diff --git a/artiq/master/db.py b/artiq/master/db.py
index e8d4c9c7c..7ee2735a8 100644
--- a/artiq/master/db.py
+++ b/artiq/master/db.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import numpy
 import h5py
 
 from artiq.protocols.sync_struct import Notifier
+from artiq.protocols.pc_rpc import Client
 
 
 _type_to_hdf5 = {
@@ -72,9 +73,15 @@ class ResultDB:
 
 
 def _create_device(desc, dbh):
-    module = importlib.import_module(desc["module"])
-    device_class = getattr(module, desc["class"])
-    return device_class(dbh, **desc["arguments"])
+    ty = desc["type"]
+    if ty == "local":
+        module = importlib.import_module(desc["module"])
+        device_class = getattr(module, desc["class"])
+        return device_class(dbh, **desc["arguments"])
+    elif ty == "controller":
+        return Client(desc["host"], desc["port"], desc["target_name"])
+    else:
+        raise ValueError("Unsupported type in device DB: " + ty)
 
 
 class DBHub:
@@ -112,5 +119,7 @@ class DBHub:
 
         """
         for dev in reversed(list(self.active_devices.values())):
-            if hasattr(dev, "close"):
+            if isinstance(dev, Client):
+                dev.close_rpc()
+            elif hasattr(dev, "close"):
                 dev.close()
diff --git a/examples/ddb.pyon b/examples/ddb.pyon
index dfde1c55c..4d55f30f1 100644
--- a/examples/ddb.pyon
+++ b/examples/ddb.pyon
@@ -1,65 +1,77 @@
 {
     "comm": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.comm_serial",
         "class": "Comm",
         "arguments": {}
     },
     "core": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.core",
         "class": "Core",
         "arguments": {}
     },
 
     "led": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.gpio",
         "class": "GPIOOut",
         "arguments": {"channel": 0}
     },
 
     "pmt0": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.rtio",
         "class": "RTIOIn",
         "arguments": {"channel": 0}
     },
     "pmt1": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.rtio",
         "class": "RTIOIn",
         "arguments": {"channel": 1}
     },
 
     "ttl0": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.rtio",
         "class": "RTIOOut",
         "arguments": {"channel": 2}
     },
     "ttl1": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.rtio",
         "class": "RTIOOut",
         "arguments": {"channel": 3}
     },
     "ttl2": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.rtio",
         "class": "RTIOOut",
         "arguments": {"channel": 4}
     },
 
     "dds0": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.dds",
         "class": "DDS",
         "arguments": {"reg_channel": 0, "rtio_switch": 5}
     },
     "dds1": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.dds",
         "class": "DDS",
         "arguments": {"reg_channel": 1, "rtio_switch": 6}
     },
     "dds2": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.coredevice.dds",
         "class": "DDS",
         "arguments": {"reg_channel": 2, "rtio_switch": 7}
     },
 
     "electrodes": {
+        "type": "local",
         "module": "artiq.devices.pdq2",
         "class": "CompoundPDQ2",
         "arguments": {
@@ -70,6 +82,14 @@
         "comment": "Conflicts with dds2 and ttl0-2"
     },
 
+    "lda": {
+        "type": "controller",
+        "host": "::1",
+        "port": 3253,
+        "target_name": "lda",
+        "command": "lda_controller -p {port} -d sim"
+    },
+
     "pmt": "pmt0",
     "bd": "dds0",
     "bdd": "dds1"