version 5.1.10

- fix: matrix/sms_voipms notifications blocked the event loop on timeout;
  make send_notification async, dispatch all channel drivers as non-blocking
  tasks (asyncio.to_thread for sync drivers, asyncio.wait_for for async);
  update all call sites to fire-and-forget via create_task
- feat: add /about page with version, runtime, uptime counter, and repo link
- fix: hbc_mini plugin data format now matches full hbc client so Host
  Overview displays memory, disk, and network metrics correctly

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitea/workflows/release.yml

@@ -24,11 +24,11 @@ jobs:
           
       - name: Install build tools
         run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install build twine
+          python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          python3 -m pip install build twine
           
       - name: Build package
-        run: python -m build
+        run: python3 -m build
         
       - name: Extract version from tag
         id: get_version
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
           TWINE_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.PYPI_USERNAME }}
           TWINE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PYPI_TOKEN }}
         run: |
-          python -m twine upload --repository-url https://git.wrede.ca/api/packages/andreas/pypi dist/*
+          python3 -m twine upload --repository-url https://git.wrede.ca/api/packages/andreas/pypi dist/*
 
       - name: Create release
         uses: actions/gitea-release-action@v1

CLAUDE. md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+1. Don't assume. Don't hide confusion. Surface tradeoffs.
+2. Minimum code that solves the problem. Nothing speculative.
+3. Touch only what you must. Clean up only your own mess.
+4. Define success criteria. Loop until verified.

README.md

@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ This project now declares its dependencies in `pyproject.toml`. Instead
 of the old `requirements.txt` flow, install the package into a virtualenv
 using `pip`:
 
-See `scripts/install.sh` for a way to install.
+See `scripts/hb_install.sh` for a way to install.
 
 Run the daemon (example):
 
@@ -441,6 +441,68 @@ plugins:
 
 All monitoring plugins default to 5-minute (300 second) intervals, but can be customized as needed.
 
+### hbc_mini — single-file client (no external dependencies)
+
+`scripts/hbc_mini.py` is a self-contained version of the heartbeat client that requires only Python 3.8+ and no external packages. Copy it to any host and run it directly — no virtualenv, no `pip install`.
+
+```bash
+# Basic usage
+python3 hbc_mini.py your-server.example.com
+
+# Run as daemon
+python3 hbc_mini.py -d your-server.example.com
+
+# Send a boot message
+python3 hbc_mini.py -b your-server.example.com
+
+# Send a one-off message
+python3 hbc_mini.py -m "maintenance starting" your-server.example.com
+```
+
+**Config:** `~/.hbc.json` (same keys as `~/.hbc.yaml`, JSON format). Example:
+
+```json
+{
+  "hb_port": 50003,
+  "interval": 30,
+  "plugins": {
+    "ping_monitor": {
+      "interval": 60,
+      "hosts": ["8.8.8.8", "192.168.1.1"]
+    },
+    "nagios_runner": {
+      "interval": 300,
+      "commands": [
+        {"name": "check_load", "command": "/usr/lib/nagios/plugins/check_load -w 5,4,3 -c 10,8,6"}
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**Plugin availability:**
+
+| Plugin | Platform | Data source |
+|---|---|---|
+| `os_info` | all | `platform` stdlib |
+| `ping_monitor` | all | `ping` subprocess |
+| `nagios_runner` | all (not Windows) | subprocess |
+| `cpu_monitor` | Linux | `/proc/stat` |
+| `memory_monitor` | Linux | `/proc/meminfo` |
+| `disk_monitor` | Linux, macOS, BSD | `df -P` subprocess |
+| `network_monitor` | Linux | `/proc/net/dev` |
+
+**What is not available compared to the full `hbc`:**
+
+- No YAML config (use JSON instead)
+- No `filesystem_info` plugin
+- `cpu_monitor` does not report per-core usage or CPU frequency (no psutil)
+- Plugins cannot be loaded from external `.py` files — all plugins are compiled in
+
+Everything else — heartbeat protocol, ACK/CMD/UPD handling, `hb_install.sh`-based self-update, daemonize, syslog — is identical to the full client.
+
+---
+
 ## 🐞 Debugging in VS Code
 
 This repository includes a ready-to-use `.vscode/launch.json` with configurations to run or attach the VS Code debugger to `hbd`.

REFACTORING.md

@@ -1,234 +0,0 @@
-# HBD/HBC Separation Refactoring
-
-## Overview
-
-The heartbeat monitoring system has been refactored into a modular package structure with separate client and server components. This allows users to install only what they need and provides clear separation of concerns.
-
-## New Package Structure
-
-```
-hbd/
-├── __init__.py                 # Main package (minimal)
-├── client/                     # HBC - System monitoring client
-│   ├── __init__.py
-│   ├── main.py                # Entry point (was hbc.py)
-│   ├── config.py              # Client-specific configuration
-│   ├── plugin.py              # Plugin framework
-│   ├── threshold.py           # Threshold checking
-│   └── plugins/               # Monitoring plugins
-│       ├── cpu_monitor.py
-│       ├── disk_monitor.py
-│       ├── memory_monitor.py
-│       ├── network_monitor.py
-│       ├── filesystem_info.py
-│       ├── os_info.py
-│       └── nagios_runner.py
-├── server/                     # HBD - Heartbeat daemon/server
-│   ├── __init__.py
-│   ├── main.py                # Server runtime (was server.py)
-│   ├── cli.py                 # Command-line interface
-│   ├── config.py              # Server-specific configuration
-│   ├── http.py                # HTTP/REST API
-│   ├── ws.py                  # WebSocket server
-│   ├── udp.py                 # UDP heartbeat listener
-│   ├── dns.py                 # DNS update functionality
-│   ├── notify.py              # Notification handlers
-│   ├── monitor.py             # Host monitoring
-│   ├── hbdclass.py            # Host class definitions
-│   ├── journal.py             # Message journaling
-│   ├── templates/             # Jinja2 web templates
-│   └── static/                # Web UI assets
-└── common/                     # Shared utilities
-    ├── __init__.py
-    ├── proto.py               # Protocol encoding/decoding
-    └── utils.py               # Common utilities
-
-## Configuration Files
-
-### Client Configuration (hbd/client/config.py)
-
-Client-specific defaults:
-- `hb_port`: Port where hbd servers listen (default: 50003)
-- `interval`: Heartbeat interval in seconds (default: 10)
-- `plugins`: Per-plugin configuration
-- `thresholds`: Threshold configuration for monitoring
-
-### Server Configuration (hbd/server/config.py)
-
-Server-specific defaults:
-- `hb_port`: Port to listen for heartbeats (default: 50003)
-- `hbd_port`: HTTP API port (default: 50004)
-- `ws_port`: WebSocket port (default: 50005)
-- `logfile`: Log file path
-- `pushsrv`, `pushover_token`, etc.: Notification settings
-- `watchhosts`, `dyndnshosts`: Host monitoring
-- `smtpserver`, etc.: Email settings
-- `journal_*`: Message journaling settings
-
-## Installation Options
-
-### Install Core Only (minimal, PyYAML only)
-```bash
-pip install hbd
-```
-
-### Install Client Only (for monitoring)
-```bash
-pip install hbd[client]
-# Installs: PyYAML, psutil
-```
-
-### Install Server Only (for daemon)
-```bash
-pip install hbd[server]
-# Installs: PyYAML, websockets, mattermostdriver, aiohttp, Jinja2
-```
-
-### Install Everything
-```bash
-pip install hbd[all]
-# Installs all dependencies for both client and server
-```
-
-### Development Installation
-```bash
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
-# Includes all dependencies plus testing/linting tools
-```
-
-## Command-Line Interfaces
-
-### HBC (Client)
-```bash
-hbc [options] host1 [host2 ...]
-
-# Entry point: hbd.client.main:main
-# Location: hbd/client/main.py
-```
-
-### HBD (Server)
-```bash
-hbd [options]
-
-# Entry point: hbd.server.cli:main
-# Location: hbd/server/cli.py → hbd/server/main.py
-```
-
-## Import Changes
-
-### Client Code
-```python
-# Old imports
-from .config import load_config
-from .proto import dicttos, stodict
-from .plugin import PluginRegistry
-
-# New imports
-from .config import load_config          # Still in client/
-from ..common.proto import dicttos       # Moved to common/
-from .plugin import PluginRegistry       # Still in client/
-```
-
-### Server Code
-```python
-# Old imports
-from .config import load_config
-from .proto import stodict
-from .threshold import AlertLevel
-
-# New imports
-from .config import load_config          # Server-specific config
-from ..common.proto import stodict       # Moved to common/
-from ..client.threshold import AlertLevel # Client module
-```
-
-### Plugin Code
-```python
-# Old import
-from hbd.plugin import MonitorPlugin
-
-# New import
-from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
-```
-
-## Benefits
-
-1. **Modular Installation**: Install only what you need
-   - Client-only systems don't need web server dependencies
-   - Server-only systems don't need psutil
-   
-2. **Clearer Architecture**: Explicit separation of concerns
-   - Client: System monitoring and data collection
-   - Server: Heartbeat reception, web UI, notifications
-   - Common: Shared protocol and utilities
-
-3. **Independent Evolution**: Client and server can evolve separately
-   - Different release cycles possible
-   - Clear API boundaries via common/
-
-4. **Smaller Footprint**: Reduced dependency installation
-   - Client: ~1 dependency (psutil)
-   - Server: ~4 dependencies (websockets, aiohttp, Jinja2, mattermostdriver)
-
-## Migration Guide
-
-### For Existing Installations
-
-1. **Reinstall the package**:
-   ```bash
-   pip install -e ".[all]"  # For development
-   # or
-   pip install hbd[all]     # For production
-   ```
-
-2. **Configuration files remain unchanged**:
-   - Both client and server read from `~/.hb.yaml`
-   - All existing config keys are supported in both configs
-   - Server has additional keys (journal, websocket, email, etc.)
-   - Client has minimal keys (interval, plugins, thresholds)
-
-3. **Commands remain the same**:
-   - `hbc` command works identically
-   - `hbd` command works identically
-
-### For New Deployments
-
-1. **Client-only system** (monitoring host):
-   ```bash
-   pip install hbd[client]
-   hbc server1.example.com server2.example.com
-   ```
-
-2. **Server-only system** (monitoring daemon):
-   ```bash
-   pip install hbd[server]
-   hbd -c /etc/hbd.yaml -f
-   ```
-
-3. **Combined system** (dev/test):
-   ```bash
-   pip install hbd[all]
-   ```
-
-## Testing
-
-All imports and entry points have been tested and validated:
-- ✅ Package imports work correctly
-- ✅ `hbc` command entry point functional
-- ✅ `hbd` command entry point functional
-- ✅ Optional dependencies properly configured
-- ✅ All internal imports updated
-
-## Files Archived
-
-The following files were renamed to avoid conflicts:
-- `hbd/config.py` → `hbd/config.py.old` (split into client/server configs)
-- `hbd/hbc_old.py` → `hbd/hbc_old.py.bak` (backup file)
-
-## Next Steps
-
-1. Test client functionality with a monitoring host
-2. Test server functionality with web UI and notifications
-3. Update documentation (README.md) with new structure
-4. Consider publishing to PyPI with new structure
-5. Update any deployment scripts/Dockerfiles to use optional dependencies

docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-25-plugin-error-checking.md

@@ -0,0 +1,602 @@
+# Plugin Error Checking Implementation Plan
+
+> **For agentic workers:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task. Steps use checkbox (`- [ ]`) syntax for tracking.
+
+**Goal:** Improve plugin error checking in hbc, especially for nagios_runner, and fix logger messages silently discarded in daemon mode.
+
+**Architecture:** Three focused changes across three files: (1) `hbd/client/plugin.py` gains a `skip_reason` attribute on Plugin and updated PluginLoader messaging; (2) `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py` gains async subprocess execution, stderr capture, signal-killed process handling, and init-time command path validation; (3) `hbd/client/main.py` gains proper post-fork logging reconfiguration to syslog.
+
+**Tech Stack:** Python 3.11+, asyncio, `logging.handlers.SysLogHandler`, pytest
+
+---
+
+## File Map
+
+| Action | Path | What changes |
+|---|---|---|
+| Modify | `hbd/client/plugin.py` | `Plugin.__init__` gains `skip_reason`; `PluginLoader` checks it |
+| Modify | `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py` | async subprocess, stderr, signal codes, init validation, `skip_reason` |
+| Modify | `hbd/client/main.py` | `_reconfigure_logging_for_daemon()` helper; remove redundant syslog calls |
+| Create | `tests/test_plugin.py` | PluginLoader messaging tests |
+| Create | `tests/test_nagios_runner.py` | NagiosRunnerPlugin behaviour tests |
+
+Run tests throughout with:
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_plugin.py tests/test_nagios_runner.py -v
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 1: Plugin.skip_reason + PluginLoader messaging
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `hbd/client/plugin.py:40-48` (Plugin.__init__)
+- Modify: `hbd/client/plugin.py:369-381` (PluginLoader.load_from_directory)
+- Create: `tests/test_plugin.py`
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write failing tests**
+
+Create `tests/test_plugin.py`:
+
+```python
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import textwrap
+
+from hbd.client.plugin import Plugin, PluginLoader, PluginRegistry
+
+
+def test_plugin_skip_reason_defaults_none(tmp_path):
+    plugin_code = textwrap.dedent("""
+        from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
+
+        class MinimalPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
+            name = "minimal"
+            version = "1.0.0"
+            interval = 60
+
+            async def initialize(self):
+                return True
+
+            async def _collect_metrics(self):
+                return {}
+    """)
+    (tmp_path / "minimal.py").write_text(plugin_code)
+    registry = PluginRegistry()
+    loader = PluginLoader(registry)
+    asyncio.run(loader.load_from_directory(tmp_path))
+    plugin = registry.get("minimal")
+    assert plugin is not None
+    assert plugin.skip_reason is None
+
+
+def test_loader_logs_info_when_skip_reason_set(tmp_path, caplog):
+    plugin_code = textwrap.dedent("""
+        from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
+
+        class SkippablePlugin(MonitorPlugin):
+            name = "skippable"
+            version = "1.0.0"
+            interval = 60
+
+            async def initialize(self):
+                self.skip_reason = "not configured in yaml"
+                return False
+
+            async def _collect_metrics(self):
+                return {}
+    """)
+    (tmp_path / "skippable.py").write_text(plugin_code)
+    registry = PluginRegistry()
+    loader = PluginLoader(registry)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.INFO, logger="plugin.loader"):
+        count = asyncio.run(loader.load_from_directory(tmp_path))
+
+    assert count == 0
+    assert any("skipped: not configured in yaml" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+    assert not any("failed initialization" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+
+
+def test_loader_logs_warning_when_no_skip_reason(tmp_path, caplog):
+    plugin_code = textwrap.dedent("""
+        from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
+
+        class FailPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
+            name = "fail"
+            version = "1.0.0"
+            interval = 60
+
+            async def initialize(self):
+                return False
+
+            async def _collect_metrics(self):
+                return {}
+    """)
+    (tmp_path / "fail_plugin.py").write_text(plugin_code)
+    registry = PluginRegistry()
+    loader = PluginLoader(registry)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.loader"):
+        count = asyncio.run(loader.load_from_directory(tmp_path))
+
+    assert count == 0
+    assert any("failed initialization" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run tests to verify they fail**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_plugin.py -v
+```
+Expected: `test_plugin_skip_reason_defaults_none` FAILS (attribute missing), others may error.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Add `skip_reason` to `Plugin.__init__`**
+
+In `hbd/client/plugin.py`, in `Plugin.__init__` (around line 46), add one line:
+
+```python
+def __init__(self, config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None):
+    self.config = config or {}
+    self.logger = logging.getLogger(f"plugin.{self.name}")
+    self._initialized = False
+    self.skip_reason: Optional[str] = None
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Update PluginLoader messaging**
+
+In `hbd/client/plugin.py`, replace the `if not initialized:` block (around line 372):
+
+```python
+                    if not initialized:
+                        if plugin.skip_reason:
+                            self.logger.info(
+                                f"Plugin {plugin.name} skipped: {plugin.skip_reason}"
+                            )
+                        else:
+                            self.logger.warning(
+                                f"Plugin {plugin.name} failed initialization, skipping"
+                            )
+                        continue
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Run tests to verify they pass**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_plugin.py -v
+```
+Expected: all 3 tests PASS.
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add hbd/client/plugin.py tests/test_plugin.py
+git commit -m "feat: add skip_reason to Plugin; improve PluginLoader init messaging"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 2: NagiosRunnerPlugin — skip_reason when no commands
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py:88-105` (initialize)
+- Modify: `tests/test_nagios_runner.py` (create)
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write failing test**
+
+Create `tests/test_nagios_runner.py`:
+
+```python
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import os
+import stat
+
+import pytest
+
+from hbd.client.plugins.nagios_runner import (
+    NagiosRunnerPlugin,
+    NAGIOS_OK,
+    NAGIOS_WARNING,
+    NAGIOS_CRITICAL,
+    NAGIOS_UNKNOWN,
+)
+
+
+def test_no_commands_sets_skip_reason():
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config={"commands": []})
+    result = asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    assert result is False
+    assert plugin.skip_reason is not None
+    assert "nagios_runner.commands" in plugin.skip_reason
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_no_commands_sets_skip_reason -v
+```
+Expected: FAIL — `plugin.skip_reason` is `None`.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Set skip_reason in NagiosRunnerPlugin.initialize()**
+
+In `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py`, replace the early-return block in `initialize()` (around line 96):
+
+```python
+        if not self.commands:
+            self.skip_reason = "no commands configured (add nagios_runner.commands to config)"
+            self.logger.info("No Nagios commands configured")
+            return False
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run test to verify it passes**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_no_commands_sets_skip_reason -v
+```
+Expected: PASS.
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py tests/test_nagios_runner.py
+git commit -m "feat: set skip_reason on nagios_runner when no commands configured"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 3: NagiosRunnerPlugin — async subprocess, stderr capture, negative return codes
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py` (imports + `_run_nagios_plugin`)
+- Modify: `tests/test_nagios_runner.py`
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write failing tests**
+
+Append to `tests/test_nagios_runner.py`:
+
+```python
+def test_stderr_used_when_stdout_empty(tmp_path):
+    script = tmp_path / "check_err.sh"
+    script.write_text("#!/bin/sh\necho 'error from stderr' >&2\nexit 2\n")
+    script.chmod(script.stat().st_mode | stat.S_IEXEC)
+
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": str(script)}], "timeout": 5}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+    asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    data = asyncio.run(plugin._collect_metrics())
+
+    assert "error from stderr" in data["t_output"]
+    assert data["t_status_code"] == NAGIOS_CRITICAL
+
+
+def test_stderr_appended_when_both_present(tmp_path):
+    script = tmp_path / "check_both.sh"
+    script.write_text("#!/bin/sh\necho 'OK - all good'\necho 'extra detail' >&2\nexit 0\n")
+    script.chmod(script.stat().st_mode | stat.S_IEXEC)
+
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": str(script)}], "timeout": 5}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+    asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    data = asyncio.run(plugin._collect_metrics())
+
+    assert "OK - all good" in data["t_output"]
+    assert "extra detail" in data["t_output"]
+    assert data["t_status_code"] == NAGIOS_OK
+
+
+def test_negative_returncode_maps_to_unknown():
+    # kill -9 $$ kills the shell itself; asyncio sees returncode -9
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": "kill -9 $$"}], "timeout": 5}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+    asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    data = asyncio.run(plugin._collect_metrics())
+
+    assert data["t_status_code"] == NAGIOS_UNKNOWN
+    assert "signal" in data["t_output"].lower()
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run tests to verify they fail**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_stderr_used_when_stdout_empty \
+    tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_stderr_appended_when_both_present \
+    tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_negative_returncode_maps_to_unknown -v
+```
+Expected: all FAIL — current implementation ignores stderr and doesn't handle negative codes.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Update imports in nagios_runner.py**
+
+Replace the import block at the top of `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py`:
+
+```python
+import asyncio
+import os
+import re
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
+
+from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
+```
+
+(Remove `import subprocess`; add `import asyncio` and `import os`.)
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Upgrade collection log level from DEBUG to INFO**
+
+In `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py`, in `_collect_metrics()`, change the debug log (around line 144) so results are visible at INFO level:
+
+```python
+                self.logger.info(
+                    f"Executed {name}: {STATUS_NAMES.get(status_code, 'UNKNOWN')} - {output[:50]}"
+                )
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Replace `_run_nagios_plugin` with async implementation**
+
+Replace the entire `_run_nagios_plugin` method in `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py`:
+
+```python
+    async def _run_nagios_plugin(
+        self,
+        command: str
+    ) -> Tuple[int, str, Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Execute a Nagios plugin and parse its output."""
+        try:
+            proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_shell(
+                command,
+                stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+            )
+            try:
+                stdout_bytes, stderr_bytes = await asyncio.wait_for(
+                    proc.communicate(), timeout=self.timeout
+                )
+            except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+                proc.kill()
+                await proc.communicate()
+                self.logger.error(f"Command timed out: {command}")
+                return NAGIOS_UNKNOWN, f"Command timed out after {self.timeout}s", {}
+
+            status_code = proc.returncode
+
+            if status_code < 0:
+                return NAGIOS_UNKNOWN, f"Process killed by signal {-status_code}", {}
+
+            if status_code > 3:
+                status_code = NAGIOS_UNKNOWN
+
+            stdout = stdout_bytes.decode(errors="replace").strip()
+            stderr = stderr_bytes.decode(errors="replace").strip()
+
+            # Parse perfdata from stdout before mixing in stderr
+            perfdata = self._parse_perfdata(stdout)
+
+            # Build status message
+            status_part = stdout.split('|')[0].strip() if '|' in stdout else stdout
+
+            if not stdout and stderr:
+                output_msg = stderr
+            elif stdout and stderr:
+                output_msg = f"{status_part} [stderr: {stderr}]"
+            else:
+                output_msg = status_part
+
+            return status_code, output_msg, perfdata
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.logger.error(f"Error executing command: {e}")
+            return NAGIOS_UNKNOWN, f"Execution error: {str(e)}", {}
+```
+
+Also remove the now-unused `self.shell` line from `__init__` (the `shell` config key is no longer used since `create_subprocess_shell` always uses a shell):
+
+In `NagiosRunnerPlugin.__init__`, remove:
+```python
+        self.shell: bool = config.get("shell", True) if config else True
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Run tests to verify they pass**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_nagios_runner.py -v
+```
+Expected: all tests PASS including the 3 new ones.
+
+- [ ] **Step 7: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py tests/test_nagios_runner.py
+git commit -m "feat: async subprocess in nagios_runner with stderr capture and signal handling"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 4: NagiosRunnerPlugin — command path validation at init
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py` (initialize)
+- Modify: `tests/test_nagios_runner.py`
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write failing tests**
+
+Append to `tests/test_nagios_runner.py`:
+
+```python
+def test_absolute_path_not_found_warns(caplog):
+    fake_cmd = "/nonexistent_hbc_test_path/check_something"
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": fake_cmd}]}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.nagios_runner"):
+        asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+
+    assert any("not found" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+
+
+def test_absolute_path_not_executable_warns(caplog, tmp_path):
+    non_exec = tmp_path / "check_test"
+    non_exec.write_text("#!/bin/sh\necho OK\n")
+    non_exec.chmod(0o644)  # readable but not executable
+
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": str(non_exec)}]}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.nagios_runner"):
+        asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+
+    assert any("not executable" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+
+
+def test_relative_path_not_checked(caplog):
+    # Relative paths (resolved via PATH) must not generate warnings
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": "echo OK"}]}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.nagios_runner"):
+        asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+
+    assert not any(
+        "not found" in r.message or "not executable" in r.message
+        for r in caplog.records
+    )
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run tests to verify they fail**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_absolute_path_not_found_warns \
+    tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_absolute_path_not_executable_warns \
+    tests/test_nagios_runner.py::test_relative_path_not_checked -v
+```
+Expected: `test_absolute_path_not_found_warns` and `test_absolute_path_not_executable_warns` FAIL (no warnings logged); `test_relative_path_not_checked` may pass.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Add command path validation to `initialize()`**
+
+In `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py`, extend `initialize()` by adding validation after the existing "log each command" loop (after line 103, before `return True`):
+
+```python
+        # Validate absolute command paths early
+        for cmd_config in self.commands:
+            name = cmd_config.get("name", "unnamed")
+            command = cmd_config.get("command", "")
+            if not command:
+                continue
+            exe = command.split()[0]
+            if os.path.isabs(exe):
+                if not os.path.isfile(exe):
+                    self.logger.warning(
+                        f"Command '{name}': executable not found: {exe}"
+                    )
+                elif not os.access(exe, os.X_OK):
+                    self.logger.warning(
+                        f"Command '{name}': executable not executable: {exe}"
+                    )
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run full test suite to verify all pass**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_plugin.py tests/test_nagios_runner.py -v
+```
+Expected: all tests PASS.
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py tests/test_nagios_runner.py
+git commit -m "feat: validate absolute command paths at nagios_runner init"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 5: Daemon mode logging — route to syslog after fork
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `hbd/client/main.py` (new helper + updated daemon block)
+
+No automated test for daemonization itself (fork behaviour is hard to unit-test). Manual verification steps are provided below.
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Add `_reconfigure_logging_for_daemon` helper**
+
+In `hbd/client/main.py`, add this function just before `def build_parser()` (around line 589):
+
+```python
+def _reconfigure_logging_for_daemon(log_level: int) -> None:
+    """Replace StreamHandlers (now writing to /dev/null) with a SysLogHandler."""
+    from logging.handlers import SysLogHandler
+
+    root = logging.getLogger()
+    for handler in root.handlers[:]:
+        root.removeHandler(handler)
+        handler.close()
+
+    try:
+        syslog_handler = SysLogHandler(
+            address="/dev/log",
+            facility=SysLogHandler.LOG_DAEMON,
+        )
+    except OSError:
+        syslog_handler = SysLogHandler(
+            address=("localhost", 514),
+            facility=SysLogHandler.LOG_DAEMON,
+        )
+        # Attach the fallback first so the warning reaches syslog
+        syslog_handler.setFormatter(
+            logging.Formatter("hbc[%(process)d]: %(name)s %(levelname)s: %(message)s")
+        )
+        root.addHandler(syslog_handler)
+        root.setLevel(log_level)
+        logging.warning("/dev/log not found, using syslog UDP localhost:514")
+        return
+
+    syslog_handler.setFormatter(
+        logging.Formatter("hbc[%(process)d]: %(name)s %(levelname)s: %(message)s")
+    )
+    root.addHandler(syslog_handler)
+    root.setLevel(log_level)
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Update the daemon block in `main()`**
+
+In `hbd/client/main.py`, replace the entire `if args.daemon:` block (lines 664–675):
+
+```python
+    if args.daemon:
+        print("Daemonizing...")
+        daemonize()
+        _reconfigure_logging_for_daemon(log_level)
+        logging.info(f"hbc starting, sending heartbeat to {', '.join(args.hosts)}")
+```
+
+This removes the `import syslog`, `syslog.openlog()`, and `syslog.syslog()` calls (now handled by the logging system) and removes the no-op second `logging.basicConfig()` call.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Run existing test suite to confirm no regressions**
+
+```bash
+python -m pytest tests/test_plugin.py tests/test_nagios_runner.py -v
+```
+Expected: all tests still PASS.
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Manual smoke test — verify syslog output in daemon mode**
+
+```bash
+# In one terminal, tail syslog
+sudo journalctl -f -t hbc
+
+# In another terminal, start hbc in daemon mode (replace HOST with a real or dummy host)
+python -m hbd.client.main -d -v localhost
+
+# Expected in journalctl output:
+#   hbc[<pid>]: hbc.main INFO: Starting hbc for <hostname> -> ['localhost']
+#   hbc[<pid>]: hbc.main INFO: hbc starting, sending heartbeat to localhost
+#   hbc[<pid>]: plugin.loader INFO: ...
+
+# Stop the daemon
+pkill -f "hbd.client.main"
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add hbd/client/main.py
+git commit -m "fix: reconfigure logging to syslog after daemonize() instead of no-op basicConfig"
+```

docs/superpowers/specs/2026-04-25-plugin-error-checking-design.md

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+# Plugin Error Checking & Daemon Logging — Design Spec
+
+**Date:** 2026-04-25  
+**Scope:** hbc client — daemon mode logging, nagios_runner plugin robustness, PluginLoader messaging  
+**Files affected:** `hbd/client/main.py`, `hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py`, `hbd/client/plugin.py`
+
+---
+
+## 1. Daemon Mode Logging
+
+### Problem
+In `main()`, `logging.basicConfig()` is called before `daemonize()` (establishing a StreamHandler to stderr), then called again after `daemonize()`. The second call is a no-op — Python ignores `basicConfig()` when handlers are already configured. After daemonization, stderr is redirected to `/dev/null`, so all subsequent log output is silently discarded.
+
+The existing `syslog.openlog()` / `syslog.syslog()` calls (lines 666–668) write a single startup message but do not integrate with the `logging` system, so plugin and connection log messages never reach syslog.
+
+### Fix
+After `daemonize()`, explicitly reconfigure the root logger:
+
+1. Remove all existing handlers (they now write to `/dev/null`).
+2. Add `logging.handlers.SysLogHandler(address='/dev/log', facility=LOG_DAEMON)`.
+3. Set formatter: `hbc[%(process)d]: %(name)s %(levelname)s: %(message)s`
+4. Preserve the `log_level` already determined from `-v`/`-x` CLI flags.
+
+Remove the redundant `syslog.openlog()` / `syslog.syslog()` calls — the logging system handles routing.
+
+**Fallback:** If `/dev/log` does not exist (containers, some BSDs), fall back to `SysLogHandler(address=('localhost', 514))`. Log one warning (to stderr, before handlers are replaced) so the operator knows.
+
+---
+
+## 2. Nagios Runner Improvements
+
+### 2a — Async Subprocess
+`_run_nagios_plugin()` is declared `async def` but calls `subprocess.run()` synchronously, blocking the event loop for the full command duration.
+
+**Fix:** Replace with `asyncio.create_subprocess_shell()` + `await proc.communicate()`. Enforce timeout with `asyncio.wait_for(..., timeout=self.timeout)` and catch `asyncio.TimeoutError`.
+
+### 2b — Stderr Capture
+Subprocess stderr is currently discarded (`capture_output=True` only captures stdout in the sync call; stderr content is lost).
+
+**Fix:** Pass `stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE` to `create_subprocess_shell`. After `communicate()`, if stdout is empty but stderr has content, use stderr as the output message. If both have content, append stderr to the output for visibility.
+
+### 2c — Negative Return Codes
+A negative `returncode` means the process was killed by a signal (SIGKILL, OOM, etc.). The current code treats these as-is, which may produce unexpected status values.
+
+**Fix:** If `returncode < 0`, map to `NAGIOS_UNKNOWN` with message `"Process killed by signal {-returncode}"`.
+
+### 2d — Command Path Validation at Init
+`initialize()` currently only checks that the commands list is non-empty.
+
+**Fix:** For each command entry during `initialize()`:
+- Warn and skip the entry if `name` or `command` is missing.
+- Extract the executable (first whitespace-delimited token of the command string).
+- If the executable is an absolute path, check `os.path.isfile()` and `os.access(..., os.X_OK)`. Log a `WARNING` if either check fails.
+- Commands with relative paths or shell builtins are not checked (they may be on PATH) — just noted.
+- Validation warns only; all original entries in `self.commands` are retained and still attempted at collection time (where the existing missing-name/command guard already skips them). The plugin initializes successfully as long as the commands list is non-empty.
+
+---
+
+## 3. PluginLoader Messaging
+
+### Problem
+When `initialize()` returns `False`, the loader always logs:
+> `WARNING: Plugin X failed initialization, skipping`
+
+This is alarming when the real reason is simply "no commands configured". There is no API to distinguish "not configured" from "genuinely broken".
+
+### Fix
+Add an optional `skip_reason` attribute to `Plugin.__init__()` (defaults to `None`).
+
+In `PluginLoader.load_from_directory()`, after `initialize()` returns `False`:
+- If `plugin.skip_reason` is set → `logger.info(f"Plugin {plugin.name} skipped: {plugin.skip_reason}")`
+- If `plugin.skip_reason` is `None` → `logger.warning(f"Plugin {plugin.name} failed initialization, skipping")` (existing behaviour)
+
+In `NagiosRunnerPlugin.initialize()`, when no commands are configured:
+```python
+self.skip_reason = "no commands configured (add nagios_runner.commands to config)"
+return False
+```
+
+Genuine failures (exceptions) continue to go through the existing `except` block in the loader, logging at `ERROR` with traceback — unchanged.
+
+---
+
+## Decisions
+
+| Topic | Decision |
+|---|---|
+| Daemon log destination | syslog only (LOG_DAEMON facility) |
+| Syslog fallback | localhost:514 UDP if `/dev/log` absent |
+| Nagios result log level | INFO for all statuses (OK/WARNING/CRITICAL/UNKNOWN) |
+| Invalid command handling at init | Warn and continue; still attempt at collection time |
+| PluginLoader API change | `skip_reason` attribute on Plugin base class, checked by loader |

hbd/Plan.md

@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-Plan the following changes, ask questions to clarify before implementing
-
-Re-factor the notification system:
-- use available libraries for pushover, matrix, email and sms notifications.
-- notifications have a title/subject:  alert_type (recover/warning/critical), a body (info from threshold check) and a link to the host plugin metrix page
-- define a list of notification channels for each user
-- notifications are dispatched to users that are listed as managers for the host
-
-
-
-1 - correct
-2 - for now channels are defined globaly 
-3 - matrix-nio)sounds good, homeserver URL, access token, room ID per channel?
-4 - use the REST api provided by https://voip.ms/api/v1/rest.php
-5 - The page does not exist yet, point at the host tab in the /plugins
-6 - per-channel minimum severity is a good idea, go fo it
-7 - yes
-
-1 - use base_url, there might not have been any incoming requests yet
-2 - use same asyncio loop for matrix-nio
-3 - for now, just silently do nothing

hbd/__init__.py

@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ Install options:
 """
 
 __all__ = ["__version__"]
-__version__ = "5.1.1"
+__version__ = "5.1.10"

hbd/client/main.py

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import signal
 import socket
 import sys
 import time
-from hashlib import md5
+from logging.handlers import SysLogHandler
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional
 
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ class AsyncConnection:
         
         self.transport: Optional[asyncio.DatagramTransport] = None
         self.protocol: Optional[asyncio.DatagramProtocol] = None
-        
+        self._dead = False
+
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(f"hbc.conn.{addr}")
     
     async def open(self) -> bool:
@@ -92,9 +93,12 @@ class AsyncConnection:
             msg: Message dictionary
             msg_id: Message ID (HTB, PLG, etc.)
         """
+        if self._dead:
+            return
+
         if not self.transport:
             await self.open()
-        
+
         if not self.transport:
             self.logger.error("Cannot send - no transport")
             return
@@ -166,7 +170,9 @@ class HeartbeatProtocol(asyncio.DatagramProtocol):
     
     def error_received(self, exc):
         """Handle protocol errors."""
-        self.logger.error(f"Protocol error: {exc}")
+        self.logger.warning(f"Protocol error on {self.connection.addr}: {exc} — dropping connection")
+        self.connection._dead = True
+        self.connection.close()
 
 
 async def handle_command(conn: AsyncConnection, msg: dict):
@@ -203,55 +209,52 @@ async def handle_command(conn: AsyncConnection, msg: dict):
     await conn.sendto(response)
 
 
-async def handle_update(conn: AsyncConnection, msg: dict):
-    """Handle self-update from server."""
-    import codecs
+async def handle_update(conn: AsyncConnection, _msg: dict):  # pyright: ignore[reportUnusedParameter]
+    """Handle self-update by running hb_install.sh."""
     import shutil
-    
+
     logger = logging.getLogger("hbc.update")
-    
+
+    installer = shutil.which("hb_install.sh")
+    if installer is None:
+        candidate = Path(sys.argv[0]).parent / "hb_install.sh"
+        if candidate.exists():
+            installer = str(candidate)
+
+    if installer is None:
+        error = "hb_install.sh not found in PATH or alongside hbc"
+        logger.error(error)
+        await conn.sendto({"service": "update", "msg": error})
+        return
+
+    logger.info(f"Running installer: {installer}")
     try:
-        code = codecs.decode(msg["code"], "base64").decode()
-        csum = msg["csum"]
+        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+            installer, "client",
+            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=asyncio.subprocess.STDOUT,
+        )
+        out, _ = await asyncio.wait_for(proc.communicate(), timeout=120)
+    except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+        error = "Installer timed out"
+        logger.error(error)
+        await conn.sendto({"service": "update", "msg": error})
+        return
     except Exception as e:
-        error = f"Missing code/csum: {e}"
+        error = f"Installer failed: {e}"
         logger.error(error)
         await conn.sendto({"service": "update", "msg": error})
         return
-    
-    # Verify checksum
-    m = md5()
-    m.update(code.encode())
-    if m.hexdigest() != csum:
-        error = "Checksum mismatch"
+
+    if proc.returncode != 0:
+        error = f"Installer exited {proc.returncode}: {out.decode().strip()}"
         logger.error(error)
         await conn.sendto({"service": "update", "msg": error})
         return
-    
-    # Backup current file
-    fn = sys.argv[0]
-    ofn = f"{fn}.sav"
-    try:
-        shutil.copy2(fn, ofn)
-    except Exception as e:
-        error = f"Backup failed: {e}"
-        logger.error(error)
-        await conn.sendto({"service": "update", "msg": error})
-        return
-    
-    # Write new code
-    try:
-        with open(fn, "w") as fh:
-            fh.write(code)
-    except Exception as e:
-        error = f"Write failed: {e}"
-        logger.error(error)
-        await conn.sendto({"service": "update", "msg": error})
-        return
-    
+
     logger.info("Update successful, restart required")
     await conn.sendto({"service": "update", "msg": "OK"})
-    
+
     # Trigger restart
     global dorestart
     dorestart = True
@@ -586,6 +589,36 @@ def daemonize(
     os.dup2(se.fileno(), sys.stderr.fileno())
 
 
+def _reconfigure_logging_for_daemon(log_level: int) -> None:
+    """Replace StreamHandlers (now writing to /dev/null) with a SysLogHandler."""
+    root = logging.getLogger()
+    for handler in root.handlers[:]:
+        root.removeHandler(handler)
+        handler.close()
+
+    use_udp_fallback = not os.path.exists("/dev/log")
+
+    if use_udp_fallback:
+        syslog_handler = SysLogHandler(
+            address=("localhost", 514),
+            facility=SysLogHandler.LOG_DAEMON,
+        )
+    else:
+        syslog_handler = SysLogHandler(
+            address="/dev/log",
+            facility=SysLogHandler.LOG_DAEMON,
+        )
+
+    syslog_handler.setFormatter(
+        logging.Formatter("hbc[%(process)d]: %(name)s %(levelname)s: %(message)s")
+    )
+    root.addHandler(syslog_handler)
+    root.setLevel(log_level)
+
+    if use_udp_fallback:
+        logging.warning("/dev/log not found, using syslog UDP localhost:514")
+
+
 def build_parser():
     """Build argument parser."""
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
@@ -663,16 +696,9 @@ def main(argv=None):
     # Daemonize if requested
     if args.daemon:
         print("Daemonizing...")
-        import syslog
-        syslog.openlog("hbc", syslog.LOG_PID, syslog.LOG_DAEMON)
-        syslog.syslog(syslog.LOG_INFO, f"Starting heartbeat to {', '.join(args.hosts)}")
         daemonize()
-        
-        # Reconfigure logging for syslog
-        logging.basicConfig(
-            level=log_level,
-            format="hbc[%(process)d]: %(name)s %(levelname)s: %(message)s"
-        )
+        _reconfigure_logging_for_daemon(log_level)
+        logging.info(f"hbc starting, sending heartbeat to {', '.join(args.hosts)}")
     
     # Run async main
     try:

hbd/client/plugin.py

@@ -22,13 +22,14 @@ from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Type
 
 class Plugin(ABC):
     """Base class for all plugins.
-    
+
     Attributes:
         name: Unique plugin identifier (e.g., "os_info", "cpu_monitor")
         version: Plugin version string
         description: Human-readable description
         interval: Collection interval in seconds (0 for InfoPlugin = collect once)
         enabled: Whether plugin is active (can be disabled via config)
+        skip_reason: Set by plugin before returning False from initialize(); causes loader to log INFO instead of WARNING.
     """
     
     name: str = ""
@@ -39,13 +40,14 @@ class Plugin(ABC):
     
     def __init__(self, config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None):
         """Initialize plugin with optional configuration.
-        
+
         Args:
             config: Plugin-specific configuration from YAML (e.g., thresholds, paths)
         """
         self.config = config or {}
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(f"plugin.{self.name}")
         self._initialized = False
+        self.skip_reason: Optional[str] = None
         
     @abstractmethod
     async def initialize(self) -> bool:
@@ -312,9 +314,10 @@ class PluginLoader:
         
         loaded_count = 0
         raw_config = config or {}
-        # Per-plugin config lives under the 'plugins' key; fall back to top-level
-        # for backwards compatibility.
-        plugin_config = raw_config.get("plugins", raw_config)
+        # Per-plugin config lives under the 'plugins' key or at top-level.
+        # CLIENT_DEFAULTS seeds "plugins": {} so the key always exists; check
+        # both the subdict and top-level so that either layout in .hbc.yaml works.
+        plugins_subconfig = raw_config.get("plugins", {})
         
         # Scan for Python files
         for plugin_file in directory.glob("*.py"):
@@ -359,17 +362,23 @@ class PluginLoader:
                     
                     self.logger.debug(f"Found plugin class: {name}")
                     
-                    # Instantiate plugin with config
-                    plugin_instance_config = plugin_config.get(obj.name, {})
+                    # Instantiate plugin with config — check plugins subdict first,
+                    # then top-level keys (e.g. nagios_runner: ... at root of config).
+                    plugin_instance_config = plugins_subconfig.get(obj.name) or raw_config.get(obj.name, {})
                     plugin = obj(config=plugin_instance_config)
                     
                     # Initialize plugin
                     try:
                         initialized = await plugin.initialize()
                         if not initialized:
-                            self.logger.warning(
-                                f"Plugin {plugin.name} failed initialization, skipping"
-                            )
+                            if plugin.skip_reason:
+                                self.logger.info(
+                                    f"Plugin {plugin.name} skipped: {plugin.skip_reason}"
+                                )
+                            else:
+                                self.logger.warning(
+                                    f"Plugin {plugin.name} failed initialization, skipping"
+                                )
                             continue
                     except Exception as e:
                         self.logger.error(

hbd/client/plugins/nagios_runner.py

@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ nagios_runner:
 ```
 """
 
+import asyncio
+import os
 import re
-import subprocess
+import shlex
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
@@ -52,8 +54,7 @@ class NagiosRunnerPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
         interval: Collection interval in seconds (default: 300)
         commands: List of command definitions with 'name' and 'command' keys
         timeout: Command execution timeout in seconds (default: 30)
-        shell: Whether to execute commands via shell (default: True)
-    
+
     Example:
         nagios_runner:
           interval: 300  # Check every 5 minutes
@@ -76,32 +77,48 @@ class NagiosRunnerPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
         # Extract configuration
         self.commands: List[Dict[str, str]] = config.get("commands", []) if config else []
         self.timeout: int = config.get("timeout", 30) if config else 30
-        self.shell: bool = config.get("shell", True) if config else True
         self.interval = config.get("interval", 300) if config else 300
-        
-        # Validate commands
-        if not self.commands:
-            self.logger.info(
-                "No Nagios commands configured. Add 'nagios_runner.commands' to config."
-            )
     
     async def initialize(self) -> bool:
         """Initialize the Nagios runner plugin.
-        
+
         Returns:
             True if at least one command is configured, False otherwise
         """
         self.logger.info(f"Initializing {self.name} plugin")
-        
+
         if not self.commands:
-            self.logger.info("No Nagios commands configured")
+            self.skip_reason = "no commands configured (add nagios_runner.commands to config)"
             return False
-        
+
         self.logger.info(f"Configured to run {len(self.commands)} Nagios plugin(s)")
         for cmd_config in self.commands:
             name = cmd_config.get("name", "unnamed")
             self.logger.info(f"  - {name}: {cmd_config.get('command', 'N/A')}")
-        
+
+        # Validate absolute command paths early
+        for cmd_config in self.commands:
+            name = cmd_config.get("name", "unnamed")
+            command = cmd_config.get("command", "")
+            if not command:
+                continue
+            try:
+                tokens = shlex.split(command)
+            except ValueError:
+                continue  # malformed command string; skip validation
+            if not tokens:
+                continue
+            exe = tokens[0]
+            if os.path.isabs(exe):
+                if not os.path.isfile(exe):
+                    self.logger.warning(
+                        f"Command '{name}': executable not found: {exe}"
+                    )
+                elif not os.access(exe, os.X_OK):
+                    self.logger.warning(
+                        f"Command '{name}': executable not executable: {exe}"
+                    )
+
         return True
     
     async def _collect_metrics(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
@@ -141,7 +158,7 @@ class NagiosRunnerPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
                     for metric_name, metric_value in perfdata.items():
                         results[f"{name}_{metric_name}"] = metric_value
                 
-                self.logger.debug(
+                self.logger.info(
                     f"Executed {name}: {STATUS_NAMES.get(status_code, 'UNKNOWN')} - {output[:50]}"
                 )
                 
@@ -163,46 +180,49 @@ class NagiosRunnerPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
         self,
         command: str
     ) -> Tuple[int, str, Dict[str, Any]]:
-        """Execute a Nagios plugin and parse its output.
-        
-        Args:
-            command: Command string to execute
-            
-        Returns:
-            Tuple of (status_code, output_message, performance_data_dict)
-        """
+        """Execute a Nagios plugin and parse its output."""
         try:
-            # Run command
-            result = subprocess.run(
+            proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_shell(
                 command,
-                shell=self.shell,
-                capture_output=True,
-                timeout=self.timeout,
-                text=True
+                stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
             )
-            
-            status_code = result.returncode
-            output = result.stdout.strip()
-            
-            # Nagios plugins can return codes > 3, treat as UNKNOWN
+            try:
+                stdout_bytes, stderr_bytes = await asyncio.wait_for(
+                    proc.communicate(), timeout=self.timeout
+                )
+            except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+                proc.kill()
+                await proc.communicate()
+                self.logger.error(f"Command timed out: {command}")
+                return NAGIOS_UNKNOWN, f"Command timed out after {self.timeout}s", {}
+
+            status_code = proc.returncode
+
+            if status_code < 0:
+                return NAGIOS_UNKNOWN, f"Process killed by signal {-status_code}", {}
+
             if status_code > 3:
                 status_code = NAGIOS_UNKNOWN
-            
-            # Parse performance data
-            perfdata = self._parse_perfdata(output)
-            
-            # Extract just the status message (before the pipe if present)
-            if '|' in output:
-                output_msg = output.split('|')[0].strip()
+
+            stdout = stdout_bytes.decode(errors="replace").strip()
+            stderr = stderr_bytes.decode(errors="replace").strip()
+
+            # Parse perfdata from stdout before mixing in stderr
+            perfdata = self._parse_perfdata(stdout)
+
+            # Build status message
+            status_part = stdout.split('|')[0].strip() if '|' in stdout else stdout
+
+            if not stdout and stderr:
+                output_msg = stderr
+            elif stdout and stderr:
+                output_msg = f"{status_part} [stderr: {stderr}]"
             else:
-                output_msg = output
-            
+                output_msg = status_part
+
             return status_code, output_msg, perfdata
-            
-        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
-            self.logger.error(f"Command timed out: {command}")
-            return NAGIOS_UNKNOWN, f"Command timed out after {self.timeout}s", {}
-        
+
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.error(f"Error executing command: {e}")
             return NAGIOS_UNKNOWN, f"Execution error: {str(e)}", {}

hbd/client/plugins/os_info.py

@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ class OSInfoPlugin(InfoPlugin):
                 "python_version": platform.python_version(),
                 "python_implementation": platform.python_implementation(),
                 "hbc_version": hbc_version,
+                "hbc_type": "full",
             }
             
             # Add Linux-specific distribution info

hbd/common/proto.py

@@ -52,12 +52,17 @@ def decode_value(val: str) -> Any:
         except Exception:
             return val[1:]  # Return as string without @
     
-    # Try numeric evaluation (original behavior)
+    # Try numeric conversion (avoid eval to prevent SyntaxWarnings on version strings)
     if val[0].isdigit() or (val[0] == '-' and len(val) > 1 and val[1].isdigit()):
         try:
-            return eval(val)
-        except Exception:
-            return val
+            return int(val)
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
+        try:
+            return float(val)
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
+        return val
     
     return val
 

hbd/server/cli.py

@@ -144,17 +144,16 @@ def cmd_notify(args):
         url=f"{base_url}/plugins" if base_url else "",
     )
 
-    # Bypass min_level for explicit test sends; run async channels directly
     import asyncio
+    from .notify import _send_matrix_async, _send_sms_voipms_async, _DRIVERS
     ch_type = channel_cfg.get("type", "")
     print(f"Sending via {args.channel} ({ch_type}): {title} — {args.message}")
 
-    if ch_type in ("matrix", "sms_voipms"):
-        from .notify import _send_matrix_async, _send_sms_voipms_async
-        driver_async = _send_matrix_async if ch_type == "matrix" else _send_sms_voipms_async
-        ok = asyncio.run(driver_async(channel_cfg, notif))
+    if ch_type == "matrix":
+        ok = asyncio.run(_send_matrix_async(channel_cfg, notif))
+    elif ch_type == "sms_voipms":
+        ok = asyncio.run(_send_sms_voipms_async(channel_cfg, notif))
     else:
-        from .notify import _DRIVERS
         driver = _DRIVERS.get(ch_type)
         if driver is None:
             print(f"Error: unknown channel type '{ch_type}'", file=sys.stderr)

hbd/server/http.py

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 """HTTP server implementation using aiohttp and jinja2."""
 
 import asyncio
+import datetime
 import json
+import platform
+import socket
+import sys
 import time
 import urllib.parse
 import os
@@ -111,6 +115,7 @@ async def start(
     This function is intended to be awaited inside the main asyncio event loop.
     """
     get_now = get_now or (lambda: time.time())
+    _start_epoch = time.time()
 
     async def old_index(request):
         _require_auth_redirect(request)
@@ -210,15 +215,11 @@ async def start(
             return err
         qa = request.rel_url.query
         uname = urllib.parse.unquote(qa.get("h", ""))
-        ucode = qa.get("c")
-        if not ucode or not uname:
-            return web.Response(status=400, text="need h= and c= arguments")
+        if not uname:
+            return web.Response(status=400, text="need h= argument")
         if uname != "All" and uname not in hbdclass.Host.hosts:
             return web.Response(status=400, text=f"h={uname} not found")
-        if uname != "All":
-            names = [uname]
-        else:
-            names = [n for n in hbdclass.Host.hosts]
+        names = [uname] if uname != "All" else list(hbdclass.Host.hosts)
         out = []
         for n in names:
             host = hbdclass.Host.hosts[n]
@@ -227,8 +228,7 @@ async def start(
                 continue
             op_err = None
             try:
-                r = {"csum": None, "code": ucode}
-                host.cmds.append(("UPD", r))
+                host.cmds.append(("UPD", {}))
             except Exception as e:
                 op_err = str(e)
             out.append(f"update started for {n}: {op_err if op_err else 'OK'}")
@@ -520,8 +520,8 @@ async def start(
 
         tmpl = env.get_template("plugins.html")
         body = tmpl.render(
-            title="Plugin Metrics - Heartbeat",
-            header="Plugin Metrics",
+            title="Host Overview - Heartbeat",
+            header="Host Overview",
             hosts=hosts_with_plugins,
             current_user=current_user.to_dict() if current_user else None,
             active_page="plugins",
@@ -811,6 +811,48 @@ async def start(
         )
         return web.Response(text=body, content_type="text/html")
 
+    # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # About page
+    # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    async def about_page(request):
+        """GET /about — version, runtime, and project information."""
+        current_user, _ = _require_auth_redirect(request)
+        pkg_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+        templates_dir = config.get("templates_dir", os.path.join(pkg_dir, "templates"))
+        env = jinja2.Environment(loader=jinja2.FileSystemLoader(templates_dir))
+        from hbd import __version__ as hbd_version
+
+        uptime_secs = int(time.time() - _start_epoch)
+        days, rem = divmod(uptime_secs, 86400)
+        hours, rem = divmod(rem, 3600)
+        mins, secs = divmod(rem, 60)
+        if days:
+            uptime_str = f"{days}d {hours}h {mins}m"
+        elif hours:
+            uptime_str = f"{hours}h {mins}m {secs}s"
+        else:
+            uptime_str = f"{mins}m {secs}s"
+
+        start_dt = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(_start_epoch)
+        start_time_str = start_dt.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
+
+        tmpl = env.get_template("about.html")
+        body = tmpl.render(
+            title="About - Heartbeat",
+            header="About",
+            hbd_version=hbd_version,
+            python_version=f"{sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor}.{sys.version_info.micro} ({platform.python_implementation()})",
+            server_hostname=socket.gethostname(),
+            start_epoch=int(_start_epoch),
+            start_time_str=start_time_str,
+            uptime_str=uptime_str,
+            host_count=len(hbdclass.Host.hosts),
+            current_user=current_user.to_dict() if current_user else None,
+            active_page="about",
+        )
+        return web.Response(text=body, content_type="text/html")
+
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Settings page (admin only)
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -864,6 +906,7 @@ async def start(
             web.get("/live", live),
             web.get("/plugins", plugins_page),
             web.get("/alerts", alerts_page),
+            web.get("/about", about_page),
             web.get("/profile", profile_page),
             web.get("/settings", settings_page),
             web.get("/static/{path:.*}", static),

hbd/server/main.py

@@ -210,7 +210,6 @@ async def _run_async(config, config_path=None):
         ctx = dict(
             config=config,
             hbdclass=hbdclass,
-            log=eventlog,
             msg_to_websockets=msg_to_websockets,
             msg_journal=msg_journal,
             threshold_checker=threshold_checker,
@@ -237,7 +236,6 @@ async def _run_async(config, config_path=None):
     restore_ctx = dict(
         config=config,
         hbdclass=hbdclass,
-        log=eventlog,
         msg_to_websockets=msg_to_websockets,
         threshold_checker=threshold_checker,
     )

hbd/server/notify.py

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ their own ``notification_channels`` list.  When no users are configured the
 server runs silently (no notifications sent).
 """
 
-import asyncio
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import smtplib
@@ -30,13 +29,10 @@ from . import ws as ws_mod
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
 msg_to_websockets = ws_mod.broadcast
 
 # Module-level state set via setup()
 _config: dict = {}
-_loop: Optional[asyncio.AbstractEventLoop] = None
 
 # Tracks which channels fired a WARNING/CRITICAL per host.
 # {host_name: set of channel_names}  — used to route RECOVER to the same channels.
@@ -73,11 +69,9 @@ class Notification:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 def setup(cfg: dict, loop: Optional[asyncio.AbstractEventLoop] = None):
-    """Initialize notifier from configuration dict and event loop."""
-    global _config, _loop
+    """Initialize notifier from configuration dict."""
+    global _config
     _config = dict(cfg)
-    if loop is not None:
-        _loop = loop
 
 
 def reload_config(cfg: dict):
@@ -299,17 +293,6 @@ async def _send_sms_voipms_async(channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool
         return False
 
 
-def _send_sms_voipms(channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool:
-    """Dispatch voip.ms SMS send onto the shared event loop."""
-    if _loop is None:
-        logger.warning("sms_voipms: event loop not available")
-        return False
-    future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(_send_sms_voipms_async(channel_cfg, notif), _loop)
-    try:
-        return future.result(timeout=15)
-    except Exception as e:
-        logger.error("sms_voipms send timed out or failed: %s", e)
-        return False
 
 
 async def _send_matrix_async(channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool:
@@ -357,48 +340,48 @@ async def _send_matrix_async(channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool:
         await client.close()
 
 
-def _send_matrix(channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool:
-    """Dispatch matrix send onto the shared event loop."""
-    if _loop is None:
-        logger.warning("matrix: event loop not available")
-        return False
-    future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(_send_matrix_async(channel_cfg, notif), _loop)
-    try:
-        return future.result(timeout=15)
-    except Exception as e:
-        logger.error("matrix send timed out or failed: %s", e)
-        return False
-
-
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Channel dispatcher
+# Channel dispatcher  (all async — sync drivers run in a thread executor)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+# Sync drivers kept for `hbd notify` CLI usage (asyncio.run wraps them there).
 _DRIVERS = {
     "pushover": _send_pushover,
     "email": _send_email,
     "mattermost": _send_mattermost,
     "signal": _send_signal,
-    "sms_voipms": _send_sms_voipms,
-    "matrix": _send_matrix,
 }
 
+_TIMEOUT = 15  # seconds per channel send
 
-def _dispatch_to_channel(channel_name: str, channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool:
+
+async def _dispatch_to_channel(channel_name: str, channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool:
     """Send *notif* to a single named channel, honouring min_level."""
-    min_level = channel_cfg.get("min_level", "WARNING").upper()
-    if _level_value(notif.level) < _level_value(min_level):
-        logger.debug(
-            "channel '%s': skipping level %s (min_level=%s)", channel_name, notif.level, min_level
-        )
-        return True  # not an error — filtered intentionally
+    level = notif.level.upper()
+    if level != "RECOVER":
+        min_level = channel_cfg.get("min_level", "WARNING").upper()
+        if _level_value(level) < _level_value(min_level):
+            logger.debug(
+                "channel '%s': skipping level %s (min_level=%s)", channel_name, level, min_level
+            )
+            return True  # filtered intentionally
 
     ch_type = channel_cfg.get("type", "")
-    driver = _DRIVERS.get(ch_type)
-    if driver is None:
-        logger.warning("unknown channel type '%s' for channel '%s'", ch_type, channel_name)
+    try:
+        if ch_type == "matrix":
+            return await asyncio.wait_for(_send_matrix_async(channel_cfg, notif), timeout=_TIMEOUT)
+        if ch_type == "sms_voipms":
+            return await asyncio.wait_for(_send_sms_voipms_async(channel_cfg, notif), timeout=_TIMEOUT)
+        sync_driver = _DRIVERS.get(ch_type)
+        if sync_driver is None:
+            logger.warning("unknown channel type '%s' for channel '%s'", ch_type, channel_name)
+            return False
+        return await asyncio.wait_for(
+            asyncio.to_thread(sync_driver, channel_cfg, notif), timeout=_TIMEOUT
+        )
+    except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+        logger.error("channel '%s' timed out after %ds", channel_name, _TIMEOUT)
         return False
-    return driver(channel_cfg, notif)
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -412,7 +395,7 @@ def _build_url(host_name: str) -> str:
     return f"{base_url}/plugins#{host_name}"
 
 
-def send_notification(host_name: str, notif: Notification) -> dict:
+async def send_notification(host_name: str, notif: Notification) -> dict:
     """Dispatch *notif* to all managers/owner of *host_name*.
 
     Looks up the host's owner + managers, resolves each user's
@@ -462,16 +445,12 @@ def send_notification(host_name: str, notif: Notification) -> dict:
             if not channel_cfg:
                 continue
             try:
-                ch_type = channel_cfg.get("type", "")
-                driver = _DRIVERS.get(ch_type)
-                if driver:
-                    ok = driver(channel_cfg, notif)
-                    results[channel_name] = ok
-                    if ok:
-                        logger.info("recover sent to channel '%s': %s", channel_name, notif.title)
+                ok = await _dispatch_to_channel(channel_name, channel_cfg, notif)
+                results[channel_name] = ok
+                if ok:
+                    logger.info("recover sent to channel '%s': %s", channel_name, notif.title)
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error("error sending recover to channel '%s': %s", channel_name, e)
-        # Clear the alerted set once recovery is delivered
         del _alerted_channels[host_name]
         return results
 
@@ -482,14 +461,14 @@ def send_notification(host_name: str, notif: Notification) -> dict:
             continue
         for channel_name in user.notification_channels:
             if channel_name in results:
-                continue  # already dispatched to this channel this notification
+                continue
             channel_cfg = global_channels.get(channel_name)
             if not channel_cfg:
                 logger.warning("channel '%s' not defined in notification_channels", channel_name)
                 results[channel_name] = False
                 continue
             try:
-                ok = _dispatch_to_channel(channel_name, channel_cfg, notif)
+                ok = await _dispatch_to_channel(channel_name, channel_cfg, notif)
                 results[channel_name] = ok
                 if ok:
                     logger.info("notification sent to channel '%s': %s", channel_name, notif.title)

hbd/server/templates/about.html

@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+  {% include 'head.html' %}
+
+  <style>
+    html, body { overflow: visible; }
+
+    .container {
+      max-width: 700px;
+      margin: 0 auto;
+    }
+
+    h1 {
+      color: #333;
+      margin-bottom: 4px;
+      font-size: 1.5em;
+    }
+
+    .subtitle {
+      color: #666;
+      margin-bottom: 24px;
+      font-size: 0.9em;
+    }
+
+    .section {
+      background: #fff;
+      border-radius: 8px;
+      box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
+      padding: 20px 24px;
+      margin-bottom: 20px;
+    }
+
+    .section h2 {
+      font-size: 1em;
+      font-weight: 700;
+      color: #333;
+      margin: 0 0 16px;
+      padding-bottom: 10px;
+      border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
+      text-transform: uppercase;
+      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
+    }
+
+    .info-row {
+      display: flex;
+      align-items: baseline;
+      padding: 8px 0;
+      border-bottom: 1px solid #f5f5f5;
+      font-size: 0.9em;
+    }
+    .info-row:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
+
+    .info-label {
+      width: 160px;
+      flex-shrink: 0;
+      color: #666;
+      font-size: 0.88em;
+    }
+
+    .info-value {
+      color: #222;
+      word-break: break-all;
+    }
+
+    .info-value a {
+      color: #0066cc;
+      text-decoration: none;
+    }
+    .info-value a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
+
+    .version-badge {
+      display: inline-block;
+      padding: 3px 12px;
+      background: #e8f0fe;
+      color: #1a73e8;
+      border-radius: 12px;
+      font-size: 0.85em;
+      font-weight: 600;
+      font-family: monospace;
+    }
+
+    .hb-logo {
+      font-size: 2.5em;
+      font-weight: 700;
+      color: #0066cc;
+      letter-spacing: -1px;
+      margin-bottom: 6px;
+    }
+
+    .hb-tagline {
+      color: #555;
+      font-size: 0.95em;
+    }
+
+    .logo-section {
+      display: flex;
+      align-items: center;
+      gap: 20px;
+      padding: 8px 0 4px;
+    }
+
+    .logo-text { flex: 1; }
+  </style>
+
+  <body>
+    {% include 'nav.html' %}
+
+    <div class="container">
+      <h1>{{ header }}</h1>
+      <p class="subtitle">Heartbeat monitoring system</p>
+
+      <div class="section">
+        <div class="logo-section">
+          <div class="logo-text">
+            <div class="hb-logo">Heartbeat</div>
+            <div class="hb-tagline">Lightweight host monitoring over UDP</div>
+          </div>
+          <span class="version-badge">v{{ hbd_version }}</span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      <div class="section">
+        <h2>Version</h2>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Server version</span>
+          <span class="info-value">{{ hbd_version }}</span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Python</span>
+          <span class="info-value">{{ python_version }}</span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">License</span>
+          <span class="info-value">MIT</span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      <div class="section">
+        <h2>Runtime</h2>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Host</span>
+          <span class="info-value">{{ server_hostname }}</span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Started</span>
+          <span class="info-value">{{ start_time_str }}</span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Uptime</span>
+          <span class="info-value" id="uptime-value">{{ uptime_str }}</span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Hosts monitored</span>
+          <span class="info-value">{{ host_count }}</span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      <div class="section">
+        <h2>Contact &amp; Source</h2>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Author</span>
+          <span class="info-value">Andreas Wrede</span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Email</span>
+          <span class="info-value"><a href="mailto:aew@wrede.ca">aew@wrede.ca</a></span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="info-row">
+          <span class="info-label">Repository</span>
+          <span class="info-value"><a href="https://git.wrede.ca/andreas/heartbeat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">git.wrede.ca/andreas/heartbeat</a></span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+    </div>
+
+    <script>
+      (function() {
+        var startEpoch = {{ start_epoch }};
+        var el = document.getElementById('uptime-value');
+        if (!el) return;
+        function fmt(s) {
+          var d = Math.floor(s / 86400);
+          var h = Math.floor((s % 86400) / 3600);
+          var m = Math.floor((s % 3600) / 60);
+          var sec = s % 60;
+          if (d > 0) return d + 'd ' + h + 'h ' + m + 'm';
+          if (h > 0) return h + 'h ' + m + 'm ' + sec + 's';
+          return m + 'm ' + sec + 's';
+        }
+        function tick() {
+          var up = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000 - startEpoch);
+          el.textContent = fmt(up);
+        }
+        tick();
+        setInterval(tick, 1000);
+      })();
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>

hbd/server/templates/alerts.html

@@ -3,20 +3,13 @@
   {% include 'head.html' %}
 
   <style>
-    body {
-      margin: 20px;
-      background: #f5f5f5;
-    }
 
     .container {
       max-width: 1400px;
       margin: 0 auto;
     }
 
-    h1 {
-      color: #333;
-      margin-bottom: 10px;
-    }
+    h1 { color: #333; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; font-size: 1.5em; }
 
     .subtitle {
       color: #666;
@@ -41,7 +34,7 @@
       border-left: 4px solid #ddd;
     }
 
-    .summary-card.critical { border-left-color: #f44336; }
+    .summary-card.critical { border-left-color: #ea1e0f; }
     .summary-card.warning  { border-left-color: #ff9800; }
     .summary-card.ok       { border-left-color: #4caf50; }
 
@@ -51,7 +44,7 @@
       line-height: 1;
     }
 
-    .summary-number.critical { color: #f44336; }
+    .summary-number.critical { color: #ea1e0f; }
     .summary-number.warning  { color: #ff9800; }
     .summary-number.ok       { color: #4caf50; }
 
@@ -116,7 +109,7 @@
     }
     
     .alert-item.acknowledged {
-      opacity: 0.6;
+      opacity: 0.8;
       background: #f0f0f0;
     }
 

hbd/server/templates/head.html

@@ -6,13 +6,32 @@
     <title>{{ title }}</title>
     {% if extra_scripts %}<script src="{{ extra_scripts }}"></script>{% endif %}
     <style>
+      /* ── Reset / shared baseline ── */
+      *, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; }
+      html {
+        font-family: 'Segoe UI', system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
+        font-size: 14px;
+      }
+      body {
+        margin: 0;
+        padding: 10px;
+        padding-top: 60px;
+        background: #f5f5f5;
+      }
+      h1 { font-size: 1.5em; color: #333; margin: 0 0 5px; }
+      h2 { font-size: 1.1em; color: #333; margin: 0 0 8px; }
+      p  { margin: 0; }
+
       /* Navigation bar — shared across all pages */
       .nav {
+        position: fixed;
+        top: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        right: 0;
+        z-index: 200;
         background: #fff;
-        padding: 10px 15px;
-        margin-bottom: 10px;
+        padding: 6px 12px;
         box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,.1);
-        border-radius: 4px;
         display: flex;
         align-items: center;
         justify-content: space-between;
@@ -42,6 +61,17 @@
         transition: background 0.15s;
       }
       .nav-user:hover { background: #f0f4ff; text-decoration: none; }
+      .nav-username {
+        max-width: 0;
+        overflow: hidden;
+        white-space: nowrap;
+        opacity: 0;
+        transition: max-width 0.2s ease, opacity 0.2s ease;
+      }
+      .nav-user:hover .nav-username {
+        max-width: 160px;
+        opacity: 1;
+      }
       .nav-avatar {
         width: 28px; height: 28px;
         border-radius: 50%;
@@ -94,6 +124,158 @@
         .nav-links.nav-open { display: flex; }
         .nav-links a { margin-right: 0; padding: 6px 0; font-size: 1em; }
       }
+
+      /* Swiss railway clock — nav */
+      .nav-clock {
+        flex-shrink: 0;
+        line-height: 0;
+        margin-left: auto;
+        padding: 4px 4px 4px 0;
+        cursor: pointer;
+      }
+      #swiss-clock { display: block; }
+
+      /* Swiss railway clock — full-page overlay */
+      #clock-overlay {
+        display: none;
+        position: fixed;
+        inset: 0;
+        z-index: 9999;
+        background: #1a1a1a;
+        align-items: center;
+        justify-content: center;
+        cursor: pointer;
+      }
+      #clock-overlay.visible { display: flex; }
+      #swiss-clock-overlay { display: block; }
     </style>
-    <script src="static/sorttable.js"></script> 
+    <script>
+    /* ── Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) clock ── */
+
+    /* Draw one frame of the clock onto any canvas element. */
+    function drawSwissClock(canvas) {
+      var SIZE = canvas.width;
+      var R = SIZE / 2;
+      var ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
+      var now = new Date();
+      var h  = now.getHours() % 12;
+      var m  = now.getMinutes();
+      var s  = now.getSeconds();
+      var ms = now.getMilliseconds();
+
+      /* Seconds hand idles ~1.5 s at 12 before advancing (SBB behaviour) */
+      var sFrac = s + ms / 1000;
+      var sAngle = sFrac >= 58.5 ? 0 : (sFrac / 58.5) * Math.PI * 2;
+
+      ctx.clearRect(0, 0, SIZE, SIZE);
+
+      /* face */
+      ctx.beginPath();
+      ctx.arc(R, R, R - 1, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+      ctx.fillStyle = '#fff';
+      ctx.fill();
+      ctx.strokeStyle = '#333';
+      ctx.lineWidth = SIZE * 0.018;
+      ctx.stroke();
+
+      /* tick marks */
+      for (var i = 0; i < 60; i++) {
+        var a = (i / 60) * Math.PI * 2 - Math.PI / 2;
+        var isHour = (i % 5 === 0);
+        ctx.beginPath();
+        ctx.moveTo(R + Math.cos(a) * (isHour ? R * 0.72 : R * 0.88),
+                   R + Math.sin(a) * (isHour ? R * 0.72 : R * 0.88));
+        ctx.lineTo(R + Math.cos(a) * R * 0.94,
+                   R + Math.sin(a) * R * 0.94);
+        ctx.strokeStyle = '#222';
+        ctx.lineWidth = isHour ? SIZE * 0.027 : SIZE * 0.011;
+        ctx.lineCap = 'butt';
+        ctx.stroke();
+      }
+
+      /* hands */
+      function hand(angle, tip, tail, width, color) {
+        ctx.save();
+        ctx.translate(R, R);
+        ctx.rotate(angle);
+        ctx.beginPath();
+        ctx.moveTo(tail, 0);
+        ctx.lineTo(tip,  0);
+        ctx.strokeStyle = color;
+        ctx.lineWidth = width;
+        ctx.lineCap = 'square';
+        ctx.stroke();
+        ctx.restore();
+      }
+
+      hand((m + s / 60) / 60 * Math.PI * 2 - Math.PI / 2,
+           R * 0.88, -R * 0.12, SIZE * 0.027, '#222');           /* minute */
+      hand((h + m / 60) / 12 * Math.PI * 2 - Math.PI / 2,
+           R * 0.58, -R * 0.12, SIZE * 0.039, '#222');           /* hour   */
+      hand(sAngle - Math.PI / 2, R * 0.78, -R * 0.22,
+           SIZE * 0.013, '#e00');                                 /* second tail+tip */
+
+      /* round dot at tip of second hand */
+      var dotR = SIZE * 0.028;
+      ctx.save();
+      ctx.translate(R, R);
+      ctx.rotate(sAngle - Math.PI / 2);
+      ctx.beginPath();
+      ctx.arc(R * 0.78, 0, dotR, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+      ctx.fillStyle = '#e00';
+      ctx.fill();
+      ctx.restore();
+
+      /* centre cap */
+      ctx.beginPath();
+      ctx.arc(R, R, R * 0.04, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+      ctx.fillStyle = '#222';
+      ctx.fill();
+    }
+
+    /* Resize the overlay canvas to fit the viewport, keeping it square. */
+    function resizeOverlayClock() {
+      var oc = document.getElementById('swiss-clock-overlay');
+      if (!oc) return;
+      var size = Math.min(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight) * 0.88;
+      size = Math.floor(size);
+      oc.width  = size;
+      oc.height = size;
+    }
+
+    /* Main tick — redraws both nav clock and (if visible) overlay clock. */
+    function clockTick() {
+      var nav = document.getElementById('swiss-clock');
+      if (nav) drawSwissClock(nav);
+      var overlay = document.getElementById('clock-overlay');
+      if (overlay && overlay.classList.contains('visible')) {
+        var oc = document.getElementById('swiss-clock-overlay');
+        if (oc) drawSwissClock(oc);
+      }
+      var delay = 100 - (Date.now() % 100);
+      setTimeout(clockTick, delay);
+    }
+
+    document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
+      /* Start the shared tick loop */
+      clockTick();
+
+      /* Overlay toggle — clicking the nav clock opens it */
+      var navClock = document.querySelector('.nav-clock');
+      var overlay  = document.getElementById('clock-overlay');
+      if (navClock && overlay) {
+        navClock.addEventListener('click', function() {
+          resizeOverlayClock();
+          overlay.classList.add('visible');
+        });
+        overlay.addEventListener('click', function() {
+          overlay.classList.remove('visible');
+        });
+        window.addEventListener('resize', function() {
+          if (overlay.classList.contains('visible')) resizeOverlayClock();
+        });
+      }
+    });
+    </script>
+    <script src="static/sorttable.js"></script>
 </head>

hbd/server/templates/live.html

@@ -7,10 +7,6 @@
       display: flex;
       flex-direction: column;
       height: 100vh;
-      box-sizing: border-box;
-      padding: 10px;
-      margin: 0;
-      background: #f5f5f5;
       overflow: hidden;
     }
 
@@ -49,6 +45,7 @@
     h1 {
       color: #333;
       margin-bottom: 5px;
+      margin-top: 15px; 
       font-size: 1.5em;
     }
 
@@ -489,8 +486,10 @@
     {% include 'menu.html' %}
 
     <div class="container">
-      <h1>{{ header }}</h1>
-      <p class="subtitle">Real-time host monitoring and event log</p>
+      <div>
+        <h1>{{ header }}</h1>
+        <p class="subtitle">Real-time host monitoring and event log</p>
+      </div>
       
       <div class="table-section">
         <table id="ntable" class="sortable">

hbd/server/templates/nav.html

@@ -4,11 +4,15 @@
   </button>
   <div class="nav-links" id="nav-links">
     <a href="/live"{% if active_page == "live" %} class="active"{% endif %}>Live Dashboard</a>
-    <a href="/plugins"{% if active_page == "plugins" %} class="active"{% endif %}>Plugin Metrics</a>
+    <a href="/plugins"{% if active_page == "plugins" %} class="active"{% endif %}>Host Overview</a>
     <a href="/alerts"{% if active_page == "alerts" %} class="active"{% endif %}>Alerts</a>
     {% if current_user and current_user.admin %}
     <a href="/settings"{% if active_page == "settings" %} class="active"{% endif %}>Settings</a>
     {% endif %}
+    <a href="/about"{% if active_page == "about" %} class="active"{% endif %}>About</a>
+  </div>
+  <div class="nav-clock" title="Click for full-screen clock">
+    <canvas id="swiss-clock" width="44" height="44"></canvas>
   </div>
   {% if current_user %}
   <a href="/profile" class="nav-user{% if active_page == 'profile' %} active{% endif %}" title="{{ current_user.full_name or current_user.username }}">
@@ -21,6 +25,12 @@
   </a>
   {% endif %}
 </div>
+
+<!-- Full-page clock overlay (click anywhere to dismiss) -->
+<div id="clock-overlay">
+  <canvas id="swiss-clock-overlay" width="400" height="400"></canvas>
+</div>
+
 <script>
   (function() {
     var btn = document.getElementById('nav-hamburger-btn');

hbd/server/templates/profile.html

@@ -3,15 +3,7 @@
   {% include 'head.html' %}
 
   <style>
-    html, body {
-      overflow: visible;
-    }
-
-    body {
-      margin: 20px;
-      background: #f5f5f5;
-      font-family: 'Segoe UI', system-ui, sans-serif;
-    }
+    html, body { overflow: visible; }
 
     .container {
       max-width: 900px;

hbd/server/templates/settings.html

@@ -3,22 +3,13 @@
   {% include 'head.html' %}
 
   <style>
-    html, body {
-      overflow: visible;
-    }
-
-    body {
-      margin: 20px;
-      background: #f5f5f5;
-      font-family: 'Segoe UI', system-ui, sans-serif;
-    }
+    html, body { overflow: visible; }
 
     .container {
       max-width: 960px;
-      margin: 0 auto;
     }
 
-    h1 { color: #333; margin-bottom: 4px; font-size: 1.5em; }
+    h1 { color: #333; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; font-size: 1.5em; }
     .subtitle { color: #666; margin-bottom: 24px; font-size: 0.9em; }
 
     /* ---- Sidebar + content layout ---- */
@@ -32,7 +23,7 @@
       width: 180px;
       flex-shrink: 0;
       position: sticky;
-      top: 20px;
+      top: 60px;
     }
 
     .sidebar-nav a {

hbd/server/threshold.py

@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ class AlertState:
         self.acknowledged = False  # Whether alert has been acknowledged
         self.acknowledged_at = None  # Timestamp when acknowledged
         self.consecutive_count = 0  # Consecutive exceedances while still OK (for count gating)
+        self.pending_since: Optional[float] = None  # non-None while waiting out grace period before notifying
     
     def update(
         self, 
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ class AlertState:
             self.level = level
             self.since = now
             self.notification_count = 0
+            self.last_notification = None  # restart reminder interval on level change
             # Reset acknowledgment on state change
             if level != AlertLevel.OK:
                 # Only reset if changing to a different alert level
@@ -339,8 +341,9 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
         self.default_config = "default"
         
         self.renotify_interval = renotify_interval
+        self.grace_seconds: float = float(config.get("grace", 2))
         self.journal = journal
-        
+
         # Parse configuration
         self._parse_config(config)
         
@@ -371,7 +374,8 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
         self.threshold_configs.clear()
         self.thresholds.clear()
         self.host_config_mapping.clear()
-        
+        self.grace_seconds = float(config.get("grace", 2))
+
         # Parse new configuration
         self._parse_config(config)
         
@@ -759,15 +763,10 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
         # Update state and check for changes
         old_level = alert_state.level
         if alert_state.update(new_level, value, threshold_value, threshold.operator.value):
-            # For check_value, we don't have full plugin data, pass None
-            lvl, message, formatted_msg = self._trigger_notification(host_name, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value, threshold, None)
-            # Update alert state with formatted message
-            alert_state.formatted_message = formatted_msg
-            self._send_notification(host_name, lvl, message, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value)
+            self._apply_grace(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value, threshold, None)
             return (old_level, new_level)
         elif new_level != AlertLevel.OK:
-            # Check if we should re-notify
-            self._check_renotify(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, value, threshold, None)
+            self._check_pending_or_renotify(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, value, threshold, None)
 
         return None
     def check_plugin_data(
@@ -826,14 +825,10 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
             old_level = alert_state.level
             if alert_state.update(new_level, value, threshold_value, threshold.operator.value):
                 state_changes.append((metric_path, old_level, new_level, value))
-                lvl, message, formatted_msg = self._trigger_notification(host_name, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value, threshold, data)
-                # Update alert state with formatted message
-                alert_state.formatted_message = formatted_msg
-                self._send_notification(host_name, lvl, message, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value)
+                self._apply_grace(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value, threshold, data)
             elif new_level != AlertLevel.OK:
-                # Check if we should re-notify
-                self._check_renotify(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, value, threshold, data)
-        
+                self._check_pending_or_renotify(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, value, threshold, data)
+
         # Check nested metrics (e.g., partition data in disk_monitor)
         self._check_nested_metrics(
             host_name,
@@ -895,20 +890,9 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
                     old_level = alert_state.level
                     if alert_state.update(new_level, value, threshold_value, threshold.operator.value):
                         state_changes.append((metric_path, old_level, new_level, value))
-                        lvl, message, formatted_msg = self._trigger_notification(
-                            host_name,
-                            metric_path,
-                            old_level,
-                            new_level,
-                            value,
-                            threshold,
-                            data  # Pass full plugin data for format string
-                        )
-                        # Update alert state with formatted message
-                        alert_state.formatted_message = formatted_msg
-                        self._send_notification(host_name, lvl, message, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value)
+                        self._apply_grace(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value, threshold, data)
                     elif new_level != AlertLevel.OK:
-                        self._check_renotify(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, value, threshold, data)
+                        self._check_pending_or_renotify(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, value, threshold, data)
     
     def _trigger_notification(
         self,
@@ -947,7 +931,7 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
 
         # Format message
         if new_level == AlertLevel.OK:
-            lvl = "RECOVERED"
+            lvl = "RECOVER"
             message = f"{metric_path} = {display_value} ({old_level.name} -> OK)"
         elif new_level == AlertLevel.WARNING:
             lvl = "WARNING"
@@ -1003,18 +987,14 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
         value: Any,
     ):
         """Send notification and log to journal/eventlog."""
-        try:
-            notify_mod.send_notification(
-                host_name,
-                notify_mod.Notification(
-                    title=f"[{lvl}] {host_name}",
-                    body=message,
-                    level=lvl,
-                ),
-            )
-            logger.info("Notification sent: %s", message)
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error("Failed to send notification: %s", e)
+        asyncio.get_event_loop().create_task(notify_mod.send_notification(
+            host_name,
+            notify_mod.Notification(
+                title=f"[{lvl}] {host_name}",
+                body=message,
+                level=lvl,
+            ),
+        ))
         
         # Log to journal
         if self.journal is not None:
@@ -1083,6 +1063,74 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
             )
             return f"(threshold: {op_symbol} {threshold_value})"
     
+    def _apply_grace(
+        self,
+        host_name: str,
+        alert_state: AlertState,
+        metric_path: str,
+        old_level: AlertLevel,
+        new_level: AlertLevel,
+        value: Any,
+        threshold: ThresholdConfig,
+        plugin_data: Optional[Dict[str, Any]],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Handle a state-change transition with grace-period logic.
+
+        Transitioning INTO alert: defers the notification for grace_seconds.
+        Transitioning TO OK:
+          - Still in grace window (pending_since set): suppresses both the alert
+            and the recovery — the spike never warranted a page.
+          - Past grace: fires the RECOVER notification normally.
+        """
+        lvl, message, formatted_msg = self._trigger_notification(
+            host_name, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value, threshold, plugin_data
+        )
+        alert_state.formatted_message = formatted_msg
+
+        if new_level == AlertLevel.OK:
+            if alert_state.pending_since is not None:
+                logger.info(
+                    "Alert suppressed (recovered within %.0fs grace): %s on %s",
+                    self.grace_seconds, metric_path, host_name,
+                )
+                alert_state.pending_since = None
+            else:
+                self._send_notification(host_name, lvl, message, metric_path, old_level, new_level, value)
+        else:
+            alert_state.pending_since = time.time()
+            logger.debug(
+                "Alert deferred (%.0fs grace): %s on %s = %s",
+                self.grace_seconds, metric_path, host_name, value,
+            )
+
+    def _check_pending_or_renotify(
+        self,
+        host_name: str,
+        alert_state: AlertState,
+        metric_path: str,
+        value: Any,
+        threshold: ThresholdConfig,
+        plugin_data: Optional[Dict[str, Any]],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Called when alert level is unchanged and non-OK.
+
+        If a deferred notification is pending and grace_seconds have elapsed,
+        fires it now. Otherwise falls through to normal reminder logic.
+        """
+        if alert_state.pending_since is not None:
+            if time.time() - alert_state.pending_since >= self.grace_seconds:
+                lvl, message, formatted_msg = self._trigger_notification(
+                    host_name, metric_path, AlertLevel.OK, alert_state.level, value, threshold, plugin_data
+                )
+                alert_state.formatted_message = formatted_msg
+                self._send_notification(
+                    host_name, lvl, message, metric_path, AlertLevel.OK, alert_state.level, value
+                )
+                alert_state.pending_since = None
+            # else: still within grace window, do nothing
+        else:
+            self._check_renotify(host_name, alert_state, metric_path, value, threshold, plugin_data)
+
     def _check_renotify(
         self,
         host_name: str,
@@ -1143,20 +1191,17 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
             else:
                 message = f"REMINDER ({alert_state.level.name}): {host_name} - {metric_path} = {value} (ongoing for {int(now - alert_state.since)}s)"
             
-            try:
-                notify_mod.send_notification(
-                    host_name,
-                    notify_mod.Notification(
-                        title=f"[REMINDER/{alert_state.level.name}] {host_name}",
-                        body=message,
-                        level=alert_state.level.name,
-                    ),
-                )
-                alert_state.last_notification = now
-                alert_state.notification_count += 1
-                logger.info("Re-notification sent: %s", message)
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.error("Failed to send re-notification: %s", e)
+            asyncio.get_event_loop().create_task(notify_mod.send_notification(
+                host_name,
+                notify_mod.Notification(
+                    title=f"[REMINDER/{alert_state.level.name}] {host_name}",
+                    body=message,
+                    level=alert_state.level.name,
+                ),
+            ))
+            alert_state.last_notification = now
+            alert_state.notification_count += 1
+            logger.info("Re-notification sent: %s", message)
     
     def get_active_alerts(self, alert_states: Dict[str, AlertState]) -> list:
         """

hbd/server/udp.py

@@ -171,6 +171,24 @@ def dicttos(ID, d):
 DROPOVERDUE = 7 * 24 * 3600  # seconds before an overdue host becomes UNKNOWN
 
 
+def _set_connectivity_alert(host, afam, level_name):
+    """Update (or clear) a connectivity alert_state entry for a host/address-family.
+
+    level_name is "CRITICAL", "WARNING", or "OK".  "OK" removes the entry so
+    that recovered hosts don't clutter the Alerts Dashboard.
+    """
+    from .threshold import AlertState, AlertLevel
+    metric_path = f"connectivity.{afam}"
+    level = getattr(AlertLevel, level_name, AlertLevel.OK)
+    if level == AlertLevel.OK:
+        host.alert_states.pop(metric_path, None)
+        return
+    if metric_path not in host.alert_states:
+        host.alert_states[metric_path] = AlertState(metric_path)
+    state = host.alert_states[metric_path]
+    state.update(level, level_name)
+
+
 def _make_timer_callbacks(uname, host, ctx):
     """Return (on_overdue, on_unknown) async callbacks for connection timer logic.
 
@@ -182,6 +200,7 @@ def _make_timer_callbacks(uname, host, ctx):
 
     async def on_unknown(connection):
         connection.newstate(connection.__class__.UNKNOWN, connection.lastbeat)
+        # Keep connectivity alert active when host transitions to unknown
         if msg_to_websockets:
             msg_to_websockets("host", host.stateinfo())
 
@@ -192,10 +211,12 @@ def _make_timer_callbacks(uname, host, ctx):
         connection.newstate(connection.__class__.OVERDUE, now, cfg.get("grace", 2))
         msg = f"{connection.afam} overdue"
         eventlog(uname, "CRITICAL", msg)
-        notify_mod.send_notification(
+        asyncio.create_task(notify_mod.send_notification(
             uname,
             notify_mod.Notification(title=f"[CRITICAL] {uname}", body=msg, level="CRITICAL"),
-        )
+        ))
+        # Track in alert_states so the Alerts Dashboard shows this
+        _set_connectivity_alert(host, connection.afam, "CRITICAL")
         if threshold_checker:
             threshold_checker.check_value(
                 host_name=uname,
@@ -294,7 +315,6 @@ def handle_datagram(msg: dict, addr, transport, ctx: dict):
     
     cfg = ctx.get("config", {})
     hbdcls = ctx.get("hbdclass")
-    log = ctx.get("log")
     msg_to_websockets = ctx.get("msg_to_websockets")
     DEBUG = ctx.get("DEBUG", 0)
     verbose = ctx.get("verbose", False)
@@ -387,10 +407,10 @@ def handle_datagram(msg: dict, addr, transport, ctx: dict):
 
     if res:
         eventlog(uname, "WARNING", res)
-        notify_mod.send_notification(
+        asyncio.create_task(notify_mod.send_notification(
             uname,
             notify_mod.Notification(title=f"[WARNING] {uname}", body=res, level="WARNING"),
-        )
+        ))
 
     interval = int(msg.get("interval", 0) or 0)
     shutdown = msg.get("shutdown", 0)
@@ -400,16 +420,18 @@ def handle_datagram(msg: dict, addr, transport, ctx: dict):
 
     if boot:
         eventlog(uname, "INFO", "booted")
-        notify_mod.send_notification(
+        asyncio.create_task(notify_mod.send_notification(
             uname,
             notify_mod.Notification(title=f"[INFO] {uname}", body=f"{host.name} booted", level="INFO"),
-        )
+        ))
     if message:
         eventlog(uname, "INFO", "msg: %s" % message, service=service)
 
     if conn.getstate() != hbdcls.Connection.UP:
         lasts = conn.state
         d = conn.newstate(hbdcls.Connection.UP, now)
+        # Clear connectivity alert now that the host is back up
+        _set_connectivity_alert(host, conn.afam, "OK")
         # Don't log/notify RECOVER for a brand-new host seen for the first time —
         # it was never down, it just hasn't been seen before.
         if not newh:
@@ -418,10 +440,10 @@ def handle_datagram(msg: dict, addr, transport, ctx: dict):
             else:
                 m = "%s back after being %s for %s" % (conn.afam, lasts, dur(d))
             eventlog(uname, "RECOVER", m)
-            notify_mod.send_notification(
+            asyncio.create_task(notify_mod.send_notification(
                 uname,
                 notify_mod.Notification(title=f"[RECOVER] {uname}", body=m, level="RECOVER"),
-            )
+            ))
 
     if boot or newh:
         host.upcount = host.doesack
@@ -431,11 +453,12 @@ def handle_datagram(msg: dict, addr, transport, ctx: dict):
     if shutdown:
         m = "%s shutdown" % conn.afam
         eventlog(uname, "INFO", m)
-        notify_mod.send_notification(
+        asyncio.create_task(notify_mod.send_notification(
             uname,
             notify_mod.Notification(title=f"[INFO] {uname}", body=m, level="INFO"),
-        )
+        ))
         conn.newstate(hbdcls.Connection.DOWN, now)
+        _set_connectivity_alert(host, conn.afam, "CRITICAL")
 
     if interval > 0:
         host.interval = interval
@@ -467,12 +490,10 @@ def handle_datagram(msg: dict, addr, transport, ctx: dict):
         op, rmsg = host.cmds[0]
         if op == "CMD":
             del host.cmds[0]
-            if log:
-                log(uname, "command sent")
+            eventlog(uname, "INFO", "command sent")
         elif op == "UPD":
             del host.cmds[0]
-            if log:
-                log(uname, "update initiated")
+            eventlog(uname, "INFO", "update initiated")
         opkt = dicttos(op, rmsg)
         try:
             transport.sendto(opkt, addr)

pyproject.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "hbd"
-version = "5.1.1"
+version = "5.1.10"
 description = "Heartbeat monitoring system — client (hbc) and server (hbd)"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ server = [
   "matrix-nio>=0.24",
 ]
 
+# Minimal client — hbc_mini only, no external dependencies
+mini = []
+
 # Install both client and server
 all = [
   "hbd[client,server]",
@@ -54,6 +57,9 @@ dev = [
 hbd = "hbd.server.cli:main"
 hbc = "hbd.client.main:main"
 
+[tool.setuptools]
+script-files = ["scripts/hb_install.sh", "scripts/hbc_mini.py"]
+
 [tool.setuptools.packages.find]
 where = ["."]
 include = ["hbd*"]

scripts/bumpminor.sh

@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@ set -e
 uv version --bump patch 
 VER=$(uv  version  --short)
 sed -i".bak"  "s/__version__ = \"[0-9.]*\"\(.*\)$/__version__ = \"$VER\"\1/" hbd/__init__.py
+sed -i".bak"  "s/__version__ = \"[0-9.]*\"\(.*\)$/__version__ = \"$VER\"\1/" scripts/hbc_mini.py
 
 # commit pyproject.toml
-git commit -m "version $VER" pyproject.toml hbd/__init__.py
+git commit -m "version $VER" pyproject.toml hbd/__init__.py scripts/hbc_mini.py
 git push 
 # tag version
 git tag -a v$VER -m "Version $VER"
 git push --tags
 
 rm hbd/__init__.py.bak
+rm scripts/hbc_mini.py.bak

scripts/hb_install.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# Helper script to install the heartbeat tools. By default, it will only
+# install the heartbeat client, hbc. The server is installed when the arg 'server' is passed 
+# to the script. The script will install the heartbeat tools in a python 
+# virtual environment in ~/venvs/hbd. The hbd and hbc commands will be
+# installed from the wheel and symlinked to ~/bin/hbd and ~/bin/hbc,
+# respectively. If the virtual environment already exists, it will be
+# reused. The script will also remove any existing symlinks for hbd and hbc
+# in ~/bin before creating new ones.
+
+set -e
+what=$1
+on_ha=0
+where=""
+venv=""
+prog=$(realpath $0)
+[ "$2" = "HA" ] && on_ha=1
+[ -z "$what" ] && what="client"
+
+if [ -d /homeassistant ]; then
+    echo "HA, running \"docker exec homeassistant $prog $@\""
+    docker exec homeassistant $prog $@ HA
+    rc=$?
+    if [ $rc -ne 0 ]; then
+        echo "Failed to install heartbeat in HA, please check the logs for more details"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+if [ $on_ha -eq 1 ]; then
+    echo "Installing under docker on Home Assistant OS, using /config/bin for executables and /config/venvs for virtual environments "
+    where="/config/bin"
+    venv="/config/venvs"
+else
+    if [ ! -d $HOME/.local/bin ] && [ ! -d $HOME/bin ]; then
+        echo "No suitable bin directory found in PATH, please add either $HOME/.local/bin or $HOME/bin to your PATH"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    for where in $HOME/bin $HOME/.local/bin notset ; do
+        if echo ":$PATH:" | grep -q ":$where:" ; then
+            break
+        fi
+    done
+    if [ "$where" = "notset" ]; then
+        echo "No suitable bin directory found in PATH, please add either $HOME/.local/bin or $HOME/bin to your PATH"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    if [ "$what" = "mini" ]; then
+        venv=""
+    else
+        venv="$HOME/venvs"
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo "Installing heartbeat $what"
+
+if [ "$venv" != "" ] && [ ! -d  $venv/hbd ]; then
+    set +e
+    python3 -m pip --version > /dev/null 2>&1 
+    rc=$?
+    set -e
+    arg=""
+    if [ $rc -ne 0 ]; then
+        # some systems do not have pip installed by default, so we need to fetch get-pip.py and install pip
+        echo "pip is not installed, fetching get-pip.py and installing pip"
+        arg="--without-pip"
+    fi
+    mkdir -p $venv
+    have_venv=$(python3 -c "import venv" &> /dev/null && echo "Installed" || echo "Not Installed")
+    if [ "$have_venv" = "Not Installed" ]; then
+        echo "python venv module not found, installing virtualenv"
+        python3 -m pip install --user virtualenv
+        python3 -m virtualenv $venv/hbd --system-site-packages $arg
+    else
+        python3 -m venv $venv/hbd --system-site-packages $arg
+    fi
+    . $venv/hbd/bin/activate
+    if [ -n "$arg" ]; then  
+        curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py && python3 get-pip.py
+    fi
+    deactivate
+fi
+
+if [ -z "$venv" ]; then
+    echo "Installing heartbeat $what globally"
+else
+    echo "Installing heartbeat $what in virtual environment $venv/hbd"
+    . $venv/hbd/bin/activate
+fi
+if [ "$what" = "mini" ]; then
+    echo "Installing hbc mini, which has no external dependencies and is meant for quick setup and testing. For the full client with all features, please run this script with the 'client' argument."
+    curl -s -o $where/hbc_mini https://git.wrede.ca/andreas/heartbeat/raw/branch/master/scripts/hbc_mini.py
+    chmod +x $where/hbc_mini
+else
+    echo "Installing heartbeat $what, which includes the full client with all features. If you want to install the minimal client with no external dependencies, please run this script with the 'mini' argument."
+    python3 -mpip install --upgrade --index-url https://git.wrede.ca/api/packages/andreas/pypi/simple/ --extra-index-url https://pypi.org/simple hbd[$what]
+fi
+
+if [ "$what" = "server" ]; then
+    rm -f $where/hbd
+    ln -sf $(which hbd) $where/hbd
+    echo "hbd installed, you can run it with \"$where/hbd\" or \"hbd\" if $where is in your PATH"
+elif [ "$what" = "client" ]; then
+    hbc_path=$(which hbc)
+    if [ -z "$hbc_path" ]; then
+        echo "hbc not found in PATH, installation failed"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    if [ "$hbc_path" != "$where/hbc" ]; then
+        rm -f $where/hbc
+        ln -sf $(which hbc) $where/hbc
+    fi
+    if [ "$prog" != "$where/hb_install.sh" ]; then
+        cp "$prog" $where/hb_install.sh
+        chmod +x $where/hb_install.sh
+    fi
+    if [ $on_ha -eq 1 ]; then
+        echo "restarting hbc "
+        job=$(grep run_hbc configuration.yaml | sed 's/run_hbc://')
+        $job
+    else
+        echo "hbc installed, you can run it with \"$where/hbc\" or \"hbc\" if $where is in your PATH"
+    fi  
+elif [ "$what" = "mini" ]; then
+    hbc_path=$(which hbc_mini)
+    if [ "$hbc_path" != "$where/hbc_mini" ]; then
+       ln -sf $hbc_path $where/hbc_mini
+    fi
+    echo "hbc mini installed, you can run it with \"$where/hbc_mini\" or \"hbc_mini\" if $where is in your PATH"
+fi

scripts/install.sh

@@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# install the heartbeat client, hbc. The server is installed when the arg 'server' is passed 
-# install the heartbeat client, hbc. The server is installed when the arg 'server' is passed 
-# to the script. The script will install the heartbeat tools in a python 
-# virtual environment in ~/venvs/hbd. The hbd and hbc commands will be
-# installed from the wheel and symlinked to ~/bin/hbd and ~/bin/hbc,
-# respectively. If the virtual environment already exists, it will be
-# reused. The script will also remove any existing symlinks for hbd and hbc
-# in ~/bin before creating new ones.
-
-
-# hbd/hbc from wheel and create symlinks for hbd and hbc in ~/bin
-
-set -e
-what=$1
-
-if [ -d /homeassistant ]; then
-    echo "cannot install in HA, run \"docker exec -it homeassistant $0 $@\""
-    exit 1
-fi
-if [ -d /config ]; then
-    echo "Installing on HA"
-    where="/config/bin"
-    venv="/config/venvs"
-else
-    if [ ! -d ~/.local/bin ] && [ ! -d ~/bin ]; then
-        echo "No suitable bin directory found in PATH, please add either ~/.local/bin or ~/bin to your PATH"
-        exit 1
-    fi
-    for where in ~/bin ~/.local/bin; do
-        if echo ":$PATH:" | grep -q ":$where:" ; then
-            break
-        fi
-    done
-    venv="~/venvs"
-fi
-python3 -m pip --version > /dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "pip is not installed, please install pip for python3"; exit 1; }
-
-if [ "$what" = "server" ]; then
-    echo "Installing heartbeat server (hbd)"
-else
-    what="client"
-    echo "Installing heartbeat client (hbc)"
-fi
-if [ ! -d  $venv/hbd ]; then
-    mkdir -p $venv
-    python3 -m venv $venv/hbd --system-site-packages
-fi
-. $venv/hbd/bin/activate
-pip install --index-url https://git.wrede.ca/api/packages/andreas/pypi/simple/ --extra-index-url https://pypi.org/simple hbd[$what]
-if [ "$what" = "server" ]; then
-    rm -f ~$where/hbd
-    ln -sf $(which hbd) $where/hbd
-else
-    rm -f $where/hbc
-    ln -sf $(which hbc) $where/hbc
-fi

tests/test_nagios_runner.py

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import os
+import stat
+
+from hbd.client.plugins.nagios_runner import (
+    NagiosRunnerPlugin,
+    NAGIOS_OK,
+    NAGIOS_WARNING,
+    NAGIOS_CRITICAL,
+    NAGIOS_UNKNOWN,
+)
+
+
+def test_no_commands_sets_skip_reason():
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config={"commands": []})
+    result = asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    assert result is False
+    assert plugin.skip_reason is not None
+    assert "nagios_runner.commands" in plugin.skip_reason
+
+
+def test_stderr_used_when_stdout_empty(tmp_path):
+    script = tmp_path / "check_err.sh"
+    script.write_text("#!/bin/sh\necho 'error from stderr' >&2\nexit 2\n")
+    script.chmod(script.stat().st_mode | stat.S_IEXEC)
+
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": str(script)}], "timeout": 5}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+    asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    data = asyncio.run(plugin._collect_metrics())
+
+    assert "error from stderr" in data["t_output"]
+    assert data["t_status_code"] == NAGIOS_CRITICAL
+
+
+def test_stderr_appended_when_both_present(tmp_path):
+    script = tmp_path / "check_both.sh"
+    script.write_text("#!/bin/sh\necho 'OK - all good'\necho 'extra detail' >&2\nexit 0\n")
+    script.chmod(script.stat().st_mode | stat.S_IEXEC)
+
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": str(script)}], "timeout": 5}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+    asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    data = asyncio.run(plugin._collect_metrics())
+
+    assert "OK - all good" in data["t_output"]
+    assert "extra detail" in data["t_output"]
+    assert data["t_status_code"] == NAGIOS_OK
+
+
+def test_negative_returncode_maps_to_unknown():
+    # kill -9 $$ kills the shell itself; asyncio sees returncode -9
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": "kill -9 $$"}], "timeout": 5}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+    asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+    data = asyncio.run(plugin._collect_metrics())
+
+    assert data["t_status_code"] == NAGIOS_UNKNOWN
+    assert "signal" in data["t_output"].lower()
+
+
+def test_absolute_path_not_found_warns(caplog):
+    fake_cmd = "/nonexistent_hbc_test_path/check_something"
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": fake_cmd}]}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.nagios_runner"):
+        asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+
+    assert any("not found" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+
+
+def test_absolute_path_not_executable_warns(caplog, tmp_path):
+    non_exec = tmp_path / "check_test"
+    non_exec.write_text("#!/bin/sh\necho OK\n")
+    non_exec.chmod(0o644)  # readable but not executable
+
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": str(non_exec)}]}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.nagios_runner"):
+        asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+
+    assert any("not executable" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+
+
+def test_relative_path_not_checked(caplog):
+    # Relative paths (resolved via PATH) must not generate warnings
+    config = {"commands": [{"name": "t", "command": "echo OK"}]}
+    plugin = NagiosRunnerPlugin(config=config)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.nagios_runner"):
+        asyncio.run(plugin.initialize())
+
+    assert not any(
+        "not found" in r.message or "not executable" in r.message
+        for r in caplog.records
+    )

tests/test_plugin.py

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import textwrap
+
+from hbd.client.plugin import PluginLoader, PluginRegistry
+
+
+def test_plugin_skip_reason_defaults_none(tmp_path):
+    plugin_code = textwrap.dedent("""
+        from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
+
+        class MinimalPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
+            name = "minimal"
+            version = "1.0.0"
+            interval = 60
+
+            async def initialize(self):
+                return True
+
+            async def _collect_metrics(self):
+                return {}
+    """)
+    (tmp_path / "minimal.py").write_text(plugin_code)
+    registry = PluginRegistry()
+    loader = PluginLoader(registry)
+    asyncio.run(loader.load_from_directory(tmp_path))
+    plugin = registry.get("minimal")
+    assert plugin is not None
+    assert plugin.skip_reason is None
+
+
+def test_loader_logs_info_when_skip_reason_set(tmp_path, caplog):
+    plugin_code = textwrap.dedent("""
+        from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
+
+        class SkippablePlugin(MonitorPlugin):
+            name = "skippable"
+            version = "1.0.0"
+            interval = 60
+
+            async def initialize(self):
+                self.skip_reason = "not configured in yaml"
+                return False
+
+            async def _collect_metrics(self):
+                return {}
+    """)
+    (tmp_path / "skippable.py").write_text(plugin_code)
+    registry = PluginRegistry()
+    loader = PluginLoader(registry)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.INFO, logger="plugin.loader"):
+        count = asyncio.run(loader.load_from_directory(tmp_path))
+
+    assert count == 0
+    assert any("skipped: not configured in yaml" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+    assert not any("failed initialization" in r.message for r in caplog.records)
+
+
+def test_loader_logs_warning_when_no_skip_reason(tmp_path, caplog):
+    plugin_code = textwrap.dedent("""
+        from hbd.client.plugin import MonitorPlugin
+
+        class FailPlugin(MonitorPlugin):
+            name = "fail"
+            version = "1.0.0"
+            interval = 60
+
+            async def initialize(self):
+                return False
+
+            async def _collect_metrics(self):
+                return {}
+    """)
+    (tmp_path / "fail_plugin.py").write_text(plugin_code)
+    registry = PluginRegistry()
+    loader = PluginLoader(registry)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="plugin.loader"):
+        count = asyncio.run(loader.load_from_directory(tmp_path))
+
+    assert count == 0
+    assert any("failed initialization" in r.message for r in caplog.records)