diff --git a/Util/BoostFileSystemFix.h b/Util/BoostFileSystemFix.h
index c8a2744a1..1cf21223d 100644
--- a/Util/BoostFileSystemFix.h
+++ b/Util/BoostFileSystemFix.h
@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@ SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #ifndef BOOST_FILE_SYSTEM_FIX_H
 #define BOOST_FILE_SYSTEM_FIX_H
 
+#include "OSRMException.h"
+
+#include <boost/any.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <boost/program_options.hpp>
 
 //This is one big workaround for latest boost renaming woes.
 
@@ -41,6 +45,28 @@ SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 namespace boost {
 namespace filesystem {
 
+// Validator for boost::filesystem::path, that verifies that the file
+// exists. The validate() function must be defined in the same namespace
+// as the target type, (boost::filesystem::path in this case), otherwise
+// it is not called
+inline void validate(
+    boost::any & v,
+    const std::vector<std::string> & values,
+    boost::filesystem::path *,
+    int
+) {
+    boost::program_options::validators::check_first_occurrence(v);
+    const std::string & input_string =
+        boost::program_options::validators::get_single_string(values);
+    // SimpleLogger().Write() << "validator called for " << input_string;
+    // SimpleLogger().Write() << "validator called for " << input_string;
+    if(boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(input_string)) {
+        v = boost::any(boost::filesystem::path(input_string));
+    } else {
+        throw OSRMException(input_string + " not found");
+    }
+}
+
 // adapted from: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1746136/how-do-i-normalize-a-pathname-using-boostfilesystem
 inline boost::filesystem::path portable_canonical(
     const boost::filesystem::path & relative_path,
diff --git a/Util/DataStoreOptions.h b/Util/DataStoreOptions.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ce7448b41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Util/DataStoreOptions.h
@@ -0,0 +1,289 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (c) 2013, Project OSRM, Dennis Luxen, others
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list
+of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this
+list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or
+other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
+ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
+ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+*/
+
+#ifndef DATA_STORE_OPTIONS_H
+#define DATA_STORE_OPTIONS_H
+
+#include "BoostFileSystemFix.h"
+#include "GitDescription.h"
+#include "OSRMException.h"
+#include "SimpleLogger.h"
+
+#include <osrm/ServerPaths.h>
+
+#include <boost/any.hpp>
+#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <boost/filesystem/fstream.hpp>
+#include <boost/program_options.hpp>
+#include <boost/regex.hpp>
+#include <boost/unordered_map.hpp>
+
+#include <string>
+
+
+// support old capitalized option names by down-casing them with a regex replace
+inline void PrepareConfigFile(
+    const boost::filesystem::path& path,
+    std::string& output
+) {
+    boost::filesystem::fstream config_stream( path );
+    std::string input_str(
+        (std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(config_stream)),
+        std::istreambuf_iterator<char>()
+    );
+    boost::regex regex( "^([^=]*)" );    //match from start of line to '='
+    std::string format( "\\L$1\\E" );    //replace with downcased substring
+    output = boost::regex_replace( input_str, regex, format );
+}
+
+
+// generate boost::program_options object for the routing part
+inline bool GenerateDataStoreOptions(
+    const int argc,
+    const char * argv[],
+    ServerPaths & paths
+) {
+
+    // declare a group of options that will be allowed only on command line
+    boost::program_options::options_description generic_options("Options");
+    generic_options.add_options()
+        ("version,v", "Show version")
+        ("help,h", "Show this help message")
+        (
+            "config,c",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(
+                &paths["config"]
+            )->default_value("server.ini"),
+            "Path to a configuration file"
+        );
+
+    // declare a group of options that will be allowed both on command line
+    // as well as in a config file
+    boost::program_options::options_description config_options("Configuration");
+    config_options.add_options()
+        (
+            "hsgrdata",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["hsgrdata"]),
+            ".hsgr file"
+        )
+        (
+            "nodesdata",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["nodesdata"]),
+            ".nodes file"
+        )
+        (
+            "edgesdata",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["edgesdata"]),
+            ".edges file"
+        )
+        (
+            "geometry",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["geometries"]),
+            ".geometry file"
+        )
+        (
+            "ramindex",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["ramindex"]),
+            ".ramIndex file"
+        )
+        (
+            "fileindex",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["fileindex"]),
+            "File index file"
+        )
+        (
+            "namesdata",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["namesdata"]),
+            ".names file"
+        )
+        (
+            "timestamp",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["timestamp"]),
+            ".timestamp file"
+        );
+
+    // hidden options, will be allowed both on command line and in config
+    // file, but will not be shown to the user
+    boost::program_options::options_description hidden_options("Hidden options");
+    hidden_options.add_options()
+        (
+            "base,b",
+            boost::program_options::value<boost::filesystem::path>(&paths["base"]),
+            "base path to .osrm file"
+        );
+
+    // positional option
+    boost::program_options::positional_options_description positional_options;
+    positional_options.add("base", 1);
+
+    // combine above options for parsing
+    boost::program_options::options_description cmdline_options;
+    cmdline_options.add(generic_options).add(config_options).add(hidden_options);
+
+    boost::program_options::options_description config_file_options;
+    config_file_options.add(config_options).add(hidden_options);
+
+    boost::program_options::options_description visible_options(
+        boost::filesystem::basename(argv[0]) + " <base.osrm> [<options>]"
+    );
+    visible_options.add(generic_options).add(config_options);
+
+    // parse command line options
+    boost::program_options::variables_map option_variables;
+    boost::program_options::store(
+        boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).options(cmdline_options).positional(positional_options).run(),
+        option_variables
+    );
+
+    if(option_variables.count("version")) {
+        SimpleLogger().Write() << g_GIT_DESCRIPTION;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if(option_variables.count("help")) {
+        SimpleLogger().Write() << visible_options;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    boost::program_options::notify(option_variables);
+
+    // parse config file
+    ServerPaths::iterator path_iterator = paths.find("config");
+    if(
+        path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+        boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second) &&
+        !option_variables.count("base")
+    ) {
+        SimpleLogger().Write() <<
+            "Reading options from: " << path_iterator->second.string();
+        std::string config_str;
+        PrepareConfigFile( path_iterator->second, config_str );
+        std::stringstream config_stream( config_str );
+        boost::program_options::store(
+            parse_config_file(config_stream, config_file_options),
+            option_variables
+        );
+        boost::program_options::notify(option_variables);
+    }
+
+    if( option_variables.count("base") ) {
+        path_iterator = paths.find("base");
+        BOOST_ASSERT( paths.end() != path_iterator );
+        std::string base_string = path_iterator->second.string();
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("hsgrdata");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".hsgr";
+        } else {
+            throw OSRMException(base_string + ".hsgr not found");
+        }
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("nodesdata");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".nodes";
+        } else {
+            throw OSRMException(base_string + ".nodes not found");
+        }
+
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("edgesdata");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".edges";
+        } else {
+            throw OSRMException(base_string + ".edges not found");
+        }
+
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("geometries");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".geometry";
+        } else {
+            throw OSRMException(base_string + ".geometry not found");
+        }
+
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("ramindex");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".ramIndex";
+        } else {
+            throw OSRMException(base_string + ".ramIndex not found");
+        }
+
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("fileindex");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".fileIndex";
+        } else {
+            throw OSRMException(base_string + ".fileIndex not found");
+        }
+
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("namesdata");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".names";
+        } else {
+            throw OSRMException(base_string + ".namesIndex not found");
+        }
+
+        path_iterator = paths.find("timestamp");
+        if(
+            path_iterator != paths.end() &&
+            !boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(path_iterator->second)
+        ) {
+            path_iterator->second = base_string + ".timestamp";
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    SimpleLogger().Write() << visible_options;
+
+    return false;
+}
+
+#endif /* DATA_STORE_OPTIONS_H */
diff --git a/Util/ProgramOptions.h b/Util/ProgramOptions.h
index 30a8c373f..0f6a2b358 100644
--- a/Util/ProgramOptions.h
+++ b/Util/ProgramOptions.h
@@ -42,33 +42,6 @@ SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
 #include <fstream>
 #include <string>
-#include <vector>
-
-
-namespace boost {
-    namespace filesystem {
-        // Validator for boost::filesystem::path, that verifies that the file
-        // exists. The validate() function must be defined in the same namespace
-        // as the target type, (boost::filesystem::path in this case), otherwise
-        // it is not called
-        inline void validate(
-            boost::any & v,
-            const std::vector<std::string> & values,
-            boost::filesystem::path *,
-            int
-        ) {
-            boost::program_options::validators::check_first_occurrence(v);
-            const std::string & input_string =
-                boost::program_options::validators::get_single_string(values);
-            SimpleLogger().Write() << "validator called for " << input_string;
-            if(boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(input_string)) {
-                v = boost::any(boost::filesystem::path(input_string));
-            } else {
-                throw OSRMException(input_string + " not found");
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
 
 // support old capitalized option names by down-casing them with a regex replace
 inline void PrepareConfigFile(
@@ -85,7 +58,6 @@ inline void PrepareConfigFile(
     output = boost::regex_replace( input_str, regex, format );
 }
 
-
 // generate boost::program_options object for the routing part
 inline bool GenerateServerProgramOptions(
     const int argc,
diff --git a/datastore.cpp b/datastore.cpp
index 6d2753f05..8eefc0fba 100644
--- a/datastore.cpp
+++ b/datastore.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "Server/DataStructures/SharedDataType.h"
 #include "Server/DataStructures/SharedBarriers.h"
 #include "Util/BoostFileSystemFix.h"
-#include "Util/ProgramOptions.h"
+#include "Util/DataStoreOptions.h"
 #include "Util/SimpleLogger.h"
 #include "Util/UUID.h"
 #include "typedefs.h"
@@ -55,12 +55,6 @@ int main( const int argc, const char * argv[] ) {
     LogPolicy::GetInstance().Unmute();
     SharedBarriers barrier;
 
-    if (argc < 2)
-    {
-        SimpleLogger().Write(logWARNING) << "no parameters given. try\n\t" << argv[0] << " --help";
-        return -1;
-    }
-
 #ifdef __linux__
         if( -1 == mlockall(MCL_CURRENT | MCL_FUTURE) ) {
             SimpleLogger().Write(logWARNING) <<
@@ -84,20 +78,12 @@ int main( const int argc, const char * argv[] ) {
     try {
         SimpleLogger().Write(logDEBUG) << "Checking input parameters";
 
-        bool use_shared_memory = false;
-        std::string ip_address;
-        int ip_port, requested_num_threads;
-
         ServerPaths server_paths;
         if(
-            !GenerateServerProgramOptions(
+            !GenerateDataStoreOptions(
                 argc,
                 argv,
-                server_paths,
-                ip_address,
-                ip_port,
-                requested_num_threads,
-                use_shared_memory
+                server_paths
             )
         ) {
             return 0;