Index: Makefile
==================================================================
--- Makefile
+++ Makefile
@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@
            ezsteps.scm lock-queue.scm rmt.scm api.scm		\
            subrun.scm portlogger.scm archive.scm env.scm		\
            diff-report.scm cgisetup/models/pgdb.scm
 
 # module source files
-MSRCFILES = dbmod.scm dbfile.scm debugprint.scm mtargs.scm
+MSRCFILES = dbmod.scm dbfile.scm debugprint.scm mtargs.scm commonmod.scm
 
-mofiles/dbfile.o     : mofiles/debugprint.o
-mofiles/debugprint.o : mofiles/mtargs.o
+mofiles/dbfile.o     : mofiles/debugprint.o mofiles/commonmod.o commonmod.import.o
+mofiles/debugprint.o : mofiles/mtargs.o mofiles/commonmod.o commonmod.import.o
 
 # ftail.scm rmtmod.scm commonmod.scm removed
 # MSRCFILES = ducttape-lib.scm pkts.scm stml2.scm cookie.scm mutils.scm	\
 #             mtargs.scm commonmod.scm dbmod.scm adjutant.scm ulex.scm	\
 #             rmtmod.scm apimod.scm
@@ -49,23 +49,28 @@
 
 MOFILES = $(addprefix mofiles/,$(MSRCFILES:%.scm=%.o))
 # compiled import files
 MOIMPFILES = $(MSRCFILES:%.scm=%.import.o)
 
-%.import.o : %.import.scm
-	csc $(CSCOPTS) -unit $*.import -c $*.import.scm -o $*.import.o
+# %.import.o : %.import.scm 
+#	csc $(CSCOPTS) -unit $*.import -c $*.import.scm -o $*.import.o
+
+# %.import.scm : mofiles/%.o
+#	sleep 0.1
 
 # I'm not sure the cp is a good idea, changed a lot of things and it may not have been necessary...
 # mofiles/%.o  %.import.scm : %.scm megatest-fossil-hash.scm
 #	@[ -e mofiles ] || mkdir -p mofiles
 #	csc $(CSCOPTS) -I mofiles -I $* -J -c $< -o $*.o
 #	cp $*.o mofiles/$*.o
 #	@touch $*.import.scm # ensure it is touched after the .o is made
 
-mofiles/%.o : %.scm
+mofiles/%.o %.import.o : %.scm megatest-fossil-hash.scm
 	mkdir -p mofiles
-	csc $(CSCOPTS) -J -c $< -o mofiles/$*.o
+	csc $(CSCOPTS) -J -c $< -o mofiles/$*.o # $(shell ls *.o mofiles/*.o)
+	csc $(CSCOPTS) -unit $*.import -c $*.import.scm -o $*.import.o # $(shell ls *.o mofiles/*.o)
+	@touch $*.import.scm # ensure it is younger than the .o
 
 ADTLSCR=mt_laststep mt_runstep mt_ezstep
 HELPERS=$(addprefix $(PREFIX)/bin/,$(ADTLSCR))
 DEPLOYHELPERS=$(addprefix deploytarg/,$(ADTLSCR))
 MTESTHASH=$(shell fossil info|grep checkout:| awk '{print $$2}')
@@ -210,11 +215,11 @@
 	if ! diff -q megatest-fossil-hash.new megatest-fossil-hash.scm ; then echo copying .new to .scm;cp -f megatest-fossil-hash.new megatest-fossil-hash.scm;fi
 
 $(OFILES) $(GOFILES) : common_records.scm 
 
 %.o : %.scm $(MOFILES)
-	csc $(CSCOPTS) -c $< $(MOFILES)
+	csc $(CSCOPTS) -c $< $(MOFILES) $(MOIMPFILES)
 
 $(PREFIX)/bin/.$(ARCHSTR)/mtest : mtest utils/mk_wrapper
 	@echo Installing to PREFIX=$(PREFIX)
 	$(INSTALL) mtest $(PREFIX)/bin/.$(ARCHSTR)/mtest
 	utils/mk_wrapper $(PREFIX) mtest $(PREFIX)/bin/megatest

Index: api.scm
==================================================================
--- api.scm
+++ api.scm
@@ -146,10 +146,11 @@
 ;;    - keep it simple, only return the actual result of the call, i.e. no meta info here
 ;;
 ;;    - returns #( flag result )
 ;;
 (define (api:execute-requests dbstruct dat)
+  (db:open-no-sync-db) ;; sets *no-sync-db*
   (handle-exceptions
    exn
    (let ((call-chain (get-call-chain)))
      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: api:execute-requests received an exception from peer, dat=" dat ", exn=" exn)
      (print-call-chain (current-error-port))
@@ -254,14 +255,14 @@
                    ((tasks-add)                 (apply tasks:add dbstruct params))   
                    ((tasks-set-state-given-param-key) (apply tasks:set-state-given-param-key dbstruct params))
                    ((tasks-get-last)            (apply tasks:get-last dbstruct params))
 
 		   ;; NO SYNC DB
-		   ((no-sync-set)               (apply db:no-sync-set         *no-sync-db* params))
-		   ((no-sync-get/default)       (apply db:no-sync-get/default *no-sync-db* params))
-		   ((no-sync-del!)              (apply db:no-sync-del!        *no-sync-db* params))
-		   ((no-sync-get-lock)          (apply db:no-sync-get-lock    *no-sync-db* params))
+		   ((no-sync-set)               (apply db:no-sync-set         (db:no-sync-db *no-sync-db*) params))
+		   ((no-sync-get/default)       (apply db:no-sync-get/default (db:no-sync-db *no-sync-db*) params))
+		   ((no-sync-del!)              (apply db:no-sync-del!        (db:no-sync-db *no-sync-db*) params))
+		   ((no-sync-get-lock)          (apply db:no-sync-get-lock    (db:no-sync-db *no-sync-db*) params))
 		   
                    ;; ARCHIVES
                    ;; ((archive-get-allocations)   
                    ((archive-register-disk)     (apply db:archive-register-disk dbstruct params))
                    ((archive-register-block-name)(apply db:archive-register-block-name dbstruct params))

Index: common.scm
==================================================================
--- common.scm
+++ common.scm
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@
      (prefix sqlite3 sqlite3:)
      pkts (prefix dbi dbi:)
      )
 
 (declare (unit common))
-;; (declare (uses commonmod))
-;; (import commonmod)
+(declare (uses commonmod))
+(import commonmod)
 
 (include "common_records.scm")
 
 
 ;; (require-library margs)
@@ -402,11 +402,12 @@
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; Move me elsewhere ...
 ;; RADT => Why do we meed the version check here, this is called only if version misma
 ;;
 (define (common:cleanup-db dbstruct #!key (full #f))
-  (apply db:multi-db-sync 
+  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: common:cleanup-db has NOT been reimplemented yet! Please fix!")
+  #;(apply db:multi-db-sync 
    dbstruct
    'schema
    ;; 'new2old
    'killservers
    'adj-target
@@ -724,55 +725,10 @@
       (print-call-chain (current-error-port))
       #f)
     (read (open-input-string (base64:base64-decode instr))))
    (read (open-input-string (z3:decode-buffer (base64:base64-decode instr))))))
 
-;; 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))
-  (let ((fmod-time (handle-exceptions
-		       ext
-		     (current-seconds)
-		     (file-modification-time fname))))
-    (if (common:file-exists? fname)
-	(if (> (- (current-seconds) fmod-time) expire-time)
-	    (begin
-	      (handle-exceptions exn #f (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 (common:file-exists? fname)
-	      (handle-exceptions exn
-                #f 
-                (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)
-  (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
 ;;======================================================================
 
 ;; BBnote: *common:std-states* - dashboard filter control and test control state buttons defined here; used in set-fields-panel and dboard:make-controls

Index: commonmod.scm
==================================================================
--- commonmod.scm
+++ commonmod.scm
@@ -156,7 +156,97 @@
 ;; (define (debug:print-info . params) #f)
 ;; 
 ;; (define (set-functions dbgp dbgpinfo)
 ;;   (set! debug:print dbgp)
 ;;   (set! debug:print-info dbgpinfo))
+
+;; 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))
+  (let ((fmod-time (handle-exceptions
+		       ext
+		     (current-seconds)
+		     (file-modification-time fname))))
+    (if (file-exists? fname)
+	(if (> (- (current-seconds) fmod-time) expire-time)
+	    (begin
+	      (handle-exceptions exn #f (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)
+	      (handle-exceptions exn
+                #f 
+                (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)
+  (handle-exceptions
+      exn
+      #f ;; I don't really care why this failed (at least for now)
+    (delete-file* fname)))
+
+;; 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))
+  (let ((fmod-time (handle-exceptions
+		       ext
+		     (current-seconds)
+		     (file-modification-time fname))))
+    (if (file-exists? fname)
+	(if (> (- (current-seconds) fmod-time) expire-time)
+	    (begin
+	      (handle-exceptions exn #f (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)
+	      (handle-exceptions exn
+                #f 
+                (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)
+  (handle-exceptions
+      exn
+      #f ;; I don't really care why this failed (at least for now)
+    (delete-file* fname)))
 
 )

Index: db.scm
==================================================================
--- db.scm
+++ db.scm
@@ -161,22 +161,19 @@
 ;;    if db not open, open inmem, rundb and sync then return inmem
 ;;    inuse gets set automatically for rundb's
 ;;
 ;; (define db:get-db db:get-subdb)
 
-;; (define (db:get-db subdb #;dbstruct run-id) ;; RENAME TO db:get-dbh
-;;   ;; (let* ((subdb (dbfile:get-subdb dbstruct run-id)))
-;;     (if (stack? (dbr:subdb-dbstack subdb))
-;; 	(if (stack-empty? (dbr:subdb-dbstack subdb))
-;; 	    (let* ((dbname (db:run-id->dbname run-id))
-;; 		   (newdb  (db:open-megatest-db path: (db:dbfile-path)
-;; 						name: dbname)))
-;; 	      ;; NOTE: pushing on the stack only happens AFTER the handle has been used
-;; 	      ;; (stack-push! (dbr:dbstruct-dbstack dbstruct) newdb)
-;; 	      newdb)
-;;           (stack-pop! (dbr:subdb-dbstack subdb)))
-;; 	(db:open-db subdb run-id))) ;; )
+(define (db:get-db dbstruct run-id) 
+   (let* ((subdb (dbfile:get-subdb dbstruct run-id))
+        (dbdat (dbfile:get-dbdat dbstruct run-id)))
+        (if (dbr:dbdat? dbdat)
+          dbdat
+          (dbfile:open-db *dbstruct-dbs* #f db:initialize-main-db)
+        )
+   )
+)
 
 (define-inline (db:generic-error-printout exn . message)
   (print-call-chain (current-error-port))
   (apply debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* message)
   (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "   params: " params
@@ -212,28 +209,28 @@
 	     (common:low-noise-print 120 "over-50-parallel-api-requests"))
 	(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* *api-process-request-count* " parallel api requests being processed in process " (current-process-id) ", throttling access"))
     (if (common:low-noise-print 600 (conc "parallel-api-requests" *max-api-process-requests*))
 	(debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Parallel api request count: " *api-process-request-count* " max parallel requests: " *max-api-process-requests*))
     (condition-case
-     (begin
-       (if use-mutex (mutex-lock! *db-with-db-mutex*))
-       (let ((res (apply proc dbdat db params)))
-	 (if use-mutex (mutex-unlock! *db-with-db-mutex*))
-	 ;; (if (vector? dbstruct)(db:done-with dbstruct run-id r/w))
-	 (if dbdat (stack-push! (dbr:subdb-dbstack subdb) dbdat))
-	 res))
-     (exn (io-error)
-	  (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: i/o error with " fname ". Check permissions, disk space etc. and try again."))
-     (exn (corrupt)
-	  (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: database " fname " is corrupt. Repair it to proceed."))
-     (exn (busy)
-	  (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: database " fname
-				     " is locked. Try copying to another location, remove original and copy back."))
-     (exn (permission)(db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: database " fname " has some permissions problem."))
-     (exn ()
-	  (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: Unknown error with database " fname " message: "
-		       ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))))))
+	(begin
+	  (if use-mutex (mutex-lock! *db-with-db-mutex*))
+	  (let ((res (apply proc dbdat db params)))
+	    (if use-mutex (mutex-unlock! *db-with-db-mutex*))
+	    ;; (if (vector? dbstruct)(db:done-with dbstruct run-id r/w))
+	    (if dbdat (stack-push! (dbr:subdb-dbstack subdb) dbdat))
+	    res))
+      (exn (io-error)
+	   (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: i/o error with " fname ". Check permissions, disk space etc. and try again."))
+      (exn (corrupt)
+	   (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: database " fname " is corrupt. Repair it to proceed."))
+      (exn (busy)
+	   (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: database " fname
+				      " is locked. Try copying to another location, remove original and copy back."))
+      (exn (permission)(db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: database " fname " has some permissions problem."))
+      (exn ()
+	   (db:generic-error-printout exn "ERROR: Unknown error with database " fname " message: "
+				      ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))))))
       
 
 ;; NB// #f => return dbdir only
 ;;      (was planned to be;  zeroth db with name=main.db)
 ;; 
@@ -2105,10 +2102,27 @@
 		(sqlite3:execute db "DELETE FROM metadat WHERE var=?;" var))))
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; no-sync.db - small bits of data to be shared between servers
 ;;======================================================================
+
+(define (db:no-sync-db db-in)
+  (if db-in
+      db-in
+      (if *no-sync-db*
+	  *no-sync-db*
+	  (begin
+	    (mutex-lock! *db-access-mutex*)
+	    (let ((dbpath (common:get-db-tmp-area))
+		  (db     (dbfile:open-no-sync-db dbpath)))
+	      (set! *no-sync-db* db)
+	      (mutex-unlock! *db-access-mutex*)
+	      db)))))
+
+(define (with-no-sync-db proc)
+  (let* ((db  (db:no-sync-db *no-sync-db*)))
+    (proc db)))
 
 (define (db:open-no-sync-db)
   (dbfile:open-no-sync-db (db:dbfile-path)))
 
 (define (db:no-sync-close-db db stmt-cache)
@@ -5009,12 +5023,20 @@
     ;; (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "lock-and-sync, dbfiles: "dbfiles)
     (for-each
      (lambda (file)
        (let* ((fname (conc (pathname-file file) ".db"))
 	      (fulln (conc *toppath*"/.db/"fname))
-	      (time1 (file-modification-time file))
-	      (time2 (file-modification-time fulln))
+	      (time1 (if (file-exists? file)
+			 (file-modification-time file)
+			 (begin
+			   (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Sync - I do not see file "file)
+			   1)))
+	      (time2 (if (file-exists? fulln)
+			 (file-modification-time fulln)
+			 (begin
+			   (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Sync - I do not see file "fulln)
+			   0)))
 	      (changed (> time1 time2))
 	      (do-cp (cond
 		      ((not (file-exists? fulln)) ;; shouldn't happen, but this might recover
 		       (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "File "fulln" not found! Copying "fname" to "fulln)
 		       #t)
@@ -5061,11 +5083,13 @@
  	(begin
  	  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Server running, periodic copy-based sync started.")
 	  (let loop ()
 
 	    ;; run the sync and print out durations
-	    (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Sync durations: "(db:run-lock-and-sync no-sync-db))
+	    (let* ((changed (db:run-lock-and-sync no-sync-db)))
+	      (if (not (null? changed))
+		  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Sync durations: "changed)))
 	    ;; keep going unless time to exit
 	    ;;
 	    (if (not *time-to-exit*)
 		(let delay-loop ((count 0))
 		  ;;(debug:print-info 13 *default-log-port* "delay-loop top; count="count" pid="(current-process-id)" this-wd-num="this-wd-num" *time-to-exit*="*time-to-exit*)

Index: dbfile.scm
==================================================================
--- dbfile.scm
+++ dbfile.scm
@@ -17,11 +17,14 @@
 ;;     along with Megatest.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (declare (unit dbfile))
-;; (declare (uses debugprint))
+(declare (uses debugprint))
+;; (declare (uses debugprint.import))
+(declare (uses commonmod))
+;; (declare (uses commonmod.import))
 
 (module dbfile
 	*
 	
 (import scheme chicken data-structures extras)
@@ -29,10 +32,12 @@
 	posix typed-records srfi-18
 	srfi-69
 	stack
 	files
 	ports
+
+	commonmod
 	)
 
 ;; (import debugprint)
 
 ;;======================================================================
@@ -267,23 +272,12 @@
 ;; Open the classic megatest.db file (defaults to open in toppath)
 ;;
 ;;   NOTE: returns a dbdat not a dbstruct!
 ;;
 (define (dbfile:open-sqlite3-db dbpath init-proc)
-  (let* ((dbexists     (file-exists? dbpath))
-	 (db           ;; need locking here so multiple open
-	               ;; do not collide
-	  (let* ((db (sqlite3:open-database dbpath)))
-	    (sqlite3:set-busy-handler! db (sqlite3:make-busy-timeout 10000))
-	    (init-proc db))
-	  #;(dbfile:lock-create-open dbpath
-	  (lambda (db)
-	  (init-proc db))))
-	 (write-access (file-write-access? dbpath)))
-    #;(if (and dbexists (not write-access))
-	(set! *db-write-access* #f))
-    ;; (cons db dbpath)))
+  (let* ((write-access (file-write-access? dbpath))
+	 (db           (dbfile:cautious-open-database dbpath init-proc)))
     (make-dbr:dbdat dbfile: dbpath dbh: db read-only: (not write-access))))
 
 (define (dbfile:print-and-exit . params)
   (with-output-to-port
       (current-error-port)
@@ -440,51 +434,66 @@
 		
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; no-sync.db - small bits of data to be shared between servers
 ;;======================================================================
 
-;; if we are not a server create a db handle. this is not finalized
-;; so watch for problems. I'm still not clear if it is needed to manually
-;; finalize sqlite3 dbs with the sqlite3 egg.
-;;
-(define (db:no-sync-db db-in)
-  (if db-in
-      db-in
-      (if *no-sync-db*
-	  *no-sync-db*
-	  (begin
-	    (mutex-lock! *db-access-mutex*)
-	    (let ((db (dbfile:open-no-sync-db)))
-	      (set! *no-sync-db* db)
-	      (mutex-unlock! *db-access-mutex*)
-	      db)))))
+
+(define (dbfile:cautious-open-database fname init-proc #!optional (tries-left 10))
+  (let* ((retry (lambda ()
+		  (thread-sleep! 0.5)
+		  (if (> tries-left 0)
+		      (dbfile:cautious-open-database fname init-proc (- tries-left 1))))))
+    (condition-case
+	(let* ((db-exists (file-exists? fname))
+               (db        (sqlite3:open-database fname)))
+	    (if (and init-proc (not db-exists))
+	        (init-proc db))
+            (sqlite3:set-busy-handler! db (sqlite3:make-busy-timeout 136000))
+		 db)
+      (exn (io-error)
+	   (dbfile:print-err exn "ERROR: i/o error with " fname ". Check permissions, disk space etc. and try again.")
+	   (retry))
+      (exn (corrupt)
+	   (dbfile:print-err exn "ERROR: database " fname " is corrupt. Repair it to proceed.")
+	   (retry))
+      (exn (busy)
+	   (dbfile:print-err exn "ERROR: database " fname
+			     " is locked. Try copying to another location, remove original and copy back.")
+	   (retry))
+      (exn (permission)(dbfile:print-err exn "ERROR: database " fname " has some permissions problem.")
+	   (retry))
+      (exn ()
+	   (dbfile:print-err exn "ERROR: Unknown error with database " fname " message: "
+			     ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
+	   (retry)))))
 
 (define (dbfile:open-no-sync-db dbpath)
-  (let* (;; (dbpath (db:dbfile-path))
-	 (dbname (conc dbpath "/no-sync.db"))
+  (if (not (file-exists? dbpath))
+      (create-directory dbpath #t))
+  (let* ((dbname    (conc dbpath "/no-sync.db"))
 	 (db-exists (file-exists? dbname))
-	 (db     (sqlite3:open-database dbname)))
+	 (db        (dbfile:cautious-open-database dbname)))
     (sqlite3:set-busy-handler! db (sqlite3:make-busy-timeout 136000))
     (if (not db-exists)
 	(begin
 	  (sqlite3:execute db "PRAGMA synchronous = 0;")
-	  (sqlite3:execute db "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS no_sync_metadat (var TEXT,val TEXT, CONSTRAINT no_sync_metadat_constraint UNIQUE (var));")
-	  (sqlite3:execute db "PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL;")))
+	  (sqlite3:execute db "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS no_sync_metadat (var TEXT,val TEXT, CONSTRAINT no_sync_metadat_constraint UNIQUE (var));")))
+	  ;; (sqlite3:execute db "PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL;")))
     db))
 
 (define (db:no-sync-set db var val)
-  (sqlite3:execute (db:no-sync-db db) "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO no_sync_metadat (var,val) VALUES (?,?);" var val))
+  (sqlite3:execute db "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO no_sync_metadat (var,val) VALUES (?,?);" var val))
 
 (define (db:no-sync-del! db var)
-  (sqlite3:execute (db:no-sync-db db) "DELETE FROM no_sync_metadat WHERE var=?;" var))
+  (sqlite3:execute db "DELETE FROM no_sync_metadat WHERE var=?;" var))
 
 (define (db:no-sync-get/default db var default)
   (let ((res default))
     (sqlite3:for-each-row
      (lambda (val)
        (set! res val))
-     (db:no-sync-db db)
+     db
      "SELECT val FROM no_sync_metadat WHERE var=?;"
      var)
     (if res
         (let ((newres (if (string? res)
 			  (string->number res)
@@ -498,22 +507,21 @@
 ;; either:
 ;;    fails    returns  (#f . lock-creation-time)
 ;;    succeeds (returns (#t . lock-creation-time)
 ;; use (db:no-sync-del! db keyname) to release the lock
 ;;
-(define (db:no-sync-get-lock db-in keyname)
-  (let ((db (db:no-sync-db db-in)))
-    (sqlite3:with-transaction
-     db
-     (lambda ()
-       (handle-exceptions
-	   exn
+(define (db:no-sync-get-lock db keyname)
+  (sqlite3:with-transaction
+   db
+   (lambda ()
+     (handle-exceptions
+	 exn
 	 (let ((lock-time (current-seconds)))
 	   ;; (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "db:no-sync-get-lock keyname=" keyname ", lock-time=" lock-time ", exn=" exn)
 	   (sqlite3:execute db "INSERT INTO no_sync_metadat (var,val) VALUES(?,?);" keyname lock-time)
 	   `(#t . ,lock-time))
-	 `(#f . ,(sqlite3:first-result db "SELECT val FROM no_sync_metadat WHERE var=?;" keyname)))))))
+       `(#f . ,(sqlite3:first-result db "SELECT val FROM no_sync_metadat WHERE var=?;" keyname))))))
 
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; file utils
 ;;======================================================================
@@ -546,52 +554,7 @@
   (apply max
 	 (map
 	  dbfile:lazy-modification-time 
 	  file-list))))
 
-;; 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))
-  (let ((fmod-time (handle-exceptions
-		       ext
-		     (current-seconds)
-		     (file-modification-time fname))))
-    (if (file-exists? fname)
-	(if (> (- (current-seconds) fmod-time) expire-time)
-	    (begin
-	      (handle-exceptions exn #f (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)
-	      (handle-exceptions exn
-                #f 
-                (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)
-  (handle-exceptions
-      exn
-      #f ;; I don't really care why this failed (at least for now)
-    (delete-file* fname)))
-
 
 )

Index: http-transport.scm
==================================================================
--- http-transport.scm
+++ http-transport.scm
@@ -403,10 +403,11 @@
   ;; if none running or if > 20 seconds since 
   ;; server last used then start shutdown
   ;; This thread waits for the server to come alive
   (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Starting the sync-back, keep alive thread in server")
   (let* ((sdat              #f)
+	 (no-sync-db        (db:open-no-sync-db))
 	 (tmp-area          (common:get-db-tmp-area))
 	 (started-file      (conc tmp-area "/.server-started"))
 	 (server-start-time (current-seconds))
 	 (server-info (let loop ((start-time (current-seconds))
 				 (changed    #t)
@@ -506,13 +507,14 @@
       (mutex-unlock! *heartbeat-mutex*)
       
       (if (common:low-noise-print 120 (conc "server running on " iface ":" port))
 	  (begin
              (if (not *server-id*)
-              (set! *server-id* (server:mk-signature)))
-	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "SERVER STARTED: " iface ":" port " AT " (current-seconds) " server-id: " *server-id*)
-	    (flush-output *default-log-port*)))
+		 (set! *server-id* (server:mk-signature)))
+             (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* (current-seconds) (current-directory) (current-process-id) (argv))   
+	     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "SERVER STARTED: " iface ":" port " AT " (current-seconds) " server-id: " *server-id*)
+	     (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)))

Index: megatest.scm
==================================================================
--- megatest.scm
+++ megatest.scm
@@ -42,21 +42,28 @@
 (declare (uses tasks)) ;; only used for debugging.
 (declare (uses env))
 (declare (uses diff-report))
 (declare (uses dbmod))
 (declare (uses dbmod.import))
+(declare (uses commonmod))
+(declare (uses commonmod.import))
+(declare (uses mtargs))
+(declare (uses mtargs.import))
+(declare (uses debugprint))
+(declare (uses debugprint.import))
 (declare (uses dbfile))
 (declare (uses dbfile.import))
-;; (declare (uses debugprint))
-;; (declare (uses debugprint.import))
 ;; (declare (uses mtargs))
 ;; (declare (uses mtargs.import))
 
 ;; (declare (uses ftail))
 ;; (import ftail)
 
-(import dbmod
+(import (prefix mtargs mod:)
+	commonmod
+	(prefix debugprint mod:)
+	dbmod
 	dbfile)
 
 (define *db* #f) ;; this is only for the repl, do not use in general!!!!
 
 (include "common_records.scm")

Index: server.scm
==================================================================
--- server.scm
+++ server.scm
@@ -22,19 +22,21 @@
      directory-utils posix-extras matchable utils)
 
 (use spiffy uri-common intarweb http-client spiffy-request-vars)
 
 (declare (unit server))
-
 (declare (uses common))
 (declare (uses db))
 (declare (uses tasks)) ;; tasks are where stuff is maintained about what is running.
 ;; (declare (uses synchash))
 (declare (uses http-transport))
 ;;(declare (uses rpc-transport))
 (declare (uses launch))
 ;; (declare (uses daemon))
+
+(declare (uses commonmod))
+(import commonmod)
 
 (include "common_records.scm")
 (include "db_records.scm")
 
 (define (server:make-server-url hostport)

Index: tasks.scm
==================================================================
--- tasks.scm
+++ tasks.scm
@@ -514,24 +514,23 @@
       (sqlite3:first-row db "SELECT id,action,owner,state,target,name,testpatt,keylock,params WHERE
                                params LIKE ? AND state LIKE ? AND action LIKE ? AND testpatt LIKE ?;"
 			 param-key state-patt action-patt test-patt)))))
 
 (define (tasks:find-task-queue-records dbstruct target run-name test-patt state-patt action-patt)
-  ;; (handle-exceptions
-  ;;  exn
-  ;;  '()
-  ;;  (sqlite3:first-row
-  (let ((db (db:delay-if-busy (db:get-db dbstruct)))
-	(res '()))
-    (sqlite3:for-each-row 
-     (lambda (a . b)
-       (set! res (cons (cons a b) res)))
-     db "SELECT id,action,owner,state,target,name,testpatt,keylock,params FROM tasks_queue 
+  (db:with-db
+   dbstruct
+   #f #f
+   (lambda (dbdat db)
+     (let ((res '()))
+       (sqlite3:for-each-row 
+	(lambda (a . b)
+	  (set! res (cons (cons a b) res)))
+	db "SELECT id,action,owner,state,target,name,testpatt,keylock,params FROM tasks_queue 
            WHERE
               target = ? AND name = ? AND state LIKE ? AND action LIKE ? AND testpatt LIKE ?;"
-     target run-name state-patt action-patt test-patt)
-    res)) ;; )
+	target run-name state-patt action-patt test-patt)
+       res))))
 
 ;; kill any runner processes (i.e. processes handling -runtests) that match target/runname
 ;; 
 ;; do a remote call to get the task queue info but do the killing as self here.
 ;;

Index: tests/simplerun/Makefile
==================================================================
--- tests/simplerun/Makefile
+++ tests/simplerun/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
 cleanup :
 	killall mtest dboard -v -9 || true
-	rm -rf *.log *.bak NB* logs/* .meta .db ../simpleruns/* lt
+	rm -rf *.log *.bak NB* logs/* .meta .db /tmp/$(USER)/megatest_localdb/simplerun ../simpleruns/* lt
 

Index: tests/simplerun/thebeginning.scm
==================================================================
--- tests/simplerun/thebeginning.scm
+++ tests/simplerun/thebeginning.scm
@@ -52,5 +52,8 @@
 ;; *************** db.scm tests ****************
 
 
 (define thisdbdat (db:open-db dbstruct #f))
 (test #f #t (dbr:dbdat? thisdbdat))
+
+(test #f #t (dbr:subdb? (db:get-db dbstruct #f)))
+(test #f #t (dbr:subdb? (db:get-db dbstruct 1)))