diff --git a/coretk/coretk/coreclient.py b/coretk/coretk/coreclient.py
index 14cc3a11..9b486ccf 100644
--- a/coretk/coretk/coreclient.py
+++ b/coretk/coretk/coreclient.py
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ class CoreClient:
         )
 
     def join_session(self, session_id):
+        self.master.config(cursor="watch")
+        self.master.update()
+
         # update session and title
         self.session_id = session_id
         self.master.title(f"CORE Session({self.session_id})")
@@ -193,6 +196,7 @@ class CoreClient:
             self.app.toolbar.runtime_frame.tkraise()
         else:
             self.app.toolbar.design_frame.tkraise()
+        self.master.config(cursor="")
 
     def is_runtime(self):
         return self.state == core_pb2.SessionState.RUNTIME
@@ -296,7 +300,8 @@ class CoreClient:
         mobility_configs = self.get_mobility_configs_proto()
         emane_model_configs = self.get_emane_model_configs_proto()
         hooks = list(self.hooks.values())
-        # service_configs = self.get_service_config_proto()
+        service_configs = self.get_service_config_proto()
+        print(service_configs)
         # service_file_configs = self.get_service_file_config_proto()
         self.created_links.clear()
         self.created_nodes.clear()
@@ -313,7 +318,7 @@ class CoreClient:
             emane_config=emane_config,
             emane_model_configs=emane_model_configs,
             mobility_configs=mobility_configs,
-            # service_configs=service_configs
+            service_configs=service_configs,
         )
         logging.debug("Start session %s, result: %s", self.session_id, response.result)
 
@@ -638,14 +643,15 @@ class CoreClient:
             service_configs,
         ) in self.serviceconfig_manager.configurations.items():
             for service, config in service_configs.items():
-                config = core_pb2.ServiceConfig(
-                    node_id=node_id,
-                    service=service,
-                    startup=config.startup,
-                    validate=config.validate,
-                    shutdown=config.shutdown,
-                )
-                configs.append(config)
+                if service in self.serviceconfig_manager.current_services[node_id]:
+                    config = core_pb2.ServiceConfig(
+                        node_id=node_id,
+                        service=service,
+                        startup=config.startup,
+                        validate=config.validate,
+                        shutdown=config.shutdown,
+                    )
+                    configs.append(config)
         return configs
 
     def get_service_file_config_proto(self):
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/dialogs/nodeservice.py b/coretk/coretk/dialogs/nodeservice.py
index 67d9a0b3..35c55b75 100644
--- a/coretk/coretk/dialogs/nodeservice.py
+++ b/coretk/coretk/dialogs/nodeservice.py
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ class NodeService(Dialog):
         self.current = None
         if services is None:
             services = set(
-                app.core.serviceconfig_manager.configurations[self.node_id].keys()
+                app.core.serviceconfig_manager.current_services[self.node_id]
             )
         self.current_services = services
+        self.service_manager = self.app.core.serviceconfig_manager
+        self.service_file_manager = self.app.core.servicefileconfig_manager
         self.draw()
 
     def draw(self):
@@ -76,9 +78,16 @@ class NodeService(Dialog):
 
     def service_clicked(self, name, var):
         if var.get() and name not in self.current_services:
-            self.current_services.add(name)
+            if self.service_manager.node_new_service_configuration(self.node_id, name):
+                self.current_services.add(name)
+            else:
+                for checkbutton in self.services.frame.winfo_children():
+                    if name == checkbutton.cget("text"):
+                        checkbutton.config(variable=tk.BooleanVar(value=False))
+
         elif not var.get() and name in self.current_services:
             self.current_services.remove(name)
+            self.service_manager.current_services[self.node_id].remove(name)
         self.current.listbox.delete(0, tk.END)
         for name in sorted(self.current_services):
             self.current.listbox.insert(tk.END, name)
@@ -90,7 +99,7 @@ class NodeService(Dialog):
                 master=self,
                 app=self.app,
                 service_name=self.current.listbox.get(current_selection[0]),
-                canvas_node=self.canvas_node,
+                node_id=self.node_id,
             )
             dialog.show()
         else:
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/dialogs/serviceconfiguration.py b/coretk/coretk/dialogs/serviceconfiguration.py
index 195dc913..bb1fd858 100644
--- a/coretk/coretk/dialogs/serviceconfiguration.py
+++ b/coretk/coretk/dialogs/serviceconfiguration.py
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ from coretk.widgets import ListboxScroll
 
 
 class ServiceConfiguration(Dialog):
-    def __init__(self, master, app, service_name, canvas_node):
+    def __init__(self, master, app, service_name, node_id):
         super().__init__(master, app, f"{service_name} service", modal=True)
         self.app = app
-        self.canvas_node = canvas_node
-        self.node_id = canvas_node.core_node.id
+        self.service_manager = app.core.serviceconfig_manager
+        self.node_id = node_id
         self.service_name = service_name
         self.radiovar = tk.IntVar()
         self.radiovar.set(2)
@@ -51,16 +51,15 @@ class ServiceConfiguration(Dialog):
         # create nodes and links in definition state for getting and setting service file
         self.app.core.create_nodes_and_links()
         # load data from local memory
-        serviceconfig_manager = self.app.core.serviceconfig_manager
-        if self.service_name in serviceconfig_manager.configurations[self.node_id]:
-            service_config = serviceconfig_manager.configurations[self.node_id][
+        if self.service_name in self.service_manager.configurations[self.node_id]:
+            service_config = self.service_manager.configurations[self.node_id][
                 self.service_name
             ]
         else:
-            serviceconfig_manager.node_custom_service_configuration(
+            self.service_manager.node_custom_service_configuration(
                 self.node_id, self.service_name
             )
-            service_config = serviceconfig_manager.configurations[self.node_id][
+            service_config = self.service_manager.configurations[self.node_id][
                 self.service_name
             ]
         self.dependencies = [x for x in service_config.dependencies]
@@ -363,7 +362,7 @@ class ServiceConfiguration(Dialog):
         startup_commands = self.startup_commands_listbox.get(0, "end")
         shutdown_commands = self.shutdown_commands_listbox.get(0, "end")
         validate_commands = self.validate_commands_listbox.get(0, "end")
-        self.app.core.serviceconfig_manager.node_service_custom_configuration(
+        self.service_manager.node_service_custom_configuration(
             self.node_id,
             self.service_name,
             startup_commands,
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/host.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/host.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e6efda08
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/host.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/hub.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/hub.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..26b7eba5
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/hub.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/lanswitch.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/lanswitch.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6f7ac92f
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/lanswitch.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/marker.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/marker.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9a41ccbe
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/marker.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/oval.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/oval.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..06f492d4
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/oval.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/pc.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/pc.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0577da3
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/pc.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/rectangle.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/rectangle.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f8a9581e
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/rectangle.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/rj45.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/rj45.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..baf4f9e8
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/rj45.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/router.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/router.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a42623a4
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/router.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/select.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/select.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9063d308
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/select.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/start.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/start.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..191d6636
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/start.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/stop.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/stop.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1db886c8
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/stop.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/text.png b/coretk/coretk/icons/text.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4933dabb
Binary files /dev/null and b/coretk/coretk/icons/text.png differ
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/host.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/host.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/host.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/host.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/hub.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/hub.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/hub.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/hub.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/lanswitch.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/lanswitch.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/lanswitch.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/lanswitch.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/oval.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/oval.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/oval.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/oval.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/pc.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/pc.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/pc.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/pc.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/rectangle.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/rectangle.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/rectangle.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/rectangle.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/rj45.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/rj45.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/rj45.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/rj45.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/router.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/router.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/router.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/router.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/select.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/select.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/select.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/select.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/start.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/start.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/start.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/start.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/stop.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/stop.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/stop.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/stop.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/icons/text.gif b/coretk/coretk/oldicons/text.gif
similarity index 100%
rename from coretk/coretk/icons/text.gif
rename to coretk/coretk/oldicons/text.gif
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/servicenodeconfig.py b/coretk/coretk/servicenodeconfig.py
index 98de9034..3473e1d8 100644
--- a/coretk/coretk/servicenodeconfig.py
+++ b/coretk/coretk/servicenodeconfig.py
@@ -2,15 +2,23 @@
 service node configuration
 """
 import logging
+from tkinter import messagebox
+
+import grpc
 
 
 class ServiceNodeConfig:
     def __init__(self, app):
         self.app = app
         # dict(node_id:dict(service:node_service_config_proto))
+        # maps node to all of its service configuration
         self.configurations = {}
+        # dict(node_id:set(str))
+        # maps node to current configurations
+        self.current_services = {}
         self.default_services = {}
 
+    # todo rewrite, no need self.default services
     def node_default_services_configuration(self, node_id, node_model):
         """
         set the default configurations for the default services of a node
@@ -20,6 +28,7 @@ class ServiceNodeConfig:
         """
         session_id = self.app.core.session_id
         client = self.app.core.client
+
         if len(self.default_services) == 0:
             response = client.get_service_defaults(session_id)
             logging.info("session default services: %s", response)
@@ -28,6 +37,7 @@ class ServiceNodeConfig:
 
         self.configurations[node_id] = {}
 
+        self.current_services[node_id] = set()
         for default in self.default_services[node_model]:
             response = client.get_node_service(session_id, node_id, default)
             logging.info(
@@ -36,6 +46,29 @@ class ServiceNodeConfig:
                 response,
             )
             self.configurations[node_id][default] = response.service
+            self.current_services[node_id].add(default)
+
+    def node_new_service_configuration(self, node_id, service_name):
+        """
+        store node's configuration if a new service is added from the GUI
+
+        :param int node_id: node id
+        :param str service_name: service name
+        :return: nothing
+        """
+        try:
+            config = self.app.core.get_node_service(node_id, service_name)
+        except grpc.RpcError:
+            messagebox.showerror("Service problem", "Service not found")
+            return False
+        if node_id not in self.configurations:
+            self.configurations[node_id] = {}
+        if node_id not in self.current_services:
+            self.current_services[node_id] = set()
+        if service_name not in self.configurations[node_id]:
+            self.configurations[node_id][service_name] = config
+        self.current_services[node_id].add(service_name)
+        return True
 
     def node_custom_service_configuration(self, node_id, service_name):
         self.configurations[node_id][service_name] = self.app.core.get_node_service(
diff --git a/coretk/coretk/toolbar.py b/coretk/coretk/toolbar.py
index bb1803ea..834f7b39 100644
--- a/coretk/coretk/toolbar.py
+++ b/coretk/coretk/toolbar.py
@@ -196,9 +196,12 @@ class Toolbar(ttk.Frame):
         :return: nothing
         """
         logging.debug("clicked start button")
+        self.master.config(cursor="watch")
+        self.master.update()
         self.app.canvas.mode = GraphMode.SELECT
         self.app.core.start_session()
         self.runtime_frame.tkraise()
+        self.master.config(cursor="")
 
     def click_link(self):
         logging.debug("Click LINK button")