Index: api.scm
==================================================================
--- api.scm
+++ api.scm
@@ -125,10 +125,12 @@
      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: "  ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))       
      (vector #f (vector exn call-chain dat))) ;; return some stuff for debug if an exception happens
    (cond
     ((not (vector? dat))                    ;; it is an error to not receive a vector
      (vector #f #f "remote must be called with a vector")       )
+    ((> *api-process-request-count* 20)
+     (vector #f 'overloaded))
     (else  
      (let* ((cmd-in (vector-ref dat 0))
             (cmd    (if (symbol? cmd-in)
                         cmd-in
                         (string->symbol cmd-in)))
@@ -272,16 +274,17 @@
                    ;; TESTMETA
                    ((testmeta-get-record)       (apply db:testmeta-get-record dbstruct params))
 
                    ;; TASKS 
                    ((find-task-queue-records)   (apply tasks:find-task-queue-records dbstruct params))))))
+       ;; save all stats
+       (let ((delta-t (- (current-milliseconds)
+			 start-t)))
+	 (hash-table-set! *db-api-call-time* cmd
+			  (cons delta-t (hash-table-ref/default *db-api-call-time* cmd '()))))
        (if (not writecmd-in-readonly-mode)
-           (let ((delta-t (- (current-milliseconds)
-                             start-t)))
-             (hash-table-set! *db-api-call-time* cmd
-                              (cons delta-t (hash-table-ref/default *db-api-call-time* cmd '())))
-             (vector #t res))
+	   (vector #t res)
            (vector #f res)))))))
 
 ;; http-server  send-response
 ;;                 api:process-request
 ;;                    db:*

Index: client.scm
==================================================================
--- client.scm
+++ client.scm
@@ -78,11 +78,11 @@
 	(exit 1))
       ;;
       ;; Alternatively here, we can get the list of candidate servers and work our way
       ;; through them searching for a good one.
       ;;
-      (let* ((server-dat (server:get-first-best areapath))
+      (let* ((server-dat (server:get-rand-best areapath)) ;; (server:get-first-best areapath))
 	     (runremote  (or area-dat *runremote*)))
 	(if (not server-dat) ;; no server found
 	    (client:setup-http areapath remaining-tries: (- remaining-tries 1))
 	    (let ((host  (cadr  server-dat))
 		  (port  (caddr server-dat)))
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@
 			  (remote-conndat-set! runremote #f)  ;; (hash-table-delete! runremote run-id)
 			  (thread-sleep! 1)
 			  (client:setup-http areapath remaining-tries: (- remaining-tries 1))
 			  )))
 		  (begin    ;; no server registered
-		    (server:kind-run areapath)
+		    ;; (server:kind-run areapath)
+		    (server:start-and-wait areapath)
 		    (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "client:setup, no server registered, remaining-tries=" remaining-tries)
 		    (thread-sleep! 1) ;; (+ 5 (random (- 20 remaining-tries))))  ;; give server a little time to start up, randomize a little to avoid start storms.
-		    (server:start-and-wait areapath)
 		    (client:setup-http areapath remaining-tries: (- remaining-tries 1)))))))))
 

Index: common.scm
==================================================================
--- common.scm
+++ common.scm
@@ -155,11 +155,14 @@
   (hh-dat            (common:get-homehost)) ;; homehost record ( addr . hhflag )
   (server-url        (if *toppath* (server:check-if-running *toppath*))) ;; (server:check-if-running *toppath*) #f))
   (last-server-check 0)  ;; last time we checked to see if the server was alive
   (conndat           #f)
   (transport         *transport-type*)
-  (server-timeout    (or (server:get-timeout) 100))) ;; default to 100 seconds
+  (server-timeout    (or (server:get-timeout) 100)) ;; default to 100 seconds
+  (force-server      #f)
+  (ro-mode           #f)  
+  (ro-mode-checked   #f)) ;; flag that indicates we have checked for ro-mode
 
 ;; launching and hosts
 (defstruct host
   (reachable    #f)
   (last-update  0)
@@ -418,29 +421,46 @@
 ;; dot-locking egg seems not to work, using this for now
 ;; if lock is older than expire-time then remove it and try again
 ;; to get the lock
 ;;
 (define (common:simple-file-lock fname #!key (expire-time 300))
-  (if (file-exists? fname)
-      (if (> (- (current-seconds)(file-modification-time fname)) expire-time)
-	  (begin
-	    (delete-file* fname)
-	    (common:simple-file-lock fname expire-time: expire-time))
-	  #f)
-      (let ((key-string (conc (get-host-name) "-" (current-process-id))))
-	(with-output-to-file fname
-	  (lambda ()
-	    (print key-string)))
-	(thread-sleep! 0.25)
-	(if (file-exists? fname)
-	    (with-input-from-file fname
-	      (lambda ()
-		(equal? key-string (read-line))))
-	    #f))))
-	
+  (handle-exceptions
+      exn
+      #f ;; don't really care what went wrong right now. NOTE: I have not seen this one actually fail.
+    (if (file-exists? fname)
+	(if (> (- (current-seconds)(file-modification-time fname)) expire-time)
+	    (begin
+	      (delete-file* fname)
+	      (common:simple-file-lock fname expire-time: expire-time))
+	    #f)
+	(let ((key-string (conc (get-host-name) "-" (current-process-id))))
+	  (with-output-to-file fname
+	    (lambda ()
+	      (print key-string)))
+	  (thread-sleep! 0.25)
+	  (if (file-exists? fname)
+	      (with-input-from-file fname
+		(lambda ()
+		  (equal? key-string (read-line))))
+	      #f)))))
+
+(define (common:simple-file-lock-and-wait fname #!key (expire-time 300))
+  (let ((end-time (+ expire-time (current-seconds))))
+    (let loop ((got-lock (common:simple-file-lock fname expire-time: expire-time)))
+      (if got-lock
+	  #t
+	  (if (> end-time (current-seconds))
+	      (begin
+		(thread-sleep! 3)
+		(loop (common:simple-file-lock fname expire-time: expire-time)))
+	      #f)))))
+
 (define (common:simple-file-release-lock fname)
-  (delete-file* fname))
+  (handle-exceptions
+      exn
+      #f ;; I don't really care why this failed (at least for now)
+    (delete-file* fname)))
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; S T A T E S   A N D   S T A T U S E S
 ;;======================================================================
 
@@ -561,13 +581,14 @@
     (if res (cadr res)(if (null? default) #f (car default)))))
 
 (define (common:get-testsuite-name)
   (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "area-name") ;; megatest is a flexible tool, testsuite is too limiting a description.
       (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "testsuite" )
+      (getenv "MT_TESTSUITE_NAME")
       (if (string? *toppath* )
           (pathname-file *toppath*)
-          (pathname-file (current-directory)))))
+          #f))) ;; (pathname-file (current-directory)))))
 
 (define common:get-area-name common:get-testsuite-name)
 
 (define (common:get-db-tmp-area)
   (if *db-cache-path*
@@ -955,11 +976,35 @@
      ;;  tags-testpatt)
      ((and (equal? args-testpatt "%") rtestpatt)
       (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "testpatt defined in "testpatt-key" from runconfigs: " rtestpatt)
       rtestpatt)
      (else args-testpatt))))
-     
+
+
+
+(define (common:false-on-exception thunk #!key (message #f))
+  (handle-exceptions exn
+                     (begin
+                       (if message
+                           (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* message))
+                       #f) (thunk) ))
+
+(define (common:file-exists? path-string)
+  ;; this avoids stack dumps in the case where 
+
+  ;;;; TODO: catch permission denied exceptions and emit appropriate warnings, eg:  system error while trying to access file: "/nfs/pdx/disks/icf_env_disk001/bjbarcla/gwa/issues/mtdev/randy-slow/reproduce/q...
+  (common:false-on-exception (lambda () (file-exists? path-string))
+                             message: (conc "Unable to access path: " path-string)
+                             ))
+
+(define (common:directory-exists? path-string)
+  ;;;; TODO: catch permission denied exceptions and emit appropriate warnings, eg:  system error while trying to access file: "/nfs/pdx/disks/icf_env_disk001/bjbarcla/gwa/issues/mtdev/randy-slow/reproduce/q...
+  (common:false-on-exception (lambda () (directory-exists? path-string))
+                             message: (conc "Unable to access path: " path-string)
+                             ))
+
+
 (define (common:get-linktree)
   (or (getenv "MT_LINKTREE")
       (or (and *configdat*
 	       (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "linktree"))
 	  (if *toppath*
@@ -1058,10 +1103,37 @@
 (define (common:on-homehost?)
   (let ((hh (common:get-homehost)))
     (if hh
 	(cdr hh)
 	#f)))
+
+;; do we honor the caches of the config files?
+;;
+(define (common:use-cache?)
+  (not (or (args:get-arg "-no-cache")
+	   (and *configdat*
+		(equal? (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "use-cache") "no")))))
+
+;; force use of server?
+;;
+(define (common:force-server?)
+  (let* ((force-setting (configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "force"))
+	 (force-type    (if force-setting (string->symbol force-setting) #f))
+	 (force-result  (case force-type
+			  ((#f)     #f)
+			  ((always) #t)
+			  ((test)   (if (args:get-arg "-execute") ;; we are in a test
+					#t
+					#f))
+			  (else
+			   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: Bad server force setting " force-setting ", forcing server.")
+			   #t)))) ;; default to requiring server
+    (if force-result
+	(begin
+	  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "forcing use of server, force setting is \"" force-setting "\".")
+	  #t)
+	#f)))
 
 ;; do we honor the caches of the config files?
 ;;
 (define (common:use-cache?)
   (not (or (args:get-arg "-no-cache")

Index: dashboard.scm
==================================================================
--- dashboard.scm
+++ dashboard.scm
@@ -2718,11 +2718,11 @@
 
 (define (dashboard:get-youngest-run-db-mod-time dbdir)
   (handle-exceptions
    exn
    (begin
-     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: error in accessing databases in get-youngest-run-db-mod-time: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn) " db-dir="dbdir)
+     (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "WARNING: error in accessing databases in get-youngest-run-db-mod-time: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn) " db-dir="dbdir)
      (current-seconds)) ;; something went wrong - just print an error and return current-seconds
    (common:max (map (lambda (filen)
 		      (file-modification-time filen))
 		    (glob (conc dbdir "/*.db*"))))))
 

Index: db.scm
==================================================================
--- db.scm
+++ db.scm
@@ -2102,18 +2102,22 @@
   ;; generate stats from *db-api-call-time*
   (let ((ordered-keys (sort (hash-table-keys *db-api-call-time*)
 			    (lambda (a b)
 			      (let ((sum-a (common:sum (hash-table-ref *db-api-call-time* a)))
 				    (sum-b (common:sum (hash-table-ref *db-api-call-time* b))))
-				(> sum-a sum-b))))))
+				(> sum-a sum-b)))))
+	(total        0))
     (for-each
      (lambda (cmd-key)
        (let* ((dat  (hash-table-ref *db-api-call-time* cmd-key))
-	      (avg  (if (> (length dat) 0)
+	      (num  (length dat))
+	      (avg  (if (> num 0)
 			(/ (common:sum dat)(length dat)))))
+	 (set! total (+ total num))
 	 (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* cmd-key "\tavg: " avg " max: " (common:max dat) " min: " (common:min-max < dat) " num: " (length dat))))
-     ordered-keys)))
+     ordered-keys)
+    (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "TOTAL: " total " api calls since start.")))
 
 (define (db:get-all-run-ids dbstruct)
   (db:with-db
    dbstruct
    #f

Index: http-transport.scm
==================================================================
--- http-transport.scm
+++ http-transport.scm
@@ -418,11 +418,14 @@
       
       (if (common:low-noise-print 120 (conc "server running on " iface ":" port))
 	  (begin
 	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "SERVER STARTED: " iface ":" port " AT " (current-seconds))
 	    (flush-output *default-log-port*)))
-
+      (if (common:low-noise-print 60 "dbstats")
+	  (begin
+	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "Server stats:")
+	    (db:print-current-query-stats)))
       (let* ((hrs-since-start  (/ (- (current-seconds) server-start-time) 3600))
 	     (adjusted-timeout (if (> hrs-since-start 1)
 				   (- server-timeout (inexact->exact (round (* hrs-since-start 60))))  ;; subtract 60 seconds per hour
 				   server-timeout)))
 	(if (common:low-noise-print 120 "server timeout")

Index: launch.scm
==================================================================
--- launch.scm
+++ launch.scm
@@ -421,10 +421,11 @@
 	       (serverurl (assoc/default 'serverurl cmdinfo))
 	       (homehost  (assoc/default 'homehost  cmdinfo))
 	       (run-id    (assoc/default 'run-id    cmdinfo))
 	       (test-id   (assoc/default 'test-id   cmdinfo))
 	       (target    (assoc/default 'target    cmdinfo))
+	       (areaname  (assoc/default 'areaname  cmdinfo))
 	       (itemdat   (assoc/default 'itemdat   cmdinfo))
 	       (env-ovrd  (assoc/default 'env-ovrd  cmdinfo))
 	       (set-vars  (assoc/default 'set-vars  cmdinfo)) ;; pre-overrides from -setvar
 	       (runname   (assoc/default 'runname   cmdinfo))
 	       (megatest  (assoc/default 'megatest  cmdinfo))
@@ -445,10 +446,17 @@
                                               runscript))))) ;; assume it is on the path
 	       ) ;; (rollup-status 0)
 
 	  (if contour (setenv "MT_CONTOUR" contour))
 	  
+	  ;; immediated set some key variables from CMDINFO data, yes, these will be set again below ...
+	  ;;
+	  (setenv "MT_TESTSUITENAME" areaname)
+	  (setenv "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME" top-path)
+	  (set! *toppath* top-path)
+	  (setenv "MT_TEST_RUN_DIR"  work-area)
+
 	  ;; On NFS it can be slow and unreliable to get needed startup information.
 	  ;;  i. Check if we are on the homehost, if so, proceed
 	  ;; ii. Check if host and port passed in via CMDINFO are valid and if
 	  ;;     possible use them.
 	  (let ((bestadrs (server:get-best-guess-address (get-host-name)))
@@ -467,11 +475,16 @@
 			    (if (and start-res
 				     ping-res)
 				(let ((url  (http-transport:server-dat-make-url start-res)))
 				  (remote-conndat-set! *runremote* start-res)
 				  (remote-server-url-set! *runremote* url)
-				  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "connected to " url " using CMDINFO data."))
+				  (if (server:ping url)
+				      (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "connected to " url " using CMDINFO data.")
+				      (begin
+					(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "have CMDINFO data but failed to connect to " url)
+					(remote-conndat-set! *runremote* #f)
+					(remote-server-url-set! *runremote* #f))))
 				(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "received " host ":" port " for url but could not connect.")
 				))
 			  (begin
 			    (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* (if host-port
 								       (conc "received invalid host-port information " host-port)
@@ -781,156 +794,154 @@
       (let ((res (launch:setup-body force: force areapath: areapath)))
 	(mutex-unlock! *launch-setup-mutex*)
 	res)))
 
 (define (launch:setup-body #!key (force #f) (areapath #f))
-  (let* ((use-cache (common:use-cache?))
-	 (toppath  (or *toppath* areapath (getenv "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))) ;; preserve toppath
-	 (runname  (common:args-get-runname))
-	 (target   (common:args-get-target exit-if-bad: #t))
-	 (linktree (common:get-linktree))
-	 (contour  #f) ;; NOT READY FOR THIS (args:get-arg "-contour"))
-	 (sections (if target (list "default" target) #f)) ;; for runconfigs
-	 (mtconfig (or (args:get-arg "-config") "megatest.config")) ;; allow overriding megatest.config 
-	 (rundir   (if (and runname target linktree)(conc linktree (if contour (conc "/" contour) "") "/" target "/" runname) #f))
-	 (mtcachef (and rundir (conc rundir "/" ".megatest.cfg-"  megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash)))
-	 (rccachef (and rundir (conc rundir "/" ".runconfigs.cfg-"  megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash)))
-	 (cancreate (and rundir (file-exists? rundir)(file-write-access? rundir))))
-    ;; (cxt       (hash-table-ref/default *contexts* toppath #f)))
-
-    ;; create our cxt for this area if it doesn't already exist
-    ;; (if (not cxt)(hash-table-set! *contexts* toppath (make-cxt)))
-
-    ;; (print "runname: " runname " target: " target " mtcachef: " mtcachef " rccachef: " rccachef)
-    (set! *toppath* toppath) ;; This is needed when we are running as a test using CMDINFO as a datasource
-    (cond
-     ;; data was read and cached and available in *configstatus*, toppath has already been set
-     ((eq? *configstatus* 'fulldata)
-      *toppath*)
-     ;; if mtcachef exists just read it, however we need to assume toppath is available in $MT_RUN_AREA_HOME
-     ((and mtcachef (file-exists? mtcachef) (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME") use-cache)
-      (set! *configdat*    (configf:read-alist mtcachef))
-      (set! *runconfigdat* (configf:read-alist rccachef))
-      (set! *configinfo*   (list *configdat*  (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")))
-      (set! *configstatus* 'fulldata)
-      (set! *toppath*      (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
-      *toppath*)
-     ;; we have all the info needed to fully process runconfigs and megatest.config
-     (mtcachef              
-      (let* ((first-pass    (find-and-read-config        ;; NB// sets MT_RUN_AREA_HOME as side effect
-			             mtconfig
-				     environ-patt: "env-override"
-				     given-toppath: toppath
-				     pathenvvar: "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
-	     (first-rundat  (let ((toppath (if toppath 
-					       toppath
-					       (car first-pass))))
-			      (read-config ;; (conc toppath "/runconfigs.config") ;; this should be converted to runconfig:read but it is non-trivial, leaving it for now.
-			       (conc (if (string? toppath)
-					 toppath
-					 (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
-				     "/runconfigs.config")
-			       *runconfigdat* #t 
-			       sections: sections))))
-	(set! *runconfigdat* first-rundat)
-	(if first-pass  ;; 
-	    (begin
-	      (set! *configdat*  (car first-pass))
-	      (set! *configinfo* first-pass)
-	      (set! *toppath*    (or toppath (cadr first-pass))) ;; use the gathered data unless already have it
-	      (set! toppath      *toppath*)
-	      (if (not *toppath*)
-		  (begin
-		    (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "you are not in a megatest area!")
-		    (exit 1)))
-	      (setenv "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME" *toppath*)
-	      ;; the seed read is done, now read runconfigs, cache it then read megatest.config one more time and cache it
-	      (let* ((keys         (rmt:get-keys))
-		     (key-vals     (keys:target->keyval keys target))
-		     (linktree     (common:get-linktree))
-					; (or (getenv "MT_LINKTREE")
+  (if (and (eq? *configstatus* 'fulldata) *toppath*) ;; no need to reprocess
+      *toppath*   ;; return toppath
+      (let* ((use-cache (common:use-cache?))
+	     (toppath  (or *toppath* areapath (getenv "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))) ;; preserve toppath
+	     (runname  (common:args-get-runname))
+	     (target   (common:args-get-target))
+	     (linktree (common:get-linktree))
+	     (contour  #f) ;; NOT READY FOR THIS (args:get-arg "-contour"))
+	     (sections (if target (list "default" target) #f)) ;; for runconfigs
+	     (mtconfig (or (args:get-arg "-config") "megatest.config")) ;; allow overriding megatest.config 
+	     (rundir   (if (and runname target linktree)(conc linktree (if contour (conc "/" contour) "") "/" target "/" runname) #f))
+	     (mtcachef (and rundir (conc rundir "/" ".megatest.cfg-"  megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash)))
+	     (rccachef (and rundir (conc rundir "/" ".runconfigs.cfg-"  megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash)))
+	     (cancreate (and rundir (common:file-exists? rundir)(file-write-access? rundir))))
+	;; (cxt       (hash-table-ref/default *contexts* toppath #f)))
+
+	;; create our cxt for this area if it doesn't already exist
+	;; (if (not cxt)(hash-table-set! *contexts* toppath (make-cxt)))
+	
+	;; (print "runname: " runname " target: " target " mtcachef: " mtcachef " rccachef: " rccachef)
+	(set! *toppath* toppath) ;; This is needed when we are running as a test using CMDINFO as a datasource
+	(cond
+	 ;; if mtcachef exists just read it, however we need to assume toppath is available in $MT_RUN_AREA_HOME
+	 ((and mtcachef (common:file-exists? mtcachef) (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME") use-cache)
+	  (set! *configdat*    (configf:read-alist mtcachef))
+	  (set! *runconfigdat* (configf:read-alist rccachef))
+	  (set! *configinfo*   (list *configdat*  (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")))
+	  (set! *configstatus* 'fulldata)
+	  (set! *toppath*      (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
+	  *toppath*)
+	 ;; we have all the info needed to fully process runconfigs and megatest.config
+	 (mtcachef              
+	  (let* ((first-pass    (find-and-read-config        ;; NB// sets MT_RUN_AREA_HOME as side effect
+				 mtconfig
+				 environ-patt: "env-override"
+				 given-toppath: toppath
+				 pathenvvar: "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
+		 (first-rundat  (let ((toppath (if toppath 
+						   toppath
+						   (car first-pass))))
+				  (read-config ;; (conc toppath "/runconfigs.config") ;; this should be converted to runconfig:read but it is non-trivial, leaving it for now.
+				   (conc (if (string? toppath)
+					     toppath
+					     (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
+					 "/runconfigs.config")
+				   *runconfigdat* #t 
+				   sections: sections))))
+	    (set! *runconfigdat* first-rundat)
+	    (if first-pass  ;; 
+		(begin
+		  (set! *configdat*  (car first-pass))
+		  (set! *configinfo* first-pass)
+		  (set! *toppath*    (or toppath (cadr first-pass))) ;; use the gathered data unless already have it
+		  (set! toppath      *toppath*)
+		  (if (not *toppath*)
+		      (begin
+			(debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "you are not in a megatest area!")
+			(exit 1)))
+		  (setenv "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME" *toppath*)
+		  ;; the seed read is done, now read runconfigs, cache it then read megatest.config one more time and cache it
+		  (let* ((keys         (rmt:get-keys))
+			 (key-vals     (keys:target->keyval keys target))
+			 (linktree     (common:get-linktree)) ;; (or (getenv "MT_LINKTREE")(if *configdat* (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "linktree") #f)))
 					;     (if *configdat*
 					; 	   (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "linktree")
 					; 	   (conc *toppath* "/lt"))))
-		     (second-pass  (find-and-read-config
-				    mtconfig
-				    environ-patt: "env-override"
-				    given-toppath: toppath
-				    pathenvvar: "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
-		     (runconfigdat (begin     ;; this read of the runconfigs will see any adjustments made by re-reading megatest.config
-				     (for-each (lambda (kt)
-						 (setenv (car kt) (cadr kt)))
-					       key-vals)
-				     (read-config (conc toppath "/runconfigs.config") *runconfigdat* #t ;; consider using runconfig:read some day ...
-						  sections: sections))))
-		(if cancreate (configf:write-alist runconfigdat rccachef))
-		(set! *runconfigdat* runconfigdat)
-		(if cancreate (configf:write-alist *configdat* mtcachef))
-		(if cancreate (set! *configstatus* 'fulldata))))
-	    ;; no configs found? should not happen but let's try to recover gracefully, return an empty hash-table
-	    (set! *configdat* (make-hash-table))
-	    )))
-     ;; else read what you can and set the flag accordingly
-     (else
-      (let* ((cfgdat   (find-and-read-config 
-			(or (args:get-arg "-config") "megatest.config")
-			environ-patt: "env-override"
-			given-toppath: (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")
-			pathenvvar: "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")))
-	(if cfgdat
-	    (let* ((toppath  (or (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")(cadr cfgdat)))
-		   (rdat     (read-config (conc toppath  ;; convert this to use runconfig:read!
-						"/runconfigs.config") *runconfigdat* #t sections: sections)))
-	      (set! *configinfo*   cfgdat)
-	      (set! *configdat*    (car cfgdat))
-	      (set! *runconfigdat* rdat)
-	      (set! *toppath*      toppath)
-	      (set! *configstatus* 'partial))
-	    (begin
-	      (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "No " mtconfig " file found. Giving up.")
-	      (exit 2))))))
-    ;; additional house keeping
-    (let* ((linktree (common:get-linktree)))
-      (if linktree
-	  (begin
-	    (if (not (file-exists? linktree))
-		(begin
-		  (handle-exceptions
-		   exn
-		   (begin
-		     (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Something went wrong when trying to create linktree dir at " linktree)
-		     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
-		     (exit 1))
-		   (create-directory linktree #t))))
-	    (handle-exceptions
-	     exn
-	     (begin
-	       (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Something went wrong when trying to create link to linktree at " *toppath*)
-	       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn)))
-	     (let ((tlink (conc *toppath* "/lt")))
-	       (if (not (file-exists? tlink))
-		   (create-symbolic-link linktree tlink)))))
-	  (begin
-	    (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "linktree not defined in [setup] section of megatest.config")
-	    )))
-    (if (and *toppath*
-	     (directory-exists? *toppath*))
-	(begin
-	  (setenv "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME" *toppath*)
-	  (setenv "MT_TESTSUITENAME" (common:get-testsuite-name)))
-	(begin
-	  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "failed to find the top path to your Megatest area.")
-          ;;(exit 1)
-	  (set! *toppath* #f) ;; force it to be false so we return #f
-          #f
-          ))
-    ;; if have -append-config then read and append here
-    (let ((cfname (args:get-arg "-append-config")))
-      (if (and cfname
-	       (file-read-access? cfname))
-	  (read-config cfname *configdat* #t))) ;; values are added to the hash, no need to do anything special.
-    *toppath*))
+			 (second-pass  (find-and-read-config
+					mtconfig
+					environ-patt: "env-override"
+					given-toppath: toppath
+					pathenvvar: "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME"))
+			 (runconfigdat (begin     ;; this read of the runconfigs will see any adjustments made by re-reading megatest.config
+					 (for-each (lambda (kt)
+						     (setenv (car kt) (cadr kt)))
+						   key-vals)
+					 (read-config (conc toppath "/runconfigs.config") *runconfigdat* #t ;; consider using runconfig:read some day ...
+						      sections: sections))))
+		    (if cancreate (configf:write-alist runconfigdat rccachef))
+		    (set! *runconfigdat* runconfigdat)
+		    (if cancreate (configf:write-alist *configdat* mtcachef))
+		    (if cancreate (set! *configstatus* 'fulldata))))
+		;; no configs found? should not happen but let's try to recover gracefully, return an empty hash-table
+		(set! *configdat* (make-hash-table))
+		)))
+	 ;; else read what you can and set the flag accordingly
+	 (else
+	  (let* ((cfgdat   (find-and-read-config 
+			    (or (args:get-arg "-config") "megatest.config")
+			    environ-patt: "env-override"
+			    given-toppath: (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")
+			    pathenvvar: "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")))
+	    (if cfgdat
+		(let* ((toppath  (or (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")(cadr cfgdat)))
+		       (rdat     (read-config (conc toppath  ;; convert this to use runconfig:read!
+						    "/runconfigs.config") *runconfigdat* #t sections: sections)))
+		  (set! *configinfo*   cfgdat)
+		  (set! *configdat*    (car cfgdat))
+		  (set! *runconfigdat* rdat)
+		  (set! *toppath*      toppath)
+		  (set! *configstatus* 'partial))
+		(begin
+		  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "No " mtconfig " file found. Giving up.")
+		  (exit 2))))))
+	;; additional house keeping
+	(let* ((linktree (common:get-linktree)))
+	  (if linktree
+	      (begin
+		(if (not (common:file-exists? linktree))
+		    (begin
+		      (handle-exceptions
+			  exn
+			  (begin
+			    (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Something went wrong when trying to create linktree dir at " linktree)
+			    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
+			    (exit 1))
+			(create-directory linktree #t))))
+		(handle-exceptions
+		    exn
+		    (begin
+		      (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Something went wrong when trying to create link to linktree at " *toppath*)
+		      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn)))
+		  (let ((tlink (conc *toppath* "/lt")))
+		    (if (not (file-exists? tlink))
+			(create-symbolic-link linktree tlink)))))
+	      (begin
+		(debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "linktree not defined in [setup] section of megatest.config")
+		)))
+	(if (and *toppath*
+		 (directory-exists? *toppath*))
+	    (begin
+	      (setenv "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME" *toppath*)
+	      (setenv "MT_TESTSUITENAME" (common:get-testsuite-name)))
+	    (begin
+	      (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "failed to find the top path to your Megatest area.")
+	      ;;(exit 1)
+	      (set! *toppath* #f) ;; force it to be false so we return #f
+	      #f
+	      ))
+	;; if have -append-config then read and append here
+	(let ((cfname (args:get-arg "-append-config")))
+	  (if (and cfname
+		   (file-read-access? cfname))
+	      (read-config cfname *configdat* #t))) ;; values are added to the hash, no need to do anything special.
+	*toppath*)))
 
 (define (get-best-disk confdat testconfig)
   (let* ((disks   (or (and testconfig (hash-table-ref/default testconfig "disks" #f))
 		      (hash-table-ref/default confdat "disks" #f)))
 	 (minspace (let ((m (configf:lookup confdat "setup" "minspace")))
@@ -994,17 +1005,17 @@
     ;; Update the rundir path in the test record for all, rundir=physical, shortdir=logical
     ;;                                                 rundir   shortdir
     (rmt:general-call 'test-set-rundir-shortdir run-id lnkpathf test-path testname item-path run-id)
 
     (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "INFO:\n       lnkbase=" lnkbase "\n       lnkpath=" lnkpath "\n  toptest-path=" toptest-path "\n     test-path=" test-path)
-    (if (not (file-exists? linktree))
+    (if (not (common:file-exists? linktree))
 	(begin
 	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: linktree did not exist! Creating it now at " linktree)
 	  (create-directory linktree #t))) ;; (system (conc "mkdir -p " linktree))))
     ;; create the directory for the tests dir links, this is needed no matter what...
-    (if (and (not (directory-exists? lnkbase))
-	     (not (file-exists? lnkbase)))
+    (if (and (not (common:directory-exists? lnkbase))
+	     (not (common:file-exists? lnkbase)))
 	(handle-exceptions
 	 exn
 	 (begin
 	   (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Problem creating linktree base at " lnkbase)
 	   (print-error-message exn (current-error-port)))
@@ -1242,11 +1253,12 @@
 							   (if hhdat
 							       (car hhdat)
 							       #f)))
 					(list 'serverurl (if *runremote*
 							     (remote-server-url *runremote*)
-							     #f)) ;; 
+							     #f)) ;;
+					(list 'areaname  (common:get-testsuite-name))
 					(list 'toppath   *toppath*)
 					(list 'work-area work-area)
 					(list 'test-name test-name) 
 					(list 'runscript runscript) 
 					(list 'run-id    run-id   )

Index: rmt.scm
==================================================================
--- rmt.scm
+++ rmt.scm
@@ -55,15 +55,26 @@
 
   ;; 1. check if server is started IFF cmd is a write OR if we are not on the homehost, store in runremote
   ;; 2. check the age of the connections. refresh the connection if it is older than timeout-20 seconds.
   ;; 3. do the query, if on homehost use local access
   ;;
-  (let* ((start-time (current-seconds)) ;; snapshot time so all use cases get same value
-         (areapath *toppath*);; TODO - resolve from dbstruct to be compatible with multiple areas
-         (dbfile (conc *toppath* "/megatest.db"))
-         (readonly-mode (not (file-write-access? dbfile))) ;; TODO: use dbstruct or runremote to figure this out in future
-	 (runremote  (or area-dat *runremote*)))
+  (let* ((start-time    (current-seconds)) ;; snapshot time so all use cases get same value
+         (areapath      *toppath*);; TODO - resolve from dbstruct to be compatible with multiple areas
+	 (runremote     (or area-dat
+			    *runremote*))
+	 (readonly-mode (if (and runremote
+				 (remote-ro-mode-checked runremote))
+			    (remote-ro-mode runremote)
+			    (let* ((dbfile  (conc *toppath* "/megatest.db"))
+				   (ro-mode (not (file-write-access? dbfile)))) ;; TODO: use dbstruct or runremote to figure this out in future
+			      (if runremote
+				  (begin
+				    (remote-ro-mode-set! runremote ro-mode)
+				    (remote-ro-mode-checked-set! runremote #t)
+				    ro-mode)
+				  ro-mode)))))
+
     ;;(print "BB> readonly-mode is "readonly-mode" dbfile is "dbfile)
     (cond
      ;; give up if more than 15 attempts
      ((> attemptnum 15)
       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: 15 tries to start/connect to server. Giving up.")
@@ -93,12 +104,12 @@
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  8")
       (remote-conndat-set! runremote #f)
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: attemptnum))
      ;; ensure we have a record for our connection for given area
-     ((not runremote)                     
-      (set! *runremote* (make-remote))
+     ((not runremote)                  ;; can remove this one. should never get here.         
+      (set! *runremote* (make-remote)) ;; new runremote will come from this on next iteration
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  1")
       (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: attemptnum))
      ;; ensure we have a homehost record
      ((not (pair? (remote-hh-dat runremote)))  ;; not on homehost
@@ -106,11 +117,12 @@
       (remote-hh-dat-set! runremote (common:get-homehost))
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  2")
       (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: attemptnum))
      ;; on homehost and this is a read
-     ((and (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote))   ;; on homehost
+     ((and (not (remote-force-server runremote))      ;; honor forced use of server
+	   (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote))     ;; on homehost
            (member cmd api:read-only-queries)) ;; this is a read
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  3")
       (rmt:open-qry-close-locally cmd 0 params))
 
@@ -123,39 +135,49 @@
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  4.1")
       (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: attemptnum))
 
      ;; on homehost and this is a write, we already have a server
-     ((and (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote))         ;; on homehost
+     ((and (not (remote-force-server runremote))     ;; honor forced use of server
+	   (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote))           ;; on homehost
            (not (member cmd api:read-only-queries))  ;; this is a write
-           (remote-server-url runremote))          ;; have a server
+           (remote-server-url runremote))            ;; have a server
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  4")
       (rmt:open-qry-close-locally cmd 0 params))
 
      ;;  on homehost, no server contact made and this is a write, passively start a server 
-     ((and (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote)) ; new
+     ((and (not (remote-force-server runremote)) ;; honor forced use of server
+	   (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote))       ;; new
            (not (remote-server-url runremote))
 	   (not (member cmd api:read-only-queries)))
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  5")
       (let ((server-url  (server:check-if-running *toppath*))) ;; (server:read-dotserver->url *toppath*))) ;; (server:check-if-running *toppath*))) ;; Do NOT want to run server:check-if-running - very expensive to do for every write call
 	(if server-url
 	    (remote-server-url-set! runremote server-url) ;; the string can be consumed by the client setup if needed
-	    (server:kind-run *toppath*)))
+	    (if (common:force-server?)
+		(server:start-and-wait *toppath*)
+		(server:kind-run *toppath*))))
+      (remote-force-server-set! runremote (common:force-server?))
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  5.1")
       (rmt:open-qry-close-locally cmd 0 params))
 
-     ((and (not (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote)))        ;; not on a homehost 
-           (not (remote-conndat runremote)))            ;; and no connection
+     ((or (and (remote-force-server runremote)              ;; we are forcing a server and don't yet have a connection to one
+	       (not (remote-conndat runremote)))
+	  (and (not (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote)))        ;; not on a homehost 
+	       (not (remote-conndat runremote))))           ;; and no connection
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  6  hh-dat: " (remote-hh-dat runremote) " conndat: " (remote-conndat runremote))
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
-      (server:start-and-wait *toppath*)
+      (if (not (server:check-if-running *toppath*)) ;; who knows, maybe one has started up?
+	  (server:start-and-wait *toppath*))
+      (remote-force-server-set! runremote (common:force-server?))
       (remote-conndat-set! runremote (rmt:get-connection-info *toppath*)) ;; calls client:setup which calls client:setup-http
       (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: attemptnum)) ;; TODO: add back-off timeout as
      ;; all set up if get this far, dispatch the query
-     ((cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote)) ;; we are on homehost
+     ((and (not (remote-force-server runremote))
+	   (cdr (remote-hh-dat runremote))) ;; we are on homehost
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  7")
       (rmt:open-qry-close-locally cmd (if rid rid 0) params))
 
      ;; not on homehost, do server query
@@ -184,18 +206,24 @@
 	       res)
 	      (else
 	       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: transport " (remote-transport runremote) " is unknown")
 	       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
 	       (exit 1)))
-	    (begin
-	      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: communication failed. Trying again, try num: " attemptnum)
-	      (remote-conndat-set!    runremote #f)
-	      (remote-server-url-set! runremote #f)
-              (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  9.1")
-	      (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
-	      (server:start-and-wait *toppath*)
-	      (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: (+ attemptnum 1)))))))))
+	    (if (eq? res 'overloaded)
+		(let ((wait-delay (+ attemptnum (* attemptnum 10))))
+		  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: server is overloaded. Delaying " wait-delay " seconds and trying call again.")
+		  (thread-sleep! wait-delay)
+		  (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: (+ attemptnum 1)))
+		(begin
+		  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: communication failed. Trying again, try num: " attemptnum)
+		  (remote-conndat-set!    runremote #f)
+		  (remote-server-url-set! runremote #f)
+		  (debug:print-info 12 *default-log-port* "rmt:send-receive, case  9.1")
+		  (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
+		  (if (not (server:check-if-running *toppath*))
+		      (server:start-and-wait *toppath*))
+		  (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: (+ attemptnum 1))))))))))
 
 ;; (define (rmt:update-db-stats run-id rawcmd params duration)
 ;;   (mutex-lock! *db-stats-mutex*)
 ;;   (handle-exceptions
 ;;    exn

Index: server.scm
==================================================================
--- server.scm
+++ server.scm
@@ -167,19 +167,19 @@
 	(day-seconds (* 24 60 60)))
     ;; if the directory exists continue to get the list
     ;; otherwise attempt to create the logs dir and then
     ;; continue
     (if (if (directory-exists? (conc areapath "/logs"))
-	    #t
+	    '()
 	    (if (file-write-access? areapath)
 		(begin
 		  (condition-case
 		      (create-directory (conc areapath "/logs") #t)
 		    (exn (i/o file)(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: Cannot create directory at " (conc areapath "/logs")))
 		    (exn ()(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: Unknown error attemtping to get server list.")))
 		  (directory-exists? (conc areapath "/logs")))
-		#f))
+		'()))
 	(let* ((server-logs   (glob (conc areapath "/logs/server-*.log")))
 	       (num-serv-logs (length server-logs)))
 	  (if (null? server-logs)
 	      '()
 	      (let loop ((hed  (car server-logs))
@@ -218,21 +218,24 @@
 ;;
 (define (server:get-best srvlst)
   (let ((now (current-seconds)))
     (sort
      (filter (lambda (rec)
-	       (let ((start-time (list-ref rec 3))
-		     (mod-time   (list-ref rec 0)))
-		 ;; (print "start-time: " start-time " mod-time: " mod-time)
-		 (and start-time mod-time
-		      (> (- now start-time) 0)    ;; been running at least 0 seconds
-		      (< (- now mod-time)   16)   ;; still alive - file touched in last 16 seconds
-		      (< (- now start-time) 
-                         (+ (- (string->number (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "runtime") "3600"))
-                               180)
-                            (random 360))) ;; under one hour running time +/- 180
-		      )))
+	       (if (and (list? rec)
+			(> (length rec) 2))
+		   (let ((start-time (list-ref rec 3))
+			 (mod-time   (list-ref rec 0)))
+		     ;; (print "start-time: " start-time " mod-time: " mod-time)
+		     (and start-time mod-time
+			  (> (- now start-time) 0)    ;; been running at least 0 seconds
+			  (< (- now mod-time)   16)   ;; still alive - file touched in last 16 seconds
+			  (< (- now start-time) 
+			     (+ (- (string->number (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "runtime") "3600"))
+				   180)
+				(random 360))) ;; under one hour running time +/- 180
+			  ))
+		   #f))
 	     srvlst)
      (lambda (a b)
        (< (list-ref a 3)
 	  (list-ref b 3))))))
 
@@ -240,10 +243,20 @@
   (let ((srvrs (server:get-best (server:get-list areapath))))
     (if (and srvrs
 	     (not (null? srvrs)))
 	(car srvrs)
 	#f)))
+
+(define (server:get-rand-best areapath)
+  (let ((srvrs (server:get-best (server:get-list areapath))))
+    (if (and (list? srvrs)
+	     (not (null? srvrs)))
+	(let* ((len (length srvrs))
+	       (idx (random len)))
+	  (list-ref srvrs idx))
+	#f)))
+
 
 (define (server:record->url servr)
   (match-let (((mod-time host port start-time pid)
 	       servr))
     (if (and host port)
@@ -257,22 +270,28 @@
         *my-client-signature*)))
 
 ;; kind start up of servers, wait 40 seconds before allowing another server for a given
 ;; run-id to be launched
 (define (server:kind-run areapath)
-  (let* ((last-run-dat (hash-table-ref/default *server-kind-run* areapath '(0 0))) ;; callnum, whenrun
-         (call-num     (car last-run-dat))
-         (when-run     (cadr last-run-dat))
-         (run-delay    (+ (case call-num
-                            ((0)    0)
-                            ((1)   20)
-                            ((2)  300)
-                            (else 600))
-                          (random 5)))) ;; add a small random number just in case a lot of jobs hit the work hosts simultaneously
-    (if	(> (- (current-seconds) when-run) run-delay)
-        (server:run areapath))
-    (hash-table-set! *server-kind-run* areapath (list (+ call-num 1)(current-seconds)))))
+  (if (not (server:check-if-running areapath)) ;; why try if there is already a server running?
+      (let* ((last-run-dat (hash-table-ref/default *server-kind-run* areapath '(0 0))) ;; callnum, whenrun
+	     (call-num     (car last-run-dat))
+	     (when-run     (cadr last-run-dat))
+	     (run-delay    (+ (case call-num
+				((0)    0)
+				((1)   20)
+				((2)  300)
+				(else 600))
+			      (random 5)))   ;; add a small random number just in case a lot of jobs hit the work hosts simultaneously
+	     (lock-file    (conc areapath "/logs/server-start.lock")))
+	(if	(> (- (current-seconds) when-run) run-delay)
+		(begin
+		  (common:simple-file-lock-and-wait lock-file expire-time: 15)
+		  (server:run areapath)
+		  (thread-sleep! 5) ;; don't release the lock for at least a few seconds
+		  (common:simple-file-release-lock lock-file)))
+	(hash-table-set! *server-kind-run* areapath (list (+ call-num 1)(current-seconds))))))
 
 (define (server:start-and-wait areapath #!key (timeout 60))
   (let ((give-up-time (+ (current-seconds) timeout)))
     (let loop ((server-url (server:check-if-running areapath)))
       (if (or server-url
@@ -284,24 +303,22 @@
 	    (thread-sleep! 5)
 	    (loop (server:check-if-running areapath)))))))
 
 (define server:try-running server:run) ;; there is no more per-run servers ;; REMOVE ME. BUG.
 
-(define (server:dotserver-age-seconds areapath)
-  (let ((server-file (conc areapath "/.server")))
-    (begin
-      (handle-exceptions
-       exn
-       #f
-       (- (current-seconds)
-          (file-modification-time server-file))))))
-    
 ;; no longer care if multiple servers are started by accident. older servers will drop off in time.
 ;;
-(define (server:check-if-running areapath)
-  (let* ((servers       (server:get-best (server:get-list areapath))))
-    (if (null? servers)
+(define (server:check-if-running areapath #!key (numservers "2"))
+  (let* ((ns            (string->number
+			 (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "numservers") numservers)))
+	 (servers       (server:get-best (server:get-list areapath))))
+    ;; (print "servers: " servers " ns: " ns)
+    (if (or (and servers
+		 (null? servers))
+	    (not servers)
+	    (and (list? servers)
+		 (< (length servers) (random ns)))) ;; somewhere between 0 and numservers
         #f
         (let loop ((hed (car servers))
                    (tal (cdr servers)))
           (let ((res (server:check-server hed)))
             (if res