diff --git a/src/ripple/app/data/Database.cpp b/src/ripple/app/data/Database.cpp
index ee3a9f3b12..6e5ab251b4 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/data/Database.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/data/Database.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <BeastConfig.h>
 #include <ripple/basics/StringUtilities.h>
 #include <ripple/app/data/Database.h>
+#include <cstring>
 
 namespace ripple {
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/data/DatabaseCon.cpp b/src/ripple/app/data/DatabaseCon.cpp
index 0f77a3ef4b..844fb53339 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/data/DatabaseCon.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/data/DatabaseCon.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <BeastConfig.h>
 #include <ripple/app/data/DatabaseCon.h>
 #include <ripple/app/data/SqliteDatabase.h>
+#include <ripple/core/ConfigSections.h>
 
 namespace ripple {
 
@@ -54,8 +55,8 @@ setup_DatabaseCon (Config const& c)
 {
     DatabaseCon::Setup setup;
 
-    if (c.nodeDatabase["online_delete"].isNotEmpty())
-        setup.onlineDelete = c.nodeDatabase["online_delete"].getIntValue();
+    auto const& sec = c.section (ConfigSection::nodeDatabase ());
+    get_if_exists (sec, "online_delete", setup.onlineDelete);
     setup.startUp = c.START_UP;
     setup.standAlone = c.RUN_STANDALONE;
     setup.dataDir = c.legacy ("database_path");
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/main/Application.cpp b/src/ripple/app/main/Application.cpp
index d5110906a6..d4520f9c33 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/main/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/main/Application.cpp
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ public:
             m_logs.journal("TaggedCache"))
 
         , m_collectorManager (CollectorManager::New (
-            getConfig().insightSettings, m_logs.journal("Collector")))
+            getConfig().section (SECTION_INSIGHT), m_logs.journal("Collector")))
 
         , family_ (*m_nodeStore, *m_collectorManager)
 
@@ -1457,7 +1457,7 @@ static void addTxnSeqField ()
 
 void ApplicationImp::updateTables ()
 {
-    if (getConfig ().nodeDatabase.size () <= 0)
+    if (getConfig ().section (ConfigSection::nodeDatabase ()).empty ())
     {
         WriteLog (lsFATAL, Application) << "The [node_db] configuration setting has been updated and must be set";
         exitWithCode(1);
@@ -1480,7 +1480,7 @@ void ApplicationImp::updateTables ()
         std::unique_ptr <NodeStore::Database> source =
             NodeStore::Manager::instance().make_Database ("NodeStore.import", scheduler,
                 deprecatedLogs().journal("NodeObject"), 0,
-                    getConfig ().importNodeDatabase);
+                getConfig ()[ConfigSection::importNodeDatabase ()]);
 
         WriteLog (lsWARNING, NodeObject) <<
             "Node import from '" << source->getName () << "' to '"
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.cpp b/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.cpp
index 5e5d2cfd34..664326cb86 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.cpp
@@ -30,17 +30,17 @@ public:
     beast::insight::Collector::ptr m_collector;
     std::unique_ptr <beast::insight::Groups> m_groups;
 
-    CollectorManagerImp (beast::StringPairArray const& params,
+    CollectorManagerImp (Section const& params,
         beast::Journal journal)
         : m_journal (journal)
     {
-        std::string const& server (params ["server"].toStdString());
+        std::string const& server  = get<std::string> (params, "server");
 
         if (server == "statsd")
         {
             beast::IP::Endpoint const address (beast::IP::Endpoint::from_string (
-                params ["address"].toStdString ()));
-            std::string const& prefix (params ["prefix"].toStdString ());
+                get<std::string> (params, "address")));
+            std::string const& prefix (get<std::string> (params, "prefix"));
 
             m_collector = beast::insight::StatsDCollector::New (address, prefix, journal);
         }
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ CollectorManager::~CollectorManager ()
 {
 }
 
-CollectorManager* CollectorManager::New (beast::StringPairArray const& params,
+CollectorManager* CollectorManager::New (Section const& params,
     beast::Journal journal)
 {
     return new CollectorManagerImp (params, journal);
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.h b/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.h
index c28b7697e2..a1cf4e711f 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.h
+++ b/src/ripple/app/main/CollectorManager.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 #ifndef RIPPLE_APP_MAIN_COLLECTORMANAGER_H_INCLUDED
 #define RIPPLE_APP_MAIN_COLLECTORMANAGER_H_INCLUDED
 
-#include <beast/module/core/text/StringPairArray.h>
+#include <ripple/basics/BasicConfig.h>
 #include <beast/Insight.h>
 
 namespace ripple {
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ namespace ripple {
 class CollectorManager
 {
 public:
-    static CollectorManager* New (beast::StringPairArray const& params,
+    static CollectorManager* New (Section const& params,
         beast::Journal journal);
     virtual ~CollectorManager () = 0;
     virtual beast::insight::Collector::ptr const& collector () = 0;
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp b/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp
index 7fea087487..cb703613ef 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp
@@ -163,9 +163,11 @@ static
 void
 setupConfigForUnitTests (Config* config)
 {
-    config->nodeDatabase = parseDelimitedKeyValueString ("type=memory|path=main");
-    config->ephemeralNodeDatabase = beast::StringPairArray ();
-    config->importNodeDatabase = beast::StringPairArray ();
+    config->overwrite (ConfigSection::nodeDatabase (), "type", "memory");
+    config->overwrite (ConfigSection::nodeDatabase (), "path", "main");
+
+    config->deprecatedClearSection (ConfigSection::tempNodeDatabase ());
+    config->deprecatedClearSection (ConfigSection::importNodeDatabase ());
 }
 
 static int runShutdownTests ()
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStore.h b/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStore.h
index 796f3c87c3..5a1977ddaa 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStore.h
+++ b/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStore.h
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ public:
         std::uint32_t deleteInterval = 0;
         bool advisoryDelete = false;
         std::uint32_t ledgerHistory = 0;
-        beast::StringPairArray nodeDatabase;
-        beast::StringPairArray ephemeralNodeDatabase;
+        Section nodeDatabase;
+        Section ephemeralNodeDatabase;
         std::string databasePath;
         std::uint32_t deleteBatch = 100;
         std::uint32_t backOff = 100;
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp b/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp
index 27b0f9768f..570a91f45e 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <ripple/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.h>
 #include <ripple/app/ledger/LedgerMaster.h>
 #include <ripple/app/main/Application.h>
+#include <ripple/core/ConfigSections.h>
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
 #include <beast/cxx14/memory.h> // <memory>
 
@@ -437,7 +438,7 @@ void
 SHAMapStoreImp::dbPaths()
 {
     boost::filesystem::path dbPath =
-            setup_.nodeDatabase["path"].toStdString();
+            get<std::string>(setup_.nodeDatabase, "path");
 
     if (boost::filesystem::exists (dbPath))
     {
@@ -488,7 +489,7 @@ SHAMapStoreImp::dbPaths()
                 << "remove the files matching "
                 << stateDbPathName.string()
                 << " and contents of the directory "
-                << setup_.nodeDatabase["path"].toStdString()
+                << get<std::string>(setup_.nodeDatabase, "path")
                 << std::endl;
 
         throw std::runtime_error ("state db error");
@@ -499,7 +500,7 @@ std::shared_ptr <NodeStore::Backend>
 SHAMapStoreImp::makeBackendRotating (std::string path)
 {
     boost::filesystem::path newPath;
-    NodeStore::Parameters parameters = setup_.nodeDatabase;
+    Section parameters = setup_.nodeDatabase;
 
     if (path.size())
     {
@@ -507,7 +508,7 @@ SHAMapStoreImp::makeBackendRotating (std::string path)
     }
     else
     {
-        boost::filesystem::path p = parameters["path"].toStdString();
+        boost::filesystem::path p = get<std::string>(parameters, "path");
         p /= dbPrefix_;
         p += ".%%%%";
         newPath = boost::filesystem::unique_path (p);
@@ -693,20 +694,20 @@ setup_SHAMapStore (Config const& c)
 {
     SHAMapStore::Setup setup;
 
-    if (c.nodeDatabase["online_delete"].isNotEmpty())
-        setup.deleteInterval = c.nodeDatabase["online_delete"].getIntValue();
-    if (c.nodeDatabase["advisory_delete"].isNotEmpty() && setup.deleteInterval)
-        setup.advisoryDelete = c.nodeDatabase["advisory_delete"].getIntValue();
+    auto const& sec = c.section (ConfigSection::nodeDatabase ());
+    get_if_exists (sec, "online_delete", setup.deleteInterval);
+
+    if (setup.deleteInterval)
+        get_if_exists (sec, "advisory_delete", setup.advisoryDelete);
+
     setup.ledgerHistory = c.LEDGER_HISTORY;
-    setup.nodeDatabase = c.nodeDatabase;
-    setup.ephemeralNodeDatabase = c.ephemeralNodeDatabase;
+    setup.nodeDatabase = c[ConfigSection::nodeDatabase ()];
+    setup.ephemeralNodeDatabase = c[ConfigSection::tempNodeDatabase ()];
     setup.databasePath = c.legacy("database_path");
-    if (c.nodeDatabase["delete_batch"].isNotEmpty())
-        setup.deleteBatch = c.nodeDatabase["delete_batch"].getIntValue();
-    if (c.nodeDatabase["backOff"].isNotEmpty())
-        setup.backOff = c.nodeDatabase["backOff"].getIntValue();
-    if (c.nodeDatabase["age_threshold"].isNotEmpty())
-        setup.ageThreshold = c.nodeDatabase["age_threshold"].getIntValue();
+
+    get_if_exists (sec, "delete_batch", setup.deleteBatch);
+    get_if_exists (sec, "backOff", setup.backOff);
+    get_if_exists (sec, "age_threshold", setup.ageThreshold);
 
     return setup;
 }
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/node/SqliteFactory.cpp b/src/ripple/app/node/SqliteFactory.cpp
index 2f85d60a48..c5f3e7ab56 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/node/SqliteFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/node/SqliteFactory.cpp
@@ -249,11 +249,11 @@ public:
     }
 
     std::unique_ptr <NodeStore::Backend> createInstance (
-        size_t, NodeStore::Parameters const& keyValues,
+        size_t, Section const& keyValues,
             NodeStore::Scheduler&, beast::Journal)
     {
         return std::make_unique <SqliteBackend> (
-            keyValues ["path"].toStdString (),
+            get<std::string>(keyValues, "path"),
                 getConfig ().getSize(siHashNodeDBCache) * 1024);
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/ripple/basics/BasicConfig.h b/src/ripple/basics/BasicConfig.h
index e8be781372..13068f522b 100644
--- a/src/ripple/basics/BasicConfig.h
+++ b/src/ripple/basics/BasicConfig.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * Set the legacy value for this section.
-     */ 
+     */
     void
     legacy (std::string value)
     {
@@ -182,6 +182,11 @@ public:
     overwrite (std::string const& section, std::string const& key,
         std::string const& value);
 
+    /** Remove all the key/value pairs from the section.
+     */
+    void
+    deprecatedClearSection (std::string const& section);
+
     /**
      *  Set a value that is not a key/value pair.
      *
@@ -232,7 +237,7 @@ set (T& target, std::string const& name, Section const& section)
         target = boost::lexical_cast <T> (result.first);
         return true;
     }
-    catch(...)
+    catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast&)
     {
     }
     return false;
@@ -256,7 +261,7 @@ set (T& target, T const& defaultValue,
         target = boost::lexical_cast <T> (result.first);
         return true;
     }
-    catch(...)
+    catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast&)
     {
         target = defaultValue;
     }
@@ -280,12 +285,46 @@ get (Section const& section,
     {
         return boost::lexical_cast <T> (result.first);
     }
-    catch(...)
+    catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast&)
     {
     }
     return defaultValue;
 }
 
+template <class T>
+bool
+get_if_exists (Section const& section,
+    std::string const& name, T& v)
+{
+    auto const result = section.find (name);
+    if (! result.second)
+        return false;
+    try
+    {
+        v = boost::lexical_cast <T> (result.first);
+        return true;
+    }
+    catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast&)
+    {
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+template <>
+inline
+bool
+get_if_exists<bool> (Section const& section,
+    std::string const& name, bool& v)
+{
+    int intVal = 0;
+    if (get_if_exists (section, name, intVal))
+    {
+        v = bool (intVal);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 } // ripple
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/ripple/basics/StringUtilities.h b/src/ripple/basics/StringUtilities.h
index a39e760eae..b325468731 100644
--- a/src/ripple/basics/StringUtilities.h
+++ b/src/ripple/basics/StringUtilities.h
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <ripple/basics/Blob.h>
 #include <ripple/basics/strHex.h>
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
-#include <beast/module/core/text/StringPairArray.h>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 
@@ -96,16 +95,6 @@ bool parseIpPort (std::string const& strSource, std::string& strIP, int& iPort);
 bool parseUrl (std::string const& strUrl, std::string& strScheme,
                std::string& strDomain, int& iPort, std::string& strPath);
 
-/** Create a Parameters from a String.
-
-    Parameter strings have the format:
-
-    <key>=<value>['|'<key>=<value>]
-*/
-extern beast::StringPairArray
-parseDelimitedKeyValueString (
-    beast::String s, beast::beast_wchar delimiter='|');
-
 } // ripple
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/ripple/basics/impl/BasicConfig.cpp b/src/ripple/basics/impl/BasicConfig.cpp
index 36b24ca679..02ddb0ef31 100644
--- a/src/ripple/basics/impl/BasicConfig.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/basics/impl/BasicConfig.cpp
@@ -115,6 +115,14 @@ BasicConfig::overwrite (std::string const& section, std::string const& key,
     result.first->second.set (key, value);
 }
 
+void
+BasicConfig::deprecatedClearSection (std::string const& section)
+{
+    auto i = map_.find(section);
+    if (i != map_.end())
+        i->second = Section(section);
+}
+
 void
 BasicConfig::legacy(std::string const& section, std::string value)
 {
diff --git a/src/ripple/basics/impl/StringUtilities.cpp b/src/ripple/basics/impl/StringUtilities.cpp
index 76af616f7d..7a4cd4d541 100644
--- a/src/ripple/basics/impl/StringUtilities.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/basics/impl/StringUtilities.cpp
@@ -221,45 +221,4 @@ bool parseUrl (std::string const& strUrl, std::string& strScheme, std::string& s
 
     return bMatch;
 }
-
-beast::StringPairArray parseDelimitedKeyValueString (beast::String parameters,
-                                                   beast::beast_wchar delimiter)
-{
-    beast::StringPairArray keyValues;
-
-    while (parameters.isNotEmpty ())
-    {
-        beast::String pair;
-
-        {
-            int const delimiterPos = parameters.indexOfChar (delimiter);
-
-            if (delimiterPos != -1)
-            {
-                pair = parameters.substring (0, delimiterPos);
-
-                parameters = parameters.substring (delimiterPos + 1);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                pair = parameters;
-
-                parameters = beast::String::empty;
-            }
-        }
-
-        int const equalPos = pair.indexOfChar ('=');
-
-        if (equalPos != -1)
-        {
-            beast::String const key = pair.substring (0, equalPos);
-            beast::String const value = pair.substring (equalPos + 1, pair.length ());
-
-            keyValues.set (key, value);
-        }
-    }
-
-    return keyValues;
-}
-
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/core/Config.h b/src/ripple/core/Config.h
index 6f678d8129..8f207846c4 100644
--- a/src/ripple/core/Config.h
+++ b/src/ripple/core/Config.h
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include <beast/http/URL.h>
 #include <beast/net/IPEndpoint.h>
 #include <beast/module/core/files/File.h>
-#include <beast/module/core/text/StringPairArray.h>
 #include <beast/utility/ci_char_traits.h>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 #include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
@@ -52,14 +51,6 @@ countSectionEntries (IniFileSections& secSource, std::string const& strSection);
 IniFileSections::mapped_type*
 getIniFileSection (IniFileSections& secSource, std::string const& strSection);
 
-/** Parse a section of lines as a key/value array.
-    Each line is in the form <key>=<value>.
-    Spaces are considered part of the key and value.
-*/
-// DEPRECATED
-beast::StringPairArray
-parseKeyValueSection (IniFileSections& secSource, std::string const& strSection);
-
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 enum SizedItemName
@@ -164,40 +155,7 @@ public:
 
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    /** Parameters for the insight collection module */
-    beast::StringPairArray insightSettings;
-
-    /** Parameters for the main NodeStore database.
-
-        This is 1 or more strings of the form <key>=<value>
-        The 'type' and 'path' keys are required, see rippled-example.cfg
-
-        @see Database
-    */
-    beast::StringPairArray nodeDatabase;
-
-    /** Parameters for the ephemeral NodeStore database.
-
-        This is an auxiliary database for the NodeStore, usually placed
-        on a separate faster volume. However, the volume data may not persist
-        between launches. Use of the ephemeral database is optional.
-
-        The format is the same as that for @ref nodeDatabase
-
-        @see Database
-    */
-    beast::StringPairArray ephemeralNodeDatabase;
-
-    /** Parameters for importing an old database in to the current node database.
-        If this is not empty, then it specifies the key/value parameters for
-        another node database from which to import all data into the current
-        node database specified by @ref nodeDatabase.
-        The format of this string is in the form:
-            <key>'='<value>['|'<key>'='value]
-        @see parseDelimitedKeyValueString
-    */
     bool doImport;
-    beast::StringPairArray importNodeDatabase;
 
     //
     //
diff --git a/src/ripple/core/impl/Config.cpp b/src/ripple/core/impl/Config.cpp
index 69c53ea547..188e1f911e 100644
--- a/src/ripple/core/impl/Config.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/core/impl/Config.cpp
@@ -147,36 +147,6 @@ bool getSingleSection (IniFileSections& secSource,
     return bSingle;
 }
 
-beast::StringPairArray
-parseKeyValueSection (IniFileSections& secSource, std::string const& strSection)
-{
-    beast::StringPairArray result;
-
-    typedef IniFileSections::mapped_type Entries;
-
-    Entries* const entries = getIniFileSection (secSource, strSection);
-
-    if (entries != nullptr)
-    {
-        for (Entries::const_iterator iter = entries->begin ();
-            iter != entries->end (); ++iter)
-        {
-            std::string const line (iter->c_str ());
-
-            int const equalPos = line.find ('=');
-
-            if (equalPos != std::string::npos)
-            {
-                result.set (
-                    line.substr (0, equalPos),
-                    line.substr (equalPos + 1));
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    return result;
-}
-
 /** Parses a set of strings into IP::Endpoint
       Strings which fail to parse are not included in the output. If a stream is
       provided, human readable diagnostic error messages are written for each
@@ -469,17 +439,6 @@ void Config::loadFromString (std::string const& fileContents)
                 parsedAddresses.cbegin (), parsedAddresses.cend ());
     }
 
-    insightSettings = parseKeyValueSection (secConfig, SECTION_INSIGHT);
-
-    nodeDatabase = parseKeyValueSection (
-        secConfig, ConfigSection::nodeDatabase ());
-
-    ephemeralNodeDatabase = parseKeyValueSection (
-        secConfig, ConfigSection::tempNodeDatabase ());
-
-    importNodeDatabase = parseKeyValueSection (
-        secConfig, ConfigSection::importNodeDatabase ());
-
     if (getSingleSection (secConfig, SECTION_NODE_SIZE, strTemp))
     {
         if (strTemp == "tiny")
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/Factory.h b/src/ripple/nodestore/Factory.h
index 53e12ba9a3..ca6614dd59 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/Factory.h
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/Factory.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public:
     */
     virtual
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
-    createInstance (size_t keyBytes, Parameters const& parameters,
+    createInstance (size_t keyBytes, Section const& parameters,
         Scheduler& scheduler, beast::Journal journal) = 0;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/Manager.h b/src/ripple/nodestore/Manager.h
index 0367799f72..d6fb6ab55e 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/Manager.h
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/Manager.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public:
     /** Create a backend. */
     virtual
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
-    make_Backend (Parameters const& parameters,
+    make_Backend (Section const& parameters,
         Scheduler& scheduler, beast::Journal journal) = 0;
 
     /** Construct a NodeStore database.
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr <Database>
     make_Database (std::string const& name, Scheduler& scheduler,
         beast::Journal journal, int readThreads,
-            Parameters const& backendParameters,
-                Parameters fastBackendParameters = Parameters()) = 0;
+            Section const& backendParameters,
+                Section fastBackendParameters = Section()) = 0;
 
     virtual
     std::unique_ptr <DatabaseRotating>
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/Types.h b/src/ripple/nodestore/Types.h
index 73c5bbed19..1b9fa68187 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/Types.h
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/Types.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #define RIPPLE_NODESTORE_TYPES_H_INCLUDED
 
 #include <ripple/nodestore/NodeObject.h>
-#include <beast/module/core/text/StringPairArray.h>
+#include <ripple/basics/BasicConfig.h>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace ripple {
@@ -48,11 +48,6 @@ enum Status
 
 /** A batch of NodeObjects to write at once. */
 typedef std::vector <NodeObject::Ptr> Batch;
-
-/** A list of key/value parameter pairs passed to the backend. */
-// VFALCO TODO Use std::string, pair, vector
-typedef beast::StringPairArray Parameters;
-
 }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/MemoryFactory.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/MemoryFactory.cpp
index 14525d7a65..2e1e5e2b22 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/MemoryFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/MemoryFactory.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
     createInstance (
         size_t keyBytes,
-        Parameters const& keyValues,
+        Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler,
         beast::Journal journal);
 
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ private:
     MemoryDB* db_;
 
 public:
-    MemoryBackend (size_t keyBytes, Parameters const& keyValues,
+    MemoryBackend (size_t keyBytes, Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler, beast::Journal journal)
-        : name_ (keyValues ["path"].toStdString ())
+        : name_ (get<std::string>(keyValues, "path"))
         , journal_ (journal)
     {
         if (name_.empty())
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ MemoryFactory::getName() const
 std::unique_ptr <Backend>
 MemoryFactory::createInstance (
     size_t keyBytes,
-    Parameters const& keyValues,
+    Section const& keyValues,
     Scheduler& scheduler,
     beast::Journal journal)
 {
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NuDBFactory.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NuDBFactory.cpp
index e6272b2b43..e0ab376e5d 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NuDBFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NuDBFactory.cpp
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ public:
     std::atomic <bool> deletePath_;
     Scheduler& scheduler_;
 
-    NuDBBackend (int keyBytes, Parameters const& keyValues,
+    NuDBBackend (int keyBytes, Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler, beast::Journal journal)
         : journal_ (journal)
         , keyBytes_ (keyBytes)
-        , name_ (keyValues ["path"].toStdString ())
+        , name_ (get<std::string>(keyValues, "path"))
         , deletePath_(false)
         , scheduler_ (scheduler)
     {
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
     createInstance (
         size_t keyBytes,
-        Parameters const& keyValues,
+        Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler,
         beast::Journal journal)
     {
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NullFactory.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NullFactory.cpp
index b2571afcd2..95a0f6d9a1 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NullFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/NullFactory.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
     createInstance (
         size_t,
-        Parameters const&,
+        Section const&,
         Scheduler&, beast::Journal)
     {
         return std::make_unique <NullBackend> ();
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBFactory.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBFactory.cpp
index 5f612c3bdc..f876a69675 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBFactory.cpp
@@ -99,16 +99,15 @@ public:
     std::string m_name;
     std::unique_ptr <rocksdb::DB> m_db;
 
-    RocksDBBackend (int keyBytes, Parameters const& keyValues,
+    RocksDBBackend (int keyBytes, Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler, beast::Journal journal, RocksDBEnv* env)
         : m_deletePath (false)
         , m_journal (journal)
         , m_keyBytes (keyBytes)
         , m_scheduler (scheduler)
         , m_batch (*this, scheduler)
-        , m_name (keyValues ["path"].toStdString ())
     {
-        if (m_name.empty())
+        if (!get_if_exists(keyValues, "path", m_name))
             throw std::runtime_error ("Missing path in RocksDBFactory backend");
 
         rocksdb::Options options;
@@ -116,51 +115,45 @@ public:
         options.create_if_missing = true;
         options.env = env;
 
-        if (keyValues["cache_mb"].isEmpty())
+        if (!keyValues.exists ("cache_mb"))
         {
             table_options.block_cache = rocksdb::NewLRUCache (getConfig ().getSize (siHashNodeDBCache) * 1024 * 1024);
         }
         else
         {
-            table_options.block_cache = rocksdb::NewLRUCache (keyValues["cache_mb"].getIntValue() * 1024L * 1024L);
+            table_options.block_cache = rocksdb::NewLRUCache (get<int>(keyValues, "cache_mb") * 1024L * 1024L);
         }
 
-        if (keyValues["filter_bits"].isEmpty())
+        if (!keyValues.exists ("filter_bits"))
         {
             if (getConfig ().NODE_SIZE >= 2)
                 table_options.filter_policy.reset (rocksdb::NewBloomFilterPolicy (10));
         }
-        else if (keyValues["filter_bits"].getIntValue() != 0)
+        else if (auto const v = get<int>(keyValues, "filter_bits"))
         {
-            table_options.filter_policy.reset (rocksdb::NewBloomFilterPolicy (keyValues["filter_bits"].getIntValue()));
+            table_options.filter_policy.reset (rocksdb::NewBloomFilterPolicy (v));
         }
 
-        if (! keyValues["open_files"].isEmpty())
-        {
-            options.max_open_files = keyValues["open_files"].getIntValue();
-        }
+        get_if_exists (keyValues, "open_files", options.max_open_files);
 
-        if (! keyValues["file_size_mb"].isEmpty())
+        if (keyValues.exists ("file_size_mb"))
         {
-            options.target_file_size_base = 1024 * 1024 * keyValues["file_size_mb"].getIntValue();
+            options.target_file_size_base = 1024 * 1024 * get<int>(keyValues,"file_size_mb");
             options.max_bytes_for_level_base = 5 * options.target_file_size_base;
             options.write_buffer_size = 2 * options.target_file_size_base;
         }
 
-        if (! keyValues["file_size_mult"].isEmpty())
-        {
-            options.target_file_size_multiplier = keyValues["file_size_mult"].getIntValue();
-        }
+        get_if_exists (keyValues, "file_size_mult", options.target_file_size_multiplier);
 
-        if (! keyValues["bg_threads"].isEmpty())
+        if (keyValues.exists ("bg_threads"))
         {
             options.env->SetBackgroundThreads
-                (keyValues["bg_threads"].getIntValue(), rocksdb::Env::LOW);
+                (get<int>(keyValues, "bg_threads"), rocksdb::Env::LOW);
         }
 
-        if (! keyValues["high_threads"].isEmpty())
+        if (keyValues.exists ("high_threads"))
         {
-            auto const highThreads = keyValues["high_threads"].getIntValue();
+            auto const highThreads = get<int>(keyValues, "high_threads");
             options.env->SetBackgroundThreads (highThreads, rocksdb::Env::HIGH);
 
             // If we have high-priority threads, presumably we want to
@@ -169,28 +162,21 @@ public:
                 options.max_background_flushes = highThreads;
         }
 
-        if (! keyValues["compression"].isEmpty ())
+        if (keyValues.exists ("compression") &&
+            (get<int>(keyValues, "compression") == 0))
         {
-            if (keyValues["compression"].getIntValue () == 0)
-            {
-                options.compression = rocksdb::kNoCompression;
-            }
+            options.compression = rocksdb::kNoCompression;
         }
 
-        if (! keyValues["block_size"].isEmpty ())
-        {
-            table_options.block_size = keyValues["block_size"].getIntValue ();
-        }
+        get_if_exists (keyValues, "block_size", table_options.block_size);
 
-        if (! keyValues["universal_compaction"].isEmpty ())
+        if (keyValues.exists ("universal_compaction") &&
+            (get<int>(keyValues, "universal_compaction") != 0))
         {
-            if (keyValues["universal_compaction"].getIntValue () != 0)
-            {
-                options.compaction_style = rocksdb:: kCompactionStyleUniversal;
-                options.min_write_buffer_number_to_merge = 2;
-                options.max_write_buffer_number = 6;
-                options.write_buffer_size = 6 * options.target_file_size_base;
-            }
+            options.compaction_style = rocksdb::kCompactionStyleUniversal;
+            options.min_write_buffer_number_to_merge = 2;
+            options.max_write_buffer_number = 6;
+            options.write_buffer_size = 6 * options.target_file_size_base;
         }
 
         options.table_factory.reset(NewBlockBasedTableFactory(table_options));
@@ -400,7 +386,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
     createInstance (
         size_t keyBytes,
-        Parameters const& keyValues,
+        Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler,
         beast::Journal journal)
     {
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBQuickFactory.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBQuickFactory.cpp
index d60f07dc13..78873d926e 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBQuickFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/backend/RocksDBQuickFactory.cpp
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@ public:
     std::string m_name;
     std::unique_ptr <rocksdb::DB> m_db;
 
-    RocksDBQuickBackend (int keyBytes, Parameters const& keyValues,
+    RocksDBQuickBackend (int keyBytes, Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler, beast::Journal journal, RocksDBQuickEnv* env)
         : m_deletePath (false)
         , m_journal (journal)
         , m_keyBytes (keyBytes)
-        , m_name (keyValues ["path"].toStdString ())
+        , m_name (get<std::string>(keyValues, "path"))
     {
         if (m_name.empty())
             throw std::runtime_error ("Missing path in RocksDBQuickFactory backend");
@@ -110,14 +110,9 @@ public:
         std::string style("level");
         std::uint64_t threads=4;
 
-        if (!keyValues["budget"].isEmpty())
-            budget = keyValues["budget"].getIntValue();
-
-        if (!keyValues["style"].isEmpty())
-            style = keyValues["style"].toStdString();
-
-        if (!keyValues["threads"].isEmpty())
-            threads = keyValues["threads"].getIntValue();
+        get_if_exists (keyValues, "budget", budget);
+        get_if_exists (keyValues, "style", style);
+        get_if_exists (keyValues, "threads", threads);
 
 
         // Set options
@@ -163,18 +158,11 @@ public:
         // options.memtable_factory.reset(
         //     rocksdb::NewHashCuckooRepFactory(options.write_buffer_size));
 
-        if (! keyValues["open_files"].isEmpty())
-        {
-            options.max_open_files = keyValues["open_files"].getIntValue();
-        }
- 
-        if (! keyValues["compression"].isEmpty ())  
-        {
-            if (keyValues["compression"].getIntValue () == 0)
-            {
-                options.compression = rocksdb::kNoCompression;
-            }
-        }
+        get_if_exists (keyValues, "open_files", options.max_open_files);
+
+        if (keyValues.exists ("compression") &&
+            (get<int>(keyValues, "compression") == 0))
+            options.compression = rocksdb::kNoCompression;
 
         rocksdb::DB* db = nullptr;
 
@@ -385,7 +373,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
     createInstance (
         size_t keyBytes,
-        Parameters const& keyValues,
+        Section const& keyValues,
         Scheduler& scheduler,
         beast::Journal journal)
     {
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.cpp
index a985f7a34c..028af98455 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.cpp
@@ -55,13 +55,13 @@ ManagerImp::~ManagerImp()
 
 std::unique_ptr <Backend>
 ManagerImp::make_Backend (
-    Parameters const& parameters,
+    Section const& parameters,
     Scheduler& scheduler,
     beast::Journal journal)
 {
     std::unique_ptr <Backend> backend;
 
-    std::string const type (parameters ["type"].toStdString ());
+    std::string const type (get<std::string>(parameters, "type"));
 
     if (! type.empty ())
     {
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ ManagerImp::make_Database (
     Scheduler& scheduler,
     beast::Journal journal,
     int readThreads,
-    Parameters const& backendParameters,
-    Parameters fastBackendParameters)
+    Section const& backendParameters,
+    Section fastBackendParameters)
 {
     std::unique_ptr <Backend> backend (make_Backend (
         backendParameters, scheduler, journal));
@@ -167,11 +167,8 @@ std::unique_ptr <Backend>
 make_Backend (Section const& config,
     Scheduler& scheduler, beast::Journal journal)
 {
-    beast::StringPairArray v;
-    for (auto const& _ : config)
-        v.set (_.first, _.second);
     return Manager::instance().make_Backend (
-        v, scheduler, journal);
+        config, scheduler, journal);
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.h b/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.h
index 9d802d4289..ecfd6224c0 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.h
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/ManagerImp.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public:
 
     std::unique_ptr <Backend>
     make_Backend (
-        Parameters const& parameters,
+        Section const& parameters,
         Scheduler& scheduler,
         beast::Journal journal) override;
 
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ public:
         Scheduler& scheduler,
         beast::Journal journal,
         int readThreads,
-        Parameters const& backendParameters,
-        Parameters fastBackendParameters) override;
+        Section const& backendParameters,
+        Section fastBackendParameters) override;
 
     std::unique_ptr <DatabaseRotating>
     make_DatabaseRotating (
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Backend.test.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Backend.test.cpp
index 5558e97e1f..1f8552b33f 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Backend.test.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Backend.test.cpp
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ public:
 
         testcase ("Backend type=" + type);
 
-        beast::StringPairArray params;
+        Section params;
         beast::UnitTestUtilities::TempDirectory path ("node_db");
         params.set ("type", type);
-        params.set ("path", path.getFullPathName ());
+        params.set ("path", path.getFullPathName ().toStdString ());
 
         // Create a batch
         Batch batch;
diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Database.test.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Database.test.cpp
index 4ef49ee91e..2168a72196 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Database.test.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/tests/Database.test.cpp
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ public:
         DummyScheduler scheduler;
 
         beast::UnitTestUtilities::TempDirectory node_db ("node_db");
-        beast::StringPairArray srcParams;
+        Section srcParams;
         srcParams.set ("type", srcBackendType);
-        srcParams.set ("path", node_db.getFullPathName ());
+        srcParams.set ("path", node_db.getFullPathName ().toStdString ());
 
         // Create a batch
         Batch batch;
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ public:
 
             // Set up the destination database
             beast::UnitTestUtilities::TempDirectory dest_db ("dest_db");
-            beast::StringPairArray destParams;
+            Section destParams;
             destParams.set ("type", destBackendType);
-            destParams.set ("path", dest_db.getFullPathName ());
+            destParams.set ("path", dest_db.getFullPathName ().toStdString ());
 
             std::unique_ptr <Database> dest = Manager::instance().make_Database (
                 "test", scheduler, j, 2, destParams);
@@ -101,16 +101,16 @@ public:
         testcase (s);
 
         beast::UnitTestUtilities::TempDirectory node_db ("node_db");
-        beast::StringPairArray nodeParams;
+        Section nodeParams;
         nodeParams.set ("type", type);
-        nodeParams.set ("path", node_db.getFullPathName ());
+        nodeParams.set ("path", node_db.getFullPathName ().toStdString ());
 
         beast::UnitTestUtilities::TempDirectory temp_db ("temp_db");
-        beast::StringPairArray tempParams;
+        Section tempParams;
         if (useEphemeralDatabase)
         {
             tempParams.set ("type", type);
-            tempParams.set ("path", temp_db.getFullPathName ());
+            tempParams.set ("path", temp_db.getFullPathName ().toStdString ());
         }
 
         // Create a batch
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ public:
             {
                 // Verify the ephemeral db
                 std::unique_ptr <Database> db = Manager::instance().make_Database ("test",
-                    scheduler, j, 2, tempParams, beast::StringPairArray ());
+                    scheduler, j, 2, tempParams, Section ());
 
                 // Read it back in
                 Batch copy;
diff --git a/src/ripple/shamap/tests/common.h b/src/ripple/shamap/tests/common.h
index 2340c3bea4..0298aaa5fe 100644
--- a/src/ripple/shamap/tests/common.h
+++ b/src/ripple/shamap/tests/common.h
@@ -50,11 +50,12 @@ public:
     TestFamily (beast::Journal j)
         : treecache_ ("TreeNodeCache", 65536, 60, clock_, j)
         , fullbelow_ ("full_below", clock_)
-        , db_(NodeStore::Manager::instance().make_Database(
-            "test", scheduler_, j, 1,
-                parseDelimitedKeyValueString(
-                    "type=memory|Path=SHAMap_test")))
     {
+        Section testSection;
+        testSection.set("type", "memory");
+        testSection.set("Path", "SHAMap_test");
+        db_ = NodeStore::Manager::instance ().make_Database (
+            "test", scheduler_, j, 1, testSection);
     }
 
     beast::manual_clock <std::chrono::steady_clock>