diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b268238..8279f1d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ start-pihole.wit.com: build
 	./virtigo --libvirt /tmp/pihole.wit.com.xml
 
 start-pihole.wit.com-http:
-	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=pihole.wit.com
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?hostname=pihole.wit.com
 
 old-start-all-droplets:
 	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=git.wit.org
diff --git a/argv.go b/argv.go
index f3abcdb..71b9d1d 100644
--- a/argv.go
+++ b/argv.go
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ func init() {
 
 	INFO = log.NewFlag("INFO", false, full, short, "general virtigo")
 	POLL = log.NewFlag("POLL", false, full, short, "virtigo polling")
-	SPEW = log.NewFlag("SPEW", true, full, short, "bad things")
+	WARN = log.NewFlag("WARN", true, full, short, "bad things")
+	SPEW = log.NewFlag("SPEW", true, full, short, "dump everything")
 	EVENT = log.NewFlag("EVENT", true, full, short, "hypeprvisor/droplet events")
 }
diff --git a/event.go b/event.go
index 0b4549a..0a8ea63 100644
--- a/event.go
+++ b/event.go
@@ -142,6 +142,12 @@ func Start(name string) (bool, string) {
 	n := a + rand.Intn(b-a)
 	result += fmt.Sprintln("pool has", len(pool), "members", "rand =", n)
 	h := pool[n]
+
+	// send the search directories to the hypervisor
+	result += fmt.Sprintln("h.sendDirs() HERE")
+	result += fmt.Sprintln("h.sendDirs() HERE")
+	h.sendDirs()
+
 	startbool, startresult := h.start(d)
 	return startbool, result + startresult
 }
diff --git a/http.go b/http.go
index 684c9a8..d00117b 100644
--- a/http.go
+++ b/http.go
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ func cleanURL(url string) string {
 }
 
 func okHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	var tmp string
-	tmp = cleanURL(r.URL.Path)
+	var route string
+	route = cleanURL(r.URL.Path)
 
 	// is the cluster running what it should?
-	if tmp == "/droplets" {
+	if route == "/droplets" {
 		for _, d := range me.cluster.Droplets {
 			var msg string
 			if d.StartState == pb.DropletState_ON {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func okHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	// show only what droplets should be running but are missing
-	if tmp == "/missing" {
+	if route == "/missing" {
 		var count int
 		var missing int
 		for _, d := range me.cluster.Droplets {
@@ -63,48 +63,56 @@ func okHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if tmp == "/favicon.ico" {
+	if route == "/favicon.ico" {
 		// w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "image/svg+xml")
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "image/png")
 		writeFile(w, "ipv6.png")
 		return
 	}
 
-	if tmp == "/goReference.svg" {
+	if route == "/goReference.svg" {
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "image/svg+xml")
 		writeFile(w, "goReference.svg")
 		return
 	}
 
-	if tmp == "/dumplibvirtxml" {
+	if route == "/dumplibvirtxml" {
 		virtigoxml.DumpLibvirtxmlDomainNames()
 		return
 	}
 
-	if tmp == "/uptime" {
-		b, s := clusterHealthy()
-		if b {
-			log.Info("Handling URL:", tmp, "cluster is ok", s)
+	if route == "/uptime" {
+		ok, s := clusterHealthy()
+		if ok {
+			log.Info("Handling URL:", route, "cluster is ok", s)
 			fmt.Fprintln(w, s)
 		} else {
-			log.Info("Handling URL:", tmp, "cluster is not right yet", s)
+			log.Info("Handling URL:", route, "cluster is not right yet", s)
 			fmt.Fprintln(w, s)
 		}
 		return
 	}
 
-	if tmp == "/start" {
-		start := r.URL.Query().Get("start")
+	if route == "/start" {
+		hostname := r.URL.Query().Get("hostname")
+		if hostname == "" {
+			log.Warn("start failed. hostname is blank", cleanURL(r.URL.Path))
+			fmt.Fprintln(w, "start failed. hostname is blank", cleanURL(r.URL.Path))
+			return
+		}
+		log.Warn("hostname is", hostname)
+		fmt.Fprintln(w, "hostname is", hostname)
+
 		// log.Warn("Handling URL:", tmp, "start droplet", start)
-		b, result := Start(start)
+		b, result := Start(hostname)
 		log.Warn("Start returned =", b, "result =", result)
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "Start() returned", b)
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "result:", result)
 		return
 	}
 
-	log.Warn("BAD URL =", tmp)
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "BAD URL tmp =", tmp)
+	log.Warn("BAD URL =", route)
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "BAD URL tmp =", route)
 }
 
 // write a file out to the http socket
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index a5ef467..a36c0bc 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -43,8 +43,13 @@ func main() {
 	me.changed = false
 	// me.dmap = make(map[*pb.Droplet]*DropletT)
 	me.hmap = make(map[*pb.Hypervisor]*HyperT)
+
+	// how long a droplet can be missing until it's declared dead
 	me.unstableTimeout = 17 * time.Second
 
+	// how long the cluster must be stable before new droplets can be started
+	me.clusterStableDuration =  37 * time.Second
+
 	// read in the config file
 	me.cluster = new(pb.Cluster)
 	if err := me.cluster.ConfigLoad(); err != nil {
@@ -66,13 +71,13 @@ func main() {
 
 	var newEvents []*pb.Event
 
-	// sanity check the droplets
-	virtigoxml.CheckDroplets(me.cluster, false)
-	newe := virtigoxml.CheckDiskFilenames(me.cluster)
+	// sanity check the cluster & droplets
+	ValidateDroplets(me.cluster, false)
+	newe := ValidateDiskFilenames(me.cluster)
 	for _, e := range newe {
 		newEvents = append(newEvents, e)
 	}
-	virtigoxml.CheckUniqueFilenames(me.cluster)
+	ValidateUniqueFilenames(me.cluster)
 
 	for _, filename := range argv.Xml {
 		domcfg, err := virtigoxml.ReadXml(filename)
diff --git a/poll.go b/poll.go
index c60debe..c0ae08f 100644
--- a/poll.go
+++ b/poll.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func clusterHealthy() (bool, string) {
 	var total int
 	var working int
 	var failed int
-	var missing int
+	var missing []*pb.Droplet
 	var unknown int
 	var unknownList []string
 
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ func clusterHealthy() (bool, string) {
 			log.Info("BAD  STATE", d.StartState, d.Hostname, hname, "CurrentState =", d.CurrentState, shell.FormatDuration(dur))
 			good = false
 			failed += 1
+			missing = append(missing, d)
 		} else {
 			dur := time.Since(d.LastPoll.AsTime()) // Calculate the elapsed time
 			if dur > time.Minute {
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ func clusterHealthy() (bool, string) {
 			l := shell.FormatDuration(dur)
 			if l == "" {
 				log.Info("DUR IS EMPTY", dur)
-				missing += 1
+				missing = append(missing, d)
 				continue
 			}
 			working += 1
@@ -143,8 +144,8 @@ func clusterHealthy() (bool, string) {
 	var summary string = "("
 	summary += fmt.Sprintf("total = %d ", total)
 	summary += fmt.Sprintf("working = %d ", working)
-	if missing > 0 {
-		summary += fmt.Sprintf("missing = %d ", missing)
+	if len(missing) > 0 {
+		summary += fmt.Sprintf("missing = %d ", len(missing))
 	}
 	if unknown > 0 {
 		summary += fmt.Sprintf("unknown = %d ", unknown, unknownList)
@@ -158,11 +159,14 @@ func clusterHealthy() (bool, string) {
 		summary += "(killcount=" + fmt.Sprintf("%d", me.killcount) + ")"
 	}
 	last := time.Since(me.unstable)
-	if last > 133*time.Second {
+	if last > me.clusterStableDuration {
 		// the cluster has not been stable for 10 seconds
 		s := strings.TrimSpace(shell.FormatDuration(last))
 		summary += "(stable=" + s + ")"
 	}
+	for _, d := range missing {
+		summary += fmt.Sprint("\nmissing droplet: ", d.Hostname, " current state ", d.CurrentState)
+	}
 	if good {
 		return good, "GOOD=true " + summary
 	}
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 8365629..81d4d00 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ type virtigoT struct {
 	killcount       int
 	unstable        time.Time // the last time the cluster was incorrect
 	changed         bool
-	unstableTimeout time.Duration
+	unstableTimeout time.Duration // how long a droplet can be missing until it's declared dead
+	clusterStableDuration time.Duration // how long the cluster must be stable before new droplets can be started
 }
 
 // the stuff that is needed for a hypervisor
diff --git a/validate.go b/validate.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5343c34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/validate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+package main
+
+/*
+	validate / sanity check / consistancy check the data
+
+	here is some code to do smart things like:
+
+	* check mac addresses are unique
+	* check uuid's are unique
+	* double check filenames are unique
+	* return a unique mac address
+	* return a unique uuid
+
+*/
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	pb "go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/virtbuf"
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
+
+// will make sure the mac address is unique
+func ValidateUniqueMac(cluster *pb.Cluster, mac string) bool {
+	for _, d := range cluster.Droplets {
+		for _, n := range d.Networks {
+			if n.Mac == mac {
+				log.Info("duplicate MAC", n.Mac, "in droplet", d.Hostname)
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// records all the known paths. this should go in the protobuf
+func addClusterFilepath(cluster *pb.Cluster, dir string) *pb.Event {
+	var found bool = false
+	var e *pb.Event
+	for _, d := range cluster.Dirs {
+		if d == dir {
+			// found dir
+			found = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		if dir != "." {
+			// make a new Add Event
+			e = pb.NewAddEvent(nil, "Add Cluster Directory", dir)
+			cluster.Dirs = append(cluster.Dirs, dir)
+		}
+	}
+	return e
+}
+
+// returns the droplet using a filename
+func lookupFilename(cluster *pb.Cluster, filename string) *pb.Droplet {
+	filebase := filepath.Base(filename)
+
+	for _, d := range cluster.Droplets {
+		for _, disk := range d.Disks {
+			if filebase == disk.Filename {
+				return d
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func InsertFilename(cluster *pb.Cluster, d *pb.Droplet, filename string) (*pb.Event, error) {
+	dupd := lookupFilename(cluster, filename)
+	if dupd != nil {
+		log.Info("file", filename, "already on droplet", dupd.Hostname)
+		log.Info("file", filename, "on new droplet", d.Hostname)
+		if os.Getenv("VIRTIGO_IGNORE_DISKDUP") == "" {
+			log.Info("duplicate disk names (--xml-ignore-disk to ignore)")
+			return nil, errors.New("duplicate disk names")
+		} else {
+			log.Info("ignore duplicate disk names (--xml-ignore-disk=true)")
+		}
+	}
+	filebase := filepath.Base(filename)
+	dir := filepath.Dir(filename)
+	for _, disk := range d.Disks {
+		if disk.Filename == filebase {
+			log.Info("already have disk", filename)
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+	}
+	// make a new Add Event
+	e := d.NewChangeEvent("Add Disk", "", filename)
+
+	// add the disk protobuf entry
+	var disk *pb.Disk
+	disk = new(pb.Disk)
+	disk.Filename = filebase
+	disk.Filepath = dir
+	d.Disks = append(d.Disks, disk)
+	log.Info("New filename", filebase, dir)
+	return e, nil
+}
+
+func ValidateUniqueFilenames(cluster *pb.Cluster) bool {
+	var ok bool = true
+	var disks map[string]string
+	disks = make(map[string]string)
+
+	for _, d := range cluster.Droplets {
+		for _, disk := range d.Disks {
+			filename := disk.Filename
+			addClusterFilepath(cluster, disk.Filepath)
+			if _, ok := disks[filename]; ok {
+				/*
+					if argv.IgnDisk {
+						log.Info("ignore dup disk", filename, disks[filename], d.Hostname)
+					} else {
+					}
+				*/
+				log.Info("file", filename, "on droplet", disks[filename])
+				log.Info("file", filename, "on droplet", d.Hostname)
+				log.Info("duplicate disk names (--xml-ignore-disk to ignore)")
+				ok = false
+			}
+			disks[filename] = d.Hostname
+		}
+	}
+	if ok {
+		log.Println("validated okay: no duplicate disk images")
+	}
+	return ok
+}
+
+func ValidateDiskFilenames(cluster *pb.Cluster) []*pb.Event {
+	var alle []*pb.Event
+
+	for _, d := range cluster.Droplets {
+		for _, disk := range d.Disks {
+			filename := disk.Filename
+			filebase := filepath.Base(filename)
+			dir := filepath.Dir(filename)
+			addClusterFilepath(cluster, dir)
+			if disk.Filename != filebase {
+				// update filename
+				e := d.NewChangeEvent("Disk.Filename", disk.Filename, filebase)
+				alle = append(alle, e)
+				disk.Filename = filebase
+			}
+			if dir == "." {
+				continue
+			}
+			if dir == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			if disk.Filepath != dir {
+				// update filename
+				e := d.NewChangeEvent("Disk.Filepath", disk.Filepath, dir)
+				alle = append(alle, e)
+				disk.Filepath = dir
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return alle
+}
+
+// this doesn't run often
+func ValidateDroplets(cluster *pb.Cluster, dump bool) bool {
+	// uuid map to check for duplicates
+	var umap map[string]string
+	umap = make(map[string]string)
+
+	// mac address map to check for duplicates
+	var macs map[string]string
+	macs = make(map[string]string)
+
+	for _, d := range cluster.Droplets {
+		// Generate a new UUID
+		if d.Uuid == "" {
+			u := uuid.New()
+			d.Uuid = u.String()
+		}
+
+		// seconds, ok := timeZone[tz]; ok {
+		if _, ok := umap[d.Uuid]; ok {
+			// UUID already exists
+			log.Info("duplicate UUID", d.Uuid, umap[d.Uuid])
+			log.Info("duplicate UUID", d.Uuid, d.Hostname)
+			os.Exit(-1)
+		}
+		umap[d.Uuid] = d.Hostname
+
+		for _, n := range d.Networks {
+			// log.Println("network:", n.Mac, d.Uuid, d.Hostname)
+			if _, ok := macs[n.Mac]; ok {
+				// UUID already exists
+				log.Info("duplicate MAC", n.Mac, macs[n.Mac], umap[macs[n.Mac]])
+				log.Info("duplicate MAC", n.Mac, d.Hostname)
+				os.Exit(-1)
+			}
+			macs[n.Mac] = d.Uuid
+		}
+	}
+	log.Println("validated okay: no duplicate MAC addr")
+	log.Println("validated okay: no duplicate UUID")
+
+	if dump {
+		for u, hostname := range umap {
+			log.Println("uuid:", u, "hostname:", hostname)
+		}
+
+		for mac, uuid := range macs {
+			log.Println("mac:", mac, "uuid", uuid, "hostname:", umap[uuid])
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}