diff --git a/flock/container.c b/flock/container.c
index 8a5f6b78..2c0dcbe4 100644
--- a/flock/container.c
+++ b/flock/container.c
@@ -21,30 +21,25 @@
 static struct hypervisor_container_forker {
   sock *s;
   pool *p;
+  struct cbor_stream *stream;
   struct birdloop *loop;
   HASH(struct container_runtime) hash;
   struct container_runtime *cur_crt;
   int ctl[2]; /* socketpair filedescriptors */
 } hcf;
 
-static struct container_config {
-  const char *hostname;
-  const char *workdir;
-  const char *basedir;
-} ccf;
+struct container_fork_request {
+  struct cbor_channel cch;
+  struct cbor_channel *ctl_ch;
+  struct container_runtime *crt;
+};
 
 struct container_runtime {
   struct container_runtime *next;
-  struct container_config ccf;
   uint hash;
   pid_t pid;
   sock *s;
-  struct container_operation_callback {
-    callback cb;
-    sock *s;
-    void *data;
-  } *ccc;
-  char data[];
+  char hostname[];
 };
 
 #define CRT_KEY(c)	c->ccf.hostname, c->hash
@@ -289,7 +284,7 @@ container_init_logger(void)
 }
 
 static void
-container_mainloop(int fd)
+container_mainloop(int fd, struct flock_machine_container_config *ccf)
 {
   log(L_INFO "container mainloop with fd %d", fd);
 
@@ -300,12 +295,12 @@ container_mainloop(int fd)
   /* Move to the workdir */
   linpool *lp = lp_new(&root_pool);
 
-  if (strchr(ccf.basedir, ',') ||
-      strchr(ccf.basedir, '=') ||
-      strchr(ccf.basedir, '\\'))
+  if (strchr(ccf->basedir, ',') ||
+      strchr(ccf->basedir, '=') ||
+      strchr(ccf->basedir, '\\'))
     die("Refusing to work with paths containing chars: ,=\\");
 
-  int wfd = GETDIR(lp_sprintf(lp, "%s%s", ccf.workdir[0] == '/' ? "" : "./", ccf.workdir));
+  int wfd = GETDIR(lp_sprintf(lp, "%s%s", ccf->workdir[0] == '/' ? "" : "./", ccf->workdir));
   SYSCALL(fchdir, wfd);
   close(wfd); wfd = -1;
 
@@ -313,16 +308,16 @@ container_mainloop(int fd)
   close(GETDIR(lp_strdup(lp, "./tmp")));
   close(GETDIR(lp_strdup(lp, "./root")));
 
-  bool cloneroot = !strcmp(ccf.basedir, "/");
+  bool cloneroot = !strcmp(ccf->basedir, "/");
   bool clonedev = cloneroot;
   if (cloneroot)
   {
-    ccf.basedir = "./lower";
+    ccf->basedir = "./lower";
     close(GETDIR(lp_strdup(lp, "./lower")));
   }
 
   const char *overlay_mount_options = lp_sprintf(lp, "lowerdir=%s,upperdir=%s,workdir=%s",
-      ccf.basedir, "./upper", "./tmp");
+      ccf->basedir, "./upper", "./tmp");
   SYSCALL(mount, "overlay", "./root", "overlay", 0, overlay_mount_options);
 
   if (cloneroot)
@@ -531,10 +526,10 @@ container_mainloop(int fd)
 static uint container_counter = 0;
 
 static void
-container_start(void)
+container_start(struct flock_machine_container_config *ccf)
 {
   log(L_INFO "Requested to start a container, name %s, base %s, work %s",
-      ccf.hostname, ccf.basedir, ccf.workdir);
+      ccf->cf.name, ccf->basedir, ccf->workdir);
 
   pid_t pid = fork();
   if (pid < 0)
@@ -599,7 +594,7 @@ container_start(void)
 
     ASSERT_DIE(container_counter < 0x6000);
     this_thread_id -= (container_counter << 1) + 0x3000 ;
-    container_mainloop(fds[1]); /* this never returns */
+    container_mainloop(fds[1], ccf); /* this never returns */
     bug("container_mainloop has returned");
   }
 
@@ -757,6 +752,7 @@ hypervisor_container_forker_err(sock *sk, int e UNUSED)
 
 /* The child */
 
+#if 0
 static void
 crt_err(sock *s, int err UNUSED)
 {
@@ -799,92 +795,54 @@ container_created(callback *cb)
 
   mb_free(ccc);
 }
+#endif
 
 void
-hypervisor_container_request(sock *s, const char *name, const char *basedir, const char *workdir)
+hypervisor_container_start(struct cbor_channel *cch, struct flock_machine_container_config *ccf)
 {
   birdloop_enter(hcf.loop);
+// const char *name, const char *basedir, const char *workdir
 
+  const char *name = ccf->cf.name;
   uint h = mem_hash(name, strlen(name));
   struct container_runtime *crt = HASH_FIND(hcf.hash, CRT, name, h);
   if (crt)
   {
-    struct {
-      struct cbor_writer w;
-      struct cbor_writer_stack_item si[2];
-    } _cw;
-
-    struct cbor_writer *cw = cbor_writer_init(&_cw.w, 2, s->tbuf, s->tbsize);
-    CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
-    {
-      cbor_put_int(cw, -127);
-      cbor_put_string(cw, "BAD: Already exists");
-    }
-
-    sk_send(s, cw->data.pos - cw->data.start);
+    CBOR_REPLY(cch, cw)
+      CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
+      {
+	cbor_put_int(cw, -127);
+	cbor_put_string(cw, "Container not created: Already exists");
+      }
 
+    cbor_done_channel(cch);
     birdloop_leave(hcf.loop);
     return;
   }
 
-  uint nlen = strlen(name),
-       blen = strlen(basedir),
-       wlen = strlen(workdir);
-
-  crt = mb_allocz(hcf.p, sizeof *crt + nlen + blen + wlen + 3);
-
-  char *pos = crt->data;
-
-  crt->ccf.hostname = pos;
-  memcpy(pos, name, nlen + 1);
-  pos += nlen + 1;
-
-  crt->ccf.workdir = pos;
-  memcpy(pos, workdir, wlen + 1);
-  pos += wlen + 1;
-
-  crt->ccf.basedir = pos;
-  memcpy(pos, basedir, blen + 1);
-  pos += blen + 1;
-
+  uint nlen = strlen(name);
+  crt = mb_allocz(hcf.p, sizeof *crt + nlen + 1);
   crt->hash = h;
-
-  struct container_operation_callback *ccc = mb_alloc(s->pool, sizeof *ccc);
-  *ccc = (struct container_operation_callback) {
-    .s = s,
-    .data = s->data,
-  };
-  callback_init(&ccc->cb, container_created, s->loop);
-  crt->ccc = ccc;
+  memcpy(crt->hostname, name, nlen + 1);
 
   HASH_INSERT(hcf.hash, CRT, crt);
 
-  ASSERT_DIE(hcf.cur_crt == NULL);
-  hcf.cur_crt = crt;
+  log(L_INFO "requesting machine creation, name %s", name);
+  SKIP_BACK_DECLARE(struct container_fork_request, cfr, cch, cbor_channel_new(hcf.stream));
+  cfr->crl_ch = cch;
+  cfr->crt = crt;
+  cfr->cch.parse = container_fork_request_reply;
 
-  log(L_INFO "requesting machine creation, socket %p", s);
-
-  struct {
-    struct cbor_writer w;
-    struct cbor_writer_stack_item si[2];
-  } _cw;
-
-  struct cbor_writer *cw = cbor_writer_init(&_cw.w, 2, s->tbuf, s->tbsize);
-  CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
-  {
-    cbor_put_int(cw, 0);
-    cbor_put_string(cw, name);
-    cbor_put_int(cw, 1);
-    cbor_put_string(cw, basedir);
-    cbor_put_int(cw, 2);
-    cbor_put_string(cw, workdir);
-  }
-
-  sk_send(s, cw->data.pos - cw->data.start);
-
-  s->err_paused = crt_err;
-  s->data = crt;
-  sk_pause_rx(s->loop, s);
+  CBOR_REPLY(&cfr->cch, cw)
+    CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
+    {
+      cbor_put_int(cw, 0);
+      cbor_put_string(cw, name);
+      cbor_put_int(cw, 1);
+      cbor_put_string(cw, ccf->basedir);
+      cbor_put_int(cw, 2);
+      cbor_put_string(cw, ccf->workdir);
+    }
 
   birdloop_leave(hcf.loop);
 }
@@ -916,58 +874,45 @@ container_stopped(callback *cb)
 }
 
 void
-hypervisor_container_shutdown(sock *s, const char *name)
+hypervisor_container_shutdown(struct cbor_channel *cch, struct flock_machine_container_config *ccf)
 {
   birdloop_enter(hcf.loop);
 
+  const char *name = ccf->cf.name;
   uint h = mem_hash(name, strlen(name));
   struct container_runtime *crt = HASH_FIND(hcf.hash, CRT, name, h);
 
   if (!crt || !crt->s)
   {
-    struct {
-      struct cbor_writer w;
-      struct cbor_writer_stack_item si[2];
-    } _cw;
+    CBOR_REPLY(cch, cw)
+      CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
+      {
+	cbor_put_int(cw, -127);
+	cbor_put_string(cw, "BAD: Not found");
+      }
 
-    struct cbor_writer *cw = cbor_writer_init(&_cw.w, 2, s->tbuf, s->tbsize);
-    CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
-    {
-      cbor_put_int(cw, -127);
-      cbor_put_string(cw, "BAD: Not found");
-    }
-
-    sk_send(s, cw->data.pos - cw->data.start);
+    cbor_done_channel(cch);
     birdloop_leave(hcf.loop);
     return;
   }
 
-  struct {
-    struct cbor_writer w;
-    struct cbor_writer_stack_item si[2];
-  } _cw;
+  struct cbor_channel *xch = cbor_channel_new(crt->stream);
+  CBOR_REPLY(xch, cw)
+    CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
+    {
+      cbor_put_int(cw, 0);
+      cbor_put_null(cw);
+    }
 
-  struct cbor_writer *cw = cbor_writer_init(&_cw.w, 2, s->tbuf, s->tbsize);
-  CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
-  {
-    cbor_put_int(cw, 0);
-    cbor_put_null(cw);
-  }
-
-  sk_send(s, cw->data.pos - cw->data.start);
-
-  struct container_operation_callback *ccc = mb_alloc(s->pool, sizeof *ccc);
+  struct container_operation_callback *ccc = mb_alloc(cch->pool, sizeof *ccc);
   *ccc = (struct container_operation_callback) {
-    .s = s,
-    .data = s->data,
+    .cch = cch,
+    .ccf = ccf,
+    .cancel = container_operation_hangup,
   };
   callback_init(&ccc->cb, container_stopped, s->loop);
   crt->ccc = ccc;
 
-  s->err_paused = crt_err;
-  s->data = crt;
-  sk_pause_rx(s->loop, s);
-
   birdloop_leave(hcf.loop);
 }
 
diff --git a/flock/ctl.c b/flock/ctl.c
index f55bf333..d633b740 100644
--- a/flock/ctl.c
+++ b/flock/ctl.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 struct hcs_parser_context {
   struct cbor_parser_context *ctx;
   struct cbor_stream *stream;
+  struct hcs_parser_channel *channel;
   sock *sock;
 
   u64 bytes_consumed;
@@ -44,30 +45,25 @@ struct hcs_parser_channel {
 };
 
 static void
-//hcs_request_poweroff(struct hcs_parser_channel *hpc)
-hcs_request_poweroff(struct hcs_parser_context *htx)
+hcs_request_poweroff(struct hcs_parser_channel *hpc)
 {
   log(L_INFO "Requested shutdown via CLI");
   ev_send_loop(&main_birdloop, &poweroff_event);
 
-  struct {
-    struct cbor_writer w;
-    struct cbor_writer_stack_item si[2];
-  } _cw;
+  CBOR_REPLY(&hpc->cch, cw)
+    CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
+    {
+      cbor_put_int(cw, -1);
+      cbor_put_string(cw, "OK");
+    }
 
-  struct cbor_writer *cw = cbor_writer_init(&_cw.w, 2, htx->sock->tbuf, htx->sock->tbsize);
-  CBOR_PUT_MAP(cw)
-  {
-    cbor_put_int(cw, -1);
-    cbor_put_string(cw, "OK");
-  }
-
-  sk_send(htx->sock, cw->data.pos - cw->data.start);
+  cbor_done_channel(&hpc->cch);
 }
 
 static void
-hcs_get_telnet(struct hcs_parser_context *htx)
+hcs_get_telnet(struct hcs_parser_channel *hpc)
 {
+// TODO:  hexp_get_telnet();
 }
 
 struct hcs_parser_context *
@@ -93,18 +89,21 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 {
   ASSERT_DIE(size > 0);
   struct cbor_parser_context *ctx = htx->ctx;
+  struct hcs_parser_channel *hpc = htx->channel;
+
+  bool finish_cmd = false;
 
   for (int pos = 0; pos < size; pos++)
   {
-    /*
-    if (!htx->channel)
+    if (!hpc)
     {
-      htx->channel = cbor_parse_channel(ctx, htx->stream, buf[pos]);
-      if (htx->channel == &cbor_channel_parse_error)
+      struct cbor_channel *cch = cbor_parse_channel(ctx, htx->stream, buf[pos]);
+      if (cch == &cbor_channel_parse_error)
 	return -(htx->bytes_consumed + pos + 1);
+      else if (cch)
+	hpc = htx->channel = SKIP_BACK(struct hcs_parser_channel, cch, cch);
       continue;
     }
-    */
 
     switch (cbor_parse_byte(ctx, buf[pos]))
     {
@@ -120,42 +119,31 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 	/* Check type acceptance */
 	switch (htx->major_state)
 	{
-	  case 0: /* toplevel */
-	    if (ctx->type != 4)
-	      CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Expected array, got %u", ctx->type);
+	  case 0: /* Command */
+	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, POSINT, hpc->cmd);
+	    if (hpc->cmd > HCS_CMD__MAX)
+	      CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Command key too high, got %lu", hpc->cmd);
 
-	    if (ctx->value != 3)
-	      CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Expected array of length 1, got %u", ctx->value);
-
-	    htx->major_state = 1;
-	    break;
-
-	  case 1: /* Command */
-	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, POSINT, htx->cmd);
-	    if (htx->cmd > HCS_CMD__MAX)
-	      CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Command key too high, got %lu", htx->cmd);
-
-	    htx->major_state = htx->cmd + 10;
+	    htx->major_state = hpc->cmd + 10;
 	    break;
 
 	  case HCS_CMD_SHUTDOWN + 10: /* shutdown command: expected null */
 	    if ((ctx->type != 7) || (ctx->value != 22))
 	      CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Expected null, got %u-%u", ctx->type, ctx->value);
 
-	    hcs_request_poweroff(htx);
-
-	    htx->major_state = 3;
+	    hcs_request_poweroff(hpc);
+	    finish_cmd = true;
 	    break;
 
 	  case HCS_CMD_TELNET + 10: /* telnet listener open */
 	    if ((ctx->type == 7) && (ctx->value == 22))
 	    {
-	      hcs_get_telnet(htx);
-	      htx->major_state = 3;
+	      hcs_get_telnet(hpc);
+	      finish_cmd = true;
 	      break;
 	    }
 
-	    else CBOR_PARSE_IF(ctx, TEXT, htx->cfg.cf.name)
+	    else CBOR_PARSE_IF(ctx, TEXT, hpc->cfg.cf.name)
 	      ;
 	    else
 	      CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Expected null or string, got %s", cbor_type_str(ctx->type));
@@ -189,11 +177,11 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 	    break;
 
 	  case 502: /* machine creation argument 0: name */
-	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, TEXT, htx->cfg.cf.name);
+	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, TEXT, hpc->cfg.cf.name);
 	    break;
 
 	  case 503: /* machine creation argument 1: type */
-	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, POSINT, htx->cfg.cf.type);
+	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, POSINT, hpc->cfg.cf.type);
 
 	    if ((ctx->value < 1) && (ctx->value > 1) )
 	      CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Unexpected type, got %lu", ctx->value);
@@ -202,11 +190,11 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 	    break;
 
 	  case 504: /* machine creation argument 2: basedir */
-	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, BYTES, htx->cfg.container.basedir);
+	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, BYTES, hpc->cfg.container.basedir);
 	    break;
 
 	  case 505: /* machine creation argument 3: workdir */
-	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, BYTES, htx->cfg.container.workdir);
+	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, BYTES, hpc->cfg.container.workdir);
 	    break;
 
 	  case 601: /* machine shutdown argument */
@@ -219,7 +207,7 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 	    break;
 
 	  case 602: /* machine creation argument 0: name */
-	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, TEXT, htx->cfg.cf.name);
+	    CBOR_PARSE_ONLY(ctx, TEXT, hpc->cfg.cf.name);
 	    break;
 
 	  default:
@@ -231,9 +219,9 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 	/* Bytes read completely! */
 	switch (htx->major_state)
 	{
-	  case 3:
-	    hexp_get_telnet(htx->sock, htx->cfg.cf.name);
-	    htx->major_state = 1;
+	  case HCS_CMD_TELNET + 10:
+	    hcs_get_telnet(hpc);
+	    finish_cmd = true;
 	    break;
 
 	  case 502:
@@ -253,6 +241,19 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 	break;
     }
 
+    if (finish_cmd)
+    {
+      finish_cmd = false;
+
+      if (!cbor_parse_channel_finish(ctx, htx->stream))
+	CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Failed to finish CBOR channel parser");
+
+      htx->channel = NULL;
+      htx->bytes_consumed = 0;
+      htx->major_state = 0;
+      continue;
+    }
+
     /* End of array or map */
     while (cbor_parse_block_end(ctx))
     {
@@ -274,33 +275,39 @@ hcs_parse(struct hcs_parser_context *htx, const byte *buf, s64 size)
 	  break;
 
 	case 501:
-	  if (!htx->cfg.cf.type)
+	  /*
+	  if (!hpc->cfg.cf.type)
 	    CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Machine type not specified");
 
-	  if (!htx->cfg.cf.name)
+	  if (!hpc->cfg.cf.name)
 	    CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Machine name not specified");
 
-	  if (!htx->cfg.container.workdir)
+	  if (!hpc->cfg.container.workdir)
 	    CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Machine workdir not specified");
 
-	  if (!htx->cfg.container.basedir)
+	  if (!hpc->cfg.container.basedir)
 	    CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Machine basedir not specified");
 
 	  hypervisor_container_request(
 	      htx->sock,
-	      htx->cfg.cf.name,
-	      htx->cfg.container.basedir,
-	      htx->cfg.container.workdir);
+	      hpc->cfg.cf.name,
+	      hpc->cfg.container.basedir,
+	      hpc->cfg.container.workdir);
+	      */
 
+	  hypervisor_container_start(&hpc->cch, &hpc->cfg.container);
 	  htx->major_state = 1;
 	  break;
 
 	case 601:
+	  /*
 	  if (!htx->cfg.cf.name)
 	    CBOR_PARSER_ERROR("Machine name not specified");
 
 	  hypervisor_container_shutdown(htx->sock, htx->cfg.cf.name);
+	    */
 
+	  hypervisor_container_shutdown(&hpc->cch, &hpc->cfg.container);
 	  htx->major_state = 1;
 	  break;
 
diff --git a/flock/flock.h b/flock/flock.h
index d2041ccc..5af84cf1 100644
--- a/flock/flock.h
+++ b/flock/flock.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #ifndef INCLUDE_FLOCK_H
 #define INCLUDE_FLOCK_H
 #include "lib/birdlib.h"
+#include "lib/cbor.h"
 #include "lib/event.h"
 #include "lib/obstacle.h"
 #include "lib/resource.h"
@@ -45,9 +46,8 @@ union flock_machine_config {
   } container;
 };
 
-
-void hypervisor_container_request(sock *s, const char *name, const char *basedir, const char *workdir);
-void hypervisor_container_shutdown(sock *s, const char *name);
+void hypervisor_container_start(struct cbor_channel *, struct flock_machine_container_config *);
+void hypervisor_container_shutdown(struct cbor_channel *, struct flock_machine_container_config *);
 int container_ctl_fd(const char *name);
 
 void hexp_cleanup_after_fork(void);