]> arthur.barton.de Git - netdata.git/blobdiff - src/main.c
enable cgroups only on Linux; #1632
[netdata.git] / src / main.c
index 2065b506a845a7e3cea999860f66fd321f54e52a..7232bdb1d0edcf52e3d75ed49bac73b84e22f55a 100644 (file)
 extern void *cgroups_main(void *ptr);
 
 void netdata_cleanup_and_exit(int ret) {
-       netdata_exit = 1;
+    netdata_exit = 1;
 
-       error_log_limit_unlimited();
+    error_log_limit_unlimited();
 
-       info("Called: netdata_cleanup_and_exit()");
-#ifdef NETDATA_INTERNAL_CHECKS
-    rrdset_free_all();
-#else
-       rrdset_save_all();
-#endif
-       // kill_childs();
+    debug(D_EXIT, "Called: netdata_cleanup_and_exit()");
 
-       if(pidfile[0]) {
-               if(unlink(pidfile) != 0)
-                       error("Cannot unlink pidfile '%s'.", pidfile);
-       }
+    // save the database
+    rrdset_save_all();
 
-       info("NetData exiting. Bye bye...");
-       exit(ret);
-}
-
-struct netdata_static_thread {
-       char *name;
+    // unlink the pid
+    if(pidfile[0]) {
+        if(unlink(pidfile) != 0)
+            error("Cannot unlink pidfile '%s'.", pidfile);
+    }
 
-       char *config_section;
-       char *config_name;
+#ifdef NETDATA_INTERNAL_CHECKS
+    // kill all childs
+    //kill_childs();
 
-       int enabled;
+    // free database
+    rrdset_free_all();
+#endif
 
-       pthread_t *thread;
+    info("netdata exiting. Bye bye...");
+    exit(ret);
+}
 
-       void (*init_routine) (void);
-       void *(*start_routine) (void *);
-} static_threads[] = {
+struct netdata_static_thread static_threads[] = {
 #ifdef INTERNAL_PLUGIN_NFACCT
 // nfacct requires root access
-       // so, we build it as an external plugin with setuid to root
-       {"nfacct",              "plugins",  "nfacct",     1, NULL, NULL, nfacct_main},
+    // so, we build it as an external plugin with setuid to root
+    {"nfacct",              "plugins",  "nfacct",     1, NULL, NULL, nfacct_main},
 #endif
 
-       {"tc",                 "plugins",   "tc",         1, NULL, NULL, tc_main},
-       {"idlejitter",         "plugins",   "idlejitter", 1, NULL, NULL, cpuidlejitter_main},
-       {"proc",               "plugins",   "proc",       1, NULL, NULL, proc_main},
-       {"cgroups",            "plugins",   "cgroups",    1, NULL, NULL, cgroups_main},
-       {"plugins.d",           NULL,       NULL,         1, NULL, NULL, pluginsd_main},
-       {"check",               "plugins",  "checks",     0, NULL, NULL, checks_main},
-       {"web",                 NULL,       NULL,         1, NULL, NULL, socket_listen_main_multi_threaded},
-       {"web-single-threaded", NULL,       NULL,         0, NULL, NULL, socket_listen_main_single_threaded},
-       {NULL,                  NULL,       NULL,         0, NULL, NULL, NULL}
+    {"tc",                 "plugins",   "tc",         1, NULL, NULL, tc_main},
+    {"idlejitter",         "plugins",   "idlejitter", 1, NULL, NULL, cpuidlejitter_main},
+#if defined(__FreeBSD__)
+    {"freebsd",            "plugins",   "freebsd",    1, NULL, NULL, freebsd_main},
+#elif defined(__APPLE__)
+    {"macos",              "plugins",   "macos",      1, NULL, NULL, macos_main},
+#else
+    {"proc",               "plugins",   "proc",       1, NULL, NULL, proc_main},
+    {"diskspace",          "plugins",   "diskspace",  1, NULL, NULL, proc_diskspace_main},
+    {"cgroups",            "plugins",   "cgroups",    1, NULL, NULL, cgroups_main},
+#endif /* __FreeBSD__, __APPLE__*/
+    {"check",              "plugins",   "checks",     0, NULL, NULL, checks_main},
+    {"backends",            NULL,       NULL,         1, NULL, NULL, backends_main},
+    {"health",              NULL,       NULL,         1, NULL, NULL, health_main},
+    {"plugins.d",           NULL,       NULL,         1, NULL, NULL, pluginsd_main},
+    {"web",                 NULL,       NULL,         1, NULL, NULL, socket_listen_main_multi_threaded},
+    {"web-single-threaded", NULL,       NULL,         0, NULL, NULL, socket_listen_main_single_threaded},
+    {NULL,                  NULL,       NULL,         0, NULL, NULL, NULL}
 };
 
 void web_server_threading_selection(void) {
-       int threaded = config_get_boolean("global", "multi threaded web server", 1);
+    int threaded = config_get_boolean("global", "multi threaded web server", 1);
 
-       int i;
-       for(i = 0; static_threads[i].name ; i++) {
-               if(static_threads[i].start_routine == socket_listen_main_multi_threaded)
-                       static_threads[i].enabled = threaded?1:0;
+    int i;
+    for(i = 0; static_threads[i].name ; i++) {
+        if(static_threads[i].start_routine == socket_listen_main_multi_threaded)
+            static_threads[i].enabled = threaded?1:0;
 
-               if(static_threads[i].start_routine == socket_listen_main_single_threaded)
-                       static_threads[i].enabled = threaded?0:1;
-       }
+        if(static_threads[i].start_routine == socket_listen_main_single_threaded)
+            static_threads[i].enabled = threaded?0:1;
+    }
 
-       web_client_timeout = (int) config_get_number("global", "disconnect idle web clients after seconds", DEFAULT_DISCONNECT_IDLE_WEB_CLIENTS_AFTER_SECONDS);
+    web_client_timeout = (int) config_get_number("global", "disconnect idle web clients after seconds", DEFAULT_DISCONNECT_IDLE_WEB_CLIENTS_AFTER_SECONDS);
 
-       web_donotrack_comply = config_get_boolean("global", "respect web browser do not track policy", web_donotrack_comply);
+    web_donotrack_comply = config_get_boolean("global", "respect web browser do not track policy", web_donotrack_comply);
 
 #ifdef NETDATA_WITH_ZLIB
-       web_enable_gzip = config_get_boolean("global", "enable web responses gzip compression", web_enable_gzip);
-
-       char *s = config_get("global", "web compression strategy", "default");
-       if(!strcmp(s, "default"))
-               web_gzip_strategy = Z_DEFAULT_STRATEGY;
-       else if(!strcmp(s, "filtered"))
-               web_gzip_strategy = Z_FILTERED;
-       else if(!strcmp(s, "huffman only"))
-               web_gzip_strategy = Z_HUFFMAN_ONLY;
-       else if(!strcmp(s, "rle"))
-               web_gzip_strategy = Z_RLE;
-       else if(!strcmp(s, "fixed"))
-               web_gzip_strategy = Z_FIXED;
-       else {
-               error("Invalid compression strategy '%s'. Valid strategies are 'default', 'filtered', 'huffman only', 'rle' and 'fixed'. Proceeding with 'default'.", s);
-               web_gzip_strategy = Z_DEFAULT_STRATEGY;
-       }
-
-       web_gzip_level = (int)config_get_number("global", "web compression level", 3);
-       if(web_gzip_level < 1) {
-               error("Invalid compression level %d. Valid levels are 1 (fastest) to 9 (best ratio). Proceeding with level 1 (fastest compression).", web_gzip_level);
-               web_gzip_level = 1;
-       }
-       else if(web_gzip_level > 9) {
-               error("Invalid compression level %d. Valid levels are 1 (fastest) to 9 (best ratio). Proceeding with level 9 (best compression).", web_gzip_level);
-               web_gzip_level = 9;
-       }
+    web_enable_gzip = config_get_boolean("global", "enable web responses gzip compression", web_enable_gzip);
+
+    char *s = config_get("global", "web compression strategy", "default");
+    if(!strcmp(s, "default"))
+        web_gzip_strategy = Z_DEFAULT_STRATEGY;
+    else if(!strcmp(s, "filtered"))
+        web_gzip_strategy = Z_FILTERED;
+    else if(!strcmp(s, "huffman only"))
+        web_gzip_strategy = Z_HUFFMAN_ONLY;
+    else if(!strcmp(s, "rle"))
+        web_gzip_strategy = Z_RLE;
+    else if(!strcmp(s, "fixed"))
+        web_gzip_strategy = Z_FIXED;
+    else {
+        error("Invalid compression strategy '%s'. Valid strategies are 'default', 'filtered', 'huffman only', 'rle' and 'fixed'. Proceeding with 'default'.", s);
+        web_gzip_strategy = Z_DEFAULT_STRATEGY;
+    }
+
+    web_gzip_level = (int)config_get_number("global", "web compression level", 3);
+    if(web_gzip_level < 1) {
+        error("Invalid compression level %d. Valid levels are 1 (fastest) to 9 (best ratio). Proceeding with level 1 (fastest compression).", web_gzip_level);
+        web_gzip_level = 1;
+    }
+    else if(web_gzip_level > 9) {
+        error("Invalid compression level %d. Valid levels are 1 (fastest) to 9 (best ratio). Proceeding with level 9 (best compression).", web_gzip_level);
+        web_gzip_level = 9;
+    }
 #endif /* NETDATA_WITH_ZLIB */
 }
 
 
 int killpid(pid_t pid, int sig)
 {
-       int ret = -1;
-       debug(D_EXIT, "Request to kill pid %d", pid);
-
-       errno = 0;
-       if(kill(pid, 0) == -1) {
-               switch(errno) {
-                       case ESRCH:
-                               error("Request to kill pid %d, but it is not running.", pid);
-                               break;
-
-                       case EPERM:
-                               error("Request to kill pid %d, but I do not have enough permissions.", pid);
-                               break;
-
-                       default:
-                               error("Request to kill pid %d, but I received an error.", pid);
-                               break;
-               }
-       }
-       else {
-               errno = 0;
-               ret = kill(pid, sig);
-               if(ret == -1) {
-                       switch(errno) {
-                               case ESRCH:
-                                       error("Cannot kill pid %d, but it is not running.", pid);
-                                       break;
-
-                               case EPERM:
-                                       error("Cannot kill pid %d, but I do not have enough permissions.", pid);
-                                       break;
-
-                               default:
-                                       error("Cannot kill pid %d, but I received an error.", pid);
-                                       break;
-                       }
-               }
-       }
-
-       return ret;
+    int ret = -1;
+    debug(D_EXIT, "Request to kill pid %d", pid);
+
+    errno = 0;
+    if(kill(pid, 0) == -1) {
+        switch(errno) {
+            case ESRCH:
+                error("Request to kill pid %d, but it is not running.", pid);
+                break;
+
+            case EPERM:
+                error("Request to kill pid %d, but I do not have enough permissions.", pid);
+                break;
+
+            default:
+                error("Request to kill pid %d, but I received an error.", pid);
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+    else {
+        errno = 0;
+        ret = kill(pid, sig);
+        if(ret == -1) {
+            switch(errno) {
+                case ESRCH:
+                    error("Cannot kill pid %d, but it is not running.", pid);
+                    break;
+
+                case EPERM:
+                    error("Cannot kill pid %d, but I do not have enough permissions.", pid);
+                    break;
+
+                default:
+                    error("Cannot kill pid %d, but I received an error.", pid);
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return ret;
 }
 
 void kill_childs()
 {
-       siginfo_t info;
-
-       struct web_client *w;
-       for(w = web_clients; w ; w = w->next) {
-               debug(D_EXIT, "Stopping web client %s", w->client_ip);
-               pthread_cancel(w->thread);
-               pthread_join(w->thread, NULL);
-       }
-
-       int i;
-       for (i = 0; static_threads[i].name != NULL ; i++) {
-               if(static_threads[i].thread) {
-                       debug(D_EXIT, "Stopping %s thread", static_threads[i].name);
-                       pthread_cancel(*static_threads[i].thread);
-                       pthread_join(*static_threads[i].thread, NULL);
-                       static_threads[i].thread = NULL;
-               }
-       }
-
-       if(tc_child_pid) {
-               info("Killing tc-qos-helper procees");
-               if(killpid(tc_child_pid, SIGTERM) != -1)
-                       waitid(P_PID, (id_t) tc_child_pid, &info, WEXITED);
-       }
-       tc_child_pid = 0;
-
-       struct plugind *cd;
-       for(cd = pluginsd_root ; cd ; cd = cd->next) {
-               debug(D_EXIT, "Stopping %s plugin thread", cd->id);
-               pthread_cancel(cd->thread);
-               pthread_join(cd->thread, NULL);
-
-               if(cd->pid && !cd->obsolete) {
-                       debug(D_EXIT, "killing %s plugin process", cd->id);
-                       if(killpid(cd->pid, SIGTERM) != -1)
-                               waitid(P_PID, (id_t) cd->pid, &info, WEXITED);
-               }
-       }
-
-       // if, for any reason there is any child exited
-       // catch it here
-       waitid(P_PID, 0, &info, WEXITED|WNOHANG);
-
-       debug(D_EXIT, "All threads/childs stopped.");
+    error_log_limit_unlimited();
+
+    siginfo_t info;
+
+    struct web_client *w;
+    for(w = web_clients; w ; w = w->next) {
+        info("Stopping web client %s", w->client_ip);
+        pthread_cancel(w->thread);
+        // it is detached
+        // pthread_join(w->thread, NULL);
+
+        w->obsolete = 1;
+    }
+
+    int i;
+    for (i = 0; static_threads[i].name != NULL ; i++) {
+        if(static_threads[i].enabled) {
+            info("Stopping %s thread", static_threads[i].name);
+            pthread_cancel(*static_threads[i].thread);
+            // it is detached
+            // pthread_join(*static_threads[i].thread, NULL);
+
+            static_threads[i].enabled = 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if(tc_child_pid) {
+        info("Killing tc-qos-helper process %d", tc_child_pid);
+        if(killpid(tc_child_pid, SIGTERM) != -1)
+            waitid(P_PID, (id_t) tc_child_pid, &info, WEXITED);
+
+        tc_child_pid = 0;
+    }
+
+    struct plugind *cd;
+    for(cd = pluginsd_root ; cd ; cd = cd->next) {
+        if(cd->enabled && !cd->obsolete) {
+            info("Stopping %s plugin thread", cd->id);
+            pthread_cancel(cd->thread);
+
+            if(cd->pid) {
+                info("killing %s plugin child process pid %d", cd->id, cd->pid);
+                if(killpid(cd->pid, SIGTERM) != -1)
+                    waitid(P_PID, (id_t) cd->pid, &info, WEXITED);
+
+                cd->pid = 0;
+            }
+
+            cd->obsolete = 1;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // if, for any reason there is any child exited
+    // catch it here
+    info("Cleaning up an other children");
+    waitid(P_PID, 0, &info, WEXITED|WNOHANG);
+
+    info("All threads/childs stopped.");
 }
 
 struct option_def options[] = {
-       // opt description                                                       arg name                     default value
-       {'c', "Load alternate configuration file",                               "config_file",                          CONFIG_DIR "/" CONFIG_FILENAME},
-       {'D', "Disable fork into background",                                    NULL,                                   NULL},
-       {'h', "Display help message",                                            NULL,                                   NULL},
-       {'P', "File to save a pid while running",                                "FILE",                                 NULL},
-       {'i', "The IP address to listen to.",                                    "address",                              "All addresses"},
-       {'p', "Port to listen. Can be from 1 to 65535.",                         "port_number",                          "19999"},
-       {'s', "Path to access host /proc and /sys when running in a container.", "PATH",                                 NULL},
-       {'t', "The frequency in seconds, for data collection. \
-Same as 'update every' config file option.",                                 "seconds",                              "1"},
-       {'u', "System username to run as.",                                      "username",                             "netdata"},
-       {'v', "Version of the program",                                          NULL,                                   NULL},
-       {'W', "vendor options.",                                                 "stacksize=<size>|unittest|debug_flag", NULL},
+    // opt description                                    arg name       default value
+    { 'c', "Configuration file to load.",                 "filename",    CONFIG_DIR "/" CONFIG_FILENAME},
+    { 'D', "Do not fork. Run in the foreground.",         NULL,          "run in the background"},
+    { 'h', "Display this help message.",                  NULL,          NULL},
+    { 'P', "File to save a pid while running.",           "filename",    "do not save pid to a file"},
+    { 'i', "The IP address to listen to.",                "IP",          "all IP addresses IPv4 and IPv6"},
+    { 'k', "Check health configuration and exit.",        NULL,          NULL},
+    { 'p', "API/Web port to use.",                        "port",        "19999"},
+    { 's', "Prefix for /proc and /sys (for containers).", "path",        "no prefix"},
+    { 't', "The internal clock of netdata.",              "seconds",     "1"},
+    { 'u', "Run as user.",                                "username",    "netdata"},
+    { 'v', "Print netdata version and exit.",             NULL,          NULL},
+    { 'W', "See Advanced options below.",                 "options",     NULL},
 };
 
 void help(int exitcode) {
-       FILE *stream;
-       if(exitcode == 0)
-               stream = stdout;
-       else
-               stream = stderr;
-
-       int num_opts = sizeof(options) / sizeof(struct option_def);
-       int i;
-       int max_len_arg = 0;
-
-       // Compute maximum argument length
-       for( i = 0; i < num_opts; i++ ) {
-               if(options[i].arg_name) {
-                       int len_arg = strlen(options[i].arg_name);
-                       if(len_arg > max_len_arg) max_len_arg = len_arg;
-               }
-       }
-
-       fprintf(stream, "SYNOPSIS: netdata [options]\n");
-       fprintf(stream, "\n");
-       fprintf(stream, "Options:\n");
-
-       // Output options description.
-       for( i = 0; i < num_opts; i++ ) {
-               fprintf(stream, "  -%c %-*s  %s", options[i].val, max_len_arg, options[i].arg_name ? options[i].arg_name : "", options[i].description);
-               if(options[i].default_value) {
-                       fprintf(stream, " Default: %s\n", options[i].default_value);
-               } else {
-                       fprintf(stream, "\n");
-               }
-       }
-
-       fflush(stream);
-       exit(exitcode);
+    FILE *stream;
+    if(exitcode == 0)
+        stream = stdout;
+    else
+        stream = stderr;
+
+    int num_opts = sizeof(options) / sizeof(struct option_def);
+    int i;
+    int max_len_arg = 0;
+
+    // Compute maximum argument length
+    for( i = 0; i < num_opts; i++ ) {
+        if(options[i].arg_name) {
+            int len_arg = (int)strlen(options[i].arg_name);
+            if(len_arg > max_len_arg) max_len_arg = len_arg;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if(max_len_arg > 30) max_len_arg = 30;
+    if(max_len_arg < 20) max_len_arg = 20;
+
+    fprintf(stream, "%s", "\n"
+            " ^\n"
+            " |.-.   .-.   .-.   .-.   .  netdata                                         \n"
+            " |   '-'   '-'   '-'   '-'   real-time performance monitoring, done right!   \n"
+            " +----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+--->\n"
+            "\n"
+            " Copyright (C) 2016-2017, Costa Tsaousis <costa@tsaousis.gr>\n"
+            " Released under GNU Public License v3 or later.\n"
+            " All rights reserved.\n"
+            "\n"
+            " Home Page  : https://my-netdata.io\n"
+            " Source Code: https://github.com/firehol/netdata\n"
+            " Wiki / Docs: https://github.com/firehol/netdata/wiki\n"
+            " Support    : https://github.com/firehol/netdata/issues\n"
+            " License    : https://github.com/firehol/netdata/blob/master/LICENSE.md\n"
+            "\n"
+            " Twitter    : https://twitter.com/linuxnetdata\n"
+            " Facebook   : https://www.facebook.com/linuxnetdata/\n"
+            "\n"
+            " netdata is a https://firehol.org project.\n"
+            "\n"
+            "\n"
+    );
+
+    fprintf(stream, " SYNOPSIS: netdata [options]\n");
+    fprintf(stream, "\n");
+    fprintf(stream, " Options:\n\n");
+
+    // Output options description.
+    for( i = 0; i < num_opts; i++ ) {
+        fprintf(stream, "  -%c %-*s  %s", options[i].val, max_len_arg, options[i].arg_name ? options[i].arg_name : "", options[i].description);
+        if(options[i].default_value) {
+            fprintf(stream, "\n   %c %-*s  Default: %s\n", ' ', max_len_arg, "", options[i].default_value);
+        } else {
+            fprintf(stream, "\n");
+        }
+        fprintf(stream, "\n");
+    }
+
+    fprintf(stream, "\n Advanced options:\n\n"
+            "  -W stacksize=N           Set the stacksize (in bytes).\n\n"
+            "  -W debug_flags=N         Set runtime tracing to debug.log.\n\n"
+            "  -W unittest              Run internal unittests and exit.\n\n"
+            "  -W simple-pattern pattern string\n"
+            "                           Check if string matches pattern and exit.\n\n"
+    );
+
+    fprintf(stream, "\n Signals netdata handles:\n\n"
+            "  - HUP                    Close and reopen log files.\n"
+            "  - USR1                   Save internal DB to disk.\n"
+            "  - USR2                   Reload health configuration.\n"
+            "\n"
+    );
+
+    fflush(stream);
+    exit(exitcode);
 }
 
 // TODO: Remove this function with the nix major release.
 void remove_option(int opt_index, int *argc, char **argv) {
-       int i = opt_index;
-       // remove the options.
-       do {
-               *argc = *argc - 1;
-               for(i = opt_index; i < *argc; i++) {
-                       argv[i] = argv[i+1];
-               }
-               i = opt_index;
-       } while(argv[i][0] != '-' && opt_index >= *argc);
+    int i = opt_index;
+    // remove the options.
+    do {
+        *argc = *argc - 1;
+        for(i = opt_index; i < *argc; i++) {
+            argv[i] = argv[i+1];
+        }
+        i = opt_index;
+    } while(argv[i][0] != '-' && opt_index >= *argc);
 }
 
+static const char *verify_required_directory(const char *dir) {
+    if(chdir(dir) == -1)
+        fatal("Cannot cd to directory '%s'", dir);
+
+    DIR *d = opendir(dir);
+    if(!d)
+        fatal("Cannot examine the contents of directory '%s'", dir);
+    closedir(d);
+
+    return dir;
+}
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-       int i;
-       int config_loaded = 0;
-       int dont_fork = 0;
-       size_t wanted_stacksize = 0, stacksize = 0;
-       pthread_attr_t attr;
-
-       // global initialization
-       get_HZ();
-
-       // set the name for logging
-       program_name = "netdata";
-
-       // parse command line.
-
-       // parse depercated options
-       // TODO: Remove this block with the next major release.
-       {
-               i = 1;
-               while(i < argc) {
-                       if(strcmp(argv[i], "-pidfile") == 0 && (i+1) < argc) {
-                               strncpyz(pidfile, argv[i+1], FILENAME_MAX);
-                               fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- please use -P instead.\n", argv[0], argv[i]);
-                               remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
-                       }
-                       else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-nodaemon") == 0 || strcmp(argv[i], "-nd") == 0) {
-                               dont_fork = 1;
-                               fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- please use -D instead.\n ", argv[0], argv[i]);
-                               remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
-                       }
-                       else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-ch") == 0 && (i+1) < argc) {
-                               config_set("global", "host access prefix", argv[i+1]);
-                               fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- please use -s instead.\n", argv[0], argv[i]);
-                               remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
-                       }
-                       else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-l") == 0 && (i+1) < argc) {
-                               config_set("global", "history", argv[i+1]);
-                               fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- This option will be removed with V2.*.\n", argv[0], argv[i]);
-                               remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
-                       }
-                       else i++;
-               }
-       }
-
-       // parse options
-       {
-               int num_opts = sizeof(options) / sizeof(struct option_def);
-               char optstring[(num_opts * 2) + 1];
-
-               int string_i = 0;
-               for( i = 0; i < num_opts; i++ ) {
-                       optstring[string_i] = options[i].val;
-                       string_i++;
-                       if(options[i].arg_name) {
-                               optstring[string_i] = ':';
-                               string_i++;
-                       }
-               }
-
-               int opt;
-               while( (opt = getopt(argc, argv, optstring)) != -1 ) {
-                       switch(opt) {
-                               case 'c':
-                                       if(load_config(optarg, 1) != 1) {
-                                               error("Cannot load configuration file %s.", optarg);
-                                               exit(1);
-                                       }
-                                       else {
-                                               debug(D_OPTIONS, "Configuration loaded from %s.", optarg);
-                                               config_loaded = 1;
-                                       }
-                                       break;
-                               case 'D':
-                                       dont_fork = 1;
-                                       break;
-                               case 'h':
-                                       help(0);
-                                       break;
-                               case 'i':
-                                       config_set("global", "bind to", optarg);
-                                       break;
-                               case 'P':
-                                       strncpy(pidfile, optarg, FILENAME_MAX);
-                                       pidfile[FILENAME_MAX] = '\0';
-                                       break;
-                               case 'p':
-                                       config_set("global", "default port", optarg);
-                                       break;
-                               case 's':
-                                       config_set("global", "host access prefix", optarg);
-                                       break;
-                               case 't':
-                                       config_set("global", "update every", optarg);
-                                       break;
-                               case 'u':
-                                       config_set("global", "run as user", optarg);
-                                       break;
-                               case 'v':
-                                       // TODO: Outsource version to makefile which can compute version from git.
-                                       printf("netdata 1.2.1_master\n");
-                                       return 0;
-                                       break;
-                               case 'W':
-                                       {
-                                               char* stacksize = "stacksize=";
-                                               char* debug_flags_string = "debug_flags=";
-                                               if(strcmp(optarg, "unittest") == 0) {
-                                                       rrd_update_every = 1;
-                                                       if(run_all_mockup_tests()) exit(1);
-                                                       if(unit_test_storage()) exit(1);
-                                                       fprintf(stderr, "\n\nALL TESTS PASSED\n\n");
-                                                       exit(0);
-                                               } else if(strncmp(optarg, stacksize, strlen(stacksize)) == 0) {
-                                                       optarg += strlen(stacksize);
-                                                       config_set("global", "pthread stack size", optarg);
-                                               } else if(strncmp(optarg, debug_flags_string, strlen(debug_flags_string)) == 0) {
-                                                       optarg += strlen(debug_flags_string);
-                                                       config_set("global", "debug flags",  optarg);
-                                                       debug_flags = strtoull(optarg, NULL, 0);
-                                               }
-                                       }
-                                       break;
-                               default: /* ? */
-                                       help(1);
-                                       break;
-                       }
-               }
-       }
-
-       if(!config_loaded) load_config(NULL, 0);
-
-       // prepare configuration environment variables for the plugins
-       setenv("NETDATA_CONFIG_DIR" , config_get("global", "config directory"   , CONFIG_DIR) , 1);
-       setenv("NETDATA_PLUGINS_DIR", config_get("global", "plugins directory"  , PLUGINS_DIR), 1);
-       setenv("NETDATA_WEB_DIR"    , config_get("global", "web files directory", WEB_DIR)    , 1);
-       setenv("NETDATA_CACHE_DIR"  , config_get("global", "cache directory"    , CACHE_DIR)  , 1);
-       setenv("NETDATA_LIB_DIR"    , config_get("global", "lib directory"      , VARLIB_DIR) , 1);
-       setenv("NETDATA_LOG_DIR"    , config_get("global", "log directory"      , LOG_DIR)    , 1);
-       setenv("NETDATA_HOST_PREFIX", config_get("global", "host access prefix" , "")         , 1);
-       setenv("HOME"               , config_get("global", "home directory"     , CACHE_DIR)  , 1);
-
-       // disable buffering for python plugins
-       setenv("PYTHONUNBUFFERED", "1", 1);
-
-       // avoid flood calls to stat(/etc/localtime)
-       // http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4554271/how-to-avoid-excessive-stat-etc-localtime-calls-in-strftime-on-linux
-       setenv("TZ", ":/etc/localtime", 0);
-
-       {
-               char path[1024 + 1], *p = getenv("PATH");
-               if(!p) p = "/bin:/usr/bin";
-               snprintfz(path, 1024, "%s:%s", p, "/sbin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin");
-               setenv("PATH", config_get("plugins", "PATH environment variable", path), 1);
-       }
-
-       // cd to /tmp to avoid any plugins writing files at random places
-       if(chdir("/tmp")) error("netdata: ERROR: Cannot cd to /tmp");
-
-       char *input_log_file = NULL;
-       char *output_log_file = NULL;
-       char *error_log_file = NULL;
-       char *access_log_file = NULL;
-       char *user = NULL;
-       {
-               char *flags = config_get("global", "debug flags",  "0x00000000");
-               setenv("NETDATA_DEBUG_FLAGS", flags, 1);
-
-               debug_flags = strtoull(flags, NULL, 0);
-               debug(D_OPTIONS, "Debug flags set to '0x%8llx'.", debug_flags);
-
-               if(debug_flags != 0) {
-                       struct rlimit rl = { RLIM_INFINITY, RLIM_INFINITY };
-                       if(setrlimit(RLIMIT_CORE, &rl) != 0)
-                               info("Cannot request unlimited core dumps for debugging... Proceeding anyway...");
-                       prctl(PR_SET_DUMPABLE, 1, 0, 0, 0);
-               }
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+    char *hostname = "localhost";
+    int i, check_config = 0;
+    int config_loaded = 0;
+    int dont_fork = 0;
+    size_t wanted_stacksize = 0, stacksize = 0;
+    pthread_attr_t attr;
+
+    // set the name for logging
+    program_name = "netdata";
+
+    // parse depercated options
+    // TODO: Remove this block with the next major release.
+    {
+        i = 1;
+        while(i < argc) {
+            if(strcmp(argv[i], "-pidfile") == 0 && (i+1) < argc) {
+                strncpyz(pidfile, argv[i+1], FILENAME_MAX);
+                fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- please use -P instead.\n", argv[0], argv[i]);
+                remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
+            }
+            else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-nodaemon") == 0 || strcmp(argv[i], "-nd") == 0) {
+                dont_fork = 1;
+                fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- please use -D instead.\n ", argv[0], argv[i]);
+                remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
+            }
+            else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-ch") == 0 && (i+1) < argc) {
+                config_set("global", "host access prefix", argv[i+1]);
+                fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- please use -s instead.\n", argv[0], argv[i]);
+                remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
+            }
+            else if(strcmp(argv[i], "-l") == 0 && (i+1) < argc) {
+                config_set("global", "history", argv[i+1]);
+                fprintf(stderr, "%s: deprecated option -- %s -- This option will be removed with V2.*.\n", argv[0], argv[i]);
+                remove_option(i, &argc, argv);
+            }
+            else i++;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // parse options
+    {
+        int num_opts = sizeof(options) / sizeof(struct option_def);
+        char optstring[(num_opts * 2) + 1];
+
+        int string_i = 0;
+        for( i = 0; i < num_opts; i++ ) {
+            optstring[string_i] = options[i].val;
+            string_i++;
+            if(options[i].arg_name) {
+                optstring[string_i] = ':';
+                string_i++;
+            }
+        }
+        // terminate optstring
+        optstring[string_i] ='\0';
+        optstring[(num_opts *2)] ='\0';
+
+        int opt;
+        while( (opt = getopt(argc, argv, optstring)) != -1 ) {
+            switch(opt) {
+                case 'c':
+                    if(load_config(optarg, 1) != 1) {
+                        error("Cannot load configuration file %s.", optarg);
+                        exit(1);
+                    }
+                    else {
+                        debug(D_OPTIONS, "Configuration loaded from %s.", optarg);
+                        config_loaded = 1;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case 'D':
+                    dont_fork = 1;
+                    break;
+                case 'h':
+                    help(0);
+                    break;
+                case 'i':
+                    config_set("global", "bind to", optarg);
+                    break;
+                case 'k':
+                    dont_fork = 1;
+                    check_config = 1;
+                    break;
+                case 'P':
+                    strncpy(pidfile, optarg, FILENAME_MAX);
+                    pidfile[FILENAME_MAX] = '\0';
+                    break;
+                case 'p':
+                    config_set("global", "default port", optarg);
+                    break;
+                case 's':
+                    config_set("global", "host access prefix", optarg);
+                    break;
+                case 't':
+                    config_set("global", "update every", optarg);
+                    break;
+                case 'u':
+                    config_set("global", "run as user", optarg);
+                    break;
+                case 'v':
+                    // TODO: Outsource version to makefile which can compute version from git.
+                    printf("netdata %s\n", VERSION);
+                    return 0;
+                case 'W':
+                    {
+                        char* stacksize_string = "stacksize=";
+                        char* debug_flags_string = "debug_flags=";
+                        if(strcmp(optarg, "unittest") == 0) {
+                            rrd_update_every = 1;
+                            if(run_all_mockup_tests()) exit(1);
+                            if(unit_test_storage()) exit(1);
+                            fprintf(stderr, "\n\nALL TESTS PASSED\n\n");
+                            exit(0);
+                        }
+                        else if(strcmp(optarg, "simple-pattern") == 0) {
+                            if(optind + 2 > argc) {
+                                fprintf(stderr, "%s", "\nUSAGE: -W simple-pattern 'pattern' 'string'\n\n"
+                                        " Checks if 'pattern' matches the given 'string'.\n"
+                                        " - 'pattern' can be one or more space separated words.\n"
+                                        " - each 'word' can contain one or more asterisks.\n"
+                                        " - words starting with '!' give negative matches.\n"
+                                        " - words are processed left to right\n"
+                                        "\n"
+                                        "Examples:\n"
+                                        "\n"
+                                        " > match all veth interfaces, except veth0:\n"
+                                        "\n"
+                                        "   -W simple-pattern '!veth0 veth*' 'veth12'\n"
+                                        "\n"
+                                        "\n"
+                                        " > match all *.ext files directly in /path/:\n"
+                                        "   (this will not match *.ext files in a subdir of /path/)\n"
+                                        "\n"
+                                        "   -W simple-pattern '!/path/*/*.ext /path/*.ext' '/path/test.ext'\n"
+                                        "\n"
+                                );
+                                exit(1);
+                            }
+
+                            const char *heystack = argv[optind];
+                            const char *needle = argv[optind + 1];
+
+                            SIMPLE_PATTERN *p = simple_pattern_create(heystack
+                                                                      , SIMPLE_PATTERN_EXACT);
+                            int ret = simple_pattern_matches(p, needle);
+                            simple_pattern_free(p);
+
+                            if(ret) {
+                                fprintf(stdout, "RESULT: MATCHED - pattern '%s' matches '%s'\n", heystack, needle);
+                                exit(0);
+                            }
+                            else {
+                                fprintf(stdout, "RESULT: NOT MATCHED - pattern '%s' does not match '%s'\n", heystack, needle);
+                                exit(1);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        else if(strncmp(optarg, stacksize_string, strlen(stacksize_string)) == 0) {
+                            optarg += strlen(stacksize_string);
+                            config_set("global", "pthread stack size", optarg);
+                        }
+                        else if(strncmp(optarg, debug_flags_string, strlen(debug_flags_string)) == 0) {
+                            optarg += strlen(debug_flags_string);
+                            config_set("global", "debug flags",  optarg);
+                            debug_flags = strtoull(optarg, NULL, 0);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    break;
+                default: /* ? */
+                    help(1);
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if(!config_loaded)
+        load_config(NULL, 0);
+
+    {
+        char *pmax = config_get("global", "glibc malloc arena max for plugins", "1");
+        if(pmax && *pmax)
+            setenv("MALLOC_ARENA_MAX", pmax, 1);
+
+#if defined(HAVE_C_MALLOPT)
+        int i = config_get_number("global", "glibc malloc arena max for netdata", 1);
+        if(i > 0)
+            mallopt(M_ARENA_MAX, 1);
+#endif
+
+        char *config_dir = config_get("global", "config directory", CONFIG_DIR);
+
+        // prepare configuration environment variables for the plugins
+        setenv("NETDATA_CONFIG_DIR" , verify_required_directory(config_dir) , 1);
+        setenv("NETDATA_PLUGINS_DIR", verify_required_directory(config_get("global", "plugins directory"  , PLUGINS_DIR)), 1);
+        setenv("NETDATA_WEB_DIR"    , verify_required_directory(config_get("global", "web files directory", WEB_DIR))    , 1);
+        setenv("NETDATA_CACHE_DIR"  , verify_required_directory(config_get("global", "cache directory"    , CACHE_DIR))  , 1);
+        setenv("NETDATA_LIB_DIR"    , verify_required_directory(config_get("global", "lib directory"      , VARLIB_DIR)) , 1);
+        setenv("NETDATA_LOG_DIR"    , verify_required_directory(config_get("global", "log directory"      , LOG_DIR))    , 1);
+
+        setenv("NETDATA_HOST_PREFIX", config_get("global", "host access prefix" , "")         , 1);
+        setenv("HOME"               , config_get("global", "home directory"     , CACHE_DIR)  , 1);
+
+        // disable buffering for python plugins
+        setenv("PYTHONUNBUFFERED", "1", 1);
+
+        // avoid flood calls to stat(/etc/localtime)
+        // http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4554271/how-to-avoid-excessive-stat-etc-localtime-calls-in-strftime-on-linux
+        setenv("TZ", ":/etc/localtime", 0);
+
+        // work while we are cd into config_dir
+        // to allow the plugins refer to their config
+        // files using relative filenames
+        if(chdir(config_dir) == -1)
+            fatal("Cannot cd to '%s'", config_dir);
+
+        char path[1024 + 1], *p = getenv("PATH");
+        if(!p) p = "/bin:/usr/bin";
+        snprintfz(path, 1024, "%s:%s", p, "/sbin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin");
+        setenv("PATH", config_get("plugins", "PATH environment variable", path), 1);
+    }
+
+    char *user = NULL;
+    {
+        char *flags = config_get("global", "debug flags",  "0x00000000");
+        setenv("NETDATA_DEBUG_FLAGS", flags, 1);
+
+        debug_flags = strtoull(flags, NULL, 0);
+        debug(D_OPTIONS, "Debug flags set to '0x%8llx'.", debug_flags);
+
+        if(debug_flags != 0) {
+            struct rlimit rl = { RLIM_INFINITY, RLIM_INFINITY };
+            if(setrlimit(RLIMIT_CORE, &rl) != 0)
+                error("Cannot request unlimited core dumps for debugging... Proceeding anyway...");
+
+#if !(defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__APPLE__))
+            prctl(PR_SET_DUMPABLE, 1, 0, 0, 0);
+#endif /* __FreeBSD__ || __APPLE__*/
+        }
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #ifdef MADV_MERGEABLE
-               enable_ksm = config_get_boolean("global", "memory deduplication (ksm)", enable_ksm);
+        enable_ksm = config_get_boolean("global", "memory deduplication (ksm)", enable_ksm);
 #else
 #warning "Kernel memory deduplication (KSM) is not available"
 #endif
 
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-               global_host_prefix = config_get("global", "host access prefix", "");
-               setenv("NETDATA_HOST_PREFIX", global_host_prefix, 1);
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               output_log_file = config_get("global", "debug log", LOG_DIR "/debug.log");
-               if(strcmp(output_log_file, "syslog") == 0) {
-                       output_log_syslog = 1;
-                       output_log_file = NULL;
-               }
-               else if(strcmp(output_log_file, "none") == 0) {
-                       output_log_syslog = 0;
-                       output_log_file = NULL;
-               }
-               else output_log_syslog = 0;
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               error_log_file = config_get("global", "error log", LOG_DIR "/error.log");
-               if(strcmp(error_log_file, "syslog") == 0) {
-                       error_log_syslog = 1;
-                       error_log_file = NULL;
-               }
-               else if(strcmp(error_log_file, "none") == 0) {
-                       error_log_syslog = 0;
-                       error_log_file = NULL;
-                       // optimization - do not even generate debug log entries
-               }
-               else error_log_syslog = 0;
-
-               error_log_throttle_period = config_get_number("global", "errors flood protection period", error_log_throttle_period);
-               setenv("NETDATA_ERRORS_THROTTLE_PERIOD", config_get("global", "errors flood protection period"    , ""), 1);
-
-               error_log_errors_per_period = (unsigned long)config_get_number("global", "errors to trigger flood protection", error_log_errors_per_period);
-               setenv("NETDATA_ERRORS_PER_PERIOD"     , config_get("global", "errors to trigger flood protection", ""), 1);
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               access_log_file = config_get("global", "access log", LOG_DIR "/access.log");
-               if(strcmp(access_log_file, "syslog") == 0) {
-                       access_log_syslog = 1;
-                       access_log_file = NULL;
-               }
-               else if(strcmp(access_log_file, "none") == 0) {
-                       access_log_syslog = 0;
-                       access_log_file = NULL;
-               }
-               else access_log_syslog = 0;
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               rrd_memory_mode = rrd_memory_mode_id(config_get("global", "memory mode", rrd_memory_mode_name(rrd_memory_mode)));
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               {
-                       char hostnamebuf[HOSTNAME_MAX + 1];
-                       if(gethostname(hostnamebuf, HOSTNAME_MAX) == -1)
-                               error("WARNING: Cannot get machine hostname.");
-                       hostname = config_get("global", "hostname", hostnamebuf);
-                       debug(D_OPTIONS, "hostname set to '%s'", hostname);
-               }
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               rrd_default_history_entries = (int) config_get_number("global", "history", RRD_DEFAULT_HISTORY_ENTRIES);
-               if(rrd_default_history_entries < 5 || rrd_default_history_entries > RRD_HISTORY_ENTRIES_MAX) {
-                       info("Invalid save lines %d given. Defaulting to %d.", rrd_default_history_entries, RRD_DEFAULT_HISTORY_ENTRIES);
-                       rrd_default_history_entries = RRD_DEFAULT_HISTORY_ENTRIES;
-               }
-               else {
-                       debug(D_OPTIONS, "save lines set to %d.", rrd_default_history_entries);
-               }
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               rrd_update_every = (int) config_get_number("global", "update every", UPDATE_EVERY);
-               if(rrd_update_every < 1 || rrd_update_every > 600) {
-                       info("Invalid update timer %d given. Defaulting to %d.", rrd_update_every, UPDATE_EVERY_MAX);
-                       rrd_update_every = UPDATE_EVERY;
-               }
-               else debug(D_OPTIONS, "update timer set to %d.", rrd_update_every);
-
-               // let the plugins know the min update_every
-               {
-                       char buf[16];
-                       snprintfz(buf, 15, "%d", rrd_update_every);
-                       setenv("NETDATA_UPDATE_EVERY", buf, 1);
-               }
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               // block signals while initializing threads.
-               // this causes the threads to block signals.
-               sigset_t sigset;
-               sigfillset(&sigset);
-
-               if(pthread_sigmask(SIG_BLOCK, &sigset, NULL) == -1) {
-                       error("Could not block signals for threads");
-               }
-
-               // Catch signals which we want to use to quit savely
-               struct sigaction sa;
-               sigemptyset(&sa.sa_mask);
-               sigaddset(&sa.sa_mask, SIGHUP);
-               sigaddset(&sa.sa_mask, SIGINT);
-               sigaddset(&sa.sa_mask, SIGTERM);
-               sa.sa_handler = sig_handler_exit;
-               sa.sa_flags = 0;
-               if(sigaction(SIGHUP, &sa, NULL) == -1) {
-                       error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGHUP");
-               }
-               if(sigaction(SIGINT, &sa, NULL) == -1) {
-                       error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGINT");
-               }
-               if(sigaction(SIGTERM, &sa, NULL) == -1) {
-                       error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGTERM");
-               }
-
-               // save database on SIGUSR1
-               sa.sa_handler = sig_handler_save;
-               if(sigaction(SIGUSR1, &sa, NULL) == -1) {
-                       error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGUSR1");
-               }
-
-               // Ignore SIGPIPE completely.
-               // INFO: If we add signals here we have to unblock them
-               // at popen.c when running a external plugin.
-               sa.sa_handler = SIG_IGN;
-               if(sigaction(SIGPIPE, &sa, NULL) == -1) {
-                       error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGPIPE");
-               }
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               i = pthread_attr_init(&attr);
-               if(i != 0)
-                       fatal("pthread_attr_init() failed with code %d.", i);
-
-               i = pthread_attr_getstacksize(&attr, &stacksize);
-               if(i != 0)
-                       fatal("pthread_attr_getstacksize() failed with code %d.", i);
-               else
-                       debug(D_OPTIONS, "initial pthread stack size is %zu bytes", stacksize);
-
-               wanted_stacksize = config_get_number("global", "pthread stack size", stacksize);
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               for (i = 0; static_threads[i].name != NULL ; i++) {
-                       struct netdata_static_thread *st = &static_threads[i];
-
-                       if(st->config_name) st->enabled = config_get_boolean(st->config_section, st->config_name, st->enabled);
-                       if(st->enabled && st->init_routine) st->init_routine();
-               }
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               // get the user we should run
-               // IMPORTANT: this is required before web_files_uid()
-               user = config_get("global", "run as user"    , (getuid() == 0)?NETDATA_USER:"");
-
-               // IMPORTANT: these have to run once, while single threaded
-               web_files_uid(); // IMPORTANT: web_files_uid() before web_files_gid()
-               web_files_gid();
-
-               // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-               create_listen_sockets();
-       }
-
-       if(become_daemon(dont_fork, 0, user, input_log_file, output_log_file, error_log_file, access_log_file, &access_fd, &stdaccess) == -1)
-               fatal("Cannot demonize myself.");
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        global_host_prefix = config_get("global", "host access prefix", "");
+        setenv("NETDATA_HOST_PREFIX", global_host_prefix, 1);
+
+        get_system_HZ();
+        get_system_cpus();
+        get_system_pid_max();
+        
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        stdout_filename    = config_get("global", "debug log",  LOG_DIR "/debug.log");
+        stderr_filename    = config_get("global", "error log",  LOG_DIR "/error.log");
+        stdaccess_filename = config_get("global", "access log", LOG_DIR "/access.log");
+
+        error_log_throttle_period_backup =
+            error_log_throttle_period = config_get_number("global", "errors flood protection period", error_log_throttle_period);
+        setenv("NETDATA_ERRORS_THROTTLE_PERIOD", config_get("global", "errors flood protection period"    , ""), 1);
+
+        error_log_errors_per_period = (unsigned long)config_get_number("global", "errors to trigger flood protection", error_log_errors_per_period);
+        setenv("NETDATA_ERRORS_PER_PERIOD"     , config_get("global", "errors to trigger flood protection", ""), 1);
+
+        if(check_config) {
+            stdout_filename = stderr_filename = stdaccess_filename = "system";
+            error_log_throttle_period = 0;
+            error_log_errors_per_period = 0;
+        }
+        error_log_limit_unlimited();
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        rrd_memory_mode = rrd_memory_mode_id(config_get("global", "memory mode", rrd_memory_mode_name(rrd_memory_mode)));
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        {
+            char hostnamebuf[HOSTNAME_MAX + 1];
+            if(gethostname(hostnamebuf, HOSTNAME_MAX) == -1)
+                error("WARNING: Cannot get machine hostname.");
+            hostname = config_get("global", "hostname", hostnamebuf);
+            debug(D_OPTIONS, "hostname set to '%s'", hostname);
+            setenv("NETDATA_HOSTNAME", hostname, 1);
+        }
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        rrd_default_history_entries = (int) config_get_number("global", "history", RRD_DEFAULT_HISTORY_ENTRIES);
+        if(rrd_default_history_entries < 5 || rrd_default_history_entries > RRD_HISTORY_ENTRIES_MAX) {
+            error("Invalid history entries %d given. Defaulting to %d.", rrd_default_history_entries, RRD_DEFAULT_HISTORY_ENTRIES);
+            rrd_default_history_entries = RRD_DEFAULT_HISTORY_ENTRIES;
+        }
+        else {
+            debug(D_OPTIONS, "save lines set to %d.", rrd_default_history_entries);
+        }
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        rrd_update_every = (int) config_get_number("global", "update every", UPDATE_EVERY);
+        if(rrd_update_every < 1 || rrd_update_every > 600) {
+            error("Invalid data collection frequency (update every) %d given. Defaulting to %d.", rrd_update_every, UPDATE_EVERY_MAX);
+            rrd_update_every = UPDATE_EVERY;
+        }
+        else debug(D_OPTIONS, "update timer set to %d.", rrd_update_every);
+
+        // let the plugins know the min update_every
+        {
+            char buf[16];
+            snprintfz(buf, 15, "%d", rrd_update_every);
+            setenv("NETDATA_UPDATE_EVERY", buf, 1);
+        }
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        // block signals while initializing threads.
+        // this causes the threads to block signals.
+        sigset_t sigset;
+        sigfillset(&sigset);
+        if(pthread_sigmask(SIG_BLOCK, &sigset, NULL) == -1)
+            error("Could not block signals for threads");
+
+        // Catch signals which we want to use
+        struct sigaction sa;
+        sa.sa_flags = 0;
+
+        // ingore all signals while we run in a signal handler
+        sigfillset(&sa.sa_mask);
+
+        // INFO: If we add signals here we have to unblock them
+        // at popen.c when running a external plugin.
+
+        // Ignore SIGPIPE completely.
+        sa.sa_handler = SIG_IGN;
+        if(sigaction(SIGPIPE, &sa, NULL) == -1)
+            error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGPIPE");
+
+        sa.sa_handler = sig_handler_exit;
+        if(sigaction(SIGINT, &sa, NULL) == -1)
+            error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGINT");
+
+        sa.sa_handler = sig_handler_exit;
+        if(sigaction(SIGTERM, &sa, NULL) == -1)
+            error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGTERM");
+
+        sa.sa_handler = sig_handler_logrotate;
+        if(sigaction(SIGHUP, &sa, NULL) == -1)
+            error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGHUP");
+
+        // save database on SIGUSR1
+        sa.sa_handler = sig_handler_save;
+        if(sigaction(SIGUSR1, &sa, NULL) == -1)
+            error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGUSR1");
+
+        // reload health configuration on SIGUSR2
+        sa.sa_handler = sig_handler_reload_health;
+        if(sigaction(SIGUSR2, &sa, NULL) == -1)
+            error("Failed to change signal handler for SIGUSR2");
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        i = pthread_attr_init(&attr);
+        if(i != 0)
+            fatal("pthread_attr_init() failed with code %d.", i);
+
+        i = pthread_attr_getstacksize(&attr, &stacksize);
+        if(i != 0)
+            fatal("pthread_attr_getstacksize() failed with code %d.", i);
+        else
+            debug(D_OPTIONS, "initial pthread stack size is %zu bytes", stacksize);
+
+        wanted_stacksize = (size_t)config_get_number("global", "pthread stack size", (long)stacksize);
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        for (i = 0; static_threads[i].name != NULL ; i++) {
+            struct netdata_static_thread *st = &static_threads[i];
+
+            if(st->config_name) st->enabled = config_get_boolean(st->config_section, st->config_name, st->enabled);
+            if(st->enabled && st->init_routine) st->init_routine();
+        }
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        // get the user we should run
+        // IMPORTANT: this is required before web_files_uid()
+        user = config_get("global", "run as user"    , (getuid() == 0)?NETDATA_USER:"");
+
+        // IMPORTANT: these have to run once, while single threaded
+        web_files_uid(); // IMPORTANT: web_files_uid() before web_files_gid()
+        web_files_gid();
+
+        // --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        if(!check_config)
+            create_listen_sockets();
+    }
+
+    // initialize the log files
+    open_all_log_files();
 
 #ifdef NETDATA_INTERNAL_CHECKS
-       if(debug_flags != 0) {
-               struct rlimit rl = { RLIM_INFINITY, RLIM_INFINITY };
-               if(setrlimit(RLIMIT_CORE, &rl) != 0)
-                       info("Cannot request unlimited core dumps for debugging... Proceeding anyway...");
-               prctl(PR_SET_DUMPABLE, 1, 0, 0, 0);
-       }
+    if(debug_flags != 0) {
+        struct rlimit rl = { RLIM_INFINITY, RLIM_INFINITY };
+        if(setrlimit(RLIMIT_CORE, &rl) != 0)
+            error("Cannot request unlimited core dumps for debugging... Proceeding anyway...");
+#if !(defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__APPLE__))
+        prctl(PR_SET_DUMPABLE, 1, 0, 0, 0);
+#endif /* __FreeBSD__ || __APPLE__*/
+    }
 #endif /* NETDATA_INTERNAL_CHECKS */
 
-       if(output_log_syslog || error_log_syslog || access_log_syslog)
-               openlog("netdata", LOG_PID, LOG_DAEMON);
+    // fork, switch user, create pid file, set process priority
+    if(become_daemon(dont_fork, user) == -1)
+        fatal("Cannot daemonize myself.");
+
+    info("netdata started on pid %d.", getpid());
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // get default pthread stack size
+
+    if(stacksize < wanted_stacksize) {
+        i = pthread_attr_setstacksize(&attr, wanted_stacksize);
+        if(i != 0)
+            fatal("pthread_attr_setstacksize() to %zu bytes, failed with code %d.", wanted_stacksize, i);
+        else
+            debug(D_SYSTEM, "Successfully set pthread stacksize to %zu bytes", wanted_stacksize);
+    }
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // initialize rrd host
+
+    rrdhost_init(hostname);
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // initialize the registry
+
+    registry_init();
 
-       info("NetData started on pid %d", getpid());
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // initialize health monitoring
 
+    health_init();
 
-       // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-       // get default pthread stack size
+    if(check_config)
+        exit(1);
 
-       if(stacksize < wanted_stacksize) {
-               i = pthread_attr_setstacksize(&attr, wanted_stacksize);
-               if(i != 0)
-                       fatal("pthread_attr_setstacksize() to %zu bytes, failed with code %d.", wanted_stacksize, i);
-               else
-                       info("Successfully set pthread stacksize to %zu bytes", wanted_stacksize);
-       }
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // enable log flood protection
 
-       // --------------------------------------------------------------------
-       // initialize the registry
+    error_log_limit_reset();
 
-       registry_init();
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // spawn the threads
 
-       // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-       // spawn the threads
+    web_server_threading_selection();
 
-       web_server_threading_selection();
+    for (i = 0; static_threads[i].name != NULL ; i++) {
+        struct netdata_static_thread *st = &static_threads[i];
 
-       for (i = 0; static_threads[i].name != NULL ; i++) {
-               struct netdata_static_thread *st = &static_threads[i];
+        if(st->enabled) {
+            st->thread = mallocz(sizeof(pthread_t));
 
-               if(st->enabled) {
-                       st->thread = mallocz(sizeof(pthread_t));
+            debug(D_SYSTEM, "Starting thread %s.", st->name);
 
-                       info("Starting thread %s.", st->name);
+            if(pthread_create(st->thread, &attr, st->start_routine, st))
+                error("failed to create new thread for %s.", st->name);
 
-                       if(pthread_create(st->thread, &attr, st->start_routine, NULL))
-                               error("failed to create new thread for %s.", st->name);
+            else if(pthread_detach(*st->thread))
+                error("Cannot request detach of newly created %s thread.", st->name);
+        }
+        else debug(D_SYSTEM, "Not starting thread %s.", st->name);
+    }
 
-                       else if(pthread_detach(*st->thread))
-                               error("Cannot request detach of newly created %s thread.", st->name);
-               }
-               else info("Not starting thread %s.", st->name);
-       }
+    info("netdata initialization completed. Enjoy real-time performance monitoring!");
 
-       // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-       // block signals while initializing threads.
-       sigset_t sigset;
-       sigfillset(&sigset);
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // block signals while initializing threads.
+    sigset_t sigset;
+    sigfillset(&sigset);
 
-       if(pthread_sigmask(SIG_UNBLOCK, &sigset, NULL) == -1) {
-               error("Could not unblock signals for threads");
-       }
+    if(pthread_sigmask(SIG_UNBLOCK, &sigset, NULL) == -1) {
+        error("Could not unblock signals for threads");
+    }
 
-       // Handle flags set in the signal handler.
-       while(1) {
-               pause();
-               if(netdata_exit) {
-                       info("Exit main loop of netdata.");
-                       netdata_cleanup_and_exit(0);
-                       exit(0);
-               }
-       }
+    // Handle flags set in the signal handler.
+    while(1) {
+        pause();
+        if(netdata_exit) {
+            debug(D_EXIT, "Exit main loop of netdata.");
+            netdata_cleanup_and_exit(0);
+            exit(0);
+        }
+    }
 }