diff --git a/examples/service_discovery.py b/examples/service_discovery.py
index a0f37b88..64697e5b 100644
--- a/examples/service_discovery.py
+++ b/examples/service_discovery.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ async def main(service_name):
     async with tractor.open_nursery() as an:
         await an.start_actor(service_name)
 
-        async with tractor.get_registry('127.0.0.1', 1616) as portal:
+        async with tractor.get_registry(('127.0.0.1', 1616)) as portal:
             print(f"Arbiter is listening on {portal.channel}")
 
         async with tractor.wait_for_actor(service_name) as sockaddr:
diff --git a/tests/test_discovery.py b/tests/test_discovery.py
index 87455983..18b2aa1b 100644
--- a/tests/test_discovery.py
+++ b/tests/test_discovery.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ async def test_reg_then_unreg(reg_addr):
         portal = await n.start_actor('actor', enable_modules=[__name__])
         uid = portal.channel.uid
 
-        async with tractor.get_registry(*reg_addr) as aportal:
+        async with tractor.get_registry(reg_addr) as aportal:
             # this local actor should be the arbiter
             assert actor is aportal.actor
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ async def spawn_and_check_registry(
     async with tractor.open_root_actor(
         registry_addrs=[reg_addr],
     ):
-        async with tractor.get_registry(*reg_addr) as portal:
+        async with tractor.get_registry(reg_addr) as portal:
             # runtime needs to be up to call this
             actor = tractor.current_actor()
 
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ async def close_chans_before_nursery(
     async with tractor.open_root_actor(
         registry_addrs=[reg_addr],
     ):
-        async with tractor.get_registry(*reg_addr) as aportal:
+        async with tractor.get_registry(reg_addr) as aportal:
             try:
                 get_reg = partial(unpack_reg, aportal)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_inter_peer_cancellation.py b/tests/test_inter_peer_cancellation.py
index bac9a791..25935df2 100644
--- a/tests/test_inter_peer_cancellation.py
+++ b/tests/test_inter_peer_cancellation.py
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ async def serve_subactors(
                 )
                 await ipc.send((
                     peer.chan.uid,
-                    peer.chan.raddr,
+                    peer.chan.raddr.unwrap(),
                 ))
 
         print('Spawner exiting spawn serve loop!')
diff --git a/tests/test_local.py b/tests/test_local.py
index ecdad5fe..c6f5047a 100644
--- a/tests/test_local.py
+++ b/tests/test_local.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ async def test_self_is_registered_localportal(reg_addr):
     "Verify waiting on the arbiter to register itself using a local portal."
     actor = tractor.current_actor()
     assert actor.is_arbiter
-    async with tractor.get_registry(*reg_addr) as portal:
+    async with tractor.get_registry(reg_addr) as portal:
         assert isinstance(portal, tractor._portal.LocalPortal)
 
         with trio.fail_after(0.2):
diff --git a/tests/test_multi_program.py b/tests/test_multi_program.py
index 860eeebb..b0b145ee 100644
--- a/tests/test_multi_program.py
+++ b/tests/test_multi_program.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def test_abort_on_sigint(daemon):
 @tractor_test
 async def test_cancel_remote_arbiter(daemon, reg_addr):
     assert not tractor.current_actor().is_arbiter
-    async with tractor.get_registry(*reg_addr) as portal:
+    async with tractor.get_registry(reg_addr) as portal:
         await portal.cancel_actor()
 
     time.sleep(0.1)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ async def test_cancel_remote_arbiter(daemon, reg_addr):
 
     # no arbiter socket should exist
     with pytest.raises(OSError):
-        async with tractor.get_registry(*reg_addr) as portal:
+        async with tractor.get_registry(reg_addr) as portal:
             pass
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_spawning.py b/tests/test_spawning.py
index 99ec9abc..58aa955a 100644
--- a/tests/test_spawning.py
+++ b/tests/test_spawning.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ async def movie_theatre_question():
 async def test_movie_theatre_convo(start_method):
     """The main ``tractor`` routine.
     """
-    async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
+    async with tractor.open_nursery(debug_mode=True) as n:
 
         portal = await n.start_actor(
             'frank',
diff --git a/tractor/_addr.py b/tractor/_addr.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0944c89d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tractor/_addr.py
@@ -0,0 +1,301 @@
+# tractor: structured concurrent "actors".
+# Copyright 2018-eternity Tyler Goodlet.
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+from __future__ import annotations
+import tempfile
+from uuid import uuid4
+from typing import (
+    Protocol,
+    ClassVar,
+    TypeVar,
+    Union,
+    Type
+)
+
+import trio
+from trio import socket
+
+
+NamespaceType = TypeVar('NamespaceType')
+AddressType = TypeVar('AddressType')
+StreamType = TypeVar('StreamType')
+ListenerType = TypeVar('ListenerType')
+
+
+class Address(Protocol[
+    NamespaceType,
+    AddressType,
+    StreamType,
+    ListenerType
+]):
+
+    name_key: ClassVar[str]
+    address_type: ClassVar[Type[AddressType]]
+
+    @property
+    def is_valid(self) -> bool:
+        ...
+
+    @property
+    def namespace(self) -> NamespaceType|None:
+        ...
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_addr(cls, addr: AddressType) -> Address:
+        ...
+
+    def unwrap(self) -> AddressType:
+        ...
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_random(cls, namespace: NamespaceType | None = None) -> Address:
+        ...
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_root(cls) -> Address:
+        ...
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        ...
+
+    def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
+        ...
+
+    async def open_stream(self, **kwargs) -> StreamType:
+        ...
+
+    async def open_listener(self, **kwargs) -> ListenerType:
+        ...
+
+
+class TCPAddress(Address[
+    str,
+    tuple[str, int],
+    trio.SocketStream,
+    trio.SocketListener
+]):
+
+    name_key: str = 'tcp'
+    address_type: type = tuple[str, int]
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        host: str,
+        port: int
+    ):
+        if (
+            not isinstance(host, str)
+            or
+            not isinstance(port, int)
+        ):
+            raise TypeError(f'Expected host {host} to be str and port {port} to be int')
+        self._host = host
+        self._port = port
+
+    @property
+    def is_valid(self) -> bool:
+        return self._port != 0
+
+    @property
+    def namespace(self) -> str:
+        return self._host
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_addr(cls, addr: tuple[str, int]) -> TCPAddress:
+        return TCPAddress(addr[0], addr[1])
+
+    def unwrap(self) -> tuple[str, int]:
+        return self._host, self._port
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_random(cls, namespace: str = '127.0.0.1') -> TCPAddress:
+        return TCPAddress(namespace, 0)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_root(cls) -> Address:
+        return TCPAddress('127.0.0.1', 1616)
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{type(self)} @ {self.unwrap()}'
+
+    def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(other, TCPAddress):
+            raise TypeError(
+                f'Can not compare {type(other)} with {type(self)}'
+            )
+
+        return (
+            self._host == other._host
+            and
+            self._port == other._port
+        )
+
+    async def open_stream(self, **kwargs) -> trio.SocketStream:
+        stream = await trio.open_tcp_stream(
+            self._host,
+            self._port,
+            **kwargs
+        )
+        self._host, self._port = stream.socket.getsockname()[:2]
+        return stream
+
+    async def open_listener(self, **kwargs) -> trio.SocketListener:
+        listeners = await trio.open_tcp_listeners(
+            host=self._host,
+            port=self._port,
+            **kwargs
+        )
+        assert len(listeners) == 1
+        listener = listeners[0]
+        self._host, self._port = listener.socket.getsockname()[:2]
+        return listener
+
+
+class UDSAddress(Address[
+    None,
+    str,
+    trio.SocketStream,
+    trio.SocketListener
+]):
+
+    name_key: str = 'uds'
+    address_type: type = str
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        filepath: str
+    ):
+        self._filepath = filepath
+
+    @property
+    def is_valid(self) -> bool:
+        return True
+
+    @property
+    def namespace(self) -> None:
+        return
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_addr(cls, filepath: str) -> UDSAddress:
+        return UDSAddress(filepath)
+
+    def unwrap(self) -> str:
+        return self._filepath
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_random(cls, _ns: None = None) -> UDSAddress:
+        return UDSAddress(f'{tempfile.gettempdir()}/{uuid4().sock}')
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_root(cls) -> Address:
+        return UDSAddress('tractor.sock')
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{type(self)} @ {self._filepath}'
+
+    def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(other, UDSAddress):
+            raise TypeError(
+                f'Can not compare {type(other)} with {type(self)}'
+            )
+
+        return self._filepath == other._filepath
+
+    async def open_stream(self, **kwargs) -> trio.SocketStream:
+        stream = await trio.open_tcp_stream(
+            self._filepath,
+            **kwargs
+        )
+        self._binded = True
+        return stream
+
+    async def open_listener(self, **kwargs) -> trio.SocketListener:
+        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+        sock.bind(self._filepath)
+        sock.listen()
+        self._binded = True
+        return trio.SocketListener(sock)
+
+
+preferred_transport = 'tcp'
+
+
+_address_types = (
+    TCPAddress,
+    UDSAddress
+)
+
+
+_default_addrs: dict[str, Type[Address]] = {
+    cls.name_key: cls
+    for cls in _address_types
+}
+
+
+AddressTypes = Union[
+    tuple([
+        cls.address_type
+        for cls in _address_types
+    ])
+]
+
+
+_default_lo_addrs: dict[
+    str,
+    AddressTypes
+] = {
+    cls.name_key: cls.get_root().unwrap()
+    for cls in _address_types
+}
+
+
+def get_address_cls(name: str) -> Type[Address]:
+    return _default_addrs[name]
+
+
+def is_wrapped_addr(addr: any) -> bool:
+    return type(addr) in _address_types
+
+
+def wrap_address(addr: AddressTypes) -> Address:
+
+    if is_wrapped_addr(addr):
+        return addr
+
+    cls = None
+    match addr:
+        case str():
+            cls = UDSAddress
+
+        case tuple() | list():
+            cls = TCPAddress
+
+        case None:
+            cls = get_address_cls(preferred_transport)
+            addr = cls.get_root().unwrap()
+
+        case _:
+            raise TypeError(
+                f'Can not wrap addr {addr} of type {type(addr)}'
+            )
+
+    return cls.from_addr(addr)
+
+
+def default_lo_addrs(transports: list[str]) -> list[AddressTypes]:
+    return [
+        _default_lo_addrs[transport]
+        for transport in transports
+    ]
diff --git a/tractor/_child.py b/tractor/_child.py
index 4226ae90..69142889 100644
--- a/tractor/_child.py
+++ b/tractor/_child.py
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ def parse_uid(arg):
     return str(name), str(uuid)  # ensures str encoding
 
 def parse_ipaddr(arg):
-    host, port = literal_eval(arg)
-    return (str(host), int(port))
+    return literal_eval(arg)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/tractor/_context.py b/tractor/_context.py
index d93d7759..19f3daef 100644
--- a/tractor/_context.py
+++ b/tractor/_context.py
@@ -859,19 +859,10 @@ class Context:
     @property
     def dst_maddr(self) -> str:
         chan: Channel = self.chan
-        dst_addr, dst_port = chan.raddr
         trans: MsgTransport = chan.transport
         # cid: str = self.cid
         # cid_head, cid_tail = cid[:6], cid[-6:]
-        return (
-            f'/ipv4/{dst_addr}'
-            f'/{trans.name_key}/{dst_port}'
-            # f'/{self.chan.uid[0]}'
-            # f'/{self.cid}'
-
-            # f'/cid={cid_head}..{cid_tail}'
-            # TODO: ? not use this ^ right ?
-        )
+        return trans.maddr
 
     dmaddr = dst_maddr
 
diff --git a/tractor/_discovery.py b/tractor/_discovery.py
index f6f4b9d9..9258b3de 100644
--- a/tractor/_discovery.py
+++ b/tractor/_discovery.py
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ from contextlib import asynccontextmanager as acm
 from tractor.log import get_logger
 from .trionics import gather_contexts
 from .ipc import _connect_chan, Channel
+from ._addr import (
+    AddressTypes,
+    Address,
+    preferred_transport,
+    wrap_address
+)
 from ._portal import (
     Portal,
     open_portal,
@@ -48,11 +54,7 @@ log = get_logger(__name__)
 
 
 @acm
-async def get_registry(
-    host: str,
-    port: int,
-
-) -> AsyncGenerator[
+async def get_registry(addr: AddressTypes) -> AsyncGenerator[
     Portal | LocalPortal | None,
     None,
 ]:
@@ -69,13 +71,13 @@ async def get_registry(
         # (likely a re-entrant call from the arbiter actor)
         yield LocalPortal(
             actor,
-            Channel((host, port))
+            await Channel.from_addr(addr)
         )
     else:
         # TODO: try to look pre-existing connection from
         # `Actor._peers` and use it instead?
         async with (
-            _connect_chan((host, port)) as chan,
+            _connect_chan(addr) as chan,
             open_portal(chan) as regstr_ptl,
         ):
             yield regstr_ptl
@@ -89,11 +91,10 @@ async def get_root(
 
     # TODO: rename mailbox to `_root_maddr` when we finally
     # add and impl libp2p multi-addrs?
-    host, port = _runtime_vars['_root_mailbox']
-    assert host is not None
+    addr = _runtime_vars['_root_mailbox']
 
     async with (
-        _connect_chan((host, port)) as chan,
+        _connect_chan(addr) as chan,
         open_portal(chan, **kwargs) as portal,
     ):
         yield portal
@@ -134,10 +135,10 @@ def get_peer_by_name(
 @acm
 async def query_actor(
     name: str,
-    regaddr: tuple[str, int]|None = None,
+    regaddr: AddressTypes|None = None,
 
 ) -> AsyncGenerator[
-    tuple[str, int]|None,
+    AddressTypes|None,
     None,
 ]:
     '''
@@ -163,31 +164,31 @@ async def query_actor(
         return
 
     reg_portal: Portal
-    regaddr: tuple[str, int] = regaddr or actor.reg_addrs[0]
-    async with get_registry(*regaddr) as reg_portal:
+    regaddr: Address = wrap_address(regaddr) or actor.reg_addrs[0]
+    async with get_registry(regaddr) as reg_portal:
         # TODO: return portals to all available actors - for now
         # just the last one that registered
-        sockaddr: tuple[str, int] = await reg_portal.run_from_ns(
+        addr: AddressTypes = await reg_portal.run_from_ns(
             'self',
             'find_actor',
             name=name,
         )
-        yield sockaddr
+        yield addr
 
 
 @acm
 async def maybe_open_portal(
-    addr: tuple[str, int],
+    addr: AddressTypes,
     name: str,
 ):
     async with query_actor(
         name=name,
         regaddr=addr,
-    ) as sockaddr:
+    ) as addr:
         pass
 
-    if sockaddr:
-        async with _connect_chan(sockaddr) as chan:
+    if addr:
+        async with _connect_chan(addr) as chan:
             async with open_portal(chan) as portal:
                 yield portal
     else:
@@ -197,7 +198,8 @@ async def maybe_open_portal(
 @acm
 async def find_actor(
     name: str,
-    registry_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]]|None = None,
+    registry_addrs: list[AddressTypes]|None = None,
+    enable_transports: list[str] = [preferred_transport],
 
     only_first: bool = True,
     raise_on_none: bool = False,
@@ -224,15 +226,15 @@ async def find_actor(
         # XXX NOTE: make sure to dynamically read the value on
         # every call since something may change it globally (eg.
         # like in our discovery test suite)!
-        from . import _root
+        from ._addr import default_lo_addrs
         registry_addrs = (
             _runtime_vars['_registry_addrs']
             or
-            _root._default_lo_addrs
+            default_lo_addrs(enable_transports)
         )
 
     maybe_portals: list[
-        AsyncContextManager[tuple[str, int]]
+        AsyncContextManager[AddressTypes]
     ] = list(
         maybe_open_portal(
             addr=addr,
@@ -274,7 +276,7 @@ async def find_actor(
 @acm
 async def wait_for_actor(
     name: str,
-    registry_addr: tuple[str, int] | None = None,
+    registry_addr: AddressTypes | None = None,
 
 ) -> AsyncGenerator[Portal, None]:
     '''
@@ -291,7 +293,7 @@ async def wait_for_actor(
             yield peer_portal
             return
 
-    regaddr: tuple[str, int] = (
+    regaddr: AddressTypes = (
         registry_addr
         or
         actor.reg_addrs[0]
@@ -299,8 +301,8 @@ async def wait_for_actor(
     # TODO: use `.trionics.gather_contexts()` like
     # above in `find_actor()` as well?
     reg_portal: Portal
-    async with get_registry(*regaddr) as reg_portal:
-        sockaddrs = await reg_portal.run_from_ns(
+    async with get_registry(regaddr) as reg_portal:
+        addrs = await reg_portal.run_from_ns(
             'self',
             'wait_for_actor',
             name=name,
@@ -308,8 +310,8 @@ async def wait_for_actor(
 
         # get latest registered addr by default?
         # TODO: offer multi-portal yields in multi-homed case?
-        sockaddr: tuple[str, int] = sockaddrs[-1]
+        addr: AddressTypes = addrs[-1]
 
-        async with _connect_chan(sockaddr) as chan:
+        async with _connect_chan(addr) as chan:
             async with open_portal(chan) as portal:
                 yield portal
diff --git a/tractor/_entry.py b/tractor/_entry.py
index 8156d25f..1328aa45 100644
--- a/tractor/_entry.py
+++ b/tractor/_entry.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ from .log import (
 from . import _state
 from .devx import _debug
 from .to_asyncio import run_as_asyncio_guest
+from ._addr import AddressTypes
 from ._runtime import (
     async_main,
     Actor,
@@ -52,10 +53,10 @@ log = get_logger(__name__)
 def _mp_main(
 
     actor: Actor,
-    accept_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]],
+    accept_addrs: list[AddressTypes],
     forkserver_info: tuple[Any, Any, Any, Any, Any],
     start_method: SpawnMethodKey,
-    parent_addr: tuple[str, int] | None = None,
+    parent_addr: AddressTypes | None = None,
     infect_asyncio: bool = False,
 
 ) -> None:
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ def nest_from_op(
 def _trio_main(
     actor: Actor,
     *,
-    parent_addr: tuple[str, int] | None = None,
+    parent_addr: AddressTypes | None = None,
     infect_asyncio: bool = False,
 
 ) -> None:
diff --git a/tractor/_root.py b/tractor/_root.py
index 40682a7a..e9cac3f2 100644
--- a/tractor/_root.py
+++ b/tractor/_root.py
@@ -43,21 +43,18 @@ from .devx import _debug
 from . import _spawn
 from . import _state
 from . import log
-from .ipc import _connect_chan
+from .ipc import (
+    _connect_chan,
+)
+from ._addr import (
+    AddressTypes,
+    wrap_address,
+    preferred_transport,
+    default_lo_addrs
+)
 from ._exceptions import is_multi_cancelled
 
 
-# set at startup and after forks
-_default_host: str = '127.0.0.1'
-_default_port: int = 1616
-
-# default registry always on localhost
-_default_lo_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = [(
-    _default_host,
-    _default_port,
-)]
-
-
 logger = log.get_logger('tractor')
 
 
@@ -66,10 +63,12 @@ async def open_root_actor(
 
     *,
     # defaults are above
-    registry_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]]|None = None,
+    registry_addrs: list[AddressTypes]|None = None,
 
     # defaults are above
-    arbiter_addr: tuple[str, int]|None = None,
+    arbiter_addr: tuple[AddressTypes]|None = None,
+
+    enable_transports: list[str] = [preferred_transport],
 
     name: str|None = 'root',
 
@@ -195,11 +194,9 @@ async def open_root_actor(
         )
         registry_addrs = [arbiter_addr]
 
-    registry_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = (
-        registry_addrs
-        or
-        _default_lo_addrs
-    )
+    if not registry_addrs:
+        registry_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = default_lo_addrs(enable_transports)
+
     assert registry_addrs
 
     loglevel = (
@@ -248,10 +245,10 @@ async def open_root_actor(
         enable_stack_on_sig()
 
     # closed into below ping task-func
-    ponged_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = []
+    ponged_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = []
 
     async def ping_tpt_socket(
-        addr: tuple[str, int],
+        addr: AddressTypes,
         timeout: float = 1,
     ) -> None:
         '''
@@ -284,10 +281,10 @@ async def open_root_actor(
         for addr in registry_addrs:
             tn.start_soon(
                 ping_tpt_socket,
-                tuple(addr),  # TODO: just drop this requirement?
+                addr,
             )
 
-    trans_bind_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = []
+    trans_bind_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = []
 
     # Create a new local root-actor instance which IS NOT THE
     # REGISTRAR
@@ -311,9 +308,12 @@ async def open_root_actor(
         )
         # DO NOT use the registry_addrs as the transport server
         # addrs for this new non-registar, root-actor.
-        for host, port in ponged_addrs:
-            # NOTE: zero triggers dynamic OS port allocation
-            trans_bind_addrs.append((host, 0))
+        for addr in ponged_addrs:
+            waddr = wrap_address(addr)
+            print(waddr)
+            trans_bind_addrs.append(
+                waddr.get_random(namespace=waddr.namespace)
+            )
 
     # Start this local actor as the "registrar", aka a regular
     # actor who manages the local registry of "mailboxes" of
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ async def open_root_actor(
 
         # NOTE that if the current actor IS THE REGISTAR, the
         # following init steps are taken:
-        # - the tranport layer server is bound to each (host, port)
+        # - the tranport layer server is bound to each addr
         #   pair defined in provided registry_addrs, or the default.
         trans_bind_addrs = registry_addrs
 
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ def run_daemon(
 
     # runtime kwargs
     name: str | None = 'root',
-    registry_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = _default_lo_addrs,
+    registry_addrs: list[AddressTypes]|None = None,
 
     start_method: str | None = None,
     debug_mode: bool = False,
diff --git a/tractor/_runtime.py b/tractor/_runtime.py
index eaab31b6..e755d5ce 100644
--- a/tractor/_runtime.py
+++ b/tractor/_runtime.py
@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ from tractor.msg import (
     types as msgtypes,
 )
 from .ipc import Channel
+from ._addr import (
+    AddressTypes,
+    Address,
+    TCPAddress,
+    wrap_address,
+)
 from ._context import (
     mk_context,
     Context,
@@ -179,11 +185,11 @@ class Actor:
         enable_modules: list[str] = [],
         uid: str|None = None,
         loglevel: str|None = None,
-        registry_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]]|None = None,
+        registry_addrs: list[AddressTypes]|None = None,
         spawn_method: str|None = None,
 
         # TODO: remove!
-        arbiter_addr: tuple[str, int]|None = None,
+        arbiter_addr: AddressTypes|None = None,
 
     ) -> None:
         '''
@@ -223,7 +229,7 @@ class Actor:
                 DeprecationWarning,
                 stacklevel=2,
             )
-            registry_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = [arbiter_addr]
+            registry_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = [arbiter_addr]
 
         # marked by the process spawning backend at startup
         # will be None for the parent most process started manually
@@ -257,6 +263,7 @@ class Actor:
         ] = {}
 
         self._listeners: list[trio.abc.Listener] = []
+        self._listen_addrs: list[Address] = []
         self._parent_chan: Channel|None = None
         self._forkserver_info: tuple|None = None
 
@@ -269,13 +276,13 @@ class Actor:
 
         # when provided, init the registry addresses property from
         # input via the validator.
-        self._reg_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = []
+        self._reg_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = []
         if registry_addrs:
-            self.reg_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = registry_addrs
+            self.reg_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = registry_addrs
             _state._runtime_vars['_registry_addrs'] = registry_addrs
 
     @property
-    def reg_addrs(self) -> list[tuple[str, int]]:
+    def reg_addrs(self) -> list[AddressTypes]:
         '''
         List of (socket) addresses for all known (and contactable)
         registry actors.
@@ -286,7 +293,7 @@ class Actor:
     @reg_addrs.setter
     def reg_addrs(
         self,
-        addrs: list[tuple[str, int]],
+        addrs: list[AddressTypes],
     ) -> None:
         if not addrs:
             log.warning(
@@ -295,16 +302,7 @@ class Actor:
             )
             return
 
-        # always sanity check the input list since it's critical
-        # that addrs are correct for discovery sys operation.
-        for addr in addrs:
-            if not isinstance(addr, tuple):
-                raise ValueError(
-                    'Expected `Actor.reg_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]]`\n'
-                    f'Got {addrs}'
-                )
-
-            self._reg_addrs = addrs
+        self._reg_addrs = addrs
 
     async def wait_for_peer(
         self,
@@ -1024,11 +1022,11 @@ class Actor:
 
     async def _from_parent(
         self,
-        parent_addr: tuple[str, int]|None,
+        parent_addr: AddressTypes|None,
 
     ) -> tuple[
         Channel,
-        list[tuple[str, int]]|None,
+        list[AddressTypes]|None,
     ]:
         '''
         Bootstrap this local actor's runtime config from its parent by
@@ -1040,13 +1038,13 @@ class Actor:
             # Connect back to the parent actor and conduct initial
             # handshake. From this point on if we error, we
             # attempt to ship the exception back to the parent.
-            chan = await Channel.from_destaddr(parent_addr)
+            chan = await Channel.from_addr(wrap_address(parent_addr))
 
             # TODO: move this into a `Channel.handshake()`?
             # Initial handshake: swap names.
             await self._do_handshake(chan)
 
-            accept_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]]|None = None
+            accept_addrs: list[AddressTypes]|None = None
 
             if self._spawn_method == "trio":
 
@@ -1063,7 +1061,7 @@ class Actor:
                     # if "trace"/"util" mode is enabled?
                     f'{pretty_struct.pformat(spawnspec)}\n'
                 )
-                accept_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = spawnspec.bind_addrs
+                accept_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = spawnspec.bind_addrs
 
                 # TODO: another `Struct` for rtvs..
                 rvs: dict[str, Any] = spawnspec._runtime_vars
@@ -1170,8 +1168,7 @@ class Actor:
         self,
         handler_nursery: Nursery,
         *,
-        # (host, port) to bind for channel server
-        listen_sockaddrs: list[tuple[str, int]]|None = None,
+        listen_addrs: list[AddressTypes]|None = None,
 
         task_status: TaskStatus[Nursery] = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
     ) -> None:
@@ -1183,37 +1180,39 @@ class Actor:
         `.cancel_server()` is called.
 
         '''
-        if listen_sockaddrs is None:
-            listen_sockaddrs = [(None, 0)]
+        if listen_addrs is None:
+            listen_addrs = [TCPAddress.get_random()]
+
+        else:
+            listen_addrs: list[Address] = [
+                wrap_address(a) for a in listen_addrs
+            ]
 
         self._server_down = trio.Event()
         try:
             async with trio.open_nursery() as server_n:
+                listeners: list[trio.abc.Listener] = [
+                    await addr.open_listener()
+                    for addr in listen_addrs
+                ]
+                await server_n.start(
+                    partial(
+                        trio.serve_listeners,
+                        handler=self._stream_handler,
+                        listeners=listeners,
 
-                for host, port in listen_sockaddrs:
-                    listeners: list[trio.abc.Listener] = await server_n.start(
-                        partial(
-                            trio.serve_tcp,
-
-                            handler=self._stream_handler,
-                            port=port,
-                            host=host,
-
-                            # NOTE: configured such that new
-                            # connections will stay alive even if
-                            # this server is cancelled!
-                            handler_nursery=handler_nursery,
-                        )
+                        # NOTE: configured such that new
+                        # connections will stay alive even if
+                        # this server is cancelled!
+                        handler_nursery=handler_nursery
                     )
-                    sockets: list[trio.socket] = [
-                        getattr(listener, 'socket', 'unknown socket')
-                        for listener in listeners
-                    ]
-                    log.runtime(
-                        'Started TCP server(s)\n'
-                        f'|_{sockets}\n'
-                    )
-                    self._listeners.extend(listeners)
+                )
+                log.runtime(
+                    'Started server(s)\n'
+                    '\n'.join([f'|_{addr}' for addr in listen_addrs])
+                )
+                self._listen_addrs.extend(listen_addrs)
+                self._listeners.extend(listeners)
 
                 task_status.started(server_n)
 
@@ -1576,26 +1575,21 @@ class Actor:
         return False
 
     @property
-    def accept_addrs(self) -> list[tuple[str, int]]:
+    def accept_addrs(self) -> list[AddressTypes]:
         '''
         All addresses to which the transport-channel server binds
         and listens for new connections.
 
         '''
-        # throws OSError on failure
-        return [
-            listener.socket.getsockname() 
-            for listener in self._listeners
-        ]  # type: ignore
+        return [a.unwrap() for a in self._listen_addrs]
 
     @property
-    def accept_addr(self) -> tuple[str, int]:
+    def accept_addr(self) -> AddressTypes:
         '''
         Primary address to which the IPC transport server is
         bound and listening for new connections.
 
         '''
-        # throws OSError on failure
         return self.accept_addrs[0]
 
     def get_parent(self) -> Portal:
@@ -1667,7 +1661,7 @@ class Actor:
 
 async def async_main(
     actor: Actor,
-    accept_addrs: tuple[str, int]|None = None,
+    accept_addrs: AddressTypes|None = None,
 
     # XXX: currently ``parent_addr`` is only needed for the
     # ``multiprocessing`` backend (which pickles state sent to
@@ -1676,7 +1670,7 @@ async def async_main(
     # change this to a simple ``is_subactor: bool`` which will
     # be False when running as root actor and True when as
     # a subactor.
-    parent_addr: tuple[str, int]|None = None,
+    parent_addr: AddressTypes|None = None,
     task_status: TaskStatus[None] = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
 
 ) -> None:
@@ -1766,7 +1760,7 @@ async def async_main(
                         partial(
                             actor._serve_forever,
                             service_nursery,
-                            listen_sockaddrs=accept_addrs,
+                            listen_addrs=accept_addrs,
                         )
                     )
                 except OSError as oserr:
@@ -1782,7 +1776,7 @@ async def async_main(
 
                     raise
 
-                accept_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = actor.accept_addrs
+                accept_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = actor.accept_addrs
 
                 # NOTE: only set the loopback addr for the 
                 # process-tree-global "root" mailbox since
@@ -1790,9 +1784,8 @@ async def async_main(
                 # their root actor over that channel.
                 if _state._runtime_vars['_is_root']:
                     for addr in accept_addrs:
-                        host, _ = addr
-                        # TODO: generic 'lo' detector predicate
-                        if '127.0.0.1' in host:
+                        waddr = wrap_address(addr)
+                        if waddr == waddr.get_root():
                             _state._runtime_vars['_root_mailbox'] = addr
 
                 # Register with the arbiter if we're told its addr
@@ -1807,24 +1800,21 @@ async def async_main(
                 # only on unique actor uids?
                 for addr in actor.reg_addrs:
                     try:
-                        assert isinstance(addr, tuple)
-                        assert addr[1]  # non-zero after bind
+                        waddr = wrap_address(addr)
+                        assert waddr.is_valid
                     except AssertionError:
                         await _debug.pause()
 
-                    async with get_registry(*addr) as reg_portal:
+                    async with get_registry(addr) as reg_portal:
                         for accept_addr in accept_addrs:
-
-                            if not accept_addr[1]:
-                                await _debug.pause()
-
-                            assert accept_addr[1]
+                            accept_addr = wrap_address(accept_addr)
+                            assert accept_addr.is_valid
 
                             await reg_portal.run_from_ns(
                                 'self',
                                 'register_actor',
                                 uid=actor.uid,
-                                sockaddr=accept_addr,
+                                addr=accept_addr.unwrap(),
                             )
 
                     is_registered: bool = True
@@ -1951,12 +1941,13 @@ async def async_main(
         ):
             failed: bool = False
             for addr in actor.reg_addrs:
-                assert isinstance(addr, tuple)
+                waddr = wrap_address(addr)
+                assert waddr.is_valid
                 with trio.move_on_after(0.5) as cs:
                     cs.shield = True
                     try:
                         async with get_registry(
-                            *addr,
+                            addr,
                         ) as reg_portal:
                             await reg_portal.run_from_ns(
                                 'self',
@@ -2034,7 +2025,7 @@ class Arbiter(Actor):
 
         self._registry: dict[
             tuple[str, str],
-            tuple[str, int],
+            AddressTypes,
         ] = {}
         self._waiters: dict[
             str,
@@ -2050,18 +2041,18 @@ class Arbiter(Actor):
         self,
         name: str,
 
-    ) -> tuple[str, int]|None:
+    ) -> AddressTypes|None:
 
-        for uid, sockaddr in self._registry.items():
+        for uid, addr in self._registry.items():
             if name in uid:
-                return sockaddr
+                return addr
 
         return None
 
     async def get_registry(
         self
 
-    ) -> dict[str, tuple[str, int]]:
+    ) -> dict[str, AddressTypes]:
         '''
         Return current name registry.
 
@@ -2081,7 +2072,7 @@ class Arbiter(Actor):
         self,
         name: str,
 
-    ) -> list[tuple[str, int]]:
+    ) -> list[AddressTypes]:
         '''
         Wait for a particular actor to register.
 
@@ -2089,44 +2080,41 @@ class Arbiter(Actor):
         registered.
 
         '''
-        sockaddrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = []
-        sockaddr: tuple[str, int]
+        addrs: list[AddressTypes] = []
+        addr: AddressTypes
 
         mailbox_info: str = 'Actor registry contact infos:\n'
-        for uid, sockaddr in self._registry.items():
+        for uid, addr in self._registry.items():
             mailbox_info += (
                 f'|_uid: {uid}\n'
-                f'|_sockaddr: {sockaddr}\n\n'
+                f'|_addr: {addr}\n\n'
             )
             if name == uid[0]:
-                sockaddrs.append(sockaddr)
+                addrs.append(addr)
 
-        if not sockaddrs:
+        if not addrs:
             waiter = trio.Event()
             self._waiters.setdefault(name, []).append(waiter)
             await waiter.wait()
 
             for uid in self._waiters[name]:
                 if not isinstance(uid, trio.Event):
-                    sockaddrs.append(self._registry[uid])
+                    addrs.append(self._registry[uid])
 
         log.runtime(mailbox_info)
-        return sockaddrs
+        return addrs
 
     async def register_actor(
         self,
         uid: tuple[str, str],
-        sockaddr: tuple[str, int]
-
+        addr: AddressTypes
     ) -> None:
         uid = name, hash = (str(uid[0]), str(uid[1]))
-        addr = (host, port) = (
-            str(sockaddr[0]),
-            int(sockaddr[1]),
-        )
-        if port == 0:
+        waddr: Address = wrap_address(addr)
+        if not waddr.is_valid:
+            # should never be 0-dynamic-os-alloc
             await _debug.pause()
-        assert port  # should never be 0-dynamic-os-alloc
+
         self._registry[uid] = addr
 
         # pop and signal all waiter events
diff --git a/tractor/_spawn.py b/tractor/_spawn.py
index dc2429d9..d1eb7f37 100644
--- a/tractor/_spawn.py
+++ b/tractor/_spawn.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ from tractor._state import (
     _runtime_vars,
 )
 from tractor.log import get_logger
+from tractor._addr import AddressTypes
 from tractor._portal import Portal
 from tractor._runtime import Actor
 from tractor._entry import _mp_main
@@ -392,8 +393,8 @@ async def new_proc(
     errors: dict[tuple[str, str], Exception],
 
     # passed through to actor main
-    bind_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]],
-    parent_addr: tuple[str, int],
+    bind_addrs: list[AddressTypes],
+    parent_addr: AddressTypes,
     _runtime_vars: dict[str, Any],  # serialized and sent to _child
 
     *,
@@ -431,8 +432,8 @@ async def trio_proc(
     errors: dict[tuple[str, str], Exception],
 
     # passed through to actor main
-    bind_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]],
-    parent_addr: tuple[str, int],
+    bind_addrs: list[AddressTypes],
+    parent_addr: AddressTypes,
     _runtime_vars: dict[str, Any],  # serialized and sent to _child
     *,
     infect_asyncio: bool = False,
@@ -520,15 +521,15 @@ async def trio_proc(
 
         # send a "spawning specification" which configures the
         # initial runtime state of the child.
-        await chan.send(
-            SpawnSpec(
-                _parent_main_data=subactor._parent_main_data,
-                enable_modules=subactor.enable_modules,
-                reg_addrs=subactor.reg_addrs,
-                bind_addrs=bind_addrs,
-                _runtime_vars=_runtime_vars,
-            )
+        sspec = SpawnSpec(
+            _parent_main_data=subactor._parent_main_data,
+            enable_modules=subactor.enable_modules,
+            reg_addrs=subactor.reg_addrs,
+            bind_addrs=bind_addrs,
+            _runtime_vars=_runtime_vars,
         )
+        log.runtime(f'Sending spawn spec: {str(sspec)}')
+        await chan.send(sspec)
 
         # track subactor in current nursery
         curr_actor: Actor = current_actor()
@@ -638,8 +639,8 @@ async def mp_proc(
     subactor: Actor,
     errors: dict[tuple[str, str], Exception],
     # passed through to actor main
-    bind_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]],
-    parent_addr: tuple[str, int],
+    bind_addrs: list[AddressTypes],
+    parent_addr: AddressTypes,
     _runtime_vars: dict[str, Any],  # serialized and sent to _child
     *,
     infect_asyncio: bool = False,
diff --git a/tractor/_supervise.py b/tractor/_supervise.py
index 052a5f4c..2a3842f7 100644
--- a/tractor/_supervise.py
+++ b/tractor/_supervise.py
@@ -28,7 +28,13 @@ import warnings
 
 import trio
 
+
 from .devx._debug import maybe_wait_for_debugger
+from ._addr import (
+    AddressTypes,
+    preferred_transport,
+    get_address_cls
+)
 from ._state import current_actor, is_main_process
 from .log import get_logger, get_loglevel
 from ._runtime import Actor
@@ -47,8 +53,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
-_default_bind_addr: tuple[str, int] = ('127.0.0.1', 0)
-
 
 class ActorNursery:
     '''
@@ -130,8 +134,9 @@ class ActorNursery:
 
         *,
 
-        bind_addrs: list[tuple[str, int]] = [_default_bind_addr],
+        bind_addrs: list[AddressTypes]|None = None,
         rpc_module_paths: list[str]|None = None,
+        enable_transports: list[str] = [preferred_transport],
         enable_modules: list[str]|None = None,
         loglevel: str|None = None,  # set log level per subactor
         debug_mode: bool|None = None,
@@ -156,6 +161,12 @@ class ActorNursery:
             or get_loglevel()
         )
 
+        if not bind_addrs:
+            bind_addrs: list[AddressTypes] = [
+                get_address_cls(transport).get_random().unwrap()
+                for transport in enable_transports
+            ]
+
         # configure and pass runtime state
         _rtv = _state._runtime_vars.copy()
         _rtv['_is_root'] = False
@@ -224,7 +235,7 @@ class ActorNursery:
         *,
 
         name: str | None = None,
-        bind_addrs: tuple[str, int] = [_default_bind_addr],
+        bind_addrs: AddressTypes|None = None,
         rpc_module_paths: list[str] | None = None,
         enable_modules: list[str] | None = None,
         loglevel: str | None = None,  # set log level per subactor
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/__init__.py b/tractor/ipc/__init__.py
index dd4d9e5a..9bd2240f 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/__init__.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import platform
 
 from ._transport import (
     MsgTransportKey as MsgTransportKey,
-    AddressType as AddressType,
     MsgType as MsgType,
     MsgTransport as MsgTransport,
     MsgpackTransport as MsgpackTransport
@@ -27,10 +26,8 @@ from ._tcp import MsgpackTCPStream as MsgpackTCPStream
 from ._uds import MsgpackUDSStream as MsgpackUDSStream
 
 from ._types import (
-    default_lo_addrs as default_lo_addrs,
-    transport_from_destaddr as transport_from_destaddr,
+    transport_from_addr as transport_from_addr,
     transport_from_stream as transport_from_stream,
-    AddressTypes as AddressTypes
 )
 
 from ._chan import (
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/_chan.py b/tractor/ipc/_chan.py
index ee259371..93f17132 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/_chan.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/_chan.py
@@ -35,8 +35,12 @@ import trio
 
 from tractor.ipc._transport import MsgTransport
 from tractor.ipc._types import (
-    transport_from_destaddr,
+    transport_from_addr,
     transport_from_stream,
+)
+from tractor._addr import (
+    wrap_address,
+    Address,
     AddressTypes
 )
 from tractor.log import get_logger
@@ -66,7 +70,6 @@ class Channel:
     def __init__(
 
         self,
-        destaddr: AddressTypes|None = None,
         transport: MsgTransport|None = None,
         # TODO: optional reconnection support?
         # auto_reconnect: bool = False,
@@ -81,8 +84,6 @@ class Channel:
         # user in ``.from_stream()``.
         self._transport: MsgTransport|None = transport
 
-        self._destaddr = destaddr if destaddr else self._transport.raddr
-
         # set after handshake - always uid of far end
         self.uid: tuple[str, str]|None = None
 
@@ -121,13 +122,14 @@ class Channel:
         )
 
     @classmethod
-    async def from_destaddr(
+    async def from_addr(
         cls,
-        destaddr: AddressTypes,
+        addr: AddressTypes,
         **kwargs
     ) -> Channel:
-        transport_cls = transport_from_destaddr(destaddr)
-        transport = await transport_cls.connect_to(destaddr, **kwargs)
+        addr: Address = wrap_address(addr)
+        transport_cls = transport_from_addr(addr)
+        transport = await transport_cls.connect_to(addr, **kwargs)
 
         log.transport(
             f'Opened channel[{type(transport)}]: {transport.laddr} -> {transport.raddr}'
@@ -164,11 +166,11 @@ class Channel:
         )
 
     @property
-    def laddr(self) -> tuple[str, int]|None:
+    def laddr(self) -> Address|None:
         return self._transport.laddr if self._transport else None
 
     @property
-    def raddr(self) -> tuple[str, int]|None:
+    def raddr(self) -> Address|None:
         return self._transport.raddr if self._transport else None
 
     # TODO: something like,
@@ -205,7 +207,11 @@ class Channel:
                 # assert err
                 __tracebackhide__: bool = False
             else:
-                assert err.cid
+                try:
+                    assert err.cid
+
+                except KeyError:
+                    raise err
 
             raise
 
@@ -332,14 +338,14 @@ class Channel:
 
 @acm
 async def _connect_chan(
-    destaddr: AddressTypes
+    addr: AddressTypes
 ) -> typing.AsyncGenerator[Channel, None]:
     '''
     Create and connect a channel with disconnect on context manager
     teardown.
 
     '''
-    chan = await Channel.from_destaddr(destaddr)
+    chan = await Channel.from_addr(addr)
     yield chan
     with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
         await chan.aclose()
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/_ringbuf.py b/tractor/ipc/_ringbuf.py
index 10975b7a..6a71a00a 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/_ringbuf.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/_ringbuf.py
@@ -183,6 +183,9 @@ class RingBuffSender(trio.abc.SendStream):
     def wrap_fd(self) -> int:
         return self._wrap_event.fd
 
+    async def _wait_wrap(self):
+        await self._wrap_event.read()
+
     async def send_all(self, data: Buffer):
         async with self._send_lock:
             # while data is larger than the remaining buf
@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ class RingBuffSender(trio.abc.SendStream):
                 self._shm.buf[self.ptr:] = data[:remaining]
                 # signal write and wait for reader wrap around
                 self._write_event.write(remaining)
-                await self._wrap_event.read()
+                await self._wait_wrap()
 
                 # wrap around and trim already written bytes
                 self._ptr = 0
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/_tcp.py b/tractor/ipc/_tcp.py
index 4a69ebbd..a8008519 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/_tcp.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/_tcp.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import trio
 
 from tractor.msg import MsgCodec
 from tractor.log import get_logger
+from tractor._addr import TCPAddress
 from tractor.ipc._transport import MsgpackTransport
 
 
@@ -38,9 +39,8 @@ class MsgpackTCPStream(MsgpackTransport):
     using the ``msgspec`` codec lib.
 
     '''
-    address_type = tuple[str, int]
+    address_type = TCPAddress
     layer_key: int = 4
-    name_key: str = 'tcp'
 
     # def __init__(
     #     self,
@@ -55,19 +55,32 @@ class MsgpackTCPStream(MsgpackTransport):
     #         codec=codec
     #     )
 
+    @property
+    def maddr(self) -> str:
+        host, port = self.raddr.unwrap()
+        return (
+            f'/ipv4/{host}'
+            f'/{self.address_type.name_key}/{port}'
+            # f'/{self.chan.uid[0]}'
+            # f'/{self.cid}'
+
+            # f'/cid={cid_head}..{cid_tail}'
+            # TODO: ? not use this ^ right ?
+        )
+
     def connected(self) -> bool:
         return self.stream.socket.fileno() != -1
 
     @classmethod
     async def connect_to(
         cls,
-        destaddr: tuple[str, int],
+        destaddr: TCPAddress,
         prefix_size: int = 4,
         codec: MsgCodec|None = None,
         **kwargs
     ) -> MsgpackTCPStream:
         stream = await trio.open_tcp_stream(
-            *destaddr,
+            *destaddr.unwrap(),
             **kwargs
         )
         return MsgpackTCPStream(
@@ -87,14 +100,6 @@ class MsgpackTCPStream(MsgpackTransport):
         lsockname = stream.socket.getsockname()
         rsockname = stream.socket.getpeername()
         return (
-            tuple(lsockname[:2]),
-            tuple(rsockname[:2]),
+            TCPAddress.from_addr(tuple(lsockname[:2])),
+            TCPAddress.from_addr(tuple(rsockname[:2])),
         )
-
-    @classmethod
-    def get_random_addr(self) -> tuple[str, int]:
-        return (None, 0)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def get_root_addr(self) -> tuple[str, int]:
-        return ('127.0.0.1', 1616)
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/_transport.py b/tractor/ipc/_transport.py
index 55a218f7..8c35ffee 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/_transport.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/_transport.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ from tractor.msg import (
     types as msgtypes,
     pretty_struct,
 )
+from tractor._addr import Address
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -62,12 +63,11 @@ MsgTransportKey = tuple[str, str]
 # ?TODO? this should be our `Union[*msgtypes.__spec__]` alias now right..?
 # => BLEH, except can't bc prots must inherit typevar or param-spec
 #   vars..
-AddressType = TypeVar('AddressType')
 MsgType = TypeVar('MsgType')
 
 
 @runtime_checkable
-class MsgTransport(Protocol[AddressType, MsgType]):
+class MsgTransport(Protocol[MsgType]):
 #
 # ^-TODO-^ consider using a generic def and indexing with our
 # eventual msg definition/types?
@@ -75,10 +75,9 @@ class MsgTransport(Protocol[AddressType, MsgType]):
 
     stream: trio.abc.Stream
     drained: list[MsgType]
-    address_type: ClassVar[Type[AddressType]]
 
+    address_type: ClassVar[Type[Address]]
     codec_key: ClassVar[str]
-    name_key: ClassVar[str]
 
     # XXX: should this instead be called `.sendall()`?
     async def send(self, msg: MsgType) -> None:
@@ -100,20 +99,24 @@ class MsgTransport(Protocol[AddressType, MsgType]):
 
     @classmethod
     def key(cls) -> MsgTransportKey:
-        return cls.codec_key, cls.name_key
+        return cls.codec_key, cls.address_type.name_key
 
     @property
-    def laddr(self) -> AddressType:
+    def laddr(self) -> Address:
         ...
 
     @property
-    def raddr(self) -> AddressType:
+    def raddr(self) -> Address:
+        ...
+
+    @property
+    def maddr(self) -> str:
         ...
 
     @classmethod
     async def connect_to(
         cls,
-        destaddr: AddressType,
+        addr: Address,
         **kwargs
     ) -> MsgTransport:
         ...
@@ -123,8 +126,8 @@ class MsgTransport(Protocol[AddressType, MsgType]):
         cls,
         stream: trio.abc.Stream
     ) -> tuple[
-        AddressType,  # local
-        AddressType   # remote
+        Address,  # local
+        Address   # remote
     ]:
         '''
         Return the `trio` streaming transport prot's addrs for both
@@ -133,14 +136,6 @@ class MsgTransport(Protocol[AddressType, MsgType]):
         '''
         ...
 
-    @classmethod
-    def get_random_addr(self) -> AddressType:
-        ...
-
-    @classmethod
-    def get_root_addr(self) -> AddressType:
-        ...
-
 
 class MsgpackTransport(MsgTransport):
 
@@ -447,9 +442,9 @@ class MsgpackTransport(MsgTransport):
         return self._aiter_pkts
 
     @property
-    def laddr(self) -> AddressType:
+    def laddr(self) -> Address:
         return self._laddr
 
     @property
-    def raddr(self) -> AddressType:
+    def raddr(self) -> Address:
         return self._raddr
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/_types.py b/tractor/ipc/_types.py
index 92d3af91..3e0e43e5 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/_types.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/_types.py
@@ -13,49 +13,42 @@
 
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-from typing import Type, Union
+from typing import Type
 
 import trio
 import socket
 
-from ._transport import (
+from tractor._addr import Address
+from tractor.ipc._transport import (
     MsgTransportKey,
     MsgTransport
 )
-from ._tcp import MsgpackTCPStream
-from ._uds import MsgpackUDSStream
+from tractor.ipc._tcp import MsgpackTCPStream
+from tractor.ipc._uds import MsgpackUDSStream
 
 
+# manually updated list of all supported msg transport types
 _msg_transports = [
     MsgpackTCPStream,
     MsgpackUDSStream
 ]
 
 
-# manually updated list of all supported codec+transport types
-key_to_transport: dict[MsgTransportKey, Type[MsgTransport]] = {
+# convert a MsgTransportKey to the corresponding transport type
+_key_to_transport: dict[MsgTransportKey, Type[MsgTransport]] = {
     cls.key(): cls
     for cls in _msg_transports
 }
 
-
-# all different address py types we use
-AddressTypes = Union[
-    tuple([
-        cls.address_type
-        for cls in _msg_transports
-    ])
-]
-
-
-default_lo_addrs: dict[MsgTransportKey, AddressTypes] = {
-    cls.key(): cls.get_root_addr()
+# convert an Address wrapper to its corresponding transport type
+_addr_to_transport: dict[Type[Address], Type[MsgTransport]] = {
+    cls.address_type: cls
     for cls in _msg_transports
 }
 
 
-def transport_from_destaddr(
-    destaddr: AddressTypes,
+def transport_from_addr(
+    addr: Address,
     codec_key: str = 'msgpack',
 ) -> Type[MsgTransport]:
     '''
@@ -63,23 +56,13 @@ def transport_from_destaddr(
     corresponding `MsgTransport` type.
 
     '''
-    match destaddr:
-        case str():
-            return MsgpackUDSStream
+    try:
+        return _addr_to_transport[type(addr)]
 
-        case tuple():
-            if (
-                len(destaddr) == 2
-                and
-                isinstance(destaddr[0], str)
-                and
-                isinstance(destaddr[1], int)
-            ):
-                return MsgpackTCPStream
-
-    raise NotImplementedError(
-        f'No known transport for address {destaddr}'
-    )
+    except KeyError:
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            f'No known transport for address {repr(addr)}'
+        )
 
 
 def transport_from_stream(
@@ -113,4 +96,4 @@ def transport_from_stream(
 
     key = (codec_key, transport)
 
-    return _msg_transports[key]
+    return _key_to_transport[key]
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/_uds.py b/tractor/ipc/_uds.py
index eb2e7f32..ee147d42 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/_uds.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/_uds.py
@@ -18,13 +18,12 @@ Unix Domain Socket implementation of tractor.ipc._transport.MsgTransport protoco
 
 '''
 from __future__ import annotations
-import tempfile
-from uuid import uuid4
 
 import trio
 
 from tractor.msg import MsgCodec
 from tractor.log import get_logger
+from tractor._addr import UDSAddress
 from tractor.ipc._transport import MsgpackTransport
 
 
@@ -37,9 +36,8 @@ class MsgpackUDSStream(MsgpackTransport):
     using the ``msgspec`` codec lib.
 
     '''
-    address_type = str
+    address_type = UDSAddress
     layer_key: int = 7
-    name_key: str = 'uds'
 
     # def __init__(
     #     self,
@@ -54,19 +52,32 @@ class MsgpackUDSStream(MsgpackTransport):
     #         codec=codec
     #     )
 
+    @property
+    def maddr(self) -> str:
+        filepath = self.raddr.unwrap()
+        return (
+            f'/ipv4/localhost'
+            f'/{self.address_type.name_key}/{filepath}'
+            # f'/{self.chan.uid[0]}'
+            # f'/{self.cid}'
+
+            # f'/cid={cid_head}..{cid_tail}'
+            # TODO: ? not use this ^ right ?
+        )
+
     def connected(self) -> bool:
         return self.stream.socket.fileno() != -1
 
     @classmethod
     async def connect_to(
         cls,
-        filename: str,
+        addr: UDSAddress,
         prefix_size: int = 4,
         codec: MsgCodec|None = None,
         **kwargs
     ) -> MsgpackUDSStream:
         stream = await trio.open_unix_socket(
-            filename,
+            addr.unwrap(),
             **kwargs
         )
         return MsgpackUDSStream(
@@ -79,16 +90,8 @@ class MsgpackUDSStream(MsgpackTransport):
     def get_stream_addrs(
         cls,
         stream: trio.SocketStream
-    ) -> tuple[str, str]:
+    ) -> tuple[UDSAddress, UDSAddress]:
         return (
-            stream.socket.getsockname(),
-            stream.socket.getpeername(),
+            UDSAddress.from_addr(stream.socket.getsockname()),
+            UDSAddress.from_addr(stream.socket.getsockname()),
         )
-
-    @classmethod
-    def get_random_addr(self) -> str:
-        return f'{tempfile.gettempdir()}/{uuid4()}.sock'
-
-    @classmethod
-    def get_root_addr(self) -> str:
-        return 'tractor.sock'
diff --git a/tractor/msg/types.py b/tractor/msg/types.py
index 76d0bad6..3e58ae3a 100644
--- a/tractor/msg/types.py
+++ b/tractor/msg/types.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ from msgspec import (
 from tractor.msg import (
     pretty_struct,
 )
-from tractor.ipc import AddressTypes
 from tractor.log import get_logger
+from tractor._addr import AddressTypes
 
 
 log = get_logger('tractor.msgspec')