version 5.1.12

- 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>

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__ = "5.1.2"
+__version__ = "5.1.12"

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:
@@ -369,9 +371,14 @@ class PluginLoader:
                     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/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:
@@ -357,40 +340,23 @@ 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:
-    """Send *notif* to a single named channel, honouring min_level.
 
-    RECOVER always bypasses min_level — a recovery is always relevant if the
-    channel was configured for any alerting (handles the restart-then-recover case
-    where _alerted_channels is empty and we fall through to the normal loop).
-    """
+async def _dispatch_to_channel(channel_name: str, channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notification) -> bool:
+    """Send *notif* to a single named channel, honouring min_level."""
     level = notif.level.upper()
     if level != "RECOVER":
         min_level = channel_cfg.get("min_level", "WARNING").upper()
@@ -398,14 +364,24 @@ def _dispatch_to_channel(channel_name: str, channel_cfg: dict, notif: Notificati
             logger.debug(
                 "channel '%s': skipping level %s (min_level=%s)", channel_name, level, min_level
             )
-            return True  # not an error — filtered intentionally
+            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)
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -419,7 +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
@@ -469,16 +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
 
@@ -489,14 +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

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       margin: 0 auto;
     }
 
-    h1 { color: #333; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 1.5em; }
+    h1 { color: #333; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; font-size: 1.5em; }
 
     .subtitle {
       color: #666;

hbd/server/templates/head.html

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
       body {
         margin: 0;
         padding: 10px;
+        padding-top: 60px;
         background: #f5f5f5;
       }
       h1 { font-size: 1.5em; color: #333; margin: 0 0 5px; }
@@ -23,11 +24,14 @@
 
       /* Navigation bar — shared across all pages */
       .nav {
+        position: fixed;
+        top: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        right: 0;
+        z-index: 200;
         background: #fff;
         padding: 6px 12px;
-        margin-bottom: 10px;
         box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,.1);
-        border-radius: 4px;
         display: flex;
         align-items: center;
         justify-content: space-between;

hbd/server/templates/live.html

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
     h1 {
       color: #333;
       margin-bottom: 5px;
+      margin-top: 15px; 
       font-size: 1.5em;
     }
 

hbd/server/templates/nav.html

@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
   </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>

hbd/server/templates/settings.html

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       max-width: 960px;
     }
 
-    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 ---- */
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
       width: 180px;
       flex-shrink: 0;
       position: sticky;
-      top: 20px;
+      top: 60px;
     }
 
     .sidebar-nav a {

hbd/server/threshold.py

@@ -987,18 +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:
@@ -1195,20 +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

@@ -211,10 +211,10 @@ 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:
@@ -315,7 +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)
@@ -408,10 +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)
@@ -421,10 +420,10 @@ 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)
 
@@ -441,10 +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
@@ -454,10 +453,10 @@ 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")
 
@@ -491,12 +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 = "5.1.2"
+version = "5.1.12"
 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 +1,115 @@
+#!/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=""
+[ "$2" = "HA" ] && on_ha=1
+[ -z "$what" ] && what="client"
+
+if [ -d /homeassistant ]; then  # if running from HA command line
+    echo "HA, running \"docker exec homeassistant /config/bin/hb_install.sh $@\""
+    docker exec homeassistant /config/bin/hb_install.sh $@ HA
+    rc=$?
+    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 ] || [ -r /.dockerenv ] && [ -d /config/bin ]; then
+    # Installing under docker on Home Assistant OS, using /config/bin for executables and /config/venvs for virtual environments 
+    echo "Home Assistant OS detected, installing under docker"
+    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 $what to $where"
+if [ ! -z "$venv" ]; then
+    echo "Using virtual environment at $venv/hbd"
+fi
+
+if [ "$venv" != "" ] && [ ! -d  $venv/hbd ]; then
+    arg=""
+    have_pip=$(python3 -c "import pip" 2>/dev/null &> /dev/null && echo "Installed" || echo "Not Installed")
+    if [ "$have_pip" = "Not Installed" ]; 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" 2>/dev/null &> /dev/null && echo "Installed" || echo "Not Installed")
+    if [ "$have_venv" = "Not Installed" ]; then
+        if [ "$have_pip" = "Not Installed" ]; then
+            echo "python has no venv, and no pip to install virtualenv, cannot continue"
+            exit 1
+        fi
+        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
+    . $venv/hbd/bin/activate
+fi
+if [ "$what" = "mini" ]; then
+    curl -s -o $where/hbc_mini https://git.wrede.ca/andreas/heartbeat/raw/branch/master/scripts/hbc_mini.py
+    chmod +x $where/hbc_mini
+else
+    python3 -mpip install --upgrade --index-url https://git.wrede.ca/api/packages/andreas/pypi/simple/ --extra-index-url https://pypi.org/simple hbd[$what]
+fi
+
+if [ ! -z "$venv" ]; then
+    echo "linking executables to $where"
+    if [ "$what" = "server" ]; then
+        rm -f $where/hbd
+        ln -sf $(which hbd) $where/hbd
+    elif [ "$what" = "client" ]; then
+        rm -f $where/hbc
+        ln -sf $(which hbc) $where/hbc
+    fi
+    rm -f $where/hb_install.sh
+    ln -sf $(which hb_install.sh) $where/hb_install.sh
+fi
+echo "Installation complete. To upgrade, run the following:"
+echo "    $where/hb_install.sh $what"
+echo "To install on another machine, run the following obtain the install script and run it:"
+echo "from https://git.wrede.ca/andreas/heartbeat/raw/branch/master/scripts/hb_install.sh"
+echo "and then run sh hb_install.sh [mini|client]"

scripts/install.sh

@@ -1,88 +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=$1
-on_ha=0
-[ -z "$what" ] && what="client"
-
-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"
-    on_ha=1
-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 $HOME/bin to your PATH"
-        exit 1
-    fi
-    venv="$HOME/venvs"
-fi
-
-echo "Installing heartbeat $what"
-
-if [ ! -d  $venv/hbd ]; then
-    python3 -m pip --version > /dev/null 2>&1 
-    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
-        # truenas does 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
-
-. $venv/hbd/bin/activate
-python3 -mpip install --upgrade --index-url https://git.wrede.ca/api/packages/andreas/pypi/simple/ --extra-index-url https://pypi.org/simple hbd[$what]
-
-if [ "$what" = "server" ]; then
-    rm -f $where/hbd
-    ln -sf $(which hbd) $where/hbd
-    echo "hbd installed, you can run it with \"$where/hbd\" or \"hbd\" if $where is in your PATH"
-else
-    rm -f $where/hbc
-    ln -sf $(which hbc) $where/hbc
-    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  
-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)