diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 724ae6e..a7dc495 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,22 @@ repos:
   - id: check-symlinks
   - id: end-of-file-fixer
   - id: trailing-whitespace
-- repo: https://gitlab.com/pycqa/flake8
+- repo: https://github.com/pycqa/flake8
   rev: 3.8.4
   hooks:
   - id: flake8
+- repo: https://github.com/sirosen/check-jsonschema
+  rev: 8a14ffa1d4c81a56057f55e1da308daeccc3bcd6
+  hooks:
+  - id: check-jsonschema
+    name: "Check schemas"
+    language: python
+    files: ^villas/controller/schemas/.*\.yaml$
+    types: [yaml]
+    args: ["--schemafile", "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"]
+  - id: check-jsonschema
+    name: "Check OpenAPI doc"
+    language: python
+    files: ^doc/openapi.yaml$
+    types: [yaml]
+    args: ["--schemafile", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/main/schemas/v3.1/schema.json"]
diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbc8a14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+recursive-include villas/controller *
diff --git a/doc/openapi.yaml b/doc/openapi.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbddd06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/openapi.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,327 @@
+---
+openapi: 3.0.0
+info:
+  title: VILLAScontroller API
+  description: 'A HTTP/REST API for controlling VILLAScontroller remotely for querying component status as well as issuing control actions.'
+  version: 0.0.1
+  contact:
+    name: "Steffen Vogel"
+    email: "svogel2@eonerc.rwth-aachen.de"
+  license:
+    name: Apache-2.0
+    url: https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+servers:
+- url: https://villas.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/controller/api/v1
+  description: Demo instance at RWTH Aachen
+
+paths:
+
+  /:
+    get:
+      summary: 'Get status of VILLAScontroller daemon'
+      operationId: getStatus
+      tags:
+      - status
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                type: object
+                properties:
+                  components:
+                    type: array
+                    items:
+                      type: string
+                      format: uuid
+                  status:
+                    type: object
+                    properties:
+                      version:
+                        type: string
+                      uptime:
+                        type: number
+                      host:
+                        type: string
+                      kernel:
+                        type: object
+                        properties:
+                          sysname:
+                            type: string
+                          nodename:
+                            type: string
+                          release:
+                            type: string
+                          version:
+                            type: string
+                          machine:
+                            type: string
+
+              example:
+                components:
+                  - f4751894-205e-11eb-aefb-0741ff98abca
+                  - 3ddd318e-fee1-46d7-bff4-7c064d640d4e
+                status:
+                  version: 0.3.2
+                  uptime: 15.38102650642395
+                  host: lat.0l.de
+                  kernel:
+                    sysname: Linux
+                    nodename: lat.0l.de
+                    release: 5.13.14-200.fc34.x86_64
+                    version: '#1 SMP Fri Sep 3 15:33:01 UTC 2021'
+                    machine: x86_64
+
+  /health:
+    get:
+      operationId: getHealth
+      summary: Query health of daemon.
+      tags:
+      - status
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: The daemon is healthy
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                type: object
+                properties:
+                  status:
+                    type: string
+              example:
+                status: ok
+
+
+  /component/{uuid}:
+    get:
+      summary: 'Get the current status of a component'
+      operationId: getComponentStatus
+
+      parameters:
+      - name: uuid
+        in: path
+        required: true
+        schema:
+          type: string
+          format: uuid
+
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                type: object
+                properties:
+                  components:
+                    type: array
+                    items:
+                      type: string
+                      format: uuid
+
+                  status:
+                    type: object
+                    properties:
+                      managed_by:
+                        type: string
+                        format: uuid
+
+                      state:
+                        type: string
+                        enum:
+                        - idle
+                        - starting
+                        - running
+                        - stopping
+                        - pausing
+                        - paused
+                        - resuming
+                        - error
+                        - resetting
+                        - shuttingdown
+                        - shutdown
+                        - gone
+
+                      version:
+                        type: string
+                      uptime:
+                        type: number
+                      host:
+                        type: string
+                      kernel:
+                        type: object
+                        properties:
+                          sysname:
+                            type: string
+                          nodename:
+                            type: string
+                          release:
+                            type: string
+                          version:
+                            type: string
+                          machine:
+                            type: string
+
+                  properties:
+                    type: object
+                    properties:
+                      category:
+                        type: string
+                        enum:
+                        - manager
+                        - simulator
+                        - gateway
+                      type:
+                        type: string
+                        pattern: '[a-z-]+'
+                      name:
+                        type: string
+                      realm:
+                        type: string
+                        pattern: '[a-z0-9-.]+'
+                      uuid:
+                        type: string
+                        format: uuid
+
+                    additionalProperties: true
+
+                  schema:
+                    type: object
+                    additionalProperties:
+                      $ref: 'https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema'
+
+              example:
+                components: []
+                status:
+                  state: idle
+                  version: 0.3.2
+                  uptime: 480.25064611434937
+                  host: lat.0l.de
+                  kernel:
+                    sysname: Linux
+                    nodename: lat.0l.de
+                    release: 5.13.14-200.fc34.x86_64
+                    version: '#1 SMP Fri Sep 3 15:33:01 UTC 2021'
+                    machine: x86_64
+                  managed_by: f4751894-205e-11eb-aefb-0741ff98abca
+                properties:
+                  category: manager
+                  type: generic
+                  name: Standard Controller
+                  realm: de.rwth-aachen.eonerc.acs
+                  uuid: f4751894-205e-11eb-aefb-0741ff98abca
+                schema:
+                  create:
+                    # $schema: 'http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema'
+                    type: object
+                    default: {}
+                    required:
+                    - name
+                    - category
+                    - location
+                    - owner
+                    - realm
+                    - type
+                    - api_url
+                    - ws_url
+                    properties:
+                      name:
+                        type: string
+                        title: Component name
+                        default: New Component
+                        examples: 'Generic Simulator #1'
+                      owner:
+                        type: string
+                        title: Component owner
+                        examples:
+                        - rmr
+                        - svg
+                      realm:
+                        type: string
+                        title: Component realm
+                        default: ''
+                        examples:
+                        - de.rwth-aachen.eonerc.acs
+                      category:
+                        type: string
+                        title: Component category
+                        examples:
+                        - simulator
+                      location:
+                        type: string
+                        title: Component location
+                        examples:
+                        - Richard's PC
+                      type:
+                        type: string
+                        default: generic
+                      uuid:
+                        type: 'string'
+                        format: uuid
+                      ws_url:
+                        type: string
+                        examples:
+                        - 'https://villas.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/ws/relay/generic_1'
+                      api_url:
+                        type: string
+                        examples:
+                        - 'https://villas.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/api/ic/generic_1'
+                      shell:
+                        type: boolean
+                        default: false
+                        examples:
+                        - true
+                      whitelist:
+                        type: array
+                        title: The whitelist schema
+                        default: []
+                        examples:
+                        - - /sbin/ping
+                          - ^echo
+                        additionalItems: true
+                        items:
+                          anyOf:
+                          - type: string
+                            examples:
+                            - /sbin/ping
+                            - ^echo
+
+    post:
+      operationId: executeComponentAction
+      summary: 'Send a control action to the component'
+      requestBody:
+        required: true
+        content:
+          application/json:
+            schema:
+              type: object
+              properties:
+                action:
+                  type: string
+                  enum:
+                  - start
+                  - stop
+                  - pause
+                  - resume
+                  - create
+                  - delete
+                  - shutdown
+                  - reset
+                parameters:
+                  oneOf:
+                  - $ref: ../villas/controller/schemas/manager/generic/create.yaml
+                  - $ref: ../villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes/create.yaml
+                  - $ref: ../villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dpsim/start.yaml
+                  - $ref: ../villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dummy/start.yaml
+
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json: {}
+
+
+              # example:
+              #   runtime: 10.2
diff --git a/etc/config_simplekub.yaml b/etc/config_simplekub.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9653b03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/config_simplekub.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+broker:
+  url: amqp://villas:Haegiethu0rohtee@kubernetes-master-1.os-cloud.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de:30809/%2F
+
+components:
+- type: generic
+  category: manager
+  uuid: ebbbbba0-557b-4848-ac7a-faa3e7c51fa3
+
+- category: manager
+  type: kubernetes-simple
+  uuid: 4bbbb73e-7e74-11eb-8f63-f3a5b3ab82f6
+
+  namespace: villas-controller
diff --git a/etc/params_k8s_dpsim.yaml b/etc/params_k8s_dpsim.yaml
index 5ce3b84..fa0ed9e 100644
--- a/etc/params_k8s_dpsim.yaml
+++ b/etc/params_k8s_dpsim.yaml
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ properties:
       name: dpsim
     spec:
       suspend: true
-      activeDeadlineSeconds: 120 # kill the Job after 1h
+      activeDeadlineSeconds: 3600 # kill the Job after 1h
       backoffLimit: 0 # only try to run pod once, no retries
-      ttlSecondsAfterFinished: 120 # delete the Job resources 1h after completion
+      ttlSecondsAfterFinished: 3600 # delete the Job resources 1h after completion
       template:
         spec:
           restartPolicy: Never
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 7f3a823..3d3ebfe 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -5,4 +5,7 @@ requests
 villas-node>=0.10.2
 kubernetes
 xdg
+dotmap
 PyYAML
+tornado
+jsonschema>=4.1.0
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 76c310a..6519bbe 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     ],
     packages=find_namespace_packages(include=['villas.*']),
     install_requires=[
+        'dotmap',
         'kombu',
         'termcolor',
         'psutil',
@@ -30,7 +31,9 @@
         'villas-node>=0.10.2',
         'kubernetes',
         'xdg',
-        'PyYAML'
+        'PyYAML',
+        'tornado',
+        'jsonschema>=4.1.0'
     ],
     data_files=[
         ('/etc/villas/controller', glob('etc/*.{json,yaml}')),
@@ -41,5 +44,6 @@
             'villas-ctl=villas.controller.main:main',
             'villas-controller=villas.controller.main:main'
         ],
-    }
+    },
+    include_package_data=True
 )
diff --git a/villas/controller/api.py b/villas/controller/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6a684e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import threading
+import logging
+import asyncio
+from tornado.ioloop import IOLoop
+import tornado.web
+
+LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+REGEX_UUID = r'\b[0-9a-fA-F]{8}\b-[0-9a-fA-F]{4}-[0-9a-fA-F]' \
+             r'{4}-[0-9a-fA-F]{4}-\b[0-9a-fA-F]{12}\b'
+
+BASE = '/api/v1'
+
+
+class RequestHandler(tornado.web.RequestHandler):
+
+    def initialize(self, controller):
+        self.controller = controller
+
+
+class Api(threading.Thread):
+
+    def __init__(self, controller):
+        super().__init__()
+
+        self.controller = controller
+
+    def run(self):
+        self.app = tornado.web.Application(self.handlers)
+
+        # Create new event loop for this thread
+        aio_loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        asyncio.set_event_loop(aio_loop)
+
+        port = self.controller.config.api.port
+        self.app.listen(port)
+
+        LOGGER.info('Starting API at http://localhost:%d%s', port, BASE)
+
+        self.loop = IOLoop.current(instance=True)
+        self.loop.start()
+
+    @property
+    def handlers(self):
+        from villas.controller.handlers.component import ComponentRequestHandler  # noqa E501
+        from villas.controller.handlers.main import MainRequestHandler
+        from villas.controller.handlers.health import HealthRequestHandler
+
+        args = {
+            'controller': self.controller
+        }
+
+        return [
+            (BASE + r'/?', MainRequestHandler, args),
+            (BASE + r'/health', HealthRequestHandler, args),
+            (BASE + r'/component/('+REGEX_UUID+r')', ComponentRequestHandler, args)  # noqa E501
+        ]
diff --git a/villas/controller/commands/daemon.py b/villas/controller/commands/daemon.py
index 731a00d..82f18db 100644
--- a/villas/controller/commands/daemon.py
+++ b/villas/controller/commands/daemon.py
@@ -13,15 +13,14 @@ class DaemonCommand(Command):
     def add_parser(subparsers):
         parser = subparsers.add_parser('daemon',
                                        help='Run VILLAScontroller as a daemon')
-        parser.set_defaults(func=DaemonCommand.run)
+        parser.set_defaults(func=DaemonCommand.start)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def run(connection, args):
-        components = args.config.components
+    def start(connection, args):
 
         try:
-            d = ControllerMixin(connection, components)
-            d.run()
+            d = ControllerMixin(connection, args)
+            d.start()
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             d.shutdown()
         except ConnectionError:
diff --git a/villas/controller/commands/simulator.py b/villas/controller/commands/simulator.py
index 0dcdeee..ff16e96 100644
--- a/villas/controller/commands/simulator.py
+++ b/villas/controller/commands/simulator.py
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ def _get_parameters(params, params_file):
 
     try:
         if params is not None:
-            parameters.update(yaml.loads(params,
-                                         Loader=yaml.FullLoader))
+            parameters.update(yaml.load(params,
+                                        Loader=yaml.FullLoader))
         if params_file is not None:
             with open(params_file) as f:
                 parameters.update(yaml.load(f, Loader=yaml.FullLoader))
diff --git a/villas/controller/component.py b/villas/controller/component.py
index 863e842..6055b2e 100644
--- a/villas/controller/component.py
+++ b/villas/controller/component.py
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 import logging
-import kombu
+import os.path
 import time
-import socket
-import os
+import kombu
 import uuid
 import threading
+import yaml
+import jsonschema
+from jsonschema import Draft202012Validator
+
+import importlib
+import importlib.resources as resources
 
-from villas.controller import __version__ as version
 from villas.controller.exceptions import SimulationException
 
 
@@ -18,6 +22,7 @@ def __init__(self, **props):
         self.name = props.get('name')
         self.category = props.get('category')
         self.enabled = props.get('enabled', True)
+        self.location = props.get('location', '')
         self.uuid = props.get('uuid')
 
         # The manager component which manages this instances
@@ -36,14 +41,15 @@ def __init__(self, **props):
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(
             f'villas.controller.{self.category}.{self.type}:{self.uuid}')
 
-        self.publish_status_interval = 2
+        self._schema = self.load_schema()
+
+        self.publish_status_interval = 30
         self.publish_status_thread_stop = threading.Event()
         self.publish_status_thread = threading.Thread(
             target=self.publish_status_periodically)
 
     def on_ready(self):
         self.publish_status_thread.start()
-        pass
 
     def on_shutdown(self):
         if self.publish_status_thread.is_alive():
@@ -57,6 +63,8 @@ def set_mixin(self, mixin):
         self.mixin = mixin
         self.connection = mixin.connection
 
+        self.workdir = os.path.join(self.mixin.config.workdir, str(self.uuid))
+
     def get_consumer(self, channel):
         self.channel = channel
 
@@ -69,12 +77,54 @@ def get_consumer(self, channel):
                     'x-match': 'any',
                     **self.headers
                 },
-                durable=False
+                durable=False,
+                exclusive=True,
+                auto_delete=True
             ),
             no_ack=True,
             accept={'application/json'}
         )
 
+    @property
+    def schema(self):
+        return self._schema
+
+    def load_schema(self):
+        schema = {}
+
+        try:
+            pkg_name = f'villas.controller.schemas.{self.category}.{self.type}'
+            pkg = importlib.import_module(pkg_name)
+        except ModuleNotFoundError:
+            self.logger.warn('Missing schemas!')
+
+            return schema
+
+        for res in resources.contents(pkg):
+            name, ext = os.path.splitext(res)
+            if resources.is_resource(pkg, res) and ext in ['.yaml', '.json']:
+
+                fo = resources.open_text(pkg, res)
+                loadedschema = yaml.load(fo, yaml.SafeLoader)
+
+                try:
+                    Draft202012Validator.check_schema(loadedschema)
+                    schema[name] = loadedschema
+                except jsonschema.exceptions.SchemaError:
+                    self.logger.warn("Schema is invalid!")
+
+        return schema
+
+    def validate_parameters(self, action, parameters):
+        if action in self.schema:
+            validator = self.schema[action]
+
+            validator.validate(parameters)
+
+        else:
+            self.logger.warn('missing schema for action: %s', action)
+            return True  # we really should fail here...
+
     @property
     def headers(self):
         return {
@@ -84,26 +134,12 @@ def headers(self):
             'type': self.type
         }
 
-    @property
-    def schema(self):
-        return self.properties.get('schema', {})
-
     @property
     def status(self):
-        u = os.uname()
 
         status = {
             'state': self._state,
-            'version': version,
-            'uptime': time.time() - self.started,
-            'host': socket.gethostname(),
-            'kernel': {
-                'sysname': u.sysname,
-                'nodename': u.nodename,
-                'release': u.release,
-                'version': u.version,
-                'machine': u.machine
-            },
+            **self.mixin.status,
             **self._status_fields
         }
 
@@ -116,51 +152,77 @@ def status(self):
                 **self.properties,
                 **self.headers
             },
-            'schema': self.schema
+            'schema': {
+                **self.schema
+            }
         }
 
     def on_message(self, message):
         self.logger.debug('Received message: %s', message.payload)
 
         if 'action' in message.payload:
-            self.run_action(message.payload['action'], message)
+            try:
+                self.run_action(message.payload['action'], message.payload)
+            except SimulationException:
+                pass
+
+        message.ack()
 
-    def run_action(self, action, message):
+    def run_action(self, action, payload):
         if action == 'ping':
             self.logger.debug('Received action: %s', action)
         else:
             self.logger.info('Received action: %s', action)
 
+        parameters = payload.get('parameters', {})
+
+        try:
+            self.validate_parameters(action, parameters)
+        except jsonschema.ValidationError as ve:
+            e = {
+                'instance': ve.instance,
+                'path': ve.json_path,
+            }
+
+            se = SimulationException(self, 'Failed to validate parameters',
+                                     **e)
+
+            self.logger.error('Failed to validate action parameters against '
+                              'schema: %s', ve.message)
+            self.change_to_error(ve.message, **e)
+
+            raise se
+
         try:
             if action == 'ping':
-                self.ping(message)
+                self.ping(payload)
             elif action == 'start':
                 self.change_state('starting')
-                self.start(message)
+                self.start(payload)
             elif action == 'stop':
                 self.change_state('stopping')
-                self.stop(message)
+                self.stop(payload)
             elif action == 'pause':
                 self.change_state('pausing')
-                self.pause(message)
+                self.pause(payload)
             elif action == 'resume':
                 self.change_state('resuming')
-                self.resume(message)
+                self.resume(payload)
             elif action == 'shutdown':
                 self.change_state('shuttingdown')
-                self.shutdown(message)
+                self.shutdown(payload)
             elif action == 'reset':
                 self.change_state('resetting')
-                self.reset(message)
+                self.reset(payload)
             else:
                 raise SimulationException(self, 'Unknown action',
                                           action=action)
 
         except SimulationException as se:
             self.logger.error('SimulationException: %s', str(se))
-            self.change_state('error', msg=se.msg, **se.info)
-        finally:
-            message.ack()
+            self.change_to_error(se.msg, **se.info)
+
+            raise se
 
     def change_state(self, state, **kwargs):
         if self._state == state:
@@ -173,26 +235,33 @@ def change_state(self, state, **kwargs):
 
         self.publish_status()
 
+    def change_to_error(self, msg, **details):
+        self.change_state('error',
+                          error={
+                              'msg': msg,
+                              **details
+                          })
+
     # Actions
-    def ping(self, message):
+    def ping(self, payload):
         self.publish_status()
 
-    def start(self, message):
+    def start(self, payload):
         raise SimulationException('The component can not be started')
 
-    def stop(self, message):
+    def stop(self, payload):
         raise SimulationException('The component can not be stopped')
 
-    def pause(self, message):
+    def pause(self, payload):
         raise SimulationException('The component can not be paused')
 
-    def resume(self, message):
+    def resume(self, payload):
         raise SimulationException('The component can not be resumed')
 
-    def shutdown(self, message):
+    def shutdown(self, payload):
         raise SimulationException('The component can not be shut down')
 
-    def reset(self, message):
+    def reset(self, payload):
         self.started = time.time()
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -213,12 +282,15 @@ def from_dict(dict):
 
     def publish_status(self):
         if not self.mixin:
+            self.logger.warn('No mixin!')
             return
 
         self.mixin.publish(self.status, headers=self.headers)
 
     def publish_status_periodically(self):
-        self.logger.info('Start state publish thread')
+        self.logger.info('Start state publish thread, initial status: %s',
+                         self.status)
+        self.publish_status()  # publish the first update immediately
 
         while not self.publish_status_thread_stop.wait(
           self.publish_status_interval):
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/gateways/villas_node.py b/villas/controller/components/gateways/villas_node.py
index f5d46c5..19ff2cb 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/gateways/villas_node.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/gateways/villas_node.py
@@ -20,35 +20,35 @@ def __init__(self, manager, args):
 
         super().__init__(manager, **props)
 
-    def start(self, message):
+    def start(self, payload):
         try:
             self.manager.node.request('node.start', {'node': self.name})
             self.manager.reconcile()
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.warn('Failed to start node: %s', e)
 
-    def stop(self, message):
+    def stop(self, payload):
         try:
             self.manager.node.request('node.stop', {'node': self.name})
             self.manager.reconcile()
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.warn('Failed to stop node: %s', e)
 
-    def pause(self, message):
+    def pause(self, payload):
         try:
             self.manager.node.request('node.pause', {'node': self.name})
             self.manager.reconcile()
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.warn('Failed to pause node: %s', e)
 
-    def resume(self, message):
+    def resume(self, payload):
         try:
             self.manager.node.request('node.resume', {'node': self.name})
             self.manager.reconcile()
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.warn('Failed to resume node: %s', e)
 
-    def reset(self, message):
+    def reset(self, payload):
         try:
             self.manager.node.reset('node.restart', {'node': self.name})
             self.manager.reconcile()
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/manager.py b/villas/controller/components/manager.py
index fb503ad..16db32c 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/manager.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/manager.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from villas.controller.component import Component
+from villas.controller.exceptions import SimulationException
 
 
 class Manager(Component):
@@ -17,17 +18,6 @@ def status(self):
             **super().status
         }
 
-    @property
-    def schema(self):
-        return {
-            'create': self.create_schema,
-            **super().schema
-        }
-
-    @property
-    def create_schema(self):
-        return {}
-
     @staticmethod
     def from_dict(dict):
         type = dict.get('type', 'generic')
@@ -38,6 +28,9 @@ def from_dict(dict):
         if type == 'kubernetes':
             from villas.controller.components.managers import kubernetes
             return kubernetes.KubernetesManager(**dict)
+        if type == 'kubernetes-simple':
+            from villas.controller.components.managers import kubernetes_simple
+            return kubernetes_simple.KubernetesManagerSimple(**dict)
         if type == 'villas-node':
             from villas.controller.components.managers import villas_node  # noqa E501
             return villas_node.VILLASnodeManager(**dict)
@@ -49,7 +42,12 @@ def from_dict(dict):
 
     def add_component(self, comp):
         if comp.uuid in self.mixin.components:
-            raise KeyError
+            existing_comp = self.mixin.components[comp.uuid]
+#           self.logger.error('UUID %s already exists, not added', comp.uuid)
+#           return
+            raise SimulationException(self, 'Component with same UUID ' +
+                                      'already exists!',
+                                      component=existing_comp)
 
         comp.set_manager(self)
 
@@ -66,18 +64,20 @@ def remove_component(self, comp):
 
         self.logger.info('Removed component %s', comp)
 
-    def run_action(self, action, message):
+    def run_action(self, action, payload):
         if action == 'create':
-            self.create(message)
+            self.create(payload)
+#           print(message.payload)
+#           self.create(message)
         elif action == 'delete':
-            self.delete(message)
+            self.delete(payload)
         else:
-            super().run_action(action, message)
+            super().run_action(action, payload)
 
-    def create(self, message):
+    def create(self, payload):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
-    def delete(self, message):
+    def delete(self, payload):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     def on_shutdown(self):
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/managers/generic.py b/villas/controller/components/managers/generic.py
index 2e2dcb6..084592c 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/managers/generic.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/managers/generic.py
@@ -4,147 +4,8 @@
 
 class GenericManager(Manager):
 
-    create_schema = {
-        '$schema': 'http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema',
-        '$id': 'http://example.com/example.json',
-        'type': 'object',
-        'default': {},
-        'required': [
-            'name',
-            'category',
-            'location',
-            'owner',
-            'realm',
-            'type',
-            'api_url',
-            'ws_url'
-        ],
-        'properties': {
-            'name': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/name',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'Component name',
-                'default': 'New Component',
-                'examples': [
-                    'Generic Simulator #1'
-                ]
-            },
-            'owner': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/owner',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'Component owner',
-                'default': '',
-                'examples': [
-                    'rmr',
-                    'svg'
-                ]
-            },
-            'realm': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/realm',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'Component realm',
-                'default': '',
-                'examples': [
-                    'de.rwth-aachen.eonerc.acs'
-                ]
-            },
-            'category': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/category',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'Component category',
-                'default': '',
-                'examples': [
-                    'simulator'
-                ]
-            },
-            'location': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/location',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'Component location',
-                'default': '',
-                'examples': [
-                    'Richard\'s PC'
-                ]
-            },
-            'type': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/type',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'The type schema',
-                'default': '',
-                'examples': [
-                    'generic'
-                ]
-            },
-            'uuid': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/uuid',
-                'type': 'null',
-                'title': 'The uuid schema',
-                'default': None,
-            },
-
-            'ws_url': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/ws_url',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'The ws_url schema',
-                'default': '',
-                'examples': [
-                    'https://villas.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/'
-                    'ws/relay/generic_1'
-                ]
-            },
-            'api_url': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/api_url',
-                'type': 'string',
-                'title': 'The api_url schema',
-                'default': '',
-                'examples': [
-                    'https://villas.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/api/ic/generic_1'
-                ]
-            },
-
-            'shell': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/shell',
-                'type': 'boolean',
-                'title': 'The shell schema',
-                'default': False,
-                'examples': [
-                    True
-                ]
-            },
-            'whitelist': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/whitelist',
-                'type': 'array',
-                'title': 'The whitelist schema',
-                'default': [],
-                'examples': [
-                    [
-                        '/sbin/ping',
-                        '^echo'
-                    ]
-                ],
-                'additionalItems': True,
-                'items': {
-                    '$id': '#/properties/whitelist/items',
-                    'anyOf': [
-                        {
-                            '$id': '#/properties/whitelist/items/anyOf/0',
-                            'type': 'string',
-                            'title': 'The first anyOf schema',
-                            'default': '',
-                            'examples': [
-                                '/sbin/ping',
-                                '^echo'
-                            ]
-                        }
-                    ]
-                }
-            }
-        },
-        'additionalProperties': True
-    }
-
-    def create(self, message):
-        component = Component.from_dict(message.payload.get('parameters'))
+    def create(self, payload):
+        component = Component.from_dict(payload.get('parameters'))
 
         try:
             self.add_component(component)
@@ -152,8 +13,8 @@ def create(self, message):
             self.logger.error('A component with the UUID %s already exists',
                               component.uuid)
 
-    def delete(self, message):
-        parameters = message.payload.get('parameters')
+    def delete(self, payload):
+        parameters = payload.get('parameters')
         uuid = parameters.get('uuid')
 
         try:
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/managers/kubernetes.py b/villas/controller/components/managers/kubernetes.py
index ed1500a..57f0b48 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/managers/kubernetes.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/managers/kubernetes.py
@@ -8,32 +8,17 @@
 from villas.controller.components.simulators.kubernetes import KubernetesJob
 
 
-def _match(stringA, stringB):
-    if stringA == stringB:
+def _match(a, b):
+    if a == b:
         return True
-    elif len(stringA) < len(stringB):
-        return stringA in stringB
-    elif len(stringB) < len(stringA):
-        return stringB in stringA
+    elif len(a) < len(b):
+        return a in b
+    elif len(b) < len(a):
+        return b in a
 
 
 class KubernetesManager(Manager):
 
-    create_schema = {
-        '$schema': 'http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#',
-        'properties': {
-            'job': {
-                '$ref': 'https://kubernetesjsonschema.dev/v1.18.1/job.json'
-            },
-            'schema': {
-                'type': 'object',
-                'additionalProperties': {
-                    '$ref': 'https://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema'
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     def __init__(self, **args):
         super().__init__(**args)
 
@@ -51,7 +36,14 @@ def __init__(self, **args):
         else:
             k8s.config.load_incluster_config()
 
-        self.namespace = args.get('namespace', 'default')
+        self.namespace = os.environ.get('NAMESPACE')
+        if self.namespace:
+            self.namespace = self.namespace + '-controller'
+        else:
+            self.namespace = 'villas-controller'
+
+        self.my_pod_name = os.environ.get('POD_NAME')
+        self.my_pod_uid = os.environ.get('POD_UID')
 
         self._check_namespace(self.namespace)
 
@@ -118,17 +110,22 @@ def _run_event_watcher(self):
 
                         if _match(comp.job.metadata.name,
                                   eo.involved_object.name):
+                            if comp._state == 'stopping':
+                                # incoming events are old repetitions
+                                continue
+
                             if eo.reason == 'Completed':
                                 comp.change_state('stopping', True)
                             elif eo.reason == 'Started':
                                 comp.pods.add(eo.involved_object.name)
-                                comp.properties['pod_names'] = list(comp.pods)
                                 comp.change_state('running', True)
                             elif eo.reason == 'BackoffLimitExceeded':
-                                comp.change_state('error', error=eo.reason)
+                                comp.change_to_error('failed to start job',
+                                                     reason=eo.reason)
                             elif eo.reason == 'Failed':
                                 if comp._state == 'running':
-                                    comp.change_state('error', error=eo.reason)
+                                    comp.change_to_error('failed to start job',
+                                                         error=eo.reason)
                                 elif comp._state == 'starting':
                                     # wait for BackoffLimitExceeded event
                                     continue
@@ -142,14 +139,14 @@ def _run_event_watcher(self):
                                     attempting reconnect..')
                 time.sleep(1)
 
-    def create(self, message):
-        parameters = message.payload.get('parameters', {})
+    def create(self, payload):
+        parameters = payload.get('parameters', {})
         comp = KubernetesJob(self, **parameters)
 
         self.add_component(comp)
 
-    def delete(self, message):
-        parameters = message.payload.get('parameters')
+    def delete(self, payload):
+        parameters = payload.get('parameters')
         uuid = parameters.get('uuid')
 
         try:
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/managers/kubernetes_simple.py b/villas/controller/components/managers/kubernetes_simple.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1fb27a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/components/managers/kubernetes_simple.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+from villas.controller.components.managers.kubernetes import KubernetesManager
+from villas.controller.components.simulators.kubernetes import KubernetesJob
+
+parameters_simple = {
+    'type': 'kubernetes',
+    'category': 'simulator',
+    'uuid': None,
+    'name': '',
+    'properties': {
+        'job': {
+            'apiVersion': 'batch/v1',
+            'kind': 'Job',
+            'metadata': {
+                'name': ''
+            },
+            'spec': {
+                'activeDeadlineSeconds': 3600,
+                'backoffLimit': 2,
+                'template': {
+                    'spec': {
+                        'restartPolicy': 'Never',
+                        'containers': [
+                            {
+                                'image': '',
+                                'imagePullPolicy': 'Always',
+                                'name': 'jobcontainer',
+                                'securityContext': {
+                                    'privileged': True
+                                }
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+class KubernetesManagerSimple(KubernetesManager):
+
+    def __init__(self, **args):
+        super().__init__(**args)
+
+    def create(self, payload):
+        params = payload.get('parameters', {})
+        sim_name = payload.get('name', 'Kubernetes Simulator')
+        jobname = params.get('jobname', 'noname')
+        adls = params.get('activeDeadlineSeconds', 3600)
+        if type(adls) is str:
+            adls = int(adls)
+        image = params.get('image')
+        name = params.get('name')
+        uuid = params.get('uuid')
+        self.logger.info('uuid:')
+        self.logger.info(uuid)
+
+        if image is None:
+            self.logger.error('No image given, will try super.create')
+            super().create(payload)
+            return
+
+        parameters = parameters_simple
+        parameters['name'] = sim_name
+        job = parameters['properties']['job']
+        job['metadata']['name'] = jobname
+        job['spec']['activeDeadlineSeconds'] = adls
+        job['spec']['template']['spec']['containers'][0]['image'] = image
+
+        parameters['job'] = job
+
+        if name:
+            parameters['name'] = name
+
+        if uuid:
+            parameters['uuid'] = uuid
+
+        comp = KubernetesJob(self, **parameters)
+        self.add_component(comp)
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_node.py b/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_node.py
index 3fd9111..3f25b45 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_node.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_node.py
@@ -10,11 +10,14 @@ class VILLASnodeManager(Manager):
     def __init__(self, **args):
 
         self.autostart = args.get('autostart', False)
-        self.api_url = args.get('url', 'http://localhost:8080') + '/api/v1'
-        self.api_url_external = args.get('url_external', self.api_url)
+        self.api_url = args.get('api_url', 'http://localhost:8080')
+        self.api_url_external = args.get('api_url_external', self.api_url)
 
         args['api_url'] = self.api_url
 
+        self.thread_stop = threading.Event()
+        self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self.reconcile_periodically)
+
         self.node = Node(**args)
 
         self._status = self.node.status
@@ -23,17 +26,16 @@ def __init__(self, **args):
 
         super().__init__(**args)
 
-        self.thread_stop = threading.Event()
-        self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self.reconcile_periodically)
-        self.thread.start()
-
     def reconcile_periodically(self):
         while not self.thread_stop.wait(2):
             self.reconcile()
 
     def reconcile(self):
         try:
-            for node in self.node.nodes:
+            self._status = self.node.status
+            self._nodes = self.node.nodes
+
+            for node in self._nodes:
                 self.logger.debug('Found node %s on gateway: %s',
                                   node['name'], node)
 
@@ -50,23 +52,23 @@ def reconcile(self):
             self.change_state('running')
 
         except Exception as e:
-            self.change_state('error', error=str(e))
+            self.change_to_error('failed to reconcile',
+                                 exception=str(e),
+                                 args=str(e.args))
 
     @property
     def status(self):
-        return {
-            **super().status,
-            'villas_node_version': self.node.get_version()
-        }
+        status = super().status
+
+        status['status']['villas_node_version'] = self._status.get('version')
+
+        return status
 
     def on_ready(self):
         if self.autostart and not self.node.is_running():
             self.start()
 
-        try:
-            self._status = self.node.status
-        except Exception:
-            self.change_state('error', error='VILLASnode not installed')
+        self.thread.start()
 
         super().on_ready()
 
@@ -76,12 +78,12 @@ def on_shutdown(self):
 
         return super().on_shutdown()
 
-    def start(self, message):
+    def start(self, payload):
         self.node.start()
 
         self.change_state('starting')
 
-    def stop(self, message):
+    def stop(self, payload):
         if self.node.is_running():
             self.node.stop()
 
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ def stop(self, message):
         for node in self.nodes:
             node.change_state('shutdown')
 
-    def pause(self, message):
+    def pause(self, payload):
         self.node.pause()
 
         self.change_state('paused')
@@ -100,8 +102,8 @@ def pause(self, message):
         for node in self.nodes:
             node.change_state('paused')
 
-    def resume(self, message):
+    def resume(self, payload):
         self.node.resume()
 
-    def reset(self, message):
+    def reset(self, payload):
         self.node.restart()
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_relay.py b/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_relay.py
index eb76556..5ba69b4 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_relay.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/managers/villas_relay.py
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ def __init__(self, **args):
         self.autostart = args.get('autostart', False)
         self.api_url = args.get('api_url', 'http://localhost:8088') + '/api/v1'
         self.api_url_external = args.get('api_url_external', self.api_url)
-        self._version = '-1'
+
+        self.thread_stop = threading.Event()
+        self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self.reconcile_periodically)
 
         uuid = self.get_uuid()
         if uuid is not None:
@@ -22,14 +24,6 @@ def __init__(self, **args):
 
         self.properties['api_url'] = self.api_url_external
 
-        self.thread_stop = threading.Event()
-        self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self.reconcile_periodically)
-        self.thread.start()
-
-    def reconcile_periodically(self):
-        while not self.thread_stop.wait(2):
-            self.reconcile()
-
     def get_uuid(self):
         try:
             r = requests.get(self.api_url)
@@ -46,55 +40,68 @@ def get_status(self):
             return r.json()
 
         except requests.exceptions.RequestException:
-            self.change_state('error', error='Failed to contact VILLASrelay')
+            self.change_to_error('Failed to contact VILLASrelay')
 
             return None
 
+    def reconcile_periodically(self):
+        while not self.thread_stop.wait(2):
+            self.reconcile()
+
     def reconcile(self):
-        status = self.get_status()
-        if status is None:
-            return
+        try:
+            self._status = self.get_status()
 
-        if self._state == 'error':
-            self.change_state('idle')
+            active_sessions = self._status['sessions']
+            active_uuids = {session['uuid'] for session in active_sessions}
+            existing_uuids = set(self.components.keys())
 
-        self._status = status
-        self._version = self._status['version']
+            # Add new sessions and update existing ones
+            for session in active_sessions:
+                uuid = session['uuid']
 
-        active_sessions = self._status['sessions']
-        active_uuids = {session['uuid'] for session in active_sessions}
-        existing_uuids = set(self.components.keys())
+                if uuid in self.components:
+                    comp = self.components[uuid]
+                else:
+                    comp = VILLASrelayGateway(self, session)
+                    self.add_component(comp)
 
-        # Add new sessions and update existing ones
-        for session in active_sessions:
-            uuid = session['uuid']
+                comp.change_state('running')
 
-            if uuid in self.components:
+            # Find vanished sessions
+            for uuid in existing_uuids - active_uuids:
                 comp = self.components[uuid]
 
-                comp.change_state('running')
-            else:
-                comp = VILLASrelayGateway(self, session)
-
-                self.add_component(comp)
+                comp.change_state('stopped')
 
-        # Find vanished sessions
-        for uuid in existing_uuids - active_uuids:
-            comp = self.components[uuid]
+                # We dont remove the components here
+                # So that they dont get removed from the backend
+                # and get recreated with the same UUID later
+                # self.remove_component(comp)
 
-            self.remove_component(comp)
+            if len(active_sessions) > 0:
+                self.change_state('running')
+            else:
+                self.change_state('paused')
 
-        if len(self.components) > 0:
-            self.change_state('running')
-        else:
-            self.change_state('paused')
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.change_to_error('failed to reconcile',
+                                 exception=str(e),
+                                 args=e.args)
 
     @property
     def status(self):
-        return {
-            'villas_relay_version': self._version,
-            **super().status
-        }
+        status = super().status
+
+        try:
+            version = status.get('version')
+            status['status']['villas_relay_version'] = version
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.change_to_error('failed to get version from VILLASrelay',
+                                 exception=str(e),
+                                 args=str(e.args))
+
+        return status
 
     def on_shutdown(self):
         self.thread_stop.set()
@@ -106,12 +113,6 @@ def on_ready(self):
         if self.autostart:
             os.system('villas-relay')
 
-        try:
-            status = self.get_status()
-
-            self._version = status['version']
-
-        except Exception:
-            self.change_state('error', error='Failed to contact VILLASrelay')
+        self.thread.start()
 
         super().on_ready()
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/simulator.py b/villas/controller/components/simulator.py
index 17ba7c0..573d985 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/simulator.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/simulator.py
@@ -18,23 +18,12 @@ def __init__(self, **args):
         self.results = None
 
     @property
-    def schema(self):
-        return {
-            'start': self.start_schema,
-            **super().schema
-        }
-
-    @property
-    def start_schema(self):
-        return {}
-
-    @property
-    def state(self):
+    def status(self):
         return {
             'model': self.model,
             'results': self.results,
 
-            **super().state
+            **super().status
         }
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -98,32 +87,27 @@ def change_state(self, state, force=False, **kwargs):
         super().change_state(state, **kwargs)
 
     # Actions
-    def start(self, message):
+    def start(self, payload):
         self.started = time.time()
         self.simuuid = uuid.uuid4()
 
-        if 'parameters' in message.payload:
-            self.params = message.payload['parameters']
-
-        if 'model' in message.payload:
-            self.model = message.payload['model']
-
-        if 'results' in message.payload:
-            self.results = message.payload['results']
+        self.params = payload.get('parameters', {})
+        self.model = payload.get('model')
+        self.results = payload.get('results')
 
-        self.workdir = '/var/villas/controller/simulators/' + \
-            str(self.uuid) + '/simulation/' + str(self.simuuid)
+        self.sim_workdir = os.path.join(self.workdir, 'simulation',
+                                        str(self.simuuid))
 
-        self.logdir = self.workdir + '/Logs/'
-        self.logger.info('Target working directory: %s' % self.workdir)
+        self.sim_logdir = self.sim_workdir + '/Logs/'
+        self.logger.info('Simulation working directory: %s' % self.sim_workdir)
 
         try:
-            os.makedirs(self.logdir)
-            os.chdir(self.logdir)
+            os.makedirs(self.sim_logdir)
+            os.chdir(self.sim_logdir)
         except Exception as e:
             raise SimulationException(self, 'Failed to create and change to '
                                             'working directory: %s ( %s )' %
-                                            (self.logdir, e))
+                                            (self.sim_logdir, e))
 
     def _upload(self, filename):
         url = self.results['url']
@@ -157,9 +141,9 @@ def _unzip_files(self, filename):
 
     def upload_results(self):
         try:
-            filename = self.workdir + '/results.zip'
+            filename = os.path.join(self.sim_workdir, 'results.zip')
             with zipfile.ZipFile(filename, 'w') as results_zip:
-                for sub in os.scandir(self.logdir):
+                for sub in os.scandir(self.sim_logdir):
                     results_zip.write(sub)
 
                 results_zip.close()
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/simulators/dpsim.py b/villas/controller/components/simulators/dpsim.py
index 8eb954b..5ce2b01 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/simulators/dpsim.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/simulators/dpsim.py
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 import dpsim
-import time
-import socket
 import os
 
 from villas.controller.components.simulator import Simulator
@@ -8,103 +6,7 @@
 
 class DPsimSimulator(Simulator):
 
-    start_schema = {
-        '$schema': 'http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#',
-        'properties': {
-            'blocking': {
-                'title': 'Block execution of each time-step until the '
-                         'arrival of new data on the interfaces',
-                'type': 'boolean'
-            },
-            'duration': {
-                'examples': [
-                    3600.0
-                ],
-                'title': 'Simulation duration [s]',
-                'type': 'number'
-            },
-            'log-level': {
-                'enum': ['NONE', 'INFO', 'DEBUG', 'WARN', 'ERR'],
-                'title': 'Logging level',
-                'type': 'string'
-            },
-            'name': {
-                'examples': [
-                    'Simulation_1'
-                ],
-                'title': 'Name of log files',
-                'type': 'string'
-            },
-            'options': {
-                'additionalProperties': {
-                    'type': 'number'
-                },
-                'examples': [
-                    {
-                        'Ld': 0.2299,
-                        'Lq': 0.0
-                    }
-                ],
-                'title': 'User-definable options',
-                'type': 'object'
-            },
-            'scenario': {
-                'title': 'Scenario selection', 'type': 'integer'
-            },
-            'solver-domain': {
-                'enum': ['SP', 'DP', 'EMT'],
-                'title': 'Domain of solver',
-                'type': 'string'
-            },
-            'solver-type': {
-                'enum': ['NRP', 'MNA'],
-                'title': 'Type of solver',
-                'type': 'string'
-            },
-            'start-at': {
-                'description': 'The date must be given as an ISO8601 '
-                               'formatted string',
-                'examples': ['2004-06-14T23:34:30'],
-                'format': 'date-time',
-                'title': 'Start time of real-time simulation',
-                'type': 'string'
-            },
-            'start-in': {
-                'title': 'Start simulation relative to current time [s]',
-                'type': 'number'
-            },
-            'start-synch': {
-                'title': 'Sychronize start of simulation '
-                         'with external interfaces',
-                'type': 'boolean'
-            },
-            'steady-init': {
-                'title': 'Perform a steady-state initialization prior '
-                         'to the simulation',
-                'type': 'boolean'
-            },
-            'system-freq': {
-                'examples': [
-                    50.0,
-                    60.0
-                ],
-                'title': 'System frequency [Hz]',
-                'type': 'number'
-            },
-            'timestep': {
-                'examples': [5e-05],
-                'title': 'Simulation time-step [s]',
-                'type': 'number'
-            }
-        },
-        'required': ['name'],
-        'type': 'object'
-    }
-
     def __init__(self, **args):
-        args['type'] = 'dpsim'
-
-        self.started = time.time()
         self.sim = None
 
         super().__init__(**args)
@@ -118,25 +20,14 @@ def headers(self):
 
         return headers
 
-    @property
-    def state(self):
-        state = super().state
-
-        state['uptime'] = time.time() - self.started
-        state['version'] = '0.1.0'
-        state['host'] = socket.getfqdn()
-        state['kernel'] = os.uname()
-
-        return state
-
     def load_cim(self, fp):
         if fp is not None:
             self.sim = dpsim.load_cim(fp.name)
             self.logger.info(self.sim)
             os.unlink(fp.name)
 
-    def start(self, message):
-        fp = self.download_model(message)
+    def start(self, payload):
+        fp = self.download_model(payload)
         if fp:
             self.load_cim(fp)
 
@@ -147,14 +38,14 @@ def start(self, message):
             if self.sim.start() is None:
                 self.change_state('running')
             else:
-                self.change_state('error')
+                self.change_to_error('failed to start simulation')
                 self.logger.warn('Attempt to start simulator failed.'
                                  'State is %s', self._state)
         else:
             self.logger.warn('Attempted to start non-stopped simulator.'
                              'State is %s', self._state)
 
-    def stop(self, message):
+    def stop(self, payload):
         if self._state == 'running':
             self.logger.info('Stopping simulation...')
 
@@ -169,7 +60,7 @@ def stop(self, message):
             self.logger.warn('Attempted to stop non-stopped simulator.'
                              'State is %s', self._state)
 
-    def pause(self, message):
+    def pause(self, payload):
         if self._state == 'running':
             self.logger.info('Pausing simulation...')
 
@@ -192,7 +83,7 @@ def pause(self, message):
             self.logger.warn('Attempted to pause non-running simulator.'
                              'State is ' + self._state)
 
-    def resume(self, message):
+    def resume(self, payload):
         if self._state == 'paused':
             self.logger.info('Resuming simulation...')
 
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/simulators/dummy.py b/villas/controller/components/simulators/dummy.py
index 06597b0..028ed72 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/simulators/dummy.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/simulators/dummy.py
@@ -5,26 +5,6 @@
 
 class DummySimulator(Simulator):
 
-    start_schema = {
-        '$schema': 'http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema',
-        'type': 'object',
-        'default': {},
-        'required': [
-            'runtime'
-        ],
-        'properties': {
-            'runtime': {
-                '$id': '#/properties/runtime',
-                'description': 'The run time of the simulation',
-                'type': 'number',
-                'default': 1.0,
-                'examples': [
-                    3.0
-                ]
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     def __init__(self, **args):
         super().__init__(**args)
 
@@ -38,34 +18,34 @@ def _schedule_state_transition(self, state, time=1.0):
         self.timer = threading.Timer(time, self.change_state, args=[state])
         self.timer.start()
 
-    def start(self, message):
-        super().start(message)
+    def start(self, payload):
+        super().start(payload)
 
         runtime = self.params.get('runtime', 1.0)
 
         self._schedule_state_transition('running', runtime)
 
-    def stop(self, message):
-        super().stop(message)
+    def stop(self, payload):
+        super().stop(payload)
 
         self._schedule_state_transition('idle')
 
-    def pause(self, message):
-        super().pause(message)
+    def pause(self, payload):
+        super().pause(payload)
 
         self._schedule_state_transition('paused')
 
-    def resume(self, message):
-        super().resume(message)
+    def resume(self, payload):
+        super().resume(payload)
 
         self._schedule_state_transition('running')
 
-    def shutdown(self, message):
-        super().shutdown(message)
+    def shutdown(self, payload):
+        super().shutdown(payload)
 
         self._schedule_state_transition('shutdown')
 
-    def reset(self, message):
-        super().reset(message)
+    def reset(self, payload):
+        super().reset(payload)
 
         self._schedule_state_transition('idle')
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/simulators/generic.py b/villas/controller/components/simulators/generic.py
index 130b21b..174ff41 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/simulators/generic.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/simulators/generic.py
@@ -24,19 +24,16 @@ def __del__(self):
         if self.timer:
             self.timer.cancel()
 
-        if self.thread:
-            self
-
     @property
-    def state(self):
-        state = super().state
+    def status(self):
+        status = super().status
 
-        state['return_code'] = self.return_code
+        status['status']['return_code'] = self.return_code
 
-        return state
+        return status
 
-    def start(self, message):
-        super().start(message)
+    def start(self, payload):
+        super().start(payload)
         self.logger.info('Working directory: %s', os.getcwd())
         path = self.download_model()
 
@@ -45,7 +42,7 @@ def start(self, message):
             raise SimulationException(self, 'Child process is already running')
 
         try:
-            params = message.payload['parameters']
+            params = payload['parameters']
 
             self.thread = threading.Thread(target=GenericSimulator.run,
                                            args=(self, params, path))
@@ -57,8 +54,7 @@ def start(self, message):
 
     def check_state(self, state):
         if self._state != state:
-            self.change_state('error',
-                              msg=f'Failed to transition to state "{state}"!')
+            self.change_to_error('Failed to transition to state', state=state)
 
     def check_state_deferred(self, state, timeout=5):
         self.timer = threading.Timer(timeout, self.check_state, args=[state])
@@ -146,11 +142,11 @@ def run(self, params, path):
         # GenericSimulator.run() is executed in a separate thread.
         # We therefore want to catch exceptions here.
         except SimulationException as se:
-            self.change_state('error', msg=se.msg, **se.info)
+            self.change_to_error(se.msg, **se.info)
 
         self.child = None
 
-    def reset(self, message):
+    def reset(self, payload):
         # Don't send a signal if the child does not exist
         if self.child is None:
             return
@@ -173,7 +169,7 @@ def reset(self, message):
         # we will transition into the error state
         self.check_state_deferred('idle', 5)
 
-    def stop(self, message):
+    def stop(self, payload):
         send_cont = False
 
         if self.child is None:
@@ -196,7 +192,7 @@ def stop(self, message):
         # we will transition into the error state
         self.check_state_deferred('stopped', 5)
 
-    def pause(self, message):
+    def pause(self, payload):
         # Suspend command
         if self.child is None:
             raise SimulationException(self, 'No child process is running')
@@ -206,7 +202,7 @@ def pause(self, message):
         self.change_state('paused')
         self.logger.info('Child process has been paused')
 
-    def resume(self, message):
+    def resume(self, payload):
         # Let process run
         if self.child is None:
             raise SimulationException(self, 'No child process is running')
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/simulators/kubernetes.py b/villas/controller/components/simulators/kubernetes.py
index e0decee..9a6373e 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/simulators/kubernetes.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/simulators/kubernetes.py
@@ -1,33 +1,25 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 import json
 import signal
-from copy import deepcopy
-import collections
+# from copy import deepcopy
+# import collections
+import time
 
 import kubernetes as k8s
 
 from villas.controller.components.simulator import Simulator
 from villas.controller.exceptions import SimulationException
+from villas.controller.util import merge
 
-
-def merge(dict1, dict2):
-    ''' Return a new dictionary by merging two dictionaries recursively. '''
-
-    result = deepcopy(dict1)
-
-    for key, value in dict2.items():
-        if isinstance(value, collections.Mapping):
-            result[key] = merge(result.get(key, {}), value)
-        elif value is None:
-            del result[key]
-        else:
-            result[key] = deepcopy(dict2[key])
-
-    return result
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from villas.controller.components.managers.kubernetes \
+        import KubernetesManager
 
 
 class KubernetesJob(Simulator):
 
-    def __init__(self, manager, **args):
+    def __init__(self, manager: KubernetesManager, **args):
         super().__init__(**args)
 
         self.manager = manager
@@ -39,19 +31,45 @@ def __init__(self, manager, **args):
 
         self.job = None
         self.pods = set()
+        self.cm_name = ''
 
         self.custom_schema = props.get('schema', {})
 
+    @property
+    def status(self):
+        status = super().status
+
+        status['status']['pod_names'] = list(self.pods)
+
+        return status
+
     @property
     def schema(self):
-        return {
-            **self.custom_schema,
-            **super().schema
-        }
+        if (super().schema):
+            return {
+                **self.custom_schema,
+                **super().schema
+            }
+        else:
+            return {
+                **self.custom_schema
+            }
+
+    def _owner(self):
+        # if self.manager.my_pod_name and self.manager.my_pod_uid:
+        #    return k8s.client.V1OwnerReference(
+        #        kind='Pod',
+        #        name=self.manager.my_pod_name,
+        #        uid=self.manager.my_pod_uid,
+        #        api_version='v1'
+        #    )
+
+        return None
 
     def _prepare_job(self, job, payload):
         # Create config map
         cm = self._create_config_map(payload)
+        self.cm_name = cm.metadata.name
 
         # Create volumes
         v = k8s.client.V1Volume(
@@ -93,13 +111,28 @@ def _prepare_job(self, job, payload):
         job.metadata.generate_name = name + '-'
         job.metadata.name = None
 
+        if o := self._owner():
+            job.metadata.owner_references = [o]
+
         if job.metadata.labels is None:
             job.metadata.labels = {}
 
         job.metadata.labels.update({
-            'controller': 'villas',
-            'controller-uuid': self.manager.uuid,
-            'uuid': self.uuid
+            'app.kubernetes.io/part-of': 'villas',
+            'app.kubernetes.io/managed-by': 'villas-controller',
+            'app.kubernetes.io/component': 'infrastructure-component',
+
+            'villas.fein-aachen.org/ic-manager-uuid': self.manager.uuid,
+            'villas.fein-aachen.org/ic-uuid': self.uuid
+        })
+
+        if job.metadata.annotations is None:
+            job.metadata.annotations = {}
+
+        job.metadata.annotations.update({
+            'villas.fein-aachen.org/name': self.name,
+            'villas.fein-aachen.org/location': self.location,
+            'villas.fein-aachen.org/realm': self.realm
         })
 
         return job
@@ -116,6 +149,9 @@ def _create_config_map(self, payload):
             }
         )
 
+        if o := self._owner():
+            self.cm.metadata.owner_references = [o]
+
         return c.create_namespaced_config_map(
             namespace=self.manager.namespace,
             body=self.cm
@@ -142,11 +178,14 @@ def _delete_job(self):
         self.job = None
         self.properties['job_name'] = None
         self.properties['pod_names'] = []
+        # job isn't immediately deleted
+        # let the user see something is happening
+        time.sleep(7)
 
-    def start(self, message):
+    def start(self, payload):
+        # Delete prior job
         self._delete_job()
 
-        payload = message.payload
         job = payload.get('job', {})
         job = merge(self.jobdict, job)
         v1job = self._prepare_job(job, payload)
@@ -164,8 +203,8 @@ def start(self, message):
         self.properties['namespace'] = self.manager.namespace
 
     def stop(self, message):
+        self.change_state('stopping', True)
         self._delete_job()
-
         self.change_state('idle')
 
     def _send_signal(self, sig):
@@ -187,17 +226,19 @@ def _send_signal_to_pod(self, sig, podname):
 
         self.logger.debug('Sent signal %d to container: %s', sig, resp)
 
-    def pause(self, message):
+    def pause(self, payload):
         self._send_signal(signal.SIGSTOP)
         self.change_state('paused')
 
-    def resume(self, message):
+    def resume(self, payload):
         self._send_signal(signal.SIGCONT)
         self.change_state('running')
 
-    def reset(self, message):
+    def reset(self, payload):
+        self.change_state('resetting', True)
+        self.mixin.drain_publish_queue()
         self._delete_job()
-        super().reset(message)
+        super().reset(payload)
 
         self.change_state('idle')
 
diff --git a/villas/controller/components/simulators/rscad.py b/villas/controller/components/simulators/rscad.py
index 6c0bb74..6c4e3b3 100644
--- a/villas/controller/components/simulators/rscad.py
+++ b/villas/controller/components/simulators/rscad.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import socket
-import time
 
 from villas.controller.components.simulator import Simulator
 
@@ -14,25 +13,26 @@ def __init__(self, host, number):
         self.name = f'{host}({number})'
 
     @property
-    def state(self):
+    def status(self):
         try:
             user, case = self.ping()
 
             if len(user) > 0:
-                state = {
+                status = {
                     'status': 'running',
                     'user': user,
                     'case': case
                 }
             else:
-                state = {
+                status = {
                     'status': 'free'
                 }
         except socket.timeout:
-            state = {
+            status = {
                 'status': 'offline'
             }
 
-        state['time'] = int(round(time.time() * 1000))
-
-        return state
+        return {
+            **super().status,
+            **status
+        }
diff --git a/villas/controller/config.py b/villas/controller/config.py
index 0424e85..cf0f50b 100644
--- a/villas/controller/config.py
+++ b/villas/controller/config.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 import argparse
 import logging
 import os
+import dotmap
+import uuid
+from typing import List
 
 from os import getcwd
 from xdg import (
@@ -10,6 +13,7 @@
 )
 
 from villas.controller.component import Component
+from villas.controller.util import merge
 
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -28,6 +32,20 @@ def __call__(self, arg):
 
 class Config:
 
+    DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
+        'broker': {
+            'url': 'amqp://localhost:5672/%2F'
+        },
+        'api': {
+            'enabled': True,
+            'port': 8089
+        },
+        'components': [],
+        # 'workdir': '/var/villas/controller/simulators/'
+        'workdir': os.getcwd(),
+        'uuid': str(uuid.uuid4())
+    }
+
     DEFAULT_PATHS = xdg_config_dirs() + [
                     xdg_config_home(),
                     getcwd(),
@@ -39,11 +57,17 @@ def __init__(self, fp=None):
             fn = self.find_default_path()
             if fn:
                 with open(fn) as fp:
-                    self.dict = yaml.load(fp, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)
+                    self.load(fp)
             else:
-                pass  # Start without config
+                self.config = {}  # Start without config
         else:
-            self.dict = yaml.load(fp, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)
+            self.load(fp)
+
+    def load(self, fp):
+        config = yaml.load(fp, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)
+        merged = merge(self.DEFAULT_CONFIG, config)
+
+        self.config = dotmap.DotMap(merged)
 
     def find_default_path(self, filename='config',
                           suffixes=['json', 'yaml', 'yml']):
@@ -54,8 +78,11 @@ def find_default_path(self, filename='config',
                 return fn
 
     @property
-    def components(self):
-        return [Component.from_dict(c) for c in self.dict['components']]
+    def components(self) -> List[Component]:
+        return [Component.from_dict(c) for c in self.config.components]
+
+    def __getattr__(self, attr):
+        return self.config.get(attr)
 
     def check(self):
         uuids = [c.uuid for c in self.components]
diff --git a/villas/controller/controller.py b/villas/controller/controller.py
index d9c6481..95f058a 100644
--- a/villas/controller/controller.py
+++ b/villas/controller/controller.py
@@ -1,17 +1,25 @@
+import time
 import logging
 import socket
 import queue
+import os
 import kombu.mixins
 
+from villas.controller.api import Api
+from villas.controller import __version__ as version
+from villas.controller.config import Config
 from villas.controller.components.managers.generic import GenericManager
 
+
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class ControllerMixin(kombu.mixins.ConsumerProducerMixin):
 
-    def __init__(self, connection, components):
-        self.components = {c.uuid: c for c in components if c.enabled}
+    def __init__(self, connection, args):
+        self.args = args
+        self.config: Config = args.config
+
         self.connection = connection
         self.exchange = kombu.Exchange(name='villas',
                                        type='headers',
@@ -19,16 +27,18 @@ def __init__(self, connection, components):
 
         self.publish_queue = queue.Queue()
 
+        # Components are activated by first call to on_iteration()
+        self.components = {}
+        self.active_components = {}
+
         manager = self.add_managers()
 
-        for _, comp in self.components.items():
+        comps = [c for c in self.config.components if c.enabled]
+        for comp in comps:
             LOGGER.info('Adding %s', comp)
-            comp.set_manager(manager)
+            manager.add_component(comp)
 
-        # Components are activated by first call to on_iteration()
-        self.active_components = {}
-
-    def get_consumers(self, Consumer, channel):
+    def get_consumers(self, _, channel):
         return map(lambda comp: comp.get_consumer(channel),
                    self.active_components.values())
 
@@ -47,9 +57,12 @@ def add_managers(self):
                 type='generic',
                 category='manager',
                 name='Generic Manager',
-                location=socket.gethostname()
+                location=socket.gethostname(),
+                uuid=self.config.uuid
             )
 
+            mgr.mixin = self
+
             self.components[mgr.uuid] = mgr
         else:
             mgr = mgrs[0]
@@ -59,7 +72,7 @@ def add_managers(self):
     def publish(self, body, **kwargs):
         self.publish_queue.put((body, kwargs))
 
-    def _drain_publish_queue(self):
+    def drain_publish_queue(self):
         try:
             while msg := self.publish_queue.get(False):
                 body = msg[0]
@@ -71,10 +84,12 @@ def _drain_publish_queue(self):
                 self.producer.publish(body, **kwargs)
         except queue.Empty:
             pass
+        except TimeoutError:
+            LOGGER.warn('TimeoutError, let kombu reconnect..')
 
     def on_iteration(self):
         # Drain publish queue
-        self._drain_publish_queue()
+        self.drain_publish_queue()
 
         # Update components
         added = self.components.keys() - self.active_components.keys()
@@ -100,12 +115,18 @@ def on_iteration(self):
 
             self.active_components = self.components.copy()
 
-    def run(self):
+    def start(self):
+        self.started = time.time()
+
+        if self.config.api.enabled:
+            self.api = Api(self)
+            self.api.start()
+
         self.should_terminate = False
         while not self.should_terminate:
             self.should_stop = False
 
-            LOGGER.info('Startig mixing for %d components',
+            LOGGER.info('Starting mixing for %d components',
                         len(self.active_components))
 
             super().run()
@@ -119,3 +140,20 @@ def shutdown(self):
         # Publish last status updates before shutdown
         self._drain_publish_queue()
         self.should_terminate = True
+
+    @property
+    def status(self):
+        u = os.uname()
+
+        return {
+            'version': version,
+            'uptime': time.time() - self.started,
+            'host': socket.gethostname(),
+            'kernel': {
+                'sysname': u.sysname,
+                'nodename': u.nodename,
+                'release': u.release,
+                'version': u.version,
+                'machine': u.machine
+            },
+        }
diff --git a/villas/controller/handlers/component.py b/villas/controller/handlers/component.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb91e60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/handlers/component.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import json
+from tornado.web import HTTPError
+from http import HTTPStatus
+from functools import wraps
+
+
+from villas.controller.api import RequestHandler
+from villas.controller.exceptions import SimulationException
+
+
+def with_component(f):
+
+    @wraps(f)
+    def wrapper(self, uuid):
+        try:
+            component = self.controller.components[uuid]
+
+            f(self, component)
+        except KeyError:
+            raise HTTPError(HTTPStatus.NOT_FOUND)
+
+    return wrapper
+
+
+class ComponentRequestHandler(RequestHandler):
+
+    @with_component
+    def get(self, component):
+        self.write(component.status)
+
+    @with_component
+    def post(self, component):
+        payload = json.loads(self.request.body)
+
+        action = payload.get('action')
+        if action is None:
+            raise HTTPError(HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST)
+
+        try:
+            component.run_action(action, payload)
+            self.write(component.status)
+
+        except SimulationException as se:
+            self.write({
+                'exception': {
+                    'msg': se.msg,
+                    'args': se.args
+                },
+                **component.status
+            })
+            self.send_error(HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST)
diff --git a/villas/controller/handlers/health.py b/villas/controller/handlers/health.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8be63e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/handlers/health.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+from villas.controller.api import RequestHandler
+
+
+class HealthRequestHandler(RequestHandler):
+
+    def get(self):
+        self.write({
+            'status': 'ok'
+        })
diff --git a/villas/controller/handlers/main.py b/villas/controller/handlers/main.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbc07d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/handlers/main.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+from villas.controller.api import RequestHandler
+
+
+class MainRequestHandler(RequestHandler):
+
+    def get(self):
+        self.write({
+            'components': list(self.controller.components.keys()),
+            'status': {
+                **self.controller.status
+            }
+        })
diff --git a/villas/controller/main.py b/villas/controller/main.py
index bbd9c57..4f362df 100644
--- a/villas/controller/main.py
+++ b/villas/controller/main.py
@@ -103,12 +103,12 @@ def main():
 
     setup_logging(args)
 
-    if args.broker:
-        broker_url = args.broker
-    else:
-        broker = args.config.dict.get('broker', {})
-        broker_url = broker.get('url', 'amqp://guest:guest@localhost/%2F')
-
+    try:
+        broker_url = args.broker or args.config.broker.url
+    except AttributeError:
+        LOGGER.error('A broker URL must be provided either via a command line '
+                     'parameter or a configuration file')
+        return -1
     try:
         with kombu.Connection(broker_url, connect_timeout=3) as c:
             LOGGER.info(f'Connecting to: {broker_url}')
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/__init__.py b/villas/controller/schemas/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/manager/__init__.py b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/manager/generic/__init__.py b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/generic/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/manager/generic/create.yaml b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/generic/create.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c936127
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/generic/create.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+---
+$schema: http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema
+additionalProperties: true
+
+type: object
+required:
+  - name
+  - category
+  - location
+  - owner
+  - realm
+  - type
+  - api_url
+  - ws_url
+
+properties:
+  api_url:
+    examples:
+    - https://villas.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/api/ic/generic_1
+    title: The api_url schema
+    type: string
+  category:
+    examples:
+    - simulator
+    title: Component category
+    type: string
+  location:
+    examples:
+    - Richard's PC
+    title: Component location
+    type: string
+  name:
+    default: New Component
+    examples:
+    - 'Generic Simulator #1'
+    title: Component name
+    type: string
+  owner:
+    examples:
+    - rmr
+    - svg
+    title: Component owner
+    type: string
+  realm:
+    examples:
+    - de.rwth-aachen.eonerc.acs
+    title: Component realm
+    type: string
+  shell:
+    examples:
+    - true
+    title: The shell schema
+    type: boolean
+  type:
+    examples:
+    - generic
+    title: The type schema
+    type: string
+  uuid:
+    title: The uuid schema
+    type: 'null'
+  whitelist:
+    additionalItems: true
+    examples:
+    - - /sbin/ping
+      - ^echo
+    items:
+      anyOf:
+      - examples:
+        - /sbin/ping
+        - ^echo
+        title: The first anyOf schema
+        type: string
+    title: The whitelist schema
+    type: array
+  ws_url:
+    examples:
+    - https://villas.k8s.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/ws/relay/generic_1
+    title: The ws_url schema
+    type: string
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes-simple/__init__.py b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes-simple/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes-simple/create.yaml b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes-simple/create.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9747f77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes-simple/create.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+---
+$schema: http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#
+
+type: object
+title: 'Simple Kubernetes Job'
+required:
+  - image
+properties:
+  name:
+    type: string
+    title: 'Simulator Name'
+    default: 'Kubernetes Simulator'
+  uuid:
+    type: string
+    title: UUID
+    default: 8dfd03b2-1c78-11ec-9621-0242ac130002
+  jobname:
+    type: string
+    title: 'Jobname'
+    default: myjob
+  activeDeadlineSeconds:
+    type: number
+    title: activeDeadlineSeconds
+    default: 3600
+  image:
+    type: string
+    title: Image
+    default: perl
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes/create.yaml b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes/create.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60c9bac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/schemas/manager/kubernetes/create.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+$schema: http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#
+
+type: object
+properties:
+  job:
+    $ref: https://kubernetesjsonschema.dev/v1.18.1/job.json
+  schema:
+    additionalProperties:
+      $ref: https://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dpsim/__init__.py b/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dpsim/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dpsim/start.yaml b/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dpsim/start.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20ceb41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dpsim/start.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+---
+$schema: http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#
+
+type: object
+required:
+- name
+properties:
+  blocking:
+    title: Block execution of each time-step until the arrival of new data on the
+      interfaces
+    type: boolean
+  duration:
+    examples:
+    - 3600.0
+    title: Simulation duration [s]
+    type: number
+  log-level:
+    enum:
+    - NONE
+    - INFO
+    - DEBUG
+    - WARN
+    - ERR
+    title: Logging level
+    type: string
+  name:
+    examples:
+    - Simulation_1
+    title: Name of log files
+    type: string
+  options:
+    additionalProperties:
+      type: number
+    examples:
+    - Ld: 0.2299
+      Lq: 0.0
+    title: User-definable options
+    type: object
+  scenario:
+    title: Scenario selection
+    type: integer
+  solver-domain:
+    enum:
+    - SP
+    - DP
+    - EMT
+    title: Domain of solver
+    type: string
+  solver-type:
+    enum:
+    - NRP
+    - MNA
+    title: Type of solver
+    type: string
+  start-at:
+    description: The date must be given as an ISO8601 formatted string
+    examples:
+    - '2004-06-14T23:34:30'
+    format: date-time
+    title: Start time of real-time simulation
+    type: string
+  start-in:
+    title: Start simulation relative to current time [s]
+    type: number
+  start-synch:
+    title: Sychronize start of simulation with external interfaces
+    type: boolean
+  steady-init:
+    title: Perform a steady-state initialization prior to the simulation
+    type: boolean
+  system-freq:
+    examples:
+    - 50.0
+    - 60.0
+    title: System frequency [Hz]
+    type: number
+  timestep:
+    examples:
+    - 5.0e-05
+    title: Simulation time-step [s]
+    type: number
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dummy/__init__.py b/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dummy/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dummy/start.yaml b/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dummy/start.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6da689e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/schemas/simulator/dummy/start.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+$schema: http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema
+
+type: object
+required:
+- runtime
+properties:
+  runtime:
+    type: number
+    default: 1.0
+    description: The runtime of the simulation in seconds
+    example: 3.0
diff --git a/villas/controller/util.py b/villas/controller/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a51e144
--- /dev/null
+++ b/villas/controller/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from copy import deepcopy
+import collections
+
+
+def merge(dict1, dict2):
+    ''' Return a new dictionary by merging two dictionaries recursively. '''
+
+    result = deepcopy(dict1)
+
+    for key, value in dict2.items():
+        if isinstance(value, collections.Mapping):
+            result[key] = merge(result.get(key, {}), value)
+        elif value is None:
+            del result[key]
+        else:
+            result[key] = deepcopy(dict2[key])
+
+    return result