diff --git a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/voltha-scale-test.groovy b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/voltha-scale-test.groovy
index 0c15089..e011257 100644
--- a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/voltha-scale-test.groovy
+++ b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/master/voltha-scale-test.groovy
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     // ONOS_CLASSIC_CHART="${onosChart}"
     // RADIUS_CHART="${radiusChart}"
 
-    APPS_TO_LOG="etcd kafka onos-onos-classic adapter-open-onu adapter-open-olt rw-core ofagent bbsim radius bbsim-sadis-server"
+    APPS_TO_LOG="etcd kafka onos-classic adapter-open-onu adapter-open-olt rw-core ofagent bbsim radius bbsim-sadis-server"
     LOG_FOLDER="$WORKSPACE/logs"
 
     GERRIT_PROJECT="${GERRIT_PROJECT}"
@@ -316,6 +316,9 @@
                   --set global.log_level=${logLevel.toLowerCase()} \
                   -f $WORKSPACE/voltha-helm-charts/examples/${workflow}-values.yaml
               done
+            """
+            sh """
+              set +x
 
               echo -ne "\nWaiting for VOLTHA to start..."
               voltha=\$(kubectl get pods --all-namespaces -l app.kubernetes.io/part-of=voltha --no-headers | grep "0/" | wc -l)
@@ -324,18 +327,8 @@
                 echo -ne "."
                 voltha=\$(kubectl get pods --all-namespaces -l app.kubernetes.io/part-of=voltha --no-headers | grep "0/" | wc -l)
               done
-
-              # forward ONOS and VOLTHA ports
-              _TAG=onos-port-forward kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/voltha-infra-onos-classic-hs 8101:8101&
-              _TAG=onos-port-forward kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/voltha-infra-onos-classic-hs 8181:8181&
-              _TAG=voltha-port-forward kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/voltha1-voltha-api 55555:55555&
-
-              bbsimRestPortFwd=50071
-              for i in {0..${olts.toInteger() - 1}}; do
-                _TAG=bbsim-port-forward kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/bbsim\${i} \${bbsimRestPortFwd}:50071&
-                ((bbsimRestPortFwd++))
-              done
             """
+            start_port_forward(olts)
           }
         }
         sh returnStdout: false, script: '''
@@ -357,28 +350,28 @@
         script {
           sh returnStdout: false, script: """
           #Setting link discovery
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.provider.lldp.impl.LldpLinkProvider enabled ${withLLDP}
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.provider.lldp.impl.LldpLinkProvider enabled ${withLLDP}
 
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flow.impl.FlowRuleManager allowExtraneousRules true
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flow.impl.FlowRuleManager importExtraneousRules true
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flow.impl.FlowRuleManager allowExtraneousRules true
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flow.impl.FlowRuleManager importExtraneousRules true
 
 
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flowobjective.impl.InOrderFlowObjectiveManager accumulatorMaxBatchMillis 1000
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flowobjective.impl.InOrderFlowObjectiveManager accumulatorMaxBatchMillis 1000
 
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flowobjective.impl.InOrderFlowObjectiveManager accumulatorMaxIdleMillis 500
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.net.flowobjective.impl.InOrderFlowObjectiveManager accumulatorMaxIdleMillis 500
 
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg log:set ${logLevel} org.onosproject
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg log:set ${logLevel} org.opencord
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg log:set ${logLevel} org.onosproject
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg log:set ${logLevel} org.opencord
 
 
           kubectl exec \$(kubectl get pods | grep -E "bbsim[0-9]" | awk 'NR==1{print \$1}') -- bbsimctl log ${logLevel.toLowerCase()} false
 
           # Set Flows/Ports/Meters poll frequency
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.provider.of.flow.impl.OpenFlowRuleProvider flowPollFrequency ${onosStatInterval}
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.provider.of.device.impl.OpenFlowDeviceProvider portStatsPollFrequency ${onosStatInterval}
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.provider.of.flow.impl.OpenFlowRuleProvider flowPollFrequency ${onosStatInterval}
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 cfg set org.onosproject.provider.of.device.impl.OpenFlowDeviceProvider portStatsPollFrequency ${onosStatInterval}
 
           if [ ${withFlows} = false ]; then
-            sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 app deactivate org.opencord.olt
+            sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 app deactivate org.opencord.olt
           fi
 
           if [ ${withPcap} = true ] ; then
@@ -642,7 +635,7 @@
         kubectl get pods --all-namespaces -o jsonpath="{range .items[*].status.containerStatuses[*]}{.imageID}{'\\n'}" | sort | uniq | tee $LOG_FOLDER/pod-imagesId.txt || true
 
         # copy the ONOS logs directly from the container to avoid the color codes
-        printf '%s\n' $(kubectl get pods -l app=onos-onos-classic -o=jsonpath="{.items[*]['metadata.name']}") | xargs --no-run-if-empty -I# bash -c "kubectl cp #:${karafHome}/data/log/karaf.log $LOG_FOLDER/#.log" || true
+        printf '%s\n' $(kubectl get pods -l app=onos-classic -o=jsonpath="{.items[*]['metadata.name']}") | xargs --no-run-if-empty -I# bash -c "kubectl cp #:${karafHome}/data/log/karaf.log $LOG_FOLDER/#.log" || true
 
         # get radius logs out of the container
         kubectl cp $(kubectl get pods -l app=radius --no-headers  | awk '{print $1}'):/var/log/freeradius/radius.log $LOG_FOLDER/radius.log || true
@@ -658,42 +651,56 @@
         kubectl exec -t $bbsim -- bbsimctl service list > $LOG_FOLDER/$bbsim-service-list.txt || true
       done
       '''
+      script {
+        // first make sure the port-forward is still running,
+        // sometimes Jenkins kills it relardless of the JENKINS_NODE_COOKIE=dontKillMe
+        def running = sh (
+            script: 'ps aux | grep port-forw | grep -E "onos|voltha" | grep -v grep | wc -l',
+            returnStdout: true
+        ).trim()
+        // if any of the voltha-api, onos-rest, onos-ssh port-forwards are not there
+        // kill all and restart
+        if (running != "3") {
+          start_port_forward(olts)
+        }
+      }
       // get ONOS debug infos
       sh '''
-        sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 apps -a -s | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-apps.txt
-        sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 nodes | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-nodes.txt
-        sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 masters | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-masters.txt
-        sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 roles | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-roles.txt
 
-        sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 ports | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-ports-list.txt
-        sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 hosts | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-hosts-list.txt
+        sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 apps -a -s > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-apps.txt
+        sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 nodes > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-nodes.txt
+        sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 masters > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-masters.txt
+        sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 roles > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-roles.txt
+
+        sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 ports > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-ports-list.txt
+        sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 hosts > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-hosts-list.txt
 
         if [ ${withFlows} = true ] ; then
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-olts | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-olt-list.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 flows -s | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-flows-list.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 meters | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-meters-list.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-olts > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-olt-list.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 flows -s > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-flows-list.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 meters > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-meters-list.txt
         fi
 
         if [ ${provisionSubscribers} = true ]; then
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-programmed-subscribers | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-programmed-subscribers.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-programmed-meters | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-programmed-meters.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-bpmeter-mappings | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-bpmeter-mappings.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-failed-subscribers | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-failed-subscribers.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-programmed-subscribers > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-programmed-subscribers.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-programmed-meters > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-programmed-meters.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-bpmeter-mappings > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-bpmeter-mappings.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 volt-failed-subscribers > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-failed-subscribers.txt
         fi
 
         if [ ${withEapol} = true ] ; then
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 aaa-users | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-aaa-users.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 aaa-statistics | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-aaa-statistics.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 aaa-users > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-aaa-users.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 aaa-statistics > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-aaa-statistics.txt
         fi
 
         if [ ${withDhcp} = true ] ; then
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 dhcpl2relay-allocations | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-dhcp-allocations.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 dhcpl2relay-allocations > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-dhcp-allocations.txt
         fi
 
         if [ ${withIgmp} = true ] ; then
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 mcast-host-routes | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-mcast-host-routes.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 mcast-host-show | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-mcast-host-show.txt
-          sshpass -e ssh -q -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 groups | tee $LOG_FOLDER/onos-groups.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 mcast-host-routes > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-mcast-host-routes.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 mcast-host-show > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-mcast-host-show.txt
+          sshpass -e ssh -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -p 8101 karaf@127.0.0.1 groups > $LOG_FOLDER/onos-groups.txt
         fi
       '''
       // collect etcd metrics
@@ -743,3 +750,17 @@
     }
   }
 }
+
+def start_port_forward(olts) {
+  sh """
+  daemonize -E JENKINS_NODE_COOKIE="dontKillMe" /usr/local/bin/kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/voltha-infra-onos-classic-hs 8101:8101
+  daemonize -E JENKINS_NODE_COOKIE="dontKillMe" /usr/local/bin/kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/voltha-infra-onos-classic-hs 8181:8181
+  daemonize -E JENKINS_NODE_COOKIE="dontKillMe" /usr/local/bin/kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/voltha1-voltha-api 55555:55555
+
+  bbsimRestPortFwd=50071
+  for i in {0..${olts.toInteger() - 1}}; do
+    daemonize -E JENKINS_NODE_COOKIE="dontKillMe" /usr/local/bin/kubectl port-forward --address 0.0.0.0 -n default svc/bbsim\${i} \${bbsimRestPortFwd}:50071
+    ((bbsimRestPortFwd++))
+  done
+  """
+}