diff --git a/etc/ecl.php b/etc/ecl.php
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..f55b615235
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/ecl.php
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+<?php
+/*  
+	external config loader
+	Copyright (C) 2010 Scott Ullrich
+	All rights reserved.
+
+	Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+	modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+	1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+	   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+	2. 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 ``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
+	AUTHOR 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.
+ 
+*/
+
+require("globals.inc");
+require("functions.inc");
+
+function get_boot_disk() {
+	global $g;
+	$disk = `/sbin/mount | /usr/bin/grep "on / " | /usr/bin/cut -d'/' -f3 | /usr/bin/cut -d' ' -f1`;
+	return $disk;
+}
+
+function get_disks() {
+	global $g;
+	$disks_array = array();
+	$disks = `/sbin/sysctl kern.disks | cut -d':' -f2`;
+	$disks_s = explode(" ", $disks);
+	foreach($disks_s as $disk) 
+		if(trim($disk))
+			$disks_array[] = $disk;
+	return $disks_array;
+}
+
+// Probes all disks looking for config.xml
+function find_config_xml() {
+	global $g;
+	$disks = get_disks();
+	$boot_disk = get_boot_disk();
+	exec("mkdir -p /tmp/mnt/cf");
+	$found_config = false;
+	foreach($disks as $disk) {
+		echo " $disk";
+		// First try msdos fs
+		$result = exec("/sbin/mount -t msdos /dev/{$disk} /tmp/mnt/cf 2>/dev/null");
+		// Next try regular fs (ufs)
+		if(!$result) 
+			$result = exec("/sbin/mount /dev/{$disk} /tmp/mnt/cf 2>/dev/null");
+		if($result == "0") {
+			// Item was mounted - look for config.xml file
+			$config_location = discover_config($disk);
+			if($config_location) {
+				if(test_config($config_location)) {
+					// We have a valid configuration.  Install it.
+					echo " -> found ";
+					backup_config();
+					restore_backup($config_location);
+					exec("/sbin/unount /tmp/mnt/cf");
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+function discover_config($mountpoint) {
+	global $g;
+	$locations_to_check = array("/", "/conf", "/conf.default", "/config");
+	foreach($locations_to_check as $ltc) {
+		$tocheck = "{$mountpoint}{$ltc}/config.xml";
+		if(file_exists($tocheck)) 
+			return $tocheck;
+	}
+	return "";
+}
+
+function test_config($file_location) {
+	global $g;
+	// config.xml was found.  ensure it is sound.
+	$root_obj = $g['xml_rootobj'];
+	$xml_file_head = trim(`/bin/cat {$file_location} | /usr/bin/head -n1`);
+	if($xml_file_head == $root_obj) {
+		// Now parse config to make sure
+		$config_status = config_validate($file_location);
+		if($config_status) 	
+			return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+echo "External config loader 1.0 is now starting...";
+find_config_xml();
+echo "\n";
+
+?>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/etc/rc b/etc/rc
index ab1b46092c..88813f5597 100755
--- a/etc/rc
+++ b/etc/rc
@@ -342,6 +342,21 @@ cap_mkdb /etc/login.conf
 # /usr/local/etc/php.ini and /usr/local/lib/php.ini
 /etc/rc.php_ini_setup
 
+# Launch external configuration loader for supported platforms
+if [ "$PLATFORM" = "embedded" ]; then
+	/etc/ecl.php
+fi
+
+# Launch external configuration loader for supported platforms
+if [ "$PLATFORM" = "nanobsd" ]; then
+	/etc/ecl.php
+fi
+
+# Launch external configuration loader for supported platforms
+if [ "$PLATFORM" = "pfSense" ]; then
+	/etc/ecl.php
+fi
+
 nohup /usr/bin/nice -n20 /usr/local/sbin/check_reload_status
 
 # let the PHP-based configuration subsystem set up the system now