diff --git a/add.go b/add.go
index e1c0298..1543341 100644
--- a/add.go
+++ b/add.go
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ func (all *Droplets) oldFindDroplet(name string) *Droplet {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) FindDropletByName(name string) *Droplet {
-	for _, d := range c.Droplets {
+func (c *NewCluster) FindDropletByName(name string) *Droplet {
+	loop := c.DropletsAll() // get the list of droplets
+	for loop.Scan() {
+		d := loop.Droplet()
 		if d.Hostname == name {
 			return d
 		}
@@ -45,8 +47,8 @@ func (c *Cluster) FindDropletByName(name string) *Droplet {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) FindHypervisorByName(name string) *Hypervisor {
-	for _, h := range c.Hypervisors {
+func (c *NewCluster) FindHypervisorByName(name string) *Hypervisor {
+	for _, h := range c.h.Hypervisors {
 		if h.Hostname == name {
 			return h
 		}
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) FindHypervisorByName(name string) *Hypervisor {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) AddHypervisor(hostname string, cpus int, mem int) *Hypervisor {
+func (c *NewCluster) AddHypervisor(hostname string, cpus int, mem int) *Hypervisor {
 	h := c.FindHypervisorByName(hostname)
 	if h != nil {
 		return h
@@ -71,11 +73,11 @@ func (c *Cluster) AddHypervisor(hostname string, cpus int, mem int) *Hypervisor
 		h.Cpus = 1
 	}
 	h.SetMemoryGB(mem * 32)
-	c.Hypervisors = append(c.Hypervisors, h)
+	c.h.Hypervisors = append(c.h.Hypervisors, h)
 	return h
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) AddDroplet(uuid string, hostname string, cpus int, mem int) *Droplet {
+func (c *NewCluster) AddDroplet(uuid string, hostname string, cpus int, mem int) *Droplet {
 	d := c.FindDropletByName(hostname)
 	if d != nil {
 		return d
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) AddDroplet(uuid string, hostname string, cpus int, mem int) *D
 		d.Cpus = 1
 	}
 	d.Memory = SetGB(mem * 32)
-	c.Droplets = append(c.Droplets, d)
+	c.d.Droplets = append(c.d.Droplets, d)
 	return d
 }
 
@@ -121,8 +123,10 @@ func HumanFormatBytes(b int64) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%d TB", tb)
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) BlankFields() {
-	for _, d := range c.Droplets {
+func (c *NewCluster) BlankFields() {
+	loop := c.DropletsAll() // get the list of droplets
+	for loop.Scan() {
+		d := loop.Droplet()
 		d.Current = nil
 	}
 }
@@ -131,7 +135,7 @@ func (epb *Events) AppendEvent(e *Event) {
 	epb.Events = append(epb.Events, e)
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) ClusterStable() (bool, string) {
+func (c *NewCluster) ClusterStable() (bool, string) {
 	last := time.Since(c.Unstable.AsTime())
 	if last > c.UnstableTimeout.AsDuration() {
 		// the cluster has not been stable for 133 seconds
@@ -143,7 +147,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) ClusterStable() (bool, string) {
 }
 
 // check the cluster and droplet to make sure it's ready to start
-func (c *Cluster) DropletReady(d *Droplet) (bool, string) {
+func (c *NewCluster) DropletReady(d *Droplet) (bool, string) {
 	if c == nil {
 		return false, "cluster == nil"
 	}
diff --git a/change.go b/change.go
index 25cd57b..dc77b0c 100644
--- a/change.go
+++ b/change.go
@@ -94,8 +94,6 @@ func NewAddEvent(a any, fname string, newval any) *Event {
 		var d *Droplet
 		d = a.(*Droplet)
 		e.Droplet = d.Hostname
-	case *Cluster:
-		e.Droplet = "Cluster"
 	case nil:
 		e.Droplet = "<nil>"
 	default:
@@ -131,7 +129,7 @@ func (d *Droplet) SetCpus(b int64) {
 }
 
 // records an event that the droplet changed state (aka turned on, turned off, etc)
-func (c *Cluster) ChangeDropletState(d *Droplet, newState DropletState) error {
+func (c *NewCluster) ChangeDropletState(d *Droplet, newState DropletState) error {
 	if c == nil {
 		return errors.New("cluster is nil")
 	}
@@ -153,12 +151,12 @@ func (c *Cluster) ChangeDropletState(d *Droplet, newState DropletState) error {
 	now := time.Now()
 	e.Start = timestamppb.New(now)
 
-	c.E.Events = append(c.E.Events, e)
+	c.e.Events = append(c.e.Events, e)
 	return nil
 }
 
 // records an event that the droplet migrated to another hypervisor
-func (c *Cluster) DropletMoved(d *Droplet, newh *Hypervisor) error {
+func (c *NewCluster) DropletMoved(d *Droplet, newh *Hypervisor) error {
 	if c == nil {
 		return errors.New("cluster is nil")
 	}
@@ -185,7 +183,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) DropletMoved(d *Droplet, newh *Hypervisor) error {
 	now := time.Now()
 	e.Start = timestamppb.New(now)
 
-	c.E.Events = append(c.E.Events, e)
+	c.e.Events = append(c.e.Events, e)
 
 	// update the droplet record
 	d.Current.Hypervisor = newh.Hostname
diff --git a/cluster.proto b/cluster.proto
index 8658597..9569465 100644
--- a/cluster.proto
+++ b/cluster.proto
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import "event.proto";
 import "google/protobuf/timestamp.proto"; // Import the well-known type for Timestamp
 import "google/protobuf/duration.proto"; // Import the well-known type for Timestamp
 
-message Cluster {
+message OldCluster {
         int64 id = 1;
         repeated string dirs = 2;
 
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ message Cluster {
 	repeated Hypervisor hypervisors = 4;
 	// repeated Event events = 5;
 
-        Droplets d = 6;
+        // Droplets d = 6;
         Hypervisors h = 7;
         Events e = 8;
         google.protobuf.Timestamp       unstable       = 9;    // the last time we heard anything from this droplet
diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index 7973da9..8fc9d27 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 // writes out the cluster information it seperate files
 // to make it humanly possible to hand edit things as needed
-func (c *Cluster) ConfigSave() error {
+func (c *NewCluster) ConfigSave() error {
 	// try to backup the current cluster config files
 	if err := backupConfig(); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -25,9 +25,8 @@ func (c *Cluster) ConfigSave() error {
 	// make a new droplets struct
 	var d *Droplets
 	d = new(Droplets)
-	d.Droplets = c.Droplets
 	// copy all the records over to the new struct
-	for _, drop := range c.Droplets {
+	for _, drop := range c.d.Droplets {
 		d.Droplets = append(d.Droplets, drop)
 	}
 	// delete all the Current data so it's not put in the config file
@@ -43,83 +42,42 @@ func (c *Cluster) ConfigSave() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	var h *Hypervisors
-	h = new(Hypervisors)
-	h.Hypervisors = c.Hypervisors
-	if err := ConfigWriteJSON(h, "hypervisors.json"); err != nil {
+	if err := ConfigWriteJSON(c.h, "hypervisors.json"); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("hypervisors.json write failed")
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := ConfigWriteTEXT(h, "hypervisors.text"); err != nil {
+	if err := ConfigWriteTEXT(c.h, "hypervisors.text"); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("hypervisors.json write failed")
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ConfigWriteJSON(c.E, "events.json"); err != nil {
+	if err := ConfigWriteJSON(c.e, "events.json"); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("events.json write failed")
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := ConfigWriteTEXT(c.E, "events.text"); err != nil {
+	if err := ConfigWriteTEXT(c.e, "events.text"); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("events.json write failed")
 		return err
 	}
-
-	if err := ConfigWriteTEXT(c, "cluster.full.text"); err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("Cluster.json write failed")
-		return err
-	}
-
-	var newc Cluster
-	newc.Dirs = c.Dirs
-	newc.Droplets = nil
-	newc.Hypervisors = nil
-	newc.E = nil
-	if err := ConfigWriteTEXT(&newc, "cluster.text"); err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("cluster.json write failed")
-		return err
-	}
-
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Cluster) ConfigLoad() error {
+func (c *NewCluster) ConfigLoad() error {
 	if c == nil {
 		return errors.New("It's not safe to run ConfigLoad() on a nil cluster")
 	}
 
-	// load the cluster config file
-	if data, err := loadFile("cluster.text"); err == nil {
-		if err = prototext.Unmarshal(data, c); err != nil {
-			fmt.Println("broken cluster.text config file")
-			fmt.Println(err)
-			return errors.New("cluster.text file is broken")
-		}
-	} else {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	var d *Droplets
-	d = new(Droplets)
-	// load the droplet config file
 	if data, err := loadFile("droplets.json"); err == nil {
-		if err = protojson.Unmarshal(data, d); err != nil {
+		if err = protojson.Unmarshal(data, c.d); err != nil {
 			fmt.Println("broken droplets.json config file")
 			return err
 		}
 	} else {
 		return err
 	}
-	// copy them over. is this needed? does the memory free otherwise?
-	// also set initial values
-	for _, drop := range d.Droplets {
-		c.Droplets = append(c.Droplets, drop)
-	}
 
-	var h *Hypervisors
-	h = new(Hypervisors)
-	// load the hypervisors config file
 	if data, err := loadFile("hypervisors.json"); err == nil {
-		if err = protojson.Unmarshal(data, h); err != nil {
+		if err = protojson.Unmarshal(data, c.h); err != nil {
 			fmt.Println("broken hypervisors.json config file")
 			return err
 		}
@@ -127,26 +85,15 @@ func (c *Cluster) ConfigLoad() error {
 		fmt.Println("ERROR HERE IN Hypervisors")
 		return err
 	}
-	// copy them over. is this needed? does the memory free otherwise?
-	for _, a := range h.Hypervisors {
-		c.Hypervisors = append(c.Hypervisors, a)
-	}
 
-	var e *Events
-	e = new(Events)
-
-	if c.E == nil {
+	if c.e == nil {
 		// this seems to panic on nil. something is wrong about doing this
 		// does it not stay allocated after this function ends?
-		c.E = new(Events)
+		c.e = new(Events)
 	}
-	if err := e.loadEvents(); err != nil {
+	if err := c.e.loadEvents(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	// copy them over. is this needed? does the memory free otherwise?
-	for _, e := range e.Events {
-		c.E.Events = append(c.E.Events, e)
-	}
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/droplet.proto b/droplet.proto
index adf1299..f52fa7f 100644
--- a/droplet.proto
+++ b/droplet.proto
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 syntax = "proto3";
 package virtbuf;
 
+import "google/protobuf/duration.proto"; // Import the well-known type for Timestamp
 import "google/protobuf/timestamp.proto"; // Import the well-known type for Timestamp
 
 message Droplets {
@@ -27,7 +28,10 @@ message Droplet {
 
 	string          local_only      = 14;      // this is only defined locally on the hypervisor
 	string          custom_xml      = 15;      // if needed,
-	DropletArchive  archive         = 16;      // what the state of the droplet is SUPPOSED TO BE ('on' or 'off')
+	Archive         archive         = 16;      // what the state of the droplet is SUPPOSED TO BE ('on' or 'off')
+
+        google.protobuf.Timestamp       unstable       = 39;    // the last time we heard anything from this droplet
+        google.protobuf.Duration        unstable_timeout       = 40;    // the last time we heard anything from this droplet
 }
 
 // volatile data. the current settings and values of things.
@@ -58,8 +62,8 @@ enum DropletState {
 }
 
 enum DropletArchive {
-	ARCHIVE_DUP     = 0;
-	ARCHIVE_USER    = 1;
+	DUP     = 0;
+	USER    = 1;
 }
 
 message Network {
diff --git a/example/configfile b/example/configfile
deleted file mode 100755
index 81377e3..0000000
Binary files a/example/configfile and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/example/main.go b/example/main.go
index d54803d..8327628 100644
--- a/example/main.go
+++ b/example/main.go
@@ -1,15 +1,11 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
-	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 
-	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
-
 	pb "go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/virtbuf"
 )
 
@@ -20,38 +16,43 @@ import (
 func main() {
 	TestWriteCluster()
 
-	in, err := ioutil.ReadFile("/tmp/testing4.protobuf")
+	_, err := ioutil.ReadFile("/tmp/testing4.protobuf")
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalln("Error reading file:", err)
 	}
 
-	var aCluster pb.Cluster
-	if err := proto.Unmarshal(in, &aCluster); err != nil {
-		log.Fatalln("Failed to parse droplet:", err)
-	}
+	var c *pb.NewCluster
+	c = new(pb.NewCluster)
 
-	log.Println(aCluster.String())
+	// log.Println(aCluster.String())
 	// show the droplets to STDOUT
-	for _, d := range aCluster.Droplets {
+	loop := c.DropletsAll() // get the list of droplets
+	for loop.Scan() {
+		d := loop.Droplet()
 		fmt.Println("\tdroplet =", d.Hostname, "preffered host:", d.PreferredHypervisor)
 	}
 
-	// show the hypervisors to STDOUT
-	for _, h := range aCluster.Hypervisors {
-		fmt.Println("\thypervisor =", h.Hostname, h.GetMemoryPrintable())
-	}
+	/*
+		// show the hypervisors to STDOUT
+		for _, h := range aCluster.Hypervisors {
+			fmt.Println("\thypervisor =", h.Hostname, h.GetMemoryPrintable())
+		}
+	*/
 
-	json := aCluster.FormatJSON()
-	fmt.Println(json)
+	/*
+		json := aCluster.FormatJSON()
+		fmt.Println(json)
 
-	data, _ := aCluster.MarshalJSON()
-	fmt.Println(string(data))
+		data, _ := aCluster.MarshalJSON()
+		fmt.Println(string(data))
 
-	text := aCluster.FormatTEXT()
-	fmt.Println(text)
+		text := aCluster.FormatTEXT()
+		fmt.Println(text)
+	*/
 }
 
-func marshalWriteToFile(myWriter *bufio.Writer, c *pb.Cluster) {
+/*
+func marshalWriteToFile(myWriter *bufio.Writer, c *pb.NewCluster) {
 	buf, err := proto.Marshal(c)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal("marshaling error: ", err)
@@ -65,22 +66,20 @@ func marshalWriteToFile(myWriter *bufio.Writer, c *pb.Cluster) {
 	myWriter.Flush()
 	log.Println("bufio.Write() tmp2, err = ", tmp2, err)
 }
+*/
 
 func TestWriteCluster() {
-	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-
 	c := pb.CreateSampleCluster(7)
+	os.Setenv("VIRTIGO_HOME", "/tmp/virtigo/")
 
-	got := buf.String()
-	log.Println(got)
-
-	newfile, _ := os.Create("/tmp/testing4.protobuf")
-	myWriter := bufio.NewWriter(newfile)
-	marshalWriteToFile(myWriter, c)
-
+	if err := c.ConfigSave(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("configsave error", err)
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
 	// marshalUnmarshal()
 }
 
+/*
 func marshalUnmarshal() {
 	test := pb.CreateSampleCluster(7)
 	data, err := proto.Marshal(test)
@@ -96,3 +95,4 @@ func marshalUnmarshal() {
 		log.Println("proto.Marshal() and proto.Unmarshal() worked")
 	}
 }
+*/
diff --git a/helpers.go b/helpers.go
index 6a8fe69..72d4008 100644
--- a/helpers.go
+++ b/helpers.go
@@ -10,10 +10,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 // human readable JSON
-func (c *Cluster) FormatJSON() string {
-	return protojson.Format(c)
-}
-
 func (d *Droplets) FormatJSON() string {
 	return protojson.Format(d)
 }
@@ -33,10 +29,6 @@ func (h *Hypervisors) FormatJSON() string {
 // apparently this isn't supposed to be used?
 // https://protobuf.dev/reference/go/faq/#unstable-text
 // this is a shame because this is much nicer output than JSON Format()
-func (c *Cluster) FormatTEXT() string {
-	return prototext.Format(c)
-}
-
 func (d *Droplets) FormatTEXT() string {
 	return prototext.Format(d)
 }
@@ -46,10 +38,6 @@ func (e *Events) FormatTEXT() string {
 }
 
 // marshal
-func (c *Cluster) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
-	return protojson.Marshal(c)
-}
-
 func (d *Droplets) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	return protojson.Marshal(d)
 }
@@ -63,10 +51,6 @@ func (e *Events) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 }
 
 // unmarshal
-func (c *Cluster) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
-	return protojson.Unmarshal(data, c)
-}
-
 func (d *Droplets) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	return protojson.Unmarshal(data, d)
 }
diff --git a/newCluster.go b/newCluster.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..245638d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newCluster.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package virtbuf
+
+import (
+	sync "sync"
+
+	durationpb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/durationpb"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
+)
+
+type NewCluster struct {
+	sync.RWMutex
+
+	Dirs            []string
+	d               *Droplets
+	h               *Hypervisors
+	e               *Events
+	Unstable        *timestamppb.Timestamp
+	UnstableTimeout *durationpb.Duration
+}
diff --git a/sampleData.go b/sampleData.go
index 0085822..dedd7c0 100644
--- a/sampleData.go
+++ b/sampleData.go
@@ -67,9 +67,12 @@ func CreateSampleEvents(total int) *Events {
 	return e
 }
 
-func CreateSampleCluster(total int) *Cluster {
-	var c *Cluster
-	c = new(Cluster)
+func CreateSampleCluster(total int) *NewCluster {
+	var c *NewCluster
+	c = new(NewCluster)
+	c.d = new(Droplets)
+	c.h = new(Hypervisors)
+	c.e = new(Events)
 
 	for i := 0; i < total; i++ {
 		hostname := fmt.Sprintf("bmath%d.wit.com", i)
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ func CreateSampleCluster(total int) *Cluster {
 			d.Memory = SetGB(256)
 		}
 
-		c.Droplets = append(c.Droplets, d)
+		c.d.Droplets = append(c.d.Droplets, d)
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
@@ -88,7 +91,7 @@ func CreateSampleCluster(total int) *Cluster {
 		h := CreateSampleHypervisor(hostname, i+1)
 		h.Comment = fmt.Sprintf("Sample hypervisor %d", i)
 
-		c.Hypervisors = append(c.Hypervisors, h)
+		c.h.Hypervisors = append(c.h.Hypervisors, h)
 	}
 
 	return c
diff --git a/scanIterator.go b/scanIterator.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bbaeef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scanIterator.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package virtbuf
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+type DropletIterator struct {
+	droplets []*Droplet
+	index    int
+}
+
+// NewDropletIterator initializes a new iterator.
+func NewDropletIterator(droplets []*Droplet) *DropletIterator {
+	return &DropletIterator{droplets: droplets}
+}
+
+// Scan moves to the next element and returns false if there are no more droplets.
+func (it *DropletIterator) Scan() bool {
+	if it.index >= len(it.droplets) {
+		return false
+	}
+	it.index++
+	return true
+}
+
+// Droplet returns the current droplet.
+func (it *DropletIterator) Droplet() *Droplet {
+	if it.droplets[it.index-1] == nil {
+		for i, d := range it.droplets {
+			fmt.Println("i =", i, d)
+		}
+		fmt.Println("len =", len(it.droplets))
+		fmt.Println("droplet == nil", it.index, it.index-1)
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
+	return it.droplets[it.index-1]
+}
+
+// Use Scan() in a loop, similar to a while loop
+//
+//	for iterator.Scan() {
+//		d := iterator.Droplet()
+//		fmt.Println("Droplet UUID:", d.Uuid)
+//	}
+func (c *NewCluster) GetDropletIterator() *DropletIterator {
+	dropletPointers := c.SelectDropletPointers()
+
+	iterator := NewDropletIterator(dropletPointers)
+
+	return iterator
+}
+
+func (c *NewCluster) DropletsAll() *DropletIterator {
+	dropletPointers := c.SelectDropletAll()
+
+	iterator := NewDropletIterator(dropletPointers)
+
+	return iterator
+}
+
+// SelectDropletPointers safely returns a slice of pointers to Droplet records.
+func (c *NewCluster) SelectDropletAll() []*Droplet {
+	c.RLock()
+	defer c.RUnlock()
+
+	// Create a new slice to hold pointers to each Droplet
+	// dropletPointers := make([]*Droplet, len(c.E.Droplets))
+	var dropletPointers []*Droplet
+	if c.d == nil {
+		log.Info("SelectDropletsAll() c.d == nil")
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
+	for _, d := range c.d.Droplets {
+		if d == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if d.Archive != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		dropletPointers = append(dropletPointers, d) // Copy pointers for safe iteration
+	}
+
+	return dropletPointers
+}
+
+// SelectDropletPointers safely returns a slice of pointers to Droplet records.
+func (c *NewCluster) SelectDropletPointers() []*Droplet {
+	c.RLock()
+	defer c.RUnlock()
+
+	// Create a new slice to hold pointers to each Droplet
+	// dropletPointers := make([]*Droplet, len(c.E.Droplets))
+	dropletPointers := make([]*Droplet, 1)
+	if c.d == nil {
+		log.Info("c.d == nil")
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
+	for _, d := range c.d.Droplets {
+		dropletPointers = append(dropletPointers, d) // Copy pointers for safe iteration
+	}
+
+	return dropletPointers
+}