diff --git a/daemon/core/config.py b/daemon/core/config.py
index 222abf01..1fe32adc 100644
--- a/daemon/core/config.py
+++ b/daemon/core/config.py
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@ Common support for configurable CORE objects.
 
 import logging
 from collections import OrderedDict
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Optional, Set, Tuple, Type, Union
 
 from core.emane.nodes import EmaneNet
 from core.emulator.enumerations import ConfigDataTypes
+from core.errors import CoreConfigError
 from core.nodes.network import WlanNode
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -15,62 +17,56 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 
     WirelessModelType = Type[WirelessModel]
 
+_BOOL_OPTIONS: Set[str] = {"0", "1"}
 
+
+@dataclass
 class ConfigGroup:
     """
     Defines configuration group tabs used for display by ConfigurationOptions.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, name: str, start: int, stop: int) -> None:
-        """
-        Creates a ConfigGroup object.
-
-        :param name: configuration group display name
-        :param start: configurations start index for this group
-        :param stop: configurations stop index for this group
-        """
-        self.name: str = name
-        self.start: int = start
-        self.stop: int = stop
+    name: str
+    start: int
+    stop: int
 
 
+@dataclass
 class Configuration:
     """
     Represents a configuration options.
     """
 
-    def __init__(
-        self,
-        _id: str,
-        _type: ConfigDataTypes,
-        label: str = None,
-        default: str = "",
-        options: List[str] = None,
-    ) -> None:
-        """
-        Creates a Configuration object.
+    id: str
+    type: ConfigDataTypes
+    label: str = None
+    default: str = ""
+    options: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 
-        :param _id: unique name for configuration
-        :param _type: configuration data type
-        :param label: configuration label for display
-        :param default: default value for configuration
-        :param options: list options if this is a configuration with a combobox
-        """
-        self.id: str = _id
-        self.type: ConfigDataTypes = _type
-        self.default: str = default
-        if not options:
-            options = []
-        self.options: List[str] = options
-        if not label:
-            label = _id
-        self.label: str = label
-
-    def __str__(self):
-        return (
-            f"{self.__class__.__name__}(id={self.id}, type={self.type}, "
-            f"default={self.default}, options={self.options})"
-        )
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        self.label = self.label if self.label else self.id
+        if self.type == ConfigDataTypes.BOOL:
+            if self.default and self.default not in _BOOL_OPTIONS:
+                raise CoreConfigError(
+                    f"{self.id} bool value must be one of: {_BOOL_OPTIONS}: "
+                    f"{self.default}"
+                )
+        elif self.type == ConfigDataTypes.FLOAT:
+            if self.default:
+                try:
+                    float(self.default)
+                except ValueError:
+                    raise CoreConfigError(
+                        f"{self.id} is not a valid float: {self.default}"
+                    )
+        elif self.type != ConfigDataTypes.STRING:
+            if self.default:
+                try:
+                    int(self.default)
+                except ValueError:
+                    raise CoreConfigError(
+                        f"{self.id} is not a valid int: {self.default}"
+                    )
 
 
 class ConfigurableOptions:
diff --git a/daemon/core/configservices/securityservices/services.py b/daemon/core/configservices/securityservices/services.py
index c656f5ca..9da27010 100644
--- a/daemon/core/configservices/securityservices/services.py
+++ b/daemon/core/configservices/securityservices/services.py
@@ -20,20 +20,20 @@ class VpnClient(ConfigService):
     validation_mode: ConfigServiceMode = ConfigServiceMode.BLOCKING
     default_configs: List[Configuration] = [
         Configuration(
-            _id="keydir",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="keydir",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Key Dir",
             default="/etc/core/keys",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="keyname",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="keyname",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Key Name",
             default="client1",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="server",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="server",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Server",
             default="10.0.2.10",
         ),
@@ -54,20 +54,20 @@ class VpnServer(ConfigService):
     validation_mode: ConfigServiceMode = ConfigServiceMode.BLOCKING
     default_configs: List[Configuration] = [
         Configuration(
-            _id="keydir",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="keydir",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Key Dir",
             default="/etc/core/keys",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="keyname",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="keyname",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Key Name",
             default="server",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="subnet",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="subnet",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Subnet",
             default="10.0.200.0",
         ),
diff --git a/daemon/core/configservices/simpleservice.py b/daemon/core/configservices/simpleservice.py
index c2e7242f..4370977d 100644
--- a/daemon/core/configservices/simpleservice.py
+++ b/daemon/core/configservices/simpleservice.py
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ class SimpleService(ConfigService):
     shutdown: List[str] = []
     validation_mode: ConfigServiceMode = ConfigServiceMode.BLOCKING
     default_configs: List[Configuration] = [
-        Configuration(_id="value1", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Text"),
-        Configuration(_id="value2", _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, label="Boolean"),
+        Configuration(id="value1", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Text"),
+        Configuration(id="value2", type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, label="Boolean"),
         Configuration(
-            _id="value3",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="value3",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Multiple Choice",
             options=["value1", "value2", "value3"],
         ),
diff --git a/daemon/core/emane/bypass.py b/daemon/core/emane/bypass.py
index 8aabc3f9..aebdde21 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emane/bypass.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emane/bypass.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ class EmaneBypassModel(emanemodel.EmaneModel):
     mac_library: str = "bypassmaclayer"
     mac_config: List[Configuration] = [
         Configuration(
-            _id="none",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
+            id="none",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
             default="0",
             label="There are no parameters for the bypass model.",
         )
diff --git a/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py b/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py
index 5d8e0c07..2eb28c28 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py
@@ -825,38 +825,38 @@ class EmaneGlobalModel:
         self.session: "Session" = session
         self.core_config: List[Configuration] = [
             Configuration(
-                _id="platform_id_start",
-                _type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
+                id="platform_id_start",
+                type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
                 default="1",
                 label="Starting Platform ID",
             ),
             Configuration(
-                _id="nem_id_start",
-                _type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
+                id="nem_id_start",
+                type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
                 default="1",
                 label="Starting NEM ID",
             ),
             Configuration(
-                _id="link_enabled",
-                _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
+                id="link_enabled",
+                type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
                 default="1",
                 label="Enable Links?",
             ),
             Configuration(
-                _id="loss_threshold",
-                _type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
+                id="loss_threshold",
+                type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
                 default="30",
                 label="Link Loss Threshold (%)",
             ),
             Configuration(
-                _id="link_interval",
-                _type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
+                id="link_interval",
+                type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
                 default="1",
                 label="Link Check Interval (sec)",
             ),
             Configuration(
-                _id="link_timeout",
-                _type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
+                id="link_timeout",
+                type=ConfigDataTypes.INT32,
                 default="4",
                 label="Link Timeout (sec)",
             ),
diff --git a/daemon/core/emane/emanemanifest.py b/daemon/core/emane/emanemanifest.py
index 8e09d040..6ada2da7 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emane/emanemanifest.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emane/emanemanifest.py
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ def parse(manifest_path: Path, defaults: Dict[str, str]) -> List[Configuration]:
             config_descriptions = f"{config_descriptions} file"
 
         configuration = Configuration(
-            _id=config_name,
-            _type=config_type_value,
+            id=config_name,
+            type=config_type_value,
             default=config_default,
             options=possible,
             label=config_descriptions,
diff --git a/daemon/core/emane/tdma.py b/daemon/core/emane/tdma.py
index 1ddb14ad..35ea55b0 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emane/tdma.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emane/tdma.py
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ class EmaneTdmaModel(emanemodel.EmaneModel):
         )
         super().load(emane_prefix)
         config_item = Configuration(
-            _id=cls.schedule_name,
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id=cls.schedule_name,
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             default=str(cls.default_schedule),
             label="TDMA schedule file (core)",
         )
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/sessionconfig.py b/daemon/core/emulator/sessionconfig.py
index 9b22bcc7..c4099fcd 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/sessionconfig.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/sessionconfig.py
@@ -13,51 +13,51 @@ class SessionConfig(ConfigurableManager, ConfigurableOptions):
     name: str = "session"
     options: List[Configuration] = [
         Configuration(
-            _id="controlnet", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network"
+            id="controlnet", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network"
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="controlnet0", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 0"
+            id="controlnet0", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 0"
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="controlnet1", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 1"
+            id="controlnet1", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 1"
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="controlnet2", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 2"
+            id="controlnet2", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 2"
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="controlnet3", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 3"
+            id="controlnet3", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Control Network 3"
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="controlnet_updown_script",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="controlnet_updown_script",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Control Network Script",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="enablerj45",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
+            id="enablerj45",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
             default="1",
             label="Enable RJ45s",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="preservedir",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
+            id="preservedir",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
             default="0",
             label="Preserve session dir",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="enablesdt",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
+            id="enablesdt",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
             default="0",
             label="Enable SDT3D output",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="sdturl",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="sdturl",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             default=Sdt.DEFAULT_SDT_URL,
             label="SDT3D URL",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="ovs", _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, default="0", label="Enable OVS"
+            id="ovs", type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, default="0", label="Enable OVS"
         ),
     ]
     config_type: RegisterTlvs = RegisterTlvs.UTILITY
diff --git a/daemon/core/errors.py b/daemon/core/errors.py
index a75bd536..20ffc3a9 100644
--- a/daemon/core/errors.py
+++ b/daemon/core/errors.py
@@ -46,3 +46,11 @@ class CoreServiceBootError(Exception):
     """
 
     pass
+
+
+class CoreConfigError(Exception):
+    """
+    Used when there is an error defining a configurable option.
+    """
+
+    pass
diff --git a/daemon/core/location/mobility.py b/daemon/core/location/mobility.py
index 6acd6be7..8861d7f6 100644
--- a/daemon/core/location/mobility.py
+++ b/daemon/core/location/mobility.py
@@ -236,35 +236,35 @@ class BasicRangeModel(WirelessModel):
     name: str = "basic_range"
     options: List[Configuration] = [
         Configuration(
-            _id="range",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT32,
+            id="range",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT32,
             default="275",
             label="wireless range (pixels)",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="bandwidth",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT64,
+            id="bandwidth",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT64,
             default="54000000",
             label="bandwidth (bps)",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="jitter",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT64,
+            id="jitter",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT64,
             default="0",
             label="transmission jitter (usec)",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="delay",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT64,
+            id="delay",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT64,
             default="5000",
             label="transmission delay (usec)",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="error", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, default="0", label="loss (%)"
+            id="error", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, default="0", label="loss (%)"
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="promiscuous",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
+            id="promiscuous",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL,
             default="0",
             label="promiscuous mode",
         ),
@@ -868,40 +868,38 @@ class Ns2ScriptedMobility(WayPointMobility):
     name: str = "ns2script"
     options: List[Configuration] = [
         Configuration(
-            _id="file", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="mobility script file"
+            id="file", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="mobility script file"
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="refresh_ms",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT32,
+            id="refresh_ms",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.UINT32,
             default="50",
             label="refresh time (ms)",
         ),
+        Configuration(id="loop", type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, default="1", label="loop"),
         Configuration(
-            _id="loop", _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, default="1", label="loop"
-        ),
-        Configuration(
-            _id="autostart",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="autostart",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="auto-start seconds (0.0 for runtime)",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="map",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="map",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="node mapping (optional, e.g. 0:1,1:2,2:3)",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="script_start",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="script_start",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="script file to run upon start",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="script_pause",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="script_pause",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="script file to run upon pause",
         ),
         Configuration(
-            _id="script_stop",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="script_stop",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="script file to run upon stop",
         ),
     ]
diff --git a/daemon/examples/myemane/examplemodel.py b/daemon/examples/myemane/examplemodel.py
index b9e6e148..c33ac166 100644
--- a/daemon/examples/myemane/examplemodel.py
+++ b/daemon/examples/myemane/examplemodel.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
 Example custom emane model.
 """
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Set
 
 from core.config import Configuration
@@ -39,17 +40,34 @@ class ExampleModel(emanemodel.EmaneModel):
 
     name: str = "emane_example"
     mac_library: str = "rfpipemaclayer"
-    mac_xml: str = "/usr/share/emane/manifest/rfpipemaclayer.xml"
+    mac_xml: str = "rfpipemaclayer.xml"
     mac_defaults: Dict[str, str] = {
         "pcrcurveuri": "/usr/share/emane/xml/models/mac/rfpipe/rfpipepcr.xml"
     }
-    mac_config: List[Configuration] = emanemanifest.parse(mac_xml, mac_defaults)
+    mac_config: List[Configuration] = []
     phy_library: Optional[str] = None
-    phy_xml: str = "/usr/share/emane/manifest/emanephy.xml"
+    phy_xml: str = "emanephy.xml"
     phy_defaults: Dict[str, str] = {
         "subid": "1",
         "propagationmodel": "2ray",
         "noisemode": "none",
     }
-    phy_config: List[Configuration] = emanemanifest.parse(phy_xml, phy_defaults)
+    phy_config: List[Configuration] = []
     config_ignore: Set[str] = set()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def load(cls, emane_prefix: Path) -> None:
+        """
+        Called after being loaded within the EmaneManager. Provides configured
+        emane_prefix for parsing xml files.
+
+        :param emane_prefix: configured emane prefix path
+        :return: nothing
+        """
+        manifest_path = "share/emane/manifest"
+        # load mac configuration
+        mac_xml_path = emane_prefix / manifest_path / cls.mac_xml
+        cls.mac_config = emanemanifest.parse(mac_xml_path, cls.mac_defaults)
+        # load phy configuration
+        phy_xml_path = emane_prefix / manifest_path / cls.phy_xml
+        cls.phy_config = emanemanifest.parse(phy_xml_path, cls.phy_defaults)
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_conf.py b/daemon/tests/test_conf.py
index e90acfbd..994a09f3 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_conf.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_conf.py
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class TestConfigurableOptions(ConfigurableOptions):
     name1 = "value1"
     name2 = "value2"
     options = [
-        Configuration(_id=name1, _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label=name1),
-        Configuration(_id=name2, _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label=name2),
+        Configuration(id=name1, type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label=name1),
+        Configuration(id=name2, type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label=name2),
     ]
 
 
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_config_services.py b/daemon/tests/test_config_services.py
index 7efde087..432f2089 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_config_services.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_config_services.py
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ class MyService(ConfigService):
     shutdown = [f"pkill {files[0]}"]
     validation_mode = ConfigServiceMode.BLOCKING
     default_configs = [
-        Configuration(_id="value1", _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Text"),
-        Configuration(_id="value2", _type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, label="Boolean"),
+        Configuration(id="value1", type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING, label="Text"),
+        Configuration(id="value2", type=ConfigDataTypes.BOOL, label="Boolean"),
         Configuration(
-            _id="value3",
-            _type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
+            id="value3",
+            type=ConfigDataTypes.STRING,
             label="Multiple Choice",
             options=["value1", "value2", "value3"],
         ),
diff --git a/docs/emane.md b/docs/emane.md
index f589f834..9e2e5b0b 100644
--- a/docs/emane.md
+++ b/docs/emane.md
@@ -120,7 +120,8 @@ Here is an example model with documentation describing functionality:
 """
 Example custom emane model.
 """
-from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Set
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Dict, Optional, Set, List
 
 from core.config import Configuration
 from core.emane import emanemanifest, emanemodel
@@ -162,14 +163,31 @@ class ExampleModel(emanemodel.EmaneModel):
     mac_defaults: Dict[str, str] = {
         "pcrcurveuri": "/usr/share/emane/xml/models/mac/rfpipe/rfpipepcr.xml"
     }
-    mac_config: List[Configuration] = emanemanifest.parse(mac_xml, mac_defaults)
+    mac_config: List[Configuration] = []
     phy_library: Optional[str] = None
     phy_xml: str = "/usr/share/emane/manifest/emanephy.xml"
     phy_defaults: Dict[str, str] = {
         "subid": "1", "propagationmodel": "2ray", "noisemode": "none"
     }
-    phy_config: List[Configuration] = emanemanifest.parse(phy_xml, phy_defaults)
+    phy_config: List[Configuration] = []
     config_ignore: Set[str] = set()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def load(cls, emane_prefix: Path) -> None:
+        """
+        Called after being loaded within the EmaneManager. Provides configured
+        emane_prefix for parsing xml files.
+
+        :param emane_prefix: configured emane prefix path
+        :return: nothing
+        """
+        manifest_path = "share/emane/manifest"
+        # load mac configuration
+        mac_xml_path = emane_prefix / manifest_path / cls.mac_xml
+        cls.mac_config = emanemanifest.parse(mac_xml_path, cls.mac_defaults)
+        # load phy configuration
+        phy_xml_path = emane_prefix / manifest_path / cls.phy_xml
+        cls.phy_config = emanemanifest.parse(phy_xml_path, cls.phy_defaults)
 ```
 
 ## Single PC with EMANE