diff --git a/controllers/node.go b/controllers/node.go
index 5e673920..52197fcb 100644
--- a/controllers/node.go
+++ b/controllers/node.go
@@ -563,10 +563,10 @@ func updateNode(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	if servercfg.IsDNSMode() {
-		err = logic.SetDNS()
+		logic.SetDNS()
 	}
 
-	logger.Log(1, r.Header.Get("user"), "updated node", node.MacAddress, "on network", node.Network)
+	logger.Log(1, r.Header.Get("user"), "updated node", node.ID, "on network", node.Network)
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 	json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(newNode)
 
diff --git a/controllers/node_grpc.go b/controllers/node_grpc.go
index e30f0142..f14439e0 100644
--- a/controllers/node_grpc.go
+++ b/controllers/node_grpc.go
@@ -182,14 +182,15 @@ func getServerAddrs(node *models.Node) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	var serverAddrs = make([]models.ServerAddr, 1)
+	var serverAddrs = make([]models.ServerAddr, 0)
 
 	for _, node := range serverNodes {
-
-		serverAddrs = append(serverAddrs, models.ServerAddr{
-			IsLeader: logic.IsLeader(&node),
-			Address:  node.Address,
-		})
+		if node.Address != "" {
+			serverAddrs = append(serverAddrs, models.ServerAddr{
+				IsLeader: logic.IsLeader(&node),
+				Address:  node.Address,
+			})
+		}
 	}
 
 	networkSettings, _ := logic.GetParentNetwork(node.Network)
diff --git a/controllers/node_test.go b/controllers/node_test.go
index f3475767..c4451541 100644
--- a/controllers/node_test.go
+++ b/controllers/node_test.go
@@ -32,10 +32,12 @@ func TestCreateEgressGateway(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.EqualError(t, err, "freebsd is unsupported for egress gateways")
 	})
 	t.Run("Success", func(t *testing.T) {
+		deleteAllNodes()
 		testnode := createTestNode()
 		gateway.NodeID = testnode.ID
 
 		node, err := logic.CreateEgressGateway(gateway)
+		t.Log(node)
 		assert.Nil(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, "yes", node.IsEgressGateway)
 		assert.Equal(t, gateway.Ranges, node.EgressGatewayRanges)
@@ -47,7 +49,6 @@ func TestDeleteEgressGateway(t *testing.T) {
 	database.InitializeDatabase()
 	deleteAllNetworks()
 	createNet()
-	createTestNode()
 	testnode := createTestNode()
 	gateway.Interface = "eth0"
 	gateway.Ranges = []string{"10.100.100.0/24"}
diff --git a/logic/networks.go b/logic/networks.go
index 2936299e..8bf5c2ea 100644
--- a/logic/networks.go
+++ b/logic/networks.go
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ func isInterfacePresent(iface string, address string) (string, bool) {
 		}
 		for _, addr := range currAddrs {
 			if strings.Contains(addr.String(), address) && currIface.Name != iface {
-				logger.Log(2, "found iface", addr.String(), currIface.Name)
+				// logger.Log(2, "found iface", addr.String(), currIface.Name)
 				interfaces = nil
 				currAddrs = nil
 				return currIface.Name, false
@@ -761,6 +761,6 @@ func isInterfacePresent(iface string, address string) (string, bool) {
 		currAddrs = nil
 	}
 	interfaces = nil
-	logger.Log(2, "failed to find iface", iface)
+	// logger.Log(2, "failed to find iface", iface)
 	return "", true
 }
diff --git a/logic/nodes.go b/logic/nodes.go
index 6940ac19..c4166425 100644
--- a/logic/nodes.go
+++ b/logic/nodes.go
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func UpdateNode(currentNode *models.Node, newNode *models.Node) error {
 			return database.Insert(newNode.ID, string(data), database.NODES_TABLE_NAME)
 		}
 	}
-	return fmt.Errorf("failed to update node " + newNode.MacAddress + ", cannot change macaddress.")
+	return fmt.Errorf("failed to update node " + currentNode.ID + ", cannot change ID.")
 }
 
 // IsNodeIDUnique - checks if node id is unique
@@ -175,8 +175,10 @@ func ValidateNode(node *models.Node, isUpdate bool) error {
 		if isUpdate {
 			return true
 		}
-		unique, _ := isMacAddressUnique(node.MacAddress, node.Network)
-
+		var unique = true
+		if !(node.MacAddress == "") {
+			unique, _ = isMacAddressUnique(node.MacAddress, node.Network)
+		}
 		isFieldUnique, _ := IsNodeIDUnique(node)
 		return isFieldUnique && unique
 	})
@@ -602,7 +604,10 @@ func isMacAddressUnique(macaddress string, networkName string) (bool, error) {
 
 	nodes, err := GetNetworkNodes(networkName)
 	if err != nil {
-		return database.IsEmptyRecord(err), err
+		if database.IsEmptyRecord(err) {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+		return false, err
 	}
 
 	for _, node := range nodes {
diff --git a/main b/main
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..2b3a79bb
Binary files /dev/null and b/main differ
diff --git a/netclient/auth/auth.go b/netclient/auth/auth.go
index 35793831..26498bf9 100644
--- a/netclient/auth/auth.go
+++ b/netclient/auth/auth.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func SetJWT(client nodepb.NodeServiceClient, network string) (context.Context, e
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, status.Errorf(codes.Unauthenticated, fmt.Sprintf("Something went wrong with Auto Login: %v", err))
 		}
-		tokentext, err = os.ReadFile(home + "nettoken-" + network)
+		tokentext, err = ncutils.GetFileWithRetry(home+"nettoken-"+network, 1)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, status.Errorf(codes.Unauthenticated, fmt.Sprintf("Something went wrong: %v", err))
 		}
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func StoreSecret(key string, network string) error {
 
 // RetrieveSecret - fetches secret locally
 func RetrieveSecret(network string) (string, error) {
-	dat, err := os.ReadFile(ncutils.GetNetclientPathSpecific() + "secret-" + network)
+	dat, err := ncutils.GetFileWithRetry(ncutils.GetNetclientPathSpecific()+"secret-"+network, 3)
 	return string(dat), err
 }
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func StoreTrafficKey(key *[32]byte, network string) error {
 
 // RetrieveTrafficKey - reads traffic file locally
 func RetrieveTrafficKey(network string) (*[32]byte, error) {
-	data, err := os.ReadFile(ncutils.GetNetclientPathSpecific() + "traffic-" + network)
+	data, err := ncutils.GetFileWithRetry(ncutils.GetNetclientPathSpecific()+"traffic-"+network, 2)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/netclient/config/config.go b/netclient/config/config.go
index 4c409660..1943c0f6 100644
--- a/netclient/config/config.go
+++ b/netclient/config/config.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func Write(config *ClientConfig, network string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return err
+	return f.Sync()
 }
 
 // ClientConfig.ReadConfig - used to read config from client disk into memory
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ func ModConfig(node *models.Node) error {
 		return errors.New("no network provided")
 	}
 	var modconfig ClientConfig
-	var err error
 	if FileExists(ncutils.GetNetclientPathSpecific() + "netconfig-" + network) {
 		useconfig, err := ReadConfig(network)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -120,8 +119,7 @@ func ModConfig(node *models.Node) error {
 
 	modconfig.Node = (*node)
 	modconfig.NetworkSettings = node.NetworkSettings
-	err = Write(&modconfig, network)
-	return err
+	return Write(&modconfig, network)
 }
 
 // ModConfig - overwrites the node inside client config on disk
diff --git a/netclient/functions/daemon.go b/netclient/functions/daemon.go
index 93702b76..2a59c0dc 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/daemon.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/daemon.go
@@ -299,10 +299,9 @@ func NodeUpdate(client mqtt.Client, msg mqtt.Message) {
 				return
 			}
 			if newNode.DNSOn == "yes" {
-				ncutils.Log("setting up DNS")
-				for _, server := range cfg.Node.NetworkSettings.DefaultServerAddrs {
+				for _, server := range newNode.NetworkSettings.DefaultServerAddrs {
 					if server.IsLeader {
-						go setDNS(cfg.Node.Interface, cfg.Network, server.Address)
+						go local.SetDNSWithRetry(newNode.Interface, newNode.Network, server.Address)
 						break
 					}
 				}
@@ -581,19 +580,6 @@ func decryptMsg(cfg *config.ClientConfig, msg []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	return ncutils.BoxDecrypt(msg, serverPubKey, diskKey)
 }
 
-func setDNS(iface, network, address string) {
-	var reachable bool
-	for counter := 0; !reachable && counter < 5; counter++ {
-		reachable = local.IsDNSReachable(address)
-		time.Sleep(time.Second << 1)
-	}
-	if !reachable {
-		ncutils.Log("not setting dns, server unreachable: " + address)
-	} else if err := local.UpdateDNS(iface, network, address); err != nil {
-		ncutils.Log("error applying dns" + err.Error())
-	}
-}
-
 func pingServer(cfg *config.ClientConfig) error {
 	node := getServerAddress(cfg)
 	pinger, err := ping.NewPinger(node)
diff --git a/netclient/functions/join.go b/netclient/functions/join.go
index 0cf07728..2224f3f3 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/join.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/join.go
@@ -68,13 +68,12 @@ func JoinNetwork(cfg config.ClientConfig, privateKey string) error {
 	cfg.Node.TrafficKeys.Server = nil
 	// == end handle keys ==
 
-	if cfg.Node.LocalRange != "" && cfg.Node.LocalAddress == "" {
-		log.Println("local vpn, getting local address from range: " + cfg.Node.LocalRange)
-		cfg.Node.LocalAddress = getLocalIP(cfg.Node)
-	} else if cfg.Node.LocalAddress == "" {
+	if cfg.Node.LocalAddress == "" {
 		intIP, err := getPrivateAddr()
 		if err == nil {
 			cfg.Node.LocalAddress = intIP
+		} else {
+			ncutils.PrintLog("error retrieving private address: "+err.Error(), 1)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -237,6 +236,14 @@ func JoinNetwork(cfg config.ClientConfig, privateKey string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if node.DNSOn == "yes" {
+		for _, server := range node.NetworkSettings.DefaultServerAddrs {
+			if server.IsLeader {
+				go local.SetDNSWithRetry(node.Interface, node.Network, server.Address)
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	if cfg.Daemon != "off" {
 		err = daemon.InstallDaemon(cfg)
 	}
diff --git a/netclient/local/dns.go b/netclient/local/dns.go
index 4dc10359..2b33fbfe 100644
--- a/netclient/local/dns.go
+++ b/netclient/local/dns.go
@@ -16,6 +16,19 @@ import (
 
 const DNS_UNREACHABLE_ERROR = "nameserver unreachable"
 
+func SetDNSWithRetry(iface, network, address string) {
+	var reachable bool
+	for counter := 0; !reachable && counter < 5; counter++ {
+		reachable = IsDNSReachable(address)
+		time.Sleep(time.Second << 1)
+	}
+	if !reachable {
+		ncutils.Log("not setting dns, server unreachable: " + address)
+	} else if err := UpdateDNS(iface, network, address); err != nil {
+		ncutils.Log("error applying dns" + err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 // SetDNS - sets the DNS of a local machine
 func SetDNS(nameserver string) error {
 	bytes, err := os.ReadFile("/etc/resolv.conf")
diff --git a/netclient/local/routes_linux.go b/netclient/local/routes_linux.go
index 7989d85b..a71b62d8 100644
--- a/netclient/local/routes_linux.go
+++ b/netclient/local/routes_linux.go
@@ -5,19 +5,25 @@ import (
 
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/ncutils"
 )
 
 func setRoute(iface string, addr *net.IPNet, address string) error {
-	var err error
-	_, err = ncutils.RunCmd(fmt.Sprintf("ip route add %s dev %s", addr.String(), iface), false)
+	out, err := ncutils.RunCmd(fmt.Sprintf("ip route get %s", addr.IP.String()), false)
+	if err != nil || !strings.Contains(out, iface) {
+		_, err = ncutils.RunCmd(fmt.Sprintf("ip route add %s dev %s", addr.String(), iface), false)
+	}
 	return err
 }
 
 func deleteRoute(iface string, addr *net.IPNet, address string) error {
 	var err error
-	_, err = ncutils.RunCmd(fmt.Sprintf("ip route del %s dev %s", addr.String(), iface), false)
+	out, _ := ncutils.RunCmd(fmt.Sprintf("ip route get %s", addr.IP.String()), false)
+	if strings.Contains(out, iface) {
+		_, err = ncutils.RunCmd(fmt.Sprintf("ip route del %s dev %s", addr.String(), iface), false)
+	}
 	return err
 }
 
diff --git a/netclient/local/routes_windows.go b/netclient/local/routes_windows.go
index 1a7255eb..3b3754b5 100644
--- a/netclient/local/routes_windows.go
+++ b/netclient/local/routes_windows.go
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ func setCidr(iface, address string, addr *net.IPNet) {
 	ncutils.RunCmd("route change "+addr.IP.String()+" mask "+addr.Mask.String()+" "+address, false)
 }
 
-func removeCidr(iface, address string, addr *net.IPNet) {
+func removeCidr(iface string, addr *net.IPNet, address string) {
 	ncutils.RunCmd("route delete "+addr.IP.String()+" mask "+addr.Mask.String()+" "+address, false)
 }
diff --git a/netclient/main b/netclient/main
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..1a739dd8
Binary files /dev/null and b/netclient/main differ
diff --git a/netclient/ncutils/netclientutils.go b/netclient/ncutils/netclientutils.go
index 25d3d07d..cd44e221 100644
--- a/netclient/ncutils/netclientutils.go
+++ b/netclient/ncutils/netclientutils.go
@@ -320,6 +320,22 @@ func GetNetclientPath() string {
 	}
 }
 
+// GetFileWithRetry - retry getting file X number of times before failing
+func GetFileWithRetry(path string, retryCount int) ([]byte, error) {
+	var data []byte
+	var err error
+	for count := 0; count < retryCount; count++ {
+		data, err = os.ReadFile(path)
+		if err == nil {
+			return data, err
+		} else {
+			PrintLog("failed to retrieve file "+path+", retrying...", 1)
+			time.Sleep(time.Second >> 2)
+		}
+	}
+	return data, err
+}
+
 // GetNetclientPathSpecific - gets specific netclient config path
 func GetNetclientPathSpecific() string {
 	if IsWindows() {
@@ -411,6 +427,7 @@ func Copy(src, dst string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	err = os.Chmod(dst, 0755)
+
 	return err
 }
 
diff --git a/netclient/wireguard/unix.go b/netclient/wireguard/unix.go
index 7b4a5e95..8c120a59 100644
--- a/netclient/wireguard/unix.go
+++ b/netclient/wireguard/unix.go
@@ -65,9 +65,6 @@ func ApplyWGQuickConf(confPath string, ifacename string) error {
 			ncutils.RunCmd("wg-quick down "+confPath, true)
 		}
 		_, err = ncutils.RunCmd("wg-quick up "+confPath, true)
-		// if err != nil {
-		// 	return err
-		// }
 		return err
 	}
 }
@@ -126,6 +123,6 @@ func StorePrivKey(key string, network string) error {
 
 // RetrievePrivKey - reads wg priv key from local disk
 func RetrievePrivKey(network string) (string, error) {
-	dat, err := os.ReadFile(ncutils.GetNetclientPathSpecific() + "wgkey-" + network)
+	dat, err := ncutils.GetFileWithRetry(ncutils.GetNetclientPathSpecific()+"wgkey-"+network, 2)
 	return string(dat), err
 }