diff --git a/WORKSPACE.bazel b/WORKSPACE.bazel
index 39ddfe03e9..dca6750619 100644
--- a/WORKSPACE.bazel
+++ b/WORKSPACE.bazel
@@ -217,6 +217,15 @@ versioned_http_file(
     version = "721fa05",
 )
 
+versioned_http_archive(
+    name = "natpmp",
+    build_file = "//bazel/third_party/natpmp:natpmp.BUILD",
+    sha256 = "0684ed2c8406437e7519a1bd20ea83780db871b3a3a5d752311ba3e889dbfc70",
+    strip_prefix = "libnatpmp-{version}",
+    url = "http://miniupnp.free.fr/files/libnatpmp-{version}.tar.gz",
+    version = "20230423",
+)
+
 versioned_http_file(
     name = "solid_pill",
     sha256 = "8b658fcee6978e2b19004a54233cab953e77ea0bb6c3a04d1bfda4ddc6be63c5",
diff --git a/bazel/third_party/natpmp/BUILD.bazel b/bazel/third_party/natpmp/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/bazel/third_party/natpmp/natpmp.BUILD b/bazel/third_party/natpmp/natpmp.BUILD
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b3a7edd7e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bazel/third_party/natpmp/natpmp.BUILD
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+cc_library(
+    name = "natpmp",
+    srcs = ["natpmp.c", "getgateway.c"],
+    hdrs = ["natpmp.h", "getgateway.h", "natpmp_declspec.h"],
+    copts = ["-O3"],
+    linkstatic = True,
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
diff --git a/pkg/noun/nock.c b/pkg/noun/nock.c
index 452b04c309..eb459d17f7 100644
--- a/pkg/noun/nock.c
+++ b/pkg/noun/nock.c
@@ -1400,7 +1400,7 @@ _n_comp(u3_noun* ops, u3_noun fol, c3_o los_o, c3_o tel_o)
 
     case 9:
       u3x_cell(arg, &hed, &tel);
-      if ( (1 == hed) || (3 == u3qc_cap(hed)) ) {
+      if ( (1 == hed) || (3 == u3qc_cap(u3x_atom(hed))) ) {
         u3_noun mac = u3nq(7, u3k(tel), 2, u3nt(u3nc(0, 1), 0, u3k(hed)));
         tot_w += _n_comp(ops, mac, los_o, tel_o);
         u3z(mac);
diff --git a/pkg/vere/BUILD.bazel b/pkg/vere/BUILD.bazel
index e736d0e8e1..6303b87201 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pkg/vere/BUILD.bazel
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ vere_library(
         "@lmdb",
         "@openssl",
         "@uv",
+        "@natpmp",
     ] + select({
         "@platforms//os:macos": [],
         "@platforms//os:linux": [
diff --git a/pkg/vere/disk.c b/pkg/vere/disk.c
index 18fdf31fec..58cb2f822f 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/disk.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/disk.c
@@ -31,15 +31,6 @@ struct _u3_disk_walk {
   c3_o          liv_o;
 };
 
-// for u3_lmdb_init() calls
-static const size_t siz_i =
-#if (defined(U3_CPU_aarch64) && defined(U3_OS_linux))
-  // 500 GiB is as large as musl on aarch64 wants to allow
-  0x7d00000000;
-#else
-  0x10000000000;
-#endif
-
 #undef VERBOSE_DISK
 #undef DISK_TRACE_JAM
 #undef DISK_TRACE_CUE
@@ -680,7 +671,7 @@ u3_disk_save_meta_meta(c3_c* log_c,
 {
   MDB_env* dbm_u;
 
-  if ( 0 == (dbm_u = u3_lmdb_init(log_c, siz_i)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (dbm_u = u3_lmdb_init(log_c, u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i)) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "disk: failed to initialize meta-lmdb\r\n");
     return c3n;
   }
@@ -1240,7 +1231,7 @@ _disk_epoc_roll(u3_disk* log_u, c3_d epo_d)
   log_u->mdb_u = 0;
 
   //  initialize db of new epoch
-  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(epo_c, siz_i)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(epo_c, u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i)) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "disk: failed to initialize database\r\n");
     c3_free(log_u);
     goto fail3;
@@ -1499,7 +1490,7 @@ _disk_migrate(u3_disk* log_u, c3_d eve_d)
     return c3n;
   }
 
-  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(tmp_c, siz_i)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(tmp_c, u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i)) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "disk: failed to initialize database at %s\r\n",
                     tmp_c);
     return c3n;
@@ -1533,7 +1524,7 @@ _disk_migrate(u3_disk* log_u, c3_d eve_d)
                     strerror(errno));
   }
 
-  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(epo_c, siz_i)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(epo_c, u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i)) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "disk: failed to initialize database at %s\r\n",
                     epo_c);
     return c3n;
@@ -1632,7 +1623,9 @@ u3_disk_chop(u3_disk* log_u, c3_d eve_d)
   u3_disk_epoc_list(log_u, sot_d);
 
   if ( len_z <= 2 ) {
-    fprintf(stderr, "chop: nothing to do, have a great day\r\n");
+    fprintf(stderr, "chop: nothing to do, try running roll first\r\n"
+                    "chop: for more info see "
+                    "https://docs.urbit.org/manual/running/vere#chop\r\n");
     exit(0);  //  enjoy
   }
 
@@ -1734,7 +1727,7 @@ _disk_epoc_load(u3_disk* log_u, c3_d lat_d)
   snprintf(epo_c, 8192, "%s/0i%" PRIc3_d, log_u->com_u->pax_c, lat_d);
 
   //  initialize latest epoch's db
-  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(epo_c, siz_i)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(epo_c, u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i)) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "disk: failed to initialize database at %s\r\n",
                     epo_c);
     return _epoc_fail;
@@ -1878,7 +1871,7 @@ u3_disk_init(c3_c* pax_c, u3_disk_cb cb_u)
 
     if ( c3y == exs_o ) {
       //  load the old data.mdb file
-      if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(log_c, siz_i)) ) {
+      if ( 0 == (log_u->mdb_u = u3_lmdb_init(log_c, u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i)) ) {
         fprintf(stderr, "disk: failed to initialize lmdb\r\n");
         c3_free(log_u);
         return 0;
diff --git a/pkg/vere/io/ames.c b/pkg/vere/io/ames.c
index 496d439b80..66589f6aa5 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/io/ames.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/io/ames.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "ur.h"
 
 #include "zlib.h"
+#include "natpmp.h"
 
 #include <ent.h>
 
@@ -74,6 +75,11 @@ typedef enum u3_stun_state {
       u3_lane        sef_u;             //  our lane, if we know it
       c3_o           wok_o;             //  STUN worked, set on first success
     } sun_u;                            //
+    struct {
+      natpmp_t       req_u;             //  libnatpmp struct for mapping request
+      uv_poll_t      pol_u;             //  handle waits on libnatpmp socket
+      uv_timer_t     tim_u;             //  every two hours if mapping succeeds
+    } nat_u;                            //  libnatpmp stuff for port forwarding
     c3_o             nal_o;             //  lane cache backcompat flag
     struct {                            //    config:
       c3_o           net_o;             //  can send
@@ -2473,6 +2479,69 @@ _ames_recv_cb(uv_udp_t*        wax_u,
   }
 }
 
+static void natpmp_init(uv_timer_t* handle);
+
+static void
+natpmp_cb(uv_poll_t* handle,
+          c3_i        status,
+          c3_i        events)
+{
+
+  if (status != 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  u3_ames* sam_u = handle->data;
+
+  natpmpresp_t response;
+  c3_i err_i = readnatpmpresponseorretry(&sam_u->nat_u.req_u, &response);
+  if ( NATPMP_TRYAGAIN == err_i ) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  uv_poll_stop(handle);
+
+  if ( 0 != err_i ) {
+    u3l_log("ames: natpmp error %i", err_i);
+    uv_poll_stop(&sam_u->nat_u.pol_u);
+    closenatpmp(&sam_u->nat_u.req_u);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  u3l_log("ames: mapped public port %hu to localport %hu lifetime %u",
+         response.pnu.newportmapping.mappedpublicport,
+         response.pnu.newportmapping.privateport,
+         response.pnu.newportmapping.lifetime);
+
+  closenatpmp(&sam_u->nat_u.req_u);
+  sam_u->nat_u.tim_u.data = sam_u;
+  uv_timer_start(&sam_u->nat_u.tim_u, natpmp_init, 7200000, 0);
+}
+
+static void
+natpmp_init(uv_timer_t *handle)
+{
+  u3_ames* sam_u = handle->data;
+  c3_s por_s = sam_u->pir_u->por_s;
+
+  c3_i err_i = initnatpmp(&sam_u->nat_u.req_u, 0, 0);
+
+  if (err_i != 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  err_i = uv_poll_init(u3L, &sam_u->nat_u.pol_u, sam_u->nat_u.req_u.s);
+
+  if (err_i != 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  sendnewportmappingrequest(&sam_u->nat_u.req_u, NATPMP_PROTOCOL_UDP, por_s, por_s, 7200);
+
+  sam_u->nat_u.pol_u.data = sam_u;
+  uv_poll_start(&sam_u->nat_u.pol_u, UV_READABLE, natpmp_cb);
+}
+
 static void
 _mdns_dear_bail(u3_ovum* egg_u, u3_noun lud)
 {
@@ -2593,6 +2662,11 @@ _ames_io_start(u3_ames* sam_u)
     u3z(our);
 
     mdns_init(por_s, !sam_u->pir_u->fak_o, our_s, _ames_put_dear, (void *)sam_u);
+
+    if ( c3n == sam_u->pir_u->fak_o ) {
+      uv_timer_start(&sam_u->nat_u.tim_u, natpmp_init, 0, 0);
+    }
+
     c3_free(our_s);
   }
 
@@ -2977,6 +3051,12 @@ _ames_io_exit(u3_auto* car_u)
   u3_ames* sam_u = (u3_ames*)car_u;
   uv_close(&sam_u->had_u, _ames_exit_cb);
   uv_close((uv_handle_t*)&sam_u->sun_u.tim_u, 0);
+  uv_close((uv_handle_t*)&sam_u->nat_u.tim_u, 0);
+
+  uv_handle_type handle = uv_handle_get_type((uv_handle_t *)&sam_u->nat_u.pol_u);
+  if ( UV_UNKNOWN_HANDLE !=  handle) {
+    uv_close((uv_handle_t*)&sam_u->nat_u.pol_u, 0);
+  }
 }
 
 /* _ames_io_info(): produce status info.
@@ -3084,6 +3164,10 @@ u3_ames_io_init(u3_pier* pir_u)
   uv_timer_init(u3L, &sam_u->sun_u.tim_u);
   sam_u->sun_u.tim_u.data = sam_u;
 
+  //  initialize libnatpmp
+  sam_u->nat_u.tim_u.data = sam_u;
+  uv_timer_init(u3L, &sam_u->nat_u.tim_u);
+
   //  enable forwarding on galaxies only
   u3_noun who = u3i_chubs(2, sam_u->pir_u->who_d);
   u3_noun rac = u3do("clan:title", who);
diff --git a/pkg/vere/main.c b/pkg/vere/main.c
index 2222f87dd1..33fd36290a 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/main.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/main.c
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 #include "db/lmdb.h"
 #include "getopt.h"
 #include "libgen.h"
+#include "pthread.h"
+#include "spawn.h"
 
 #include "ca_bundle.h"
 #include "pace.h"
@@ -193,6 +195,14 @@ _main_init(void)
   u3_Host.ops_u.lut_y = 31;     /* aka 2G */
   u3_Host.ops_u.lom_y = 31;
 
+  u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i =
+#if (defined(U3_CPU_aarch64) && defined(U3_OS_linux))
+  // 500 GiB is as large as musl on aarch64 wants to allow
+  0x7d00000000;
+#else
+  0x10000000000;
+#endif
+
   u3C.eph_c = 0;
   u3C.tos_w = 0;
 }
@@ -291,12 +301,14 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
     { "prop-url",            required_argument, NULL, 2 },
     { "prop-name",           required_argument, NULL, 3 },
     //
-    { "urth-loom",           required_argument, NULL, 5 },
-    { "no-demand",           no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
-    { "swap",                no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
-    { "swap-to",             required_argument, NULL, 8 },
-    { "toss",                required_argument, NULL, 9 },
+    { "urth-loom",           required_argument, NULL,  5 },
+    { "no-demand",           no_argument,       NULL,  6 },
+    { "swap",                no_argument,       NULL,  7 },
+    { "swap-to",             required_argument, NULL,  8 },
+    { "toss",                required_argument, NULL,  9 },
     { "behn-allow-blocked",  no_argument,       NULL, 10 },
+    { "serf-bin",            required_argument, NULL, 11 },
+    { "lmdb-map-size",       required_argument, NULL, 12 },
     //
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 },
   };
@@ -340,6 +352,17 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
         u3_Host.ops_u.beb = c3y;
         break;
       }
+      case 11: {  // serf-bin
+        u3_Host.wrk_c = strdup(optarg);
+        break;
+      }
+      case 12: { //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          return c3n;
+        }
+
+        break;
+      }
       //  special args
       //
       case c3__loom: {
@@ -1569,10 +1592,11 @@ _cw_info(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_w arg_w;
 
   static struct option lop_u[] = {
-    { "loom",      required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
-    { "no-demand", no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
-    { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
-    { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "loom",          required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "no-demand",     no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
+    { "swap",          no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
+    { "swap-to",       required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "lmdb-map-size", required_argument, NULL, 9 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -1603,6 +1627,13 @@ _cw_info(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 9: {  //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       case '?': {
         fprintf(stderr, "invalid argument\r\n");
         exit(1);
@@ -1744,10 +1775,11 @@ _cw_cram(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_w arg_w;
 
   static struct option lop_u[] = {
-    { "loom",      required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
-    { "no-demand", no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
-    { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
-    { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "loom",          required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "no-demand",     no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
+    { "swap",          no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
+    { "swap-to",       required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "lmdb-map-size", required_argument, NULL, 9 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -1778,6 +1810,13 @@ _cw_cram(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 9: {  //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       case '?': {
         fprintf(stderr, "invalid argument\r\n");
         exit(1);
@@ -1840,11 +1879,12 @@ _cw_queu(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_c* roc_c = 0;
 
   static struct option lop_u[] = {
-    { "loom",        required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
-    { "no-demand",   no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
-    { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
-    { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
-    { "replay-from", required_argument, NULL, 'r' },
+    { "loom",          required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "no-demand",     no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
+    { "swap",          no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
+    { "swap-to",       required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "lmdb-map-size", required_argument, NULL, 9 },
+    { "replay-from",   required_argument, NULL, 'r' },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -1875,6 +1915,13 @@ _cw_queu(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 9: {  //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       case 'r': {
         roc_c = strdup(optarg);
       } break;
@@ -1948,11 +1995,12 @@ _cw_meld(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_w arg_w;
 
   static struct option lop_u[] = {
-    { "loom",      required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
-    { "no-demand", no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
-    { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
-    { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
-    { "gc-early",  no_argument,       NULL, 9 },
+    { "loom",          required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "no-demand",     no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
+    { "swap",          no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
+    { "swap-to",       required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "gc-early",      no_argument,       NULL, 9 },
+    { "lmdb-map-size", required_argument, NULL, 10 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -1988,6 +2036,13 @@ _cw_meld(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 10: {  //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       case '?': {
         fprintf(stderr, "invalid argument\r\n");
         exit(1);
@@ -2116,11 +2171,12 @@ _cw_pack(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_w arg_w;
 
   static struct option lop_u[] = {
-    { "loom",      required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
-    { "no-demand", no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
-    { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
-    { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
-    { "gc-early",  no_argument,       NULL, 9 },
+    { "loom",          required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "no-demand",     no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
+    { "swap",          no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
+    { "swap-to",       required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "gc-early",      no_argument,       NULL, 9 },
+    { "lmdb-map-size", required_argument, NULL, 10 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -2156,6 +2212,13 @@ _cw_pack(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 10: {  //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       case '?': {
         fprintf(stderr, "invalid argument\r\n");
         exit(1);
@@ -2315,6 +2378,113 @@ _cw_play_impl(c3_d eve_d, c3_d sap_d, c3_o mel_o, c3_o sof_o, c3_o ful_o)
   return pay_d;
 }
 
+/* _cw_play_fork_heed(): wait for EOF on STDIN or until canceled.
+*/
+void* _cw_play_fork_heed(void* arg) {
+  c3_c buf[1];
+  c3_zs red;
+
+  do {
+    pthread_testcancel();
+    red = read(STDIN_FILENO, buf, sizeof(buf));
+    if ( 0 == red ) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "play: god save the king! committing sudoku...\r\n");
+      exit(1);
+    }
+  } while ( 0 < red );
+
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+/* _cw_play_fork(): spawn a subprocess for event replay.
+*/
+static c3_i
+_cw_play_fork(c3_d eve_d, c3_d sap_d, c3_o mel_o, c3_o sof_o, c3_o ful_o)
+{
+  //  prepare args
+  //
+  c3_c eve_c[21], sap_c[21] = { 0 };
+  if ( 0 > sprintf(eve_c, "%" PRIu64, eve_d) ||
+       0 > sprintf(sap_c, "%" PRIu64, sap_d) )
+  {
+    fprintf(stderr, "play: error parsing args\r\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  c3_c *argv[11] = {
+    u3_Host.wrk_c,
+    "play",
+    u3_Host.dir_c,
+    "--replay-to",
+    eve_c,
+    "--snap-at",
+    sap_c,
+  };
+
+  c3_z i = 7;
+  if _(mel_o) {
+    argv[i++] = "--auto-meld";
+  }
+  if _(sof_o) {
+    argv[i++] = "--soft-mugs";
+  }
+  if _(ful_o) {
+    argv[i++] = "--full";
+  }
+  argv[i] = NULL;
+
+  //  prepare a pipe for ipc with the subprocess
+  //
+  c3_i pipefd[2];
+  if ( 0 != pipe(pipefd) ) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "play: failed to open pipe\r\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  //  set the child process' stdin to read from the pipe
+  //
+  posix_spawn_file_actions_t action;
+  posix_spawn_file_actions_init(&action);
+  posix_spawn_file_actions_addclose(&action, pipefd[1]);
+  posix_spawn_file_actions_adddup2(&action, pipefd[0], STDIN_FILENO);
+
+  //  spawn a new serf process and call its play subcommand
+  //
+  pid_t pid;
+  if ( 0 != posix_spawn(&pid, u3_Host.wrk_c, &action, 0, argv, 0) ) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "play: posix_spawn: %d\r\n", errno);
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  //  close the read end of the pipe in the parent
+  //
+  close(pipefd[0]);
+
+  //  wait for the child to exit
+  //
+  c3_i sat_i;
+  if ( -1 == waitpid(pid, &sat_i, 0) ) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "play: waitpid: %d\r\n", errno);
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  if ( WIFEXITED(sat_i) ) {
+    c3_i ret_i = WEXITSTATUS(sat_i);
+    if ( 0 != ret_i ) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "play: exited with %d\r\n", ret_i);
+    }
+    return ret_i;
+  }
+  else if ( WIFSIGNALED(sat_i) ) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "play: terminated by signal %d\r\n", WTERMSIG(sat_i));
+    return 1;
+  }
+  else {
+    fprintf(stderr, "play: strange termination\r\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
+}
+
 /* _cw_play(): replay events, but better.
 */
 static void
@@ -2407,9 +2577,14 @@ _cw_play(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
     exit(1);
   }
 
+  pthread_t ted;
+  pthread_create(&ted, NULL, _cw_play_fork_heed, NULL);
+
   if ( !_cw_play_impl(eve_d, sap_d, mel_o, sof_o, ful_o) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "mars: nothing to do!\r\n");
   }
+
+  pthread_cancel(ted);
 }
 
 /* _cw_prep(): prepare for upgrade
@@ -2497,10 +2672,11 @@ _cw_chop(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_w arg_w;
 
   static struct option lop_u[] = {
-    { "loom",      required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
-    { "no-demand", no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
-    { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
-    { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "loom",          required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "no-demand",     no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
+    { "swap",          no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
+    { "swap-to",       required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "lmdb-map-size", required_argument, NULL, 9 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -2531,6 +2707,13 @@ _cw_chop(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 9: {  //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       case '?': {
         fprintf(stderr, "invalid argument\r\n");
         exit(1);
@@ -2578,7 +2761,8 @@ _cw_roll(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_w arg_w;
 
   static struct option lop_u[] = {
-    { "loom", required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "loom",          required_argument, NULL, c3__loom },
+    { "lmdb-map-size", required_argument, NULL, 6 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -2586,6 +2770,13 @@ _cw_roll(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
 
   while ( -1 != (ch_i=getopt_long(argc, argv, "", lop_u, &lid_i)) ) {
     switch ( ch_i ) {
+      case 6: {  //  lmdb-map-size
+        if ( 1 != sscanf(optarg, "%" SCNuMAX, &u3_Host.ops_u.siz_i) ) {
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+
       case c3__loom: {
         if (_main_readw_loom("loom", &u3_Host.ops_u.lom_y)) {
           exit(1);
@@ -2966,8 +3157,6 @@ main(c3_i   argc,
 
   _main_self_path();
 
-  //  XX add argument
-  //
   if ( !u3_Host.wrk_c ) {
     u3_Host.wrk_c = bin_c;
   }
@@ -3110,7 +3299,12 @@ main(c3_i   argc,
     //  we need the current snapshot's latest event number to
     //  validate whether we can execute disk migration
     if ( u3_Host.ops_u.nuu == c3n ) {
-      _cw_play_impl(0, 0, c3n, c3n, c3n);
+      c3_i sat_i = _cw_play_fork(0, 0, c3n, c3n, c3n);
+      if ( sat_i ) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "play: replay failed: %d\r\n", sat_i);
+        exit(sat_i);
+      }
+      signal(SIGTSTP, _stop_exit);
       //  XX  unmap loom, else parts of the snapshot could be left in memory
     }
 
diff --git a/pkg/vere/vere.h b/pkg/vere/vere.h
index f97a76f142..b26ad4b27e 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/vere.h
+++ b/pkg/vere/vere.h
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@
         u3_even* vex_u;                     //  --prop-*, boot enhancements
 
         c3_o    beb;                        //  --behn-allow-blocked
+        c3_z    siz_i;                      //  --lmdb-map-size
       } u3_opts;
 
     /* u3_host: entire host.