0]->text, "no"))
+		vtysh_pager_envdef();
+	return CMD_SUCCESS;
+}
+
 DEFUN (vtysh_terminal_length,
        vtysh_terminal_length_cmd,
-       "terminal length (0-512)",
+       "[no] terminal length (0-4294967295)",
+       NO_STR
        "Set terminal line parameters\n"
        "Set number of lines on a screen\n"
-       "Number of lines on screen (0 for no pausing)\n")
+       "Number of lines on screen (0 for no pausing, nonzero to use pager)\n")
 {
 	int idx_number = 2;
-	int lines;
-	char *endptr = NULL;
-	char default_pager[10];
+	unsigned long lines;
 
-	lines = strtol(argv[idx_number]->arg, &endptr, 10);
-	if (lines < 0 || lines > 512 || *endptr != '\0') {
-		vty_out(vty, "length is malformed\n");
-		return CMD_WARNING;
-	}
-
-	if (vtysh_pager_name) {
-		free(vtysh_pager_name);
-		vtysh_pager_name = NULL;
+	free(vtysh_pager_name);
+	vtysh_pager_name = NULL;
+
+	if (!strcmp(argv[0]->text, "no") || !strcmp(argv[1]->text, "no")) {
+		/* "terminal no length" = use VTYSH_PAGER */
+		vtysh_pager_envdef();
+		return CMD_SUCCESS;
 	}
 
+	lines = strtoul(argv[idx_number]->arg, NULL, 10);
 	if (lines != 0) {
-		snprintf(default_pager, 10, "more -%i", lines);
-		vtysh_pager_name = strdup(default_pager);
+		vty_out(vty,
+			"%% The \"terminal length\" command is deprecated and its value is ignored.\n"
+			"%% Please use \"terminal paginate\" instead with OS TTY length handling.\n");
+		vtysh_pager_envdef();
 	}
 
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-DEFUN (vtysh_terminal_no_length,
+ALIAS_DEPRECATED(vtysh_terminal_length,
        vtysh_terminal_no_length_cmd,
        "terminal no length",
        "Set terminal line parameters\n"
        NO_STR
        "Set number of lines on a screen\n")
-{
-	if (vtysh_pager_name) {
-		free(vtysh_pager_name);
-		vtysh_pager_name = NULL;
-	}
-
-	vtysh_pager_init();
-	return CMD_SUCCESS;
-}
 
 DEFUN (vtysh_show_daemons,
        vtysh_show_daemons_cmd,
@@ -3805,6 +3811,7 @@ void vtysh_init_vty(void)
 	/* "write memory" command. */
 	install_element(ENABLE_NODE, &vtysh_write_memory_cmd);
 
+	install_element(VIEW_NODE, &vtysh_terminal_paginate_cmd);
 	install_element(VIEW_NODE, &vtysh_terminal_length_cmd);
 	install_element(VIEW_NODE, &vtysh_terminal_no_length_cmd);
 	install_element(VIEW_NODE, &vtysh_show_daemons_cmd);
diff --git a/vtysh/vtysh.h b/vtysh/vtysh.h
index 430b117c50..eb69a20b83 100644
--- a/vtysh/vtysh.h
+++ b/vtysh/vtysh.h
@@ -98,8 +98,6 @@ void vtysh_config_dump(void);
 
 void vtysh_config_init(void);
 
-void vtysh_pager_init(void);
-
 void suid_on(void);
 void suid_off(void);
 
diff --git a/vtysh/vtysh_main.c b/vtysh/vtysh_main.c
index 777eed7b5d..2e4510a45a 100644
--- a/vtysh/vtysh_main.c
+++ b/vtysh/vtysh_main.c
@@ -675,8 +675,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **env)
 			exit(0);
 	}
 
-	vtysh_pager_init();
-
 	vtysh_readline_init();
 
 	vty_hello(vty);
diff --git a/watchfrr/watchfrr.c b/watchfrr/watchfrr.c
index e32bf3359b..e28da6db8c 100644
--- a/watchfrr/watchfrr.c
+++ b/watchfrr/watchfrr.c
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ static bool watch_only = false;
 
 typedef enum {
 	PHASE_NONE = 0,
+	PHASE_INIT,
 	PHASE_STOPS_PENDING,
 	PHASE_WAITING_DOWN,
 	PHASE_ZEBRA_RESTART_PENDING,
@@ -72,7 +73,8 @@ typedef enum {
 } restart_phase_t;
 
 static const char *phase_str[] = {
-	"None",
+	"Idle",
+	"Startup",
 	"Stop jobs running",
 	"Waiting for other daemons to come down",
 	"Zebra restart job running",
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ static struct global_state {
 	int numpids;
 	int numdown; /* # of daemons that are not UP or UNRESPONSIVE */
 } gs = {
-	.phase = PHASE_NONE,
+	.phase = PHASE_INIT,
 	.vtydir = frr_vtydir,
 	.period = 1000 * DEFAULT_PERIOD,
 	.timeout = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT,
@@ -177,6 +179,7 @@ static int try_connect(struct daemon *dmn);
 static int wakeup_send_echo(struct thread *t_wakeup);
 static void try_restart(struct daemon *dmn);
 static void phase_check(void);
+static void restart_done(struct daemon *dmn);
 
 static const char *progname;
 static void printhelp(FILE *target)
@@ -333,6 +336,7 @@ static void sigchild(void)
 	const char *name;
 	const char *what;
 	struct restart_info *restart;
+	struct daemon *dmn;
 
 	switch (child = waitpid(-1, &status, WNOHANG)) {
 	case -1:
@@ -378,9 +382,18 @@ static void sigchild(void)
 			zlog_warn(
 				"%s %s process %d exited with non-zero status %d",
 				what, name, (int)child, WEXITSTATUS(status));
-		else
+		else {
 			zlog_debug("%s %s process %d exited normally", what,
 				   name, (int)child);
+
+			if (restart && restart != &gs.restart) {
+				dmn = container_of(restart, struct daemon,
+						   restart);
+				restart_done(dmn);
+			} else if (restart)
+				for (dmn = gs.daemons; dmn; dmn = dmn->next)
+					restart_done(dmn);
+		}
 	} else
 		flog_err_sys(
 			EC_LIB_SYSTEM_CALL,
@@ -494,15 +507,27 @@ static int wakeup_init(struct thread *t_wakeup)
 
 	dmn->t_wakeup = NULL;
 	if (try_connect(dmn) < 0) {
-		SET_WAKEUP_DOWN(dmn);
 		flog_err(EC_WATCHFRR_CONNECTION,
 			 "%s state -> down : initial connection attempt failed",
 			 dmn->name);
 		dmn->state = DAEMON_DOWN;
 	}
+	phase_check();
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static void restart_done(struct daemon *dmn)
+{
+	if (dmn->state != DAEMON_DOWN) {
+		zlog_warn("wtf?");
+		return;
+	}
+	if (dmn->t_wakeup)
+		THREAD_OFF(dmn->t_wakeup);
+	if (try_connect(dmn) < 0)
+		SET_WAKEUP_DOWN(dmn);
+}
+
 static void daemon_down(struct daemon *dmn, const char *why)
 {
 	if (IS_UP(dmn) || (dmn->state == DAEMON_INIT))
@@ -773,9 +798,25 @@ static void set_phase(restart_phase_t new_phase)
 
 static void phase_check(void)
 {
+	struct daemon *dmn;
+
 	switch (gs.phase) {
 	case PHASE_NONE:
 		break;
+
+	case PHASE_INIT:
+		for (dmn = gs.daemons; dmn; dmn = dmn->next)
+			if (dmn->state == DAEMON_INIT)
+				return;
+
+		/* startup complete, everything out of INIT */
+		gs.phase = PHASE_NONE;
+		for (dmn = gs.daemons; dmn; dmn = dmn->next)
+			if (dmn->state == DAEMON_DOWN) {
+				SET_WAKEUP_DOWN(dmn);
+				try_restart(dmn);
+			}
+		break;
 	case PHASE_STOPS_PENDING:
 		if (gs.numpids)
 			break;
@@ -929,6 +970,31 @@ bool check_all_up(void)
 	return true;
 }
 
+void watchfrr_status(struct vty *vty)
+{
+	struct daemon *dmn;
+	struct timeval delay;
+
+	vty_out(vty, "watchfrr global phase: %s\n", phase_str[gs.phase]);
+	if (gs.restart.pid)
+		vty_out(vty, "    global restart running, pid %ld\n",
+			(long)gs.restart.pid);
+
+	for (dmn = gs.daemons; dmn; dmn = dmn->next) {
+		vty_out(vty, "  %-20s %s\n", dmn->name, state_str[dmn->state]);
+		if (dmn->restart.pid)
+			vty_out(vty, "      restart running, pid %ld\n",
+				(long)dmn->restart.pid);
+		else if (dmn->state == DAEMON_DOWN &&
+			time_elapsed(&delay, &dmn->restart.time)->tv_sec
+				< dmn->restart.interval)
+			vty_out(vty, "      restarting in %ld seconds"
+				" (%lds backoff interval)\n",
+				dmn->restart.interval - delay.tv_sec,
+				dmn->restart.interval);
+	}
+}
+
 static void sigint(void)
 {
 	zlog_notice("Terminating on signal");
@@ -980,8 +1046,7 @@ static void watchfrr_init(int argc, char **argv)
 		gs.numdown++;
 		dmn->fd = -1;
 		dmn->t_wakeup = NULL;
-		thread_add_timer_msec(master, wakeup_init, dmn,
-				      100 + (random() % 900),
+		thread_add_timer_msec(master, wakeup_init, dmn, 0,
 				      &dmn->t_wakeup);
 		dmn->restart.interval = gs.min_restart_interval;
 		*add = dmn;
diff --git a/watchfrr/watchfrr.h b/watchfrr/watchfrr.h
index ee16846a1d..c5f54769bd 100644
--- a/watchfrr/watchfrr.h
+++ b/watchfrr/watchfrr.h
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ extern void watchfrr_vty_init(void);
 
 extern pid_t integrated_write_pid;
 extern void integrated_write_sigchld(int status);
+
+struct vty;
+extern void watchfrr_status(struct vty *vty);
+
 /*
  * Check if all daemons we are monitoring are in the DAEMON_UP state.
  *
diff --git a/watchfrr/watchfrr_vty.c b/watchfrr/watchfrr_vty.c
index 1bfc41f255..9b844d67f2 100644
--- a/watchfrr/watchfrr_vty.c
+++ b/watchfrr/watchfrr_vty.c
@@ -124,6 +124,16 @@ DEFUN_NOSH (show_debugging_watchfrr,
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }
 
+DEFUN (show_watchfrr,
+       show_watchfrr_cmd,
+       "show watchfrr",
+       SHOW_STR
+       WATCHFRR_STR)
+{
+	watchfrr_status(vty);
+	return CMD_SUCCESS;
+}
+
 void integrated_write_sigchld(int status)
 {
 	uint8_t reply[4] = {0, 0, 0, CMD_WARNING};
@@ -159,4 +169,5 @@ void watchfrr_vty_init(void)
 	install_element(ENABLE_NODE, &config_write_integrated_cmd);
 	install_element(ENABLE_NODE, &show_debugging_watchfrr_cmd);
 	install_element(CONFIG_NODE, &show_debugging_watchfrr_cmd);
+	install_element(VIEW_NODE, &show_watchfrr_cmd);
 }