diff --git a/clientsdb.py b/clientsdb.py
index a812383..ef8704f 100644
--- a/clientsdb.py
+++ b/clientsdb.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def validate(vmname, srvpass):
     """ return vmid or false if credentials match something in clientdb. useful for authing extrnal admin panels """
     try:
         clientsdb = readclientsdb()
-        path = utils.find_key(clientsdb, vmname)
+        path = utils.get_path(clientsdb, vmname)
         c_id = str(path[0])
         v_id = str(path[1])
         #check the returned path with forward query
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def validate(vmname, srvpass):
             response = { 'vpsid':v_id, 'ticket':generated_ticket }
             return response
         else:
-            ioconfig.logger.warning('clients> {} (clientid: {}, vmid: {}) ACCESS DENIED!'.format(query, c_id, v_id)
+            ioconfig.logger.warning('clients> {} (clientid: {}, vmid: {}) ACCESS DENIED!'.format(query, c_id, v_id))
             #cant compare password
             return None
     return None
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def setencpasswd(vmname, newpass):
     try:
         clientsdb = readclientsdb()
         #print(clientsdb)
-        path = utils.find_key(clientsdb, vmname)
+        path = utils.get_path(clientsdb, vmname)
         #print(path)
         c_id = str(path[0])
         v_id = str(path[1])
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def vmowner(vmid, vmname, verbose):
     """ find the owner of the vm """
     clientsdb = readclientsdb()
     try:
-        clientid = utils.get_rec(clientsdb, str(vmid))[0]['ownerid']
+        clientid = utils.find_rec(clientsdb, str(vmid))[0]['ownerid']
         clientname = clientsdb[str(clientid)]['name']
     except:
         raise
diff --git a/config.ini.dist b/config.ini.dist
index 1ac6eab..e93e308 100644
--- a/config.ini.dist
+++ b/config.ini.dist
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ ipv4_min = 192.168.0.4
 ipv4_max = 192.168.0.254
 
 [slave_0]
-name = CHANGEME
+name = host.0CHANGEME
 masterip = 192.168.0.2
 password = CHANGEME
 regionid = 0
 
 [slave_1]
-name = CHANGEME
+name = host1.CHANGEME
 masterip = 192.168.0.3
 password = CHANGEME
 regionid = 0
diff --git a/grid.py b/grid.py
index 7acb20b..34e302b 100644
--- a/grid.py
+++ b/grid.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import utils
 import plugin
 import ioconfig
 import clientsdb
-import journaldb
 
 logger = ioconfig.logger
 config = ioconfig.parser
@@ -218,7 +217,7 @@ def generate_ipv4(region_id, how_many=1):
     ip_max = len(region_ips) - 1
     tested_ips = [] #initialize ip cache
     requested_ips = []
-    all_ips = utils.get_rec(grid_data, 'ipaddr')
+    all_ips = utils.find_rec(grid_data, 'ipaddr')
 
     for ips in range(int(how_many)):
         counter = 0
@@ -262,7 +261,7 @@ def generate_vmid():
     tested_vmids = [] #initialize id cache
     id_min = grid_data['vmid_min']
     id_max = grid_data['vmid_max']
-    all_vmid = utils.get_rec(grid_data, 'vmid') #get all vmid values from the nested grid
+    all_vmid = utils.find_rec(grid_data, 'vmid') #get all vmid values from the nested grid
     all_vmid = [ int(x) for x in all_vmid ] #convert values from str to int (its a vmid right?)
     counter = 0
     while True:
@@ -318,27 +317,33 @@ def query_vm(req_vmid):
     sync(False)
     grid_data = readreal()
 
-    #compare requested vmid to all vmid's from the grid
-    #TODO: maybe we should also check the owner somehow
-    all_vmid = utils.get_rec(grid_data, 'vmid')
+    #search for the requested vmid
+    #TODO: maybe we should also check if the owner has permissions to manage it,
+    ###### if for some reason the admin panel is compromised.
+    all_vmid = utils.find_rec(grid_data, 'vmid')
     target = int(0)
     for running_vmid in all_vmid:
         if str(req_vmid) == str(running_vmid):
-            target = req_vmid #=runn?
+            target = running_vmid
             break
         else:
             continue
     if target == 0:
-        logger.error('grid> vmid {} cannot be found.' + str(req_vmid))
-        return "-1"
+        logger.error('grid> vmid {} cannot be found!' + str(req_vmid))
+        return int(-1), "None"
+
+    path = utils.get_path(grid_data, target)
+    region_id = path[0]
+    slave_id = path[1]
 
-    region_id, slave_id = journaldb.getjnode(target)
     try:
         vm_type = grid_data[str(region_id)][str(slave_id)][str(target)]['type']
     except:
+        logger.error('{}> type is unknown!'.format(vm_id))
         raise
 
-    #we should know them by now.
+    logger.info('{}> region={}, slave={}, type={} found.'.format(target, region_id, slave_id, vm_type))
+
     return slave_id, vm_type
 
 
@@ -386,11 +391,12 @@ def readreal():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    print(sync())
+    #print(sync())
     #print(query_region('Plovdiv, Bulgaria'))
     #print(query_happiness(0))
     #print(generate_ipv4(0,3))
     #print(generate_vmid())
     #print(query_slave_data(0))
-    #print(query_vm(483039))
+    print(query_vm(483039))
+    print(query_vm(147344))
 
diff --git a/humanjson.sh b/humanjson.sh
index c125909..5e662f9 100755
--- a/humanjson.sh
+++ b/humanjson.sh
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 #TODO: scan for all jsons and rewrite them.
 echo " "
-echo "JOURNAL:"
-cat journal.json | python3 -m json.tool
+echo "GRID:"
+cat grid-real.json | python3 -m json.tool
 echo " "
 echo "CLIENTS:"
 cat clients.json | python3 -m json.tool
diff --git a/journaldb.py b/journaldb.py
deleted file mode 100644
index f53ba52..0000000
--- a/journaldb.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8
-#
-# manage journaldb.json which is a table of vmid's as indexes update on vmcreate and
-# values of region_id and slave_id. should support deletion of unused id's and be
-# properly updated on vm migrations
-
-#site
-import json
-
-#local
-import ioconfig
-import utils
-
-def createjnode(vmid, regionid, slaveid, vmpasswd):
-    """ create new record into the journal. invoked on vm creation """
-    journaldb = readjournal()
-    if str(vmid) in journaldb:
-        ioconfig.logger.warning('journal> overwriting id[{}] !'.format(vmid))
-    else:
-        jnode = { str(vmid):{} }
-        journaldb.update(jnode)
-
-    ioconfig.logger.info ('journal> write: r[{}]s[{}]id[{}] => {}'.format(regionid, slaveid, vmid, vmpasswd))
-    jdata = { 'vmid':str(vmid), 'slaveid':str(slaveid), 'regionid':str(regionid), 'passwd':str(vmpasswd) }
-    journaldb[str(vmid)] = jdata
-    writedb(journaldb)
-
-
-def getjnode(vmid):
-    """ query the database for records with requested vmid. invoked on user commands """
-    journaldb = readjournal()
-    try:
-        regionid = journaldb[str(vmid)]['regionid']
-        slaveid = journaldb[str(vmid)]['slaveid']
-        ioconfig.logger.info('journal> read: id[{}] => r[{}]s[{}]'.format(vmid, regionid, slaveid))
-    except:
-        ioconfig.logger.error('journal> invalid id[{}] !'.format(vmid))
-    else:
-        return regionid, slaveid 
-
-def getpass(vmid):
-    """ query the database for the recorded vmid password. """
-    journaldb = readjournal()
-    try:
-        vmpasswd = journaldb[str(vmid)]['passwd']
-        ioconfig.logger.info('journal> read: id[{}] => {}'.format(vmid, vmpasswd))
-    except:
-        ioconfig.logger.error('journal> invalid id[{}] !'.format(vmid))
-
-    else:
-        return vmpasswd
-
-def readjournal():
-    """ read journal """
-    try:
-        with open('journal.json') as dbr:
-            journaldb = json.load(dbr)
-        dbr.close()
-    except:
-        journaldb = {}
-        ioconfig.logger.warning('journal> initializing...')
-    return journaldb
-
-
-def writedb(journaldb):
-    """ write journal """
-    with open('journal.json', 'w') as dbw:
-        json.dump(journaldb, dbw)
-    dbw.close()
-
diff --git a/plugin.py b/plugin.py
index 89d94bf..7fa4186 100644
--- a/plugin.py
+++ b/plugin.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import socket
 #local
 import grid
 import clientsdb
-import journaldb
 import utils
 import ioconfig
 import novnc
@@ -116,12 +115,11 @@ def vmcreate(req):
                                                                onboot=1,
                                                                description=description)
 
-    #populate the client db and vm journal
+    #populate the client db 
     client_id = req['clientid']
     client_name = req['clientname']
     srv_pass = req['password']
     clientsdb.addclient(vm_id, vm_name, client_id, client_name, srv_pass)
-    journaldb.createjnode(vm_id, region_id, slave_id)
 
     #start the machihe
     time.sleep(7) #wait few seconds for the slave to prepare the machine for initial run
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 7d41de8..8746681 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def dict_merge(target, *args):
             target[k] = deepcopy(v)
     return target
 
-def get_rec(search_dict, field):
+def find_rec(search_dict, field):
     """
     Takes a dict with nested lists and dicts,
     and searches all dicts for a key of the field
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def get_rec(search_dict, field):
             fields_found.append(value)
 
         elif isinstance(value, dict):
-            results = get_rec(value, field)
+            results = find_rec(value, field)
             for result in results:
                 fields_found.append(result)
 
@@ -51,11 +51,11 @@ def get_rec(search_dict, field):
     return fields_found
 
 
-def find_key(search_dict, key):
+def get_path(search_dict, key):
     """ takes a nested dict and returns the path for the searched value """
     for k,v in search_dict.items():
         if isinstance(v,dict):
-            p = find_key(v,key)
+            p = get_path(v,key)
             if p:
                 return [k] + p
         elif v == key: