diff --git a/backend/backend.go b/backend/backend.go
index a1614b7..4a71e1c 100644
--- a/backend/backend.go
+++ b/backend/backend.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	ricochet "github.com/special/ricochet-go/core"
 	rpc "github.com/special/ricochet-go/rpc"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	"log"
@@ -16,7 +17,18 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("listen failed: %v", err)
 	}
+
+	config, err := ricochet.LoadConfig(".")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("config error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	ricochet := &RicochetCore{
+		Network: ricochet.CreateNetwork(),
+		Config:  config,
+	}
+
 	rpcServer := grpc.NewServer()
-	rpc.RegisterRicochetCoreServer(rpcServer, &RicochetCore{})
+	rpc.RegisterRicochetCoreServer(rpcServer, ricochet)
 	rpcServer.Serve(listener)
 }
diff --git a/backend/rpc.go b/backend/rpc.go
index b46309d..02d65dc 100644
--- a/backend/rpc.go
+++ b/backend/rpc.go
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	ricochet "github.com/special/ricochet-go/core"
 	rpc "github.com/special/ricochet-go/rpc"
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
-	"time"
+	"log"
 )
 
 type RicochetCore struct {
+	Network *ricochet.Network
+	Config  *ricochet.Config
 }
 
 func (core *RicochetCore) GetServerStatus(ctx context.Context, req *rpc.ServerStatusRequest) (*rpc.ServerStatusReply, error) {
@@ -29,19 +32,41 @@ func (core *RicochetCore) MonitorNetwork(req *rpc.MonitorNetworkRequest, stream
 		},
 	}
 
-	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+	events := core.Network.EventMonitor().Subscribe(20)
+	defer core.Network.EventMonitor().Unsubscribe(events)
+
+	for {
+		event, ok := (<-events).(bool)
+		if !ok {
+			break
+		}
+
+		log.Printf("RPC monitor event: %v", event)
 		if err := stream.Send(status); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (core *RicochetCore) StartNetwork(ctx context.Context, req *rpc.StartNetworkRequest) (*rpc.NetworkStatus, error) {
-	return nil, errors.New("Not implemented")
+	// err represents the result of the first connection attempt, but as long
+	// as 'ok' is true, the network has started and this call was successful.
+	ok, err := core.Network.Start("tcp://127.0.0.1:9051", "")
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// XXX real status
+	return &rpc.NetworkStatus{
+		Control: &rpc.TorControlStatus{
+			Status: rpc.TorControlStatus_CONNECTED,
+		},
+	}, nil
 }
 
 func (core *RicochetCore) StopNetwork(ctx context.Context, req *rpc.StopNetworkRequest) (*rpc.NetworkStatus, error) {
-	return nil, errors.New("Not implemented")
+	core.Network.Stop()
+	return &rpc.NetworkStatus{}, nil
 }
diff --git a/cli/cli.go b/cli/cli.go
index a0645c2..222b2d1 100644
--- a/cli/cli.go
+++ b/cli/cli.go
@@ -47,8 +47,15 @@ func main() {
 			}
 			log.Printf("stream says: %v", resp)
 		}
-		wait <- struct{}{}
+		close(wait)
 	}()
 
+	status, err := c.StartNetwork(context.Background(), &rpc.StartNetworkRequest{})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("start network error: %v", err)
+	} else {
+		log.Printf("network started: %v", status)
+	}
+
 	<-wait
 }