diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/config.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/config.go
index 5d3c874..af6d9a4 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/config.go
@@ -1,24 +1,12 @@
-/*
-Copyright © 2024 Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca
-
-Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
-of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
-in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
-to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
-copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
-furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
-all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
-IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
-FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
-AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
-LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
-OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
-THE SOFTWARE.
-*/
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
 package cmd
 
 import (
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon.go
index 49bf5ac..f065e82 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon.go
@@ -1,29 +1,16 @@
-/*
-Copyright © 2024 Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca
-
-Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
-of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
-in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
-to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
-copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
-furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
-all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
-IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
-FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
-AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
-LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
-OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
-THE SOFTWARE.
-*/
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
+	"git.staur.ca/stobbsm/clustvirt/lib/log"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -35,7 +22,8 @@ var daemonCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		The clustvirt daemon is responsible for connecting to libvirtd hosts, and provides the
 		REST API and WebUI to manage the cluster.`,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		fmt.Println("daemon called")
+		log.Info("clustctl.daemon").
+			Msg("must follow with a daemon command")
 	},
 }
 
@@ -47,7 +35,7 @@ func init() {
 	// Cobra supports Persistent Flags which will work for this command
 	// and all subcommands, e.g.:
 	// daemonCmd.PersistentFlags().String("foo", "", "A help for foo")
-
+	daemonCmd.PersistentFlags().String("config", "", "configuration file to use")
 	// Cobra supports local flags which will only run when this command
 	// is called directly, e.g.:
 	// daemonCmd.Flags().BoolP("toggle", "t", false, "Help message for toggle")
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/reload.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_reload.go
similarity index 64%
rename from cmd/clusterctl/cmd/reload.go
rename to cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_reload.go
index 8f48303..983b7d5 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/reload.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_reload.go
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
-/*
-Copyright © 2024 NAME HERE <EMAIL ADDRESS>
-*/
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
 package cmd
 
 import (
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/restart.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_restart.go
similarity index 65%
rename from cmd/clusterctl/cmd/restart.go
rename to cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_restart.go
index e015733..0a12ba5 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/restart.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_restart.go
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
-/*
-Copyright © 2024 NAME HERE <EMAIL ADDRESS>
-*/
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
 package cmd
 
 import (
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/start.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_start.go
similarity index 55%
rename from cmd/clusterctl/cmd/start.go
rename to cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_start.go
index c3c0cc5..721d067 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_start.go
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
-/*
-Copyright © 2024 NAME HERE <EMAIL ADDRESS>
-*/
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
+	"git.staur.ca/stobbsm/clustvirt/daemon"
+	"git.staur.ca/stobbsm/clustvirt/lib/log"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -16,7 +22,10 @@ var startCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long: `Starts the clustvirt daemon loading configuration from files,
 		ENV variables, and command line flags in that order.`,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		fmt.Println("start called")
+		log.Info("clustctl.daemon").
+			Str("command", "start").
+			Msg("daemon start called")
+		daemon.Start()
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/stop.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_stop.go
similarity index 66%
rename from cmd/clusterctl/cmd/stop.go
rename to cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_stop.go
index 21a92ff..85aa0d7 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/stop.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/daemon_stop.go
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
-/*
-Copyright © 2024 NAME HERE <EMAIL ADDRESS>
-*/
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
 package cmd
 
 import (
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/log.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/log.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8558814
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/log.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+// logCmd represents the log command
+var logCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "log",
+	Short: "Get the log of clustvirt",
+	Long:  `Fetch the log for clustvirt`,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		fmt.Println("log called")
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(logCmd)
+
+	// Here you will define your flags and configuration settings.
+
+	// Cobra supports Persistent Flags which will work for this command
+	// and all subcommands, e.g.:
+	// logCmd.PersistentFlags().String("foo", "", "A help for foo")
+
+	// Cobra supports local flags which will only run when this command
+	// is called directly, e.g.:
+	// logCmd.Flags().BoolP("toggle", "t", false, "Help message for toggle")
+}
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/root.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/root.go
index 497453d..83a3da3 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/root.go
@@ -18,13 +18,10 @@ import (
 // rootCmd represents the base command when called without any subcommands
 var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "clusterctl",
-	Short: "A brief description of your application",
-	Long: `A longer description that spans multiple lines and likely contains
-examples and usage of using your application. For example:
-
-Cobra is a CLI library for Go that empowers applications.
-This application is a tool to generate the needed files
-to quickly create a Cobra application.`,
+	Short: "Control clustvirt components",
+	Long: `Provides the commands needed to control the clustvirt daemon, make configuration changes,
+		check the status of the daemon, and get runtime metrics.
+		Providing no arguments defaults to status`,
 	// Uncomment the following line if your bare application
 	// has an action associated with it:
 	// Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) { },
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/status.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/status.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59d6fb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/status.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// Copyright Matthew Stobbs <matthew@stobbs.ca>
+//
+// Package cmd contains the main application file for ClustVirt.
+// This command is used for everything, implementing the command pattern
+// with the help of spf13/cobra.
+// After building, the executable's first argument must be one of the valid
+// commands, such as `daemon`, `api`, `query`, `host`, etc. This pattern allows
+// for a simple way to access functionality, reducing the need to use the
+// REST api directly.
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+// statusCmd represents the status command
+var statusCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "status",
+	Short: "Get the current status of clustvirt",
+	Long: `Get the current status of clustvirt, including how many hosts are connected,
+		the number of users connected, the status of the daemon process,
+		how many guests (VMs, LXC containers, etc.) are running,
+		and any system issues that have been recorded.`,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		fmt.Println("status called")
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(statusCmd)
+
+	// Here you will define your flags and configuration settings.
+
+	// Cobra supports Persistent Flags which will work for this command
+	// and all subcommands, e.g.:
+	// statusCmd.PersistentFlags().String("foo", "", "A help for foo")
+
+	// Cobra supports local flags which will only run when this command
+	// is called directly, e.g.:
+	// statusCmd.Flags().BoolP("toggle", "t", false, "Help message for toggle")
+}
diff --git a/daemon/main.go b/daemon/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64ffaff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daemon/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package daemon
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"git.staur.ca/stobbsm/clustvirt/lib/log"
+)
+
+// path to store the PID, configurable
+var RunPath string
+var PIDFile string
+
+func init() {
+	// set the RunPath to store the PID
+	RunPath = `/run/`
+	PIDFile = RunPath + `clustvirt.pid`
+}
+
+func Start() {
+	pid := pid()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(PIDFile, []byte(fmt.Sprint(pid)), 0666); err != nil {
+		log.Error("daemon.Start").
+			Err(err).
+			Send()
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+func pid() int {
+	return os.Getpid()
+}