diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4f4a174..f24bbd7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,31 +2,7 @@
 
 ## TO DO
 
-* Replace time-based counter with startup counter
-  * 16 byte startupCounter
-  * (startupCount << 48) + counter
-  * pass startup count to newRoutingTable function (or global?)
-  * write / increment on startup
-* Use startup counter for trace IDs as well (see Globals)
 * Double buffering in IFReader and ConnReader ?
-* Clean up state machine - one class w/
-  * type stateFunc func(msg any) stateFunc
-  * "init" funcs: func enterDisconnected() stateFunc
-* ~~Idea: Use a bufferSet object to manager buffers. In function calls, buffers
-  should get used up, can panic if we run out of buffers to ensure we never
-  allocate~~
-* Idea: bufferSize should be large enough to split and use parts of the
-  buffer for encryption, etc. Yes.
-
-### Peer State Messages
-
-* peerUpdateMsg
-* packetInit
-* packetSyn
-* packetAck
-* packetProbe
-* packetLocalDiscovery
-* pingTimerMsg
 
 ## Hub Server Configuration
 
diff --git a/peer/files.go b/peer/files.go
index e7e7022..f4ee973 100644
--- a/peer/files.go
+++ b/peer/files.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type LocalConfig struct {
-	LocalPeerIP byte `json:"PeerIP"`
+	LocalPeerIP byte
 	Network     []byte
 	PubKey      []byte
 	PrivKey     []byte
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ type LocalConfig struct {
 	PrivSignKey []byte
 }
 
+type startupCount struct {
+	Count uint16
+}
+
 func configDir(netName string) string {
 	d, err := os.UserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -33,6 +37,10 @@ func peerStatePath(netName string) string {
 	return filepath.Join(configDir(netName), "state.json")
 }
 
+func startupCountPath(netName string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(configDir(netName), "startup_count.json")
+}
+
 func storeJson(x any, outPath string) error {
 	outDir := filepath.Dir(outPath)
 	_ = os.MkdirAll(outDir, 0700)
@@ -89,3 +97,11 @@ func loadPeerConfig(netName string) (pc LocalConfig, err error) {
 func loadNetworkState(netName string) (ps m.NetworkState, err error) {
 	return ps, loadJson(peerStatePath(netName), &ps)
 }
+
+func loadStartupCount(netName string) (c startupCount, err error) {
+	return c, loadJson(startupCountPath(netName), &c)
+}
+
+func storeStartupCount(netName string, c startupCount) error {
+	return storeJson(c, startupCountPath(netName))
+}
diff --git a/peer/globals.go b/peer/globals.go
index 16272d4..6a5bb0b 100644
--- a/peer/globals.go
+++ b/peer/globals.go
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ var multicastAddr = net.UDPAddrFromAddrPort(netip.AddrPortFrom(
 type Globals struct {
 	LocalConfig // Embed, immutable.
 
+	// The number of startups
+	StartupCount uint16
+
 	// Local public address (if available). Immutable.
 	LocalAddr netip.AddrPort
 
@@ -63,11 +66,13 @@ type Globals struct {
 
 func NewGlobals(
 	localConfig LocalConfig,
+	startupCount startupCount,
 	localAddr netip.AddrPort,
 	conn *net.UDPConn,
 	iface io.ReadWriteCloser,
 ) (g Globals) {
 	g.LocalConfig = localConfig
+	g.StartupCount = startupCount.Count
 
 	g.LocalAddr = localAddr
 	g.LocalAddrValid = localAddr.IsValid()
@@ -87,8 +92,7 @@ func NewGlobals(
 
 	g.IFace = iface
 
-	// TODO: Initialize w/ startup count.
-	traceID := uint64(time.Now().Unix()<<30) + 1
+	traceID := (uint64(g.StartupCount) << 48) + 1
 	g.NewTraceID = func() uint64 {
 		return atomic.AddUint64(&traceID, 1)
 	}
diff --git a/peer/peer.go b/peer/peer.go
index 8c7cfab..081b4f0 100644
--- a/peer/peer.go
+++ b/peer/peer.go
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"log"
+	"math"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/netip"
 	"net/url"
+	"os"
 	"vppn/m"
 )
 
@@ -48,6 +50,22 @@ func newPeerMain(args mainArgs) *peerMain {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to load network state: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	startupCount, err := loadStartupCount(args.NetName)
+	if err != nil {
+		if !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			log.Fatalf("Failed to load startup count: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if startupCount.Count == math.MaxUint16 {
+		log.Fatalf("Startup counter overflow.")
+	}
+	startupCount.Count += 1
+
+	if err := storeStartupCount(args.NetName, startupCount); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Failed to write startup count: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	iface, err := openInterface(config.Network, config.LocalPeerIP, args.NetName)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to open interface: %v", err)
@@ -55,6 +73,7 @@ func newPeerMain(args mainArgs) *peerMain {
 
 	localPeer := state.Peers[config.LocalPeerIP]
 
+	log.Printf("Local peer %d: %v", config.LocalPeerIP, localPeer)
 	myAddr, err := net.ResolveUDPAddr("udp", fmt.Sprintf(":%d", localPeer.Port))
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to resolve UDP address: %v", err)
@@ -75,7 +94,7 @@ func newPeerMain(args mainArgs) *peerMain {
 		localAddr = netip.AddrPortFrom(ip, localPeer.Port)
 	}
 
-	g := NewGlobals(config, localAddr, conn, iface)
+	g := NewGlobals(config, startupCount, localAddr, conn, iface)
 
 	hubPoller, err := NewHubPoller(g, args.NetName, args.HubAddress, args.APIKey)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/peer/remote.go b/peer/remote.go
index dd63cd8..84b5c16 100644
--- a/peer/remote.go
+++ b/peer/remote.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"net/netip"
 	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
-	"time"
 	"vppn/m"
 )
 
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ func newRemote(g Globals, remotePeerIP byte) *Remote {
 		Globals:      g,
 		RemotePeerIP: remotePeerIP,
 		dupCheck:     newDupCheck(0),
-		sendCounter:  uint64(time.Now().Unix()<<30) + 1,
+		sendCounter:  (uint64(g.StartupCount) << 48) + 1,
 		messages:     make(chan any, 8),
 	}
 	r.config.Store(&remoteConfig{})