diff --git a/chotki.go b/chotki.go
index 174f20f..e40e4aa 100644
--- a/chotki.go
+++ b/chotki.go
@@ -4,13 +4,15 @@ import (
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"os"
+	"sync"
+
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/pebble"
+	"github.com/cockroachdb/pebble/vfs"
 	"github.com/drpcorg/chotki/rdx"
 	"github.com/learn-decentralized-systems/toyqueue"
 	"github.com/learn-decentralized-systems/toytlv"
-	"net"
-	"os"
-	"sync"
 )
 
 type Packet []byte
@@ -53,9 +55,28 @@ type Chotki struct {
 	types map[rdx.ID]Fields
 }
 
-var ErrCausalityBroken = errors.New("order fail: refs an unknown op")
-var ErrOutOfOrder = errors.New("order fail: sequence gap")
-var ErrNotImplemented = errors.New("not implemented yet")
+var (
+	ErrDbClosed       = errors.New("chotki: db is closed")
+	ErrDirnameIsFile  = errors.New("chotki: the dirname is file")
+	ErrNotImplemented = errors.New("chotki: not implemented yet")
+
+	ErrHookNotFound = errors.New("chotki: hook not found")
+	ErrBadIRecord   = errors.New("chotki: bad id-ref record")
+	ErrBadHPacket   = errors.New("chotki: bad handshake packet")
+	ErrBadEPacket   = errors.New("chotki: bad E packet")
+	ErrBadVPacket   = errors.New("chotki: bad V packet")
+	ErrBadYPacket   = errors.New("chotki: bad Y packet")
+	ErrBadLPacket   = errors.New("chotki: bad L packet")
+	ErrBadTPacket   = errors.New("chotki: bad T packet")
+	ErrBadOPacket   = errors.New("chotki: bad O packet")
+	ErrSrcUnknown   = errors.New("chotki: source unknown")
+	ErrSyncUnknown  = errors.New("chotki: sync session unknown")
+	ErrBadRRecord   = errors.New("chotki: bad ref record")
+	ErrClosed       = errors.New("chotki: no replica open")
+
+	ErrOutOfOrder      = errors.New("chotki: order fail: sequence gap")
+	ErrCausalityBroken = errors.New("chotki: order fail: refs an unknown op")
+)
 
 func OKey(id rdx.ID, rdt byte) (key []byte) {
 	var ret = [16]byte{'O'}
@@ -99,8 +120,6 @@ func ReplicaDirName(rno uint64) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("cho%x", rno)
 }
 
-var ErrAlreadyOpen = errors.New("the db is already open")
-
 func (o *Options) SetDefaults() {
 	if o.MaxLogLen == 0 {
 		o.MaxLogLen = 1 << 23
@@ -120,81 +139,99 @@ func merger(key, value []byte) (pebble.ValueMerger, error) {
 	return &pma, nil
 }
 
-// Create a replica. orig=0 for read-only replicas.
-func (cho *Chotki) Create(orig uint64, name string) (err error) {
-	opts := pebble.Options{
-		ErrorIfExists:    true,
-		ErrorIfNotExists: false,
-		Merger: &pebble.Merger{
-			Name:  "CRDT",
-			Merge: merger,
-		}}
-	cho.opts.SetDefaults() // todo param
-	path := ReplicaDirName(orig)
-	cho.db, err = pebble.Open(path, &opts)
+func Exists(dirname string) (bool, error) {
+	stats, err := os.Stat(dirname)
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return false, nil
+		}
+
+		return false, err
 	}
-	var _0 rdx.ID
-	id0 := rdx.IDFromSrcSeqOff(orig, 0, 0)
-	rec0 := toytlv.Concat(
-		toytlv.Record('Y',
-			toytlv.Record('I', id0.ZipBytes()),
-			toytlv.Record('R', _0.ZipBytes()),
-			toytlv.Record('S', rdx.Stlv(name)),
-		),
-	)
-	init := append(Log0, rec0)
-	err = cho.Drain(init)
+
+	if !stats.IsDir() {
+		return false, ErrDirnameIsFile
+	}
+
+	desc, err := pebble.Peek(dirname, vfs.Default)
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		return false, err
 	}
-	_ = cho.Close()
-	return cho.Open(orig)
-}
-
-// Open a replica. orig=0 for read-only replicas.
-func (cho *Chotki) Open(orig uint64) (err error) {
-	cho.src = orig
-	opts := pebble.Options{
-		ErrorIfNotExists: true,
-		Merger: &pebble.Merger{
-			Name:  "CRDT",
-			Merge: merger,
-		}}
-	cho.opts.SetDefaults() // todo param
-	path := ReplicaDirName(orig)
-	cho.db, err = pebble.Open(path, &opts)
+
+	return desc.Exists, nil
+}
+
+func Open(orig uint64, name, dirname string) (*Chotki, bool, error) {
+	exists, err := Exists(dirname)
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		return nil, false, err
 	}
-	cho.dir = path
+
+	db, err := pebble.Open(dirname, &pebble.Options{
+		ErrorIfExists:    false,
+		ErrorIfNotExists: false,
+		Merger:           &pebble.Merger{Name: "CRDT", Merge: merger},
+	})
 	if err != nil {
-		_ = cho.db.Close()
-		return err
+		return nil, exists, err
 	}
-	cho.types = make(map[rdx.ID]Fields)
-	cho.syncs = make(map[rdx.ID]*pebble.Batch)
-	cho.hooks = make(map[rdx.ID][]Hook)
-	var vv rdx.VV
-	vv, err = cho.VersionVector()
+
+	conn := Chotki{
+		db:    db,
+		src:   orig,
+		dir:   dirname,
+		types: make(map[rdx.ID]Fields),
+		hooks: make(map[rdx.ID][]Hook),
+		syncs: make(map[rdx.ID]*pebble.Batch),
+		outq:  make(map[string]toyqueue.DrainCloser),
+	}
+	conn.opts.SetDefaults() // todo param
+
+	if !exists {
+		id0 := rdx.IDFromSrcSeqOff(orig, 0, 0)
+
+		init := append(toyqueue.Records(nil), Log0...)
+		init = append(init, toytlv.Record('Y',
+			toytlv.Record('I', id0.ZipBytes()),
+			toytlv.Record('R', rdx.ID0.ZipBytes()),
+			toytlv.Record('S', rdx.Stlv(name)),
+		))
+
+		if err = conn.Drain(init); err != nil {
+			return nil, exists, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	vv, err := conn.VersionVector()
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		return nil, exists, err
 	}
-	cho.last = vv.GetID(cho.src)
-	cho.outq = make(map[string]toyqueue.DrainCloser)
-	// repl.last = repl.heads.GetID(orig) todo root VV
-	return
+
+	conn.last = vv.GetID(conn.src)
+
+	return &conn, exists, nil
 }
 
-func (cho *Chotki) OpenTCP(tcp *toytlv.TCPDepot) {
+func (cho *Chotki) OpenTCP(tcp *toytlv.TCPDepot) error {
+	if cho.db == nil {
+		return ErrDbClosed
+	}
+
 	tcp.Open(func(conn net.Conn) toyqueue.FeedDrainCloser {
 		return &Syncer{Host: cho, Name: conn.RemoteAddr().String(), Mode: SyncRWLive}
 	})
+
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (cho *Chotki) ReOpenTCP(tcp *toytlv.TCPDepot) {
-	cho.OpenTCP(tcp)
+func (cho *Chotki) ReOpenTCP(tcp *toytlv.TCPDepot) error {
+	if cho.db == nil {
+		return ErrDbClosed
+	}
+
+	if err := cho.OpenTCP(tcp); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// ...
 	io := pebble.IterOptions{}
 	i := cho.db.NewIter(&io)
@@ -214,6 +251,7 @@ func (cho *Chotki) ReOpenTCP(tcp *toytlv.TCPDepot) {
 			_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (cho *Chotki) AddPacketHose(name string) (feed toyqueue.FeedCloser) {
@@ -327,10 +365,18 @@ func (cho *Chotki) Drain(recs toyqueue.Records) (err error) {
 		default:
 			return fmt.Errorf("unsupported packet type %c", lit)
 		}
+
 		if !yvh && err == nil {
-			_ = cho.db.Apply(&pb, &WriteOptions)
+			if err := cho.db.Apply(&pb, &WriteOptions); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	if err := cho.db.Flush(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	if err != nil { // fixme separate packets
 		return
 	}
@@ -359,20 +405,6 @@ func (cho *Chotki) VersionVector() (vv rdx.VV, err error) {
 
 var WriteOptions = pebble.WriteOptions{Sync: false}
 
-var ErrBadIRecord = errors.New("bad id-ref record")
-
-var ErrBadHPacket = errors.New("bad handshake packet")
-var ErrBadEPacket = errors.New("bad E packet")
-var ErrBadVPacket = errors.New("bad V packet")
-var ErrBadYPacket = errors.New("bad Y packet")
-var ErrBadLPacket = errors.New("bad L packet")
-var ErrBadTPacket = errors.New("bad T packet")
-var ErrBadOPacket = errors.New("bad O packet")
-var ErrSrcUnknown = errors.New("source unknown")
-var ErrSyncUnknown = errors.New("sync session unknown")
-var ErrBadRRecord = errors.New("bad ref record")
-var ErrClosed = errors.New("no replica open")
-
 var KeyLogLen = []byte("Mloglen")
 
 func (cho *Chotki) Last() rdx.ID {
@@ -483,8 +515,6 @@ func (cho *Chotki) RemoveAllHooks(fid rdx.ID) {
 	cho.hlock.Unlock()
 }
 
-var ErrHookNotFound = errors.New("hook not found")
-
 func (cho *Chotki) RemoveHook(fid rdx.ID, hook Hook) (err error) {
 	cho.hlock.Lock()
 	list := cho.hooks[fid]
diff --git a/chotki_test.go b/chotki_test.go
index 49bcb14..61c60c5 100644
--- a/chotki_test.go
+++ b/chotki_test.go
@@ -23,13 +23,14 @@ func TestChotki_Debug(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestChotki_Create(t *testing.T) {
-	_ = os.RemoveAll("cho1a")
-	var a Chotki
-	err := a.Create(0x1a, "test replica")
+	dirname := ReplicaDirName(0x1a)
+	_ = os.RemoveAll(dirname)
+	a, exists, err := Open(0x1a, "test replica", dirname)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, exists, false)
 	//a.DumpAll()
 	_ = a.Close()
-	_ = os.RemoveAll("cho1a")
+	_ = os.RemoveAll(dirname)
 }
 
 type KVMerger interface {
@@ -37,17 +38,19 @@ type KVMerger interface {
 }
 
 func TestChotki_Sync(t *testing.T) {
-	_ = os.RemoveAll("choa")
-	_ = os.RemoveAll("chob")
-	var a, b Chotki
-	err := a.Create(0xa, "test replica A")
+	adir, bdir := ReplicaDirName(0xa), ReplicaDirName(0xb)
+	_ = os.RemoveAll(adir)
+	_ = os.RemoveAll(bdir)
+
+	a, _, err := Open(0xa, "test replica A", adir)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	//a.DumpAll()
-	err = b.Create(0xb, "test replica B")
+
+	b, _, err := Open(0xb, "test replica B", bdir)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 
-	synca := Syncer{Host: &a, Mode: SyncRW, Name: "a"}
-	syncb := Syncer{Host: &b, Mode: SyncRW, Name: "b"}
+	synca := Syncer{Host: a, Mode: SyncRW, Name: "a"}
+	syncb := Syncer{Host: b, Mode: SyncRW, Name: "b"}
 	err = toyqueue.Relay(&syncb, &synca)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	err = toyqueue.Pump(&synca, &syncb)
diff --git a/object_example_test.go b/object_example_test.go
index 75ae0a1..c2b4eb0 100644
--- a/object_example_test.go
+++ b/object_example_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestORMExample(t *testing.T) {
+	edir, fdir := ReplicaDirName(0x1e), ReplicaDirName(0x1f)
 	_ = os.RemoveAll("cho1e")
 	_ = os.RemoveAll("cho1f")
 	defer func() {
@@ -18,8 +19,7 @@ func TestORMExample(t *testing.T) {
 		_ = os.RemoveAll("cho1f")
 	}()
 
-	var a, b Chotki
-	err := a.Create(0x1e, "test replica")
+	a, _, err := Open(0x1e, "test replica", edir)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	var tid, oid rdx.ID
 	tid, err = a.NewClass(rdx.ID0,
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ func TestORMExample(t *testing.T) {
 
 	err = a.Close()
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
-	err = a.Open(0x1e)
+
+	a, _, err = Open(0x1e, "test replica", edir)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
-	//a.DumpAll()
 
 	var exa Example
 	ita := a.ObjectIterator(rdx.IDFromString("1e-2"))
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ func TestORMExample(t *testing.T) {
 	exa.Score = 103
 	// todo save the object
 
-	err = b.Create(0x1f, "another test replica")
+	b, _, err := Open(0x1f, "another test replica", fdir)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 
-	syncera := Syncer{Host: &a, Mode: SyncRW}
-	syncerb := Syncer{Host: &b, Mode: SyncRW}
+	syncera := Syncer{Host: a, Mode: SyncRW}
+	syncerb := Syncer{Host: b, Mode: SyncRW}
 	err = toyqueue.Relay(&syncerb, &syncera)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	err = toyqueue.Pump(&syncera, &syncerb)
diff --git a/objects_test.go b/objects_test.go
index eb2b673..734df0d 100644
--- a/objects_test.go
+++ b/objects_test.go
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestTypes(t *testing.T) {
-	_ = os.RemoveAll("cho1a")
-	var a Chotki
-	err := a.Create(0x1a, "test replica A")
+	adir := ReplicaDirName(0x1a)
+
+	_ = os.RemoveAll(adir)
+	a, _, err := Open(0x1a, "test replica A", adir)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 
 	var tid, oid rdx.ID
diff --git a/repl/commands.go b/repl/commands.go
index c0426b7..0498bca 100644
--- a/repl/commands.go
+++ b/repl/commands.go
@@ -51,7 +51,17 @@ func (repl *REPL) CommandCreate(arg *rdx.RDX) (id rdx.ID, err error) {
 	if src == rdx.ID0 {
 		return
 	}
-	err = repl.Host.Create(src.Src(), name)
+
+	dirname := chotki.ReplicaDirName(src.Src())
+	exists, err := chotki.Exists(dirname)
+	if err != nil {
+		return rdx.BadId, err
+	}
+	if exists {
+		return rdx.BadId, errors.New("Replica already exists")
+	}
+
+	repl.Host, _, err = chotki.Open(src.Src(), name, dirname)
 	if err == nil {
 		id = repl.Host.Last()
 	}
@@ -60,16 +70,27 @@ func (repl *REPL) CommandCreate(arg *rdx.RDX) (id rdx.ID, err error) {
 
 var HelpOpen = errors.New("open zone/1")
 
-func (repl *REPL) CommandOpen(arg *rdx.RDX) (id rdx.ID, err error) {
+func (repl *REPL) CommandOpen(arg *rdx.RDX) (rdx.ID, error) {
 	if arg == nil || arg.RdxType != rdx.Reference {
 		return rdx.BadId, HelpOpen
 	}
+
 	src0 := rdx.IDFromText(arg.Text)
-	err = repl.Host.Open(src0.Src())
-	if err == nil {
-		id = repl.Host.Last()
+	dirname := chotki.ReplicaDirName(src0.Src())
+
+	exists, err := chotki.Exists(dirname)
+	if err != nil {
+		return rdx.BadId, err
+	} else if !exists {
+		return rdx.BadId, errors.New("Replica not found")
 	}
-	return
+
+	repl.Host, _, err = chotki.Open(src0.Src(), "", dirname)
+	if err != nil {
+		return rdx.BadId, err
+	}
+
+	return repl.Host.Last(), nil
 }
 
 var HelpDump = errors.New("dump (obj|objects|vv|all)?")
@@ -393,7 +414,7 @@ func (repl *REPL) CommandPinc(arg *rdx.RDX) (id rdx.ID, err error) {
 	if fid.Off() == 0 {
 		return
 	}
-	err = KeepOdd(&repl.Host, fid)
+	err = KeepOdd(repl.Host, fid)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -412,7 +433,7 @@ func (repl *REPL) CommandPonc(arg *rdx.RDX) (id rdx.ID, err error) {
 	if fid.Off() == 0 {
 		return
 	}
-	err = KeepEven(&repl.Host, fid)
+	err = KeepEven(repl.Host, fid)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/repl/repl.go b/repl/repl.go
index b3c46c9..147f9c4 100644
--- a/repl/repl.go
+++ b/repl/repl.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 // REPL per se.
 type REPL struct {
-	Host chotki.Chotki
+	Host *chotki.Chotki
 	tcp  *toytlv.TCPDepot
 	rl   *readline.Instance
 	snap pebble.Reader
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func (repl *REPL) REPL() (id rdx.ID, err error) {
 		_ = repl.snap.Close()
 		repl.snap = nil
 	}
-	if repl.Host.Last() != rdx.ID0 {
+	if repl.Host != nil && repl.Host.Last() != rdx.ID0 {
 		repl.snap = repl.Host.Snapshot()
 	}
 	switch cmd {
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func (repl *REPL) REPL() (id rdx.ID, err error) {
 	case "close":
 		id, err = repl.CommandClose(arg)
 	case "exit", "quit":
-		if repl.Host.Last() != rdx.ID0 {
+		if repl.Host != nil && repl.Host.Last() != rdx.ID0 {
 			id, err = repl.CommandClose(arg)
 		}
 		if err == nil {