diff --git a/doc/man/client.rst b/doc/man/client.rst
index 309e36365..ae7bcae61 100644
--- a/doc/man/client.rst
+++ b/doc/man/client.rst
@@ -49,6 +49,15 @@ LG_ENV
 This variable can be used to specify the configuration file to use without
 using the ``--config`` option, the ``--config`` option overrides it.
 
+The special value ``coordinator:`` (or ``--config coordinator:``) tells the
+client to fetch the environment from the coordinator over the ``GetEnvironment``
+RPC instead of reading a local file, which is useful when working from a remote
+machine that does not have the lab env file available locally.  The fetched
+YAML is cached under ``$XDG_CACHE_HOME/labgrid/env.cfg`` (or
+``~/.cache/labgrid/env.cfg``) so it can be inspected after the fact.  The
+coordinator must have been started with ``--environment``; see
+``labgrid-coordinator``\(1).
+
 LG_COORDINATOR
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 This variable can be used to set the default coordinator in the format
diff --git a/doc/man/coordinator.rst b/doc/man/coordinator.rst
index c89eccad4..2dd9f755b 100644
--- a/doc/man/coordinator.rst
+++ b/doc/man/coordinator.rst
@@ -25,9 +25,23 @@ OPTIONS
     display command line help
 -l ADDRESS, --listen ADDRESS
     make coordinator listen on host and port
+-e FILE, --environment FILE
+    serve the given YAML env file to clients via the ``GetEnvironment`` RPC.
+    Clients opt in by setting ``LG_ENV=coordinator:`` (see
+    ``labgrid-client``\(1))
 -d, --debug
     enable debug mode
 
+-e / --environment
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+When this option is set the coordinator reads the file fresh on each
+``GetEnvironment`` request and returns its contents verbatim to the client.
+This means a remote user no longer needs a local copy of the env file - they
+only need network access to the coordinator.
+
+The default (no ``--environment``) is unchanged: ``GetEnvironment`` returns an
+empty string and clients keep loading env from a local file as before.
+
 SEE ALSO
 --------
 
diff --git a/doc/usage.rst b/doc/usage.rst
index 37527fb40..ea29be724 100644
--- a/doc/usage.rst
+++ b/doc/usage.rst
@@ -166,6 +166,37 @@ allocated before returning.
 A reservation will time out after a short time, if it is neither refreshed nor
 used by locked places.
 
+Fetching the Environment from the Coordinator
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+When several developers (or CI jobs) share a lab, distributing the env file out
+of band - via a shared filesystem, git checkout or scp - is awkward duplication.
+``labgrid-coordinator`` can serve a curated env to clients on demand, so a
+remote user only needs network access to the coordinator and a labgrid install.
+
+Start the coordinator with ``--environment`` pointing at a YAML file:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+   $ labgrid-coordinator --environment /etc/labgrid/lab.cfg
+
+On the client side, set ``LG_ENV=coordinator:`` (or ``--config coordinator:``)
+to fetch the env via the ``GetEnvironment`` RPC instead of reading a local file.
+The returned YAML is cached under ``$XDG_CACHE_HOME/labgrid/env.cfg`` (or
+``~/.cache/labgrid/env.cfg``), overwritten on each fetch so a user can inspect
+what env the client just loaded.
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+   $ export LG_COORDINATOR=lab-host:20408
+   $ export LG_ENV=coordinator:
+   $ labgrid-client console -p <board>
+
+Per-user paths inside the served env (build dirs, log dirs, source trees) are
+still resolvable via the existing ``LG_*`` template substitution, so individual
+clients can override only the few values that matter to them without forking the
+env file.
+
 Library
 -------
 labgrid can be used directly as a Python library, without the infrastructure
diff --git a/labgrid/remote/client.py b/labgrid/remote/client.py
index 4d2eb0bfa..115905f8d 100755
--- a/labgrid/remote/client.py
+++ b/labgrid/remote/client.py
@@ -1725,6 +1725,40 @@ def start_session(
     return session
 
 
+def fetch_coordinator_environment(address):
+    """Fetch the env file served by the coordinator and cache it on disk
+
+    Used when the user sets ``LG_ENV=coordinator:`` (or
+    ``--config coordinator:``) instead of pointing at a local file.
+
+    Returns the path to the cached file (under ``$XDG_CACHE_HOME`` or
+    ``~/.cache/labgrid/env.cfg``), overwritten on each call so users
+    can inspect what env the client just loaded.  Raises UserError if
+    the coordinator is not configured to serve an environment.
+    """
+    address = proxymanager.get_grpc_address(address, default_port=20408)
+    with grpc.insecure_channel(address) as channel:
+        stub = labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.CoordinatorStub(channel)
+        try:
+            response = stub.GetEnvironment(
+                labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest(),
+                timeout=10.0,
+            )
+        except grpc.RpcError as e:
+            # pylint: disable-next=no-member
+            raise UserError(f"failed to fetch environment from coordinator at {address}: {e.details() or e}") from e
+    if not response.config:
+        raise UserError(
+            f"coordinator at {address} has no environment configured (start coordinator with --environment <file>)"
+        )
+    cache_dir = os.path.join(os.environ.get("XDG_CACHE_HOME", os.path.expanduser("~/.cache")), "labgrid")
+    os.makedirs(cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
+    path = os.path.join(cache_dir, "env.cfg")
+    with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        f.write(response.config)
+    return path
+
+
 def find_role_by_place(config, place):
     for role, role_config in config.items():
         resources, _ = target_factory.normalize_config(role_config)
@@ -2305,6 +2339,17 @@ def main():
     if args.proxy:
         proxymanager.force_proxy(args.proxy)
 
+    if args.config == "coordinator:":
+        # Fetch the env from the coordinator.  The address can't be taken from
+        # env.config yet (no env loaded), so use the same fallback chain the
+        # rest of main() uses, minus that.
+        addr = args.coordinator or os.environ.get("LG_COORDINATOR", "127.0.0.1:20408")
+        try:
+            args.config = fetch_coordinator_environment(addr)
+        except UserError as e:
+            print(e, file=sys.stderr)
+            exit(1)
+
     env = None
     if args.config:
         env = Environment(config_file=args.config)
diff --git a/labgrid/remote/coordinator.py b/labgrid/remote/coordinator.py
index a63a21482..87605734f 100644
--- a/labgrid/remote/coordinator.py
+++ b/labgrid/remote/coordinator.py
@@ -209,11 +209,12 @@ class ExporterError(Exception):
 
 
 class Coordinator(labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.CoordinatorServicer):
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, environment_file: str | None = None) -> None:
         self.places: dict[str, Place] = {}
         self.reservations = {}
         self.poll_tasks = []
         self.save_scheduled = False
+        self.environment_file = environment_file
 
         self.lock = asyncio.Lock()
         self.exporters: dict[str, ExporterSession] = {}
@@ -1105,8 +1106,17 @@ async def GetReservations(self, request: labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetReservations
         reservations = [x.as_pb2() for x in self.reservations.values()]
         return labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetReservationsResponse(reservations=reservations)
 
+    async def GetEnvironment(self, request: labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest, context):
+        if not self.environment_file:
+            return labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentResponse(config="")
+        try:
+            with open(self.environment_file, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+                return labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentResponse(config=f.read())
+        except OSError as e:
+            await context.abort(grpc.StatusCode.FAILED_PRECONDITION, f"cannot read environment file: {e}")
+
 
-async def serve(listen, cleanup) -> None:
+async def serve(listen, cleanup, environment_file=None) -> None:
     asyncio.current_task().set_name("coordinator-serve")
     # It seems since https://github.com/grpc/grpc/pull/34647, the
     # ping_timeout_ms default of 60 seconds overrides keepalive_timeout_ms,
@@ -1124,7 +1134,7 @@ async def serve(listen, cleanup) -> None:
     server = grpc.aio.server(
         options=channel_options,
     )
-    coordinator = Coordinator()
+    coordinator = Coordinator(environment_file=environment_file)
     labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.add_CoordinatorServicer_to_server(coordinator, server)
     # enable reflection for use with grpcurl
     reflection.enable_server_reflection(
@@ -1172,6 +1182,15 @@ def main():
         default="[::]:20408",
         help="coordinator listening host and port",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-e",
+        "--environment",
+        metavar="FILE",
+        type=str,
+        default=None,
+        help="path to a YAML environment file to serve to clients via "
+        "GetEnvironment (LG_ENV=coordinator: on the client side)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("-d", "--debug", action="store_true", default=False, help="enable debug mode")
     parser.add_argument("--pystuck", action="store_true", help="enable pystuck")
     parser.add_argument(
@@ -1201,7 +1220,7 @@ def main():
     cleanup = []
     loop.set_debug(True)
     try:
-        loop.run_until_complete(serve(args.listen, cleanup))
+        loop.run_until_complete(serve(args.listen, cleanup, environment_file=args.environment))
     finally:
         if cleanup:
             loop.run_until_complete(*cleanup)
diff --git a/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.py b/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.py
index 37652bff7..fff357073 100644
--- a/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.py
+++ b/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 
 
-DESCRIPTOR = _descriptor_pool.Default().AddSerializedFile(b'\n\x19labgrid-coordinator.proto\x12\x07labgrid\"\x8a\x01\n\x0f\x43lientInMessage\x12\x1d\n\x04sync\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\r.labgrid.SyncH\x00\x12\'\n\x07startup\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.StartupDoneH\x00\x12\'\n\tsubscribe\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b\x32\x12.labgrid.SubscribeH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"\x12\n\x04Sync\x12\n\n\x02id\x18\x01 \x01(\x04\",\n\x0bStartupDone\x12\x0f\n\x07version\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"r\n\tSubscribe\x12\x1b\n\x0eis_unsubscribe\x18\x01 \x01(\x08H\x01\x88\x01\x01\x12\x14\n\nall_places\x18\x02 \x01(\x08H\x00\x12\x17\n\rall_resources\x18\x03 \x01(\x08H\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kindB\x11\n\x0f_is_unsubscribe\"g\n\x10\x43lientOutMessage\x12 \n\x04sync\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\r.labgrid.SyncH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12(\n\x07updates\x18\x02 \x03(\x0b\x32\x17.labgrid.UpdateResponseB\x07\n\x05_sync\"\xa5\x01\n\x0eUpdateResponse\x12%\n\x08resource\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.ResourceH\x00\x12.\n\x0c\x64\x65l_resource\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.labgrid.Resource.PathH\x00\x12\x1f\n\x05place\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b\x32\x0e.labgrid.PlaceH\x00\x12\x13\n\tdel_place\x18\x04 \x01(\tH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"\x9a\x01\n\x11\x45xporterInMessage\x12%\n\x08resource\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.ResourceH\x00\x12\'\n\x07startup\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.StartupDoneH\x00\x12-\n\x08response\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b\x32\x19.labgrid.ExporterResponseH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"\x9e\x03\n\x08Resource\x12$\n\x04path\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.labgrid.Resource.Path\x12\x0b\n\x03\x63ls\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12-\n\x06params\x18\x03 \x03(\x0b\x32\x1d.labgrid.Resource.ParamsEntry\x12+\n\x05\x65xtra\x18\x04 \x03(\x0b\x32\x1c.labgrid.Resource.ExtraEntry\x12\x10\n\x08\x61\x63quired\x18\x05 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05\x61vail\x18\x06 \x01(\x08\x1a_\n\x04Path\x12\x1a\n\rexporter_name\x18\x01 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12\x12\n\ngroup_name\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x15\n\rresource_name\x18\x03 \x01(\tB\x10\n\x0e_exporter_name\x1a@\n\x0bParamsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12 \n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.MapValue:\x02\x38\x01\x1a?\n\nExtraEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12 \n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.MapValue:\x02\x38\x01\"\x82\x01\n\x08MapValue\x12\x14\n\nbool_value\x18\x01 \x01(\x08H\x00\x12\x13\n\tint_value\x18\x02 \x01(\x03H\x00\x12\x14\n\nuint_value\x18\x03 \x01(\x04H\x00\x12\x15\n\x0b\x66loat_value\x18\x04 \x01(\x01H\x00\x12\x16\n\x0cstring_value\x18\x05 \x01(\tH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"C\n\x10\x45xporterResponse\x12\x0f\n\x07success\x18\x01 \x01(\x08\x12\x13\n\x06reason\x18\x02 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\t\n\x07_reason\"\x18\n\x05Hello\x12\x0f\n\x07version\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x82\x01\n\x12\x45xporterOutMessage\x12\x1f\n\x05hello\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x0e.labgrid.HelloH\x00\x12\x43\n\x14set_acquired_request\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32#.labgrid.ExporterSetAcquiredRequestH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"o\n\x1a\x45xporterSetAcquiredRequest\x12\x12\n\ngroup_name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x15\n\rresource_name\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x17\n\nplace_name\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\r\n\x0b_place_name\"\x1f\n\x0f\x41\x64\x64PlaceRequest\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x12\n\x10\x41\x64\x64PlaceResponse\"\"\n\x12\x44\x65letePlaceRequest\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x15\n\x13\x44\x65letePlaceResponse\"\x12\n\x10GetPlacesRequest\"3\n\x11GetPlacesResponse\x12\x1e\n\x06places\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\x0e.labgrid.Place\"\xd2\x02\n\x05Place\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x61liases\x18\x02 \x03(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63omment\x18\x03 \x01(\t\x12&\n\x04tags\x18\x04 \x03(\x0b\x32\x18.labgrid.Place.TagsEntry\x12\'\n\x07matches\x18\x05 \x03(\x0b\x32\x16.labgrid.ResourceMatch\x12\x15\n\x08\x61\x63quired\x18\x06 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12\x1a\n\x12\x61\x63quired_resources\x18\x07 \x03(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x61llowed\x18\x08 \x03(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63reated\x18\t \x01(\x01\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63hanged\x18\n \x01(\x01\x12\x18\n\x0breservation\x18\x0b \x01(\tH\x01\x88\x01\x01\x1a+\n\tTagsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\x42\x0b\n\t_acquiredB\x0e\n\x0c_reservation\"y\n\rResourceMatch\x12\x10\n\x08\x65xporter\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05group\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x0b\n\x03\x63ls\x18\x03 \x01(\t\x12\x11\n\x04name\x18\x04 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12\x13\n\x06rename\x18\x05 \x01(\tH\x01\x88\x01\x01\x42\x07\n\x05_nameB\t\n\x07_rename\"8\n\x14\x41\x64\x64PlaceAliasRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05\x61lias\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x17\n\x15\x41\x64\x64PlaceAliasResponse\";\n\x17\x44\x65letePlaceAliasRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05\x61lias\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x1a\n\x18\x44\x65letePlaceAliasResponse\"\x8b\x01\n\x13SetPlaceTagsRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x34\n\x04tags\x18\x02 \x03(\x0b\x32&.labgrid.SetPlaceTagsRequest.TagsEntry\x1a+\n\tTagsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\"\x16\n\x14SetPlaceTagsResponse\"<\n\x16SetPlaceCommentRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63omment\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x19\n\x17SetPlaceCommentResponse\"Z\n\x14\x41\x64\x64PlaceMatchRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07pattern\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x13\n\x06rename\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\t\n\x07_rename\"\x17\n\x15\x41\x64\x64PlaceMatchResponse\"]\n\x17\x44\x65letePlaceMatchRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07pattern\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x13\n\x06rename\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\t\n\x07_rename\"\x1a\n\x18\x44\x65letePlaceMatchResponse\"(\n\x13\x41\x63quirePlaceRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x16\n\x14\x41\x63quirePlaceResponse\"L\n\x13ReleasePlaceRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x15\n\x08\x66romuser\x18\x02 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\x0b\n\t_fromuser\"\x16\n\x14ReleasePlaceResponse\"4\n\x11\x41llowPlaceRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0c\n\x04user\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x14\n\x12\x41llowPlaceResponse\"\xb6\x01\n\x18\x43reateReservationRequest\x12?\n\x07\x66ilters\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32..labgrid.CreateReservationRequest.FiltersEntry\x12\x0c\n\x04prio\x18\x02 \x01(\x01\x1aK\n\x0c\x46iltersEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12*\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1b.labgrid.Reservation.Filter:\x02\x38\x01\"F\n\x19\x43reateReservationResponse\x12)\n\x0breservation\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.Reservation\"\xcd\x03\n\x0bReservation\x12\r\n\x05owner\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05token\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05state\x18\x03 \x01(\x05\x12\x0c\n\x04prio\x18\x04 \x01(\x01\x12\x32\n\x07\x66ilters\x18\x05 \x03(\x0b\x32!.labgrid.Reservation.FiltersEntry\x12:\n\x0b\x61llocations\x18\x06 \x03(\x0b\x32%.labgrid.Reservation.AllocationsEntry\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63reated\x18\x07 \x01(\x01\x12\x0f\n\x07timeout\x18\x08 \x01(\x01\x1ap\n\x06\x46ilter\x12\x37\n\x06\x66ilter\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\'.labgrid.Reservation.Filter.FilterEntry\x1a-\n\x0b\x46ilterEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\x1aK\n\x0c\x46iltersEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12*\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1b.labgrid.Reservation.Filter:\x02\x38\x01\x1a\x32\n\x10\x41llocationsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\")\n\x18\x43\x61ncelReservationRequest\x12\r\n\x05token\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x1b\n\x19\x43\x61ncelReservationResponse\"\'\n\x16PollReservationRequest\x12\r\n\x05token\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"D\n\x17PollReservationResponse\x12)\n\x0breservation\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.Reservation\"E\n\x17GetReservationsResponse\x12*\n\x0creservations\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.Reservation\"\x18\n\x16GetReservationsRequest2\xd2\x0b\n\x0b\x43oordinator\x12I\n\x0c\x43lientStream\x12\x18.labgrid.ClientInMessage\x1a\x19.labgrid.ClientOutMessage\"\x00(\x01\x30\x01\x12O\n\x0e\x45xporterStream\x12\x1a.labgrid.ExporterInMessage\x1a\x1b.labgrid.ExporterOutMessage\"\x00(\x01\x30\x01\x12\x41\n\x08\x41\x64\x64Place\x12\x18.labgrid.AddPlaceRequest\x1a\x19.labgrid.AddPlaceResponse\"\x00\x12J\n\x0b\x44\x65letePlace\x12\x1b.labgrid.DeletePlaceRequest\x1a\x1c.labgrid.DeletePlaceResponse\"\x00\x12\x44\n\tGetPlaces\x12\x19.labgrid.GetPlacesRequest\x1a\x1a.labgrid.GetPlacesResponse\"\x00\x12P\n\rAddPlaceAlias\x12\x1d.labgrid.AddPlaceAliasRequest\x1a\x1e.labgrid.AddPlaceAliasResponse\"\x00\x12Y\n\x10\x44\x65letePlaceAlias\x12 .labgrid.DeletePlaceAliasRequest\x1a!.labgrid.DeletePlaceAliasResponse\"\x00\x12M\n\x0cSetPlaceTags\x12\x1c.labgrid.SetPlaceTagsRequest\x1a\x1d.labgrid.SetPlaceTagsResponse\"\x00\x12V\n\x0fSetPlaceComment\x12\x1f.labgrid.SetPlaceCommentRequest\x1a .labgrid.SetPlaceCommentResponse\"\x00\x12P\n\rAddPlaceMatch\x12\x1d.labgrid.AddPlaceMatchRequest\x1a\x1e.labgrid.AddPlaceMatchResponse\"\x00\x12Y\n\x10\x44\x65letePlaceMatch\x12 .labgrid.DeletePlaceMatchRequest\x1a!.labgrid.DeletePlaceMatchResponse\"\x00\x12M\n\x0c\x41\x63quirePlace\x12\x1c.labgrid.AcquirePlaceRequest\x1a\x1d.labgrid.AcquirePlaceResponse\"\x00\x12M\n\x0cReleasePlace\x12\x1c.labgrid.ReleasePlaceRequest\x1a\x1d.labgrid.ReleasePlaceResponse\"\x00\x12G\n\nAllowPlace\x12\x1a.labgrid.AllowPlaceRequest\x1a\x1b.labgrid.AllowPlaceResponse\"\x00\x12\\\n\x11\x43reateReservation\x12!.labgrid.CreateReservationRequest\x1a\".labgrid.CreateReservationResponse\"\x00\x12\\\n\x11\x43\x61ncelReservation\x12!.labgrid.CancelReservationRequest\x1a\".labgrid.CancelReservationResponse\"\x00\x12V\n\x0fPollReservation\x12\x1f.labgrid.PollReservationRequest\x1a .labgrid.PollReservationResponse\"\x00\x12V\n\x0fGetReservations\x12\x1f.labgrid.GetReservationsRequest\x1a .labgrid.GetReservationsResponse\"\x00\x62\x06proto3')
+DESCRIPTOR = _descriptor_pool.Default().AddSerializedFile(b'\n\x19labgrid-coordinator.proto\x12\x07labgrid\"\x8a\x01\n\x0f\x43lientInMessage\x12\x1d\n\x04sync\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\r.labgrid.SyncH\x00\x12\'\n\x07startup\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.StartupDoneH\x00\x12\'\n\tsubscribe\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b\x32\x12.labgrid.SubscribeH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"\x12\n\x04Sync\x12\n\n\x02id\x18\x01 \x01(\x04\",\n\x0bStartupDone\x12\x0f\n\x07version\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"r\n\tSubscribe\x12\x1b\n\x0eis_unsubscribe\x18\x01 \x01(\x08H\x01\x88\x01\x01\x12\x14\n\nall_places\x18\x02 \x01(\x08H\x00\x12\x17\n\rall_resources\x18\x03 \x01(\x08H\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kindB\x11\n\x0f_is_unsubscribe\"g\n\x10\x43lientOutMessage\x12 \n\x04sync\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\r.labgrid.SyncH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12(\n\x07updates\x18\x02 \x03(\x0b\x32\x17.labgrid.UpdateResponseB\x07\n\x05_sync\"\xa5\x01\n\x0eUpdateResponse\x12%\n\x08resource\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.ResourceH\x00\x12.\n\x0c\x64\x65l_resource\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.labgrid.Resource.PathH\x00\x12\x1f\n\x05place\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b\x32\x0e.labgrid.PlaceH\x00\x12\x13\n\tdel_place\x18\x04 \x01(\tH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"\x9a\x01\n\x11\x45xporterInMessage\x12%\n\x08resource\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.ResourceH\x00\x12\'\n\x07startup\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.StartupDoneH\x00\x12-\n\x08response\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b\x32\x19.labgrid.ExporterResponseH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"\x9e\x03\n\x08Resource\x12$\n\x04path\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.labgrid.Resource.Path\x12\x0b\n\x03\x63ls\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12-\n\x06params\x18\x03 \x03(\x0b\x32\x1d.labgrid.Resource.ParamsEntry\x12+\n\x05\x65xtra\x18\x04 \x03(\x0b\x32\x1c.labgrid.Resource.ExtraEntry\x12\x10\n\x08\x61\x63quired\x18\x05 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05\x61vail\x18\x06 \x01(\x08\x1a_\n\x04Path\x12\x1a\n\rexporter_name\x18\x01 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12\x12\n\ngroup_name\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x15\n\rresource_name\x18\x03 \x01(\tB\x10\n\x0e_exporter_name\x1a@\n\x0bParamsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12 \n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.MapValue:\x02\x38\x01\x1a?\n\nExtraEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12 \n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x11.labgrid.MapValue:\x02\x38\x01\"\x82\x01\n\x08MapValue\x12\x14\n\nbool_value\x18\x01 \x01(\x08H\x00\x12\x13\n\tint_value\x18\x02 \x01(\x03H\x00\x12\x14\n\nuint_value\x18\x03 \x01(\x04H\x00\x12\x15\n\x0b\x66loat_value\x18\x04 \x01(\x01H\x00\x12\x16\n\x0cstring_value\x18\x05 \x01(\tH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"C\n\x10\x45xporterResponse\x12\x0f\n\x07success\x18\x01 \x01(\x08\x12\x13\n\x06reason\x18\x02 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\t\n\x07_reason\"\x18\n\x05Hello\x12\x0f\n\x07version\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x82\x01\n\x12\x45xporterOutMessage\x12\x1f\n\x05hello\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x0e.labgrid.HelloH\x00\x12\x43\n\x14set_acquired_request\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32#.labgrid.ExporterSetAcquiredRequestH\x00\x42\x06\n\x04kind\"o\n\x1a\x45xporterSetAcquiredRequest\x12\x12\n\ngroup_name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x15\n\rresource_name\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x17\n\nplace_name\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\r\n\x0b_place_name\"\x1f\n\x0f\x41\x64\x64PlaceRequest\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x12\n\x10\x41\x64\x64PlaceResponse\"\"\n\x12\x44\x65letePlaceRequest\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x15\n\x13\x44\x65letePlaceResponse\"\x12\n\x10GetPlacesRequest\"3\n\x11GetPlacesResponse\x12\x1e\n\x06places\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\x0e.labgrid.Place\"\xd2\x02\n\x05Place\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x61liases\x18\x02 \x03(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63omment\x18\x03 \x01(\t\x12&\n\x04tags\x18\x04 \x03(\x0b\x32\x18.labgrid.Place.TagsEntry\x12\'\n\x07matches\x18\x05 \x03(\x0b\x32\x16.labgrid.ResourceMatch\x12\x15\n\x08\x61\x63quired\x18\x06 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12\x1a\n\x12\x61\x63quired_resources\x18\x07 \x03(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x61llowed\x18\x08 \x03(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63reated\x18\t \x01(\x01\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63hanged\x18\n \x01(\x01\x12\x18\n\x0breservation\x18\x0b \x01(\tH\x01\x88\x01\x01\x1a+\n\tTagsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\x42\x0b\n\t_acquiredB\x0e\n\x0c_reservation\"y\n\rResourceMatch\x12\x10\n\x08\x65xporter\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05group\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x0b\n\x03\x63ls\x18\x03 \x01(\t\x12\x11\n\x04name\x18\x04 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x12\x13\n\x06rename\x18\x05 \x01(\tH\x01\x88\x01\x01\x42\x07\n\x05_nameB\t\n\x07_rename\"8\n\x14\x41\x64\x64PlaceAliasRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05\x61lias\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x17\n\x15\x41\x64\x64PlaceAliasResponse\";\n\x17\x44\x65letePlaceAliasRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05\x61lias\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x1a\n\x18\x44\x65letePlaceAliasResponse\"\x8b\x01\n\x13SetPlaceTagsRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x34\n\x04tags\x18\x02 \x03(\x0b\x32&.labgrid.SetPlaceTagsRequest.TagsEntry\x1a+\n\tTagsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\"\x16\n\x14SetPlaceTagsResponse\"<\n\x16SetPlaceCommentRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63omment\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x19\n\x17SetPlaceCommentResponse\"Z\n\x14\x41\x64\x64PlaceMatchRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07pattern\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x13\n\x06rename\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\t\n\x07_rename\"\x17\n\x15\x41\x64\x64PlaceMatchResponse\"]\n\x17\x44\x65letePlaceMatchRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07pattern\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\x13\n\x06rename\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\t\n\x07_rename\"\x1a\n\x18\x44\x65letePlaceMatchResponse\"(\n\x13\x41\x63quirePlaceRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x16\n\x14\x41\x63quirePlaceResponse\"L\n\x13ReleasePlaceRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x15\n\x08\x66romuser\x18\x02 \x01(\tH\x00\x88\x01\x01\x42\x0b\n\t_fromuser\"\x16\n\x14ReleasePlaceResponse\"4\n\x11\x41llowPlaceRequest\x12\x11\n\tplacename\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0c\n\x04user\x18\x02 \x01(\t\"\x14\n\x12\x41llowPlaceResponse\"\xb6\x01\n\x18\x43reateReservationRequest\x12?\n\x07\x66ilters\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32..labgrid.CreateReservationRequest.FiltersEntry\x12\x0c\n\x04prio\x18\x02 \x01(\x01\x1aK\n\x0c\x46iltersEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12*\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1b.labgrid.Reservation.Filter:\x02\x38\x01\"F\n\x19\x43reateReservationResponse\x12)\n\x0breservation\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.Reservation\"\xcd\x03\n\x0bReservation\x12\r\n\x05owner\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05token\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05state\x18\x03 \x01(\x05\x12\x0c\n\x04prio\x18\x04 \x01(\x01\x12\x32\n\x07\x66ilters\x18\x05 \x03(\x0b\x32!.labgrid.Reservation.FiltersEntry\x12:\n\x0b\x61llocations\x18\x06 \x03(\x0b\x32%.labgrid.Reservation.AllocationsEntry\x12\x0f\n\x07\x63reated\x18\x07 \x01(\x01\x12\x0f\n\x07timeout\x18\x08 \x01(\x01\x1ap\n\x06\x46ilter\x12\x37\n\x06\x66ilter\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\'.labgrid.Reservation.Filter.FilterEntry\x1a-\n\x0b\x46ilterEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\x1aK\n\x0c\x46iltersEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12*\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1b.labgrid.Reservation.Filter:\x02\x38\x01\x1a\x32\n\x10\x41llocationsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\t:\x02\x38\x01\")\n\x18\x43\x61ncelReservationRequest\x12\r\n\x05token\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"\x1b\n\x19\x43\x61ncelReservationResponse\"\'\n\x16PollReservationRequest\x12\r\n\x05token\x18\x01 \x01(\t\"D\n\x17PollReservationResponse\x12)\n\x0breservation\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.Reservation\"E\n\x17GetReservationsResponse\x12*\n\x0creservations\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\x14.labgrid.Reservation\"\x18\n\x16GetReservationsRequest\"\x17\n\x15GetEnvironmentRequest\"(\n\x16GetEnvironmentResponse\x12\x0e\n\x06\x63onfig\x18\x01 \x01(\t2\xa7\x0c\n\x0b\x43oordinator\x12I\n\x0c\x43lientStream\x12\x18.labgrid.ClientInMessage\x1a\x19.labgrid.ClientOutMessage\"\x00(\x01\x30\x01\x12O\n\x0e\x45xporterStream\x12\x1a.labgrid.ExporterInMessage\x1a\x1b.labgrid.ExporterOutMessage\"\x00(\x01\x30\x01\x12\x41\n\x08\x41\x64\x64Place\x12\x18.labgrid.AddPlaceRequest\x1a\x19.labgrid.AddPlaceResponse\"\x00\x12J\n\x0b\x44\x65letePlace\x12\x1b.labgrid.DeletePlaceRequest\x1a\x1c.labgrid.DeletePlaceResponse\"\x00\x12\x44\n\tGetPlaces\x12\x19.labgrid.GetPlacesRequest\x1a\x1a.labgrid.GetPlacesResponse\"\x00\x12P\n\rAddPlaceAlias\x12\x1d.labgrid.AddPlaceAliasRequest\x1a\x1e.labgrid.AddPlaceAliasResponse\"\x00\x12Y\n\x10\x44\x65letePlaceAlias\x12 .labgrid.DeletePlaceAliasRequest\x1a!.labgrid.DeletePlaceAliasResponse\"\x00\x12M\n\x0cSetPlaceTags\x12\x1c.labgrid.SetPlaceTagsRequest\x1a\x1d.labgrid.SetPlaceTagsResponse\"\x00\x12V\n\x0fSetPlaceComment\x12\x1f.labgrid.SetPlaceCommentRequest\x1a .labgrid.SetPlaceCommentResponse\"\x00\x12P\n\rAddPlaceMatch\x12\x1d.labgrid.AddPlaceMatchRequest\x1a\x1e.labgrid.AddPlaceMatchResponse\"\x00\x12Y\n\x10\x44\x65letePlaceMatch\x12 .labgrid.DeletePlaceMatchRequest\x1a!.labgrid.DeletePlaceMatchResponse\"\x00\x12M\n\x0c\x41\x63quirePlace\x12\x1c.labgrid.AcquirePlaceRequest\x1a\x1d.labgrid.AcquirePlaceResponse\"\x00\x12M\n\x0cReleasePlace\x12\x1c.labgrid.ReleasePlaceRequest\x1a\x1d.labgrid.ReleasePlaceResponse\"\x00\x12G\n\nAllowPlace\x12\x1a.labgrid.AllowPlaceRequest\x1a\x1b.labgrid.AllowPlaceResponse\"\x00\x12\\\n\x11\x43reateReservation\x12!.labgrid.CreateReservationRequest\x1a\".labgrid.CreateReservationResponse\"\x00\x12\\\n\x11\x43\x61ncelReservation\x12!.labgrid.CancelReservationRequest\x1a\".labgrid.CancelReservationResponse\"\x00\x12V\n\x0fPollReservation\x12\x1f.labgrid.PollReservationRequest\x1a .labgrid.PollReservationResponse\"\x00\x12V\n\x0fGetReservations\x12\x1f.labgrid.GetReservationsRequest\x1a .labgrid.GetReservationsResponse\"\x00\x12S\n\x0eGetEnvironment\x12\x1e.labgrid.GetEnvironmentRequest\x1a\x1f.labgrid.GetEnvironmentResponse\"\x00\x62\x06proto3')
 
 _globals = globals()
 _builder.BuildMessageAndEnumDescriptors(DESCRIPTOR, _globals)
@@ -153,6 +153,10 @@
   _globals['_GETRESERVATIONSRESPONSE']._serialized_end=4215
   _globals['_GETRESERVATIONSREQUEST']._serialized_start=4217
   _globals['_GETRESERVATIONSREQUEST']._serialized_end=4241
-  _globals['_COORDINATOR']._serialized_start=4244
-  _globals['_COORDINATOR']._serialized_end=5734
+  _globals['_GETENVIRONMENTREQUEST']._serialized_start=4243
+  _globals['_GETENVIRONMENTREQUEST']._serialized_end=4266
+  _globals['_GETENVIRONMENTRESPONSE']._serialized_start=4268
+  _globals['_GETENVIRONMENTRESPONSE']._serialized_end=4308
+  _globals['_COORDINATOR']._serialized_start=4311
+  _globals['_COORDINATOR']._serialized_end=5886
 # @@protoc_insertion_point(module_scope)
diff --git a/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.pyi b/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.pyi
index 366f4e438..5768d022a 100644
--- a/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.pyi
+++ b/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2.pyi
@@ -446,3 +446,13 @@ class GetReservationsResponse(_message.Message):
 class GetReservationsRequest(_message.Message):
     __slots__ = ()
     def __init__(self) -> None: ...
+
+class GetEnvironmentRequest(_message.Message):
+    __slots__ = ()
+    def __init__(self) -> None: ...
+
+class GetEnvironmentResponse(_message.Message):
+    __slots__ = ("config",)
+    CONFIG_FIELD_NUMBER: _ClassVar[int]
+    config: str
+    def __init__(self, config: _Optional[str] = ...) -> None: ...
diff --git a/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.py b/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.py
index debfb24f2..be73f3969 100644
--- a/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.py
+++ b/labgrid/remote/generated/labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.py
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ def __init__(self, channel):
                 request_serializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetReservationsRequest.SerializeToString,
                 response_deserializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetReservationsResponse.FromString,
                 )
+        self.GetEnvironment = channel.unary_unary(
+                '/labgrid.Coordinator/GetEnvironment',
+                request_serializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest.SerializeToString,
+                response_deserializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetEnvironmentResponse.FromString,
+                )
 
 
 class CoordinatorServicer(object):
@@ -217,6 +222,12 @@ def GetReservations(self, request, context):
         context.set_details('Method not implemented!')
         raise NotImplementedError('Method not implemented!')
 
+    def GetEnvironment(self, request, context):
+        """Missing associated documentation comment in .proto file."""
+        context.set_code(grpc.StatusCode.UNIMPLEMENTED)
+        context.set_details('Method not implemented!')
+        raise NotImplementedError('Method not implemented!')
+
 
 def add_CoordinatorServicer_to_server(servicer, server):
     rpc_method_handlers = {
@@ -310,6 +321,11 @@ def add_CoordinatorServicer_to_server(servicer, server):
                     request_deserializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetReservationsRequest.FromString,
                     response_serializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetReservationsResponse.SerializeToString,
             ),
+            'GetEnvironment': grpc.unary_unary_rpc_method_handler(
+                    servicer.GetEnvironment,
+                    request_deserializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest.FromString,
+                    response_serializer=labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetEnvironmentResponse.SerializeToString,
+            ),
     }
     generic_handler = grpc.method_handlers_generic_handler(
             'labgrid.Coordinator', rpc_method_handlers)
@@ -625,3 +641,20 @@ def GetReservations(request,
             labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetReservationsResponse.FromString,
             options, channel_credentials,
             insecure, call_credentials, compression, wait_for_ready, timeout, metadata)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def GetEnvironment(request,
+            target,
+            options=(),
+            channel_credentials=None,
+            call_credentials=None,
+            insecure=False,
+            compression=None,
+            wait_for_ready=None,
+            timeout=None,
+            metadata=None):
+        return grpc.experimental.unary_unary(request, target, '/labgrid.Coordinator/GetEnvironment',
+            labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest.SerializeToString,
+            labgrid__coordinator__pb2.GetEnvironmentResponse.FromString,
+            options, channel_credentials,
+            insecure, call_credentials, compression, wait_for_ready, timeout, metadata)
diff --git a/labgrid/remote/proto/labgrid-coordinator.proto b/labgrid/remote/proto/labgrid-coordinator.proto
index e0585f7e1..471f174be 100644
--- a/labgrid/remote/proto/labgrid-coordinator.proto
+++ b/labgrid/remote/proto/labgrid-coordinator.proto
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ service Coordinator {
   rpc PollReservation(PollReservationRequest) returns (PollReservationResponse) {}
 
   rpc GetReservations(GetReservationsRequest) returns (GetReservationsResponse) {}
+
+  rpc GetEnvironment(GetEnvironmentRequest) returns (GetEnvironmentResponse) {}
 }
 
 message ClientInMessage {
@@ -295,3 +297,13 @@ message GetReservationsResponse {
 
 message GetReservationsRequest {
 };
+
+message GetEnvironmentRequest {
+};
+
+message GetEnvironmentResponse {
+  // Raw text of the lab environment file (typically YAML) curated by
+  // the lab admin and served to clients.  Empty if the coordinator was
+  // started without a configured environment file.
+  string config = 1;
+};
diff --git a/man/labgrid-client.1 b/man/labgrid-client.1
index dfc95b2e8..4aeea263a 100644
--- a/man/labgrid-client.1
+++ b/man/labgrid-client.1
@@ -1145,6 +1145,15 @@ A desired state must be set using \fBLG_STATE\fP or \fB\-s\fP/\fB\-\-state\fP\&.
 .sp
 This variable can be used to specify the configuration file to use without
 using the \fB\-\-config\fP option, the \fB\-\-config\fP option overrides it.
+.sp
+The special value \fBcoordinator:\fP (or \fB\-\-config coordinator:\fP) tells the
+client to fetch the environment from the coordinator over the \fBGetEnvironment\fP
+RPC instead of reading a local file, which is useful when working from a remote
+machine that does not have the lab env file available locally.  The fetched
+YAML is cached under \fB$XDG_CACHE_HOME/labgrid/env.cfg\fP (or
+\fB~/.cache/labgrid/env.cfg\fP) so it can be inspected after the fact.  The
+coordinator must have been started with \fB\-\-environment\fP; see
+\fBlabgrid\-coordinator\fP(1).
 .SS LG_COORDINATOR
 .sp
 This variable can be used to set the default coordinator in the format
diff --git a/man/labgrid-coordinator.1 b/man/labgrid-coordinator.1
index e99c30f93..ddb620ef5 100644
--- a/man/labgrid-coordinator.1
+++ b/man/labgrid-coordinator.1
@@ -51,9 +51,23 @@ display command line help
 .BI \-l \ ADDRESS\fR,\fB \ \-\-listen \ ADDRESS
 make coordinator listen on host and port
 .TP
+.BI \-e \ FILE\fR,\fB \ \-\-environment \ FILE
+serve the given YAML env file to clients via the \fBGetEnvironment\fP RPC.
+Clients opt in by setting \fBLG_ENV=coordinator:\fP (see
+\fBlabgrid\-client\fP(1))
+.TP
 .B  \-d\fP,\fB  \-\-debug
 enable debug mode
 .UNINDENT
+.SS \-e / \-\-environment
+.sp
+When this option is set the coordinator reads the file fresh on each
+\fBGetEnvironment\fP request and returns its contents verbatim to the client.
+This means a remote user no longer needs a local copy of the env file \- they
+only need network access to the coordinator.
+.sp
+The default (no \fB\-\-environment\fP) is unchanged: \fBGetEnvironment\fP returns an
+empty string and clients keep loading env from a local file as before.
 .SS SEE ALSO
 .sp
 \fBlabgrid\-client\fP(1), \fBlabgrid\-exporter\fP(1)
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 3bb2641f9..3a8114ab5 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -142,12 +142,15 @@ def start(self):
 
 
 class Coordinator(LabgridComponent):
-    def start(self):
+    def start(self, args=''):
         assert self.spawn is None
         assert self.reader is None
 
+        cmd = 'python -m labgrid.remote.coordinator'
+        if args:
+            cmd = f'{cmd} {args}'
         self.spawn = pexpect.spawn(
-            'python -m labgrid.remote.coordinator',
+            cmd,
             logfile=Prefixer(sys.stdout.buffer, 'coordinator'),
             cwd=self.cwd)
         try:
@@ -204,6 +207,17 @@ def coordinator(tmpdir):
 
     coordinator.stop()
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope='function')
+def coordinator_with_env(tmpdir):
+    env_file = tmpdir.join('env.yaml')
+    env_file.write('targets:\n')
+    coordinator = Coordinator(tmpdir)
+    coordinator.start(f'--environment {env_file}')
+
+    yield coordinator, env_file
+
+    coordinator.stop()
+
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function')
 def exporter(tmpdir, coordinator):
     config = "exports.yaml"
diff --git a/tests/test_client.py b/tests/test_client.py
index 8d2cc1c9f..23f939c8c 100644
--- a/tests/test_client.py
+++ b/tests/test_client.py
@@ -616,3 +616,35 @@ def test_same_name_resources(place, exporter, tmpdir):
         spawn.expect(pexpect.EOF)
         spawn.close()
         assert spawn.exitstatus == 0, spawn.before.strip()
+
+
+def test_config_coordinator(coordinator_with_env, monkeypatch, tmpdir):
+    _, env_file = coordinator_with_env
+    env_content = (
+        "targets:\n"
+        "  main:\n"
+        "    resources:\n"
+        "      RemotePlace:\n"
+        "        name: test\n"
+    )
+    env_file.write(env_content)
+
+    cache = tmpdir.join('cache')
+    monkeypatch.setenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME", str(cache))
+
+    with pexpect.spawn('python -m labgrid.remote.client -c coordinator: places') as spawn:
+        spawn.expect(pexpect.EOF)
+    assert spawn.exitstatus == 0, spawn.before.strip()
+
+    cached = cache.join('labgrid', 'env.cfg')
+    assert cached.check(file=1), f"cache file missing: {cached}"
+    assert cached.read() == env_content
+
+
+def test_config_coordinator_unconfigured(coordinator, monkeypatch, tmpdir):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME", str(tmpdir.join('cache')))
+
+    with pexpect.spawn('python -m labgrid.remote.client -c coordinator: places') as spawn:
+        spawn.expect("no environment configured")
+        spawn.expect(pexpect.EOF)
+    assert spawn.exitstatus == 1, spawn.before.strip()
diff --git a/tests/test_coordinator.py b/tests/test_coordinator.py
index 2907baed0..726a9f098 100644
--- a/tests/test_coordinator.py
+++ b/tests/test_coordinator.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 import labgrid.remote.generated.labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc as labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc
 import labgrid.remote.generated.labgrid_coordinator_pb2 as labgrid_coordinator_pb2
 
+from conftest import Coordinator
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
 def channel_stub():
@@ -191,3 +193,40 @@ def test_coordinator_create_reservation(coordinator, coordinator_place):
     assert res
     res: labgrid_coordinator_pb2.CreateReservationResponse
     assert len(res.reservation.token) > 0
+
+
+def test_coordinator_get_environment_default(coordinator, channel_stub):
+    res = channel_stub.GetEnvironment(labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest())
+    assert res.config == ""
+
+
+def test_coordinator_get_environment_serves_file(coordinator_with_env, channel_stub):
+    _, env_file = coordinator_with_env
+    env_file.write("targets:\n  main: {}\n")
+    res = channel_stub.GetEnvironment(labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest())
+    assert res.config == "targets:\n  main: {}\n"
+
+
+def test_coordinator_get_environment_refreshes(coordinator_with_env, channel_stub):
+    _, env_file = coordinator_with_env
+    env_file.write("targets:\n  first: {}\n")
+    res = channel_stub.GetEnvironment(labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest())
+    assert res.config == "targets:\n  first: {}\n"
+
+    env_file.write("targets:\n  second: {}\n")
+    res = channel_stub.GetEnvironment(labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest())
+    assert res.config == "targets:\n  second: {}\n"
+
+
+def test_coordinator_get_environment_missing_file(tmpdir):
+    coordinator = Coordinator(tmpdir)
+    missing = tmpdir.join("nope.yaml")
+    coordinator.start(f"--environment {missing}")
+    try:
+        with grpc.insecure_channel("127.0.0.1:20408") as channel:
+            stub = labgrid_coordinator_pb2_grpc.CoordinatorStub(channel)
+            with pytest.raises(grpc.RpcError) as excinfo:
+                stub.GetEnvironment(labgrid_coordinator_pb2.GetEnvironmentRequest())
+            assert excinfo.value.code() == grpc.StatusCode.FAILED_PRECONDITION
+    finally:
+        coordinator.stop()