diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/dump/main.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/dump/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e3e151eb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/dump/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+// Copyright Tamás Gulácsi 2013 All rights reserved
+// Use of this source is governed by the same rules as the weed-fs library.
+// If this would be ambigous, than Apache License 2.0 has to be used.
+//
+// dump dumps the files of a volume to tar or unique files.
+// Each file will have id#mimetype#original_name file format
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"archive/tar"
+	"bytes"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	// "io"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"pkg/storage"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+var (
+	volumePath = flag.String("dir", "/tmp", "volume directory")
+	volumeId   = flag.Int("id", 0, "volume Id")
+	dest       = flag.String("out", "-", "output path. Produces tar if path ends with .tar; creates files otherwise.")
+	tarFh      *tar.Writer
+	tarHeader  tar.Header
+	counter    int
+)
+
+func main() {
+	var err error
+
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	if *dest == "-" {
+		*dest = ""
+	}
+	if *dest == "" || strings.HasSuffix(*dest, ".tar") {
+		var fh *os.File
+		if *dest == "" {
+			fh = os.Stdout
+		} else {
+			if fh, err = os.Create(*dest); err != nil {
+				log.Printf("cannot open output tar %s: %s", *dest, err)
+				return
+			}
+		}
+		defer fh.Close()
+		tarFh = tar.NewWriter(fh)
+		defer tarFh.Close()
+		t := time.Now()
+		tarHeader = tar.Header{Mode: 0644,
+			ModTime: t, Uid: os.Getuid(), Gid: os.Getgid(),
+			Typeflag:   tar.TypeReg,
+			AccessTime: t, ChangeTime: t}
+	}
+
+	v, err := storage.NewVolume(*volumePath, storage.VolumeId(*volumeId), storage.CopyNil)
+	if v == nil || v.Version() == 0 || err != nil {
+		log.Printf("cannot load volume %d from %s (%s): %s", *volumeId, *volumePath, v, err)
+		return
+	}
+	log.Printf("volume: %s (ver. %d)", v, v.Version())
+	if err := v.WalkValues(walker); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("error while walking: %s", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.Printf("%d files written.", counter)
+}
+
+func walker(n *storage.Needle) (err error) {
+	// log.Printf("Id=%d Size=%d Name=%s mime=%s", n.Id, n.Size, n.Name, n.Mime)
+	nm := fmt.Sprintf("%d#%s#%s", n.Id, bytes.Replace(n.Mime, []byte{'/'}, []byte{'_'}, -1), n.Name)
+	// log.Print(nm)
+	if tarFh != nil {
+		tarHeader.Name, tarHeader.Size = nm, int64(len(n.Data))
+		if err = tarFh.WriteHeader(&tarHeader); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		_, err = tarFh.Write(n.Data)
+	} else {
+		if fh, e := os.Create(*dest + "/" + nm); e != nil {
+			return e
+		} else {
+			defer fh.Close()
+			_, err = fh.Write(n.Data)
+		}
+	}
+	if err == nil {
+		counter++
+	}
+	return
+}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/command.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/command.go
index 8c725cafb..4d68ff151 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/command.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/command.go
@@ -1,53 +1,52 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-  "flag"
-  "fmt"
-  "os"
-  "strings"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 type Command struct {
-  // Run runs the command.
-  // The args are the arguments after the command name.
-  Run func(cmd *Command, args []string) bool
+	// Run runs the command.
+	// The args are the arguments after the command name.
+	Run func(cmd *Command, args []string) bool
 
-  // UsageLine is the one-line usage message.
-  // The first word in the line is taken to be the command name.
-  UsageLine string
+	// UsageLine is the one-line usage message.
+	// The first word in the line is taken to be the command name.
+	UsageLine string
 
-  // Short is the short description shown in the 'go help' output.
-  Short string
+	// Short is the short description shown in the 'go help' output.
+	Short string
 
-  // Long is the long message shown in the 'go help <this-command>' output.
-  Long string
-
-  // Flag is a set of flags specific to this command.
-  Flag flag.FlagSet
+	// Long is the long message shown in the 'go help <this-command>' output.
+	Long string
 
+	// Flag is a set of flags specific to this command.
+	Flag flag.FlagSet
 }
 
 // Name returns the command's name: the first word in the usage line.
 func (c *Command) Name() string {
-  name := c.UsageLine
-  i := strings.Index(name, " ")
-  if i >= 0 {
-    name = name[:i]
-  }
-  return name
+	name := c.UsageLine
+	i := strings.Index(name, " ")
+	if i >= 0 {
+		name = name[:i]
+	}
+	return name
 }
 
 func (c *Command) Usage() {
-  fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Example: weed %s\n", c.UsageLine)
-  fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Default Usage:\n")
-  c.Flag.PrintDefaults()
-  fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Description:\n")
-  fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  %s\n", strings.TrimSpace(c.Long))
-  os.Exit(2)
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Example: weed %s\n", c.UsageLine)
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Default Usage:\n")
+	c.Flag.PrintDefaults()
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Description:\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  %s\n", strings.TrimSpace(c.Long))
+	os.Exit(2)
 }
 
 // Runnable reports whether the command can be run; otherwise
 // it is a documentation pseudo-command such as importpath.
 func (c *Command) Runnable() bool {
-  return c.Run != nil
+	return c.Run != nil
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/fix.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/fix.go
index 7bed70edd..53b6cfc75 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/fix.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/fix.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"path"
@@ -33,24 +34,36 @@ func runFix(cmd *Command, args []string) bool {
 	}
 
 	fileName := strconv.Itoa(*volumeId)
-	dataFile, e := os.OpenFile(path.Join(*dir, fileName+".dat"), os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
+
+	if err := createIndexFile(path.Join(*dir, fileName+".dat")); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("[ERROR] " + err.Error())
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func createIndexFile(datafn string) error {
+	dataFile, e := os.OpenFile(datafn, os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
 	if e != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("Read Volume [ERROR] %s\n", e)
+		return errors.New("Read Volume " + e.Error())
 	}
 	defer dataFile.Close()
-	indexFile, ie := os.OpenFile(path.Join(*dir, fileName+".idx"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+	// log.Printf("dataFile=%s", dataFile)
+	indexFile, ie := os.OpenFile(datafn[:len(datafn)-4]+".idx", os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
 	if ie != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("Create Volume Index [ERROR] %s\n", ie)
+		return errors.New("Create Volume Index " + ie.Error())
 	}
 	defer indexFile.Close()
 
 	dataFile.Seek(0, 0)
 	header := make([]byte, storage.SuperBlockSize)
 	if _, e := dataFile.Read(header); e != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("cannot read superblock: %s", e)
+		return errors.New("cannot read superblock: " + e.Error())
 	}
 
-	ver, _, _ := storage.ParseSuperBlock(header)
+	ver, _, e := storage.ParseSuperBlock(header)
+	if e != nil {
+		return errors.New("cannot parse superblock: " + e.Error())
+	}
 
 	n, rest := storage.ReadNeedleHeader(dataFile, ver)
 	dataFile.Seek(int64(rest), 1)
@@ -66,5 +79,5 @@ func runFix(cmd *Command, args []string) bool {
 		n, rest = storage.ReadNeedleHeader(dataFile, ver)
 		dataFile.Seek(int64(rest), 1)
 	}
-	return true
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/master.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/master.go
index c60974a67..151ae31fc 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/master.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/master.go
@@ -107,8 +107,14 @@ func dirJoinHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if ip == "" {
 		ip = r.RemoteAddr[0:strings.Index(r.RemoteAddr, ":")]
 	}
-	port, _ := strconv.Atoi(r.FormValue("port"))
-	maxVolumeCount, _ := strconv.Atoi(r.FormValue("maxVolumeCount"))
+	port, err := strconv.Atoi(r.FormValue("port"))
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("ERROR bad port number %s: %s", r.FormValue("port"), err)
+	}
+	maxVolumeCount, err := strconv.Atoi(r.FormValue("maxVolumeCount"))
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("ERROR bad maxVolumeCount %s: %s", r.FormValue("maxVolumeCount"), err)
+	}
 	s := r.RemoteAddr[0:strings.Index(r.RemoteAddr, ":")+1] + r.FormValue("port")
 	publicUrl := r.FormValue("publicUrl")
 	volumes := new([]storage.VolumeInfo)
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/shell.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/shell.go
index 78a4b9eb1..daf0b7e1f 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/shell.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/shell.go
@@ -1,54 +1,53 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-  "bufio"
-  "os"
-  "fmt"
+	"bufio"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
 )
 
 func init() {
-  cmdShell.Run = runShell // break init cycle
+	cmdShell.Run = runShell // break init cycle
 }
 
 var cmdShell = &Command{
-  UsageLine: "shell",
-  Short:     "run interactive commands, now just echo",
-  Long: `run interactive commands.
+	UsageLine: "shell",
+	Short:     "run interactive commands, now just echo",
+	Long: `run interactive commands.
 
   `,
 }
 
-var (
-)
+var ()
 
 func runShell(command *Command, args []string) bool {
-  r := bufio.NewReader(os.Stdin)
-  o := bufio.NewWriter(os.Stdout)
-  e := bufio.NewWriter(os.Stderr)
-  prompt := func () { 
-    o.WriteString("> ")
-    o.Flush()
-  };
-  readLine := func () string { 
-    ret, err := r.ReadString('\n')
-    if err != nil { 
-       fmt.Fprint(e,err); 
-       os.Exit(1)
-    }
-    return ret
-  }
-  execCmd := func (cmd string) int { 
-    if cmd != "" { 
-      o.WriteString(cmd)
-    }
-    return 0
-  }
+	r := bufio.NewReader(os.Stdin)
+	o := bufio.NewWriter(os.Stdout)
+	e := bufio.NewWriter(os.Stderr)
+	prompt := func() {
+		o.WriteString("> ")
+		o.Flush()
+	}
+	readLine := func() string {
+		ret, err := r.ReadString('\n')
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprint(e, err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		return ret
+	}
+	execCmd := func(cmd string) int {
+		if cmd != "" {
+			o.WriteString(cmd)
+		}
+		return 0
+	}
 
-  cmd := ""
-  for { 
-    prompt()
-    cmd = readLine()
-    execCmd(cmd)
-  } 
-  return true
+	cmd := ""
+	for {
+		prompt()
+		cmd = readLine()
+		execCmd(cmd)
+	}
+	return true
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/upload.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/upload.go
index e25930b5d..5707fda56 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/upload.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/upload.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func upload(filename string, server string, fid string) (int, error) {
 	}
 	ret, e := operation.Upload("http://"+server+"/"+fid, filename, fh)
 	if e != nil {
-	  return 0, e
+		return 0, e
 	}
 	return ret.Size, e
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/volume.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/volume.go
index 59a5623ea..576096dbb 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/volume.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/volume.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ var (
 	store *storage.Store
 )
 
-var fileNameEscaper = strings.NewReplacer("\\","\\\\","\"","\\\"")
+var fileNameEscaper = strings.NewReplacer("\\", "\\\\", "\"", "\\\"")
 
 func statusHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	m := make(map[string]interface{})
@@ -156,7 +156,9 @@ func GetHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			if strings.Contains(r.Header.Get("Accept-Encoding"), "gzip") {
 				w.Header().Set("Content-Encoding", "gzip")
 			} else {
-				n.Data = storage.UnGzipData(n.Data)
+				if n.Data, err = storage.UnGzipData(n.Data); err != nil {
+					debug("lookup error:", err, r.URL.Path)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/weed.go b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/weed.go
index 232520e75..685027fb6 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/weed.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/cmd/weed/weed.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ var server *string
 
 var commands = []*Command{
 	cmdFix,
+	cmdFreeze,
 	cmdMaster,
 	cmdUpload,
 	cmdShell,
@@ -175,9 +176,9 @@ func writeJson(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, obj interface{}) {
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/javascript")
 	var bytes []byte
 	if r.FormValue("pretty") != "" {
-    bytes, _ = json.MarshalIndent(obj, "", "  ")
+		bytes, _ = json.MarshalIndent(obj, "", "  ")
 	} else {
-    bytes, _ = json.Marshal(obj)
+		bytes, _ = json.Marshal(obj)
 	}
 	callback := r.FormValue("callback")
 	if callback == "" {
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/directory/file_id.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/directory/file_id.go
index 9ce556580..cd4204f32 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/directory/file_id.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/directory/file_id.go
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ package directory
 import (
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"pkg/storage"
-	"strings"
 	"pkg/util"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 type FileId struct {
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ type FileId struct {
 func NewFileId(VolumeId storage.VolumeId, Key uint64, Hashcode uint32) *FileId {
 	return &FileId{VolumeId: VolumeId, Key: Key, Hashcode: Hashcode}
 }
-func ParseFileId(fid string) *FileId{
+func ParseFileId(fid string) *FileId {
 	a := strings.Split(fid, ",")
 	if len(a) != 2 {
 		println("Invalid fid", fid, ", split length", len(a))
 		return nil
 	}
 	vid_string, key_hash_string := a[0], a[1]
-  volumeId, _ := storage.NewVolumeId(vid_string)
+	volumeId, _ := storage.NewVolumeId(vid_string)
 	key, hash := storage.ParseKeyHash(key_hash_string)
 	return &FileId{VolumeId: volumeId, Key: key, Hashcode: hash}
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/allocate_volume.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/allocate_volume.go
index 6a3512896..c93ccfb62 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/allocate_volume.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/allocate_volume.go
@@ -1,32 +1,32 @@
 package operation
 
 import (
-  "encoding/json"
-  "errors"
-  "net/url"
-  "pkg/storage"
-  "pkg/topology"
-  "pkg/util"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"net/url"
+	"pkg/storage"
+	"pkg/topology"
+	"pkg/util"
 )
 
 type AllocateVolumeResult struct {
-  Error string
+	Error string
 }
 
 func AllocateVolume(dn *topology.DataNode, vid storage.VolumeId, repType storage.ReplicationType) error {
-  values := make(url.Values)
-  values.Add("volume", vid.String())
-  values.Add("replicationType", repType.String())
-  jsonBlob, err := util.Post("http://"+dn.Url()+"/admin/assign_volume", values)
-  if err != nil {
-    return err
-  }
-  var ret AllocateVolumeResult
-  if err := json.Unmarshal(jsonBlob, &ret); err != nil {
-    return err
-  }
-  if ret.Error != "" {
-    return errors.New(ret.Error)
-  }
-  return nil
+	values := make(url.Values)
+	values.Add("volume", vid.String())
+	values.Add("replicationType", repType.String())
+	jsonBlob, err := util.Post("http://"+dn.Url()+"/admin/assign_volume", values)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var ret AllocateVolumeResult
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(jsonBlob, &ret); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if ret.Error != "" {
+		return errors.New(ret.Error)
+	}
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/delete_content.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/delete_content.go
index aeab9c3ac..2bdb49651 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/delete_content.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/delete_content.go
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 package operation
 
 import (
-	"net/http"
 	"log"
+	"net/http"
 )
 
 func Delete(url string) error {
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/lookup_volume_id.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/lookup_volume_id.go
index c46c6670e..50a6d91e6 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/lookup_volume_id.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/lookup_volume_id.go
@@ -1,38 +1,38 @@
 package operation
 
 import (
-  "encoding/json"
-  "net/url"
-  "pkg/storage"
-  "pkg/util"
-  _ "fmt"
-  "errors"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	_ "fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"pkg/storage"
+	"pkg/util"
 )
 
 type Location struct {
-  Url       string "url"
-  PublicUrl       string "publicUrl"
+	Url       string "url"
+	PublicUrl string "publicUrl"
 }
 type LookupResult struct {
-  Locations []Location "locations"
-  Error     string "error"
+	Locations []Location "locations"
+	Error     string     "error"
 }
 
 //TODO: Add a caching for vid here
 func Lookup(server string, vid storage.VolumeId) (*LookupResult, error) {
-  values := make(url.Values)
-  values.Add("volumeId", vid.String())
-  jsonBlob, err := util.Post("http://"+server+"/dir/lookup", values)
-  if err != nil {
-    return nil, err
-  }
-  var ret LookupResult
-  err = json.Unmarshal(jsonBlob, &ret)
-  if err != nil {
-    return nil, err
-  }
-  if ret.Error != ""{
-    return nil, errors.New(ret.Error)
-  }
-  return &ret, nil
+	values := make(url.Values)
+	values.Add("volumeId", vid.String())
+	jsonBlob, err := util.Post("http://"+server+"/dir/lookup", values)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var ret LookupResult
+	err = json.Unmarshal(jsonBlob, &ret)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if ret.Error != "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(ret.Error)
+	}
+	return &ret, nil
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/upload_content.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/upload_content.go
index 7ed74e02f..0bdb697da 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/upload_content.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/operation/upload_content.go
@@ -3,18 +3,18 @@ package operation
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	_ "fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/ioutil"
-  "log"
+	"log"
 	"mime/multipart"
 	"net/http"
-	"errors"
 )
 
 type UploadResult struct {
-	Size int
-  Error string
+	Size  int
+	Error string
 }
 
 func Upload(uploadUrl string, filename string, reader io.Reader) (*UploadResult, error) {
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func Upload(uploadUrl string, filename string, reader io.Reader) (*UploadResult,
 	body_writer.Close()
 	resp, err := http.Post(uploadUrl, content_type, body_buf)
 	if err != nil {
-    log.Println("failing to upload to", uploadUrl)
+		log.Println("failing to upload to", uploadUrl)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ func Upload(uploadUrl string, filename string, reader io.Reader) (*UploadResult,
 	var ret UploadResult
 	err = json.Unmarshal(resp_body, &ret)
 	if err != nil {
-    log.Println("failing to read upload resonse", uploadUrl, resp_body)
-    return nil, err
+		log.Println("failing to read upload resonse", uploadUrl, resp_body)
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	if ret.Error != ""{
-	  return nil, errors.New(ret.Error)
+	if ret.Error != "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(ret.Error)
 	}
 	return &ret, nil
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth.go
index 7cabf626e..ce0094a7c 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"pkg/operation"
 	"pkg/storage"
 	"pkg/topology"
-  "sync"
+	"sync"
 )
 
 /*
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type VolumeGrowth struct {
 	copy3factor int
 	copyAll     int
 
-  accessLock sync.Mutex
+	accessLock sync.Mutex
 }
 
 func NewDefaultVolumeGrowth() *VolumeGrowth {
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ func (vg *VolumeGrowth) GrowByType(repType storage.ReplicationType, topo *topolo
 	return 0, errors.New("Unknown Replication Type!")
 }
 func (vg *VolumeGrowth) GrowByCountAndType(count int, repType storage.ReplicationType, topo *topology.Topology) (counter int, err error) {
-  vg.accessLock.Lock()
-  defer vg.accessLock.Unlock()
+	vg.accessLock.Lock()
+	defer vg.accessLock.Unlock()
 
 	counter = 0
 	switch repType {
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (vg *VolumeGrowth) GrowByCountAndType(count int, repType storage.Replicatio
 func (vg *VolumeGrowth) grow(topo *topology.Topology, vid storage.VolumeId, repType storage.ReplicationType, servers ...*topology.DataNode) error {
 	for _, server := range servers {
 		if err := operation.AllocateVolume(server, vid, repType); err == nil {
-			vi := storage.VolumeInfo{Id: vid, Size: 0, RepType: repType, Version:storage.CurrentVersion}
+			vi := storage.VolumeInfo{Id: vid, Size: 0, RepType: repType, Version: storage.CurrentVersion}
 			server.AddOrUpdateVolume(vi)
 			topo.RegisterVolumeLayout(&vi, server)
 			fmt.Println("Created Volume", vid, "on", server)
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth_test.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth_test.go
index 51e47c193..659564c64 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth_test.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/replication/volume_growth_test.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 	"pkg/storage"
-  "pkg/topology"
+	"pkg/topology"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func setup(topologyLayout string) *topology.Topology {
 	fmt.Println("data:", data)
 
 	//need to connect all nodes first before server adding volumes
-	topo := topology.NewTopology("mynetwork","/etc/weedfs/weedfs.conf","/tmp","testing",32*1024, 5)
+	topo := topology.NewTopology("mynetwork", "/etc/weedfs/weedfs.conf", "/tmp", "testing", 32*1024, 5)
 	mTopology := data.(map[string]interface{})
 	for dcKey, dcValue := range mTopology {
 		dc := topology.NewDataCenter(dcKey)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func setup(topologyLayout string) *topology.Topology {
 				rack.LinkChildNode(server)
 				for _, v := range serverMap["volumes"].([]interface{}) {
 					m := v.(map[string]interface{})
-					vi := storage.VolumeInfo{Id: storage.VolumeId(int64(m["id"].(float64))), Size: int64(m["size"].(float64)), Version:storage.CurrentVersion}
+					vi := storage.VolumeInfo{Id: storage.VolumeId(int64(m["id"].(float64))), Size: int64(m["size"].(float64)), Version: storage.CurrentVersion}
 					server.AddOrUpdateVolume(vi)
 				}
 				server.UpAdjustMaxVolumeCountDelta(int(serverMap["limit"].(float64)))
@@ -121,10 +121,9 @@ func TestRemoveDataCenter(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestReserveOneVolume(t *testing.T) {
 	topo := setup(topologyLayout)
-  rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
-  vg:=&VolumeGrowth{copy1factor:3,copy2factor:2,copy3factor:1,copyAll:4}
-  if c, e := vg.GrowByCountAndType(1,storage.Copy000,topo);e==nil{
-    t.Log("reserved", c)
-  }
+	rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
+	vg := &VolumeGrowth{copy1factor: 3, copy2factor: 2, copy3factor: 1, copyAll: 4}
+	if c, e := vg.GrowByCountAndType(1, storage.Copy000, topo); e == nil {
+		t.Log("reserved", c)
+	}
 }
-
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/sequence/sequence.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/sequence/sequence.go
index bfdf1b368..c85289468 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/sequence/sequence.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/sequence/sequence.go
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 package sequence
 
 import (
-  "encoding/gob"
-  "os"
-  "path"
-	"sync"
+	"encoding/gob"
 	"log"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"sync"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -27,21 +27,21 @@ type SequencerImpl struct {
 }
 
 func NewSequencer(dirname string, filename string) (m *SequencerImpl) {
-  m = &SequencerImpl{dir: dirname, fileName: filename}
+	m = &SequencerImpl{dir: dirname, fileName: filename}
 
-  seqFile, se := os.OpenFile(path.Join(m.dir, m.fileName+".seq"), os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
-  if se != nil {
-    m.FileIdSequence = FileIdSaveInterval
-    log.Println("Setting file id sequence", m.FileIdSequence)
-  } else {
-    decoder := gob.NewDecoder(seqFile)
-    defer seqFile.Close()
-    decoder.Decode(&m.FileIdSequence)
-    log.Println("Loading file id sequence", m.FileIdSequence, "=>", m.FileIdSequence+FileIdSaveInterval)
-    //in case the server stops between intervals
-    m.FileIdSequence += FileIdSaveInterval
-  }
-  return
+	seqFile, se := os.OpenFile(path.Join(m.dir, m.fileName+".seq"), os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
+	if se != nil {
+		m.FileIdSequence = FileIdSaveInterval
+		log.Println("Setting file id sequence", m.FileIdSequence)
+	} else {
+		decoder := gob.NewDecoder(seqFile)
+		defer seqFile.Close()
+		decoder.Decode(&m.FileIdSequence)
+		log.Println("Loading file id sequence", m.FileIdSequence, "=>", m.FileIdSequence+FileIdSaveInterval)
+		//in case the server stops between intervals
+		m.FileIdSequence += FileIdSaveInterval
+	}
+	return
 }
 
 //count should be 1 or more
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@ func (m *SequencerImpl) NextFileId(count int) (uint64, int) {
 	return m.FileIdSequence - m.fileIdCounter, count
 }
 func (m *SequencerImpl) saveSequence() {
-  log.Println("Saving file id sequence", m.FileIdSequence, "to", path.Join(m.dir, m.fileName+".seq"))
-  seqFile, e := os.OpenFile(path.Join(m.dir, m.fileName+".seq"), os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0644)
-  if e != nil {
-    log.Fatalf("Sequence File Save [ERROR] %s\n", e)
-  }
-  defer seqFile.Close()
-  encoder := gob.NewEncoder(seqFile)
-  encoder.Encode(m.FileIdSequence)
+	log.Println("Saving file id sequence", m.FileIdSequence, "to", path.Join(m.dir, m.fileName+".seq"))
+	seqFile, e := os.OpenFile(path.Join(m.dir, m.fileName+".seq"), os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0644)
+	if e != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Sequence File Save [ERROR] %s\n", e)
+	}
+	defer seqFile.Close()
+	encoder := gob.NewEncoder(seqFile)
+	encoder.Encode(m.FileIdSequence)
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/cdb_map.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/cdb_map.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bffb2b9ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/cdb_map.go
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+package storage
+
+import (
+	"github.com/tgulacsi/go-cdb"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"pkg/util"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+type CdbMap struct {
+	db        *cdb.Cdb
+	transient []byte
+	Filename  string
+}
+
+// Opens the CDB file and servers as a needle map
+func NewCdbMap(filename string) (*CdbMap, error) {
+	m, err := cdb.Open(filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &CdbMap{db: m, transient: make([]byte, 8),
+		Filename: filename}, nil
+}
+
+// writes the content of the index file to a CDB and returns that
+func NewCdbMapFromIndex(indexFile *os.File) (*CdbMap, error) {
+	nm := indexFile.Name()
+	nm = nm[:strings.LastIndex(nm, ".")+1] + "cdb"
+
+	var (
+		key    uint64
+		offset uint32
+		ok     bool
+	)
+	deleted := make(map[uint64]bool, 16)
+	gatherDeletes := func(buf []byte) error {
+		key = util.BytesToUint64(buf[:8])
+		offset = util.BytesToUint32(buf[8:12])
+		if offset > 0 {
+			if _, ok = deleted[key]; ok { //undelete
+				delete(deleted, key)
+			}
+		} else {
+			deleted[key] = true
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := readIndexFile(indexFile, gatherDeletes); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	log.Printf("deleted: %s\nnm=%s", deleted, nm)
+	w, err := cdb.NewWriter(nm)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	iterFun := func(buf []byte) error {
+		key = util.BytesToUint64(buf[:8])
+		log.Printf("iter key=%d", key)
+		if _, ok = deleted[key]; !ok {
+			w.PutPair(buf[:8], buf[8:16])
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	indexFile.Seek(0, 0)
+	err = readIndexFile(indexFile, iterFun)
+	w.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err = util.SetFilePerm(nil, nm, 0444, -1); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return NewCdbMap(nm)
+}
+
+func (m *CdbMap) Get(key Key) (element *NeedleValue, ok bool) {
+	util.Uint64toBytes(m.transient, uint64(key))
+	data, err := m.db.Data(m.transient)
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == io.EOF {
+			return nil, false
+		}
+		log.Printf("error getting %s: %s", key, err)
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	return &NeedleValue{Key: key,
+		Offset: util.BytesToUint32(data[:4]),
+		Size:   util.BytesToUint32(data[4:8]),
+	}, true
+}
+
+func (m *CdbMap) Walk(pedestrian func(*NeedleValue) error) (err error) {
+	r, err := os.Open(m.Filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer r.Close()
+
+	iterFunc := func(elt cdb.Element) error {
+		return pedestrian(&NeedleValue{
+			Key:    Key(util.BytesToUint64(elt.Key[:8])),
+			Offset: util.BytesToUint32(elt.Data[:4]),
+			Size:   util.BytesToUint32(elt.Data[4:8]),
+		})
+	}
+	return cdb.DumpMap(r, iterFunc)
+}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map.go
index 7365022ea..61cc2c841 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map.go
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ type CompactMap struct {
 	list []CompactSection
 }
 
-func NewCompactMap() CompactMap {
-	return CompactMap{}
+func NewCompactMap() *CompactMap {
+	return &CompactMap{}
 }
 
 func (cm *CompactMap) Set(key Key, offset uint32, size uint32) uint32 {
@@ -175,3 +175,23 @@ func (cm *CompactMap) Peek() {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// iterate over the keys by calling iterate on each key till error is returned
+func (cm *CompactMap) Walk(pedestrian func(*NeedleValue) error) (err error) {
+	var i int
+	for _, cs := range cm.list {
+		for key := cs.start; key < cs.end; key++ {
+			if i = cs.binarySearchValues(key); i >= 0 {
+				if err = pedestrian(&cs.values[i]); err != nil {
+					return
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		for _, val := range cs.overflow {
+			if err = pedestrian(val); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_perf_test.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_perf_test.go
index 2e2227279..cfa521fc8 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_perf_test.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_perf_test.go
@@ -1,43 +1,43 @@
 package storage
 
 import (
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"pkg/util"
 	"testing"
-  "log"
-  "os"
-  "pkg/util"
 )
 
 func TestMemoryUsage(t *testing.T) {
 
-  indexFile, ie := os.OpenFile("sample.idx", os.O_RDWR|os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
-  if ie != nil {
-    log.Fatalln(ie)
-  }
-  LoadNewNeedleMap(indexFile)
-    
+	indexFile, ie := os.OpenFile("sample.idx", os.O_RDWR|os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
+	if ie != nil {
+		log.Fatalln(ie)
+	}
+	LoadNewNeedleMap(indexFile)
+
 }
 
 func LoadNewNeedleMap(file *os.File) CompactMap {
-  m := NewCompactMap()
-  bytes := make([]byte, 16*1024)
-  count, e := file.Read(bytes)
-  if count > 0 {
-    fstat, _ := file.Stat()
-    log.Println("Loading index file", fstat.Name(), "size", fstat.Size())
-  }
-  for count > 0 && e == nil {
-    for i := 0; i < count; i += 16 {
-      key := util.BytesToUint64(bytes[i : i+8])
-      offset := util.BytesToUint32(bytes[i+8 : i+12])
-      size := util.BytesToUint32(bytes[i+12 : i+16])
-      if offset > 0 {
-        m.Set(Key(key), offset, size)
-      } else {
-        //delete(m, key)
-      }
-    }
+	m := NewCompactMap()
+	bytes := make([]byte, 16*1024)
+	count, e := file.Read(bytes)
+	if count > 0 {
+		fstat, _ := file.Stat()
+		log.Println("Loading index file", fstat.Name(), "size", fstat.Size())
+	}
+	for count > 0 && e == nil {
+		for i := 0; i < count; i += 16 {
+			key := util.BytesToUint64(bytes[i : i+8])
+			offset := util.BytesToUint32(bytes[i+8 : i+12])
+			size := util.BytesToUint32(bytes[i+12 : i+16])
+			if offset > 0 {
+				m.Set(Key(key), offset, size)
+			} else {
+				//delete(m, key)
+			}
+		}
 
-    count, e = file.Read(bytes)
-  }
-  return m
+		count, e = file.Read(bytes)
+	}
+	return m
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_test.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_test.go
index c05515b29..e76e9578d 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_test.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compact_map_test.go
@@ -18,42 +18,42 @@ func TestXYZ(t *testing.T) {
 		m.Set(Key(i), i+11, i+5)
 	}
 
-//	for i := uint32(0); i < 100; i++ {
-//		if v := m.Get(Key(i)); v != nil {
-//			println(i, "=", v.Key, v.Offset, v.Size)
-//		}
-//	}
-	
+	//	for i := uint32(0); i < 100; i++ {
+	//		if v := m.Get(Key(i)); v != nil {
+	//			println(i, "=", v.Key, v.Offset, v.Size)
+	//		}
+	//	}
+
 	for i := uint32(0); i < 10*batch; i++ {
-    v, ok := m.Get(Key(i))
+		v, ok := m.Get(Key(i))
 		if i%3 == 0 {
-      if !ok {
-        t.Fatal("key", i, "missing!")
-      }
+			if !ok {
+				t.Fatal("key", i, "missing!")
+			}
 			if v.Size != i+5 {
 				t.Fatal("key", i, "size", v.Size)
 			}
 		} else if i%37 == 0 {
-      if ok && v.Size > 0 {
+			if ok && v.Size > 0 {
 				t.Fatal("key", i, "should have been deleted needle value", v)
 			}
 		} else if i%2 == 0 {
-	    if v.Size != i {
+			if v.Size != i {
 				t.Fatal("key", i, "size", v.Size)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	for i := uint32(10 * batch); i < 100*batch; i++ {
-    v, ok := m.Get(Key(i))
+		v, ok := m.Get(Key(i))
 		if i%37 == 0 {
-      if ok && v.Size > 0 {
-        t.Fatal("key", i, "should have been deleted needle value", v)
-      }
+			if ok && v.Size > 0 {
+				t.Fatal("key", i, "should have been deleted needle value", v)
+			}
 		} else if i%2 == 0 {
-		  if v==nil{
-        t.Fatal("key", i, "missing")
-		  }
+			if v == nil {
+				t.Fatal("key", i, "missing")
+			}
 			if v.Size != i {
 				t.Fatal("key", i, "size", v.Size)
 			}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compress.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compress.go
index 9df85b4da..35de70600 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compress.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/compress.go
@@ -10,54 +10,40 @@ import (
 
 /*
 * Default more not to gzip since gzip can be done on client side.
-*/
+ */
 func IsGzippable(ext, mtype string) bool {
-    if strings.HasPrefix(mtype, "text/"){
-        return true
-    }
-	if ext == ".zip" {
-		return false
-	}
-	if ext == ".rar" {
-		return false
-	}
-	if ext == ".gz" {
-		return false
-	}
-	if ext == ".pdf" {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(mtype, "text/") {
 		return true
 	}
-	if ext == ".css" {
-		return true
-	}
-	if ext == ".js" {
+	switch ext {
+	case ".zip", ".rar", ".gz", ".bz2", ".xz":
+		return false
+	case ".pdf", ".txt", ".html", ".css", ".js", ".json":
 		return true
 	}
-    if ext == ".json" {
-        return true
-    }
 	if strings.HasPrefix(mtype, "application/") {
-		if strings.HasSuffix(mtype, "xml") {
-			return true
-		}
-		if strings.HasSuffix(mtype, "script") {
+		if strings.HasSuffix(mtype, "xml") ||
+			strings.HasSuffix(mtype, "script") {
 			return true
 		}
 	}
 	return false
 }
-func GzipData(input []byte) []byte {
+
+func GzipData(input []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
 	w, _ := gzip.NewWriterLevel(buf, flate.BestCompression)
 	if _, err := w.Write(input); err != nil {
 		println("error compressing data:", err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	if err := w.Close(); err != nil {
 		println("error closing compressed data:", err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	return buf.Bytes()
+	return buf.Bytes(), nil
 }
-func UnGzipData(input []byte) []byte {
+func UnGzipData(input []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	buf := bytes.NewBuffer(input)
 	r, _ := gzip.NewReader(buf)
 	defer r.Close()
@@ -65,5 +51,5 @@ func UnGzipData(input []byte) []byte {
 	if err != nil {
 		println("error uncompressing data:", err)
 	}
-	return output
+	return output, err
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle.go
index 867852362..1f778c7ff 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle.go
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	NeedleHeaderSize  = 16 //should never change this
-	NeedlePaddingSize = 8
+	NeedleHeaderSize   = 16 //should never change this
+	NeedlePaddingSize  = 8
 	NeedleChecksumSize = 4
 )
 
@@ -64,7 +64,9 @@ func NewNeedle(r *http.Request) (n *Needle, fname string, e error) {
 		mtype = contentType
 	}
 	if IsGzippable(ext, mtype) {
-		data = GzipData(data)
+		if data, e = GzipData(data); e != nil {
+			return
+		}
 		n.SetGzipped()
 	}
 	if ext == ".gz" {
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_map.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_map.go
index e01c27630..b173eb47f 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_map.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_map.go
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 package storage
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+	"io"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"pkg/util"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 type NeedleMap struct {
 	indexFile *os.File
-	m         CompactMap
+	m         MapGetSetter // modifiable map
+	fm        MapGetter    // frozen map
 
 	//transient
 	bytes []byte
@@ -19,55 +23,148 @@ type NeedleMap struct {
 	fileByteCounter     uint64
 }
 
+// Map interface for frozen maps
+type MapGetter interface {
+	Get(key Key) (element *NeedleValue, ok bool)
+	Walk(pedestrian func(*NeedleValue) error) error
+}
+
+// Modifiable map interface
+type MapSetter interface {
+	Set(key Key, offset, size uint32) (oldsize uint32)
+	Delete(key Key) uint32
+}
+
+// Settable and gettable map
+type MapGetSetter interface {
+	MapGetter
+	MapSetter
+}
+
+// New in-memory needle map, backed by "file" index file
 func NewNeedleMap(file *os.File) *NeedleMap {
-	nm := &NeedleMap{
+	return &NeedleMap{
 		m:         NewCompactMap(),
 		bytes:     make([]byte, 16),
 		indexFile: file,
 	}
-	return nm
+}
+
+// Nes frozen (on-disk, not modifiable(!)) needle map
+func NewFrozenNeedleMap(fileName string) (*NeedleMap, error) {
+	if strings.HasSuffix(fileName, ".dat") {
+		fileName = fileName[:4]
+	}
+	var (
+		fm          *CdbMap
+		indexExists bool
+	)
+	file, err := os.Open(fileName + ".idx")
+	if err != nil && os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		if fm, err = NewCdbMap(fileName + ".cdb"); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("error opening %s.cdb: %s", fileName, err)
+			fm = nil
+		} else {
+			if dstat, e := os.Stat(fileName + ".dat"); e == nil {
+				if cstat, e := os.Stat(fileName + ".cdb"); e == nil {
+					if cstat.ModTime().Before(dstat.ModTime()) {
+						return nil, errors.New("CDB file " + fileName +
+							".cdb is older than data file " + fileName + ".dat!")
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		indexExists = true
+	}
+	if fm == nil {
+		fm, err = NewCdbMapFromIndex(file)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if indexExists {
+			os.Remove(fileName + ".idx")
+		}
+	}
+	return &NeedleMap{
+		fm:    fm,
+		bytes: make([]byte, 16),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (nm NeedleMap) IsFrozen() bool {
+	return nm.m == nil && nm.fm != nil
 }
 
 const (
 	RowsToRead = 1024
 )
 
-func LoadNeedleMap(file *os.File) *NeedleMap {
+var MapIsFrozen = errors.New("Map is frozen!")
+
+func LoadNeedleMap(file *os.File) (*NeedleMap, error) {
 	nm := NewNeedleMap(file)
-	bytes := make([]byte, 16*RowsToRead)
-	count, e := nm.indexFile.Read(bytes)
-	if count > 0 {
-		fstat, _ := file.Stat()
-		log.Println("Loading index file", fstat.Name(), "size", fstat.Size())
+
+	var (
+		key                   uint64
+		offset, size, oldSize uint32
+	)
+	iterFun := func(buf []byte) error {
+		key = util.BytesToUint64(buf[:8])
+		offset = util.BytesToUint32(buf[8:12])
+		size = util.BytesToUint32(buf[12:16])
+		nm.fileCounter++
+		nm.fileByteCounter = nm.fileByteCounter + uint64(size)
+		if offset > 0 {
+			oldSize = nm.m.Set(Key(key), offset, size)
+			//log.Println("reading key", key, "offset", offset, "size", size, "oldSize", oldSize)
+			if oldSize > 0 {
+				nm.deletionCounter++
+				nm.deletionByteCounter = nm.deletionByteCounter + uint64(oldSize)
+			}
+		} else {
+			nm.m.Delete(Key(key))
+			//log.Println("removing key", key)
+			nm.deletionCounter++
+			nm.deletionByteCounter = nm.deletionByteCounter + uint64(size)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := readIndexFile(file, iterFun); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return nm, nil
+}
+
+// calls iterFun with each row (raw 16 bytes)
+func readIndexFile(indexFile *os.File, iterFun func([]byte) error) error {
+	buf := make([]byte, 16*RowsToRead)
+	count, e := io.ReadAtLeast(indexFile, buf, 16)
+	if e != nil && count > 0 {
+		fstat, err := indexFile.Stat()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println("ERROR stating %s: %s", indexFile, err)
+		} else {
+			log.Println("Loading index file", fstat.Name(), "size", fstat.Size())
+		}
 	}
 	for count > 0 && e == nil {
 		for i := 0; i < count; i += 16 {
-			key := util.BytesToUint64(bytes[i : i+8])
-			offset := util.BytesToUint32(bytes[i+8 : i+12])
-			size := util.BytesToUint32(bytes[i+12 : i+16])
-			nm.fileCounter++
-			nm.fileByteCounter = nm.fileByteCounter + uint64(size)
-			if offset > 0 {
-				oldSize := nm.m.Set(Key(key), offset, size)
-				//log.Println("reading key", key, "offset", offset, "size", size, "oldSize", oldSize)
-				if oldSize > 0 {
-					nm.deletionCounter++
-					nm.deletionByteCounter = nm.deletionByteCounter + uint64(oldSize)
-				}
-			} else {
-				nm.m.Delete(Key(key))
-				//log.Println("removing key", key)
-				nm.deletionCounter++
-				nm.deletionByteCounter = nm.deletionByteCounter + uint64(size)
+			if e = iterFun(buf[i : i+16]); e != nil {
+				return e
 			}
 		}
 
-		count, e = nm.indexFile.Read(bytes)
+		count, e = io.ReadAtLeast(indexFile, buf, 16)
 	}
-	return nm
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (nm *NeedleMap) Put(key uint64, offset uint32, size uint32) (int, error) {
+	if nm.IsFrozen() {
+		return 0, MapIsFrozen
+	}
 	oldSize := nm.m.Set(Key(key), offset, size)
 	util.Uint64toBytes(nm.bytes[0:8], key)
 	util.Uint32toBytes(nm.bytes[8:12], offset)
@@ -81,16 +178,24 @@ func (nm *NeedleMap) Put(key uint64, offset uint32, size uint32) (int, error) {
 	return nm.indexFile.Write(nm.bytes)
 }
 func (nm *NeedleMap) Get(key uint64) (element *NeedleValue, ok bool) {
-	element, ok = nm.m.Get(Key(key))
+	if nm.m != nil {
+		element, ok = nm.m.Get(Key(key))
+	} else {
+		element, ok = nm.fm.Get(Key(key))
+	}
 	return
 }
-func (nm *NeedleMap) Delete(key uint64) {
+func (nm *NeedleMap) Delete(key uint64) error {
+	if nm.IsFrozen() {
+		return MapIsFrozen
+	}
 	nm.deletionByteCounter = nm.deletionByteCounter + uint64(nm.m.Delete(Key(key)))
 	util.Uint64toBytes(nm.bytes[0:8], key)
 	util.Uint32toBytes(nm.bytes[8:12], 0)
 	util.Uint32toBytes(nm.bytes[12:16], 0)
 	nm.indexFile.Write(nm.bytes)
 	nm.deletionCounter++
+	return nil
 }
 func (nm *NeedleMap) Close() {
 	nm.indexFile.Close()
@@ -98,3 +203,11 @@ func (nm *NeedleMap) Close() {
 func (nm *NeedleMap) ContentSize() uint64 {
 	return nm.fileByteCounter
 }
+
+// iterate through all needles using the iterator function
+func (nm *NeedleMap) Walk(pedestrian func(*NeedleValue) error) (err error) {
+	if nm.m != nil {
+		return nm.m.Walk(pedestrian)
+	}
+	return nm.fm.Walk(pedestrian)
+}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_read_write.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_read_write.go
index 00844bad3..fdb09a3c6 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_read_write.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/needle_read_write.go
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ package storage
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"pkg/util"
-	"fmt"
 )
 
 func (n *Needle) Append(w io.Writer, version Version) uint32 {
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ func (n *Needle) Append(w io.Writer, version Version) uint32 {
 	return n.Size
 }
 func (n *Needle) Read(r io.Reader, size uint32, version Version) (int, error) {
-	if version == Version1 {
+	switch version {
+	case Version1:
 		bytes := make([]byte, NeedleHeaderSize+size+NeedleChecksumSize)
 		ret, e := r.Read(bytes)
 		n.readNeedleHeader(bytes)
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ func (n *Needle) Read(r io.Reader, size uint32, version Version) (int, error) {
 			return 0, errors.New("CRC error! Data On Disk Corrupted!")
 		}
 		return ret, e
-	} else if version == Version2 {
+	case Version2:
 		if size == 0 {
 			return 0, nil
 		}
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ func (n *Needle) Read(r io.Reader, size uint32, version Version) (int, error) {
 		}
 		return ret, e
 	}
-	return 0, errors.New("Unsupported Version!")
+	return 0, fmt.Errorf("Unsupported Version! (%d)", version)
 }
 func (n *Needle) readNeedleHeader(bytes []byte) {
 	n.Cookie = util.BytesToUint32(bytes[0:4])
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/replication_type.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/replication_type.go
index 86a9d219d..0902d1016 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/replication_type.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/replication_type.go
@@ -1,123 +1,123 @@
 package storage
 
 import (
-  "errors"
+	"errors"
 )
 
 type ReplicationType string
 
 const (
-  Copy000               = ReplicationType("000") // single copy
-  Copy001               = ReplicationType("001") // 2 copies, both on the same racks,  and same data center
-  Copy010               = ReplicationType("010") // 2 copies, both on different racks, but same data center
-  Copy100               = ReplicationType("100") // 2 copies, each on different data center
-  Copy110               = ReplicationType("110") // 3 copies, 2 on different racks and local data center, 1 on different data center
-  Copy200               = ReplicationType("200") // 3 copies, each on dffereint data center
-  LengthRelicationType = 6
-  CopyNil              = ReplicationType(255) // nil value
+	Copy000              = ReplicationType("000") // single copy
+	Copy001              = ReplicationType("001") // 2 copies, both on the same racks,  and same data center
+	Copy010              = ReplicationType("010") // 2 copies, both on different racks, but same data center
+	Copy100              = ReplicationType("100") // 2 copies, each on different data center
+	Copy110              = ReplicationType("110") // 3 copies, 2 on different racks and local data center, 1 on different data center
+	Copy200              = ReplicationType("200") // 3 copies, each on dffereint data center
+	LengthRelicationType = 6
+	CopyNil              = ReplicationType(255) // nil value
 )
 
 func NewReplicationTypeFromString(t string) (ReplicationType, error) {
-  switch t {
-  case "000":
-    return Copy000, nil
-  case "001":
-    return Copy001, nil
-  case "010":
-    return Copy010, nil
-  case "100":
-    return Copy100, nil
-  case "110":
-    return Copy110, nil
-  case "200":
-    return Copy200, nil
-  }
-  return Copy000, errors.New("Unknown Replication Type:"+t)
+	switch t {
+	case "000":
+		return Copy000, nil
+	case "001":
+		return Copy001, nil
+	case "010":
+		return Copy010, nil
+	case "100":
+		return Copy100, nil
+	case "110":
+		return Copy110, nil
+	case "200":
+		return Copy200, nil
+	}
+	return Copy000, errors.New("Unknown Replication Type:" + t)
 }
 func NewReplicationTypeFromByte(b byte) (ReplicationType, error) {
-  switch b {
-  case byte(000):
-    return Copy000, nil
-  case byte(001):
-    return Copy001, nil
-  case byte(010):
-    return Copy010, nil
-  case byte(100):
-    return Copy100, nil
-  case byte(110):
-    return Copy110, nil
-  case byte(200):
-    return Copy200, nil
-  }
-  return Copy000, errors.New("Unknown Replication Type:"+string(b))
+	switch b {
+	case byte(000):
+		return Copy000, nil
+	case byte(001):
+		return Copy001, nil
+	case byte(010):
+		return Copy010, nil
+	case byte(100):
+		return Copy100, nil
+	case byte(110):
+		return Copy110, nil
+	case byte(200):
+		return Copy200, nil
+	}
+	return Copy000, errors.New("Unknown Replication Type:" + string(b))
 }
 
 func (r *ReplicationType) String() string {
-  switch *r {
-  case Copy000:
-    return "000"
-  case Copy001:
-    return "001"
-  case Copy010:
-    return "010"
-  case Copy100:
-    return "100"
-  case Copy110:
-    return "110"
-  case Copy200:
-    return "200"
-  }
-  return "000"
+	switch *r {
+	case Copy000:
+		return "000"
+	case Copy001:
+		return "001"
+	case Copy010:
+		return "010"
+	case Copy100:
+		return "100"
+	case Copy110:
+		return "110"
+	case Copy200:
+		return "200"
+	}
+	return "000"
 }
 func (r *ReplicationType) Byte() byte {
-  switch *r {
-  case Copy000:
-    return byte(000)
-  case Copy001:
-    return byte(001)
-  case Copy010:
-    return byte(010)
-  case Copy100:
-    return byte(100)
-  case Copy110:
-    return byte(110)
-  case Copy200:
-    return byte(200)
-  }
-  return byte(000)
+	switch *r {
+	case Copy000:
+		return byte(000)
+	case Copy001:
+		return byte(001)
+	case Copy010:
+		return byte(010)
+	case Copy100:
+		return byte(100)
+	case Copy110:
+		return byte(110)
+	case Copy200:
+		return byte(200)
+	}
+	return byte(000)
 }
 
-func (repType ReplicationType)GetReplicationLevelIndex() int {
-  switch repType {
-  case Copy000:
-    return 0
-  case Copy001:
-    return 1
-  case Copy010:
-    return 2
-  case Copy100:
-    return 3
-  case Copy110:
-    return 4
-  case Copy200:
-    return 5
-  }
-  return -1
+func (repType ReplicationType) GetReplicationLevelIndex() int {
+	switch repType {
+	case Copy000:
+		return 0
+	case Copy001:
+		return 1
+	case Copy010:
+		return 2
+	case Copy100:
+		return 3
+	case Copy110:
+		return 4
+	case Copy200:
+		return 5
+	}
+	return -1
 }
-func (repType ReplicationType)GetCopyCount() int {
-  switch repType {
-  case Copy000:
-    return 1
-  case Copy001:
-    return 2
-  case Copy010:
-    return 2
-  case Copy100:
-    return 2
-  case Copy110:
-    return 3
-  case Copy200:
-    return 3
-  }
-  return 0
+func (repType ReplicationType) GetCopyCount() int {
+	switch repType {
+	case Copy000:
+		return 1
+	case Copy001:
+		return 2
+	case Copy010:
+		return 2
+	case Copy100:
+		return 2
+	case Copy110:
+		return 3
+	case Copy200:
+		return 3
+	}
+	return 0
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/store.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/store.go
index a2c5f040b..d9e94ee56 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/store.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/store.go
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ func NewStore(port int, ip, publicUrl, dirname string, maxVolumeCount int) (s *S
 	log.Println("Store started on dir:", dirname, "with", len(s.volumes), "volumes")
 	return
 }
+
+// adds a volume to the store
 func (s *Store) AddVolume(volumeListString string, replicationType string) error {
 	rt, e := NewReplicationTypeFromString(replicationType)
 	if e != nil {
@@ -65,15 +67,16 @@ func (s *Store) AddVolume(volumeListString string, replicationType string) error
 	}
 	return e
 }
-func (s *Store) addVolume(vid VolumeId, replicationType ReplicationType) error {
+func (s *Store) addVolume(vid VolumeId, replicationType ReplicationType) (err error) {
 	if s.volumes[vid] != nil {
 		return errors.New("Volume Id " + vid.String() + " already exists!")
 	}
 	log.Println("In dir", s.dir, "adds volume =", vid, ", replicationType =", replicationType)
-	s.volumes[vid] = NewVolume(s.dir, vid, replicationType)
-	return nil
+	s.volumes[vid], err = NewVolume(s.dir, vid, replicationType)
+	return err
 }
 
+// checks whether compaction is needed
 func (s *Store) CheckCompactVolume(volumeIdString string, garbageThresholdString string) (error, bool) {
 	vid, err := NewVolumeId(volumeIdString)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -85,6 +88,8 @@ func (s *Store) CheckCompactVolume(volumeIdString string, garbageThresholdString
 	}
 	return nil, garbageThreshold < s.volumes[vid].garbageLevel()
 }
+
+// compacts the volume
 func (s *Store) CompactVolume(volumeIdString string) error {
 	vid, err := NewVolumeId(volumeIdString)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -92,6 +97,8 @@ func (s *Store) CompactVolume(volumeIdString string) error {
 	}
 	return s.volumes[vid].compact()
 }
+
+// commits the compaction
 func (s *Store) CommitCompactVolume(volumeIdString string) error {
 	vid, err := NewVolumeId(volumeIdString)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -99,6 +106,8 @@ func (s *Store) CommitCompactVolume(volumeIdString string) error {
 	}
 	return s.volumes[vid].commitCompact()
 }
+
+// reads directory and loads volumes
 func (s *Store) loadExistingVolumes() {
 	if dirs, err := ioutil.ReadDir(s.dir); err == nil {
 		for _, dir := range dirs {
@@ -107,9 +116,12 @@ func (s *Store) loadExistingVolumes() {
 				base := name[:len(name)-len(".dat")]
 				if vid, err := NewVolumeId(base); err == nil {
 					if s.volumes[vid] == nil {
-						v := NewVolume(s.dir, vid, CopyNil)
-						s.volumes[vid] = v
-						log.Println("In dir", s.dir, "read volume =", vid, "replicationType =", v.replicaType, "version =", v.version, "size =", v.Size())
+						if v, e := NewVolume(s.dir, vid, CopyNil); e == nil {
+							s.volumes[vid] = v
+							log.Println("In dir", s.dir, "read volume =", vid, "replicationType =", v.replicaType, "version =", v.version, "size =", v.Size(), "frozen?", !v.IsWritable())
+						} else {
+							log.Println("ERROR loading volume", vid, "in dir", s.dir, ":", e.Error())
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -119,8 +131,16 @@ func (s *Store) loadExistingVolumes() {
 func (s *Store) Status() []*VolumeInfo {
 	var stats []*VolumeInfo
 	for k, v := range s.volumes {
-		s := new(VolumeInfo)
-		s.Id, s.Size, s.RepType, s.Version, s.FileCount, s.DeleteCount, s.DeletedByteCount = VolumeId(k), v.ContentSize(), v.replicaType, v.Version(), v.nm.fileCounter, v.nm.deletionCounter, v.nm.deletionByteCounter
+		s := &VolumeInfo{
+			Id:               VolumeId(k),
+			Size:             v.ContentSize(),
+			RepType:          v.replicaType,
+			Version:          v.Version(),
+			FileCount:        v.nm.fileCounter,
+			DeleteCount:      v.nm.deletionCounter,
+			DeletedByteCount: v.nm.deletionByteCounter,
+			Frozen:           !v.IsWritable(),
+		}
 		stats = append(stats, s)
 	}
 	return stats
@@ -133,6 +153,8 @@ type JoinResult struct {
 func (s *Store) SetMaster(mserver string) {
 	s.masterNode = mserver
 }
+
+// call master's /dir/join
 func (s *Store) Join() error {
 	stats := new([]*VolumeInfo)
 	for k, v := range s.volumes {
@@ -170,7 +192,8 @@ func (s *Store) Close() {
 func (s *Store) Write(i VolumeId, n *Needle) uint32 {
 	if v := s.volumes[i]; v != nil {
 		size := v.write(n)
-		if s.volumeSizeLimit < v.ContentSize()+uint64(size) && s.volumeSizeLimit >= v.ContentSize() {
+		if s.volumeSizeLimit < v.ContentSize()+uint64(size) &&
+			s.volumeSizeLimit >= v.ContentSize() {
 			log.Println("volume", i, "size is", v.ContentSize(), "close to", s.volumeSizeLimit)
 			s.Join()
 		}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume.go
index 0220bf895..9a7c33a42 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume.go
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ package storage
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"pkg/util"
 	"sync"
 )
 
@@ -24,9 +26,9 @@ type Volume struct {
 	accessLock sync.Mutex
 }
 
-func NewVolume(dirname string, id VolumeId, replicationType ReplicationType) (v *Volume) {
+func NewVolume(dirname string, id VolumeId, replicationType ReplicationType) (v *Volume, e error) {
 	v = &Volume{dir: dirname, Id: id, replicaType: replicationType}
-	v.load()
+	e = v.load()
 	return
 }
 func (v *Volume) load() error {
@@ -34,7 +36,14 @@ func (v *Volume) load() error {
 	fileName := path.Join(v.dir, v.Id.String())
 	v.dataFile, e = os.OpenFile(fileName+".dat", os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
 	if e != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot create Volume Data %s.dat: %s", fileName, e)
+		if os.IsPermission(e) {
+			if util.FileExists(fileName + ".cdb") {
+				v.dataFile, e = os.Open(fileName + ".dat")
+			}
+		}
+		if e != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot create Volume Data %s.dat: %s", fileName, e)
+		}
 	}
 	if v.replicaType == CopyNil {
 		if e = v.readSuperBlock(); e != nil {
@@ -43,13 +52,19 @@ func (v *Volume) load() error {
 	} else {
 		v.maybeWriteSuperBlock()
 	}
-	indexFile, ie := os.OpenFile(fileName+".idx", os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
-	if ie != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot create Volume Data %s.dat: %s", fileName, e)
+	// TODO: if .idx not exists, but .cdb exists, then use (but don't load!) that
+	if !util.FileIsWritable(v.dataFile.Name()) { //Read-Only
+		v.nm, e = NewFrozenNeedleMap(fileName)
+	} else {
+		indexFile, ie := os.OpenFile(fileName+".idx", os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+		if ie != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot create Volume Data %s.dat: %s", fileName, e)
+		}
+		v.nm, e = LoadNeedleMap(indexFile)
 	}
-	v.nm = LoadNeedleMap(indexFile)
-	return nil
+	return e
 }
+
 func (v *Volume) Version() Version {
 	return v.version
 }
@@ -63,6 +78,18 @@ func (v *Volume) Size() int64 {
 	fmt.Printf("Failed to read file size %s %s\n", v.dataFile.Name(), e.Error())
 	return -1
 }
+
+// a volume is writable, if its data file is writable and the index is not frozen
+func (v *Volume) IsWritable() bool {
+	stat, e := v.dataFile.Stat()
+	if e != nil {
+		log.Printf("Failed to read file permission %s %s\n", v.dataFile.Name(), e.Error())
+		return false
+	}
+	//  4 for r, 2 for w, 1 for x
+	return stat.Mode().Perm()&0222 > 0 && !v.nm.IsFrozen()
+}
+
 func (v *Volume) Close() {
 	v.accessLock.Lock()
 	defer v.accessLock.Unlock()
@@ -79,21 +106,23 @@ func (v *Volume) maybeWriteSuperBlock() {
 		v.dataFile.Write(header)
 	}
 }
-func (v *Volume) readSuperBlock() error {
+func (v *Volume) readSuperBlock() (err error) {
 	v.dataFile.Seek(0, 0)
 	header := make([]byte, SuperBlockSize)
 	if _, e := v.dataFile.Read(header); e != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot read superblock: %s", e)
 	}
-	var err error
 	v.version, v.replicaType, err = ParseSuperBlock(header)
 	return err
 }
-func ParseSuperBlock(header []byte) (version Version, replicaType ReplicationType, e error) {
+func ParseSuperBlock(header []byte) (version Version, replicaType ReplicationType, err error) {
 	version = Version(header[0])
-	var err error
+	if version == 0 {
+		err = errors.New("Zero version impossible - bad superblock!")
+		return
+	}
 	if replicaType, err = NewReplicationTypeFromByte(header[1]); err != nil {
-		e = fmt.Errorf("cannot read replica type: %s", err)
+		err = fmt.Errorf("cannot read replica type: %s", err)
 	}
 	return
 }
@@ -221,3 +250,39 @@ func (v *Volume) copyDataAndGenerateIndexFile(srcName, dstName, idxName string)
 func (v *Volume) ContentSize() uint64 {
 	return v.nm.fileByteCounter
 }
+
+// Walk over the contained needles (call the function with each NeedleValue till error is returned)
+func (v *Volume) WalkValues(pedestrian func(*Needle) error) error {
+	pedplus := func(nv *NeedleValue) (err error) {
+		n := new(Needle)
+		if nv.Offset > 0 {
+			v.dataFile.Seek(int64(nv.Offset)*NeedlePaddingSize, 0)
+			if _, err = n.Read(v.dataFile, nv.Size, v.version); err != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			if err = pedestrian(n); err != nil {
+				return
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	return v.nm.Walk(pedplus)
+}
+
+// Walk over the keys
+func (v *Volume) WalkKeys(pedestrian func(Key) error) error {
+	pedplus := func(nv *NeedleValue) (err error) {
+		if nv.Offset > 0 && nv.Key > 0 {
+			if err = pedestrian(nv.Key); err != nil {
+				return
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	return v.nm.Walk(pedplus)
+}
+
+func (v *Volume) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%d@%s:v%d:r%s", v.Id, v.dataFile.Name(),
+		v.Version(), v.replicaType)
+}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_id.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_id.go
index bf7396673..0333c6cf0 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_id.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_id.go
@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
 package storage
 
 import (
-  "strconv"
+	"strconv"
 )
 
 type VolumeId uint32
-func NewVolumeId(vid string) (VolumeId,error) {
-  volumeId, err := strconv.ParseUint(vid, 10, 64)
-  return VolumeId(volumeId), err
+
+func NewVolumeId(vid string) (VolumeId, error) {
+	volumeId, err := strconv.ParseUint(vid, 10, 64)
+	return VolumeId(volumeId), err
 }
-func (vid *VolumeId) String() string{
-  return strconv.FormatUint(uint64(*vid), 10)
+func (vid *VolumeId) String() string {
+	return strconv.FormatUint(uint64(*vid), 10)
 }
-func (vid *VolumeId) Next() VolumeId{
-  return VolumeId(uint32(*vid)+1)
+func (vid *VolumeId) Next() VolumeId {
+	return VolumeId(uint32(*vid) + 1)
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_info.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_info.go
index e4c5f6ec4..845301670 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_info.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_info.go
@@ -10,4 +10,5 @@ type VolumeInfo struct {
 	FileCount        int
 	DeleteCount      int
 	DeletedByteCount uint64
+	Frozen           bool
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_version.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_version.go
index da91ad038..9702ae904 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_version.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/storage/volume_version.go
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 package storage
 
-import (
-)
+import ()
 
 type Version uint8
 
 const (
-	Version1 = Version(1)
-    Version2 = Version(2)
-    CurrentVersion = Version2
+	Version1       = Version(1)
+	Version2       = Version(2)
+	CurrentVersion = Version2
 )
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/configuration_test.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/configuration_test.go
index 5542d1503..35d82c058 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/configuration_test.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/configuration_test.go
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ func TestLoadConfiguration(t *testing.T) {
 </Configuration>
 `
 	c, err := NewConfiguration([]byte(confContent))
-	
-  fmt.Printf("%s\n", c)
-	if err!=nil{
-	  t.Fatalf("unmarshal error:%s",err.Error())
+
+	fmt.Printf("%s\n", c)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unmarshal error:%s", err.Error())
 	}
-	
+
 	if len(c.Topo.DataCenters) <= 0 || c.Topo.DataCenters[0].Name != "dc1" {
-    t.Fatalf("unmarshal error:%s",c)
+		t.Fatalf("unmarshal error:%s", c)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/data_center.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/data_center.go
index 2ec68fd4b..a3b2b7d13 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/data_center.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/data_center.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package topology
 
-import (
-)
+import ()
 
 type DataCenter struct {
 	NodeImpl
@@ -12,31 +11,31 @@ func NewDataCenter(id string) *DataCenter {
 	dc.id = NodeId(id)
 	dc.nodeType = "DataCenter"
 	dc.children = make(map[NodeId]Node)
-  dc.NodeImpl.value = dc
+	dc.NodeImpl.value = dc
 	return dc
 }
 
 func (dc *DataCenter) GetOrCreateRack(rackName string) *Rack {
-  for _, c := range dc.Children() {
-    rack := c.(*Rack)
-    if string(rack.Id()) == rackName {
-      return rack
-    }
-  }
-  rack := NewRack(rackName)
-  dc.LinkChildNode(rack)
-  return rack
+	for _, c := range dc.Children() {
+		rack := c.(*Rack)
+		if string(rack.Id()) == rackName {
+			return rack
+		}
+	}
+	rack := NewRack(rackName)
+	dc.LinkChildNode(rack)
+	return rack
 }
 
-func (dc *DataCenter) ToMap() interface{}{
-  m := make(map[string]interface{})
-  m["Max"] = dc.GetMaxVolumeCount()
-  m["Free"] = dc.FreeSpace()
-  var racks []interface{}
-  for _, c := range dc.Children() {
-    rack := c.(*Rack)
-    racks = append(racks, rack.ToMap())
-  }
-  m["Racks"] = racks
-  return m
+func (dc *DataCenter) ToMap() interface{} {
+	m := make(map[string]interface{})
+	m["Max"] = dc.GetMaxVolumeCount()
+	m["Free"] = dc.FreeSpace()
+	var racks []interface{}
+	for _, c := range dc.Children() {
+		rack := c.(*Rack)
+		racks = append(racks, rack.ToMap())
+	}
+	m["Racks"] = racks
+	return m
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list.go
index 1d9e1891a..3115e0213 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list.go
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ func (nl *NodeList) RandomlyPickN(n int, min int) ([]Node, bool) {
 			list = append(list, n)
 		}
 	}
-	if n > len(list){
-	  return nil,false
+	if n > len(list) {
+		return nil, false
 	}
 	for i := n; i > 0; i-- {
-	  r := rand.Intn(i)
-	  t := list[r]
-	  list[r] = list[i-1]
-	  list[i-1] = t
+		r := rand.Intn(i)
+		t := list[r]
+		list[r] = list[i-1]
+		list[i-1] = t
 	}
 	return list[len(list)-n:], true
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list_test.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list_test.go
index 0d16a0526..2fb4fa970 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list_test.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/node_list_test.go
@@ -1,39 +1,39 @@
 package topology
 
 import (
+	_ "fmt"
 	"strconv"
 	"testing"
-  _ "fmt"
 )
 
 func TestXYZ(t *testing.T) {
-	topo := NewTopology("topo","/etc/weed.conf", "/tmp","test",234,5)
+	topo := NewTopology("topo", "/etc/weed.conf", "/tmp", "test", 234, 5)
 	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
 		dc := NewDataCenter("dc" + strconv.Itoa(i))
 		dc.activeVolumeCount = i
 		dc.maxVolumeCount = 5
 		topo.LinkChildNode(dc)
 	}
-	nl := NewNodeList(topo.Children(),nil)
+	nl := NewNodeList(topo.Children(), nil)
 
-  picked, ret := nl.RandomlyPickN(1)
-  if !ret || len(picked)!=1 {
-    t.Errorf("need to randomly pick 1 node")
-  }
+	picked, ret := nl.RandomlyPickN(1)
+	if !ret || len(picked) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("need to randomly pick 1 node")
+	}
 
 	picked, ret = nl.RandomlyPickN(4)
-	if !ret || len(picked)!=4 {
-	  t.Errorf("need to randomly pick 4 nodes")
+	if !ret || len(picked) != 4 {
+		t.Errorf("need to randomly pick 4 nodes")
 	}
 
-  picked, ret = nl.RandomlyPickN(5)
-  if !ret || len(picked)!=5 {
-    t.Errorf("need to randomly pick 5 nodes")
-  }
+	picked, ret = nl.RandomlyPickN(5)
+	if !ret || len(picked) != 5 {
+		t.Errorf("need to randomly pick 5 nodes")
+	}
 
-  picked, ret = nl.RandomlyPickN(6)
-  if ret || len(picked)!=0 {
-    t.Errorf("can not randomly pick 6 nodes:", ret, picked)
-  }
+	picked, ret = nl.RandomlyPickN(6)
+	if ret || len(picked) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("can not randomly pick 6 nodes:", ret, picked)
+	}
 
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/rack.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/rack.go
index 1555ef682..acc34417a 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/rack.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/rack.go
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ func NewRack(id string) *Rack {
 }
 
 func (r *Rack) FindDataNode(ip string, port int) *DataNode {
-    for _, c := range r.Children() {
-        dn := c.(*DataNode)
-        if dn.MatchLocation(ip, port) {
-            return dn
-        }
-    }
-    return nil
+	for _, c := range r.Children() {
+		dn := c.(*DataNode)
+		if dn.MatchLocation(ip, port) {
+			return dn
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 func (r *Rack) GetOrCreateDataNode(ip string, port int, publicUrl string, maxVolumeCount int) *DataNode {
 	for _, c := range r.Children() {
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topo_test.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topo_test.go
index 83356b38c..71a901c8e 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topo_test.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topo_test.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func setup(topologyLayout string) *Topology {
 	}
 
 	//need to connect all nodes first before server adding volumes
-	topo := NewTopology("mynetwork","/etc/weed.conf","/tmp","test",234,5)
+	topo := NewTopology("mynetwork", "/etc/weed.conf", "/tmp", "test", 234, 5)
 	mTopology := data.(map[string]interface{})
 	for dcKey, dcValue := range mTopology {
 		dc := NewDataCenter(dcKey)
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func setup(topologyLayout string) *Topology {
 				rack.LinkChildNode(server)
 				for _, v := range serverMap["volumes"].([]interface{}) {
 					m := v.(map[string]interface{})
-					vi := storage.VolumeInfo{Id: storage.VolumeId(int64(m["id"].(float64))), Size: int64(m["size"].(float64)), Version:storage.CurrentVersion}
+					vi := storage.VolumeInfo{Id: storage.VolumeId(int64(m["id"].(float64))), Size: int64(m["size"].(float64)), Version: storage.CurrentVersion}
 					server.AddOrUpdateVolume(vi)
 				}
 				server.UpAdjustMaxVolumeCountDelta(int(serverMap["limit"].(float64)))
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ func TestRemoveDataCenter(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestReserveOneVolume(t *testing.T) {
 	topo := setup(topologyLayout)
-  rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
-  rand.Seed(1)
+	rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
+	rand.Seed(1)
 	ret, node, vid := topo.RandomlyReserveOneVolume()
-  fmt.Println("assigned :", ret, ", node :", node,", volume id:", vid)
+	fmt.Println("assigned :", ret, ", node :", node, ", volume id:", vid)
 
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_compact.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_compact.go
index 050fe4cd8..dee6514f4 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_compact.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_compact.go
@@ -101,10 +101,10 @@ type VacuumVolumeResult struct {
 func vacuumVolume_Check(urlLocation string, vid storage.VolumeId, garbageThreshold string) (error, bool) {
 	values := make(url.Values)
 	values.Add("volume", vid.String())
-    values.Add("garbageThreshold", garbageThreshold)
+	values.Add("garbageThreshold", garbageThreshold)
 	jsonBlob, err := util.Post("http://"+urlLocation+"/admin/vacuum_volume_check", values)
 	if err != nil {
-	    fmt.Println("parameters:",values)
+		fmt.Println("parameters:", values)
 		return err, false
 	}
 	var ret VacuumVolumeResult
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_event_handling.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_event_handling.go
index b33b4d768..debedc3d3 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_event_handling.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_event_handling.go
@@ -52,14 +52,14 @@ func (t *Topology) UnRegisterDataNode(dn *DataNode) {
 		vl := t.GetVolumeLayout(v.RepType)
 		vl.SetVolumeUnavailable(dn, v.Id)
 	}
-    dn.UpAdjustVolumeCountDelta(-dn.GetVolumeCount())
+	dn.UpAdjustVolumeCountDelta(-dn.GetVolumeCount())
 	dn.UpAdjustActiveVolumeCountDelta(-dn.GetActiveVolumeCount())
 	dn.UpAdjustMaxVolumeCountDelta(-dn.GetMaxVolumeCount())
 	dn.Parent().UnlinkChildNode(dn.Id())
 }
 func (t *Topology) RegisterRecoveredDataNode(dn *DataNode) {
 	for _, v := range dn.volumes {
-        vl := t.GetVolumeLayout(v.RepType)
+		vl := t.GetVolumeLayout(v.RepType)
 		if vl.isWritable(&v) {
 			vl.SetVolumeAvailable(dn, v.Id)
 		}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_map.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_map.go
index 9ccf08ae3..b416ee943 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_map.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/topology_map.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package topology
 
-import (
-)
+import ()
 
 func (t *Topology) ToMap() interface{} {
 	m := make(map[string]interface{})
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_layout.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_layout.go
index 314aca69f..141a40072 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_layout.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_layout.go
@@ -5,12 +5,15 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 	"pkg/storage"
+	"sort"
 )
 
+type volumeIdList []storage.VolumeId
+
 type VolumeLayout struct {
 	repType         storage.ReplicationType
 	vid2location    map[storage.VolumeId]*VolumeLocationList
-	writables       []storage.VolumeId // transient array of writable volume id
+	writables       volumeIdList // transient (sorted!) array of writable volume Ids
 	pulse           int64
 	volumeSizeLimit uint64
 }
@@ -19,7 +22,7 @@ func NewVolumeLayout(repType storage.ReplicationType, volumeSizeLimit uint64, pu
 	return &VolumeLayout{
 		repType:         repType,
 		vid2location:    make(map[storage.VolumeId]*VolumeLocationList),
-		writables:       *new([]storage.VolumeId),
+		writables:       make(volumeIdList, 0, 4),
 		pulse:           pulse,
 		volumeSizeLimit: volumeSizeLimit,
 	}
@@ -33,13 +36,18 @@ func (vl *VolumeLayout) RegisterVolume(v *storage.VolumeInfo, dn *DataNode) {
 		if len(vl.vid2location[v.Id].list) == v.RepType.GetCopyCount() {
 			if vl.isWritable(v) {
 				vl.writables = append(vl.writables, v.Id)
+				if len(vl.writables) > 1 {
+					vl.writables.Sort()
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (vl *VolumeLayout) isWritable(v *storage.VolumeInfo) bool{
-    return uint64(v.Size) < vl.volumeSizeLimit && v.Version == storage.CurrentVersion
+func (vl *VolumeLayout) isWritable(v *storage.VolumeInfo) bool {
+	return !v.Frozen &&
+		uint64(v.Size) < vl.volumeSizeLimit &&
+		v.Version == storage.CurrentVersion
 }
 
 func (vl *VolumeLayout) Lookup(vid storage.VolumeId) []*DataNode {
@@ -52,7 +60,13 @@ func (vl *VolumeLayout) PickForWrite(count int) (*storage.VolumeId, int, *Volume
 		fmt.Println("No more writable volumes!")
 		return nil, 0, nil, errors.New("No more writable volumes!")
 	}
-	vid := vl.writables[rand.Intn(len_writers)]
+	var vid storage.VolumeId
+	if len_writers == 1 {
+		vid = vl.writables[0]
+	} else {
+		// skew for lesser indices
+		vid = vl.writables[rand.Intn(len_writers+1)%len_writers]
+	}
 	locationList := vl.vid2location[vid]
 	if locationList != nil {
 		return &vid, count, locationList, nil
@@ -80,8 +94,12 @@ func (vl *VolumeLayout) setVolumeWritable(vid storage.VolumeId) bool {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
+	// FIXME: how to refuse if volume is unwritable/frozen?
 	fmt.Println("Volume", vid, "becomes writable")
 	vl.writables = append(vl.writables, vid)
+	if len(vl.writables) > 1 {
+		vl.writables.Sort()
+	}
 	return true
 }
 
@@ -114,3 +132,18 @@ func (vl *VolumeLayout) ToMap() interface{} {
 	//m["locations"] = vl.vid2location
 	return m
 }
+
+func (vls volumeIdList) Len() int { return len(vls) }
+
+func (vls volumeIdList) Less(i, j int) bool {
+	return vls[i] < vls[j]
+}
+
+func (vls volumeIdList) Swap(i, j int) {
+	vls[i], vls[j] = vls[j], vls[i]
+}
+
+// convienence sorting
+func (vls volumeIdList) Sort() {
+	sort.Sort(vls)
+}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_location.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_location.go
index 64d8cdf43..507a240b5 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_location.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/topology/volume_location.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ func (dnll *VolumeLocationList) Head() *DataNode {
 }
 
 func (dnll *VolumeLocationList) Length() int {
-  return len(dnll.list)
+	return len(dnll.list)
 }
 
 func (dnll *VolumeLocationList) Add(loc *DataNode) bool {
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ func (dnll *VolumeLocationList) Add(loc *DataNode) bool {
 }
 
 func (dnll *VolumeLocationList) Remove(loc *DataNode) bool {
-  for i, dnl := range dnll.list {
-    if loc.Ip == dnl.Ip && loc.Port == dnl.Port {
-      dnll.list = append(dnll.list[:i],dnll.list[i+1:]...)
-      return true
-    }
-  }
-  return false
+	for i, dnl := range dnll.list {
+		if loc.Ip == dnl.Ip && loc.Port == dnl.Port {
+			dnll.list = append(dnll.list[:i], dnll.list[i+1:]...)
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
 }
 
 func (dnll *VolumeLocationList) Refresh(freshThreshHold int64) {
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/bytes.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/bytes.go
index 177da06db..6cc3d7018 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/bytes.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/bytes.go
@@ -1,34 +1,33 @@
 package util
 
-func BytesToUint64(b []byte)(v uint64){
-  length := uint(len(b))
-  for i :=uint(0);i<length-1;i++ {
-    v += uint64(b[i])
-    v <<= 8
-  }
-  v+=uint64(b[length-1])
-  return
+func BytesToUint64(b []byte) (v uint64) {
+	length := uint(len(b))
+	for i := uint(0); i < length-1; i++ {
+		v += uint64(b[i])
+		v <<= 8
+	}
+	v += uint64(b[length-1])
+	return
 }
-func BytesToUint32(b []byte)(v uint32){
-  length := uint(len(b))
-  for i :=uint(0);i<length-1;i++ {
-    v += uint32(b[i])
-    v <<= 8
-  }
-  v+=uint32(b[length-1])
-  return
+func BytesToUint32(b []byte) (v uint32) {
+	length := uint(len(b))
+	for i := uint(0); i < length-1; i++ {
+		v += uint32(b[i])
+		v <<= 8
+	}
+	v += uint32(b[length-1])
+	return
 }
-func Uint64toBytes(b []byte, v uint64){
-  for i :=uint(0);i<8;i++ {
-    b[7-i] = byte(v>>(i*8))
-  }
+func Uint64toBytes(b []byte, v uint64) {
+	for i := uint(0); i < 8; i++ {
+		b[7-i] = byte(v >> (i * 8))
+	}
 }
-func Uint32toBytes(b []byte, v uint32){
-  for i :=uint(0);i<4;i++ {
-    b[3-i] = byte(v>>(i*8))
-  }
+func Uint32toBytes(b []byte, v uint32) {
+	for i := uint(0); i < 4; i++ {
+		b[3-i] = byte(v >> (i * 8))
+	}
 }
-func Uint8toBytes(b []byte, v uint8){
-  b[0] = byte(v)
+func Uint8toBytes(b []byte, v uint8) {
+	b[0] = byte(v)
 }
-
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/file.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/file.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf3ea66de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/file.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package util
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+)
+
+// sets file (fh if not nil, otherwise fileName) permission to mask
+// it will
+//   AND with the permission iff direction < 0
+//   OR with the permission iff direction > 0
+//   otherwise it will SET the permission to the mask
+func SetFilePerm(fh *os.File, fileName string, mask os.FileMode, direction int8) (err error) {
+	var stat os.FileInfo
+	if fh == nil {
+		stat, err = os.Stat(fileName)
+	} else {
+		stat, err = fh.Stat()
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	mode := stat.Mode() & ^os.ModePerm
+	// log.Printf("mode1=%d mask=%d", mode, mask)
+	if direction == 0 {
+		mode |= mask
+	} else if direction > 0 {
+		mode |= stat.Mode().Perm() | mask
+	} else {
+		mode |= stat.Mode().Perm() & mask
+	}
+	log.Printf("pmode=%d operm=%d => nmode=%d nperm=%d",
+		stat.Mode(), stat.Mode()&os.ModePerm,
+		mode, mode&os.ModePerm)
+	if mode == 0 {
+		return errors.New("Zero FileMode")
+	}
+	if fh == nil {
+		err = os.Chmod(fileName, mode)
+	} else {
+		err = fh.Chmod(mode)
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+// returns whether  the filename exists - errors doesn't mean not exists!
+func FileExists(fileName string) bool {
+	if _, e := os.Stat(fileName); e != nil && os.IsNotExist(e) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// returns whether the filename is POSSIBLY writable
+//- whether it has some kind of writable bit set
+func FileIsWritable(fileName string) bool {
+	if stat, e := os.Stat(fileName); e == nil {
+		return stat.Mode().Perm()&0222 > 0
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/parse.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/parse.go
index 6a4350e72..930da9522 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/parse.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/parse.go
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 package util
 
 import (
-  "strconv"
+	"strconv"
 )
 
-func ParseInt(text string, defaultValue int) int{
-  count, parseError := strconv.ParseUint(text,10,64)
-  if parseError!=nil {
-    if len(text)>0{
-      return 0
-    }
-    return defaultValue
-  }
-  return int(count)
+func ParseInt(text string, defaultValue int) int {
+	count, parseError := strconv.ParseUint(text, 10, 64)
+	if parseError != nil {
+		if len(text) > 0 {
+			return 0
+		}
+		return defaultValue
+	}
+	return int(count)
 }
diff --git a/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/post.go b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/post.go
index f643faa6b..6e6ab0003 100644
--- a/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/post.go
+++ b/weed-fs/src/pkg/util/post.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func Post(url string, values url.Values) ([]byte, error) {
 	defer r.Body.Close()
 	b, err := ioutil.ReadAll(r.Body)
 	if err != nil {
-    log.Println("read post result from", url, err)
+		log.Println("read post result from", url, err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return b, nil