diff --git a/broker/http_broker.go b/broker/http_broker.go
index 41d80f5d..98430dae 100644
--- a/broker/http_broker.go
+++ b/broker/http_broker.go
@@ -106,8 +106,9 @@ func newTransport(config *tls.Config) *http.Transport {
 
 func newHttpBroker(opts ...Option) Broker {
 	options := Options{
-		Codec:   json.Marshaler{},
-		Context: context.TODO(),
+		Codec:    json.Marshaler{},
+		Context:  context.TODO(),
+		Registry: registry.DefaultRegistry,
 	}
 
 	for _, o := range opts {
@@ -120,17 +121,11 @@ func newHttpBroker(opts ...Option) Broker {
 		addr = options.Addrs[0]
 	}
 
-	// get registry
-	reg, ok := options.Context.Value(registryKey).(registry.Registry)
-	if !ok {
-		reg = registry.DefaultRegistry
-	}
-
 	h := &httpBroker{
 		id:          uuid.New().String(),
 		address:     addr,
 		opts:        options,
-		r:           reg,
+		r:           options.Registry,
 		c:           &http.Client{Transport: newTransport(options.TLSConfig)},
 		subscribers: make(map[string][]*httpSubscriber),
 		exit:        make(chan chan error),
diff --git a/broker/nats/nats.go b/broker/nats/nats.go
index a72f7682..775c92f0 100644
--- a/broker/nats/nats.go
+++ b/broker/nats/nats.go
@@ -4,23 +4,44 @@ package nats
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"net"
+	"net/url"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/micro/go-micro/broker"
 	"github.com/micro/go-micro/codec/json"
+	"github.com/micro/go-micro/registry"
+	"github.com/micro/go-micro/util/addr"
+	"github.com/micro/go-micro/util/log"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2/server"
 	nats "github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 )
 
 type natsBroker struct {
 	sync.Once
 	sync.RWMutex
-	addrs   []string
-	conn    *nats.Conn
-	opts    broker.Options
-	nopts   nats.Options
+
+	// indicate if we're connected
+	connected bool
+
+	addrs []string
+	conn  *nats.Conn
+	opts  broker.Options
+	nopts nats.Options
+
+	// should we drain the connection
 	drain   bool
 	closeCh chan (error)
+
+	// embedded server
+	server *server.Server
+	// configure to use local server
+	local bool
+	// server exit channel
+	exit chan bool
 }
 
 type subscriber struct {
@@ -62,6 +83,7 @@ func (n *natsBroker) Address() string {
 	if n.conn != nil && n.conn.IsConnected() {
 		return n.conn.ConnectedUrl()
 	}
+
 	if len(n.addrs) > 0 {
 		return n.addrs[0]
 	}
@@ -69,7 +91,7 @@ func (n *natsBroker) Address() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func setAddrs(addrs []string) []string {
+func (n *natsBroker) setAddrs(addrs []string) []string {
 	//nolint:prealloc
 	var cAddrs []string
 	for _, addr := range addrs {
@@ -81,16 +103,178 @@ func setAddrs(addrs []string) []string {
 		}
 		cAddrs = append(cAddrs, addr)
 	}
-	if len(cAddrs) == 0 {
+	// if there's no address and we weren't told to
+	// embed a local server then use the default url
+	if len(cAddrs) == 0 && !n.local {
 		cAddrs = []string{nats.DefaultURL}
 	}
 	return cAddrs
 }
 
+// serve stats a local nats server if needed
+func (n *natsBroker) serve(exit chan bool) error {
+	var host string
+	var port int
+	var local bool
+
+	// with no address we just default it
+	// this is a local client address
+	if len(n.addrs) == 0 || n.local {
+		host = "127.0.0.1"
+		port = -1
+		local = true
+		// with a local address we parse it
+	} else {
+		address := n.addrs[0]
+		if strings.HasPrefix(address, "nats://") {
+			address = strings.TrimPrefix(address, "nats://")
+		}
+
+		if addr.IsLocal(address) {
+			h, p, err := net.SplitHostPort(address)
+			if err == nil {
+				host = h
+				port, _ = strconv.Atoi(p)
+				local = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// we only setup a server for local things
+	if !local {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// 1. create new server
+	// 2. register the server
+	// 3. connect to other servers
+	var cOpts server.ClusterOpts
+	var routes []*url.URL
+
+	// get existing nats servers to connect to
+	services, err := n.opts.Registry.GetService("go.micro.nats.broker")
+	if err == nil {
+		for _, service := range services {
+			for _, node := range service.Nodes {
+				u, err := url.Parse("nats://" + node.Address)
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Log(err)
+					continue
+				}
+				// append to the cluster routes
+				routes = append(routes, u)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// try get existing server
+	s := n.server
+
+	// get a host address
+	caddr, err := addr.Extract("")
+	if err != nil {
+		caddr = "0.0.0.0"
+	}
+
+	// set cluster opts
+	cOpts = server.ClusterOpts{
+		Host: caddr,
+		Port: -1,
+	}
+
+	if s == nil {
+		var err error
+		s, err = server.NewServer(&server.Options{
+			// Specify the host
+			Host: host,
+			// Use a random port
+			Port: port,
+			// Set the cluster ops
+			Cluster: cOpts,
+			// Set the routes
+			Routes:         routes,
+			NoLog:          true,
+			NoSigs:         true,
+			MaxControlLine: 2048,
+			TLSConfig:      n.opts.TLSConfig,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// save the server
+		n.server = s
+	}
+
+	// start the server
+	go s.Start()
+
+	var ready bool
+
+	// wait till its ready for connections
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		if s.ReadyForConnections(time.Second) {
+			ready = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !ready {
+		return errors.New("server not ready")
+	}
+
+	// set the client address
+	n.addrs = []string{s.ClientURL()}
+
+	go func() {
+		// register the cluster address
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-exit:
+				// deregister on exit
+				n.opts.Registry.Deregister(&registry.Service{
+					Name:    "go.micro.nats.broker",
+					Version: "v2",
+					Nodes: []*registry.Node{
+						{Id: s.ID(), Address: s.ClusterAddr().String()},
+					},
+				})
+				s.Shutdown()
+				return
+			default:
+				// register the broker
+				n.opts.Registry.Register(&registry.Service{
+					Name:    "go.micro.nats.broker",
+					Version: "v2",
+					Nodes: []*registry.Node{
+						{Id: s.ID(), Address: s.ClusterAddr().String()},
+					},
+				}, registry.RegisterTTL(time.Minute))
+				time.Sleep(time.Minute)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (n *natsBroker) Connect() error {
 	n.Lock()
 	defer n.Unlock()
 
+	if !n.connected {
+		// create exit chan
+		n.exit = make(chan bool)
+
+		// start the server if needed
+		if err := n.serve(n.exit); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// set to connected
+		n.connected = true
+	}
+
 	status := nats.CLOSED
 	if n.conn != nil {
 		status = n.conn.Status()
@@ -122,11 +306,29 @@ func (n *natsBroker) Connect() error {
 func (n *natsBroker) Disconnect() error {
 	n.RLock()
 	defer n.RUnlock()
+
+	// drain the connection if specified
 	if n.drain {
 		n.conn.Drain()
 		return <-n.closeCh
 	}
+
+	// close the client connection
 	n.conn.Close()
+
+	// shutdown the local server
+	// and deregister
+	if n.server != nil {
+		select {
+		case <-n.exit:
+		default:
+			close(n.exit)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// set not connected
+	n.connected = false
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -191,21 +393,6 @@ func (n *natsBroker) String() string {
 	return "nats"
 }
 
-func NewBroker(opts ...broker.Option) broker.Broker {
-	options := broker.Options{
-		// Default codec
-		Codec:   json.Marshaler{},
-		Context: context.Background(),
-	}
-
-	n := &natsBroker{
-		opts: options,
-	}
-	n.setOption(opts...)
-
-	return n
-}
-
 func (n *natsBroker) setOption(opts ...broker.Option) {
 	for _, o := range opts {
 		o(&n.opts)
@@ -219,10 +406,15 @@ func (n *natsBroker) setOption(opts ...broker.Option) {
 		n.nopts = nopts
 	}
 
+	local, ok := n.opts.Context.Value(localServerKey{}).(bool)
+	if ok {
+		n.local = local
+	}
+
 	// broker.Options have higher priority than nats.Options
 	// only if Addrs, Secure or TLSConfig were not set through a broker.Option
 	// we read them from nats.Option
-	if len(n.opts.Addrs) == 0 {
+	if len(n.opts.Addrs) == 0 && !n.local {
 		n.opts.Addrs = n.nopts.Servers
 	}
 
@@ -233,7 +425,7 @@ func (n *natsBroker) setOption(opts ...broker.Option) {
 	if n.opts.TLSConfig == nil {
 		n.opts.TLSConfig = n.nopts.TLSConfig
 	}
-	n.addrs = setAddrs(n.opts.Addrs)
+	n.addrs = n.setAddrs(n.opts.Addrs)
 
 	if n.opts.Context.Value(drainConnectionKey{}) != nil {
 		n.drain = true
@@ -254,3 +446,19 @@ func (n *natsBroker) onAsyncError(conn *nats.Conn, sub *nats.Subscription, err e
 		n.closeCh <- err
 	}
 }
+
+func NewBroker(opts ...broker.Option) broker.Broker {
+	options := broker.Options{
+		// Default codec
+		Codec:    json.Marshaler{},
+		Context:  context.Background(),
+		Registry: registry.DefaultRegistry,
+	}
+
+	n := &natsBroker{
+		opts: options,
+	}
+	n.setOption(opts...)
+
+	return n
+}
diff --git a/broker/nats/options.go b/broker/nats/options.go
index b5b106c0..ae8ca80d 100644
--- a/broker/nats/options.go
+++ b/broker/nats/options.go
@@ -7,12 +7,18 @@ import (
 
 type optionsKey struct{}
 type drainConnectionKey struct{}
+type localServerKey struct{}
 
 // Options accepts nats.Options
 func Options(opts nats.Options) broker.Option {
 	return setBrokerOption(optionsKey{}, opts)
 }
 
+// LocalServer embeds a local server rather than connecting to one
+func LocalServer() broker.Option {
+	return setBrokerOption(localServerKey{}, true)
+}
+
 // DrainConnection will drain subscription on close
 func DrainConnection() broker.Option {
 	return setBrokerOption(drainConnectionKey{}, struct{}{})
diff --git a/broker/options.go b/broker/options.go
index 9a60e150..f0877a27 100644
--- a/broker/options.go
+++ b/broker/options.go
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ type Options struct {
 	Secure    bool
 	Codec     codec.Marshaler
 	TLSConfig *tls.Config
+	// Registry used for clustering
+	Registry registry.Registry
 	// Other options for implementations of the interface
 	// can be stored in a context
 	Context context.Context
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ func Queue(name string) SubscribeOption {
 
 func Registry(r registry.Registry) Option {
 	return func(o *Options) {
-		o.Context = context.WithValue(o.Context, registryKey, r)
+		o.Registry = r
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/config/cmd/cmd.go b/config/cmd/cmd.go
index 83dfcc46..f553f44b 100644
--- a/config/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/config/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -3,9 +3,7 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"math/rand"
-	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -273,7 +271,7 @@ var (
 	// used for default selection as the fall back
 	defaultClient    = "grpc"
 	defaultServer    = "grpc"
-	defaultBroker    = "http"
+	defaultBroker    = "nats"
 	defaultRegistry  = "mdns"
 	defaultSelector  = "registry"
 	defaultTransport = "http"
@@ -283,11 +281,6 @@ var (
 
 func init() {
 	rand.Seed(time.Now().Unix())
-	help := cli.HelpPrinter
-	cli.HelpPrinter = func(writer io.Writer, templ string, data interface{}) {
-		help(writer, templ, data)
-		os.Exit(0)
-	}
 }
 
 func newCmd(opts ...Option) Cmd {
diff --git a/defaults.go b/defaults.go
index 0159f19c..65844c23 100644
--- a/defaults.go
+++ b/defaults.go
@@ -1,17 +1,24 @@
 package micro
 
 import (
+	"github.com/micro/go-micro/broker"
 	"github.com/micro/go-micro/client"
 	"github.com/micro/go-micro/server"
 	"github.com/micro/go-micro/store"
 
 	// set defaults
+	"github.com/micro/go-micro/broker/nats"
 	gcli "github.com/micro/go-micro/client/grpc"
 	gsrv "github.com/micro/go-micro/server/grpc"
 	memStore "github.com/micro/go-micro/store/memory"
 )
 
 func init() {
+	// default broker
+	broker.DefaultBroker = nats.NewBroker(
+		// embedded nats server
+		nats.LocalServer(),
+	)
 	// default client
 	client.DefaultClient = gcli.NewClient()
 	// default server
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 58b17fb5..8308c9d4 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ require (
 	github.com/micro/mdns v0.3.0
 	github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.26
 	github.com/mitchellh/hashstructure v1.0.0
+	github.com/nats-io/gnatsd v1.4.1 // indirect
+	github.com/nats-io/nats-server v1.4.1
+	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.1.2
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.9.1
 	github.com/nlopes/slack v0.6.0
 	github.com/oxtoacart/bpool v0.0.0-20190530202638-03653db5a59c
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 71f5b50f..23a96d27 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -253,12 +253,22 @@ github.com/morikuni/aec v0.0.0-20170113033406-39771216ff4c h1:nXxl5PrvVm2L/wCy8d
 github.com/morikuni/aec v0.0.0-20170113033406-39771216ff4c/go.mod h1:BbKIizmSmc5MMPqRYbxO4ZU0S0+P200+tUnFx7PXmsc=
 github.com/mwitkow/go-conntrack v0.0.0-20161129095857-cc309e4a2223/go.mod h1:qRWi+5nqEBWmkhHvq77mSJWrCKwh8bxhgT7d/eI7P4U=
 github.com/namedotcom/go v0.0.0-20180403034216-08470befbe04/go.mod h1:5sN+Lt1CaY4wsPvgQH/jsuJi4XO2ssZbdsIizr4CVC8=
+github.com/nats-io/gnatsd v1.4.1 h1:RconcfDeWpKCD6QIIwiVFcvForlXpWeJP7i5/lDLy44=
+github.com/nats-io/gnatsd v1.4.1/go.mod h1:nqco77VO78hLCJpIcVfygDP2rPGfsEHkGTUk94uh5DQ=
 github.com/nats-io/jwt v0.3.0 h1:xdnzwFETV++jNc4W1mw//qFyJGb2ABOombmZJQS4+Qo=
 github.com/nats-io/jwt v0.3.0/go.mod h1:fRYCDE99xlTsqUzISS1Bi75UBJ6ljOJQOAAu5VglpSg=
+github.com/nats-io/jwt v0.3.2 h1:+RB5hMpXUUA2dfxuhBTEkMOrYmM+gKIZYS1KjSostMI=
+github.com/nats-io/jwt v0.3.2/go.mod h1:/euKqTS1ZD+zzjYrY7pseZrTtWQSjujC7xjPc8wL6eU=
+github.com/nats-io/nats-server v1.4.1 h1:Ul1oSOGNV/L8kjr4v6l2f9Yet6WY+LevH1/7cRZ/qyA=
+github.com/nats-io/nats-server v1.4.1/go.mod h1:c8f/fHd2B6Hgms3LtCaI7y6pC4WD1f4SUxcCud5vhBc=
+github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.1.2 h1:i2Ly0B+1+rzNZHHWtD4ZwKi+OU5l+uQo1iDHZ2PmiIc=
+github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.1.2/go.mod h1:Afk+wRZqkMQs/p45uXdrVLuab3gwv3Z8C4HTBu8GD/k=
 github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.9.1 h1:ik3HbLhZ0YABLto7iX80pZLPw/6dx3T+++MZJwLnMrQ=
 github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.9.1/go.mod h1:ZjDU1L/7fJ09jvUSRVBR2e7+RnLiiIQyqyzEE/Zbp4w=
 github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.1.0 h1:qMd4+pRHgdr1nAClu+2h/2a5F2TmKcCzjCDazVgRoX4=
 github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.1.0/go.mod h1:xpnFELMwJABBLVhffcfd1MZx6VsNRFpEugbxziKVo7w=
+github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.1.3 h1:6JrEfig+HzTH85yxzhSVbjHRJv9cn0p6n3IngIcM5/k=
+github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.1.3/go.mod h1:xpnFELMwJABBLVhffcfd1MZx6VsNRFpEugbxziKVo7w=
 github.com/nats-io/nuid v1.0.1 h1:5iA8DT8V7q8WK2EScv2padNa/rTESc1KdnPw4TC2paw=
 github.com/nats-io/nuid v1.0.1/go.mod h1:19wcPz3Ph3q0Jbyiqsd0kePYG7A95tJPxeL+1OSON2c=
 github.com/nbio/st v0.0.0-20140626010706-e9e8d9816f32/go.mod h1:9wM+0iRr9ahx58uYLpLIr5fm8diHn0JbqRycJi6w0Ms=
diff --git a/util/addr/addr.go b/util/addr/addr.go
index eb0a5972..fafe8b56 100644
--- a/util/addr/addr.go
+++ b/util/addr/addr.go
@@ -27,6 +27,29 @@ func isPrivateIP(ipAddr string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// IsLocal tells us whether an ip is local
+func IsLocal(addr string) bool {
+	// extract the host
+	host, _, err := net.SplitHostPort(addr)
+	if err == nil {
+		addr = host
+	}
+
+	// check if its localhost
+	if addr == "localhost" {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	// check against all local ips
+	for _, ip := range IPs() {
+		if addr == ip {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
 // Extract returns a real ip
 func Extract(addr string) (string, error) {
 	// if addr specified then its returned
diff --git a/util/addr/addr_test.go b/util/addr/addr_test.go
index ad23b128..06aae9a6 100644
--- a/util/addr/addr_test.go
+++ b/util/addr/addr_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,26 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
+func TestIsLocal(t *testing.T) {
+	testData := []struct {
+		addr   string
+		expect bool
+	}{
+		{"localhost", true},
+		{"localhost:8080", true},
+		{"127.0.0.1", true},
+		{"127.0.0.1:1001", true},
+		{"80.1.1.1", false},
+	}
+
+	for _, d := range testData {
+		res := IsLocal(d.addr)
+		if res != d.expect {
+			t.Fatalf("expected %t got %t", d.expect, res)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestExtractor(t *testing.T) {
 	testData := []struct {
 		addr   string