@@ -979,10 +979,14 @@
 					  "/megatest_localdb/"
 					  tsname
 					  (string-translate *toppath* "/" "."))
 				    ))))
 		(set! *db-cache-path* dbpath)
+		;; ensure megatest area has .db
+		(let ((dbarea (conc *toppath* "/.db")))
+		  (if (not (file-exists? dbarea))
+		      (create-directory dbarea)))
 		dbpath))
 	  #f)))
 
 (define (common:get-area-path-signature)
   (message-digest-string (md5-primitive) *toppath*))
@@ -1045,11 +1049,11 @@
 	     ((dbr:dbstruct-read-only dbstruct)
 	      (debug:print-info 13 *default-log-port* "loading read-only watchdog")
 	      (common:readonly-watchdog dbstruct))
 	     (else
 	      (debug:print-info 13 *default-log-port* "loading writable-watchdog.")
-              (let* ((syncer (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "sync-method") "brute-force-sync")))
+              (let* ((syncer (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "sync-method") "delta-sync"))) ;; "brute-force-sync")))
                 (cond
                  ((equal? syncer "brute-force-sync")
                   (server:writable-watchdog-bruteforce dbstruct))
                  ((equal? syncer "delta-sync")
                   (server:writable-watchdog-deltasync dbstruct))