diff --git a/planetstack/observer/backend.py b/planetstack/observer/backend.py
index d8ae306..293a325 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/backend.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/backend.py
@@ -1,17 +1,24 @@
 import threading
+import time
 from observer.event_loop import PlanetStackObserver
 from observer.event_manager import EventListener
+from util.logger import Logger, logging
+
+logger = Logger(level=logging.INFO)
 
 class Backend:
     
     def run(self):
-        # start the openstack observer
-        observer = PlanetStackObserver()
-        observer_thread = threading.Thread(target=observer.run)
-        observer_thread.start()
+        try:
+            # start the openstack observer
+            observer = PlanetStackObserver()
+            observer_thread = threading.Thread(target=observer.run)
+            observer_thread.start()
+            
+            # start event listene
+            event_manager = EventListener(wake_up=observer.wake_up)
+            event_manager_thread = threading.Thread(target=event_manager.run)
+            event_manager_thread.start()
+        except:
+            logger.log_exc("Exception in child thread")
 
-        # start event listene
-        event_manager = EventListener(wake_up=observer.wake_up)
-        event_manager_thread = threading.Thread(target=event_manager.run)
-        event_manager_thread.start()
-                
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py b/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
index 6b77236..1cd28d4 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
@@ -25,252 +25,269 @@
 logger = Logger(level=logging.INFO)
 
 class StepNotReady(Exception):
-	pass
+    pass
 
 class NoOpDriver:
-	def __init__(self):
-		 self.enabled = True
+    def __init__(self):
+         self.enabled = True
 
 class PlanetStackObserver:
-	#sync_steps = [SyncNetworks,SyncNetworkSlivers,SyncSites,SyncSitePrivileges,SyncSlices,SyncSliceMemberships,SyncSlivers,SyncSliverIps,SyncExternalRoutes,SyncUsers,SyncRoles,SyncNodes,SyncImages,GarbageCollector]
-	sync_steps = []
+    #sync_steps = [SyncNetworks,SyncNetworkSlivers,SyncSites,SyncSitePrivileges,SyncSlices,SyncSliceMemberships,SyncSlivers,SyncSliverIps,SyncExternalRoutes,SyncUsers,SyncRoles,SyncNodes,SyncImages,GarbageCollector]
+    sync_steps = []
 
-	def __init__(self):
-		# The Condition object that gets signalled by Feefie events
-		self.step_lookup = {}
-		self.load_sync_step_modules()
-		self.load_sync_steps()
-		self.event_cond = threading.Condition()
+    def __init__(self):
+        # The Condition object that gets signalled by Feefie events
+        self.step_lookup = {}
+        self.load_sync_step_modules()
+        self.load_sync_steps()
+        self.event_cond = threading.Condition()
 
 
-		self.driver_kind = getattr(Config(), "observer_driver", "openstack")
-		if self.driver_kind=="openstack":
-			self.driver = OpenStackDriver()
-		else:
-			self.driver = NoOpDriver()
+        self.driver_kind = getattr(Config(), "observer_driver", "openstack")
+        if self.driver_kind=="openstack":
+            self.driver = OpenStackDriver()
+        else:
+            self.driver = NoOpDriver()
 
-	def wait_for_event(self, timeout):
-		self.event_cond.acquire()
-		self.event_cond.wait(timeout)
-		self.event_cond.release()
+    def wait_for_event(self, timeout):
+        logger.info('Waiting for event')
+        self.event_cond.acquire()
+        self.event_cond.wait(timeout)
+        self.event_cond.release()
 
-	def wake_up(self):
-		logger.info('Wake up routine called. Event cond %r'%self.event_cond)
-		self.event_cond.acquire()
-		self.event_cond.notify()
-		self.event_cond.release()
+    def wake_up(self):
+        logger.info('Wake up routine called. Event cond %r'%self.event_cond)
+        self.event_cond.acquire()
+        self.event_cond.notify()
+        self.event_cond.release()
 
-	def load_sync_step_modules(self, step_dir=None):
-		if step_dir is None:
-			if hasattr(Config(), "observer_steps_dir"):
-				step_dir = Config().observer_steps_dir
-			else:
-				step_dir = "/opt/planetstack/observer/steps"
+    def load_sync_step_modules(self, step_dir=None):
+        if step_dir is None:
+            if hasattr(Config(), "observer_steps_dir"):
+                step_dir = Config().observer_steps_dir
+            else:
+                step_dir = "/opt/planetstack/observer/steps"
 
-		for fn in os.listdir(step_dir):
-			pathname = os.path.join(step_dir,fn)
-			if os.path.isfile(pathname) and fn.endswith(".py") and (fn!="__init__.py"):
-				module = imp.load_source(fn[:-3],pathname)
-				for classname in dir(module):
-					c = getattr(module, classname, None)
+        for fn in os.listdir(step_dir):
+            pathname = os.path.join(step_dir,fn)
+            if os.path.isfile(pathname) and fn.endswith(".py") and (fn!="__init__.py"):
+                module = imp.load_source(fn[:-3],pathname)
+                for classname in dir(module):
+                    c = getattr(module, classname, None)
 
-					# make sure 'c' is a descendent of SyncStep and has a
-					# provides field (this eliminates the abstract base classes
-					# since they don't have a provides)
+                    # make sure 'c' is a descendent of SyncStep and has a
+                    # provides field (this eliminates the abstract base classes
+                    # since they don't have a provides)
 
-					if inspect.isclass(c) and issubclass(c, SyncStep) and hasattr(c,"provides") and (c not in self.sync_steps):
-						self.sync_steps.append(c)
-		logger.info('loaded sync steps: %s' % ",".join([x.__name__ for x in self.sync_steps]))
-		# print 'loaded sync steps: %s' % ",".join([x.__name__ for x in self.sync_steps])
+                    if inspect.isclass(c) and issubclass(c, SyncStep) and hasattr(c,"provides") and (c not in self.sync_steps):
+                        self.sync_steps.append(c)
+        logger.info('loaded sync steps: %s' % ",".join([x.__name__ for x in self.sync_steps]))
+        # print 'loaded sync steps: %s' % ",".join([x.__name__ for x in self.sync_steps])
 
-	def load_sync_steps(self):
-		dep_path = Config().observer_dependency_graph
-		logger.info('Loading model dependency graph from %s' % dep_path)
-		try:
-			# This contains dependencies between records, not sync steps
-			self.model_dependency_graph = json.loads(open(dep_path).read())
-		except Exception,e:
-			raise e
+    def load_sync_steps(self):
+        dep_path = Config().observer_dependency_graph
+        logger.info('Loading model dependency graph from %s' % dep_path)
+        try:
+            # This contains dependencies between records, not sync steps
+            self.model_dependency_graph = json.loads(open(dep_path).read())
+        except Exception,e:
+            raise e
 
-		try:
-			backend_path = Config().observer_pl_dependency_graph
-			logger.info('Loading backend dependency graph from %s' % backend_path)
-			# This contains dependencies between backend records
-			self.backend_dependency_graph = json.loads(open(backend_path).read())
-		except Exception,e:
-			logger.info('Backend dependency graph not loaded')
-			# We can work without a backend graph
-			self.backend_dependency_graph = {}
+        try:
+            backend_path = Config().observer_pl_dependency_graph
+            logger.info('Loading backend dependency graph from %s' % backend_path)
+            # This contains dependencies between backend records
+            self.backend_dependency_graph = json.loads(open(backend_path).read())
+        except Exception,e:
+            logger.info('Backend dependency graph not loaded')
+            # We can work without a backend graph
+            self.backend_dependency_graph = {}
 
-		provides_dict = {}
-		for s in self.sync_steps:
-			self.step_lookup[s.__name__] = s 
-			for m in s.provides:
-				try:
-					provides_dict[m.__name__].append(s.__name__)
-				except KeyError:
-					provides_dict[m.__name__]=[s.__name__]
+        provides_dict = {}
+        for s in self.sync_steps:
+            self.step_lookup[s.__name__] = s 
+            for m in s.provides:
+                try:
+                    provides_dict[m.__name__].append(s.__name__)
+                except KeyError:
+                    provides_dict[m.__name__]=[s.__name__]
 
-				
-		step_graph = {}
-		for k,v in self.model_dependency_graph.iteritems():
-			try:
-				for source in provides_dict[k]:
-					for m in v:
-						try:
-							for dest in provides_dict[m]:
-								# no deps, pass
-								try:
-									if (dest not in step_graph[source]):
-										step_graph[source].append(dest)
-								except:
-									step_graph[source]=[dest]
-						except KeyError:
-							pass
-					
-			except KeyError:
-				pass
-				# no dependencies, pass
-		
-		#import pdb
-		#pdb.set_trace()
-		if (self.backend_dependency_graph):
-			backend_dict = {}
-			for s in self.sync_steps:
-				for m in s.serves:
-					backend_dict[m]=s.__name__
-					
-			for k,v in backend_dependency_graph.iteritems():
-				try:
-					source = backend_dict[k]
-					for m in v:
-						try:
-							dest = backend_dict[m]
-						except KeyError:
-							# no deps, pass
-							pass
-						step_graph[source]=dest
-						
-				except KeyError:
-					pass
-					# no dependencies, pass
+                
+        step_graph = {}
+        for k,v in self.model_dependency_graph.iteritems():
+            try:
+                for source in provides_dict[k]:
+                    for m in v:
+                        try:
+                            for dest in provides_dict[m]:
+                                # no deps, pass
+                                try:
+                                    if (dest not in step_graph[source]):
+                                        step_graph[source].append(dest)
+                                except:
+                                    step_graph[source]=[dest]
+                        except KeyError:
+                            pass
+                    
+            except KeyError:
+                pass
+                # no dependencies, pass
+        
+        #import pdb
+        #pdb.set_trace()
+        if (self.backend_dependency_graph):
+            backend_dict = {}
+            for s in self.sync_steps:
+                for m in s.serves:
+                    backend_dict[m]=s.__name__
+                    
+            for k,v in backend_dependency_graph.iteritems():
+                try:
+                    source = backend_dict[k]
+                    for m in v:
+                        try:
+                            dest = backend_dict[m]
+                        except KeyError:
+                            # no deps, pass
+                            pass
+                        step_graph[source]=dest
+                        
+                except KeyError:
+                    pass
+                    # no dependencies, pass
 
-		dependency_graph = step_graph
+        dependency_graph = step_graph
 
-		self.ordered_steps = toposort(dependency_graph, map(lambda s:s.__name__,self.sync_steps))
-		print "Order of steps=",self.ordered_steps
-		self.load_run_times()
-		
+        self.ordered_steps = toposort(dependency_graph, map(lambda s:s.__name__,self.sync_steps))
+        print "Order of steps=",self.ordered_steps
+        self.load_run_times()
+        
 
-	def check_duration(self, step, duration):
-		try:
-			if (duration > step.deadline):
-				logger.info('Sync step %s missed deadline, took %.2f seconds'%(step.name,duration))
-		except AttributeError:
-			# S doesn't have a deadline
-			pass
+    def check_duration(self, step, duration):
+        try:
+            if (duration > step.deadline):
+                logger.info('Sync step %s missed deadline, took %.2f seconds'%(step.name,duration))
+        except AttributeError:
+            # S doesn't have a deadline
+            pass
 
-	def update_run_time(self, step):
-		self.last_run_times[step.__name__]=time.time()
+    def update_run_time(self, step):
+        self.last_run_times[step.__name__]=time.time()
 
-	def check_schedule(self, step):
-		time_since_last_run = time.time() - self.last_run_times.get(step.__name__, 0)
-		try:
-			if (time_since_last_run < step.requested_interval):
-				raise StepNotReady
-		except AttributeError:
-			logger.info('Step %s does not have requested_interval set'%step.__name__)
-			raise StepNotReady
-	
-	def load_run_times(self):
-		try:
-			jrun_times = open('/tmp/observer_run_times').read()
-			self.last_run_times = json.loads(jrun_times)
-		except:
-			self.last_run_times={}
-			for e in self.ordered_steps:
-				self.last_run_times[e]=0
+    def check_schedule(self, step):
+        time_since_last_run = time.time() - self.last_run_times.get(step.__name__, 0)
+        try:
+            if (time_since_last_run < step.requested_interval):
+                raise StepNotReady
+        except AttributeError:
+            logger.info('Step %s does not have requested_interval set'%step.__name__)
+            raise StepNotReady
+    
+    def load_run_times(self):
+        try:
+            jrun_times = open('/tmp/observer_run_times').read()
+            self.last_run_times = json.loads(jrun_times)
+        except:
+            self.last_run_times={}
+            for e in self.ordered_steps:
+                self.last_run_times[e]=0
 
 
-	def save_run_times(self):
-		run_times = json.dumps(self.last_run_times)
-		open('/tmp/observer_run_times','w').write(run_times)
+    def save_run_times(self):
+        run_times = json.dumps(self.last_run_times)
+        open('/tmp/observer_run_times','w').write(run_times)
 
-	def check_class_dependency(self, step, failed_steps):
-		step.dependenices = []
-		for obj in step.provides:
-			step.dependenices.extend(self.model_dependency_graph.get(obj.__name__, []))
-		for failed_step in failed_steps:
-			if (failed_step in step.dependencies):
-				raise StepNotReady
-
-	def run(self):
-		if not self.driver.enabled:
-			return
-		if (self.driver_kind=="openstack") and (not self.driver.has_openstack):
-			return
-
-		while True:
-			try:
-				logger.info('Waiting for event')
-				tBeforeWait = time.time()
-				self.wait_for_event(timeout=30)
-				logger.info('Observer woke up')
-
-				# Set of whole steps that failed
-				failed_steps = []
-
-				# Set of individual objects within steps that failed
-				failed_step_objects = set()
-
-				for S in self.ordered_steps:
-					step = self.step_lookup[S]
-					start_time=time.time()
-					
-					sync_step = step(driver=self.driver)
-					sync_step.__name__ = step.__name__
-					sync_step.dependencies = []
-					try:
-						mlist = sync_step.provides
-						
-						for m in mlist:
-							sync_step.dependencies.extend(self.model_dependency_graph[m.__name__])
-					except KeyError:
-						pass
-					sync_step.debug_mode = debug_mode
-
-					should_run = False
-					try:
-						# Various checks that decide whether
-						# this step runs or not
-						self.check_class_dependency(sync_step, failed_steps) # dont run Slices if Sites failed
-						self.check_schedule(sync_step) # dont run sync_network_routes if time since last run < 1 hour
-						should_run = True
-					except StepNotReady:
-						logging.info('Step not ready: %s'%sync_step.__name__)
-						failed_steps.append(sync_step)
-					except:
-						failed_steps.append(sync_step)
-
-					if (should_run):
-						try:
-							duration=time.time() - start_time
-
-							logger.info('Executing step %s' % sync_step.__name__)
-
-							# ********* This is the actual sync step
-							#import pdb
-							#pdb.set_trace()
-							failed_objects = sync_step(failed=list(failed_step_objects))
+    def check_class_dependency(self, step, failed_steps):
+        step.dependenices = []
+        for obj in step.provides:
+            step.dependenices.extend(self.model_dependency_graph.get(obj.__name__, []))
+        for failed_step in failed_steps:
+            if (failed_step in step.dependencies):
+                raise StepNotReady
 
 
-							self.check_duration(sync_step, duration)
-							if failed_objects:
-								failed_step_objects.update(failed_objects)
-							self.update_run_time(sync_step)
-						except:
-							failed_steps.append(S)
-				self.save_run_times()
-			except:
-				logger.log_exc("Exception in observer run loop")
-				traceback.print_exc()
+    def run_steps(self):
+        try:
+            logger.info('Observer run steps')
+
+            # Set of whole steps that failed
+            failed_steps = []
+
+            # Set of individual objects within steps that failed
+            failed_step_objects = set()
+
+            for S in self.ordered_steps:
+                step = self.step_lookup[S]
+                start_time=time.time()
+                
+                sync_step = step(driver=self.driver)
+                sync_step.__name__ = step.__name__
+                sync_step.dependencies = []
+                try:
+                    mlist = sync_step.provides
+                    
+                    for m in mlist:
+                        sync_step.dependencies.extend(self.model_dependency_graph[m.__name__])
+                except KeyError:
+                    pass
+                sync_step.debug_mode = debug_mode
+
+                should_run = False
+                try:
+                    # Various checks that decide whether
+                    # this step runs or not
+                    self.check_class_dependency(sync_step, failed_steps) # dont run Slices if Sites failed
+                    self.check_schedule(sync_step) # dont run sync_network_routes if time since last run < 1 hour
+                    should_run = True
+                except StepNotReady:
+                    logging.info('Step not ready: %s'%sync_step.__name__)
+                    failed_steps.append(sync_step)
+                except:
+                    failed_steps.append(sync_step)
+
+                if (should_run):
+                    try:
+                        duration=time.time() - start_time
+
+                        logger.info('Executing step %s' % sync_step.__name__)
+
+                        # ********* This is the actual sync step
+                        #import pdb
+                        #pdb.set_trace()
+                        failed_objects = sync_step(failed=list(failed_step_objects))
+
+
+                        self.check_duration(sync_step, duration)
+                        if failed_objects:
+                            failed_step_objects.update(failed_objects)
+                        self.update_run_time(sync_step)
+                    except:
+                        failed_steps.append(S)
+            self.save_run_times()
+        except:
+            logger.log_exc("Exception in observer run loop")
+            traceback.print_exc()
+
+    def run(self):
+        try:
+            logger.info('Observer start run loop')
+            if not self.driver.enabled:
+                return
+            if (self.driver_kind=="openstack") and (not self.driver.has_openstack):
+                return
+
+            while True:
+                try:  
+                    self.wait_for_event(timeout=30)       
+                except: 
+                    logger.log_exc("Exception in observer wait for event") 
+                    traceback.print_exc()
+
+                try: 
+                    self.run_steps()            
+                except: 
+                    logger.log_exc("Exception in observer run steps")
+                    traceback.print_exc()
+        except:
+            logger.log_exc("Exception in observer run loop")
+            traceback.print_exc()
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/__init__.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/__init__.py
index 9b62e3a..eabf46c 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/__init__.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from .sync_external_routes import SyncExternalRoutes
+#from .sync_external_routes import SyncExternalRoutes
 from .sync_network_slivers import SyncNetworkSlivers
 from .sync_networks import SyncNetworks
 from .sync_network_deployments import SyncNetworkDeployments
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from .sync_sites import SyncSites
 from .sync_slice_memberships import SyncSliceMemberships
 from .sync_slices import SyncSlices
-from .sync_sliver_ips import SyncSliverIps
+#from .sync_sliver_ips import SyncSliverIps
 from .sync_slivers import SyncSlivers
 from .sync_users import SyncUsers
 from .sync_roles import SyncRoles