diff --git a/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go b/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go
index f218805016..ce9dbe6c0a 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go
@@ -29,11 +29,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/cmd/internal/browser"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/cmd/utils"
 	cli "gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
 )
 
 var bugCommand = cli.Command{
-	Action:    reportBug,
+	Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(reportBug),
 	Name:      "bug",
 	Usage:     "opens a window to report a bug on the geth repo",
 	ArgsUsage: " ",
diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index d4a263d607..ab0e92f213 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -40,63 +40,84 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	initCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    initGenesis,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(initGenesis),
 		Name:      "init",
 		Usage:     "Bootstrap and initialize a new genesis block",
 		ArgsUsage: "<genesisPath>",
-		Category:  "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			utils.DataDirFlag,
+			utils.LightModeFlag,
+		},
+		Category: "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
 The init command initializes a new genesis block and definition for the network.
 This is a destructive action and changes the network in which you will be
 participating.
-`,
+
+It expects the genesis file as argument.`,
 	}
 	importCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    importChain,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(importChain),
 		Name:      "import",
 		Usage:     "Import a blockchain file",
 		ArgsUsage: "<filename> (<filename 2> ... <filename N>) ",
-		Category:  "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			utils.DataDirFlag,
+			utils.CacheFlag,
+			utils.LightModeFlag,
+		},
+		Category: "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
 The import command imports blocks from an RLP-encoded form. The form can be one file
 with several RLP-encoded blocks, or several files can be used.
-If only one file is used, import error will result in failure. If several files are used,
-processing will proceed even if an individual RLP-file import failure occurs.
-`,
+
+If only one file is used, import error will result in failure. If several files are used, 
+processing will proceed even if an individual RLP-file import failure occurs.`,
 	}
 	exportCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    exportChain,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(exportChain),
 		Name:      "export",
 		Usage:     "Export blockchain into file",
 		ArgsUsage: "<filename> [<blockNumFirst> <blockNumLast>]",
-		Category:  "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			utils.DataDirFlag,
+			utils.CacheFlag,
+			utils.LightModeFlag,
+		},
+		Category: "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
 Requires a first argument of the file to write to.
 Optional second and third arguments control the first and
 last block to write. In this mode, the file will be appended
-if already existing.
-`,
+if already existing.`,
 	}
 	removedbCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    removeDB,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(removeDB),
 		Name:      "removedb",
 		Usage:     "Remove blockchain and state databases",
 		ArgsUsage: " ",
-		Category:  "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			utils.DataDirFlag,
+			utils.LightModeFlag,
+		},
+		Category: "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
-TODO: Please write this
-`,
+Remove blockchain and state databases`,
 	}
 	dumpCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    dump,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(dump),
 		Name:      "dump",
 		Usage:     "Dump a specific block from storage",
 		ArgsUsage: "[<blockHash> | <blockNum>]...",
-		Category:  "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			utils.DataDirFlag,
+			utils.CacheFlag,
+			utils.LightModeFlag,
+		},
+		Category: "BLOCKCHAIN COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
 The arguments are interpreted as block numbers or hashes.
-Use "ethereum dump 0" to dump the genesis block.
-`,
+Use "ethereum dump 0" to dump the genesis block.`,
 	}
 )
 
diff --git a/cmd/geth/config.go b/cmd/geth/config.go
index 8d47159b20..b76da30421 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/config.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/config.go
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	dumpConfigCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:      dumpConfig,
+		Action:      utils.MigrateFlags(dumpConfig),
 		Name:        "dumpconfig",
 		Usage:       "Show configuration values",
 		ArgsUsage:   "",
+		Flags:       append(nodeFlags, rpcFlags...),
 		Category:    "MISCELLANEOUS COMMANDS",
 		Description: `The dumpconfig command shows configuration values.`,
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go b/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go
index b1c435e00f..6efdbbf57f 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go
@@ -28,42 +28,47 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
 )
 
+var (
+	consoleFlags = []cli.Flag{utils.JSpathFlag, utils.ExecFlag, utils.PreloadJSFlag}
+)
+
 var (
 	consoleCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    localConsole,
-		Name:      "console",
-		Usage:     "Start an interactive JavaScript environment",
-		ArgsUsage: "", // TODO: Write this!
-		Category:  "CONSOLE COMMANDS",
+		Action:   utils.MigrateFlags(localConsole),
+		Name:     "console",
+		Usage:    "Start an interactive JavaScript environment",
+		Flags:    append(append(nodeFlags, rpcFlags...), consoleFlags...),
+		Category: "CONSOLE COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
 The Geth console is an interactive shell for the JavaScript runtime environment
 which exposes a node admin interface as well as the Ðapp JavaScript API.
-See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/Javascipt-Console
-`,
+See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/Javascipt-Console.`,
 	}
+
 	attachCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    remoteConsole,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(remoteConsole),
 		Name:      "attach",
 		Usage:     "Start an interactive JavaScript environment (connect to node)",
-		ArgsUsage: "", // TODO: Write this!
+		ArgsUsage: "[endpoint]",
+		Flags:     append(consoleFlags, utils.DataDirFlag),
 		Category:  "CONSOLE COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
 The Geth console is an interactive shell for the JavaScript runtime environment
 which exposes a node admin interface as well as the Ðapp JavaScript API.
 See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/Javascipt-Console.
-This command allows to open a console on a running geth node.
-`,
+This command allows to open a console on a running geth node.`,
 	}
+
 	javascriptCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    ephemeralConsole,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(ephemeralConsole),
 		Name:      "js",
 		Usage:     "Execute the specified JavaScript files",
-		ArgsUsage: "", // TODO: Write this!
+		ArgsUsage: "<jsfile> [jsfile...]",
+		Flags:     append(nodeFlags, consoleFlags...),
 		Category:  "CONSOLE COMMANDS",
 		Description: `
 The JavaScript VM exposes a node admin interface as well as the Ðapp
-JavaScript API. See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/Javascipt-Console
-`,
+JavaScript API. See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/Javascipt-Console`,
 	}
 )
 
@@ -81,11 +86,12 @@ func localConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		utils.Fatalf("Failed to attach to the inproc geth: %v", err)
 	}
 	config := console.Config{
-		DataDir: node.DataDir(),
+		DataDir: utils.MakeDataDir(ctx),
 		DocRoot: ctx.GlobalString(utils.JSpathFlag.Name),
 		Client:  client,
 		Preload: utils.MakeConsolePreloads(ctx),
 	}
+
 	console, err := console.New(config)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("Failed to start the JavaScript console: %v", err)
@@ -118,17 +124,18 @@ func remoteConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		Client:  client,
 		Preload: utils.MakeConsolePreloads(ctx),
 	}
+
 	console, err := console.New(config)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("Failed to start the JavaScript console: %v", err)
 	}
 	defer console.Stop(false)
 
-	// If only a short execution was requested, evaluate and return
 	if script := ctx.GlobalString(utils.ExecFlag.Name); script != "" {
 		console.Evaluate(script)
 		return nil
 	}
+
 	// Otherwise print the welcome screen and enter interactive mode
 	console.Welcome()
 	console.Interactive()
@@ -151,7 +158,7 @@ func dialRPC(endpoint string) (*rpc.Client, error) {
 }
 
 // ephemeralConsole starts a new geth node, attaches an ephemeral JavaScript
-// console to it, and each of the files specified as arguments and tears the
+// console to it, executes each of the files specified as arguments and tears
 // everything down.
 func ephemeralConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Create and start the node based on the CLI flags
@@ -165,11 +172,12 @@ func ephemeralConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		utils.Fatalf("Failed to attach to the inproc geth: %v", err)
 	}
 	config := console.Config{
-		DataDir: node.DataDir(),
+		DataDir: utils.MakeDataDir(ctx),
 		DocRoot: ctx.GlobalString(utils.JSpathFlag.Name),
 		Client:  client,
 		Preload: utils.MakeConsolePreloads(ctx),
 	}
+
 	console, err := console.New(config)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("Failed to start the JavaScript console: %v", err)
diff --git a/cmd/geth/main.go b/cmd/geth/main.go
index ad7b639a3f..457a70bf9c 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/main.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/main.go
@@ -49,6 +49,72 @@ var (
 	relOracle = common.HexToAddress("0xfa7b9770ca4cb04296cac84f37736d4041251cdf")
 	// The app that holds all commands and flags.
 	app = utils.NewApp(gitCommit, "the go-ethereum command line interface")
+	// flags that configure the node
+	nodeFlags = []cli.Flag{
+		utils.IdentityFlag,
+		utils.UnlockedAccountFlag,
+		utils.PasswordFileFlag,
+		utils.BootnodesFlag,
+		utils.DataDirFlag,
+		utils.KeyStoreDirFlag,
+		utils.NoUSBFlag,
+		utils.EthashCacheDirFlag,
+		utils.EthashCachesInMemoryFlag,
+		utils.EthashCachesOnDiskFlag,
+		utils.EthashDatasetDirFlag,
+		utils.EthashDatasetsInMemoryFlag,
+		utils.EthashDatasetsOnDiskFlag,
+		utils.FastSyncFlag,
+		utils.LightModeFlag,
+		utils.SyncModeFlag,
+		utils.LightServFlag,
+		utils.LightPeersFlag,
+		utils.LightKDFFlag,
+		utils.CacheFlag,
+		utils.TrieCacheGenFlag,
+		utils.ListenPortFlag,
+		utils.MaxPeersFlag,
+		utils.MaxPendingPeersFlag,
+		utils.EtherbaseFlag,
+		utils.GasPriceFlag,
+		utils.MinerThreadsFlag,
+		utils.MiningEnabledFlag,
+		utils.TargetGasLimitFlag,
+		utils.NATFlag,
+		utils.NoDiscoverFlag,
+		utils.DiscoveryV5Flag,
+		utils.NetrestrictFlag,
+		utils.NodeKeyFileFlag,
+		utils.NodeKeyHexFlag,
+		utils.WhisperEnabledFlag,
+		utils.DevModeFlag,
+		utils.TestNetFlag,
+		utils.VMEnableDebugFlag,
+		utils.NetworkIdFlag,
+		utils.RPCCORSDomainFlag,
+		utils.EthStatsURLFlag,
+		utils.MetricsEnabledFlag,
+		utils.FakePoWFlag,
+		utils.NoCompactionFlag,
+		utils.GpoBlocksFlag,
+		utils.GpoPercentileFlag,
+		utils.ExtraDataFlag,
+		configFileFlag,
+	}
+
+	rpcFlags = []cli.Flag{
+		utils.RPCEnabledFlag,
+		utils.RPCListenAddrFlag,
+		utils.RPCPortFlag,
+		utils.RPCApiFlag,
+		utils.WSEnabledFlag,
+		utils.WSListenAddrFlag,
+		utils.WSPortFlag,
+		utils.WSApiFlag,
+		utils.WSAllowedOriginsFlag,
+		utils.IPCDisabledFlag,
+		utils.IPCPathFlag,
+	}
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -81,71 +147,9 @@ func init() {
 		dumpConfigCommand,
 	}
 
-	app.Flags = []cli.Flag{
-		utils.IdentityFlag,
-		utils.UnlockedAccountFlag,
-		utils.PasswordFileFlag,
-		utils.BootnodesFlag,
-		utils.DataDirFlag,
-		utils.KeyStoreDirFlag,
-		utils.NoUSBFlag,
-		utils.EthashCacheDirFlag,
-		utils.EthashCachesInMemoryFlag,
-		utils.EthashCachesOnDiskFlag,
-		utils.EthashDatasetDirFlag,
-		utils.EthashDatasetsInMemoryFlag,
-		utils.EthashDatasetsOnDiskFlag,
-		utils.FastSyncFlag,
-		utils.LightModeFlag,
-		utils.SyncModeFlag,
-		utils.LightServFlag,
-		utils.LightPeersFlag,
-		utils.LightKDFFlag,
-		utils.CacheFlag,
-		utils.TrieCacheGenFlag,
-		utils.JSpathFlag,
-		utils.ListenPortFlag,
-		utils.MaxPeersFlag,
-		utils.MaxPendingPeersFlag,
-		utils.EtherbaseFlag,
-		utils.GasPriceFlag,
-		utils.MinerThreadsFlag,
-		utils.MiningEnabledFlag,
-		utils.TargetGasLimitFlag,
-		utils.NATFlag,
-		utils.NoDiscoverFlag,
-		utils.DiscoveryV5Flag,
-		utils.NetrestrictFlag,
-		utils.NodeKeyFileFlag,
-		utils.NodeKeyHexFlag,
-		utils.RPCEnabledFlag,
-		utils.RPCListenAddrFlag,
-		utils.RPCPortFlag,
-		utils.RPCApiFlag,
-		utils.WSEnabledFlag,
-		utils.WSListenAddrFlag,
-		utils.WSPortFlag,
-		utils.WSApiFlag,
-		utils.WSAllowedOriginsFlag,
-		utils.IPCDisabledFlag,
-		utils.IPCPathFlag,
-		utils.ExecFlag,
-		utils.PreloadJSFlag,
-		utils.WhisperEnabledFlag,
-		utils.DevModeFlag,
-		utils.TestNetFlag,
-		utils.VMEnableDebugFlag,
-		utils.NetworkIdFlag,
-		utils.RPCCORSDomainFlag,
-		utils.EthStatsURLFlag,
-		utils.MetricsEnabledFlag,
-		utils.FakePoWFlag,
-		utils.NoCompactionFlag,
-		utils.GpoBlocksFlag,
-		utils.GpoPercentileFlag,
-		utils.ExtraDataFlag,
-		configFileFlag,
-	}
+	app.Flags = append(app.Flags, nodeFlags...)
+	app.Flags = append(app.Flags, rpcFlags...)
+	app.Flags = append(app.Flags, consoleFlags...)
 	app.Flags = append(app.Flags, debug.Flags...)
 
 	app.Before = func(ctx *cli.Context) error {
diff --git a/cmd/geth/misccmd.go b/cmd/geth/misccmd.go
index cb7dc16732..62b93d65a0 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/misccmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/misccmd.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	makedagCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    makedag,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(makedag),
 		Name:      "makedag",
 		Usage:     "Generate ethash DAG (for testing)",
 		ArgsUsage: "<blockNum> <outputDir>",
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Regular users do not need to execute it.
 `,
 	}
 	versionCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    version,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(version),
 		Name:      "version",
 		Usage:     "Print version numbers",
 		ArgsUsage: " ",
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ The output of this command is supposed to be machine-readable.
 `,
 	}
 	licenseCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    license,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(license),
 		Name:      "license",
 		Usage:     "Display license information",
 		ArgsUsage: " ",
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func version(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	fmt.Println("Architecture:", runtime.GOARCH)
 	fmt.Println("Protocol Versions:", eth.ProtocolVersions)
-	fmt.Println("Network Id:", ctx.GlobalInt(utils.NetworkIdFlag.Name))
+	fmt.Println("Network Id:", eth.DefaultConfig.NetworkId)
 	fmt.Println("Go Version:", runtime.Version())
 	fmt.Println("Operating System:", runtime.GOOS)
 	fmt.Printf("GOPATH=%s\n", os.Getenv("GOPATH"))
diff --git a/cmd/geth/monitorcmd.go b/cmd/geth/monitorcmd.go
index c63542f13a..cd19caa276 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/monitorcmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/monitorcmd.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ var (
 		Usage: "Refresh interval in seconds",
 	}
 	monitorCommand = cli.Command{
-		Action:    monitor,
+		Action:    utils.MigrateFlags(monitor), // keep track of migration progress
 		Name:      "monitor",
 		Usage:     "Monitor and visualize node metrics",
 		ArgsUsage: " ",
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index c47301dfb0..893fced8fa 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ var (
 	}
 	ExecFlag = cli.StringFlag{
 		Name:  "exec",
-		Usage: "Execute JavaScript statement (only in combination with console/attach)",
+		Usage: "Execute JavaScript statement",
 	}
 	PreloadJSFlag = cli.StringFlag{
 		Name:  "preload",