diff --git a/command/agent/agent.go b/command/agent/agent.go
index 7bb1c3157..2221fe244 100644
--- a/command/agent/agent.go
+++ b/command/agent/agent.go
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
 package agent
 
+import "io"
+
 type Agent struct {
 }
 
+func NewAgent(config *Config, logOutput io.Writer) (*Agent, error) {
+	a := &Agent{}
+	return a, nil
+}
+
 func (a *Agent) Leave() error {
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/command/agent/command.go b/command/agent/command.go
index 3c1212fca..5601f3171 100644
--- a/command/agent/command.go
+++ b/command/agent/command.go
@@ -6,21 +6,24 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/armon/go-metrics"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-checkpoint"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-syslog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/logutils"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/helper/flag-slice"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/cli"
 )
 
 // gracefulTimeout controls how long we wait before forcefully terminating
 const gracefulTimeout = 5 * time.Second
 
-// Command is a Command implementation that runs a Consul agent.
+// Command is a Command implementation that runs a Nomad agent.
 // The command will not end unless a shutdown message is sent on the
 // ShutdownCh. If two messages are sent on the ShutdownCh it will forcibly
 // exit.
@@ -45,7 +48,7 @@ func (c *Command) readConfig() *Config {
 	flags.BoolVar(&dev, "dev", false, "")
 	flags.StringVar(&logLevel, "log-level", "info", "")
 	flags.Usage = func() { c.Ui.Error(c.Help()) }
-	flags.Var((*sliceflag.StringFlag)(&configPath), "config", "config")
+	flags.Var((*AppendSliceValue)(&configPath), "config", "config")
 	if err := flags.Parse(c.args); err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -72,6 +75,13 @@ func (c *Command) readConfig() *Config {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Ensure the sub-structs at least exist
+	if config.Client == nil {
+		config.Client = &ClientConfig{}
+	}
+	if config.Server == nil {
+		config.Server = &ServerConfig{}
+	}
 	return config
 }
 
@@ -97,7 +107,7 @@ func (c *Command) setupLoggers(config *Config) (*GatedWriter, *logWriter, io.Wri
 	// Check if syslog is enabled
 	var syslog io.Writer
 	if config.EnableSyslog {
-		l, err := gsyslog.NewLogger(gsyslog.LOG_NOTICE, config.SyslogFacility, "consul")
+		l, err := gsyslog.NewLogger(gsyslog.LOG_NOTICE, config.SyslogFacility, "nomad")
 		if err != nil {
 			c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Syslog setup failed: %v", err))
 			return nil, nil, nil
@@ -117,6 +127,61 @@ func (c *Command) setupLoggers(config *Config) (*GatedWriter, *logWriter, io.Wri
 	return logGate, logWriter, logOutput
 }
 
+// setupAgent is used to start the agent and various interfaces
+func (c *Command) setupAgent(config *Config, logOutput io.Writer) error {
+	c.Ui.Output("Starting Nomad agent...")
+	agent, err := NewAgent(config, logOutput)
+	if err != nil {
+		c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error starting agent: %s", err))
+		return err
+	}
+	c.agent = agent
+
+	// Setup update checking
+	if !config.DisableUpdateCheck {
+		version := config.Version
+		if config.VersionPrerelease != "" {
+			version += fmt.Sprintf("-%s", config.VersionPrerelease)
+		}
+		updateParams := &checkpoint.CheckParams{
+			Product: "nomad",
+			Version: version,
+		}
+		if !config.DisableAnonymousSignature {
+			updateParams.SignatureFile = filepath.Join(config.DataDir, "checkpoint-signature")
+		}
+
+		// Schedule a periodic check with expected interval of 24 hours
+		checkpoint.CheckInterval(updateParams, 24*time.Hour, c.checkpointResults)
+
+		// Do an immediate check within the next 30 seconds
+		go func() {
+			time.Sleep(randomStagger(30 * time.Second))
+			c.checkpointResults(checkpoint.Check(updateParams))
+		}()
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// checkpointResults is used to handler periodic results from our update checker
+func (c *Command) checkpointResults(results *checkpoint.CheckResponse, err error) {
+	if err != nil {
+		c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to check for updates: %v", err))
+		return
+	}
+	if results.Outdated {
+		c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Newer Nomad version available: %s", results.CurrentVersion))
+	}
+	for _, alert := range results.Alerts {
+		switch alert.Level {
+		case "info":
+			c.Ui.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Bulletin [%s]: %s (%s)", alert.Level, alert.Message, alert.URL))
+		default:
+			c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Bulletin [%s]: %s (%s)", alert.Level, alert.Message, alert.URL))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (c *Command) Run(args []string) int {
 	c.Ui = &cli.PrefixedUi{
 		OutputPrefix: "==> ",
@@ -133,7 +198,7 @@ func (c *Command) Run(args []string) int {
 	}
 
 	// Setup the log outputs
-	logGate, _, _ := c.setupLoggers(config)
+	logGate, _, logOutput := c.setupLoggers(config)
 	if logGate == nil {
 		return 1
 	}
@@ -144,12 +209,41 @@ func (c *Command) Run(args []string) int {
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	// Let the user know things are running
-	c.Ui.Output("Nomad agent running!")
+	// Create the agent
+	if err := c.setupAgent(config, logOutput); err != nil {
+		return 1
+	}
+	defer c.agent.Shutdown()
+
+	// Compile agent information for output later
+	info := make(map[string]string)
+	info["client"] = strconv.FormatBool(config.Client.Enabled)
+	info["log level"] = config.LogLevel
+	info["server"] = strconv.FormatBool(config.Server.Enabled)
+
+	// Sort the keys for output
+	infoKeys := make([]string, 0, len(info))
+	for key := range info {
+		infoKeys = append(infoKeys, key)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(infoKeys)
+
+	// Agent configuration output
+	padding := 18
+	c.Ui.Output("Nomad agent configuration:\n")
+	for _, k := range infoKeys {
+		c.Ui.Info(fmt.Sprintf(
+			"%s%s: %s",
+			strings.Repeat(" ", padding-len(k)),
+			strings.Title(k),
+			info[k]))
+	}
+	c.Ui.Output("")
+
+	// Output the header that the server has started
+	c.Ui.Output("Nomad agent started! Log data will stream in below:\n")
 
 	// Enable log streaming
-	c.Ui.Info("")
-	c.Ui.Output("Log data will now stream in as it occurs:\n")
 	logGate.Flush()
 
 	// Wait for exit
diff --git a/command/agent/config.go b/command/agent/config.go
index a1df75d78..b949bf517 100644
--- a/command/agent/config.go
+++ b/command/agent/config.go
@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@ type Config struct {
 	LeaveOnTerm    bool
 	EnableSyslog   bool
 	SyslogFacility string
+
+	DisableUpdateCheck        bool
+	DisableAnonymousSignature bool
+
+	Version           string
+	VersionPrerelease string
 }
 
 type ClientConfig struct {
diff --git a/command/agent/flag_slice_value.go b/command/agent/flag_slice_value.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a3862a39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/agent/flag_slice_value.go
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package agent
+
+import "strings"
+
+// AppendSliceValue implements the flag.Value interface and allows multiple
+// calls to the same variable to append a list.
+type AppendSliceValue []string
+
+func (s *AppendSliceValue) String() string {
+	return strings.Join(*s, ",")
+}
+
+func (s *AppendSliceValue) Set(value string) error {
+	if *s == nil {
+		*s = make([]string, 0, 1)
+	}
+
+	*s = append(*s, value)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/command/agent/flag_slice_value_test.go b/command/agent/flag_slice_value_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21e30e054
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/agent/flag_slice_value_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package agent
+
+import (
+	"flag"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestAppendSliceValue_implements(t *testing.T) {
+	var raw interface{}
+	raw = new(AppendSliceValue)
+	if _, ok := raw.(flag.Value); !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("AppendSliceValue should be a Value")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAppendSliceValueSet(t *testing.T) {
+	sv := new(AppendSliceValue)
+	err := sv.Set("foo")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	err = sv.Set("bar")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	expected := []string{"foo", "bar"}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual([]string(*sv), expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("Bad: %#v", sv)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/command/agent/util.go b/command/agent/util.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ceb333ed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/agent/util.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package agent
+
+import (
+	"math/rand"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Returns a random stagger interval between 0 and the duration
+func randomStagger(intv time.Duration) time.Duration {
+	return time.Duration(uint64(rand.Int63()) % uint64(intv))
+}
diff --git a/command/agent/util_test.go b/command/agent/util_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e31943a20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/agent/util_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package agent
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestRandomStagger(t *testing.T) {
+	intv := time.Minute
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
+		stagger := randomStagger(intv)
+		if stagger < 0 || stagger >= intv {
+			t.Fatalf("Bad: %v", stagger)
+		}
+	}
+}