diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py b/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py
index 4041cf40..6c6f1418 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ class CoreEmu:
         self.service_manager = ConfigServiceManager()
         config_services_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(configservices.__file__))
         self.service_manager.load(config_services_path)
+        custom_dir = self.config.get("custom_config_services_dir")
+        if custom_dir:
+            self.service_manager.load(custom_dir)
 
         # catch exit event
         atexit.register(self.shutdown)
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py b/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py
index 40d26f7f..0ad62e50 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ class LinuxNetClient:
         self.run(f"{IP_BIN} link set {name} type bridge stp_state 0")
         self.run(f"{IP_BIN} link set {name} type bridge forward_delay 0")
         self.run(f"{IP_BIN} link set {name} type bridge mcast_snooping 0")
+        self.run(f"{IP_BIN} link set {name} type bridge group_fwd_mask 65528")
         self.device_up(name)
 
     def delete_bridge(self, name: str) -> None:
diff --git a/daemon/data/core.conf b/daemon/data/core.conf
index aa1238d5..13b50785 100644
--- a/daemon/data/core.conf
+++ b/daemon/data/core.conf
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ frr_sbin_search = "/usr/local/sbin /usr/sbin /usr/lib/frr"
 # this may be a comma-separated list, and directory names should be unique
 # and not named 'services'
 #custom_services_dir = /home/username/.core/myservices
+#custom_config_services_dir = /home/username/.coretk/custom_services
 
 # uncomment to  establish a standalone control backchannel for accessing nodes
 # (overriden by the session option of the same name)
diff --git a/daemon/scripts/core-service-update b/daemon/scripts/core-service-update
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..6d0be06c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daemon/scripts/core-service-update
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import argparse
+import re
+from io import TextIOWrapper
+
+
+def parse_args() -> argparse.Namespace:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description=f"Helps transition older CORE services to work with newer versions")
+    parser.add_argument("-f", "--file", dest="file", type=argparse.FileType("r"),
+                        help=f"service file to update")
+    return parser.parse_args()
+
+
+def update_service(service_file: TextIOWrapper) -> None:
+    update = []
+    for line in service_file.readlines():
+        # update service attributes
+        line = re.sub(r"^(\s+)_([a-z])", r"\1\2", line)
+        # rename dirs to directories
+        line = re.sub(r"^(\s+)dirs", r"\1directories", line)
+        # fix import states for service
+        line = re.sub(r"^.+import.+CoreService.+$",
+                      r"from core.services.coreservices import CoreService", line)
+        # fix method signatures
+        line = re.sub(r"def generateconfig\(cls, node, filename, services\)",
+                      r"def generate_config(cls, node, filename)", line)
+        line = re.sub(r"def getvalidate\(cls, node, services\)",
+                      r"def get_validate(cls, node)", line)
+        line = re.sub(r"def getstartup\(cls, node, services\)",
+                      r"def get_startup(cls, node)", line)
+        line = re.sub(r"def getconfigfilenames\(cls, nodenum, services\)",
+                      r"def get_configs(cls, node)", line)
+        # remove unwanted lines
+        if re.search(r"addservice\(", line):
+            continue
+        if re.search(r"from.+\.ipaddr|import ipaddr", line):
+            continue
+        if re.search(r"from.+\.ipaddress|import ipaddress", line):
+            continue
+        # add modified line to make updated copy
+        update.append(line)
+    service_file.close()
+
+    with open(f"{service_file.name}.update", "w") as f:
+        f.writelines(update)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    args = parse_args()
+    update_service(args.file)