diff --git a/bitelab/__main__.py b/bitelab/__main__.py
index c291be4..827bfee 100644
--- a/bitelab/__main__.py
+++ b/bitelab/__main__.py
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@ from unittest.mock import patch, AsyncMock, Mock
 
 from . import BiteAuth, Board
 
+import argparse
 import asyncio
+import contextlib
+import io
 import os
 import sys
 import unittest
@@ -78,14 +81,35 @@ def output_board(brd):
 	for i in sorted(brd.attrs):
 		print('\t%s\t%s' % (i, repr(brd.attrs[i])))
 
+def get_sshpubkey(fname):
+	raise OSError
+
 async def real_main():
 	baseurl = os.environ['BITELAB_URL']
 	authkey = os.environ['BITELAB_AUTH']
 
 	client = AsyncClient(base_url=baseurl)
 
+	parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+	subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(title='subcommands',
+	    dest='subparser_name',
+	    description='valid subcommands', help='additional help')
+
+	parse_list = subparsers.add_parser('list', help='list available board classes')
+
+	parser_reserve = subparsers.add_parser('reserve', aliases=[ 'release' ], help='reserve/release a board')
+	parser_reserve.add_argument('-i', metavar='identity_file', type=str, help='file name for ssh public key')
+	parser_reserve.add_argument('board', type=str, help='name of the board or class')
+
+	parser_set = subparsers.add_parser('set', help='set attributes on a board')
+	parser_set.add_argument('setvars', type=str, nargs='+', help='name of the board or class')
+	parser_set.add_argument('board', type=str, help='name of the board or class')
+
+	args = parser.parse_args()
+	#print(repr(args), file=sys.stderr)
+
 	try:
-		if sys.argv[1] == 'list':
+		if args.subparser_name == 'list':
 			res = await client.get('board/classes',
 			    auth=BiteAuth(authkey), **_httpxargs)
 
@@ -96,18 +120,21 @@ async def real_main():
 				print('\t' + i)
 
 			res.close()
-		elif sys.argv[1] in ('reserve', 'release'):
+		elif args.subparser_name in ('reserve', 'release'):
+			kwargs = _httpxargs.copy()
+			with contextlib.suppress(OSError):
+				kwargs['json'] = dict(sshpubkey=get_sshpubkey(args.i))
 			res = await client.post('board/%s/%s' %
-			    (urllib.parse.quote(sys.argv[2], safe=''),
-			     sys.argv[1]),
-			    auth=BiteAuth(authkey), **_httpxargs)
+			    (urllib.parse.quote(args.board, safe=''),
+			     args.subparser_name),
+			    auth=BiteAuth(authkey), **kwargs)
 
 			check_res_code(res)
 
 			brd = Board.parse_obj(res.json())
 			output_board(brd)
 
-		elif sys.argv[1] == 'set':
+		elif args.subparser_name == 'set':
 			board_id = sys.argv[-1]
 			res = await client.post('board/%s/attrs' % 
 			    urllib.parse.quote(board_id, safe=''),
@@ -202,8 +229,44 @@ class TestClient(unittest.TestCase):
 
 	# XXX - add error cases for UI
 
+	@patch('bitelab.__main__.get_sshpubkey')
 	@patch.dict(sys.__dict__, dict(argv=[ '', 'reserve', 'cora-z7s' ]))
-	def test_reserve(self):
+	def test_reserve(self, gspk):
+		gspk.side_effect = OSError()
+		ac = self.ac
+		acp = self.acp
+		acp.return_value.status_code = HTTP_200_OK
+		acp.return_value.json.return_value = Board(name='cora-1',
+		    brdclass='cora-z7s', reserved=True,
+		    attrs={
+		        'ip': '172.20.20.5',
+		        'power': False,
+		    }).dict()
+
+		keydata = 'randomkeydata'
+
+		ret, stdout = self.runMain()
+
+		output = '''Name:\tcora-1
+Class:\tcora-z7s
+Attributes:
+\tip\t'172.20.20.5'
+\tpower\tFalse
+'''
+
+		self.assertEqual(ret, 0)
+		self.assertEqual(stdout, output)
+
+		ac.assert_called_with(base_url='http://someserver/')
+
+		#args = { 'sshpubkey': keydata }
+		acp.assert_called_with('board/cora-z7s/reserve',
+		    #json=args,
+		    auth=BiteAuth('thisisanapikey'), **_httpxargs)
+
+	@patch('bitelab.__main__.get_sshpubkey')
+	@patch.dict(sys.__dict__, dict(argv=[ '', 'reserve', '-i', 'fixtures/testsshkey.pub', 'cora-z7s' ]))
+	def test_reserve_ssh(self, gspk):
 		ac = self.ac
 		acp = self.acp
 		acp.return_value.status_code = HTTP_200_OK
@@ -214,6 +277,9 @@ class TestClient(unittest.TestCase):
 		        'power': False,
 		    }).dict()
 
+		keydata = 'keydata'
+		gspk.return_value = keydata
+
 		ret, stdout = self.runMain()
 
 		output = '''Name:\tcora-1
@@ -228,7 +294,9 @@ Attributes:
 
 		ac.assert_called_with(base_url='http://someserver/')
 
-		acp.assert_called_with('board/cora-z7s/reserve', auth=BiteAuth('thisisanapikey'), **_httpxargs)
+		acp.assert_called_with('board/cora-z7s/reserve',
+		    json=dict(sshpubkey=keydata),
+		    auth=BiteAuth('thisisanapikey'), **_httpxargs)
 
 	@patch.dict(sys.__dict__, dict(argv=[ '', 'release', 'cora-z7s' ]))
 	def test_release(self):
@@ -257,7 +325,8 @@ Attributes:
 		acp.assert_called_with('board/cora-z7s/release',
 		    auth=BiteAuth('thisisanapikey'), **_httpxargs)
 
-	@patch.dict(sys.__dict__, dict(argv=[ '', 'set', 'power=on', 'cora-z7s' ]))
+	@patch('bitelab.__main__._typeconv', dict(power=makebool, other=makebool))
+	@patch.dict(sys.__dict__, dict(argv=[ '', 'set', 'power=on', 'other=off', 'cora-z7s' ]))
 	def test_set(self):
 		ac = self.ac
 		acp = self.acp
@@ -284,7 +353,7 @@ Attributes:
 		ac.assert_called_with(base_url='http://someserver/')
 
 		acp.assert_called_with('board/cora-z7s/attrs',
-		    auth=BiteAuth('thisisanapikey'), json=dict(power=True),
+		    auth=BiteAuth('thisisanapikey'), json=dict(power=True, other=False),
 		    **_httpxargs)
 
 	def test_make_attrs(self):