diff --git a/src/nix/hive/options.nix b/src/nix/hive/options.nix
index 9f97d25..c1c28c6 100644
--- a/src/nix/hive/options.nix
+++ b/src/nix/hive/options.nix
@@ -134,12 +134,12 @@ with builtins; rec {
           type = types.nullOr types.str;
           default = "root";
         };
-        connectionOptions = lib.mkOption {
+        connectionUri = lib.mkOption {
           description = mdDoc ''
             Connection options given to the activation program.
           '';
-          type = types.attrsOf types.str;
-          default = { };
+          type = types.str;
+          default = "ssh://localhost";
         };
         allowLocalDeployment = lib.mkOption {
           description = mdDoc ''
@@ -271,15 +271,6 @@ with builtins; rec {
         '';
         type = types.path;
       };
-      protocol = lib.mkOption {
-        type = types.str;
-        default = "local";
-        description = mdDoc ''
-          Which protocol to use to deploy.
-
-          It can be ssh, local, etc. but strongly depends on `activationProgram`
-        '';
-      };
     };
   };
   registryOptions = { lib, ... }: let
diff --git a/src/nix/host/generic.rs b/src/nix/host/generic.rs
index c203402..e58b6ba 100644
--- a/src/nix/host/generic.rs
+++ b/src/nix/host/generic.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::process::Stdio;
 
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufReader, BufWriter};
+use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt, AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufReader, BufWriter};
 use tokio::process::{Child, ChildStdin, ChildStdout, Command};
 
 use super::{CopyDirection, CopyOptions, Host, RebootOptions};
@@ -32,11 +32,8 @@ pub struct Goal {
 /// A request to the activation program
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum Request {
-    /// Asks for activation program's capabilities
-    Capabilities,
-
     Connection {
-        connection_options: HashMap<String, String>,
+        connection_uri: String,
     },
 
     /// Copy closure to/from host
@@ -74,25 +71,19 @@ pub enum Request {
     },
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-pub enum CapabilityResponse {
-    V1 {
-        supported_transports: Vec<Transport>,
-        supported_goals: Vec<Goal>,
-    },
-}
-
 /// A response from the activation program
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum Response {
-    Capabilities(CapabilityResponse),
+    ConnectionFailed { error: String },
+    ConnectionSucceded { supported_goals: Vec<String> },
     Progress { phase: String },
     NewStorePath { store_path: StorePath },
     Failed { error: String },
+    Unsupported,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct OpenedCommand {
+pub struct ActivationCommand {
     command: Child,
     stdin: BufWriter<ChildStdin>,
     stdout: BufReader<ChildStdout>,
@@ -100,8 +91,8 @@ pub struct OpenedCommand {
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct GenericHost {
-    activation_program: OpenedCommand,
-    connection_options: HashMap<String, String>,
+    activation_program: ActivationCommand,
+    connection_uri: String,
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
@@ -192,10 +183,7 @@ impl Host for GenericHost {
 }
 
 impl GenericHost {
-    pub fn new(
-        system: &SystemTypeConfig,
-        connection_options: &HashMap<String, String>,
-    ) -> ColmenaResult<GenericHost> {
+    pub fn new(system: &SystemTypeConfig, connection_uri: String) -> ColmenaResult<GenericHost> {
         let mut command = Command::new(system.activation_program.as_path())
             .stdin(Stdio::piped())
             .stdout(Stdio::piped())
@@ -205,7 +193,7 @@ impl GenericHost {
         let stdin = BufWriter::new(command.stdin.take().unwrap());
         let stdout = BufReader::new(command.stdout.take().unwrap());
 
-        let activation_program = OpenedCommand {
+        let activation_program = ActivationCommand {
             command,
             stdin,
             stdout,
@@ -213,13 +201,13 @@ impl GenericHost {
 
         Ok(Self {
             activation_program,
-            connection_options: connection_options.clone(),
+            connection_uri,
         })
     }
 
     pub async fn connect(&mut self) -> ColmenaResult<()> {
         self.call_default_handler(Request::Connection {
-            connection_options: self.connection_options.clone(),
+            connection_uri: self.connection_uri.clone(),
         })
         .await
     }
@@ -248,28 +236,30 @@ impl GenericHost {
         let mut line = String::new();
         let mut value = initial_value;
 
+        // We're reading JSONL, so we can read all the line and parse it
         while stdout.read_line(&mut line).await.is_ok_and(|x| x != 0) {
             if line == "\n" {
+                log::trace!("finished receiving responses from activation program");
                 break;
             }
             log::trace!("receiving from activation program:\n{}", line);
             let response: Response = serde_json::from_str(line.as_str())
                 .map_err(|error| ColmenaError::InvalidActivationProgramJson { error })?;
-            value = handler(response, value);
+
+            match response {
+                Response::Progress { phase } => {
+                    log::info!("{phase}");
+                    break;
+                }
+                Response::Unsupported => return Err(ColmenaError::Unsupported),
+                _ => value = handler(response, value),
+            }
         }
 
         Ok(value)
     }
 
     async fn call_default_handler(&mut self, request: Request) -> ColmenaResult<()> {
-        self.call(
-            request,
-            |response, _| match response {
-                Response::Progress { phase } => println!("{phase}"),
-                _ => (),
-            },
-            (),
-        )
-        .await
+        self.call(request, |_, _| {}, ()).await
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/nix/mod.rs b/src/nix/mod.rs
index b2a8204..fd70c9c 100644
--- a/src/nix/mod.rs
+++ b/src/nix/mod.rs
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ pub struct NodeConfig {
     #[serde(rename = "targetPort")]
     target_port: Option<u16>,
 
-    #[serde(rename = "connectionOptions")]
-    connection_options: HashMap<String, String>,
+    #[serde(rename = "connectionUri")]
+    connection_uri: String,
 
     #[serde(rename = "allowLocalDeployment")]
     allow_local_deployment: bool,
@@ -107,8 +107,6 @@ pub struct SystemTypeConfig {
 
     #[serde(rename = "activationProgram")]
     pub activation_program: StorePath,
-
-    pub protocol: String,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Validate, Deserialize)]
@@ -218,7 +216,7 @@ impl NodeConfig {
     }
 
     pub fn to_generic_host(&self, system_config: &SystemTypeConfig) -> ColmenaResult<GenericHost> {
-        GenericHost::new(system_config, &self.connection_options)
+        GenericHost::new(system_config, self.connection_uri.clone())
     }
 }