diff --git a/src/ptvsd/adapter/channels.py b/src/ptvsd/adapter/channels.py
index efb5c18e..948957e0 100644
--- a/src/ptvsd/adapter/channels.py
+++ b/src/ptvsd/adapter/channels.py
@@ -42,9 +42,7 @@ class Channels(singleton.ThreadSafeSingleton):
             server_sock = socket.create_server(host, port)
             try:
                 log.info(
-                    "ptvsd debugServer waiting for connection on {0}:{1}...",
-                    host,
-                    port,
+                    "ptvsd debugServer waiting for connection on {0}:{1}...", host, port
                 )
                 sock, (ide_host, ide_port) = server_sock.accept()
             finally:
@@ -65,13 +63,44 @@ class Channels(singleton.ThreadSafeSingleton):
             },
         )
 
-
     @singleton.autolocked_method
     def connect_to_server(self, address):
         assert self.server is None
-        raise NotImplementedError
+
+        # Import message handlers lazily to avoid circular imports.
+        from ptvsd.adapter import messages
+
+        host, port = address
+        sock = socket.create_client()
+        sock.connect(address)
+
+        server_stream = messaging.JsonIOStream.from_socket(sock, "server")
+
+        self.server = messaging.JsonMessageChannel(
+            server_stream, messages.ServerMessages(), server_stream.name
+        )
+        self.server.start()
 
     @singleton.autolocked_method
     def accept_connection_from_server(self, address):
         assert self.server is None
-        raise NotImplementedError
+
+        # Import message handlers lazily to avoid circular imports.
+        from ptvsd.adapter import messages
+
+        host, port = address
+        server_sock = socket.create_server(host, port)
+        try:
+            log.info(
+                "ptvsd adapter waiting for connection on {0}:{1}...", host, port
+            )
+            sock, (server_host, server_port) = server_sock.accept()
+        finally:
+            server_sock.close()
+        log.info("Debug server connection accepted from {0}:{1}.", server_host, server_port)
+        server_stream = messaging.JsonIOStream.from_socket(sock, "server")
+
+        self.server = messaging.JsonMessageChannel(
+            server_stream, messages.ServerMessages(), server_stream.name
+        )
+        self.server.start()
diff --git a/src/ptvsd/adapter/messages.py b/src/ptvsd/adapter/messages.py
index 1db2ad6f..bb6ab47d 100644
--- a/src/ptvsd/adapter/messages.py
+++ b/src/ptvsd/adapter/messages.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 
 import ptvsd
 from ptvsd.common import log, messaging, singleton
-from ptvsd.adapter import channels, debuggee, state
+from ptvsd.adapter import channels, debuggee, state, options
 
 
 class Shared(singleton.ThreadSafeSingleton):
@@ -136,8 +136,11 @@ class IDEMessages(Messages):
     # Handles various attributes common to both "launch" and "attach".
     def _debug_config(self, request):
         assert request.command in ("launch", "attach")
-        pass  # TODO: options and debugOptions
-        pass  # TODO: pathMappings (unless server does that entirely?)
+
+        # TODO: Change all old VS style debugger settings to debugOptions
+        # See https://github.com/microsoft/ptvsd/issues/1219
+        pass
+
 
     @_replay_to_server
     @_only_allowed_while("initializing")
@@ -155,8 +158,10 @@ class IDEMessages(Messages):
         self.terminate_on_disconnect = False
         self._debug_config(request)
 
-        # TODO: get address and port
-        channels.connect_to_server()
+        options.host = request.arguments.get("host", options.host)
+        options.port = int(request.arguments.get("port", options.port))
+
+        self._channels.connect_to_server(address=(options.host, options.port))
 
         return self._configure()
 
@@ -166,7 +171,7 @@ class IDEMessages(Messages):
     def _configure(self):
         log.debug("Replaying previously received messages to server.")
 
-        for msg in self.initial_messages:
+        for msg in self._initial_messages:
             # TODO: validate server response to ensure it matches our own earlier.
             self._server.propagate(msg)
 
diff --git a/src/ptvsd/adapter/options.py b/src/ptvsd/adapter/options.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7d9c33e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ptvsd/adapter/options.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+# Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE in the project root
+# for license information.
+
+
+host = "127.0.0.1"
+"""Default host name for the debug server"""
+
+port = 5678
+"""Default port for the debug server"""
\ No newline at end of file