diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ae2d873..b24ceee 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ all:
 	./virtigo --version
 	./virtigo
 
+xml-add:
+	./virtigo --add-xml /home/nfs3/xml/*.xml
+	# ./virtigo --add-xml /etc/libvirt/qemu/*xml
+
 start-all-droplets:
 	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=git.wit.org
 	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=go.wit.com
diff --git a/addDroplet.go b/addDroplet.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..215f4a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addDroplet.go
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Copyright 2024 WIT.COM Inc Licensed GPL 3.0
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"libvirt.org/go/libvirtxml"
+)
+
+func addDroplet(domcfg *libvirtxml.Domain) (*DropletT, error) {
+	var found *DropletT
+	if domcfg == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("domcfg == nil")
+	}
+//	fmt.Printf("Virt type %s\n", domcfg.Type)
+//	fmt.Printf("Virt name %s\n", domcfg.Name)
+//	fmt.Printf("Virt UUID %s\n", domcfg.UUID)
+//	fmt.Printf("Virt Memory %d %s\n", domcfg.Memory.Value, domcfg.Memory.Unit)
+
+	for _, d := range me.droplets {
+		if d.pb.Hostname == domcfg.Name {
+			if d.pb.Uuid == domcfg.UUID {
+				fmt.Println("FOUND NAME", domcfg.Name, domcfg.UUID)
+				fmt.Println("CHANGED UUID", d.pb.Uuid, domcfg.UUID)
+			} else {
+				d.pb.Uuid = domcfg.UUID
+				me.changed = true
+			}
+			if found == nil {
+				found = d
+			} else {
+				fmt.Println("FOUND TWICE", d.pb.Uuid, domcfg.Name, domcfg.UUID)
+				return d, errors.New("Found Twice")
+			}
+
+		}
+		if d.pb.Uuid == domcfg.UUID {
+			if d.pb.Hostname == domcfg.Name {
+				fmt.Println("FOUND UUID WITH MATCHING NAME", domcfg.Name, domcfg.UUID)
+			} else {
+				fmt.Println("FOUND UUID WITH MIS-MATCHED NAME", domcfg.Name, domcfg.UUID)
+				return d, errors.New("UUID with mis-matched names")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// test add some ethernet devices
+	macs := getMacs(domcfg)
+	fmt.Printf("Virt mac addr:%s\n", macs)
+	return nil, errors.New("not found")
+}
diff --git a/configfiles.go b/configfiles.go
index df56e83..5c2b0f6 100644
--- a/configfiles.go
+++ b/configfiles.go
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ func readConfigFile(filename string) error {
 	pfile, err := os.ReadFile(fullname)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Info("open config file :", err)
-		return ErrorNoFile
+		return err
 	}
 	err = me.cluster.UnmarshalJSON(pfile)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Info("read json failed", err)
 		os.Exit(-1)
-		return ErrorParseJSON
+		return err
 	}
 
 	// initialize each hypervisor
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 48ab2c6..4456793 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -35,17 +35,40 @@ func main() {
 		log.DaemonMode(true)
 	}
 
+	// set defaults
+	me.unstable = time.Now()   // initialize the grid as unstable
+	me.delay = 5 * time.Second // how often to poll the hypervisors
+	me.changed = false
+
 	cfgfile()
 
+	var ok bool = true
 	for _, filename := range argv.Xml {
 		log.Info("add xml file", filename)
+		domcfg, err := readXml(filename)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Info("error:", filename, err)
+			ok = false
+			continue
+		}
+		d, err := addDroplet(domcfg)
+		if err != nil {
+			ok = false
+		}
+		if d == nil {
+			log.Info("addDroplet() returned nil")
+			ok = false
+		}
+	}
+	if me.changed {
+		writeConfigFile()
+		writeConfigFileDroplets()
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		log.Info("adding xml files failed")
+		os.Exit(-1)
 	}
-
-	// initialize the grid as unstable
-	me.unstable = time.Now()
-
-	// how often to poll the hypervisors
-	me.delay = 5 * time.Second
 
 	/*
 		log.Info("command line hypervisors:", argv.Hosts)
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 0b08b25..50f2af1 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type virtigoT struct {
 	delay     time.Duration // how often to poll the hypervisors
 	killcount int
 	unstable  time.Time // the last time the cluster was incorrect
+	changed   bool
 }
 
 // the stuff that is needed for a hypervisor
diff --git a/xml.go b/xml.go
index 1f0da87..08d9f51 100644
--- a/xml.go
+++ b/xml.go
@@ -71,7 +71,26 @@ func addDefaults(d *libvirtxml.Domain, filename string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (d *DropletT) readXml(filename string) error {
+func readXml(filename string) (*libvirtxml.Domain, error) {
+	log.Info("parse xml file:", filename)
+
+	pfile, err := os.ReadFile(filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println("ERROR:", err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	domcfg := &libvirtxml.Domain{}
+
+	err = domcfg.Unmarshal(string(pfile))
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Info("Marshal failed on file", filename, err)
+		return nil, ErrorParseXML
+	}
+	return domcfg, nil
+}
+
+func (d *DropletT) mergeXml(filename string) error {
 	log.Info("parse xml file:", filename)
 
 	pfile, err := os.ReadFile(filename)