diff --git a/src/analytics/db_handler.cc b/src/analytics/db_handler.cc
index 87813febf6d..576e285ec6c 100644
--- a/src/analytics/db_handler.cc
+++ b/src/analytics/db_handler.cc
@@ -1192,6 +1192,7 @@ bool FlowDataIpv4ObjectWalker<T>::for_each(pugi::xml_node& node) {
                 break;
             }
         case GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType:
+        case GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type:
             {
                 std::string val = node.child_value();
                 TXMLProtocol::unescapeXMLControlChars(val);
diff --git a/src/analytics/vizd_table_desc.cc b/src/analytics/vizd_table_desc.cc
index 036cbffedda..6e3d032bd1b 100644
--- a/src/analytics/vizd_table_desc.cc
+++ b/src/analytics/vizd_table_desc.cc
@@ -30,25 +30,25 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::map_list_of
                       (g_viz_constants.SOURCE,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.NAMESPACE,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.MODULE,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.INSTANCE_ID,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.NODE_TYPE,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.CONTEXT,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.TIMESTAMP,
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.CATEGORY,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.LEVEL,
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.MESSAGE_TYPE,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.SEQUENCE_NUM,
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.VERSION,
@@ -56,15 +56,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (g_viz_constants.SANDESH_TYPE,
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.IPADDRESS,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.PID,
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.DATA,
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)))
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)))
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.MESSAGE_TABLE_SOURCE,
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.MESSAGE_TABLE_MODULE_ID,
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.MESSAGE_TABLE_MESSAGE_TYPE,
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.MESSAGE_TABLE_CATEGORY,
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
@@ -103,14 +103,14 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.OBJECT_VALUE_TABLE,
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)))
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)))
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.SYSTEM_OBJECT_TABLE,
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::map_list_of
                       (g_viz_constants.SYSTEM_OBJECT_START_TIME,
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
@@ -125,16 +125,16 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)))
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.MESSAGE_TABLE_KEYWORD,
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType),
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
@@ -173,15 +173,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::map_list_of
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VROUTER],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DIRECTION_ING],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SOURCEVN],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SOURCEIP],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DESTVN],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DESTIP],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_PROTOCOL],
@@ -195,15 +195,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_TCP_FLAGS],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VM],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_INPUT_INTERFACE],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OUTPUT_INTERFACE],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_MPLS_LABEL],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_REVERSE_UUID],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SETUP_TIME],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_TEARDOWN_TIME],
@@ -221,17 +221,17 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_PACKETS],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DATA_SAMPLE],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_ACTION],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SG_RULE_UUID],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_NW_ACE_UUID],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VROUTER_IP],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OTHER_VROUTER_IP],
-                       GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                       GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_UNDERLAY_PROTO],
                        GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
                       (g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_UNDERLAY_SPORT],
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
@@ -254,15 +254,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
 
     /* (DVN,DIP) index table */
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type),
                   boost::assign::list_of
-                  (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                  (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
@@ -281,15 +281,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)
-                  (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                  (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                  (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                  (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                  (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                  (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
                   (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
-                  (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                  (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                  ))
 
  /* (PROT, SP) index table */
@@ -308,15 +308,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)
-                (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
                 (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
-                (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                 ))
         /* (PROT, DP) index table */
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.FLOW_TABLE_PROT_DP,
@@ -334,15 +334,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
  /* (VROUTER) index table */
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.FLOW_TABLE_VROUTER,
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
@@ -359,15 +359,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
         ;
 
@@ -377,9 +377,9 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
     GenDb::DbDataTypeVec stat_row_onetag = boost::assign::list_of
             (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
             (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
-            (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-            (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-            (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+            (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+            (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+            (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
         ;
 
 /*  For Stat Tables that have two tags
@@ -388,10 +388,10 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
     GenDb::DbDataTypeVec stat_row_twotag = boost::assign::list_of
             (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
             (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type)
-            (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-            (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-            (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-            (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+            (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+            (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+            (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+            (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
         ;
 
     vizd_stat_tables =
@@ -404,12 +404,12 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.STATS_TABLE_BY_STR_STR_TAG,
                       stat_row_twotag,
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
 /* Stats Table by String,U64 tag
  * The schema is as follows:
@@ -419,12 +419,12 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.STATS_TABLE_BY_STR_U64_TAG,
                       stat_row_twotag,
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
 /* Stats Table by U64,Str tag
  * The schema is as follows:
@@ -435,11 +435,11 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       stat_row_twotag,
                       boost::assign::list_of
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type)
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
 /* Stats Table by U64,U64 tag
  * The schema is as follows:
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
 /* Stats Table by U64 tag
  * The schema is as follows:
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
 /* Stats Table by Double tag
  * The schema is as follows:
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
 /* Stats Table by String tag
  * The schema is as follows:
@@ -492,11 +492,11 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
         (GenDb::NewCf(g_viz_constants.STATS_TABLE_BY_STR_TAG,
                       stat_row_onetag,
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type)
                       (GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType),
                       boost::assign::list_of
-                      (GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType)
+                      (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type)
                      ))
         ;
 
@@ -505,11 +505,11 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DIRECTION_ING]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DIRECTION_ING, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SOURCEVN]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SOURCEVN, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SOURCEVN, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SOURCEIP]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SOURCEIP, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DESTVN]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DESTVN, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DESTVN, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DESTIP]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DESTIP, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_PROTOCOL]] =
@@ -523,15 +523,15 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_TCP_FLAGS]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_TCP_FLAGS, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VM]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VM, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VM, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_INPUT_INTERFACE]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_INPUT_INTERFACE, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_INPUT_INTERFACE, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OUTPUT_INTERFACE]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OUTPUT_INTERFACE, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OUTPUT_INTERFACE, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_MPLS_LABEL]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_MPLS_LABEL, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned32Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_REVERSE_UUID]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_REVERSE_UUID, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_REVERSE_UUID, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SETUP_TIME]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SETUP_TIME, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_TEARDOWN_TIME]] =
@@ -553,17 +553,17 @@ void init_vizd_tables() {
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DIFF_PACKETS]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DIFF_PACKETS, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned64Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DATA_SAMPLE]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DATA_SAMPLE, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_DATA_SAMPLE, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_ACTION]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_ACTION, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_ACTION, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SG_RULE_UUID]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_SG_RULE_UUID, GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_NW_ACE_UUID]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_NW_ACE_UUID, GenDb::DbDataType::LexicalUUIDType);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VROUTER_IP]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VROUTER_IP, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_VROUTER_IP, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OTHER_VROUTER_IP]] =
-         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OTHER_VROUTER_IP, GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType);
+         FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_OTHER_VROUTER_IP, GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_UNDERLAY_PROTO]] =
          FlowTypeInfo(FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_UNDERLAY_PROTO, GenDb::DbDataType::Unsigned16Type);
     flow_msg2type_map[g_viz_constants.FlowRecordNames[FlowRecordFields::FLOWREC_UNDERLAY_SPORT]] =
diff --git a/src/gendb/cdb_if.cc b/src/gendb/cdb_if.cc
index b21cfd1e588..4a4e448f035 100644
--- a/src/gendb/cdb_if.cc
+++ b/src/gendb/cdb_if.cc
@@ -543,7 +543,13 @@ CdbIf::CdbIfTypeMapDef CdbIf::CdbIfTypeMap =
                 DbEncodeDoubleComposite,
                 DbDecodeDoubleComposite,
                 DbEncodeDoubleNonComposite,
-                DbDecodeDoubleNonComposite));
+                DbDecodeDoubleNonComposite))
+        (GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type,
+            CdbIf::CdbIfTypeInfo("UTF8Type",
+                DbEncodeStringComposite,
+                DbDecodeStringComposite,
+                DbEncodeStringNonComposite,
+                DbDecodeStringNonComposite));
 
 class CdbIf::CleanupTask : public Task {
 public:
@@ -904,7 +910,7 @@ bool CdbIf::DbDataTypeVecToCompositeType(std::string& res,
         res = it->second.cassandra_type_;
         return true;
     } else {
-        res = "CompositeType(";
+        res = "org.apache.cassandra.db.marshal.CompositeType(";
         std::vector<GenDb::DbDataType::type>::const_iterator it = db_type.begin();
         CdbIfTypeMapDef::iterator jt;
 
@@ -914,7 +920,7 @@ bool CdbIf::DbDataTypeVecToCompositeType(std::string& res,
 
         it++;
         for (; it != db_type.end(); it++) {
-            res.append(", ");
+            res.append(",");
             if ((jt = CdbIfTypeMap.find(*it)) == CdbIfTypeMap.end())
                 return false;
             res.append(jt->second.cassandra_type_);
@@ -1128,7 +1134,8 @@ bool CdbIf::Db_AddColumnfamily(const GenDb::NewCf& cf) {
 
         CdbIfCfInfo *cfinfo;
         if (Db_GetColumnfamily(&cfinfo, cf.cfname_)) {
-            if ((*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).gc_grace_seconds != 0) {
+            if ((*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).gc_grace_seconds != 0 ||
+                DB_IsCfSchemaChanged(cfinfo->cfdef_.get(), &cf_def)) {
                 CDBIF_LOG(DEBUG, "CFName: " << cf.cfname_ << " ID: " << 
                     (*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).id);
                 cf_def.__set_id((*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).id);
@@ -1190,7 +1197,8 @@ bool CdbIf::Db_AddColumnfamily(const GenDb::NewCf& cf) {
 
         CdbIfCfInfo *cfinfo;
         if (Db_GetColumnfamily(&cfinfo, cf.cfname_)) {
-            if ((*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).gc_grace_seconds != 0) {
+            if (((*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).gc_grace_seconds != 0) ||
+                DB_IsCfSchemaChanged(cfinfo->cfdef_.get(), &cf_def)) {
                 CDBIF_LOG(DEBUG, "CFName: " << cf.cfname_ << " ID: " << 
                     (*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).id);
                 cf_def.__set_id((*cfinfo->cfdef_.get()).id);
@@ -1223,6 +1231,47 @@ bool CdbIf::Db_AddColumnfamily(const GenDb::NewCf& cf) {
     return true;
 }
 
+bool CdbIf::DB_IsCfSchemaChanged(org::apache::cassandra::CfDef *cfdef,
+                                 org::apache::cassandra::CfDef *newcfdef) {
+    if (cfdef->key_validation_class != newcfdef->key_validation_class) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    if ((newcfdef->default_validation_class.size()) &&
+        (cfdef->default_validation_class != newcfdef->default_validation_class)) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    if (cfdef->comparator_type != newcfdef->comparator_type) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    if (cfdef->column_metadata.size() != newcfdef->column_metadata.size()) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    std::vector<ColumnDef>::iterator cfdef_it = cfdef->column_metadata.begin();
+    std::vector<ColumnDef>::iterator newcfdef_it;
+
+    bool schema_changed;
+    for(; cfdef_it != cfdef->column_metadata.end(); cfdef_it++) {
+        schema_changed = true;
+        for(newcfdef_it = newcfdef->column_metadata.begin();
+            newcfdef_it != newcfdef->column_metadata.end(); newcfdef_it++) {
+            if(cfdef_it->name == newcfdef_it->name &&
+                cfdef_it->validation_class == newcfdef_it->validation_class) {
+                schema_changed = false;
+                break;
+             }
+        }
+        if(schema_changed) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
 bool CdbIf::Db_AsyncAddColumn(CdbIfColList &cl) {
     GenDb::ColList *new_colp(cl.gendb_cl);
     if (new_colp == NULL) {
diff --git a/src/gendb/cdb_if.h b/src/gendb/cdb_if.h
index da0461abd5d..5338542e5cf 100644
--- a/src/gendb/cdb_if.h
+++ b/src/gendb/cdb_if.h
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class CdbIf : public GenDb::GenDbIf {
             DbDecodeCompositeFunc decode_composite_fn,
             DbEncodeNonCompositeFunc encode_non_composite_fn,
             DbDecodeNonCompositeFunc decode_non_composite_fn) :
-            cassandra_type_(cassandra_type),
+            cassandra_type_("org.apache.cassandra.db.marshal." + cassandra_type),
             encode_composite_fn_(encode_composite_fn),
             decode_composite_fn_(decode_composite_fn),
             encode_non_composite_fn_(encode_non_composite_fn),
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ class CdbIf : public GenDb::GenDbIf {
     bool Db_AsyncAddColumn(CdbIfColList &cl);
     bool Db_AsyncAddColumnLocked(CdbIfColList &cl);
     void Db_BatchAddColumn(bool done);
+    bool DB_IsCfSchemaChanged(org::apache::cassandra::CfDef *cfdef,
+                              org::apache::cassandra::CfDef *newcfdef);
     // Read
     static const int kMaxQueryRows = 5000;
     // API to get range of column data for a range of rows 
diff --git a/src/gendb/gendb.sandesh b/src/gendb/gendb.sandesh
index cfc8c8bb199..ba57cdd4e5a 100644
--- a/src/gendb/gendb.sandesh
+++ b/src/gendb/gendb.sandesh
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ enum DbDataType {
     Unsigned64Type    = 7, // uint64_t
 
     DoubleType        = 8, // double
+    UTF8Type          = 9, //utf-8 string
 }
 
 struct DbTableInfo {
diff --git a/src/query_engine/select.cc b/src/query_engine/select.cc
index 66b3232eebe..01930d134d8 100644
--- a/src/query_engine/select.cc
+++ b/src/query_engine/select.cc
@@ -464,6 +464,7 @@ query_status_t SelectQuery::process_query() {
                             break;
                           }
                     case GenDb::DbDataType::AsciiType:
+                    case GenDb::DbDataType::UTF8Type:
                           {
                             try {
                                 elem_value = boost::get<std::string>(kt->second);