Index: common.scm
==================================================================
--- common.scm
+++ common.scm
@@ -408,13 +408,22 @@
 
 (define (common:version-changed?)
   (not (equal? (common:get-last-run-version)
                (common:version-signature))))
 
+
+;; From 1.70 to 1.80, db's are compatible.
+
 (define (common:api-changed?)
-  (not (equal? (substring (->string megatest-version) 0 4)
-               (substring (conc (common:get-last-run-version)) 0 4))))
+  (let* (
+    (megatest-major-version (substring (->string megatest-version) 0 4))
+    (run-major-version (substring (conc (common:get-last-run-version)) 0 4))
+   )
+   (and (not (equal? megatest-major-version "1.80"))
+     (not (equal? megatest-major-version megatest-run-version)))
+  )
+)
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; Move me elsewhere ...
 ;; RADT => Why do we meed the version check here, this is called only if version misma
 ;;
@@ -520,11 +529,11 @@
 (define (common:rotate-logs)
   (let* ((all-files (make-hash-table))
 	 (stats     (make-hash-table))
 	 (inc-stat  (lambda (key)
 		      (hash-table-set! stats key (+ (hash-table-ref/default stats key 0) 1))))
-	(max-allowed (string->number (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "max-logfiles") "300")))) ;; name -> age
+	(max-allowed (string->number (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "max-logfiles") "600")))) ;; name -> age
     (if (not (directory-exists? "logs"))(create-directory "logs"))
     (directory-fold 
      (lambda (file rem)
        (handle-exceptions
 	exn
@@ -599,14 +608,15 @@
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; Force a megatest cleanup-db if version is changed and skip-version-check not specified
 ;; Do NOT check if not on homehost!
 ;;
 (define (common:exit-on-version-changed)
-  (if (common:on-homehost?)
+  (if (and *toppath*              ;; do nothing if *toppath* not yet provided
+	   (common:on-homehost?))
       (if (common:api-changed?)
 	  (let* ((mtconf (conc (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME") "/megatest.config"))
-                 (dbfile  (conc (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME") "/megatest.db"))
+                 (dbfile  (conc (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME") ".megatest/main.db"))
                  (read-only (not (file-write-access? dbfile)))
                  (dbstruct (db:setup #t))) ;; (db:setup-db *dbstruct-dbs* *toppath* #f))) ;;  #t)))
 	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port*
 			 "WARNING: Version mismatch!\n"
 			 "   expected: " (common:version-signature) "\n"
@@ -626,14 +636,14 @@
                (common:cleanup-db dbstruct)))
              ((not (common:file-exists? mtconf))
               (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   megatest.config does not exist in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
               (exit 1))
              ((not (common:file-exists? dbfile))
-              (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   megatest.db does not exist in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
+              (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   .megatest/main.db does not exist in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
               (exit 1))
              ((not (eq? (current-user-id)(file-owner mtconf)))
-              (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   You do not own megatest.db in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
+              (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   You do not own .megatest/main.db in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
               (exit 1))
              (read-only
               (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   You have read-only access to this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
               (exit 1))
              (else
@@ -710,19 +720,21 @@
 	""))))
 
 (define (common:alist-ref/default key alist default)
   (or (alist-ref key alist) default))
 
-(define (common:low-noise-print waitval . keys)
-  (let* ((key      (string-intersperse (map conc keys) "-" ))
-	 (lasttime (hash-table-ref/default *common:denoise* key 0))
-	 (currtime (current-seconds)))
-    (if (> (- currtime lasttime) waitval)
-	(begin
-	  (hash-table-set! *common:denoise* key currtime)
-	  #t)
-	#f)))
+;; moved into commonmod
+;;
+;; (define (common:low-noise-print waitval . keys)
+;;   (let* ((key      (string-intersperse (map conc keys) "-" ))
+;; 	 (lasttime (hash-table-ref/default *common:denoise* key 0))
+;; 	 (currtime (current-seconds)))
+;;     (if (> (- currtime lasttime) waitval)
+;; 	(begin
+;; 	  (hash-table-set! *common:denoise* key currtime)
+;; 	  #t)
+;; 	#f)))
 
 (define (common:get-megatest-exe)
   (or (getenv "MT_MEGATEST") "megatest"))
 
 (define (common:read-encoded-string instr)
@@ -980,12 +992,13 @@
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; E X I T   H A N D L I N G
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (define (common:run-sync?)
-    (and (common:on-homehost?)
-	 (args:get-arg "-server")))
+  (and *toppath*               ;; gate if called before *toppath* is set
+       (common:on-homehost?)
+       (args:get-arg "-server")))
 
 (define (common:human-time)
   (time->string (seconds->local-time (current-seconds)) "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"))
 
 
@@ -1989,10 +2002,17 @@
 		    (host-last-used-set! rec curr-time)
 		    new-best)
 		  (if (null? tal) #f (loop (car tal)(cdr tal) best-host)))))))))
 
 (define (common:wait-for-homehost-load maxnormload msg)
+  (let loop ((start-time (current-seconds))) ;; we saw some instances of this being called before *toppath* was set. This might be an early setup race. This delay should help but it is impossible to test...
+    (if (not *toppath*)
+	(begin
+	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: common:wait-for-homehost-load called before *toppath* set.")
+	  (thread-sleep! 30)
+	  (if (< (- (current-seconds) start-time) 300)
+	      (loop start-time)))))
   (let* ((hh-dat (if (common:on-homehost?) ;; if we are on the homehost then pass in #f so the calls are local.
                      #f
                      (server:choose-server *toppath* 'homehost)))
          (hh     (if hh-dat (car hh-dat) #f)))
     (common:wait-for-normalized-load maxnormload msg hh)))

Index: db.scm
==================================================================
--- db.scm
+++ db.scm
@@ -359,13 +359,15 @@
 (define (db:cache-for-read-only source target #!key (use-last-update #f))
   (if (and (hash-table-ref/default *global-db-store* target #f)
 	   (>= (file-modification-time target)(file-modification-time source)))
       (hash-table-ref *global-db-store* target)
       (let* ((toppath   (launch:setup))
-	     (targ-db-last-mod (if (common:file-exists? target)
-				   (file-modification-time target)
-				   0))
+	     (targ-db-last-mod (db:get-sqlite3-mod-time target))
+;;	      (if (common:file-exists? target)
+;; BUG: This needs to include wal mode stuff .shm etc.
+;;				   (file-modification-time target)
+;;				   0))
 	     (cache-db  (or (hash-table-ref/default *global-db-store* target #f)
 			    (db:open-megatest-db path: target)))
 	     (source-db (db:open-megatest-db path: source))
 	     (curr-time (current-seconds))
 	     (res      '())
@@ -405,35 +407,54 @@
 ;; 			  use-last-update: #t)))
 ;; 	  (thread-start! th1)
 ;; 	  (apply proc cache-db params)
 ;; 	  ))))
 
-
-
-
+(define (db:get-sqlite3-mod-time fname)
+  (let* ((wal-file (conc fname "-wal"))
+	 (shm-file (conc fname "-shm"))
+	 (get-mtime (lambda (f)
+		      (if (and (file-exists? f)
+			       (file-read-access? f))
+			  (file-modification-time f)
+			  0))))
+    (max (get-mtime fname)
+	 (get-mtime wal-file)
+	 (get-mtime shm-file))))
+	 
 (define (db:all-db-sync dbstruct)
   (let* ((dbdat (db:open-db dbstruct #f db:initialize-main-db))
 	 (data-synced       0) ;; count of changed records
     (tmp-area       (common:get-db-tmp-area))
     (dbfiles        (glob (conc tmp-area"/.megatest/*.db")))
     (sync-durations (make-hash-table))
     (no-sync-db        (db:open-no-sync-db)))
     (for-each
-     (lambda (file)
+     (lambda (file) ;; tmp db file
        (debug:print-info 3 *default-log-port* "file: " file)
-       (let* ((fname       (conc (pathname-file file) ".db"))
-	      (fulln       (conc *toppath*"/.megatest/"fname))
-	      (time1       (if (file-exists? file)
-			       (file-modification-time file)
-			       (begin
-				 (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Sync - I do not see file "file)
-			   1)))
-	      (time2       (if (file-exists? fulln)
-			       (file-modification-time fulln)
-			       (begin
-				 (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Sync - I do not see file "fulln)
-				 0)))
+       (let* ((fname       (conc (pathname-file file) ".db")) ;; fname is tmp db file
+              (wal-file (conc fname "-wal"))
+              (shm-file (conc fname "-shm"))
+	      (fulln       (conc *toppath*"/.megatest/"fname)) ;; fulln is nfs db name
+              (wal-time     (if (file-exists? wal-file)             
+			       (file-modification-time wal-file)
+                               0))
+              (shm-time     (if (file-exists? shm-file)             
+			       (file-modification-time shm-file)
+                               0))
+	      (time1        (db:get-sqlite3-mod-time file))
+;;	       (if (file-exists? file)              ;; time1 is the max itime of the tmp db, -wal and -shm files.
+;;			       (max (file-modification-time file) wal-time shm-time)
+;;			       (begin
+;;				 (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Sync - I do not see file "file)
+;;			   1)))
+	      (time2       (db:get-sqlite3-mod-time fulln))
+;;	      (if (file-exists? fulln)             ;; time2 is nfs file time
+;;			       (file-modification-time fulln)
+;;			       (begin
+;;				 (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Sync - I do not see file "fulln)
+;;				 0)))
 	      (changed      (> (- time1 time2) (+ (random 5) 1)))  ;; it has been at some few seconds since last synced
 	      (changed10    (> (- time1 time2) 10)) ;; it has been at least ten seconds since sync'd
 	      (jfile-exists (file-exists? (conc file"-journal"))) ;; i.e. are we busy?
 	      (do-cp        (cond
 			     ((not (file-exists? fulln)) ;; shouldn't happen, but this might recover
@@ -484,12 +505,11 @@
     (dest-area (if old2new tmp-area *toppath*))
     (dbfiles        (if old2new (glob (conc *toppath* "/.megatest/*.db")) (glob (conc tmp-area "/.megatest/*.db"))))
     (keys (db:get-keys dbstruct))
     (sync-durations (make-hash-table)))
 
-
-    (if killservers
+    (if (and killservers servers)
       (begin
        	  (for-each
 	   (lambda (server)
              (handle-exceptions
              exn
@@ -501,10 +521,13 @@
 		   (tasks:kill-server host pid)))))
 	   servers)
           (delete-file* (common:get-sync-lock-filepath))
       )
     )
+
+    (if (not dbfiles)
+      (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "no dbfiles found in " (conc *toppath* "/.megatest"))
     (for-each
      (lambda (srcfile)
        (debug:print-info 3 *default-log-port* "file: " srcfile)
        (let* ((fname (conc (pathname-file srcfile) ".db"))
               (basename (pathname-file srcfile))
@@ -525,10 +548,11 @@
 	      (changed ( < (- time2 time1) 6.0)) ;; dest db not updated within last 6 seconds
 
       (do-cp (cond
 		      ((not (file-exists? destfile)) ;; shouldn't happen, but this might recover
 		       (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "File " destfile " not found. Copying "srcfile" to "destfile)
+                       ;; TODO: Need to fix this for WAL mod. Can't just copy.
                        (system (conc "/bin/mkdir -p " dest-directory))
                        (system (conc "/bin/cp " srcfile " " destfile))
 		       #t)
 		      (changed ;; (and changed
 		       ;; (> (- (current-seconds) time1) 3)) ;; if file is changed and three seconds have passed.
@@ -562,14 +586,17 @@
 	     (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "skipping delta sync. " srcfile " is up to date")
           )
        )
      )
      dbfiles
+    )
     )
     data-synced
   )
 )
+
+
 
 ;; Sync all changed db's
 ;;
 (define (db:tmp->megatest.db-sync dbstruct run-id last-update)
   (let* ((subdbs (hash-table-values (dbr:dbstruct-subdbs dbstruct)))
@@ -2306,12 +2333,12 @@
 		  (sqlite3:for-each-row
 		   (lambda (run-id testname item-path state status)
 		     ;; id,run_id,testname,state,status,event_time,host,cpuload,diskfree,uname,rundir,item_path,run_duration,final_logf,comment
 		     (set! res (vector test-id run-id testname state status -1 "" -1 -1 "" "-" item-path -1 "-" "-")))
 		   db 
-		   "SELECT run_id,testname,item_path,state,status FROM tests WHERE id=?;" 
-		   test-id)))
+		   "SELECT run_id,testname,item_path,state,status FROM tests WHERE id=? and run_id=?;" 
+		   test-id run-id)))
     res))
 
 ;; get a useful subset of the tests data (used in dashboard
 ;; use db:mintest-get-{id ,run_id,testname ...}
 ;;

Index: dbfile.scm
==================================================================
--- dbfile.scm
+++ dbfile.scm
@@ -328,19 +328,19 @@
       (current-error-port)
     (lambda ()
       (apply print params))))
     
 (define (dbfile:cautious-open-database fname init-proc sync-mode journal-mode #!optional (tries-left 500))
-  (let* ((busy-file  (conc fname"-journal"))
+  (let* ((busy-file  (conc fname "-journal"))
 	 (delay-time (* (- 51 tries-left) 1.1))
       	 (write-access (file-write-access? fname))
          (dir-access (file-write-access? (pathname-directory fname)))
          (retry      (lambda ()
 		       (thread-sleep! delay-time)
 		       (if (> tries-left 0)
 			   (dbfile:cautious-open-database fname init-proc
-							  sync-mode: sync-mode journal-mode: journal-mode
+							  sync-mode: sync-mode journal-mode
 							  (- tries-left 1))))))
     (assert (>= tries-left 0) (conc "FATAL: too many attempts in dbfile:cautious-open-database of "fname", giving up."))
     
     (if (and (file-write-access? fname)
 	     (file-exists? busy-file))
@@ -351,11 +351,11 @@
 	  (thread-sleep! 1)
 	  (if (eq? tries-left 2)
 	      (begin
 	  	(dbfile:print-err "INFO: forcing journal rollup "busy-file)
 	  	(dbfile:brute-force-salvage-db fname)))
-	  (dbfile:cautious-open-database fname init-proc sync-mode: sync-mode journal-mode: journal-mode (- tries-left 1)))
+	  (dbfile:cautious-open-database fname init-proc sync-mode journal-mode (- tries-left 1)))
 	
 	(let* ((result (condition-case
 		        (if dir-access
 			    (dbfile:with-simple-file-lock
 			     (conc fname ".lock")
@@ -513,11 +513,12 @@
 	  (db:sync-touched dbstruct runid keys dbinit)
 	  (set! *db-sync-in-progress* #f)
 	  (delete-file* lock-file)
 	  #t)
         (begin
-          (dbfile:print-err "INFO: could not get lock for " from-db-file ", sync likely in progress.")
+	  (if (common:low-noise-print 120 (conc "no lock "from-db-file))
+	      (dbfile:print-err "INFO: could not get lock for " from-db-file ", sync likely in progress."))
 	  #f
 	  ))))
 
 ;; ;; Get a lock from the no-sync-db for the from-db, then delta sync the from-db to the to-db, otherwise return #f
 ;; ;;
@@ -658,11 +659,26 @@
 	   '("reviewed"       #f)
 	   '("iterated"       #f)
 	   '("avg_runtime"    #f)
 	   '("avg_disk"       #f)
 	   '("tags"           #f)
-	   '("jobgroup"       #f)))))
+	   '("jobgroup"       #f))
+
+
+     (list "tasks_queue"
+           '("id"            #f)
+           '("action"        #f)
+           '("owner"         #f) 
+           '("state"         #f)
+           '("target"        #f)
+           '("name"          #f)
+           '("testpatt"      #f)
+           '("keylock"       #f)
+           '("params"        #f)
+           '("creation_time" #f)
+           '("execution_time" #f))
+     )))
 
 (define (db:sync-all-tables-list dbstruct keys)
   (append (db:sync-main-list dbstruct keys)
 	  db:sync-tests-only))
 
@@ -992,10 +1008,11 @@
 
 ;; (db:with-db dbstruct run-id sqlite3:exec "select blah fgrom blaz;")
 ;; r/w is a flag to indicate if the db is modified by this query #t = yes, #f = no
 ;;
 (define (db:with-db dbstruct run-id r/w proc . params)
+  (assert dbstruct "FATAL: db:with-db called with dbstruct "#f)
   (let* ((use-mutex (> *api-process-request-count* 25)) ;; risk of db corruption
 	 (have-struct (dbr:dbstruct? dbstruct))
          (dbdat     (if have-struct                ;; this stuff just allows us to call with a db handle directly
 			(db:open-db dbstruct run-id (dbfile:db-init-proc)) ;; (dbfile:get-subdb dbstruct run-id)
 			#f))
@@ -1008,10 +1025,11 @@
 	 (jfile     (conc fname"-journal"))
 	 #;(subdb     (if have-struct
 			(dbfile:get-subdb dbstruct run-id)
 			#f))
 	 ) ;; was 25
+    (assert (sqlite3:database? db) "FATAL: db:with-db, db is not a database, db="db", fname="fname)
     (if (file-exists? jfile)
 	(begin
 	  (dbfile:print-err "INFO: "jfile" exists, delaying to reduce database load")
 	  (thread-sleep! 0.2)))
     (if (and use-mutex

Index: dcommon.scm
==================================================================
--- dcommon.scm
+++ dcommon.scm
@@ -27,10 +27,13 @@
 
 (declare (unit dcommon))
 
 (declare (uses gutils))
 (declare (uses db))
+(declare (uses commonmod))
+
+(import commonmod)
 ;; (declare (uses synchash))
 
 (include "megatest-version.scm")
 (include "common_records.scm")
 (include "db_records.scm")
@@ -635,11 +638,12 @@
 			       (common:max (map cadr col-indices))))
 	     (max-visible  (max (- (dboard:tabdat-num-tests tabdat) 15) 3))
 	     (max-col-vis  (if (> max-col 10) 10 max-col))
 	     (numrows      1)
 	     (numcols      1))
-	(iup:attribute-set! stats-matrix "CLEARVALUE" "CONTENTS")
+	(if (common:low-noise-print 60 "runs-stats-update-clear")
+	    (iup:attribute-set! stats-matrix "CLEARVALUE" "CONTENTS"))
 	(iup:attribute-set! stats-matrix "NUMCOL" max-col )
 	(iup:attribute-set! stats-matrix "NUMLIN" (if (< max-row max-visible) max-visible max-row)) ;; min of 20
 	(iup:attribute-set! stats-matrix "NUMCOL_VISIBLE" max-col-vis)
 	(iup:attribute-set! stats-matrix "NUMLIN_VISIBLE" (if (> max-row max-visible) max-visible max-row))
 	;;(print "row-indices: " row-indices " col-indices: " col-indices)

Index: http-transport.scm
==================================================================
--- http-transport.scm
+++ http-transport.scm
@@ -153,11 +153,11 @@
 	(determine-proxy (constantly #f)))
     (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "http-transport:try-start-server time=" (seconds->time-string (current-seconds)) " ipaddrsstr=" ipaddrstr " portnum=" portnum " config-hostname=" config-hostname)
     (handle-exceptions
 	exn
 	(begin
-	  (print-error-message exn)
+	  ;; (print-error-message exn)
 	  (if (< portnum 64000)
 	      (begin 
 		(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: attempt to start server failed. Trying again ...")
 		(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
 		(debug:print 5 *default-log-port* "exn=" (condition->list exn))
@@ -359,10 +359,11 @@
 	    (begin
 	      (print-call-chain *default-log-port*)
 	      (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* " closing connection failed with error: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn) ", exn=" exn))
 	    (close-connection! api-dat)
             (close-idle-connections!)
+	    (remote-conndat-set! runremote #f)
 	    #t))
 	#f)))
 
 
 (define (make-http-transport:server-dat)(make-vector 6))
@@ -393,11 +394,11 @@
 
 ;;
 ;; connect
 ;;
 (define (http-transport:client-connect iface port server-id)
-  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Connecting to client at "iface":"port", with server-id "server-id)
+  (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Connecting to server at "iface":"port", id "server-id)
   (let* ((api-url      (conc "http://" iface ":" port "/api"))
 	 (api-uri      (uri-reference (conc "http://" iface ":" port "/api")))
 	 (api-req      (make-request method: 'POST uri: api-uri))
 	 (server-dat   (vector iface port api-uri api-url api-req (current-seconds) server-id)))
     server-dat))
@@ -429,11 +430,11 @@
                           (set! sdat *server-info*)
                           (mutex-unlock! *heartbeat-mutex*)
                           (if (and sdat
 				   (not changed)
 				   (> (- (current-seconds) start-time) 2))
-			      (let* ((servinfodir (conc *toppath*"/.servinfo"))
+			      (let* ((servinfodir (server:get-servinfo-dir *toppath*)) ;; (conc *toppath*"/.servinfo"))
 				     (ipaddr      (car sdat))
 				     (port        (cadr sdat))
 				     (servinf     (conc servinfodir"/"ipaddr":"port)))
 				(set! servinfofile servinf)
 				(if (not (file-exists? servinfodir))
@@ -448,34 +449,23 @@
 						       (lambda ()
 							 (delete-file* servinf))
 						       *on-exit-procs*))
 				;; put data about this server into a simple flat file host.port
 				(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Received server alive signature")
-                                #;(common:save-pkt `((action . alive)
-                                                   (T      . server)
-                                                   (pid    . ,(current-process-id))
-                                                   (ipaddr . ,(car sdat))
-                                                   (port   . ,(cadr sdat)))
-                                                 *configdat* #t)
 				sdat)
                               (begin
 				(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Still waiting, last-sdat=" last-sdat)
                                 (sleep 4)
 				(if (> (- (current-seconds) start-time) 120) ;; been waiting for two minutes
-				    (let* ((ipaddr  (car sdat))
+                                    (if sdat 
+				      (let* ((ipaddr  (car sdat))
 					   (port    (cadr sdat))
-					   (servinf (conc *toppath*"/.servinfo/"ipaddr":"port)))
-				      (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "transport appears to have died, exiting server")
-				      ;; (delete-file* servinf) ;; handled by on-exit, can be removed
-                                      #;(common:save-pkt `((action . died)
-                                                         (T      . server)
-                                                         (pid    . ,(current-process-id))
-                                                         (ipaddr . ,(car sdat))
-                                                         (port   . ,(cadr sdat))
-                                                         (msg    . "Transport died?"))
-						       *configdat* #t)
+					   (servinf (conc (server:get-servinfo-dir *toppath*)"/"ipaddr":"port)))
+				        (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "transport appears to have died, exiting server")
 				      (exit))
+                                      (exit)
+                                    )
 				    (loop start-time
 					  (equal? sdat last-sdat)
 					  sdat)))))))
 	 (iface       (car server-info))
          (port        (cadr server-info))
@@ -504,11 +494,12 @@
 	  (if (and no-sync-db
 		   (common:low-noise-print 10 "sync-all")) ;; cheesy way to reduce frequency of running sync :)
               (begin
 		(if (common:low-noise-print 120 "sync-all-print")
                     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "keep-running calling db:all-db-sync at " (time->string (seconds->local-time) "%H:%M:%S")))
-		(db:all-db-sync *dbstruct-dbs*))))
+		(db:all-db-sync *dbstruct-dbs*)
+		)))
       
       ;; when things go wrong we don't want to be doing the various queries too often
       ;; so we strive to run this stuff only every four seconds or so.
       (let* ((sync-time (- (current-milliseconds) start-time))
 	    (rem-time  (quotient (- 4000 sync-time) 1000)))
@@ -560,22 +551,22 @@
               (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server continuing, seconds since last db access: " (- (current-seconds) last-access))
 	      (let ((curr-time (current-seconds)))
 		(handle-exceptions
 		    exn
 		    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: Failed to change timestamp on info file " servinfofile ". Are you out of space on that disk? exn=" exn)
-		    (if (and (< (- (current-seconds) server-start-time) 600) ;; run for ten minutes for experiment, 3600 thereafter
+		    (if (and ;; (< (- (current-seconds) server-start-time) 600) ;; run for ten minutes for experiment, 3600 thereafter
 			     (not *server-overloaded*)
 			     (file-exists? servinfofile))
 			(change-file-times servinfofile curr-time curr-time)))
-		(if (or (common:low-noise-print 120 "start new server")
+		(if (and (common:low-noise-print 120 "start new server")
 			(> *api-process-request-count* 50)) ;; if this server is kind of busy start up another
 		    (begin
-		      (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server is busy, parallel-api-count "*api-process-request-count*", start another if possible...")
+		      (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server is busy, api-count "*api-process-request-count*", start another if possible...")
 		      (server:kind-run *toppath*)
 		      (if (> *api-process-request-count* 100)
 			  (begin
-			    (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server is overloaded at parallel-api-count="*api-process-request-count*", removing "servinfofile) 
+			    (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server is overloaded at api-count=" *api-process-request-count*", removing "servinfofile) 
 			    (delete-file* servinfofile)))))))
           (loop 0 server-state bad-sync-count (current-milliseconds)))
          (else
           (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server timed out. seconds since last db access: " (- (current-seconds) last-access))
           (http-transport:server-shutdown port)))))))
@@ -621,59 +612,36 @@
 ;; all routes though here end in exit ...
 ;;
 ;; start_server? 
 ;;
 (define (http-transport:launch)
-  ;; check that a server start is in progress, pause or exit if so
-  (let* ((tmp-area            (common:get-db-tmp-area))
-	 (server-start        (conc tmp-area "/.server-start"))
-	 (server-started      (conc tmp-area "/.server-started"))
-	 (start-time          (common:lazy-modification-time server-start))
-	 (started-time        (common:lazy-modification-time server-started))
-	 (server-starting     (< start-time started-time)) ;; if start-time is less than started-time then a server is still starting
-	 (start-time-old      (> (- (current-seconds) start-time) 5))
-         (cleanup-proc        (lambda (msg)
-                                (let* ((serv-fname      (conc "server-" (current-process-id) "-" (get-host-name) ".log"))
-                                       (full-serv-fname (conc *toppath* "/logs/" serv-fname))
-                                       (new-serv-fname  (conc *toppath* "/logs/" "defunct-" serv-fname)))
-                                  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* msg)
-                                  (if (common:file-exists? full-serv-fname)
-                                      (system (conc "sleep 1;mv -f " full-serv-fname " " new-serv-fname))
-                                      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "INFO: cannot move " full-serv-fname " to " new-serv-fname))
-                                  (exit)))))
-    #;(if (and (not start-time-old) ;; last server start try was less than five seconds ago
-	     (not server-starting))
-	(begin
-	  (cleanup-proc "NOT starting server, there is either a recently started server or a server in process of starting")
-	  (exit)))
-    ;; lets not even bother to start if there are already three or more server files ready to go
-    #;(let* ((num-alive   (server:get-num-alive (server:get-list *toppath*))))
-      (if (> num-alive 3)
-          (begin
-            (cleanup-proc (conc "ERROR: Aborting server start because there are already " num-alive " possible servers either running or starting up"))
-            (exit))))
-    #;(common:save-pkt `((action . start)
-		       (T      . server)
-		       (pid    . ,(current-process-id)))
-		     *configdat* #t)
-    (let* ((th2 (make-thread (lambda ()
-                               (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server run thread started")
-                               (http-transport:run 
-                                (if (args:get-arg "-server")
-                                    (args:get-arg "-server")
-                                    "-")
-                                )) "Server run"))
-           (th3 (make-thread (lambda ()
-                               (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server monitor thread started")
-                               (http-transport:keep-running)
-                               "Keep running"))))
-      (thread-start! th2)
-      (thread-sleep! 0.25) ;; give the server time to settle before starting the keep-running monitor.
-      (thread-start! th3)
-      (set! *didsomething* #t)
-      (thread-join! th2)
-      (exit))))
+  ;; check the .servinfo directory, are there other servers running on this
+  ;; or another host?
+  (let* ((server-start-is-ok  (server:minimal-check *toppath*)))
+    (if (not server-start-is-ok)
+	(begin
+	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: server start not ok, exiting now.")
+	  (exit 1))))
+    
+  ;; check that a server start is in progress, pause or exit if so
+  (let* ((th2 (make-thread (lambda ()
+                             (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server run thread started")
+                             (http-transport:run 
+                              (if (args:get-arg "-server")
+                                  (args:get-arg "-server")
+                                  "-")
+                              )) "Server run"))
+         (th3 (make-thread (lambda ()
+                             (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server monitor thread started")
+                             (http-transport:keep-running)
+                             "Keep running"))))
+    (thread-start! th2)
+    (thread-sleep! 0.25) ;; give the server time to settle before starting the keep-running monitor.
+    (thread-start! th3)
+    (set! *didsomething* #t)
+    (thread-join! th2)
+    (exit)))
 
 ;; (define (http-transport:server-signal-handler signum)
 ;;   (signal-mask! signum)
 ;;   (handle-exceptions
 ;;    exn

Index: megatest-version.scm
==================================================================
--- megatest-version.scm
+++ megatest-version.scm
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@
 ;; Always use two or four digit decimal
 ;; 1.01, 1.02...1.10,1.11,1.1101 ... 1.99,2.00..
 
 ;; (declare (unit megatest-version))
 
-(define megatest-version 1.7009)
+(define megatest-version 1.8005)

Index: megatest.scm
==================================================================
--- megatest.scm
+++ megatest.scm
@@ -654,23 +654,10 @@
 ;; for some switches always print the command to stderr
 ;;
 (if (args:any? "-run" "-runall" "-remove-runs" "-set-state-status" "-kill-runs" "-kill-rerun")
     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* (string-intersperse (argv) " ")))
 
-;; some switches imply homehost. Exit here if not on homehost
-;;
-(let ((homehost-required  (list "-cleanup-db")))
-  (if (apply args:any? homehost-required)
-      (if (not (server:choose-server *toppath* 'home?))
-	  (for-each
-	   (lambda (switch)
-	     (if (args:get-arg switch)
-		 (begin
-		   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: you must be on the homehost to run with " switch
-				", you can move homehost by removing the .homehost file but this will disrupt any runs in progress.")
-		   (exit 1))))
-	   homehost-required))))
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; Misc setup stuff
 ;;======================================================================
 
@@ -934,13 +921,13 @@
 ;;======================================================================
 
 ;; Server? Start up here.
 ;;
 (if (args:get-arg "-server")
-    (let ((tl        (launch:setup))
-          (transport-type (string->symbol (or (args:get-arg "-transport") "http"))))
-      (server:launch 0 transport-type)
+    (let ((tl        (launch:setup)))
+      ;; (server:launch 0 'http)
+      (http-transport:launch)
       (set! *didsomething* #t)))
 
 ;; The adjutant is a bit different, it does NOT run (launch:setup) as it is not necessarily tied to
 ;; a specific Megatest area. Detail are being hashed out and this may change.
 ;;
@@ -2321,10 +2308,14 @@
     (begin
       (if (not (launch:setup))
 	  (begin
 	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "Failed to setup, exiting") 
 	    (exit 1)))
+      (if (not (server:choose-server *toppath* 'home?))
+	  (begin
+	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "Servers are not running on this host or no servers alive. Cannot run cleanup-db")
+	    (exit 1)))
       (let ((dbstructs (db:setup #f)))
         (common:cleanup-db dbstructs))
       (set! *didsomething* #t)))
 
 (if (args:get-arg "-mark-incompletes")

ADDED   mtargs/mtargs.egg
Index: mtargs/mtargs.egg
==================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ mtargs/mtargs.egg
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+((license "LGPL")
+ (version 0.1)
+ (category misc)
+ (dependencies srfi-69 srfi-1)
+ (author "Matt Welland")
+ (synopsis "Primitive argument processor.")
+ (components (extension mtargs)))

Index: mtargs/mtargs.scm
==================================================================
--- mtargs/mtargs.scm
+++ mtargs/mtargs.scm
@@ -19,22 +19,28 @@
 (module mtargs
     (
      arg-hash
      get-arg
      get-arg-from
-     usage
      get-args
+     usage
      print-args
      any-defined?
-     help
      )
 
-(import scheme chicken data-structures extras posix ports files)
-(use srfi-69 srfi-1)
+(import scheme) ;; gives us cond-expand in chicken-4
+
+(cond-expand
+ (chicken-5
+  (import scheme (chicken base) (chicken port) (chicken file) (chicken process-context))
+  (import srfi-69 srfi-1))
+ (chicken-4
+  (import chicken posix srfi-69 srfi-1))
+ (else))
 
+(define usage (make-parameter print))
 (define arg-hash (make-hash-table))
-(define help "")
 
 (define (get-arg arg . default)
   (if (null? default)
       (hash-table-ref/default arg-hash arg #f)
       (hash-table-ref/default arg-hash arg (car default))))
@@ -48,28 +54,10 @@
 (define (get-arg-from ht arg . default)
   (if (null? default)
       (hash-table-ref/default ht arg #f)
       (hash-table-ref/default ht arg (car default))))
 
-(define (usage . args)
-  (if (> (length args) 0)
-      (apply print "ERROR: " args))
-  (if (string? help)
-      (print help)
-      (print "Usage: " (car (argv)) " ... "))
-  (exit 0))
-
- ;; one-of args defined
-(define (any-defined? . param)
-  (let ((res #f))
-    (for-each 
-     (lambda (arg)
-       (if (get-arg arg)(set! res #t)))
-     param)
-    res))
-
-;; args: 
 (define (get-args args params switches arg-hash num-needed)
   (let* ((numtargs (length args))
 	 (adj-num-needed (if num-needed (+ num-needed 2) #f)))
     (if (< numtargs (if adj-num-needed adj-num-needed 2))
 	(if (>= num-needed 1)
@@ -94,13 +82,12 @@
 	   (else
 	    (if (null? tail)(append remtargs (list arg)) ;; return the non-used args
 		(loop (car tail)(cdr tail)(append remtargs (list arg))))))))
     ))
 
-(define (print-args remtargs arg-hash)
-  (print "ARGS: " remtargs)
+(define (print-args arg-hash)
   (for-each (lambda (arg)
 	      (print "   " arg "   " (hash-table-ref/default arg-hash arg #f)))
 	    (hash-table-keys arg-hash)))
 
 
 )

Index: portlogger.scm
==================================================================
--- portlogger.scm
+++ portlogger.scm
@@ -64,11 +64,11 @@
      exn
      (begin
        ;; (release-dot-lock fname)
        (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "portlogger:open-run-close failed. " proc " " params)
        (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
-       (debug:print 5 *default-log-port* "exn=" (condition->list exn))
+       ;; (debug:print 5 *default-log-port* "exn=" (condition->list exn))
        (if (common:file-exists? fname)(delete-file fname)) ;; brutally get rid of it
        (print-call-chain (current-error-port)))
      (let* (;; (lock   (obtain-dot-lock fname 2 9 10))
 	    (db     (portlogger:open-db fname))
 	    (res    (apply proc db params)))

Index: rmt.scm
==================================================================
--- rmt.scm
+++ rmt.scm
@@ -175,12 +175,13 @@
            (remote-conndat runremote)
 	   (> (current-seconds) ;; if it has been more than server-timeout seconds since last contact, close this connection and start a new on
 	      (+ (http-transport:server-dat-get-last-access (remote-conndat runremote))
 		 (remote-server-timeout runremote))))
       (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Connection to " (remote-server-url runremote) " expired due to no accesses, forcing new connection.")
-      (remote-conndat-set! runremote #f) ;; invalidate the connection, thus forcing a new connection.
       (http-transport:close-connections area-dat: runremote)
+      ;; moving this setting of runremote conndat to #f to inside the http-transport:close-connections
+      ;; (remote-conndat-set! runremote #f) ;; invalidate the connection, thus forcing a new connection.
       (mutex-unlock! *rmt-mutex*)
       (rmt:send-receive cmd rid params attemptnum: attemptnum))
      
      ;;DOT CASE5 [label="local\nread"];
      ;;DOT MUTEXLOCK -> CASE5 [label="server not required,\non homehost,\nread-only query"]; {rank=same "case 5" CASE5};

Index: runs.scm
==================================================================
--- runs.scm
+++ runs.scm
@@ -1775,11 +1775,11 @@
 			(last-jobs-check-time  (runs:dat-last-jobs-check-time runsdat))
 			(should-check-jobs     (match can-run-more-tests
 						 ((can-run-more-flag num-running nr-in-jobgroup max-concurrent-jobs . params)
 						  (if (< (- max-concurrent-jobs num-running) 25)
 						      (begin
-							(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port*
+							(debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port*
 									  "less than 20 jobs headroom, ("max-concurrent-jobs
 									  "-"num-running")>20. Forcing prelaunch check.")
 							#t)
 						      #f))
 						 (else #f)))) ;; no record yet

Index: server.scm
==================================================================
--- server.scm
+++ server.scm
@@ -65,21 +65,10 @@
 ;;======================================================================
 
 ;; Call this to start the actual server
 ;;
 
-;; all routes though here end in exit ...
-;;
-;; start_server
-;;
-(define (server:launch run-id transport-type)
-  (case transport-type
-    ((http)(http-transport:launch))
-    ;;((nmsg)(nmsg-transport:launch run-id))
-    ;;((rpc)  (rpc-transport:launch run-id))
-    (else (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "unknown server type " transport-type))))
-
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; S E R V E R   U T I L I T I E S 
 ;;======================================================================
 
 ;; Get the transport
@@ -133,18 +122,11 @@
 ;; if the target-host is set 
 ;; try running on that host
 ;;   incidental: rotate logs in logs/ dir.
 ;;
 (define  (server:run areapath) ;; areapath is *toppath* for a given testsuite area
-  (let* (;; (curr-host   (get-host-name))
-         ;; (attempt-in-progress (server:start-attempted? areapath))
-         ;; (dot-server-url (server:check-if-running areapath))
-	 ;; (curr-ip     (server:get-best-guess-address curr-host))
-	 ;; (curr-pid    (current-process-id))
-	 ;; (homehost    (server:get-homehost)) ;; configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "homehost" ))
-	 ;; (target-host (car homehost))
-	 (testsuite   (common:get-testsuite-name))
+  (let* ((testsuite   (common:get-testsuite-name))
 	 (logfile     (conc areapath "/logs/server.log")) ;; -" curr-pid "-" target-host ".log"))
 	 (profile-mode (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "misc" "profilesw")
 			   ""))
 	 (cmdln (conc (common:get-megatest-exe)
 		      " -server - ";; (or target-host "-")
@@ -190,46 +172,48 @@
   (let ((server-rx    (regexp "^SERVER STARTED: (\\S+):(\\d+) AT ([\\d\\.]+) server-id: (\\S+) pid: (\\d+)")) ;; SERVER STARTED: host:port AT timesecs server id
         (dbprep-rx    (regexp "^SERVER: dbprep"))
         (dbprep-found 0)
 	(bad-dat      (list #f #f #f #f #f)))
     (handle-exceptions
-	exn
-      (begin
-	(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Unable to get server info from " logf ", exn=" exn)
-	bad-dat) ;; no idea what went wrong, call it a bad server
-      (with-input-from-file
-	  logf
-	(lambda ()
-	  (let loop ((inl  (read-line))
-		     (lnum 0))
-	    (if (not (eof-object? inl))
-		(let ((mlst (string-match server-rx inl))
-                      (dbprep (string-match dbprep-rx inl)))
-                  (if dbprep (set! dbprep-found 1))
-		  (if (not mlst)
-		      (if (< lnum 500) ;; give up if more than 500 lines of server log read
-			  (loop (read-line)(+ lnum 1))
-			  (begin 
+     exn
+     (begin
+       ;; WARNING: this is potentially dangerous to blanket ignore the errors
+       (if (file-exists? logf)
+	   (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Unable to get server info from "logf", exn=" exn))
+       bad-dat) ;; no idea what went wrong, call it a bad server
+     (with-input-from-file
+	 logf
+       (lambda ()
+	 (let loop ((inl  (read-line))
+		    (lnum 0))
+	   (if (not (eof-object? inl))
+	       (let ((mlst (string-match server-rx inl))
+		     (dbprep (string-match dbprep-rx inl)))
+		 (if dbprep (set! dbprep-found 1))
+		 (if (not mlst)
+		     (if (< lnum 500) ;; give up if more than 500 lines of server log read
+			 (loop (read-line)(+ lnum 1))
+			 (begin 
                            (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Unable to get server info from first 500 lines of " logf )
                            bad-dat))
-		      (match mlst
-			((_ host port start server-id pid)
-			 (list host
-			       (string->number port)
-			       (string->number start)
-			       server-id
-			       (string->number pid)))
-			(else
-			 (debug:print 0 *current-log-port* "ERROR: did not recognise SERVER line info "mlst)
-			 bad-dat))))
-                (begin 
-                  (if dbprep-found
-                      (begin
-                         (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Server is in dbprep at " (common:human-time))
-                         (thread-sleep! 0.5)) ;; was 25 sec but that blocked things from starting?
-                      (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Unable to get server info from " logf " at " (seconds->time-string (current-seconds))))
-		  bad-dat))))))))
+		     (match mlst
+			    ((_ host port start server-id pid)
+			     (list host
+				   (string->number port)
+				   (string->number start)
+				   server-id
+				   (string->number pid)))
+			    (else
+			     (debug:print 0 *current-log-port* "ERROR: did not recognise SERVER line info "mlst)
+			     bad-dat))))
+	       (begin 
+		 (if dbprep-found
+		     (begin
+		       (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Server is in dbprep at " (common:human-time))
+		       (thread-sleep! 0.5)) ;; was 25 sec but that blocked things from starting?
+		     (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Unable to get server info from " logf " at " (seconds->time-string (current-seconds))))
+		 bad-dat))))))))
 
 ;; ;; get a list of servers from the log files, with all relevant data
 ;; ;; ( mod-time host port start-time pid )
 ;; ;;
 ;; (define (server:get-list areapath #!key (limit #f))
@@ -419,11 +403,12 @@
 
 ;; oldest server alive determines host then choose random of youngest
 ;; five servers on that host
 ;;
 (define (server:get-servers-info areapath)
-  (let* ((servinfodir (conc *toppath*"/.servinfo")))
+  ;; (assert *toppath* "FATAL: server:get-servers-info called before *toppath* has been set.")
+  (let* ((servinfodir (server:get-servinfo-dir areapath))) ;; (conc *toppath*"/.servinfo")))
     (if (not (file-exists? servinfodir))
 	(create-directory servinfodir))
     (let* ((allfiles    (glob (conc servinfodir"/*")))
 	   (res         (make-hash-table)))
       (for-each
@@ -432,15 +417,45 @@
 		(serverdat (server:logf-get-start-info f)))
 	   (match serverdat
 	     ((host port start server-id pid)
 	      (if (and host port start server-id pid)
 		  (hash-table-set! res hostport serverdat)
-		  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "bad server info for "f": "serverdat)))
+		  (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "bad server info for "f": "serverdat)))
 	     (else
-	      (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "bad server info for "f": "serverdat)))))
+	      (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "bad server info for "f": "serverdat)))))
        allfiles)
       res)))
+
+;; check the .servinfo directory, are there other servers running on this
+;; or another host?
+;;
+;; returns #t => ok to start another server
+;;         #f => not ok to start another server
+;;
+(define (server:minimal-check areapath)
+  (server:clean-up-old areapath)
+  (let* ((srvdir      (server:get-servinfo-dir areapath)) ;; (conc areapath"/.servinfo"))
+	 (servrs      (glob (conc srvdir"/*")))
+	 (thishostip  (server:get-best-guess-address (get-host-name)))
+	 (thisservrs  (glob (conc srvdir"/"thishostip":*")))
+	 (homehostinf (server:choose-server areapath 'homehost))
+	 (havehome    (car homehostinf))
+	 (wearehome   (cdr homehostinf)))
+    (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* thishostip", have homehost: "havehome", we are homehost: "wearehome
+		      ", numservers: "(length thisservrs))
+    (cond
+     ((not havehome) #t) ;; no homehost yet, go for it
+     ((and havehome wearehome (< (length thisservrs) 20)) #t) ;; we are home and less than 20 servers, ok to start another
+     ((and havehome (not wearehome)) #f)     ;; we are not the home host
+     ((and havehome wearehome (>= (length thisservrs) 20)) #f) ;; have enough running
+     (else
+      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: Unrecognised scenario, servrs="servrs", thishostip="thishostip", thisservrs="thisservrs)
+      #t))))
+	 
+
+(define server-last-start 0)
+
 
 ;; oldest server alive determines host then choose random of youngest
 ;; five servers on that host
 ;;
 ;; mode:
@@ -453,29 +468,46 @@
   ;;   1. sort by age ascending and ping until good
   ;; find alive rand from youngest
   ;;   1. sort by age descending
   ;;   2. take five
   ;;   3. check alive, discard if not and repeat
+  ;; first we clean up old server files
+  (server:clean-up-old areapath)
+  (let* ((since-last (- (current-seconds) server-last-start))
+        (server-start-delay 10))     
+    (if ( < (- (current-seconds) server-last-start) 10 )
+      (begin
+        (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "server:choose-server: seconds since last server start: " (- (current-seconds) server-last-start))
+        (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "server:choose-server: last server start less than " server-start-delay " seconds ago. Sleeping " server-start-delay " seconds")
+        (thread-sleep! server-start-delay)
+      )
+      (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "server:choose-server: seconds since last server start: " (- (current-seconds) server-last-start))
+    )
+  )
   (let* ((serversdat  (server:get-servers-info areapath))
 	 (servkeys    (hash-table-keys serversdat))
-	 (by-time-asc (if (not (null? servkeys))
+	 (by-time-asc (if (not (null? servkeys)) ;; NOTE: Oldest is last
 			  (sort servkeys ;; list of "host:port"
 				(lambda (a b)
 				  (>= (list-ref (hash-table-ref serversdat a) 2)
 				      (list-ref (hash-table-ref serversdat b) 2))))
 			  '())))
+    (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "server:choose-server: serversdat: " serversdat)
+    (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "server:choose-server: servkeys: " servkeys)
     (if (not (null? by-time-asc))
 	(let* ((oldest     (last by-time-asc))
 	       (oldest-dat (hash-table-ref serversdat oldest))
 	       (host       (list-ref oldest-dat 0))
 	       (all-valid  (filter (lambda (x)
 				     (equal? host (list-ref (hash-table-ref serversdat x) 0)))
 				   by-time-asc))
-	       (best-five  (lambda ()
-			     (if (> (length all-valid) 5)
-				 (take all-valid 5)
-				 all-valid)))
+	       (best-ten  (lambda ()
+			     (if (> (length all-valid) 11)
+				 (take (drop-right all-valid 1) 10) ;; remove the oldest from consideration so it can age out
+				 (if (> (length all-valid) 8)
+				     (drop-right all-valid 1)
+				     all-valid))))
 	       (names->dats (lambda (names)
 			      (map (lambda (x)
 				     (hash-table-ref serversdat x))
 				   names)))
 	       (am-home?    (lambda ()
@@ -488,25 +520,54 @@
 	     (print "oldest: "oldest-dat", selected host: "host", all-valid: "all-valid)
 	     (print "youngest: "(hash-table-ref serversdat (car all-valid))))
 	    ((home)     host)
 	    ((homehost) (cons host (am-home?))) ;; shut up old code
 	    ((home?)    (am-home?))
-	    ((best-five)(names->dats (best-five)))
+	    ((best-ten)(names->dats (best-ten)))
 	    ((all-valid)(names->dats all-valid))
-	    ((best)     (let* ((best-five (best-five))
-			       (len       (length best-five)))
-			  (hash-table-ref serversdat (list-ref best-five (random len)))))
+	    ((best)     (let* ((best-ten (best-ten))
+			       (len       (length best-ten)))
+			  (hash-table-ref serversdat (list-ref best-ten (random len)))))
 	    ((count)(length all-valid))
 	    (else
 	     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: invalid command "mode)
 	     #f)))
 	(begin
 	  (server:run areapath)
-	  (thread-sleep! 3)
+          (set! server-last-start (current-seconds))
+	  ;; (thread-sleep! 3)
 	  (case mode
 	    ((homehost) (cons #f #f))
 	    (else	#f))))))
+
+(define (server:get-servinfo-dir areapath)
+  (let* ((spath (conc areapath"/.servinfo")))
+    (if (not (file-exists? spath))
+	(create-directory spath #t))
+    spath))
+
+(define (server:clean-up-old areapath)
+  ;; any server file that has not been touched in ten minutes is effectively dead
+  (let* ((sfiles (glob (conc (server:get-servinfo-dir areapath)"/*"))))
+    (for-each
+     (lambda (sfile)
+       (let* ((modtime (handle-exceptions
+			   exn
+			 (begin
+			   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: failed to get modification file for "sfile)
+			   (current-seconds))
+			 (file-modification-time sfile))))
+	 (if (and (number? modtime)
+		  (> (- (current-seconds) modtime)
+		     600))
+	     (begin
+	       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: found old server info file "sfile", removing it.")
+	       (handle-exceptions
+		   exn
+		 (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: failed to delete old server info file "sfile)
+		 (delete-file sfile))))))
+     sfiles)))
 
 ;; would like to eventually get rid of this
 ;;
 (define (common:on-homehost?)
   (server:choose-server *toppath* 'home?))
@@ -516,11 +577,17 @@
 ;;
 (define (server:kind-run areapath)
   ;; look for $MT_RUN_AREA_HOME/logs/server-start-last
   ;; and wait for it to be at least <server idletime> seconds old
   ;; (server:wait-for-server-start-last-flag areapath)
-  (if (< (server:choose-server areapath 'count) 10)
+  (let loop ()
+    (if (> (alist-ref 'adj-proc-load (common:get-normalized-cpu-load #f)) 2)
+	(begin
+	  (if (common:low-noise-print 30 "our-host-load")
+	      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: system load is high, waiting to start server."))
+	  (loop))))
+  (if (< (server:choose-server areapath 'count) 20)
       (server:run areapath))
   #;(if (not (server:check-if-running areapath)) ;; why try if there is already a server running?
       (let* ((lock-file    (conc areapath "/logs/server-start.lock")))
 	(let* ((start-flag (conc areapath "/logs/server-start-last")))
 	  (common:simple-file-lock-and-wait lock-file expire-time: 25)
@@ -538,11 +605,12 @@
     (let loop ((server-info (server:check-if-running areapath))
 	       (try-num    0))
       (if (or server-info
 	      (> (current-seconds) give-up-time)) ;; server-url will be #f if no server available.
 	  (server:record->url server-info)
-	  (let ((num-ok (length (server:choose-server areapath 'all-valid))))
+	  (let* ( (servers (server:choose-server areapath 'all-valid))
+                (num-ok (if servers (length (server:choose-server areapath 'all-valid)) 0)))
 	    (if (and (> try-num 0)  ;; first time through simply wait a little while then try again
 		     (< num-ok 1))  ;; if there are no decent candidates for servers then try starting a new one
 		(server:run areapath))
 	    (thread-sleep! 5)
 	    (loop (server:check-if-running areapath)
@@ -555,11 +623,11 @@
 
 ;; no longer care if multiple servers are started by accident. older servers will drop off in time.
 ;;
 (define (server:check-if-running areapath) ;;  #!key (numservers "2"))
   (let* ((ns            (server:get-num-servers)) ;; get the setting the for maximum number of servers allowed
-	 (servers       (server:choose-server areapath 'best-five))) ;; (server:get-best (server:get-list areapath))))
+	 (servers       (server:choose-server areapath 'best-ten))) ;; (server:get-best (server:get-list areapath))))
     (if (or (and servers
 		 (null? servers))
 	    (not servers))
 	    ;; (and (list? servers)
 	    ;;	 (< (length servers) (+ 1 (random ns))))) ;; somewhere between 1 and numservers
@@ -668,11 +736,11 @@
 (define (server:expiration-timeout)
   (let ((tmo (configf:lookup *configdat* "server" "timeout")))
     (if (and (string? tmo)
 	     (common:hms-string->seconds tmo)) ;; BUG: hms-string->seconds is broken, if given "10" returns 0. Also, it doesn't belong in this logic unless the string->number is changed below
         (* 3600 (string->number tmo))
-	60)))
+	600)))
 
 (define (server:get-best-guess-address hostname)
   (let ((res #f))
     (for-each 
      (lambda (adr)