diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 04eee29..402a248 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ service-configs/*
 __pycache__
 *.pyc
 *.o
+gmon.out
+*.egg-info
+dist/
+build/
diff --git a/apps/cic-cache/docker/start_tracker.sh b/apps/cic-cache/docker/start_tracker.sh
index cca1cb1..0f72253 100644
--- a/apps/cic-cache/docker/start_tracker.sh
+++ b/apps/cic-cache/docker/start_tracker.sh
@@ -2,4 +2,9 @@
 
 . ./db.sh
 
+if [ $? -ne "0" ]; then
+	>&2 echo db migrate fail
+	exit 1
+fi
+
 /usr/local/bin/cic-cache-trackerd $@
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/k8s/db.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/k8s/db.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..485e1b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/k8s/db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+from cic_eth.db.models.base import SessionBase
+
+def health(*args, **kwargs):
+    session = SessionBase.create_session()
+    session.execute('SELECT count(*) from alembic_version')
+    session.close()
+    return True
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
index bfaf8ee..2d9d043 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from chainlib.connection import RPCConnection
 from chainlib.eth.connection import EthUnixSignerConnection
 from chainlib.chain import ChainSpec
 from chainqueue.db.models.otx import Otx
+import liveness.linux
 
 # local imports
 from cic_eth.eth import (
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ from cic_eth.registry import (
         connect_token_registry,
         )
 
+
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.WARNING)
 logg = logging.getLogger()
 
@@ -90,14 +92,15 @@ config.censor('PASSWORD', 'DATABASE')
 config.censor('PASSWORD', 'SSL')
 logg.debug('config loaded from {}:\n{}'.format(args.c, config))
 
+health_modules = config.get('CIC_HEALTH_MODULES', [])
+if len(health_modules) != 0:
+    health_modules = health_modules.split(',')
+logg.debug('health mods {}'.format(health_modules))
+
 # connect to database
 dsn = dsn_from_config(config)
 SessionBase.connect(dsn, pool_size=int(config.get('DATABASE_POOL_SIZE')), debug=config.true('DATABASE_DEBUG'))
 
-# verify database connection with minimal sanity query
-session = SessionBase.create_session()
-session.execute('select version_num from alembic_version')
-session.close()
 
 # set up celery
 current_app = celery.Celery(__name__)
@@ -139,6 +142,7 @@ RPCConnection.register_location(config.get('SIGNER_SOCKET_PATH'), chain_spec, 's
 
 Otx.tracing = config.true('TASKS_TRACE_QUEUE_STATUS')
 
+liveness.linux.load(health_modules)
 
 def main():
     argv = ['worker']
@@ -173,8 +177,10 @@ def main():
         logg.info('using trusted address {}'.format(address))
     connect_declarator(rpc, chain_spec, trusted_addresses)
     connect_token_registry(rpc, chain_spec)
-    
+   
+    liveness.linux.set()
     current_app.worker_main(argv)
+    liveness.linux.reset()
 
 
 @celery.signals.eventlet_pool_postshutdown.connect
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/config/cic.ini b/apps/cic-eth/config/cic.ini
index 7c6d825..10ec9cd 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/config/cic.ini
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/config/cic.ini
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ registry_address =
 chain_spec = evm:bloxberg:8996
 tx_retry_delay = 
 trust_address =
+health_modules = cic_eth.k8s.db
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/docker/Dockerfile b/apps/cic-eth/docker/Dockerfile
index 9ca4a83..00f3903 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -53,3 +53,5 @@ COPY cic-eth/crypto_dev_signer_config/ /usr/local/etc/crypto-dev-signer/
 RUN git clone https://gitlab.com/grassrootseconomics/cic-contracts.git && \
 	mkdir -p /usr/local/share/cic/solidity && \
 	cp -R cic-contracts/abis /usr/local/share/cic/solidity/abi
+
+COPY util/liveness/health.sh /usr/local/bin/health.sh
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/requirements.txt b/apps/cic-eth/requirements.txt
index 15e0244..3ab4137 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/requirements.txt
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cic-base~=0.1.2a76
+cic-base==0.1.2a79+build.35e442bc
 celery==4.4.7
 crypto-dev-signer~=0.4.14b2
 confini~=0.3.6rc3
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/setup.cfg b/apps/cic-eth/setup.cfg
index d289594..cc0d554 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/setup.cfg
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/setup.cfg
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ packages =
 	cic_eth.runnable.daemons.filters
 	cic_eth.callbacks
 	cic_eth.sync
+	cic_eth.k8s
 scripts =
 	./scripts/migrate.py
 
diff --git a/apps/cic-ussd/requirements.txt b/apps/cic-ussd/requirements.txt
index 25578d5..36aa04b 100644
--- a/apps/cic-ussd/requirements.txt
+++ b/apps/cic-ussd/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cic_base[full_graph]~=0.1.2a68
-cic-eth~=0.11.0b3
+cic_base[full_graph]~=0.1.2a79
+cic-eth~=0.11.0b7
 cic-notify~=0.4.0a4
 cic-types~=0.1.0a10
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/MANIFEST.in b/apps/util/liveness/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7689483
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+include *health*.sh
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/Makefile b/apps/util/liveness/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..257775f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+docs:
+	mkdir -p doc/texinfo/html
+	makeinfo doc/texinfo/index.texi --html -o doc/texinfo/html/
+
+markdown: doc
+	pandoc -f html -t markdown --standalone doc/texinfo/html/liveness.html -o README.md
+
+
+.PHONY dist:
+	python setup.py sdist
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/README.md b/apps/util/liveness/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7081db0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+---
+description: liveness (Untitled Document)
+distribution: global
+Generator: makeinfo
+keywords: liveness (Untitled Document)
+lang: en
+resource-type: document
+title: liveness (Untitled Document)
+---
+
+[]{#liveness}[]{#liveness-1}
+
+## 1 liveness {#liveness .chapter}
+
+[]{#ilveness_005foverview}[]{#Overview}
+
+### 1.1 Overview {#overview .section}
+
+This is a cluster-specific convenience setup for enabling a
+Kubernetes-style liveness/readiness test as outlined in
+<https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/configure-pod-container/configure-liveness-readiness-startup-probes/>.
+
+Conceptually, it provides an application with means to:
+
+-   Run a collection of functions to validate sanity of the environment
+-   Set a no-error state before execution of the main routine
+-   Modify the error state during execution
+-   Invalidating all state when execution ends
+
+[]{#Python-module}
+
+### 1.2 Python module {#python-module .section}
+
+Three python methods are provided.
+
+[]{#load}
+
+#### 1.2.1 load {#load .subsection}
+
+This is meant to be called after configurations and environment has been
+set up, but before the execution logic has commenced.
+
+It receives a list of externally defined fully-qualified python modules.
+Each of these modules must implement the method `health(*args,**kwargs)`
+in its global namespace.
+
+Any module returning `False` will cause a `RuntimeException`.
+
+The component will not trap any other exception from the modules.
+
+If successful, it will write the `pid` of the application to the
+specified run data folder. By default this is `/run/<HOSTNAME>`, but the
+path can be modified if desired.
+
+[]{#set}
+
+#### 1.2.2 set {#set .subsection}
+
+This is meant to be called during the execution of the main program
+routine begins.
+
+[]{#at-startup}
+
+#### 1.2.2.1 at startup {#at-startup .subsubsection}
+
+It should be called once at the *start* of execution of the main program
+routine.
+
+For one-shot routines, this would mean the start of any code only run
+when the module name is `__main__`.
+
+For daemons, it would be just before handing over execution to the main
+loop.
+
+[]{#during-execution}
+
+#### 1.2.2.2 during execution {#during-execution .subsubsection}
+
+Call `set(error_code=<error>, ...` any time the health state temporarily
+changes. Any `error` value other than `0` is considered an unhealthy
+state.
+
+[]{#at-shutdown}
+
+#### 1.2.2.3 at shutdown {#at-shutdown .subsubsection}
+
+Call `reset(...)`, which will indicate that the state is to be
+considered the same as at startup.
+
+[]{#shell}
+
+### 1.3 shell {#shell .section}
+
+A bash script is provided for *Kubernetes* to perform the health check.
+
+It performs the following checks:
+
+1.  A numeric value exists in `<rundir>/<unitname>/pid`{.sample}.
+2.  The numeric value is a directory in `/proc`{.sample} (a valid pid)
+3.  The file `<rundir>/<unitname>/error`{.sample} contains \"0\"
+
+If any of these checks fail should inditcate that the container is
+unhealthy.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/doc/texinfo/index.texi b/apps/util/liveness/doc/texinfo/index.texi
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82972d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/doc/texinfo/index.texi
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+@node liveness
+@chapter liveness
+
+@anchor{ilveness_overview}
+@section Overview
+
+This is a cluster-specific convenience setup for enabling a Kubernetes-style liveness/readiness test as outlined in @url{https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/configure-pod-container/configure-liveness-readiness-startup-probes/}.
+
+Conceptually, it provides an application with means to:
+
+@itemize
+@item Run a collection of functions to validate sanity of the environment
+@item Set a no-error state before execution of the main routine
+@item Modify the error state during execution
+@item Invalidating all state when execution ends
+@end itemize
+
+
+@section Python module
+
+Three python methods are provided.
+
+@subsection load
+
+This is meant to be called after configurations and environment has been set up, but before the execution logic has commenced.
+
+It receives a list of externally defined fully-qualified python modules. Each of these modules must implement the method @code{health(*args,**kwargs)} in its global namespace.
+
+Any module returning @code{False} will cause a @code{RuntimeException}.
+
+The component will not trap any other exception from the modules.
+
+If successful, it will write the @code{pid}  of the application to the specified run data folder. By default this is @code{/run/<HOSTNAME>}, but the path can be modified if desired.
+
+
+@subsection set
+
+This is meant to be called during the execution of the main program routine begins.
+
+@subsubsection at startup
+
+It should be called once at the @emph{start} of execution of the main program routine.
+
+For one-shot routines, this would mean the start of any code only run when the module name is @code{__main__}. 
+
+For daemons, it would be just before handing over execution to the main loop.
+
+
+@subsubsection during execution
+
+Call @code{set(error_code=<error>, ...} any time the health state temporarily changes. Any @code{error} value other than @code{0} is considered an unhealthy state.
+
+
+@subsubsection at shutdown
+
+Call @code{reset(...)}, which will indicate that the state is to be considered the same as at startup.
+
+
+@section shell
+
+A bash script is provided for @emph{Kubernetes} to perform the health check. 
+
+It performs the following checks:
+
+@enumerate
+@item A numeric value exists in @file{<rundir>/<unitname>/pid}.
+@item The numeric value is a directory in @file{/proc} (a valid pid)
+@item The file @file{<rundir>/<unitname>/error} contains "0"
+@end enumerate
+
+If any of these checks fail should inditcate that the container is unhealthy.
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/health.sh b/apps/util/liveness/health.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b19763e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/health.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+rundir=${CIC_RUNDIR:-/run}
+unit=${CIC_UNIT:-$HOSTNAME}
+
+read p < $rundir/$unit/pid
+
+if [ -z $p ]; then
+	>&2 echo unit $unit has no pid
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ ! -d /proc/$p ]; then
+	>&2 echo unit $unit reports non-existent pid $p
+	exit 1
+fi	
+
+>&2 echo unit $unit has pid $p
+
+if [ ! -f $rundir/$unit/error ]; then
+	>&2 echo unit $unit has unspecified state
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+read e 2> /dev/null < $rundir/$unit/error 
+if [ -z $e ]; then
+	>&2 echo unit $unit has unspecified state
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+>&2 echo unit $unit has error $e
+
+if [ $e -gt 0 ]; then
+	exit 1;
+fi
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/liveness/linux.py b/apps/util/liveness/liveness/linux.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24bb59e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/liveness/linux.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# standard imports
+import importlib
+import sys
+import os
+import logging
+
+logg = logging.getLogger().getChild(__name__)
+
+pid = os.getpid()
+
+default_namespace = os.environ.get('LIVENESS_UNIT_NAME')
+if default_namespace == None:
+    import socket
+    default_namespace = socket.gethostname()
+
+
+def load(check_strs, namespace=default_namespace, rundir='/run', *args, **kwargs):
+
+    if namespace == None:
+        import socket
+        namespace = socket.gethostname()
+
+    logg.info('pid ' + str(pid))
+
+    checks = []
+    for m in check_strs:
+        logg.debug('added liveness check: {}'.format(str(m)))
+        module = importlib.import_module(m)
+        checks.append(module)
+
+    for check in checks:
+        r = check.health(args, kwargs)
+        if r == False:
+            raise RuntimeError('liveness check {} failed'.format(str(check)))
+        logg.info('liveness check passed: {}'.format(str(check)))
+
+    app_rundir = os.path.join(rundir, namespace)
+    os.makedirs(app_rundir, exist_ok=True) # should not already exist
+    f = open(os.path.join(app_rundir, 'pid'), 'w')
+    f.write(str(pid))
+    f.close()
+
+
+def set(error=0, namespace=default_namespace, rundir='/run'):
+    app_rundir = os.path.join(rundir, namespace)
+    f = open(os.path.join(app_rundir, 'error'), 'w')
+    f.write(str(error))
+    f.close()
+
+
+def reset(namespace=default_namespace, rundir='/run'):
+    app_rundir = os.path.join(rundir, namespace)
+    os.unlink(os.path.join(app_rundir, 'pid'))
+    os.unlink(os.path.join(app_rundir, 'error'))
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/setup.py b/apps/util/liveness/setup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c8b3f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/setup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+from setuptools import setup
+setup(
+        name='liveness',
+        version='0.0.1a6',
+        packages=['liveness'],
+        include_package_data=True,
+        )
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/test_health.sh b/apps/util/liveness/test_health.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..898a05d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/test_health.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+export CIC_RUNDIR=`realpath ./tests/testdata/run`
+t=`mktemp -d -p $CIC_RUNDIR`
+export CIC_UNIT=`basename $t`
+
+>&2 echo test pid $$
+echo $$ > $t/pid
+echo 0 > $t/error
+
+. health.sh
+
+echo 1 > $t/error
+#unlink $t/error
+. health.sh
+
+echo if error this is not printed
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/__init__.py b/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_args.py b/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_args.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a68003b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_args.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+a = ['foo']
+kw = {
+    'bar': 42,
+        }
+
+def health(*args, **kwargs):
+    args[0] == a[0]
+    kwargs['bar'] = kw['bar']
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_false.py b/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_false.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..311f278
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_false.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+def health(*args, **kwargs):
+    return False
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_true.py b/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_true.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69c2e28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/tests/imports/import_true.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+def health(*args, **kwargs):
+    return True
diff --git a/apps/util/liveness/tests/test_imports.py b/apps/util/liveness/tests/test_imports.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02e6be7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/util/liveness/tests/test_imports.py
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+# standard imports
+import os
+import unittest
+import logging
+import tempfile
+import socket
+
+# local imports
+import liveness.linux 
+
+## test imports
+import tests.imports
+
+
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
+logg = logging.getLogger()
+script_dir = os.path.realpath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+data_dir = os.path.join(script_dir, 'testdata')
+run_base_dir = os.path.join(data_dir, 'run')
+
+
+class TestImports(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        os.makedirs(run_base_dir, exist_ok=True)
+        self.run_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=run_base_dir)
+        self.unit = 'unittest'
+        self.unit_dir = os.path.join(self.run_dir, self.unit)
+        self.pid_path = os.path.join(self.unit_dir, 'pid')
+        self.error_path = os.path.join(self.unit_dir, 'error')
+        self.host_path = os.path.join(self.run_dir, socket.gethostname())
+
+
+    def test_no_import(self):
+        liveness.linux.load([], namespace=self.unit, rundir=self.run_dir)
+        f = open(self.pid_path, 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual(str(os.getpid()), r)
+
+ 
+    def test_hostname(self):
+        liveness.linux.load([], rundir=self.run_dir)
+        f = open(os.path.join(self.host_path, 'pid'), 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual(str(os.getpid()), r)
+
+   
+    def test_import_single_true(self):
+        checks = ['tests.imports.import_true']
+        liveness.linux.load(checks, namespace=self.unit, rundir=self.run_dir)
+        f = open(self.pid_path, 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual(str(os.getpid()), r)
+
+
+    def test_import_single_false(self):
+        checks = ['tests.imports.import_false']
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            liveness.linux.load(checks, namespace=self.unit, rundir=self.run_dir)
+        with self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError):
+            os.stat(self.pid_path)
+
+
+    def test_import_false_then_true(self):
+        checks = ['tests.imports.import_false', 'tests.imports.import_true']
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            liveness.linux.load(checks, namespace=self.unit, rundir=self.run_dir)
+        with self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError):
+            os.stat(self.pid_path)
+
+
+    def test_import_multiple_true(self):
+        checks = ['tests.imports.import_true', 'tests.imports.import_true']
+        liveness.linux.load(checks, namespace=self.unit, rundir=self.run_dir)
+        f = open(self.pid_path, 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual(str(os.getpid()), r)
+
+
+    def test_set(self):
+        liveness.linux.load([], namespace='unittest', rundir=self.run_dir)
+        liveness.linux.set(namespace='unittest', rundir=self.run_dir)
+        f = open(self.error_path, 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual('0', r)
+
+        liveness.linux.set(error=42, namespace='unittest', rundir=self.run_dir)
+        f = open(self.error_path, 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual('42', r)
+
+        liveness.linux.reset(namespace='unittest', rundir=self.run_dir)
+        with self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError):
+            os.stat(self.error_path)
+            
+
+    def test_set_hostname(self):
+        liveness.linux.load([], rundir=self.run_dir)
+        liveness.linux.set(rundir=self.run_dir)
+        error_path = os.path.join(self.host_path, 'error')
+        f = open(error_path, 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual('0', r)
+
+        liveness.linux.reset(rundir=self.run_dir)
+        with self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError):
+            os.stat(error_path)
+    
+
+    def test_args(self):
+        checks = ['tests.imports.import_args']
+        liveness.linux.load(checks, namespace=self.unit, rundir=self.run_dir, args=['foo'], kwargs={'bar': 42})
+        f = open(self.pid_path, 'r')
+        r = f.read()
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual(str(os.getpid()), r)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()