diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 1f815304..e56a80b7 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ services:
     hostname: cello-operator-dashboard
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
-      - MONGO_URL=mongodb://cello-mongo:27017
+      - MONGO_URL=mongodb://cello-mongo:27017  # used by pymongo, deprecate soon
+      - MONGO_HOST=mongo
       - MONGO_DB=dev
+      - MONGODB_PORT=27017
       - DEBUG=True    # in debug mode, service will auto-restart
       - LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG  # what level log will be output
       - STATIC_FOLDER=$STATIC_FOLDER
@@ -53,6 +55,8 @@ services:
       - ENABLE_EMAIL_ACTIVE=$ENABLE_EMAIL_ACTIVE
     ports:
       - "8080:8080"
+    #volumes:
+    #  - ./src:/app
 
  #TODO: need to follow other images to put at dockerhub
   user-dashboard:
@@ -90,12 +94,16 @@ services:
     hostname: cello-engine
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
-      - MONGO_URL=mongodb://cello-mongo:27017
+      - MONGO_URL=mongodb://cello-mongo:27017  # used by pymongo, deprecate soon
+      - MONGO_HOST=mongo
       - MONGO_DB=dev
+      - MONGODB_PORT=27017
       - DEBUG=True    # in debug mode, service will auto-restart
       - LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG  # what level log will be output
     ports:
       - "80:80"
+    #volumes:
+    #  - ./src:/app
 
   # cello watchdog service
   watchdog:
@@ -104,10 +112,14 @@ services:
     hostname: cello-watchdog
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
-      - MONGO_URL=mongodb://cello-mongo:27017
+      - MONGO_URL=mongodb://mongo:27017  # used by pymongo, deprecate soon
+      - MONGO_HOST=mongo
       - MONGO_DB=dev
+      - MONGODB_PORT=27017
       - DEBUG=True    # in debug mode, service will auto-restart
       - LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG  # what level log will be output
+    #volumes:
+    #  - ./src:/app
 
   # mongo database, may use others in future
   mongo:
@@ -135,6 +147,8 @@ services:
   # TODO: we may use one mongo instance, that should be enough
   dashboard_mongo:
     image: hyperledger/cello-mongo
+    hostname: cello-dashboard_mongo
+    container_name: cello-dashboard_mongo
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
       - NO_USED=0
diff --git a/src/agent/docker/host.py b/src/agent/docker/host.py
index 7cfb3194..779a680b 100644
--- a/src/agent/docker/host.py
+++ b/src/agent/docker/host.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', '..'))
 from common import \
-    db, log_handler, \
+    log_handler, \
     LOG_LEVEL
 
 from ..host_base import HostBase
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ class DockerHost(HostBase):
     """ Main handler to operate the Docker hosts
     """
     def __init__(self, host_type):
-        self.col = db["host"]
         self.host_type = host_type
 
     def is_active(self, *args):
diff --git a/src/common/__init__.py b/src/common/__init__.py
index 067d690b..b7f380c1 100644
--- a/src/common/__init__.py
+++ b/src/common/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 #
-from .db import db, col_host
+from .db import db
 from .response import make_ok_resp, make_fail_resp, CODE_NOT_FOUND, \
     CODE_BAD_REQUEST, CODE_CONFLICT, CODE_CREATED, CODE_FORBIDDEN, \
     CODE_METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED, CODE_NO_CONTENT, CODE_NOT_ACCEPTABLE, CODE_OK
diff --git a/src/common/db.py b/src/common/db.py
index 58bf9487..4d891e31 100644
--- a/src/common/db.py
+++ b/src/common/db.py
@@ -12,7 +12,3 @@
 
 mongo_client = MongoClient(MONGO_URL)
 db = mongo_client[MONGO_DB]
-
-col_host = db["host"]
-# col_cluster_active = db["cluster_active"]
-# col_cluster_released = db["cluster_released"]
diff --git a/src/common/fabric_network.py b/src/common/fabric_network.py
index 30659cc1..b762b970 100644
--- a/src/common/fabric_network.py
+++ b/src/common/fabric_network.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from common.blockchain_network import BlockchainNetwork
 from common.fabric_network_config import \
     FabricPreNetworkConfig, FabricV1NetworkConfig
-from common import db, log_handler, LOG_LEVEL
+from common import log_handler, LOG_LEVEL
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 logger.setLevel(LOG_LEVEL)
diff --git a/src/config.py b/src/config.py
index 0d69318a..664c7f54 100644
--- a/src/config.py
+++ b/src/config.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ class ProductionConfig(Config):
 
 class DevelopmentConfig(Config):
     DEBUG = True
-    MONGODB_DB = os.getenv('MONGODB_DB', 'dashboard')
     MONGODB_HOST = os.getenv('MONGODB_HOST', 'mongo')
+    MONGODB_DB = os.getenv('MONGODB_DB', 'dev')
     MONGODB_PORT = int(os.getenv('MONGODB_PORT', 27017))
     MONGODB_USERNAME = os.getenv('MONGODB_USERNAME', '')
     MONGODB_PASSWORD = os.getenv('MONGODB_PASSWORD', '')
diff --git a/src/modules/cluster.py b/src/modules/cluster.py
index 592d1a55..ae2aaba0 100644
--- a/src/modules/cluster.py
+++ b/src/modules/cluster.py
@@ -26,13 +26,12 @@
     WORKER_TYPES, WORKER_TYPE_DOCKER, WORKER_TYPE_SWARM, WORKER_TYPE_K8S, \
     WORKER_TYPE_VSPHERE, VMIP, \
     NETWORK_SIZE_FABRIC_PRE_V1, \
-    PEER_SERVICE_PORTS, CA_SERVICE_PORTS, EXPLORER_PORT, \
+    PEER_SERVICE_PORTS, EXPLORER_PORT, \
     ORDERER_SERVICE_PORTS, \
     NETWORK_STATUS_CREATING, NETWORK_STATUS_RUNNING, NETWORK_STATUS_DELETING
 
 
 from common import FabricPreNetworkConfig, FabricV1NetworkConfig
-from common.fabric_network import FabricV1Network
 
 from modules import host
 
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@
 from modules.models import Cluster as ClusterModel
 from modules.models import Host as HostModel
 from modules.models import ClusterSchema, CLUSTER_STATE, \
-    CLUSTER_STATUS, Container, ServicePort
+    Container, ServicePort
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 logger.setLevel(LOG_LEVEL)
diff --git a/src/modules/host.py b/src/modules/host.py
index 9ffd8bb8..4f5fc1bb 100644
--- a/src/modules/host.py
+++ b/src/modules/host.py
@@ -16,10 +16,9 @@
 
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', '..'))
 from common import \
-    db, log_handler, \
+    log_handler, \
     FabricV1NetworkConfig, \
     LOG_LEVEL, CLUSTER_LOG_TYPES, CLUSTER_LOG_LEVEL, \
-    NETWORK_TYPE_FABRIC_V1, \
     NETWORK_SIZE_FABRIC_V1, \
     CLUSTER_PORT_START, CLUSTER_PORT_STEP, \
     CONSENSUS_PLUGINS_FABRIC_V1, CONSENSUS_PLUGIN_SOLO, \
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ class HostHandler(object):
     A host can be a worker like Docker host, Swarm or Kubernetes
     """
     def __init__(self):
-        self.col = db["host"]
         self.host_agents = {
             'docker': DockerHost("docker"),
             'swarm': DockerHost("swarm"),
@@ -486,22 +484,5 @@ def db_set_by_id(self, id, **kwargs):
 
         return HostModel.objects.get(id=id)
 
-    def db_update_one(self, filter, operations, after=True):
-        """
-        Update the data into the active db
-
-        :param filter: Which instance to update, e.g., {"id": "xxx"}
-        :param operations: data to update to db, e.g., {"$set": {}}
-        :param after: return AFTER or BEFORE
-        :return: The updated host json dict
-        """
-        if after:
-            return_type = ReturnDocument.AFTER
-        else:
-            return_type = ReturnDocument.BEFORE
-        doc = self.col.find_one_and_update(
-            filter, operations, return_document=return_type)
-        return self._serialize(doc)
-
 
 host_handler = HostHandler()
diff --git a/src/resources/host_api.py b/src/resources/host_api.py
index 26cd8876..70a2fce6 100644
--- a/src/resources/host_api.py
+++ b/src/resources/host_api.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def hosts_list():
 @bp_host_api.route('/host/<host_id>', methods=['GET'])
 def host_query(host_id):
     request_debug(r, logger)
-    result = host_handler.get_by_id(host_id)
+    result = host_handler.schema(host_handler.get_by_id(host_id))
     logger.debug(result)
     if result:
         return make_ok_resp(data=result)
diff --git a/src/watchdog.py b/src/watchdog.py
index 4118773a..f8ca9e02 100644
--- a/src/watchdog.py
+++ b/src/watchdog.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 from mongoengine import connect
 import os
 
-MONGODB_DB = os.getenv('MONGODB_DB', 'dashboard')
 MONGODB_HOST = os.getenv('MONGODB_HOST', 'mongo')
+MONGODB_DB = os.getenv('MONGODB_DB', 'dev')
 MONGODB_PORT = int(os.getenv('MONGODB_PORT', 27017))
 MONGODB_USERNAME = os.getenv('MONGODB_USERNAME', '')
 MONGODB_PASSWORD = os.getenv('MONGODB_PASSWORD', '')