diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 3872ef82..7ca87fe7 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ type ServerConfig struct {
 	ManageIPTables        string `yaml:"manageiptables"`
 	PortForwardServices   string `yaml:"portforwardservices"`
 	HostNetwork           string `yaml:"hostnetwork"`
-	CommsCIDR             string `yaml:"commscidr"`
 	MQPort                string `yaml:"mqport"`
 	Server                string `yaml:"server"`
 }
diff --git a/controllers/network.go b/controllers/network.go
index d72104f3..44405e95 100644
--- a/controllers/network.go
+++ b/controllers/network.go
@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@ package controller
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/database"
@@ -16,7 +14,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/models"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/mq"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/servercfg"
-	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/serverctl"
 )
 
 // ALL_NETWORK_ACCESS - represents all networks
@@ -85,10 +82,6 @@ func getNetwork(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	var params = mux.Vars(r)
 	netname := params["networkname"]
-	if isCommsEdit(w, r, netname) {
-		return
-	}
-
 	network, err := logic.GetNetwork(netname)
 	if err != nil {
 		returnErrorResponse(w, r, formatError(err, "internal"))
@@ -106,10 +99,6 @@ func keyUpdate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	var params = mux.Vars(r)
 	netname := params["networkname"]
-	if isCommsEdit(w, r, netname) {
-		return
-	}
-
 	network, err := logic.KeyUpdate(netname)
 	if err != nil {
 		returnErrorResponse(w, r, formatError(err, "internal"))
@@ -296,10 +285,6 @@ func deleteNetwork(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	var params = mux.Vars(r)
 	network := params["networkname"]
-	if isCommsEdit(w, r, network) {
-		return
-	}
-
 	err := logic.DeleteNetwork(network)
 	if err != nil {
 		errtype := "badrequest"
@@ -334,8 +319,7 @@ func createNetwork(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	if servercfg.IsClientMode() != "off" {
-		var node models.Node
-		node, err = logic.ServerJoin(&network)
+		_, err := logic.ServerJoin(&network)
 		if err != nil {
 			logic.DeleteNetwork(network.NetID)
 			if err == nil {
@@ -344,7 +328,6 @@ func createNetwork(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			returnErrorResponse(w, r, formatError(err, "internal"))
 			return
 		}
-		getServerAddrs(&node)
 	}
 
 	logger.Log(1, r.Header.Get("user"), "created network", network.NetID)
@@ -359,9 +342,6 @@ func createAccessKey(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	var accesskey models.AccessKey
 	//start here
 	netname := params["networkname"]
-	if isCommsEdit(w, r, netname) {
-		return
-	}
 	network, err := logic.GetParentNetwork(netname)
 	if err != nil {
 		returnErrorResponse(w, r, formatError(err, "internal"))
@@ -414,41 +394,3 @@ func deleteAccessKey(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	logger.Log(1, r.Header.Get("user"), "deleted access key", keyname, "on network,", netname)
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 }
-
-func isCommsEdit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, netname string) bool {
-	if netname == serverctl.COMMS_NETID {
-		returnErrorResponse(w, r, formatError(fmt.Errorf("cannot access comms network"), "internal"))
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func getServerAddrs(node *models.Node) {
-	serverNodes := logic.GetServerNodes(serverctl.COMMS_NETID)
-	//pubIP, _ := servercfg.GetPublicIP()
-	if len(serverNodes) == 0 {
-		if err := serverctl.SyncServerNetwork(serverctl.COMMS_NETID); err != nil {
-			return
-		}
-	}
-
-	var serverAddrs = make([]models.ServerAddr, 0)
-
-	for _, node := range serverNodes {
-		if node.Address != "" {
-			serverAddrs = append(serverAddrs, models.ServerAddr{
-				IsLeader: logic.IsLeader(&node),
-				Address:  node.Address,
-			})
-		}
-	}
-
-	networkSettings, _ := logic.GetParentNetwork(node.Network)
-	// TODO consolidate functionality around files
-	networkSettings.NodesLastModified = time.Now().Unix()
-	networkSettings.DefaultServerAddrs = serverAddrs
-	if err := logic.SaveNetwork(&networkSettings); err != nil {
-		logger.Log(1, "unable to save network on serverAddr update", err.Error())
-	}
-	node.NetworkSettings.DefaultServerAddrs = networkSettings.DefaultServerAddrs
-}
diff --git a/controllers/node.go b/controllers/node.go
index 9b2fce47..f6dc48a7 100644
--- a/controllers/node.go
+++ b/controllers/node.go
@@ -463,7 +463,6 @@ func createNode(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			return
 		}
 	}
-	getServerAddrs(&node)
 	key, keyErr := logic.RetrievePublicTrafficKey()
 	if keyErr != nil {
 		logger.Log(0, "error retrieving key: ", keyErr.Error())
diff --git a/dev.yaml b/dev.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7970ad6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+server:
+  corednsaddr: ""
+  apiconn: "api.ping.clustercat.com:443"
+  apihost: ""
+  apiport: "8081"
+  grpcconn: "grpc.ping.clustercat.com:443"
+  grpchost: ""
+  grpcport: "50051"
+  grpcsecure: "on"
+  mqhost: "localhost"
+  masterkey: "secretkey"
+  dnskey: ""
+  allowedorigin: "*"
+  nodeid: "netmaker"
+  restbackend: "on"
+  agentbackend: "on"
+  messagequeuebackend: "on"
+  clientmode: "on"
+  dnsmode: "on"
+  disableremoteipcheck: ""
+  grpcssl: "on"
+  version: ""
+  sqlconn: ""
+  platform: ""
+  database: "sqlite"
+  defaultnodelimit: ""
+  verbosity: 3
+  servercheckininterval: ""
+  authprovider: ""
+  clientid: ""
+  clientsecret: ""
+  frontendurl: ""
+  displaykeys: ""
+  azuretenant: ""
+  rce: "off"
+  debug: ""
+  telemetry: ""
+  manageiptables: "off"
+  portforwardservices: ""
+  hostnetwork: "off"
+  mqport: ""
+  server: "broker.ping.clustercat.com"
diff --git a/logic/accesskeys.go b/logic/accesskeys.go
index 40f58483..7779b7f2 100644
--- a/logic/accesskeys.go
+++ b/logic/accesskeys.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func DecrimentKey(networkName string, keyvalue string) {
 	var network models.Network
 
 	network, err := GetParentNetwork(networkName)
-	if err != nil || network.IsComms == "yes" {
+	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -176,9 +176,6 @@ func IsKeyValid(networkname string, keyvalue string) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 	accesskeys := network.AccessKeys
-	if network.IsComms == "yes" {
-		accesskeys = getAllAccessKeys()
-	}
 
 	var key models.AccessKey
 	foundkey := false
diff --git a/logic/server.go b/logic/server.go
index ee93232b..851f93f6 100644
--- a/logic/server.go
+++ b/logic/server.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func ServerJoin(networkSettings *models.Network) (models.Node, error) {
 	}
 	var ishub = "no"
 
-	if networkSettings.IsPointToSite == "yes" || networkSettings.IsComms == "yes" {
+	if networkSettings.IsPointToSite == "yes" {
 		nodes, err := GetNetworkNodes(networkSettings.NetID)
 		if err != nil || nodes == nil {
 			ishub = "yes"
diff --git a/logic/serverconf.go b/logic/serverconf.go
index 2da3e90a..0ba1e258 100644
--- a/logic/serverconf.go
+++ b/logic/serverconf.go
@@ -72,32 +72,3 @@ func StoreJWTSecret(privateKey string) error {
 	}
 	return database.Insert("nm-jwt-secret", string(data), database.SERVERCONF_TABLE_NAME)
 }
-
-// FetchCommsNetID - fetches comms netid from db
-func FetchCommsNetID() (string, error) {
-	var dbData string
-	var err error
-	var fetchedData = serverData{}
-	dbData, err = database.FetchRecord(database.SERVERCONF_TABLE_NAME, "nm-comms-id")
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(dbData), &fetchedData)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	return fetchedData.PrivateKey, nil
-}
-
-// StoreCommsNetID - stores server comms network netid if needed
-func StoreCommsNetID(netid string) error {
-	var newData = serverData{}
-	var err error
-	var data []byte
-	newData.PrivateKey = netid
-	data, err = json.Marshal(&newData)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return database.Insert("nm-comms-id", string(data), database.SERVERCONF_TABLE_NAME)
-}
diff --git a/models/network.go b/models/network.go
index 74ae87af..64a9cfc1 100644
--- a/models/network.go
+++ b/models/network.go
@@ -25,14 +25,11 @@ type Network struct {
 	IsIPv4              string      `json:"isipv4" bson:"isipv4" validate:"checkyesorno"`
 	IsIPv6              string      `json:"isipv6" bson:"isipv6" validate:"checkyesorno"`
 	IsPointToSite       string      `json:"ispointtosite" bson:"ispointtosite" validate:"checkyesorno"`
-	IsComms             string      `json:"iscomms" bson:"iscomms" validate:"checkyesorno"`
 	LocalRange          string      `json:"localrange" bson:"localrange" validate:"omitempty,cidr"`
 	DefaultUDPHolePunch string      `json:"defaultudpholepunch" bson:"defaultudpholepunch" validate:"checkyesorno"`
 	DefaultExtClientDNS string      `json:"defaultextclientdns" bson:"defaultextclientdns"`
 	DefaultMTU          int32       `json:"defaultmtu" bson:"defaultmtu"`
-	// consider removing - may be depreciated
-	DefaultServerAddrs []ServerAddr `json:"defaultserveraddrs" bson:"defaultserveraddrs" yaml:"defaultserveraddrs"`
-	DefaultACL         string       `json:"defaultacl" bson:"defaultacl" yaml:"defaultacl" validate:"checkyesorno"`
+	DefaultACL          string      `json:"defaultacl" bson:"defaultacl" yaml:"defaultacl" validate:"checkyesorno"`
 }
 
 // SaveData - sensitive fields of a network that should be kept the same
@@ -61,9 +58,6 @@ func (network *Network) SetDefaults() {
 	if network.IsPointToSite == "" {
 		network.IsPointToSite = "no"
 	}
-	if network.IsComms == "" {
-		network.IsComms = "no"
-	}
 	if network.DefaultInterface == "" {
 		if len(network.NetID) < 13 {
 			network.DefaultInterface = "nm-" + network.NetID
diff --git a/netclient/command/commands.go b/netclient/command/commands.go
index f500c3df..660a3d45 100644
--- a/netclient/command/commands.go
+++ b/netclient/command/commands.go
@@ -10,36 +10,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/ncutils"
 )
 
-// JoinComms -- Join the message queue comms network if it doesn't have it
-// tries to ping if already found locally, if fail ping pull for best effort for communication
-func JoinComms(cfg *config.ClientConfig) error {
-	commsCfg := &config.ClientConfig{}
-	commsCfg.Server.AccessKey = cfg.Server.AccessKey
-	commsCfg.Server.CoreDNSAddr = cfg.Server.CoreDNSAddr
-	if commsCfg.ConfigFileExists() {
-		return nil
-	}
-	commsCfg.ReadConfig()
-
-	if len(commsCfg.Node.Name) == 0 {
-		if err := functions.JoinNetwork(commsCfg, "", true); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	} else { // check if comms is currently reachable
-		if err := functions.PingServer(commsCfg); err != nil {
-			if err = Pull(commsCfg); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // Join - join command to run from cli
 func Join(cfg *config.ClientConfig, privateKey string) error {
 	var err error
 	//join network
-	err = functions.JoinNetwork(cfg, privateKey, false)
+	err = functions.JoinNetwork(cfg, privateKey)
 	if err != nil && !cfg.DebugOn {
 		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "ALREADY_INSTALLED") {
 			logger.Log(1, "error installing: ", err.Error())
@@ -89,13 +64,6 @@ func Leave(cfg *config.ClientConfig, force bool) error {
 	} else {
 		logger.Log(0, "success")
 	}
-	//nets, err := ncutils.GetSystemNetworks()
-	//if err == nil && len(nets) == 1 {
-	//if nets[0] == cfg.Node.CommID {
-	//logger.Log(1, "detected comms as remaining network, removing...")
-	//err = functions.LeaveNetwork(nets[0], true)
-	//}
-	//}
 	return err
 }
 
diff --git a/netclient/functions/daemon.go b/netclient/functions/daemon.go
index 63a706df..a79df3cd 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/daemon.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/daemon.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	mqtt "github.com/eclipse/paho.mqtt.golang"
 	"github.com/go-ping/ping"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/logger"
-	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/models"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/auth"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/config"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/daemon"
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ func Daemon() error {
 	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	wg.Add(1)
-	go Checkin(ctx, &wg, serverSet)
+	go Checkin(ctx, &wg)
 	quit := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
 	signal.Notify(quit, syscall.SIGTERM, os.Interrupt)
 	<-quit
@@ -112,7 +111,6 @@ func UpdateKeys(nodeCfg *config.ClientConfig, client mqtt.Client) error {
 }
 
 // PingServer -- checks if server is reachable
-// use commsCfg only*
 func PingServer(cfg *config.ClientConfig) error {
 	pinger, err := ping.NewPinger(cfg.Server.Server)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -181,10 +179,9 @@ func messageQueue(ctx context.Context, server string) {
 }
 
 // setupMQTTSub creates a connection to broker and subscribes to topic
-// utilizes comms client configs to setup connections
 func setupMQTTSub(server string) mqtt.Client {
 	opts := mqtt.NewClientOptions()
-	opts.AddBroker("ssl://" + server + ":8883") // TODO get the appropriate port of the comms mq server
+	opts.AddBroker("ssl://" + server + ":8883")
 	opts.TLSConfig = NewTLSConfig(nil, server)
 	opts.SetDefaultPublishHandler(All)
 	opts.SetAutoReconnect(true)
@@ -325,7 +322,7 @@ func NewTLSConfig(cfg *config.ClientConfig, server string) *tls.Config {
 func setupMQTT(cfg *config.ClientConfig, publish bool) mqtt.Client {
 	opts := mqtt.NewClientOptions()
 	server := cfg.Server.Server
-	opts.AddBroker("ssl://" + server + ":8883") // TODO get the appropriate port of the comms mq server
+	opts.AddBroker("ssl://" + server + ":8883")
 	opts.TLSConfig = NewTLSConfig(cfg, "")
 	opts.SetDefaultPublishHandler(All)
 	opts.SetAutoReconnect(true)
@@ -451,16 +448,6 @@ func decryptMsg(nodeCfg *config.ClientConfig, msg []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	return ncutils.DeChunk(msg, serverPubKey, diskKey)
 }
 
-func getServerAddress(cfg *config.ClientConfig) string {
-	var server models.ServerAddr
-	for _, server = range cfg.Node.NetworkSettings.DefaultServerAddrs {
-		if server.Address != "" && server.IsLeader {
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	return server.Address
-}
-
 // == Message Caches ==
 
 func insert(network, which, cache string) {
diff --git a/netclient/functions/join.go b/netclient/functions/join.go
index d41e69c4..27cadfe8 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/join.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/join.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // JoinNetwork - helps a client join a network
-func JoinNetwork(cfg *config.ClientConfig, privateKey string, iscomms bool) error {
+func JoinNetwork(cfg *config.ClientConfig, privateKey string) error {
 	if cfg.Node.Network == "" {
 		return errors.New("no network provided")
 	}
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func JoinNetwork(cfg *config.ClientConfig, privateKey string, iscomms bool) erro
 	// Find and set node MacAddress
 	if cfg.Node.MacAddress == "" {
 		macs, err := ncutils.GetMacAddr()
-		if err != nil || iscomms {
+		if err != nil {
 			//if macaddress can't be found set to random string
 			cfg.Node.MacAddress = ncutils.MakeRandomString(18)
 		} else {
diff --git a/netclient/functions/mqhandlers.go b/netclient/functions/mqhandlers.go
index 40298dc3..4f93b93e 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/mqhandlers.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/mqhandlers.go
@@ -202,10 +202,6 @@ func UpdatePeers(client mqtt.Client, msg mqtt.Message) {
 		return
 	}
 	logger.Log(0, "received peer update for node "+cfg.Node.Name+" "+cfg.Node.Network)
-	//skip dns updates if this is a peer update for comms network
-	if cfg.Node.NetworkSettings.IsComms == "yes" {
-		return
-	}
 	if cfg.Node.DNSOn == "yes" {
 		if err := setHostDNS(peerUpdate.DNS, cfg.Node.Network, ncutils.IsWindows()); err != nil {
 			logger.Log(0, "error updating /etc/hosts "+err.Error())
diff --git a/netclient/functions/mqpublish.go b/netclient/functions/mqpublish.go
index 93256ea4..fffd4870 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/mqpublish.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/mqpublish.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 
 // Checkin  -- go routine that checks for public or local ip changes, publishes changes
 //   if there are no updates, simply "pings" the server as a checkin
-func Checkin(ctx context.Context, wg *sync.WaitGroup, currentComms map[string]struct{}) {
+func Checkin(ctx context.Context, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
 	defer wg.Done()
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -113,8 +113,7 @@ func Hello(nodeCfg *config.ClientConfig) {
 	logger.Log(3, "server checkin complete")
 }
 
-// requires the commscfg in which to send traffic over and nodecfg of node that is publish the message
-// node cfg is so that the traffic keys of that node may be fetched for encryption
+// node cfg is required  in order to fetch the traffic keys of that node for encryption
 func publish(nodeCfg *config.ClientConfig, dest string, msg []byte, qos byte) error {
 	// setup the keys
 	trafficPrivKey, err := auth.RetrieveTrafficKey(nodeCfg.Node.Network)
diff --git a/netclient/functions/register.go b/netclient/functions/register.go
index 1f06811a..af71895b 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/register.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/register.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func Register(cfg *config.ClientConfig, key string) error {
 	} else if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return JoinNetwork(cfg, key, false)
+	return JoinNetwork(cfg, key)
 }
 
 // RegisterWithServer calls the register endpoint with privatekey and commonname - api returns ca and client certificate
diff --git a/servercfg/serverconf.go b/servercfg/serverconf.go
index 8fd59208..ca8ea73b 100644
--- a/servercfg/serverconf.go
+++ b/servercfg/serverconf.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	Version = "dev"
-	commsID = ""
 )
 
 // SetHost - sets the host ip
@@ -206,11 +205,6 @@ func GetMQPort() string {
 	return mqport
 }
 
-// SetCommsID - sets the commsID
-func SetCommsID(newCommsID string) {
-	commsID = newCommsID
-}
-
 // GetMessageQueueEndpoint - gets the message queue endpoint
 func GetMessageQueueEndpoint() string {
 	host, _ := GetPublicIP()
diff --git a/serverctl/serverctl.go b/serverctl/serverctl.go
index e1610b85..48d8964b 100644
--- a/serverctl/serverctl.go
+++ b/serverctl/serverctl.go
@@ -15,30 +15,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/servercfg"
 )
 
-// COMMS_NETID - name of the comms network
-var COMMS_NETID string
-
 const (
 	// NETMAKER_BINARY_NAME - name of netmaker binary
 	NETMAKER_BINARY_NAME = "netmaker"
 )
 
-// SetJWTSecret - sets the jwt secret on server startup
-func setCommsID() {
-	currentid, idErr := logic.FetchCommsNetID()
-	if idErr != nil {
-		commsid := logic.RandomString(8)
-		if err := logic.StoreCommsNetID(commsid); err != nil {
-			logger.FatalLog("something went wrong when configuring comms id")
-		}
-		COMMS_NETID = commsid
-		servercfg.SetCommsID(COMMS_NETID)
-		return
-	}
-	COMMS_NETID = currentid
-	servercfg.SetCommsID(COMMS_NETID)
-}
-
 // InitServerNetclient - intializes the server netclient
 // 1. Check if config directory exists, if not attempt to make
 // 2. Check current networks and run pull to get interface up to date in case of restart