diff --git a/xwords4/linux/relaycon.c b/xwords4/linux/relaycon.c
index ebceddb6c..18eedac9b 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/relaycon.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/relaycon.c
@@ -243,6 +243,15 @@ relaycon_receive( void* closure, int socket )
                 XP_LOGF( "got ack for packetID %ld", packetID );
                 break;
             }
+            case XWPDEV_METAMSG: {
+                XP_U16 len = getNetShort( &ptr );
+                unsigned char buf[len + 1];
+                memcpy( buf, ptr, len );
+                ptr += len;
+                buf[len] = '\0';
+                XP_LOGF( "%s: got message: %s", __func__, buf );
+                break;
+            }
             default:
                 XP_LOGF( "%s: Unexpected cmd %d", __func__, header.cmd );
                 XP_ASSERT( 0 );
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/ctrl.cpp b/xwords4/relay/ctrl.cpp
index b25daafb4..aec4a8737 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/ctrl.cpp
+++ b/xwords4/relay/ctrl.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ pthread_mutex_t g_ctrlSocksMutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
 
 static bool cmd_quit( int socket, const char** args );
 static bool cmd_print( int socket, const char** args );
+static bool cmd_devs( int socket, const char** args );
 /* static bool cmd_lock( int socket, const char** args ); */
 static bool cmd_help( int socket, const char** args );
 static bool cmd_start( int socket, const char** args );
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ static const FuncRec gFuncs[] = {
     /* { "kill", cmd_kill_eject }, */
     /* { "lock", cmd_lock }, */
     { "print", cmd_print },
+    { "devs", cmd_devs },
     { "quit", cmd_quit },
     { "rev", cmd_rev },
     { "set", cmd_set },
@@ -469,7 +471,6 @@ print_sockets( int out, int sought )
 static bool
 cmd_print( int socket, const char** args )
 {
-    logf( XW_LOGINFO, "cmd_print called" );
     bool found = false;
     if ( 0 == strcmp( "cref", args[1] ) ) {
         if ( 0 == strcmp( "all", args[2] ) ) {
@@ -496,7 +497,7 @@ cmd_print( int socket, const char** args )
     } else if ( 0 == strcmp( "dev", args[1] ) ) {
         if ( 0 == strcmp( "all", args[2] ) ) {
             string str;
-            DevMgr::Get()->printDevices( str );
+            DevMgr::Get()->printDevices( str, 0 );
             send( socket, str.c_str(), str.size(), 0 );
             found = true;
         }
@@ -517,6 +518,53 @@ cmd_print( int socket, const char** args )
     return false;
 } /* cmd_print */
 
+static bool
+cmd_devs( int socket, const char** args )
+{
+    bool found = false;
+    string result;
+
+    if ( 0 == strcmp( "print", args[1] ) ) {
+        DevIDRelay devid = 0;
+        if ( NULL != args[3] ) {
+            devid = (DevIDRelay)strtoul( args[3], NULL, 10 );
+        }
+        DevMgr::Get()->printDevices( result, devid );
+        found = true;
+    } else if ( 0 == strcmp( "ping", args[1] ) ) {
+    } else if ( 0 == strcmp( "msg", args[1] ) ) {
+        DevIDRelay devid = (DevIDRelay)strtoul( args[2], NULL, 10 );
+        const char* msg = args[3];
+        if ( post_message( devid, msg ) ) {
+            string_printf( result, "posted message: %s\n", msg );
+        } else {
+            string_printf( result, "unable to post; does dev %d exist\n", 
+                           devid );
+        }
+        found = true;
+    } else if ( 0 == strcmp( "rm", args[1] ) ) {
+    }
+
+    if ( found ) {
+        if ( 0 < result.size() ) {
+            send( socket, result.c_str(), result.size(), 0 );
+        }
+    } else {
+        const char* strs[] = {
+            "* %s print [<id>]\n",
+            "  %s ping\n",
+            "  %s msg <devid> <msg_text>\n",
+            "  %s rm <devid>\n",
+        };
+        string help;
+        for ( size_t ii = 0; ii < VSIZE(strs); ++ii ) {
+            string_printf( help, strs[ii], args[0] );
+        }
+        send( socket, help.c_str(), help.size(), 0 );
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 #if 0
 static bool
 cmd_lock( int socket, const char** args )
@@ -571,10 +619,11 @@ ctrl_thread_main( void* arg )
         g_ctrlSocks.push_back( sock );
     }
 
+    string cmd;
+    const char* args[MAX_ARGS] = {0};
+    string sargs[MAX_ARGS];
+
     for ( ; ; ) {
-        string cmd;
-        const char* args[MAX_ARGS] = {0};
-        string sargs[MAX_ARGS];
 
         print_prompt( sock );
 
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.cpp b/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.cpp
index 15825c6ff..1c5ce67c3 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.cpp
+++ b/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.cpp
@@ -869,6 +869,33 @@ DBMgr::CountStoredMessages( DevIDRelay relayID )
     return getCountWhere( MSGS_TABLE, test );
 }
 
+void
+DBMgr::StoreMessage( DevIDRelay devID, const uint8_t* const buf,
+                     int len )
+{
+    clearHasNoMessages( devID );
+
+    size_t newLen;
+    const char* fmt = "INSERT INTO " MSGS_TABLE " "
+        "(devid, %s, msglen) VALUES(%d, %s'%s', %d)";
+    
+    string query;
+    if ( m_useB64 ) {
+        gchar* b64 = g_base64_encode( buf, len );
+        string_printf( query, fmt, "msg64", devID, "", b64, len );
+        g_free( b64 );
+    } else {
+        unsigned char* bytes = PQescapeByteaConn( getThreadConn(), buf, 
+                                                  len, &newLen );
+        assert( NULL != bytes );
+            string_printf( query, fmt, "msg",  devID, "E", bytes, len );
+        PQfreemem( bytes );
+    }
+
+    logf( XW_LOGINFO, "%s: query: %s", __func__, query.c_str() );
+    execSql( query );
+}
+
 void
 DBMgr::StoreMessage( const char* const connName, int hid, 
                      const unsigned char* buf, int len )
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.h b/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.h
index 3b629999a..692f507f8 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.h
+++ b/xwords4/relay/dbmgr.h
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ class DBMgr {
     /* message storage -- different DB */
     int CountStoredMessages( const char* const connName );
     int CountStoredMessages( DevIDRelay relayID );
+    void StoreMessage( DevIDRelay relayID, const uint8_t* const buf, int len );
     void StoreMessage( const char* const connName, int hid, 
                        const unsigned char* const buf, int len );
     void GetStoredMessages( DevIDRelay relayID, vector<MsgInfo>& msgs );
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/devmgr.cpp b/xwords4/relay/devmgr.cpp
index acc86c631..0129b7732 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/devmgr.cpp
+++ b/xwords4/relay/devmgr.cpp
@@ -107,16 +107,21 @@ DevMgr::get( DevIDRelay devid )
 // it, so that as much work as possible is done on the calling thread without
 // holding up more important stuff.
 void
-DevMgr::printDevices( string& str )
+DevMgr::printDevices( string& str, DevIDRelay devid )
 {
     map<uint32_t, DevIDRelay> agedDevs;
     {
         MutexLock ml( &m_mapLock );
-        map<DevIDRelay,UDPAddrRec>::const_iterator iter;
-        for ( iter = m_devAddrMap.begin(); iter != m_devAddrMap.end(); ++iter ) {
-            DevIDRelay devid = iter->first;
-            uint32_t added = iter->second.m_added;
-            agedDevs.insert( pair<uint32_t, DevIDRelay>(added, devid) );
+        map<DevIDRelay, UDPAddrRec>::const_iterator iter;
+        if ( 0 != devid ) {
+            iter = m_devAddrMap.find( devid );
+            if ( m_devAddrMap.end() != iter ) {
+                addDevice( agedDevs, iter );
+            }
+        } else {
+            for ( iter = m_devAddrMap.begin(); iter != m_devAddrMap.end(); ++iter ) {
+                addDevice( agedDevs, iter );
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -142,3 +147,12 @@ DevMgr::printDevices( string& str )
     }
 
 }
+
+void
+DevMgr::addDevice( map<uint32_t, DevIDRelay>& devs, 
+                   map<DevIDRelay,UDPAddrRec>::const_iterator iter )
+{
+    DevIDRelay devid = iter->first;
+    uint32_t added = iter->second.m_added;
+    devs.insert( pair<uint32_t, DevIDRelay>(added, devid) );
+}
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/devmgr.h b/xwords4/relay/devmgr.h
index 8dea06dc1..83fdd89e8 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/devmgr.h
+++ b/xwords4/relay/devmgr.h
@@ -35,10 +35,11 @@ class DevMgr {
     void Remember( DevIDRelay devid, const AddrInfo* addr );
     const AddrInfo::AddrUnion* get( DevIDRelay devid );
 
-    void printDevices( string& str );
+    /* Called from ctrl port */
+    void printDevices( string& str, DevIDRelay devid /* 0 means all */ );
 
  private:
-    DevMgr() { pthread_mutex_init( &m_mapLock, NULL ); }
+
     /* destructor's never called.... 
     ~DevMgr() { pthread_mutex_destroy( &m_mapLock ); }
     */
@@ -52,6 +53,10 @@ class DevMgr {
         time_t m_added;
     };
 
+    DevMgr() { pthread_mutex_init( &m_mapLock, NULL ); }
+    void addDevice( map<uint32_t, DevIDRelay>& devs, 
+                    map<DevIDRelay,UDPAddrRec>::const_iterator iter );
+
     map<DevIDRelay,UDPAddrRec> m_devAddrMap;
     map<AddrInfo::AddrUnion, DevIDRelay> m_addrDevMap; 
     pthread_mutex_t m_mapLock;
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.cpp b/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.cpp
index ad57fe251..82bcad572 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.cpp
+++ b/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.cpp
@@ -601,6 +601,62 @@ send_havemsgs( const AddrInfo* addr )
     send_via_udp( addr, NULL, XWPDEV_HAVEMSGS, NULL );
 }
 
+class MsgClosure {
+public:
+    MsgClosure( DevIDRelay devid, gpointer msg, uint16_t len )
+    {
+        m_devid = devid;
+        m_len = len;
+        m_msg = g_malloc(len);
+        memcpy( m_msg, msg, len );
+    }
+    ~MsgClosure() {
+        g_free( m_msg );
+    }
+    DevIDRelay m_devid;
+    uint16_t m_len;
+    gpointer m_msg;
+};
+
+static void
+onPostedMsgAcked( bool acked, uint32_t packetID, void* data )
+{
+    MsgClosure* mc = (MsgClosure*)data;
+    if ( !acked ) {
+        DBMgr::Get()->StoreMessage( mc->m_devid, 
+                                    (const unsigned char*)mc->m_msg, 
+                                    mc->m_len );
+    }
+    delete mc;
+}
+
+bool
+post_message( DevIDRelay devid, const char* message )
+{
+    const AddrInfo::AddrUnion* addru = DevMgr::Get()->get( devid );
+    bool success = !!addru;
+    if ( success ) {
+        AddrInfo addr( addru );
+        short len = strlen(message);
+        short netLen = htons(len);
+        uint32_t packetID;
+        uint8_t buf[len + sizeof(netLen) + sizeof(XWPDEV_METAMSG)];
+        buf[0] = XWPDEV_METAMSG;
+        memcpy( &buf[sizeof(XWPDEV_METAMSG)], &netLen, sizeof(netLen) );
+        memcpy( &buf[sizeof(XWPDEV_METAMSG) + sizeof(netLen)], message, len );
+
+        bool sent = send_via_udp( &addr, &packetID, XWPDEV_METAMSG, &buf[1], 
+                                  VSIZE(buf)-1, NULL );
+        if ( sent ) {
+            MsgClosure* mc = new MsgClosure( devid, buf, VSIZE(buf) );
+            UDPAckTrack::setOnAck( onPostedMsgAcked, packetID, (void*)mc );
+        } else {
+            DBMgr::Get()->StoreMessage( devid, (const unsigned char*)buf, VSIZE(buf) );
+        }
+    }
+    return success;
+}
+
 /* A CONNECT message from a device gives us the hostID and socket we'll
  * associate with one participant in a relayed session.  We'll store this
  * information with the cookie where other participants can find it when they
@@ -1355,8 +1411,11 @@ retrieveMessages( DevID& devID, const AddrInfo* addr )
     for ( iter = msgs.begin(); iter != msgs.end(); ++iter ) {
         DBMgr::MsgInfo msg = *iter;
         uint32_t packetID;
-        if ( !send_msg_via_udp( addr, msg.token, (unsigned char*)msg.msg.c_str(), 
+        if ( !send_msg_via_udp( addr, msg.token, 
+                                (unsigned char*)msg.msg.c_str(), 
                                 msg.msg.length(), &packetID ) ) {
+            logf( XW_LOGERROR, "%s: unable to send to devID %d", 
+                  __func__, devID.asRelayID() );
             break;
         }
         UDPAckTrack::setOnAck( onMsgAcked, packetID, (void*)msg.msgID );
@@ -1471,7 +1530,13 @@ handle_udp_packet( UdpThreadClosure* utc )
             DevID devID( ID_TYPE_RELAY );
             devID.m_devIDString.append( (const char*)ptr, idLen );
             ptr += idLen;
-            retrieveMessages( devID, utc->addr() );
+
+            const AddrInfo* addr = utc->addr();
+            DevMgr::Get()->Remember( devID.asRelayID(), addr );
+
+            if ( XWPDEV_RQSTMSGS == header.cmd ) {
+                retrieveMessages( devID, addr );
+            }
             break;
         }
         case XWPDEV_ACK: {
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.h b/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.h
index 2674f7c89..43266f8b2 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.h
+++ b/xwords4/relay/xwrelay.h
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ enum { XWPDEV_NONE             /* 0 is an illegal value */
        ,XWPDEV_DELGAME          /* dev->relay: game's been deleted.  format:
                                    header, relayid: 4, clientToken: 4 */
 
+       ,XWPDEV_METAMSG          /* Message to be displayed to user */
+
 }
 #ifndef CANT_DO_TYPEDEF
  XWRelayReg
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/xwrelay_priv.h b/xwords4/relay/xwrelay_priv.h
index 7c5bc0577..35b9fa57f 100644
--- a/xwords4/relay/xwrelay_priv.h
+++ b/xwords4/relay/xwrelay_priv.h
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ bool send_with_length_unsafe( const AddrInfo* addr,
                               uint32_t* packetIDP );
 void send_havemsgs( const AddrInfo* addr );
 
+bool post_message( DevIDRelay devid, const char* message );
+
 time_t uptime(void);
 
 void blockSignals( void );      /* call from all but main thread */