diff --git a/docker/sqkclient/Dockerfile b/docker/sqkclient/Dockerfile
index 7d8615cd..dccd4845 100644
--- a/docker/sqkclient/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/sqkclient/Dockerfile
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
 	curl \
 	git
 
+# install nc
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y netcat
+
 COPY requirements.txt /
 
 RUN pip3 install --upgrade pip
diff --git a/docker/sqkclient/start-sqkclient.sh b/docker/sqkclient/start-sqkclient.sh
index cc0a660d..00d8d807 100755
--- a/docker/sqkclient/start-sqkclient.sh
+++ b/docker/sqkclient/start-sqkclient.sh
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ runsqueaknodeclient \
     "--log-level"="$DEBUG" \
     init-db
 
+echo "Checking if the server port is open"
+nc -zvw3 blockchain 18556
+nc -zvw3 sqkserver 50052
+echo "Done checking remote port"
+
 exec runsqueaknodeclient \
      "--config"="config.ini" \
      "--log-level"="$DEBUG" \
diff --git a/docker/sqkserver/start-sqkserver.sh b/docker/sqkserver/start-sqkserver.sh
index 585c4d03..8bc53667 100755
--- a/docker/sqkserver/start-sqkserver.sh
+++ b/docker/sqkserver/start-sqkserver.sh
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ export REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE=/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
 # Generate the config file.
 chmod +x config.ini.sh
 ./config.ini.sh $NETWORK $LND_HOST $LND_PORT $BTCD_HOST $BTCD_RPC_PORT $RPCUSER $RPCPASS $SQK_HOST $SQK_PORT > config.ini
+echo "config.ini:"
 cat config.ini
 
 # # Initialize the client database.
@@ -86,7 +87,14 @@ cat config.ini
 #     "--log-level"="$DEBUG" \
 #     init-db
 
+echo "$DEBUG:"
+echo $DEBUG
+
+echo "Starting to run the python server here...."
+
 exec runsqueaknodeserver \
      "--config"="config.ini" \
      "--log-level"="$DEBUG" \
      run-server
+
+# exec ls
diff --git a/itests/docker-compose.yml b/itests/docker-compose.yml
index ac5e9207..bd1a70f8 100644
--- a/itests/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/itests/docker-compose.yml
@@ -99,9 +99,9 @@ services:
       - "btcd:blockchain"
     entrypoint: ["./start-lnd.sh"]
 
-  lnd_server:
+  lnd_sqkserver:
     image: lnd
-    container_name: lnd_server
+    container_name: lnd_sqkserver
     build:
       context: ../
       dockerfile: docker/lnd/Dockerfile
@@ -113,11 +113,34 @@ services:
       - DEBUG
     volumes:
       - shared_test:/rpc
-      - lnd_dir_server:/root/.lnd
+      - lnd_dir_sqkserver:/root/.lnd
     links:
       - "btcd:blockchain"
     entrypoint: ["./start-lnd.sh"]
 
+  sqkserver:
+    image: sqkserver
+    container_name: sqkserver
+    build:
+      context: ../
+      dockerfile: docker/sqkserver/Dockerfile
+    environment:
+      - RPCUSER
+      - RPCPASS
+      - NETWORK
+      - CHAIN
+      - DEBUG
+      - HEADLESS
+    volumes:
+      - shared_test:/rpc
+      - lnd_dir_sqkserver:/root/.lnd
+    links:
+      - "btcd:blockchain"
+      - "lnd_sqkserver:lnd"
+    sysctls:
+      - net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=0
+    entrypoint: ["./start-sqkserver.sh"]
+
   sqkclient_alice:
     image: sqkclient
     container_name: sqkclient_alice
@@ -137,6 +160,7 @@ services:
     links:
       - "btcd:blockchain"
       - "lnd_alice:lnd"
+      - "sqkserver:sqkserver"
     sysctls:
       - net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=0
     entrypoint: ["./start-sqkclient.sh"]
@@ -160,6 +184,7 @@ services:
     links:
       - "btcd:blockchain"
       - "lnd_bob:lnd"
+      - "sqkserver:sqkserver"
     sysctls:
       - net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=0
     entrypoint: ["./start-sqkclient.sh"]
@@ -183,33 +208,11 @@ services:
     links:
       - "btcd:blockchain"
       - "lnd_carol:lnd"
+      - "sqkserver:sqkserver"
     sysctls:
       - net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=0
     entrypoint: ["./start-sqkclient.sh"]
 
-  sqkserver:
-    image: sqkserver
-    container_name: sqkserver
-    build:
-      context: ../
-      dockerfile: docker/sqkserver/Dockerfile
-    environment:
-      - RPCUSER
-      - RPCPASS
-      - NETWORK
-      - CHAIN
-      - DEBUG
-      - HEADLESS
-    volumes:
-      - shared_test:/rpc
-      - lnd_dir_server:/root/.lnd
-    links:
-      - "btcd:blockchain"
-      - "lnd_alice:lnd"
-    sysctls:
-      - net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=0
-    entrypoint: ["./start-sqkserver.sh"]
-
   test:
     image: test
     container_name: test
@@ -240,5 +243,5 @@ volumes:
     driver: local
   lnd_dir_carol:
     driver: local
-  lnd_dir_server:
+  lnd_dir_sqkserver:
     driver: local
diff --git a/squeaknode/client/clientsqueaknode.py b/squeaknode/client/clientsqueaknode.py
index 12bbcbbb..74d43ab2 100644
--- a/squeaknode/client/clientsqueaknode.py
+++ b/squeaknode/client/clientsqueaknode.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class SqueakNodeClient(object):
         # Event is set when the client stops
         self.stopped = threading.Event()
         self.uploader = Uploader(self.hub_store, self.squeak_store, self.address)
-        self.rpc_client = RPCClient('fake_host', 1234)
+        self.rpc_client = RPCClient('sqkserver', 50051)
 
     def start(self):
         # TODO: start the uploader and the downloader.
diff --git a/squeaknode/client/rpc_client.py b/squeaknode/client/rpc_client.py
index f186d98e..37b4eec5 100644
--- a/squeaknode/client/rpc_client.py
+++ b/squeaknode/client/rpc_client.py
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import logging
 
+import grpc
+
+from squeaknode.common.rpc import squeak_server_pb2
+from squeaknode.common.rpc import squeak_server_pb2_grpc
+
 from squeak.core.signing import CSigningKey
 from squeak.core.signing import CSqueakAddress
 
@@ -30,3 +35,12 @@ class RPCClient(object):
     def upload_squeak(self, squeak):
         squeak_hash = squeak.GetHash()
         logger.info("Upload the squeak here.")
+
+        # Make the rpc request to the server.
+        #channel = grpc.insecure_channel('localhost:50051')
+        # channel = grpc.insecure_channel('{}:{}'.format(self.host, self.port))
+        channel = grpc.insecure_channel('sqkserver:50052')
+        stub = squeak_server_pb2_grpc.SqueakServerStub(channel)
+        response = stub.SayHello(squeak_server_pb2.HelloRequest(name='rpc_client'))
+        print("Greeter client received: " + response.message)
+        logger.info("Greeter client received: " + response.message)
diff --git a/squeaknode/common/rpc/squeak_server_servicer.py b/squeaknode/common/rpc/squeak_server_servicer.py
index e7d9f727..f81fd4ed 100644
--- a/squeaknode/common/rpc/squeak_server_servicer.py
+++ b/squeaknode/common/rpc/squeak_server_servicer.py
@@ -40,9 +40,13 @@ class SqueakServerServicer(squeak_server_pb2_grpc.SqueakServerServicer):
     #     )
 
     def serve(self):
+        print('Calling serve...', flush=True)
         server = grpc.server(futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=10))
-        squeak_server_pb2_grpc.add_SqueakServicer_to_server(
+        squeak_server_pb2_grpc.add_SqueakServerServicer_to_server(
             self, server)
-        server.add_insecure_port('0.0.0.0:50051')
+        print("server.add_insecure_port...", flush=True)
+        server.add_insecure_port('0.0.0.0:50052')
+        print("Starting SqueakServerServicer rpc server...", flush=True)
         server.start()
+        print("Started SqueakServerServicer rpc server...", flush=True)
         server.wait_for_termination()
diff --git a/squeaknode/server/main.py b/squeaknode/server/main.py
index ae4102a7..3ebf3342 100644
--- a/squeaknode/server/main.py
+++ b/squeaknode/server/main.py
@@ -31,14 +31,16 @@ def load_lightning_client(config) -> LightningClient:
 
 
 def start_rpc_server(handler):
+    print('Calling start_rpc_server...', flush=True)
     server = SqueakServerServicer(handler)
-    thread = threading.Thread(
-        target=server.serve,
-        args=(),
-    )
-    thread.daemon = True
-    thread.start()
-    return server, thread
+    # thread = threading.Thread(
+    #     target=server.serve,
+    #     args=(),
+    # )
+    # thread.daemon = True
+    # thread.start()
+    # return server, thread
+    server.serve()
 
 
 def load_handler(lightning_client):
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ def parse_args():
 
 
 def main():
+    print("Running main() in server...", flush=True)
     logging.basicConfig(level=logging.ERROR)
     args = parse_args()
 
@@ -106,25 +109,28 @@ def main():
 
 
 def run_server(config):
-    print('network:', config['DEFAULT']['network'])
+    print('network:', config['DEFAULT']['network'], flush=True)
     SelectParams(config['DEFAULT']['network'])
 
-    lightning_client = load_lightning_client(config)
+    print('starting lightning client here...', flush=True)
+    # lightning_client = load_lightning_client(config)
     # db_factory = load_db_factory(config)
     # node = load_client(blockchain_client, lightning_client, signing_key, db_factory)
-    handler = load_handler(lightning_client)
+    handler = load_handler(None)
 
     # start rpc server
-    rpc_server, rpc_server_thread = start_rpc_server(handler)
+    start_rpc_server(handler)
+    # rpc_server, rpc_server_thread = start_rpc_server(handler)
+    # print("rpc server started...", flush=True)
 
-    signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, sigterm_handler)
+    # signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, sigterm_handler)
 
-    print("Starting server...")
-    try:
-        while True:
-            time.sleep(1)
-    finally:
-        print("Shutting down...")
+    # print("sleeping....", flush=True)
+    # try:
+    #     while True:
+    #         time.sleep(1)
+    # finally:
+    #     print("Shutting down...", flush=True)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':