diff --git a/chainregistry.go b/chainregistry.go
index 3d750a3e..aa2df62c 100644
--- a/chainregistry.go
+++ b/chainregistry.go
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ type chainControl struct {
 // full-node, another backed by a running bitcoind full-node, and the other
 // backed by a running neutrino light client instance. When running with a
 // neutrino light client instance, `neutrinoCS` must be non-nil.
-func newChainControlFromConfig(cfg *Config, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
+func newChainControlFromConfig(cfg *Config, localDB, remoteDB *channeldb.DB,
 	privateWalletPw, publicWalletPw []byte, birthday time.Time,
 	recoveryWindow uint32, wallet *wallet.Wallet,
 	neutrinoCS *neutrino.ChainService) (*chainControl, error) {
@@ -225,8 +225,9 @@ func newChainControlFromConfig(cfg *Config, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	if cfg.HeightHintCacheQueryDisable {
 		ltndLog.Infof("Height Hint Cache Queries disabled")
 	}
+
 	// Initialize the height hint cache within the chain directory.
-	hintCache, err := chainntnfs.NewHeightHintCache(heightHintCacheConfig, chanDB)
+	hintCache, err := chainntnfs.NewHeightHintCache(heightHintCacheConfig, localDB)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize height hint "+
 			"cache: %v", err)
@@ -523,7 +524,7 @@ func newChainControlFromConfig(cfg *Config, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	// Create, and start the lnwallet, which handles the core payment
 	// channel logic, and exposes control via proxy state machines.
 	walletCfg := lnwallet.Config{
-		Database:           chanDB,
+		Database:           remoteDB,
 		Notifier:           cc.chainNotifier,
 		WalletController:   wc,
 		Signer:             cc.signer,
diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index 2e505855..4463c006 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@ var (
 	// estimatesmartfee RPC call.
 	defaultBitcoindEstimateMode = "CONSERVATIVE"
 	bitcoindEstimateModes       = [2]string{"ECONOMICAL", defaultBitcoindEstimateMode}
+
+	defaultSphinxDbName = "sphinxreplay.db"
 )
 
 // Config defines the configuration options for lnd.
diff --git a/lnd.go b/lnd.go
index bf121275..21a6923d 100644
--- a/lnd.go
+++ b/lnd.go
@@ -246,50 +246,20 @@ func Main(cfg *Config, lisCfg ListenerCfg, shutdownChan <-chan struct{}) error {
 		defer pprof.StopCPUProfile()
 	}
 
-	// Create the network-segmented directory for the channel database.
-	ltndLog.Infof("Opening the main database, this might take a few " +
-		"minutes...")
-
-	startOpenTime := time.Now()
-
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	if cfg.DB.Backend == lncfg.BoltBackend {
-		ltndLog.Infof("Opening bbolt database, sync_freelist=%v",
-			cfg.DB.Bolt.SyncFreelist)
-	}
-
-	databaseBackends, err := cfg.DB.GetBackends(
-		ctx, cfg.localDatabaseDir(), cfg.networkName(),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		ltndLog.Error(err)
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Open the channeldb, which is dedicated to storing channel, and
-	// network related metadata.
-	chanDB, err := channeldb.CreateWithBackend(
-		databaseBackends.LocalDB,
-		channeldb.OptionSetRejectCacheSize(cfg.Caches.RejectCacheSize),
-		channeldb.OptionSetChannelCacheSize(cfg.Caches.ChannelCacheSize),
-		channeldb.OptionDryRunMigration(cfg.DryRunMigration),
-	)
+	localChanDB, remoteChanDB, cleanUp, err := initializeDatabases(ctx, cfg)
 	switch {
 	case err == channeldb.ErrDryRunMigrationOK:
 		ltndLog.Infof("%v, exiting", err)
 		return nil
-
 	case err != nil:
-		ltndLog.Errorf("Unable to open channeldb: %v", err)
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to open databases: %v", err)
 	}
-	defer chanDB.Close()
 
-	openTime := time.Since(startOpenTime)
-	ltndLog.Infof("Database now open (time_to_open=%v)!", openTime)
+	defer cleanUp()
 
 	// Only process macaroons if --no-macaroons isn't set.
 	tlsCfg, restCreds, restProxyDest, err := getTLSConfig(cfg)
@@ -461,8 +431,12 @@ func Main(cfg *Config, lisCfg ListenerCfg, shutdownChan <-chan struct{}) error {
 	// With the information parsed from the configuration, create valid
 	// instances of the pertinent interfaces required to operate the
 	// Lightning Network Daemon.
+	//
+	// When we create the chain control, we need storage for the height
+	// hints and also the wallet itself, for these two we want them to be
+	// replicated, so we'll pass in the remote channel DB instance.
 	activeChainControl, err := newChainControlFromConfig(
-		cfg, chanDB, privateWalletPw, publicWalletPw,
+		cfg, localChanDB, remoteChanDB, privateWalletPw, publicWalletPw,
 		walletInitParams.Birthday, walletInitParams.RecoveryWindow,
 		walletInitParams.Wallet, neutrinoCS,
 	)
@@ -617,9 +591,9 @@ func Main(cfg *Config, lisCfg ListenerCfg, shutdownChan <-chan struct{}) error {
 	// Set up the core server which will listen for incoming peer
 	// connections.
 	server, err := newServer(
-		cfg, cfg.Listeners, chanDB, towerClientDB, activeChainControl,
-		&idKeyDesc, walletInitParams.ChansToRestore, chainedAcceptor,
-		torController,
+		cfg, cfg.Listeners, localChanDB, remoteChanDB, towerClientDB,
+		activeChainControl, &idKeyDesc, walletInitParams.ChansToRestore,
+		chainedAcceptor, torController,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("unable to create server: %v", err)
@@ -1140,3 +1114,125 @@ func waitForWalletPassword(cfg *Config, restEndpoints []net.Addr,
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("shutting down")
 	}
 }
+
+// initializeDatabases extracts the current databases that we'll use for normal
+// operation in the daemon. Two databases are returned: one remote and one
+// local. However, only if the replicated database is active will the remote
+// database point to a unique database. Otherwise, the local and remote DB will
+// both point to the same local database. A function closure that closes all
+// opened databases is also returned.
+func initializeDatabases(ctx context.Context,
+	cfg *Config) (*channeldb.DB, *channeldb.DB, func(), error) {
+
+	ltndLog.Infof("Opening the main database, this might take a few " +
+		"minutes...")
+
+	if cfg.DB.Backend == lncfg.BoltBackend {
+		ltndLog.Infof("Opening bbolt database, sync_freelist=%v",
+			cfg.DB.Bolt.SyncFreelist)
+	}
+
+	startOpenTime := time.Now()
+
+	databaseBackends, err := cfg.DB.GetBackends(
+		ctx, cfg.localDatabaseDir(), cfg.networkName(),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to obtain database "+
+			"backends: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// If the remoteDB is nil, then we'll just open a local DB as normal,
+	// having the remote and local pointer be the exact same instance.
+	var (
+		localChanDB, remoteChanDB *channeldb.DB
+		closeFuncs                []func()
+	)
+	if databaseBackends.RemoteDB == nil {
+		// Open the channeldb, which is dedicated to storing channel,
+		// and network related metadata.
+		localChanDB, err = channeldb.CreateWithBackend(
+			databaseBackends.LocalDB,
+			channeldb.OptionSetRejectCacheSize(cfg.Caches.RejectCacheSize),
+			channeldb.OptionSetChannelCacheSize(cfg.Caches.ChannelCacheSize),
+			channeldb.OptionDryRunMigration(cfg.DryRunMigration),
+		)
+		switch {
+		case err == channeldb.ErrDryRunMigrationOK:
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+
+		case err != nil:
+			err := fmt.Errorf("unable to open local channeldb: %v", err)
+			ltndLog.Error(err)
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+		}
+
+		closeFuncs = append(closeFuncs, func() {
+			localChanDB.Close()
+		})
+
+		remoteChanDB = localChanDB
+	} else {
+		ltndLog.Infof("Database replication is available! Creating " +
+			"local and remote channeldb instances")
+
+		// Otherwise, we'll open two instances, one for the state we
+		// only need locally, and the other for things we want to
+		// ensure are replicated.
+		localChanDB, err = channeldb.CreateWithBackend(
+			databaseBackends.LocalDB,
+			channeldb.OptionSetRejectCacheSize(cfg.Caches.RejectCacheSize),
+			channeldb.OptionSetChannelCacheSize(cfg.Caches.ChannelCacheSize),
+			channeldb.OptionDryRunMigration(cfg.DryRunMigration),
+		)
+		switch {
+		// As we want to allow both versions to get thru the dry run
+		// migration, we'll only exit the second time here once the
+		// remote instance has had a time to migrate as well.
+		case err == channeldb.ErrDryRunMigrationOK:
+			ltndLog.Infof("Local DB dry run migration successful")
+
+		case err != nil:
+			err := fmt.Errorf("unable to open local channeldb: %v", err)
+			ltndLog.Error(err)
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+		}
+
+		closeFuncs = append(closeFuncs, func() {
+			localChanDB.Close()
+		})
+
+		ltndLog.Infof("Opening replicated database instance...")
+
+		remoteChanDB, err = channeldb.CreateWithBackend(
+			databaseBackends.RemoteDB,
+			channeldb.OptionDryRunMigration(cfg.DryRunMigration),
+		)
+		switch {
+		case err == channeldb.ErrDryRunMigrationOK:
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+
+		case err != nil:
+			localChanDB.Close()
+
+			err := fmt.Errorf("unable to open remote channeldb: %v", err)
+			ltndLog.Error(err)
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+		}
+
+		closeFuncs = append(closeFuncs, func() {
+			remoteChanDB.Close()
+		})
+	}
+
+	openTime := time.Since(startOpenTime)
+	ltndLog.Infof("Database now open (time_to_open=%v)!", openTime)
+
+	cleanUp := func() {
+		for _, closeFunc := range closeFuncs {
+			closeFunc()
+		}
+	}
+
+	return localChanDB, remoteChanDB, cleanUp, nil
+}
diff --git a/peer/brontide.go b/peer/brontide.go
index 948900f1..e1ecaf88 100644
--- a/peer/brontide.go
+++ b/peer/brontide.go
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ func (p *Brontide) loadActiveChannels(chans []*channeldb.OpenChannel) (
 		// Before we register this new link with the HTLC Switch, we'll
 		// need to fetch its current link-layer forwarding policy from
 		// the database.
-		graph := p.cfg.ChannelDB.ChannelGraph()
+		graph := p.cfg.ChannelGraph
 		info, p1, p2, err := graph.FetchChannelEdgesByOutpoint(chanPoint)
 		if err != nil && err != channeldb.ErrEdgeNotFound {
 			return nil, err
diff --git a/peer/config.go b/peer/config.go
index 8c0f9313..99b6e28c 100644
--- a/peer/config.go
+++ b/peer/config.go
@@ -90,10 +90,13 @@ type Config struct {
 	// ChannelLinkConfig.
 	InterceptSwitch *htlcswitch.InterceptableSwitch
 
-	// ChannelDB is used to fetch opened channels, closed channels, and the
-	// channel graph.
+	// ChannelDB is used to fetch opened channels, and closed channels.
 	ChannelDB *channeldb.DB
 
+	// ChannelGraph is a pointer to the channel graph which is used to
+	// query information about the set of known active channels.
+	ChannelGraph *channeldb.ChannelGraph
+
 	// ChainArb is used to subscribe to channel events, update contract signals,
 	// and force close channels.
 	ChainArb *contractcourt.ChainArbitrator
diff --git a/pilot.go b/pilot.go
index 9ce83906..e0eb223e 100644
--- a/pilot.go
+++ b/pilot.go
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func initAutoPilot(svr *server, cfg *lncfg.AutoPilot,
 		WalletBalance: func() (btcutil.Amount, error) {
 			return svr.cc.wallet.ConfirmedBalance(cfg.MinConfs)
 		},
-		Graph:       autopilot.ChannelGraphFromDatabase(svr.chanDB.ChannelGraph()),
+		Graph:       autopilot.ChannelGraphFromDatabase(svr.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()),
 		Constraints: atplConstraints,
 		ConnectToPeer: func(target *btcec.PublicKey, addrs []net.Addr) (bool, error) {
 			// First, we'll check if we're already connected to the
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func initAutoPilot(svr *server, cfg *lncfg.AutoPilot,
 			// We'll fetch the current state of open
 			// channels from the database to use as initial
 			// state for the auto-pilot agent.
-			activeChannels, err := svr.chanDB.FetchAllChannels()
+			activeChannels, err := svr.remoteChanDB.FetchAllChannels()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
diff --git a/rpcserver.go b/rpcserver.go
index 4dfb5879..1cac4037 100644
--- a/rpcserver.go
+++ b/rpcserver.go
@@ -522,12 +522,12 @@ func newRPCServer(cfg *Config, s *server, macService *macaroons.Service,
 	chanPredicate *chanacceptor.ChainedAcceptor) (*rpcServer, error) {
 
 	// Set up router rpc backend.
-	channelGraph := s.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	channelGraph := s.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 	selfNode, err := channelGraph.SourceNode()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	graph := s.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := s.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 	routerBackend := &routerrpc.RouterBackend{
 		SelfNode: selfNode.PubKeyBytes,
 		FetchChannelCapacity: func(chanID uint64) (btcutil.Amount,
@@ -576,10 +576,12 @@ func newRPCServer(cfg *Config, s *server, macService *macaroons.Service,
 	// Before we create any of the sub-servers, we need to ensure that all
 	// the dependencies they need are properly populated within each sub
 	// server configuration struct.
+	//
+	// TODO(roasbeef): extend sub-sever config to have both (local vs remote) DB
 	err = subServerCgs.PopulateDependencies(
 		cfg, s.cc, cfg.networkDir, macService, atpl, invoiceRegistry,
 		s.htlcSwitch, activeNetParams.Params, s.chanRouter,
-		routerBackend, s.nodeSigner, s.chanDB, s.sweeper, tower,
+		routerBackend, s.nodeSigner, s.remoteChanDB, s.sweeper, tower,
 		s.towerClient, cfg.net.ResolveTCPAddr, genInvoiceFeatures,
 		rpcsLog,
 	)
@@ -1399,7 +1401,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) VerifyMessage(ctx context.Context,
 	// channels signed the message.
 	//
 	// TODO(phlip9): Require valid nodes to have capital in active channels.
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 	_, active, err := graph.HasLightningNode(pub)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to query graph: %v", err)
@@ -1488,7 +1490,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) DisconnectPeer(ctx context.Context,
 
 	// Next, we'll fetch the pending/active channels we have with a
 	// particular peer.
-	nodeChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchOpenChannels(peerPubKey)
+	nodeChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchOpenChannels(peerPubKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to fetch channels for peer: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -2065,7 +2067,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) CloseChannel(in *lnrpc.CloseChannelRequest,
 
 	// First, we'll fetch the channel as is, as we'll need to examine it
 	// regardless of if this is a force close or not.
-	channel, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchChannel(*chanPoint)
+	channel, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchChannel(*chanPoint)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -2329,7 +2331,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) AbandonChannel(ctx context.Context,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	dbChan, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchChannel(*chanPoint)
+	dbChan, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchChannel(*chanPoint)
 	switch {
 	// If the channel isn't found in the set of open channels, then we can
 	// continue on as it can't be loaded into the link/peer.
@@ -2360,12 +2362,12 @@ func (r *rpcServer) AbandonChannel(ctx context.Context,
 	// court. Between any step it's possible that the users restarts the
 	// process all over again. As a result, each of the steps below are
 	// intended to be idempotent.
-	err = r.server.chanDB.AbandonChannel(chanPoint, uint32(bestHeight))
+	err = r.server.remoteChanDB.AbandonChannel(chanPoint, uint32(bestHeight))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	err = abandonChanFromGraph(
-		r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph(), chanPoint,
+		r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph(), chanPoint,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -2399,7 +2401,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) GetInfo(ctx context.Context,
 
 	serverPeers := r.server.Peers()
 
-	openChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels()
+	openChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -2414,7 +2416,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) GetInfo(ctx context.Context,
 
 	inactiveChannels := uint32(len(openChannels)) - activeChannels
 
-	pendingChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchPendingChannels()
+	pendingChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchPendingChannels()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to get retrieve pending "+
 			"channels: %v", err)
@@ -2713,7 +2715,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) WalletBalance(ctx context.Context,
 func (r *rpcServer) ChannelBalance(ctx context.Context,
 	in *lnrpc.ChannelBalanceRequest) (*lnrpc.ChannelBalanceResponse, error) {
 
-	openChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels()
+	openChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -2723,7 +2725,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ChannelBalance(ctx context.Context,
 		balance += channel.LocalCommitment.LocalBalance.ToSatoshis()
 	}
 
-	pendingChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchPendingChannels()
+	pendingChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchPendingChannels()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -2766,7 +2768,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) PendingChannels(ctx context.Context,
 	// First, we'll populate the response with all the channels that are
 	// soon to be opened. We can easily fetch this data from the database
 	// and map the db struct to the proto response.
-	pendingOpenChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchPendingChannels()
+	pendingOpenChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchPendingChannels()
 	if err != nil {
 		rpcsLog.Errorf("unable to fetch pending channels: %v", err)
 		return nil, err
@@ -2814,7 +2816,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) PendingChannels(ctx context.Context,
 
 	// Next, we'll examine the channels that are soon to be closed so we
 	// can populate these fields within the response.
-	pendingCloseChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchClosedChannels(true)
+	pendingCloseChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchClosedChannels(true)
 	if err != nil {
 		rpcsLog.Errorf("unable to fetch closed channels: %v", err)
 		return nil, err
@@ -2843,7 +2845,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) PendingChannels(ctx context.Context,
 		// not found, or the channel itself, this channel was closed
 		// in a version before we started persisting historical
 		// channels, so we silence the error.
-		historical, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchHistoricalChannel(
+		historical, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchHistoricalChannel(
 			&pendingClose.ChanPoint,
 		)
 		switch err {
@@ -2918,7 +2920,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) PendingChannels(ctx context.Context,
 	// We'll also fetch all channels that are open, but have had their
 	// commitment broadcasted, meaning they are waiting for the closing
 	// transaction to confirm.
-	waitingCloseChans, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchWaitingCloseChannels()
+	waitingCloseChans, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchWaitingCloseChannels()
 	if err != nil {
 		rpcsLog.Errorf("unable to fetch channels waiting close: %v",
 			err)
@@ -3153,7 +3155,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ClosedChannels(ctx context.Context,
 
 	resp := &lnrpc.ClosedChannelsResponse{}
 
-	dbChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchClosedChannels(false)
+	dbChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchClosedChannels(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -3230,9 +3232,9 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ListChannels(ctx context.Context,
 
 	resp := &lnrpc.ListChannelsResponse{}
 
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
-	dbChannels, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels()
+	dbChannels, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -3549,7 +3551,8 @@ func (r *rpcServer) createRPCClosedChannel(
 		CloseInitiator:    closeInitiator,
 	}
 
-	reports, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchChannelReports(
+	reports, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchChannelReports(
+
 		*activeNetParams.GenesisHash, &dbChannel.ChanPoint,
 	)
 	switch err {
@@ -3654,7 +3657,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) getInitiators(chanPoint *wire.OutPoint) (
 
 	// To get the close initiator for cooperative closes, we need
 	// to get the channel status from the historical channel bucket.
-	histChan, err := r.server.chanDB.FetchHistoricalChannel(chanPoint)
+	histChan, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.FetchHistoricalChannel(chanPoint)
 	switch {
 	// The node has upgraded from a version where we did not store
 	// historical channels, and has not closed a channel since. Do
@@ -3718,7 +3721,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) SubscribeChannelEvents(req *lnrpc.ChannelEventSubscription,
 	// the server, or client exits.
 	defer channelEventSub.Cancel()
 
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -4526,7 +4529,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) AddInvoice(ctx context.Context,
 		ChainParams:       activeNetParams.Params,
 		NodeSigner:        r.server.nodeSigner,
 		DefaultCLTVExpiry: defaultDelta,
-		ChanDB:            r.server.chanDB,
+		ChanDB:            r.server.remoteChanDB,
 		GenInvoiceFeatures: func() *lnwire.FeatureVector {
 			return r.server.featureMgr.Get(feature.SetInvoice)
 		},
@@ -4640,7 +4643,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ListInvoices(ctx context.Context,
 		PendingOnly:    req.PendingOnly,
 		Reversed:       req.Reversed,
 	}
-	invoiceSlice, err := r.server.chanDB.QueryInvoices(q)
+	invoiceSlice, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.QueryInvoices(q)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to query invoices: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -4806,7 +4809,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) DescribeGraph(ctx context.Context,
 	// Obtain the pointer to the global singleton channel graph, this will
 	// provide a consistent view of the graph due to bolt db's
 	// transactional model.
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
 	// First iterate through all the known nodes (connected or unconnected
 	// within the graph), collating their current state into the RPC
@@ -4944,7 +4947,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) GetNodeMetrics(ctx context.Context,
 	// Obtain the pointer to the global singleton channel graph, this will
 	// provide a consistent view of the graph due to bolt db's
 	// transactional model.
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
 	// Calculate betweenness centrality if requested. Note that depending on the
 	// graph size, this may take up to a few minutes.
@@ -4983,7 +4986,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) GetNodeMetrics(ctx context.Context,
 func (r *rpcServer) GetChanInfo(ctx context.Context,
 	in *lnrpc.ChanInfoRequest) (*lnrpc.ChannelEdge, error) {
 
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
 	edgeInfo, edge1, edge2, err := graph.FetchChannelEdgesByID(in.ChanId)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -5003,7 +5006,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) GetChanInfo(ctx context.Context,
 func (r *rpcServer) GetNodeInfo(ctx context.Context,
 	in *lnrpc.NodeInfoRequest) (*lnrpc.NodeInfo, error) {
 
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
 	// First, parse the hex-encoded public key into a full in-memory public
 	// key object we can work with for querying.
@@ -5101,7 +5104,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) QueryRoutes(ctx context.Context,
 func (r *rpcServer) GetNetworkInfo(ctx context.Context,
 	_ *lnrpc.NetworkInfoRequest) (*lnrpc.NetworkInfo, error) {
 
-	graph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	graph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
 	var (
 		numNodes             uint32
@@ -5381,7 +5384,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ListPayments(ctx context.Context,
 		query.MaxPayments = math.MaxUint64
 	}
 
-	paymentsQuerySlice, err := r.server.chanDB.QueryPayments(query)
+	paymentsQuerySlice, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.QueryPayments(query)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -5413,7 +5416,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) DeleteAllPayments(ctx context.Context,
 
 	rpcsLog.Debugf("[DeleteAllPayments]")
 
-	if err := r.server.chanDB.DeletePayments(); err != nil {
+	if err := r.server.remoteChanDB.DeletePayments(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
@@ -5533,7 +5536,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) FeeReport(ctx context.Context,
 
 	rpcsLog.Debugf("[feereport]")
 
-	channelGraph := r.server.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	channelGraph := r.server.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 	selfNode, err := channelGraph.SourceNode()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -5572,7 +5575,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) FeeReport(ctx context.Context,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	fwdEventLog := r.server.chanDB.ForwardingLog()
+	fwdEventLog := r.server.remoteChanDB.ForwardingLog()
 
 	// computeFeeSum is a helper function that computes the total fees for
 	// a particular time slice described by a forwarding event query.
@@ -5810,7 +5813,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ForwardingHistory(ctx context.Context,
 		IndexOffset:  req.IndexOffset,
 		NumMaxEvents: numEvents,
 	}
-	timeSlice, err := r.server.chanDB.ForwardingLog().Query(eventQuery)
+	timeSlice, err := r.server.remoteChanDB.ForwardingLog().Query(eventQuery)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to query forwarding log: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -5871,7 +5874,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ExportChannelBackup(ctx context.Context,
 	// the database. If this channel has been closed, or the outpoint is
 	// unknown, then we'll return an error
 	unpackedBackup, err := chanbackup.FetchBackupForChan(
-		chanPoint, r.server.chanDB,
+		chanPoint, r.server.remoteChanDB,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -6041,7 +6044,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) ExportAllChannelBackups(ctx context.Context,
 	// First, we'll attempt to read back ups for ALL currently opened
 	// channels from disk.
 	allUnpackedBackups, err := chanbackup.FetchStaticChanBackups(
-		r.server.chanDB,
+		r.server.remoteChanDB,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to fetch all static chan "+
@@ -6064,7 +6067,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) RestoreChannelBackups(ctx context.Context,
 	// restore either a set of chanbackup.Single or chanbackup.Multi
 	// backups.
 	chanRestorer := &chanDBRestorer{
-		db:         r.server.chanDB,
+		db:         r.server.remoteChanDB,
 		secretKeys: r.server.cc.keyRing,
 		chainArb:   r.server.chainArb,
 	}
@@ -6162,7 +6165,7 @@ func (r *rpcServer) SubscribeChannelBackups(req *lnrpc.ChannelBackupSubscription
 			// we'll obtains the current set of single channel
 			// backups from disk.
 			chanBackups, err := chanbackup.FetchStaticChanBackups(
-				r.server.chanDB,
+				r.server.remoteChanDB,
 			)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("unable to fetch all "+
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index fe711cec..234d37a8 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -204,7 +204,9 @@ type server struct {
 
 	fundingMgr *fundingManager
 
-	chanDB *channeldb.DB
+	localChanDB *channeldb.DB
+
+	remoteChanDB *channeldb.DB
 
 	htlcSwitch *htlcswitch.Switch
 
@@ -328,7 +330,8 @@ func noiseDial(idKey keychain.SingleKeyECDH,
 
 // newServer creates a new instance of the server which is to listen using the
 // passed listener address.
-func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
+func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr,
+	localChanDB, remoteChanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	towerClientDB *wtdb.ClientDB, cc *chainControl,
 	nodeKeyDesc *keychain.KeyDescriptor,
 	chansToRestore walletunlocker.ChannelsToRecover,
@@ -360,8 +363,11 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	copy(serializedPubKey[:], nodeKeyECDH.PubKey().SerializeCompressed())
 
 	// Initialize the sphinx router, placing it's persistent replay log in
-	// the same directory as the channel graph database.
-	sharedSecretPath := filepath.Join(cfg.localDatabaseDir(), "sphinxreplay.db")
+	// the same directory as the channel graph database. We don't need to
+	// replicate this data, so we'll store it locally.
+	sharedSecretPath := filepath.Join(
+		cfg.localDatabaseDir(), defaultSphinxDbName,
+	)
 	replayLog := htlcswitch.NewDecayedLog(sharedSecretPath, cc.chainNotifier)
 	sphinxRouter := sphinx.NewRouter(
 		nodeKeyECDH, activeNetParams.Params, replayLog,
@@ -405,7 +411,8 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 
 	s := &server{
 		cfg:            cfg,
-		chanDB:         chanDB,
+		localChanDB:    localChanDB,
+		remoteChanDB:   remoteChanDB,
 		cc:             cc,
 		sigPool:        lnwallet.NewSigPool(cfg.Workers.Sig, cc.signer),
 		writePool:      writePool,
@@ -413,11 +420,11 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		chansToRestore: chansToRestore,
 
 		invoices: invoices.NewRegistry(
-			chanDB, invoices.NewInvoiceExpiryWatcher(clock.NewDefaultClock()),
+			remoteChanDB, invoices.NewInvoiceExpiryWatcher(clock.NewDefaultClock()),
 			&registryConfig,
 		),
 
-		channelNotifier: channelnotifier.New(chanDB),
+		channelNotifier: channelnotifier.New(remoteChanDB),
 
 		identityECDH: nodeKeyECDH,
 		nodeSigner:   netann.NewNodeSigner(nodeKeySigner),
@@ -449,7 +456,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	}
 
 	s.witnessBeacon = &preimageBeacon{
-		wCache:      chanDB.NewWitnessCache(),
+		wCache:      remoteChanDB.NewWitnessCache(),
 		subscribers: make(map[uint64]*preimageSubscriber),
 	}
 
@@ -461,7 +468,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	s.htlcNotifier = htlcswitch.NewHtlcNotifier(time.Now)
 
 	s.htlcSwitch, err = htlcswitch.New(htlcswitch.Config{
-		DB: chanDB,
+		DB: remoteChanDB,
 		LocalChannelClose: func(pubKey []byte,
 			request *htlcswitch.ChanClose) {
 
@@ -476,7 +483,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 
 			peer.HandleLocalCloseChanReqs(request)
 		},
-		FwdingLog:              chanDB.ForwardingLog(),
+		FwdingLog:              remoteChanDB.ForwardingLog(),
 		SwitchPackager:         channeldb.NewSwitchPackager(),
 		ExtractErrorEncrypter:  s.sphinx.ExtractErrorEncrypter,
 		FetchLastChannelUpdate: s.fetchLastChanUpdate(),
@@ -503,8 +510,8 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		MessageSigner:            s.nodeSigner,
 		IsChannelActive:          s.htlcSwitch.HasActiveLink,
 		ApplyChannelUpdate:       s.applyChannelUpdate,
-		DB:                       chanDB,
-		Graph:                    chanDB.ChannelGraph(),
+		DB:                       remoteChanDB,
+		Graph:                    localChanDB.ChannelGraph(),
 	}
 
 	chanStatusMgr, err := netann.NewChanStatusManager(chanStatusMgrCfg)
@@ -594,7 +601,9 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	selfAddrs := make([]net.Addr, 0, len(externalIPs))
 	selfAddrs = append(selfAddrs, externalIPs...)
 
-	chanGraph := chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	// As the graph can be obtained at anytime from the network, we won't
+	// replicate it, and instead it'll only be stored locally.
+	chanGraph := localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 
 	// We'll now reconstruct a node announcement based on our current
 	// configuration so we can send it out as a sort of heart beat within
@@ -661,7 +670,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 
 	// The router will get access to the payment ID sequencer, such that it
 	// can generate unique payment IDs.
-	sequencer, err := htlcswitch.NewPersistentSequencer(chanDB)
+	sequencer, err := htlcswitch.NewPersistentSequencer(remoteChanDB)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -694,7 +703,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	routingConfig := routerrpc.GetRoutingConfig(cfg.SubRPCServers.RouterRPC)
 
 	s.missionControl, err = routing.NewMissionControl(
-		chanDB,
+		remoteChanDB,
 		&routing.MissionControlConfig{
 			AprioriHopProbability:   routingConfig.AprioriHopProbability,
 			PenaltyHalfLife:         routingConfig.PenaltyHalfLife,
@@ -727,7 +736,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		PathFindingConfig: pathFindingConfig,
 	}
 
-	paymentControl := channeldb.NewPaymentControl(chanDB)
+	paymentControl := channeldb.NewPaymentControl(remoteChanDB)
 
 	s.controlTower = routing.NewControlTower(paymentControl)
 
@@ -751,12 +760,12 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't create router: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	chanSeries := discovery.NewChanSeries(s.chanDB.ChannelGraph())
-	gossipMessageStore, err := discovery.NewMessageStore(s.chanDB)
+	chanSeries := discovery.NewChanSeries(s.localChanDB.ChannelGraph())
+	gossipMessageStore, err := discovery.NewMessageStore(s.remoteChanDB)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	waitingProofStore, err := channeldb.NewWaitingProofStore(s.chanDB)
+	waitingProofStore, err := channeldb.NewWaitingProofStore(s.remoteChanDB)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -793,10 +802,12 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		ForAllOutgoingChannels:    s.chanRouter.ForAllOutgoingChannels,
 		PropagateChanPolicyUpdate: s.authGossiper.PropagateChanPolicyUpdate,
 		UpdateForwardingPolicies:  s.htlcSwitch.UpdateForwardingPolicies,
-		FetchChannel:              s.chanDB.FetchChannel,
+		FetchChannel:              s.remoteChanDB.FetchChannel,
 	}
 
-	utxnStore, err := newNurseryStore(activeNetParams.GenesisHash, chanDB)
+	utxnStore, err := newNurseryStore(
+		activeNetParams.GenesisHash, remoteChanDB,
+	)
 	if err != nil {
 		srvrLog.Errorf("unable to create nursery store: %v", err)
 		return nil, err
@@ -806,7 +817,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		sweep.DefaultBatchWindowDuration)
 
 	sweeperStore, err := sweep.NewSweeperStore(
-		chanDB, activeNetParams.GenesisHash,
+		remoteChanDB, activeNetParams.GenesisHash,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		srvrLog.Errorf("unable to create sweeper store: %v", err)
@@ -833,8 +844,8 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	s.utxoNursery = newUtxoNursery(&NurseryConfig{
 		ChainIO:             cc.chainIO,
 		ConfDepth:           1,
-		FetchClosedChannels: chanDB.FetchClosedChannels,
-		FetchClosedChannel:  chanDB.FetchClosedChannel,
+		FetchClosedChannels: remoteChanDB.FetchClosedChannels,
+		FetchClosedChannel:  remoteChanDB.FetchClosedChannel,
 		Notifier:            cc.chainNotifier,
 		PublishTransaction:  cc.wallet.PublishTransaction,
 		Store:               utxnStore,
@@ -935,18 +946,18 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		PaymentsExpirationGracePeriod: cfg.PaymentsExpirationGracePeriod,
 		IsForwardedHTLC:               s.htlcSwitch.IsForwardedHTLC,
 		Clock:                         clock.NewDefaultClock(),
-	}, chanDB)
+	}, remoteChanDB)
 
 	s.breachArbiter = newBreachArbiter(&BreachConfig{
 		CloseLink:          closeLink,
-		DB:                 chanDB,
+		DB:                 remoteChanDB,
 		Estimator:          s.cc.feeEstimator,
 		GenSweepScript:     newSweepPkScriptGen(cc.wallet),
 		Notifier:           cc.chainNotifier,
 		PublishTransaction: cc.wallet.PublishTransaction,
 		ContractBreaches:   contractBreaches,
 		Signer:             cc.wallet.Cfg.Signer,
-		Store:              newRetributionStore(chanDB),
+		Store:              newRetributionStore(remoteChanDB),
 	})
 
 	// Select the configuration and furnding parameters for Bitcoin or
@@ -997,7 +1008,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 		FindChannel: func(chanID lnwire.ChannelID) (
 			*channeldb.OpenChannel, error) {
 
-			dbChannels, err := chanDB.FetchAllChannels()
+			dbChannels, err := remoteChanDB.FetchAllChannels()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -1161,10 +1172,10 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	// static backup of the latest channel state.
 	chanNotifier := &channelNotifier{
 		chanNotifier: s.channelNotifier,
-		addrs:        s.chanDB,
+		addrs:        s.remoteChanDB,
 	}
 	backupFile := chanbackup.NewMultiFile(cfg.BackupFilePath)
-	startingChans, err := chanbackup.FetchStaticChanBackups(s.chanDB)
+	startingChans, err := chanbackup.FetchStaticChanBackups(s.remoteChanDB)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1183,7 +1194,7 @@ func newServer(cfg *Config, listenAddrs []net.Addr, chanDB *channeldb.DB,
 	s.chanEventStore = chanfitness.NewChannelEventStore(&chanfitness.Config{
 		SubscribeChannelEvents: s.channelNotifier.SubscribeChannelEvents,
 		SubscribePeerEvents:    s.peerNotifier.SubscribePeerEvents,
-		GetOpenChannels:        s.chanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels,
+		GetOpenChannels:        s.remoteChanDB.FetchAllOpenChannels,
 	})
 
 	if cfg.WtClient.Active {
@@ -1384,7 +1395,7 @@ func (s *server) Start() error {
 		// that have all the information we need to handle channel
 		// recovery _before_ we even accept connections from any peers.
 		chanRestorer := &chanDBRestorer{
-			db:         s.chanDB,
+			db:         s.remoteChanDB,
 			secretKeys: s.cc.keyRing,
 			chainArb:   s.chainArb,
 		}
@@ -1424,7 +1435,7 @@ func (s *server) Start() error {
 		// we'll prune our set of link nodes found within the database
 		// to ensure we don't reconnect to any nodes we no longer have
 		// open channels with.
-		if err := s.chanDB.PruneLinkNodes(); err != nil {
+		if err := s.remoteChanDB.PruneLinkNodes(); err != nil {
 			startErr = err
 			return
 		}
@@ -1730,7 +1741,7 @@ func initNetworkBootstrappers(s *server) ([]discovery.NetworkPeerBootstrapper, e
 	// First, we'll create an instance of the ChannelGraphBootstrapper as
 	// this can be used by default if we've already partially seeded the
 	// network.
-	chanGraph := autopilot.ChannelGraphFromDatabase(s.chanDB.ChannelGraph())
+	chanGraph := autopilot.ChannelGraphFromDatabase(s.localChanDB.ChannelGraph())
 	graphBootstrapper, err := discovery.NewGraphBootstrapper(chanGraph)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -2062,7 +2073,7 @@ func (s *server) createNewHiddenService() error {
 		AuthSigBytes: newNodeAnn.Signature.ToSignatureBytes(),
 	}
 	copy(selfNode.PubKeyBytes[:], s.identityECDH.PubKey().SerializeCompressed())
-	if err := s.chanDB.ChannelGraph().SetSourceNode(selfNode); err != nil {
+	if err := s.localChanDB.ChannelGraph().SetSourceNode(selfNode); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("can't set self node: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -2119,7 +2130,7 @@ func (s *server) establishPersistentConnections() error {
 	// Iterate through the list of LinkNodes to find addresses we should
 	// attempt to connect to based on our set of previous connections. Set
 	// the reconnection port to the default peer port.
-	linkNodes, err := s.chanDB.FetchAllLinkNodes()
+	linkNodes, err := s.remoteChanDB.FetchAllLinkNodes()
 	if err != nil && err != channeldb.ErrLinkNodesNotFound {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -2135,7 +2146,7 @@ func (s *server) establishPersistentConnections() error {
 	// After checking our previous connections for addresses to connect to,
 	// iterate through the nodes in our channel graph to find addresses
 	// that have been added via NodeAnnouncement messages.
-	chanGraph := s.chanDB.ChannelGraph()
+	chanGraph := s.localChanDB.ChannelGraph()
 	sourceNode, err := chanGraph.SourceNode()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -2842,7 +2853,8 @@ func (s *server) peerConnected(conn net.Conn, connReq *connmgr.ConnReq,
 		ReadPool:                s.readPool,
 		Switch:                  s.htlcSwitch,
 		InterceptSwitch:         s.interceptableSwitch,
-		ChannelDB:               s.chanDB,
+		ChannelDB:               s.localChanDB,
+		ChannelGraph:            s.remoteChanDB.ChannelGraph(),
 		ChainArb:                s.chainArb,
 		AuthGossiper:            s.authGossiper,
 		ChanStatusMgr:           s.chanStatusMgr,
@@ -3543,7 +3555,7 @@ func (s *server) fetchNodeAdvertisedAddr(pub *btcec.PublicKey) (net.Addr, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	node, err := s.chanDB.ChannelGraph().FetchLightningNode(nil, vertex)
+	node, err := s.localChanDB.ChannelGraph().FetchLightningNode(nil, vertex)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}