diff --git a/py-scripts/tools/lf_check.py b/py-scripts/tools/lf_check.py
index e26b1753..3b8b934e 100755
--- a/py-scripts/tools/lf_check.py
+++ b/py-scripts/tools/lf_check.py
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ class lf_check():
         self.csv_results_writer = ""
         self.csv_results_column_headers = ""
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+        self.test_timeout = 20
+        self.load_blank_db = "False"
+        self.load_factory_default_db = "False"
 
     def get_csv_results(self):
         return self.csv_file.name
@@ -166,6 +169,11 @@ class lf_check():
             self.upstream_port = section['UPSTREAM_PORT']
             self.logger.info("upstream_port {}".format(self.upstream_port))
 
+        if 'TEST_PARAMETERS' in config_file.sections():
+            section = config_file['TEST_PARAMETERS']
+            self.test_timeout = section['TEST_TIMEOUT']
+            self.load_blank_db = section['LOAD_BLANK_DB']
+            self.load_factory_default_db = section['LOAD_FACTORY_DEFAULT_DB']
 
         if 'RADIO_DICTIONARY' in config_file.sections():
             section = config_file['RADIO_DICTIONARY']
@@ -249,8 +257,11 @@ class lf_check():
                 if 'UPSTREAM_PORT' in self.test_dict[test]['args']:
                     self.test_dict[test]['args'] = self.test_dict[test]['args'].replace('UPSTREAM_PORT',self.col_names)
 
+                if self.load_factory_default_db == "True":
+                    self.load_factory_default_db()
+                elif self.load_blank_db == "True":
+                    self.load_blank_db()
 
-                self.load_factory_default_db()
                 sleep(5) # the sleep is to allow for the database to stablize
 
                 try:
@@ -277,7 +288,7 @@ class lf_check():
                 
                 try:
                     #out, err = process.communicate()
-                    process.wait(timeout=120)
+                    process.wait(timeout=int(self.test_timeout))
                 except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
                     process.terminate()
                     self.test_result = "TIMEOUT"
diff --git a/py-scripts/tools/lf_check_config.ini b/py-scripts/tools/lf_check_config.ini
index fd2c2feb..1507f148 100755
--- a/py-scripts/tools/lf_check_config.ini
+++ b/py-scripts/tools/lf_check_config.ini
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 #
 # NAME : config.ini
 #
-# PURPOSE : Configuration (config.ini) information for running lf_check.py
+# PURPOSE : Configuration (lf_check_config.ini) information for running lf_check.py 
+# 
+# SETUP: copy lf_check_config_template.ini to lf_check_config.ini and update lf_check_config.ini
 #
+# 
 
 # NOTE: each test dictionary key must be unique 
+
 # NOTE: { }  placement important, will cause parcing errors
 # radio configuraiton used below for test arguments
 # NOTE: KEY must match ELEMENT of the DICTIONARY (RADIO_0_CFG == "KEY":"RADIO_0_CFG")
@@ -32,17 +36,20 @@ NUM_STA = "3"
 COL_NAMES = "name,tx_bytes,rx_bytes,dropped"
 UPSTREAM_PORT = "eth1"
 
+[TEST_PARAMETERS]
+TEST_TIMEOUT = 120
+LOAD_BLANK_DB = "False"
+LOAD_FACTORY_DEFAULT_DB = "False"
 
 [LF_MGR]
 LF_MGR_IP= localhost
 LF_MGR_PORT=8080
 
-[REPORTS]
-REPORT_DIR="/home/lanforge/html-reports"
-REPORT_DATA="/home/lanforge/report-data"
+# REPORTS are in /home/lanforge/html-reports
+# if /home/lanforge/html-reports not present then reports stored in local directory
+#[REPORTS]
+#REPORT_DIR="/home/lanforge/html-reports"
 
-[TEST_PARAMETERS]
-TEST_TIMEOUT = "120"
 
 # TEST_DICTIONARY used by lf_check, Other section names will be ignored so can save other test lists
 # USE TEST_DICTIONARY_NOT_RUN to ignore tests