diff --git a/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py b/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py
index 49cf4f24..90ca9dfe 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emane/emanemanager.py
@@ -152,8 +152,13 @@ class EmaneManager(ModelManager):
         """
         try:
             # check for emane
-            emane_version = utils.check_cmd(["emane", "--version"])
+            args = ["emane", "--version"]
+            emane_version = utils.check_cmd(args)
             logging.info("using EMANE: %s", emane_version)
+            args = " ".join(args)
+            for server in self.session.servers:
+                conn = self.session.servers[server]
+                distributed.remote_cmd(conn, args)
 
             # load default emane models
             self.load_models(EMANE_MODELS)
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
index 9bc2ab80..e3a2389b 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
@@ -140,6 +140,11 @@ class Session(object):
             self.options.set_config(key, value)
         self.metadata = SessionMetaData()
 
+        # distributed servers
+        self.servers = {}
+        self.tunnels = {}
+        self.address = None
+
         # initialize session feature helpers
         self.broker = CoreBroker(session=self)
         self.location = CoreLocation()
@@ -148,11 +153,6 @@ class Session(object):
         self.emane = EmaneManager(session=self)
         self.sdt = Sdt(session=self)
 
-        # distributed servers
-        self.servers = {}
-        self.tunnels = {}
-        self.address = None
-
         # initialize default node services
         self.services.default_services = {
             "mdr": ("zebra", "OSPFv3MDR", "IPForward"),
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
index 78279b5e..2b9e08eb 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
@@ -84,18 +84,24 @@ class NodeBase(object):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def net_cmd(self, args, env=None):
+    def net_cmd(self, args, env=None, cwd=None, wait=True):
         """
         Runs a command that is used to configure and setup the network on the host
         system.
 
         :param list[str]|str args: command to run
         :param dict env: environment to run command with
+        :param str cwd: directory to run command in
+        :param bool wait: True to wait for status, False otherwise
         :return: combined stdout and stderr
         :rtype: str
         :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
         """
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        if self.server is None:
+            return utils.check_cmd(args, env=env, cwd=cwd)
+        else:
+            args = " ".join(args)
+            return distributed.remote_cmd(self.server, args, env, cwd, wait)
 
     def setposition(self, x=None, y=None, z=None):
         """
@@ -381,40 +387,13 @@ class CoreNodeBase(NodeBase):
 
         return common
 
-    def net_cmd(self, args, env=None):
-        """
-        Runs a command that is used to configure and setup the network on the host
-        system.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
-        :param dict env: environment to run command with
-        :return: combined stdout and stderr
-        :rtype: str
-        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
-        """
-        if self.server is None:
-            return utils.check_cmd(args, env=env)
-        else:
-            args = " ".join(args)
-            return distributed.remote_cmd(self.server, args, env=env)
-
-    def node_net_cmd(self, args):
+    def node_net_cmd(self, args, wait=True):
         """
         Runs a command that is used to configure and setup the network within a
         node.
 
         :param list[str]|str args: command to run
-        :return: combined stdout and stderr
-        :rtype: str
-        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
-        """
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
-    def check_cmd(self, args):
-        """
-        Runs shell command on node.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
+        :param bool wait: True to wait for status, False otherwise
         :return: combined stdout and stderr
         :rtype: str
         :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
@@ -607,18 +586,6 @@ class CoreNode(CoreNodeBase):
             args = " ".join(args)
             return distributed.remote_cmd(self.server, args, wait=wait)
 
-    def check_cmd(self, args):
-        """
-        Runs shell command on node.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
-        :param bool wait: True to wait for status, False otherwise
-        :return: combined stdout and stderr
-        :rtype: str
-        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
-        """
-        return self.client.check_cmd(args)
-
     def termcmdstring(self, sh="/bin/sh"):
         """
         Create a terminal command string.
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/docker.py b/daemon/core/nodes/docker.py
index 028b3e0b..28a92607 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/docker.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/docker.py
@@ -142,17 +142,6 @@ class DockerNode(CoreNode):
             self.client.stop_container()
             self.up = False
 
-    def check_cmd(self, args):
-        """
-        Runs shell command on node.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
-        :return: combined stdout and stderr
-        :rtype: str
-        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
-        """
-        return self.client.check_cmd(args)
-
     def node_net_cmd(self, args, wait=True):
         if not self.up:
             logging.debug("node down, not running network command: %s", args)
@@ -178,7 +167,7 @@ class DockerNode(CoreNode):
         """
         logging.debug("creating node dir: %s", path)
         args = "mkdir -p {path}".format(path=path)
-        self.check_cmd(args)
+        self.client.check_cmd(args)
 
     def mount(self, source, target):
         """
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py b/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py
index 8b73b1b7..08f1d662 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py
@@ -48,12 +48,23 @@ class CoreInterface(object):
         self.server = server
         self.net_client = LinuxNetClient(self.net_cmd)
 
-    def net_cmd(self, args):
+    def net_cmd(self, args, env=None, cwd=None, wait=True):
+        """
+        Runs a command on the host system or distributed servers.
+
+        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
+        :param dict env: environment to run command with
+        :param str cwd: directory to run command in
+        :param bool wait: True to wait for status, False otherwise
+        :return: combined stdout and stderr
+        :rtype: str
+        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
+        """
         if self.server is None:
-            return utils.check_cmd(args)
+            return utils.check_cmd(args, env=env, cwd=cwd)
         else:
             args = " ".join(args)
-            return distributed.remote_cmd(self.server, args)
+            return distributed.remote_cmd(self.server, args, env, cwd, wait)
 
     def startup(self):
         """
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/lxd.py b/daemon/core/nodes/lxd.py
index c28306b6..f16df715 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/lxd.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/lxd.py
@@ -140,22 +140,11 @@ class LxcNode(CoreNode):
             self.client.stop_container()
             self.up = False
 
-    def check_cmd(self, args):
-        """
-        Runs shell command on node.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
-        :return: combined stdout and stderr
-        :rtype: str
-        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
-        """
-        return self.client.check_cmd(args)
-
     def node_net_cmd(self, args, wait=True):
         if not self.up:
             logging.debug("node down, not running network command: %s", args)
             return ""
-        return self.check_cmd(args)
+        return self.client.check_cmd(args)
 
     def termcmdstring(self, sh="/bin/sh"):
         """
@@ -175,7 +164,7 @@ class LxcNode(CoreNode):
         """
         logging.info("creating node dir: %s", path)
         args = "mkdir -p {path}".format(path=path)
-        self.check_cmd(args)
+        return self.client.check_cmd(args)
 
     def mount(self, source, target):
         """
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py b/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py
index 34fee343..a689dde9 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/netclient.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ Clients for dealing with bridge/interface commands.
 import os
 
 from core.constants import BRCTL_BIN, ETHTOOL_BIN, IP_BIN, OVS_BIN, TC_BIN
-from core.utils import check_cmd
 
 
 class LinuxNetClient(object):
@@ -275,7 +274,7 @@ class LinuxNetClient(object):
         :param str name: bridge name
         :return: nothing
         """
-        check_cmd([BRCTL_BIN, "setageing", name, "0"])
+        self.run([BRCTL_BIN, "setageing", name, "0"])
 
 
 class OvsNetClient(LinuxNetClient):
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/network.py b/daemon/core/nodes/network.py
index 81dfc34b..b236b96b 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/network.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/network.py
@@ -308,24 +308,26 @@ class CoreNetwork(CoreNetworkBase):
             self.startup()
             ebq.startupdateloop(self)
 
-    def net_cmd(self, args, env=None):
+    def net_cmd(self, args, env=None, cwd=None, wait=True):
         """
         Runs a command that is used to configure and setup the network on the host
         system and all configured distributed servers.
 
         :param list[str]|str args: command to run
         :param dict env: environment to run command with
+        :param str cwd: directory to run command in
+        :param bool wait: True to wait for status, False otherwise
         :return: combined stdout and stderr
         :rtype: str
         :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
         """
         logging.info("network node(%s) cmd", self.name)
-        output = utils.check_cmd(args, env=env)
+        output = utils.check_cmd(args, env=env, cwd=cwd)
 
         args = " ".join(args)
         for server in self.session.servers:
             conn = self.session.servers[server]
-            distributed.remote_cmd(conn, args, env=env)
+            distributed.remote_cmd(conn, args, env, cwd, wait)
 
         return output
 
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/physical.py b/daemon/core/nodes/physical.py
index 60e445ea..4c219258 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/physical.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/physical.py
@@ -51,21 +51,6 @@ class PhysicalNode(CoreNodeBase):
         """
         return sh
 
-    def check_cmd(self, args):
-        """
-        Runs shell command on node.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
-        :return: combined stdout and stderr
-        :rtype: str
-        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
-        """
-        os.chdir(self.nodedir)
-        return utils.check_cmd(args)
-
-    def shcmd(self, cmdstr, sh="/bin/sh"):
-        return self.node_net_cmd([sh, "-c", cmdstr])
-
     def sethwaddr(self, ifindex, addr):
         """
         Set hardware address for an interface.
@@ -205,13 +190,13 @@ class PhysicalNode(CoreNodeBase):
         source = os.path.abspath(source)
         logging.info("mounting %s at %s", source, target)
         os.makedirs(target)
-        self.check_cmd([constants.MOUNT_BIN, "--bind", source, target])
+        self.net_cmd([constants.MOUNT_BIN, "--bind", source, target], cwd=self.nodedir)
         self._mounts.append((source, target))
 
     def umount(self, target):
         logging.info("unmounting '%s'" % target)
         try:
-            self.check_cmd([constants.UMOUNT_BIN, "-l", target])
+            self.net_cmd([constants.UMOUNT_BIN, "-l", target], cwd=self.nodedir)
         except CoreCommandError:
             logging.exception("unmounting failed for %s", target)
 
@@ -256,7 +241,8 @@ class Rj45Node(CoreNodeBase, CoreInterface):
         :param str name: node name
         :param mtu: rj45 mtu
         :param bool start: start flag
-        :param str server: remote server node will run on, default is None for localhost
+        :param fabric.connection.Connection server: remote server node will run on,
+            default is None for localhost
         """
         CoreNodeBase.__init__(self, session, _id, name, start, server)
         CoreInterface.__init__(self, node=self, name=name, mtu=mtu)
@@ -498,17 +484,6 @@ class Rj45Node(CoreNodeBase, CoreInterface):
         CoreInterface.setposition(self, x, y, z)
         return result
 
-    def check_cmd(self, args):
-        """
-        Runs shell command on node.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command to run
-        :return: exist status and combined stdout and stderr
-        :rtype: tuple[int, str]
-        :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
-        """
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
     def termcmdstring(self, sh):
         """
         Create a terminal command string.
diff --git a/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py b/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
index d6eeb1b5..dc45fa33 100644
--- a/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
+++ b/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
@@ -631,8 +631,9 @@ class CoreServices(object):
         """
         status = 0
         for args in service.shutdown:
+            args = utils.split_args(args)
             try:
-                node.check_cmd(args)
+                node.node_net_cmd(args)
             except CoreCommandError:
                 logging.exception("error running stop command %s", args)
                 status = -1
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_nodes.py b/daemon/tests/test_nodes.py
index baf0c20c..ad5476d4 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_nodes.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_nodes.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class TestNodes:
         assert os.path.exists(node.nodedir)
         assert node.alive()
         assert node.up
-        assert node.check_cmd(["ip", "addr", "show", "lo"])
+        assert node.node_net_cmd(["ip", "addr", "show", "lo"])
 
     def test_node_update(self, session):
         # given