diff --git a/network/default.go b/network/default.go
index 26789436..83557592 100644
--- a/network/default.go
+++ b/network/default.go
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ func (n *network) resolveNodes() ([]string, error) {
 	dns := &dns.Resolver{}
 
 	// append seed nodes if we have them
-	for _, node := range n.options.Peers {
+	for _, node := range n.options.Nodes {
 		// resolve anything that looks like a host name
 		records, err := dns.Resolve(node)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -282,7 +282,8 @@ func (n *network) handleNetConn(s tunnel.Session, msg chan *message) {
 		m := new(transport.Message)
 		if err := s.Recv(m); err != nil {
 			log.Debugf("Network tunnel [%s] receive error: %v", NetworkChannel, err)
-			if err == io.EOF {
+			switch err {
+			case io.EOF, tunnel.ErrReadTimeout:
 				s.Close()
 				return
 			}
@@ -338,39 +339,10 @@ func (n *network) acceptNetConn(l tunnel.Listener, recv chan *message) {
 	}
 }
 
-// updatePeerLinks updates link for a given peer
-func (n *network) updatePeerLinks(peerAddr string, linkId string) error {
-	n.Lock()
-	defer n.Unlock()
-	log.Tracef("Network looking up link %s in the peer links", linkId)
-	// lookup the peer link
-	var peerLink tunnel.Link
-	for _, link := range n.tunnel.Links() {
-		if link.Id() == linkId {
-			peerLink = link
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	if peerLink == nil {
-		return ErrPeerLinkNotFound
-	}
-	// if the peerLink is found in the returned links update peerLinks
-	log.Tracef("Network updating peer links for peer %s", peerAddr)
-	// add peerLink to the peerLinks map
-	if link, ok := n.peerLinks[peerAddr]; ok {
-		// if the existing has better Length then the new, replace it
-		if link.Length() < peerLink.Length() {
-			n.peerLinks[peerAddr] = peerLink
-		}
-	} else {
-		n.peerLinks[peerAddr] = peerLink
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 // processNetChan processes messages received on NetworkChannel
 func (n *network) processNetChan(listener tunnel.Listener) {
+	defer listener.Close()
+
 	// receive network message queue
 	recv := make(chan *message, 128)
 
@@ -707,13 +679,51 @@ func (n *network) sendMsg(method, channel string, msg proto.Message) error {
 	})
 }
 
+// updatePeerLinks updates link for a given peer
+func (n *network) updatePeerLinks(peerAddr string, linkId string) error {
+	n.Lock()
+	defer n.Unlock()
+
+	log.Tracef("Network looking up link %s in the peer links", linkId)
+
+	// lookup the peer link
+	var peerLink tunnel.Link
+
+	for _, link := range n.tunnel.Links() {
+		if link.Id() == linkId {
+			peerLink = link
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	if peerLink == nil {
+		return ErrPeerLinkNotFound
+	}
+
+	// if the peerLink is found in the returned links update peerLinks
+	log.Tracef("Network updating peer links for peer %s", peerAddr)
+
+	// add peerLink to the peerLinks map
+	if link, ok := n.peerLinks[peerAddr]; ok {
+		// if the existing has better Length then the new, replace it
+		if link.Length() < peerLink.Length() {
+			n.peerLinks[peerAddr] = peerLink
+		}
+	} else {
+		n.peerLinks[peerAddr] = peerLink
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // handleCtrlConn handles ControlChannel connections
 func (n *network) handleCtrlConn(s tunnel.Session, msg chan *message) {
 	for {
 		m := new(transport.Message)
 		if err := s.Recv(m); err != nil {
 			log.Debugf("Network tunnel [%s] receive error: %v", ControlChannel, err)
-			if err == io.EOF {
+			switch err {
+			case io.EOF, tunnel.ErrReadTimeout:
 				s.Close()
 				return
 			}
@@ -843,6 +853,8 @@ func (n *network) getRouteMetric(router string, gateway string, link string) int
 
 // processCtrlChan processes messages received on ControlChannel
 func (n *network) processCtrlChan(listener tunnel.Listener) {
+	defer listener.Close()
+
 	// receive control message queue
 	recv := make(chan *message, 128)
 
@@ -1151,12 +1163,7 @@ func (n *network) connect() {
 // Connect connects the network
 func (n *network) Connect() error {
 	n.Lock()
-
-	// connect network tunnel
-	if err := n.tunnel.Connect(); err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
-		return err
-	}
+	defer n.Unlock()
 
 	// try to resolve network nodes
 	nodes, err := n.resolveNodes()
@@ -1169,10 +1176,14 @@ func (n *network) Connect() error {
 		tunnel.Nodes(nodes...),
 	)
 
+	// connect network tunnel
+	if err := n.tunnel.Connect(); err != nil {
+		n.Unlock()
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// return if already connected
 	if n.connected {
-		// unlock first
-		n.Unlock()
 		// send the connect message
 		n.sendConnect()
 		return nil
@@ -1187,32 +1198,36 @@ func (n *network) Connect() error {
 	// dial into ControlChannel to send route adverts
 	ctrlClient, err := n.tunnel.Dial(ControlChannel, tunnel.DialMode(tunnel.Multicast))
 	if err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
 
 	n.tunClient[ControlChannel] = ctrlClient
 
 	// listen on ControlChannel
-	ctrlListener, err := n.tunnel.Listen(ControlChannel, tunnel.ListenMode(tunnel.Multicast))
+	ctrlListener, err := n.tunnel.Listen(
+		ControlChannel,
+		tunnel.ListenMode(tunnel.Multicast),
+		tunnel.ListenTimeout(router.AdvertiseTableTick*2),
+	)
 	if err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
 
 	// dial into NetworkChannel to send network messages
 	netClient, err := n.tunnel.Dial(NetworkChannel, tunnel.DialMode(tunnel.Multicast))
 	if err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
 
 	n.tunClient[NetworkChannel] = netClient
 
 	// listen on NetworkChannel
-	netListener, err := n.tunnel.Listen(NetworkChannel, tunnel.ListenMode(tunnel.Multicast))
+	netListener, err := n.tunnel.Listen(
+		NetworkChannel,
+		tunnel.ListenMode(tunnel.Multicast),
+		tunnel.ListenTimeout(AnnounceTime*2),
+	)
 	if err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -1221,23 +1236,19 @@ func (n *network) Connect() error {
 
 	// start the router
 	if err := n.options.Router.Start(); err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
 
 	// start advertising routes
 	advertChan, err := n.options.Router.Advertise()
 	if err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
 
 	// start the server
 	if err := n.server.Start(); err != nil {
-		n.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
-	n.Unlock()
 
 	// send connect after there's a link established
 	go n.connect()
@@ -1252,9 +1263,8 @@ func (n *network) Connect() error {
 	// accept and process routes
 	go n.processCtrlChan(ctrlListener)
 
-	n.Lock()
+	// we're now connected
 	n.connected = true
-	n.Unlock()
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -1340,6 +1350,7 @@ func (n *network) Close() error {
 				Address: n.node.address,
 			},
 		}
+
 		if err := n.sendMsg("close", NetworkChannel, msg); err != nil {
 			log.Debugf("Network failed to send close message: %s", err)
 		}
diff --git a/network/network.go b/network/network.go
index 8f71709c..e927241b 100644
--- a/network/network.go
+++ b/network/network.go
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/micro/go-micro/client"
 	"github.com/micro/go-micro/server"
-	"github.com/micro/go-micro/transport"
-	"github.com/micro/go-micro/tunnel"
 )
 
 var (
diff --git a/network/options.go b/network/options.go
index 0a3c5b2b..63ff6fe7 100644
--- a/network/options.go
+++ b/network/options.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ type Options struct {
 	Address string
 	// Advertise sets the address to advertise
 	Advertise string
-	// Peers is a list of peers to connect to
-	Peers []string
+	// Nodes is a list of nodes to connect to
+	Nodes []string
 	// Tunnel is network tunnel
 	Tunnel tunnel.Tunnel
 	// Router is network router
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ func Advertise(a string) Option {
 	}
 }
 
-// Peers is a list of peers to connect to
-func Peers(n ...string) Option {
+// Nodes is a list of nodes to connect to
+func Nodes(n ...string) Option {
 	return func(o *Options) {
-		o.Peers = n
+		o.Nodes = n
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/network/resolver/dns/dns.go b/network/resolver/dns/dns.go
index b4029f06..a8d27b06 100644
--- a/network/resolver/dns/dns.go
+++ b/network/resolver/dns/dns.go
@@ -31,6 +31,17 @@ func (r *Resolver) Resolve(name string) ([]*resolver.Record, error) {
 		r.Address = "1.0.0.1:53"
 	}
 
+	//nolint:prealloc
+	var records []*resolver.Record
+
+	// parsed an actual ip
+	if v := net.ParseIP(host); v != nil {
+		records = append(records, &resolver.Record{
+			Address: net.JoinHostPort(host, port),
+		})
+		return records, nil
+	}
+
 	m := new(dns.Msg)
 	m.SetQuestion(dns.Fqdn(host), dns.TypeA)
 	rec, err := dns.ExchangeContext(context.Background(), m, r.Address)
@@ -38,9 +49,6 @@ func (r *Resolver) Resolve(name string) ([]*resolver.Record, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	//nolint:prealloc
-	var records []*resolver.Record
-
 	for _, answer := range rec.Answer {
 		h := answer.Header()
 		// check record type matches
@@ -59,5 +67,12 @@ func (r *Resolver) Resolve(name string) ([]*resolver.Record, error) {
 		})
 	}
 
+	// no records returned so just best effort it
+	if len(records) == 0 {
+		records = append(records, &resolver.Record{
+			Address: net.JoinHostPort(host, port),
+		})
+	}
+
 	return records, nil
 }
diff --git a/network/service/handler/handler.go b/network/service/handler/handler.go
index 5a9f9379..d8538a7c 100644
--- a/network/service/handler/handler.go
+++ b/network/service/handler/handler.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (n *Network) Connect(ctx context.Context, req *pbNet.ConnectRequest, resp *
 	}
 
 	// get list of existing nodes
-	nodes := n.Network.Options().Peers
+	nodes := n.Network.Options().Nodes
 
 	// generate a node map
 	nodeMap := make(map[string]bool)
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (n *Network) Connect(ctx context.Context, req *pbNet.ConnectRequest, resp *
 
 	// reinitialise the peers
 	n.Network.Init(
-		network.Peers(nodes...),
+		network.Nodes(nodes...),
 	)
 
 	// call the connect method
diff --git a/tunnel/default.go b/tunnel/default.go
index 5943757f..15909654 100644
--- a/tunnel/default.go
+++ b/tunnel/default.go
@@ -197,73 +197,96 @@ func (t *tun) announce(channel, session string, link *link) {
 	}
 }
 
-// monitor monitors outbound links and attempts to reconnect to the failed ones
-func (t *tun) monitor() {
+// manage monitors outbound links and attempts to reconnect to the failed ones
+func (t *tun) manage() {
 	reconnect := time.NewTicker(ReconnectTime)
 	defer reconnect.Stop()
 
+	// do it immediately
+	t.manageLinks()
+
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-t.closed:
 			return
 		case <-reconnect.C:
-			t.RLock()
-
-			var delLinks []string
-			// check the link status and purge dead links
-			for node, link := range t.links {
-				// check link status
-				switch link.State() {
-				case "closed":
-					delLinks = append(delLinks, node)
-				case "error":
-					delLinks = append(delLinks, node)
-				}
-			}
-
-			t.RUnlock()
-
-			// delete the dead links
-			if len(delLinks) > 0 {
-				t.Lock()
-				for _, node := range delLinks {
-					log.Debugf("Tunnel deleting dead link for %s", node)
-					if link, ok := t.links[node]; ok {
-						link.Close()
-						delete(t.links, node)
-					}
-				}
-				t.Unlock()
-			}
-
-			// check current link status
-			var connect []string
-
-			// build list of unknown nodes to connect to
-			t.RLock()
-			for _, node := range t.options.Nodes {
-				if _, ok := t.links[node]; !ok {
-					connect = append(connect, node)
-				}
-			}
-			t.RUnlock()
-
-			for _, node := range connect {
-				// create new link
-				link, err := t.setupLink(node)
-				if err != nil {
-					log.Debugf("Tunnel failed to setup node link to %s: %v", node, err)
-					continue
-				}
-				// save the link
-				t.Lock()
-				t.links[node] = link
-				t.Unlock()
-			}
+			t.manageLinks()
 		}
 	}
 }
 
+// manageLinks is a function that can be called to immediately to link setup
+func (t *tun) manageLinks() {
+	var delLinks []string
+
+	t.RLock()
+
+	// check the link status and purge dead links
+	for node, link := range t.links {
+		// check link status
+		switch link.State() {
+		case "closed":
+			delLinks = append(delLinks, node)
+		case "error":
+			delLinks = append(delLinks, node)
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.RUnlock()
+
+	// delete the dead links
+	if len(delLinks) > 0 {
+		t.Lock()
+		for _, node := range delLinks {
+			log.Debugf("Tunnel deleting dead link for %s", node)
+			if link, ok := t.links[node]; ok {
+				link.Close()
+				delete(t.links, node)
+			}
+		}
+		t.Unlock()
+	}
+
+	// check current link status
+	var connect []string
+
+	// build list of unknown nodes to connect to
+	t.RLock()
+
+	for _, node := range t.options.Nodes {
+		if _, ok := t.links[node]; !ok {
+			connect = append(connect, node)
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.RUnlock()
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+
+	for _, node := range connect {
+		wg.Add(1)
+
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+
+			// create new link
+			link, err := t.setupLink(node)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Debugf("Tunnel failed to setup node link to %s: %v", node, err)
+				return
+			}
+
+			// save the link
+			t.Lock()
+			t.links[node] = link
+			t.Unlock()
+		}()
+	}
+
+	// wait for all threads to finish
+	wg.Wait()
+}
+
 // process outgoing messages sent by all local sessions
 func (t *tun) process() {
 	// manage the send buffer
@@ -757,11 +780,13 @@ func (t *tun) keepalive(link *link) {
 // It returns error if the link failed to be established
 func (t *tun) setupLink(node string) (*link, error) {
 	log.Debugf("Tunnel setting up link: %s", node)
+
 	c, err := t.options.Transport.Dial(node)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debugf("Tunnel failed to connect to %s: %v", node, err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	log.Debugf("Tunnel connected to %s", node)
 
 	// create a new link
@@ -795,30 +820,6 @@ func (t *tun) setupLink(node string) (*link, error) {
 	return link, nil
 }
 
-func (t *tun) setupLinks() {
-	for _, node := range t.options.Nodes {
-		// skip zero length nodes
-		if len(node) == 0 {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		// link already exists
-		if _, ok := t.links[node]; ok {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		// connect to node and return link
-		link, err := t.setupLink(node)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Debugf("Tunnel failed to establish node link to %s: %v", node, err)
-			continue
-		}
-
-		// save the link
-		t.links[node] = link
-	}
-}
-
 // connect the tunnel to all the nodes and listen for incoming tunnel connections
 func (t *tun) connect() error {
 	l, err := t.options.Transport.Listen(t.options.Address)
@@ -869,11 +870,10 @@ func (t *tun) Connect() error {
 	// already connected
 	if t.connected {
 		// setup links
-		t.setupLinks()
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// send the connect message
+	// connect the tunnel: start the listener
 	if err := t.connect(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -883,16 +883,13 @@ func (t *tun) Connect() error {
 	// create new close channel
 	t.closed = make(chan bool)
 
-	// setup links
-	t.setupLinks()
+	// manage the links
+	go t.manage()
 
 	// process outbound messages to be sent
 	// process sends to all links
 	go t.process()
 
-	// monitor links
-	go t.monitor()
-
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -1029,7 +1026,9 @@ func (t *tun) Dial(channel string, opts ...DialOption) (Session, error) {
 	// set the multicast option
 	c.mode = options.Mode
 	// set the dial timeout
-	c.timeout = options.Timeout
+	c.dialTimeout = options.Timeout
+	// set read timeout set to never
+	c.readTimeout = time.Duration(-1)
 
 	var links []*link
 	// did we measure the rtt
@@ -1145,7 +1144,11 @@ func (t *tun) Dial(channel string, opts ...DialOption) (Session, error) {
 func (t *tun) Listen(channel string, opts ...ListenOption) (Listener, error) {
 	log.Debugf("Tunnel listening on %s", channel)
 
-	var options ListenOptions
+	options := ListenOptions{
+		// Read timeout defaults to never
+		Timeout: time.Duration(-1),
+	}
+
 	for _, o := range opts {
 		o(&options)
 	}
@@ -1167,6 +1170,8 @@ func (t *tun) Listen(channel string, opts ...ListenOption) (Listener, error) {
 	c.local = channel
 	// set mode
 	c.mode = options.Mode
+	// set the timeout
+	c.readTimeout = options.Timeout
 
 	tl := &tunListener{
 		channel: channel,
diff --git a/tunnel/listener.go b/tunnel/listener.go
index 288b7dac..2417edd6 100644
--- a/tunnel/listener.go
+++ b/tunnel/listener.go
@@ -65,18 +65,8 @@ func (t *tunListener) process() {
 			return
 		// receive a new message
 		case m := <-t.session.recv:
-			var sessionId string
-
-			// get the session id
-			switch m.mode {
-			case Multicast, Broadcast:
-				// use channel name if multicast/broadcast
-				sessionId = "multicast"
-				log.Tracef("Tunnel listener using session %s for real session %s", sessionId, m.session)
-			default:
-				// use session id if unicast
-				sessionId = m.session
-			}
+			// session id
+			sessionId := m.session
 
 			// get a session
 			sess, ok := conns[sessionId]
@@ -113,6 +103,8 @@ func (t *tunListener) process() {
 					send: t.session.send,
 					// error channel
 					errChan: make(chan error, 1),
+					// set the read timeout
+					readTimeout: t.session.readTimeout,
 				}
 
 				// save the session
@@ -137,12 +129,10 @@ func (t *tunListener) process() {
 					// no op
 					delete(conns, sessionId)
 				default:
-					if sess.mode == Unicast {
-						// only close if unicast session
-						// close and delete session
-						close(sess.closed)
-						delete(conns, sessionId)
-					}
+					// only close if unicast session
+					// close and delete session
+					close(sess.closed)
+					delete(conns, sessionId)
 				}
 
 				// continue
diff --git a/tunnel/options.go b/tunnel/options.go
index 3a8f13db..145db19f 100644
--- a/tunnel/options.go
+++ b/tunnel/options.go
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ type ListenOption func(*ListenOptions)
 type ListenOptions struct {
 	// specify mode of the session
 	Mode Mode
+	// The read timeout
+	Timeout time.Duration
 }
 
 // The tunnel id
@@ -84,16 +86,6 @@ func Transport(t transport.Transport) Option {
 	}
 }
 
-// DefaultOptions returns router default options
-func DefaultOptions() Options {
-	return Options{
-		Id:        uuid.New().String(),
-		Address:   DefaultAddress,
-		Token:     DefaultToken,
-		Transport: quic.NewTransport(),
-	}
-}
-
 // Listen options
 func ListenMode(m Mode) ListenOption {
 	return func(o *ListenOptions) {
@@ -101,6 +93,13 @@ func ListenMode(m Mode) ListenOption {
 	}
 }
 
+// Timeout for reads and writes on the listener session
+func ListenTimeout(t time.Duration) ListenOption {
+	return func(o *ListenOptions) {
+		o.Timeout = t
+	}
+}
+
 // Dial options
 
 // Dial multicast sets the multicast option to send only to those mapped
@@ -124,3 +123,13 @@ func DialLink(id string) DialOption {
 		o.Link = id
 	}
 }
+
+// DefaultOptions returns router default options
+func DefaultOptions() Options {
+	return Options{
+		Id:        uuid.New().String(),
+		Address:   DefaultAddress,
+		Token:     DefaultToken,
+		Transport: quic.NewTransport(),
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tunnel/session.go b/tunnel/session.go
index e545d316..ebb179df 100644
--- a/tunnel/session.go
+++ b/tunnel/session.go
@@ -39,8 +39,10 @@ type session struct {
 	loopback bool
 	// mode of the connection
 	mode Mode
-	// the timeout
-	timeout time.Duration
+	// the dial timeout
+	dialTimeout time.Duration
+	// the read timeout
+	readTimeout time.Duration
 	// the link on which this message was received
 	link string
 	// the error response
@@ -133,31 +135,43 @@ func (s *session) wait(msg *message) error {
 func (s *session) waitFor(msgType string, timeout time.Duration) (*message, error) {
 	now := time.Now()
 
-	after := func(timeout time.Duration) time.Duration {
+	after := func(timeout time.Duration) <-chan time.Time {
+		if timeout < time.Duration(0) {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// get the delta
 		d := time.Since(now)
+
 		// dial timeout minus time since
 		wait := timeout - d
 
 		if wait < time.Duration(0) {
-			return time.Duration(0)
+			wait = time.Duration(0)
 		}
 
-		return wait
+		return time.After(wait)
 	}
 
 	// wait for the message type
 	for {
 		select {
 		case msg := <-s.recv:
+			// there may be no message type
+			if len(msgType) == 0 {
+				return msg, nil
+			}
+
 			// ignore what we don't want
 			if msg.typ != msgType {
 				log.Debugf("Tunnel received non %s message in waiting for %s", msg.typ, msgType)
 				continue
 			}
+
 			// got the message
 			return msg, nil
-		case <-time.After(after(timeout)):
-			return nil, ErrDialTimeout
+		case <-after(timeout):
+			return nil, ErrReadTimeout
 		case <-s.closed:
 			return nil, io.EOF
 		}
@@ -193,7 +207,8 @@ func (s *session) Discover() error {
 	after := func() time.Duration {
 		d := time.Since(now)
 		// dial timeout minus time since
-		wait := s.timeout - d
+		wait := s.dialTimeout - d
+		// make sure its always > 0
 		if wait < time.Duration(0) {
 			return time.Duration(0)
 		}
@@ -248,7 +263,7 @@ func (s *session) Open() error {
 	}
 
 	// now wait for the accept message to be returned
-	msg, err := s.waitFor("accept", s.timeout)
+	msg, err := s.waitFor("accept", s.dialTimeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -341,11 +356,9 @@ func (s *session) Send(m *transport.Message) error {
 func (s *session) Recv(m *transport.Message) error {
 	var msg *message
 
-	select {
-	case <-s.closed:
-		return io.EOF
-	// recv from backlog
-	case msg = <-s.recv:
+	msg, err := s.waitFor("", s.readTimeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	// check the error if one exists
diff --git a/tunnel/tunnel.go b/tunnel/tunnel.go
index abd61cb4..15ff6078 100644
--- a/tunnel/tunnel.go
+++ b/tunnel/tunnel.go
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ var (
 	ErrDiscoverChan = errors.New("failed to discover channel")
 	// ErrLinkNotFound is returned when a link is specified at dial time and does not exist
 	ErrLinkNotFound = errors.New("link not found")
+	// ErrReadTimeout is a timeout on session.Recv
+	ErrReadTimeout = errors.New("read timeout")
 )
 
 // Mode of the session