diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index dfb53b8..7a02d48 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 ChangeLog
 ---------
 
+2011-01-08 02:27 Juan José Gutiérrez de Quevedo <juanjo@gutierrezdequevedo.com>
+
+* revamped logging system. hopefully, messages will be more informative now
+
 2011-01-06 23:53 Juan José Gutiérrez de Quevedo <juanjo@gutierrezdequevedo.com>
 
 * development restarted
diff --git a/src/Configfile.cpp.in b/src/Configfile.cpp.in
index e29a0e6..ad3da37 100644
--- a/src/Configfile.cpp.in
+++ b/src/Configfile.cpp.in
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ void Configfile::parse(string file)
   char line[255];
   int equalpos;
 
-  hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_INFO,"parsing "+Utils::get_canonical_filename(file)+" configuration file");
+  LINF("parsing "+Utils::get_canonical_filename(file)+" configuration file");
   f.open(file.c_str(),ios::in);
   while(!f.eof())
   {
@@ -47,10 +47,9 @@ void Configfile::parse(string file)
       equalpos=l.find("=");
       string option=Utils::trim(l.substr(0,equalpos));
       string value=Utils::trim(l.substr(equalpos+1));
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-        cout << l << endl;
-        cout << option << "->" << value << endl;
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      //if(false==cfg.getBackground())
+      //  cout << option << " -> " << value << endl;
+
       //this is a bit of a hack, but simplifies a lot this function
       #define PARSE_INT(x,y) if(x==option) y=Configfile::parseAsInt(value); else
       #define PARSE_BOOL(x,y) if(x==option) y=Configfile::parseAsBool(value); else
diff --git a/src/Database.cpp b/src/Database.cpp
index 2d3590f..6af1444 100644
--- a/src/Database.cpp
+++ b/src/Database.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
  */
 #include "Database.h"
 
+extern LOGGER_CLASS hermes_log;
+
 void Database::setDatabaseFile(string p_dbfile)
 {
   dbfile=p_dbfile;
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@ void Database::setDatabaseFile(string p_dbfile)
 void Database::doQuery(string p_sql)
 {
   int retval;
+  bool was_busy=false;
+
   do
   {
     retval=sqlite3_exec(dbh,p_sql.c_str(),NULL,NULL,NULL);
@@ -41,12 +45,13 @@ void Database::doQuery(string p_sql)
     if(SQLITE_BUSY==retval)
     {
       sleep(1+rand()%2);
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-      cout << pthread_self() << " doquery() sql failed with busy state, retrying" << endl;
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      LERR("doquery() sql failed with busy state, retrying");
+      was_busy=true;
     }
   }
   while(SQLITE_BUSY==retval);
+  if(was_busy)
+    LERR("doquery() executed correctly after failing initially");
 }
 
 string Database::cleanString(string s)
@@ -85,6 +90,7 @@ bool Database::greylisted(string ip,string from,string to,int initial_expiry,int
   int nrow=0;
   int ncolumn=0;
   bool retval=true;
+  bool was_busy=false;
   int sqlite_retval;
   int now=time(NULL);
   string strnow=Utils::inttostr(now);
@@ -102,12 +108,13 @@ bool Database::greylisted(string ip,string from,string to,int initial_expiry,int
     if(SQLITE_BUSY==sqlite_retval)
     {
       sleep(1+rand()%2);
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-      cout << pthread_self() << " greylisted() sql busy" << endl;
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      LERR("greylisted() sql failed with busy state, retrying");
+      was_busy=true;
     }
   }
   while(sqlite_retval==SQLITE_BUSY);
+  if(was_busy)
+    LERR("greylisted() executed correctly after failing initially");
 
   sql="";
 
@@ -203,6 +210,7 @@ int Database::countRows(string p_sql)
   int nrow=0;
   int ncolumn=0;
   int sqlite_retval;
+  bool was_busy=false;
 
   do
   {
@@ -216,12 +224,13 @@ int Database::countRows(string p_sql)
     if(SQLITE_BUSY==sqlite_retval)
     {
       sleep(1+rand()%2);
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-      cout << pthread_self() << " countRows() retrying" << endl;
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      LERR("countRows() sql failed with busy state, retrying");
+      was_busy=true;
     }
   }
   while(SQLITE_BUSY==sqlite_retval);
+  if(was_busy)
+    LERR("countRows() executed correctly after failing initially");
 
   if(NULL!=result)
     sqlite3_free_table(result);
@@ -357,6 +366,7 @@ unsigned long Database::getIntValue(string& p_sql)
   int nrow=0;
   int ncolumn=0;
   int sqlite_retval;
+  bool was_busy=false;
   unsigned long value;
 
   do
@@ -371,12 +381,13 @@ unsigned long Database::getIntValue(string& p_sql)
     if(SQLITE_BUSY==sqlite_retval)
     {
       sleep(1+rand()%2);
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-        cout << pthread_self() << " getIntValue() retrying" << endl;
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      LERR("getIntValue() sql failed with busy state, retrying");
+      was_busy=true;
     }
   }
   while(SQLITE_BUSY==sqlite_retval);
+  if(was_busy)
+    LERR("getIntValue() executed correctly after failing initially");
 
   if(NULL==result)
     throw SQLException("SQL: "+p_sql+" didn't return any data, SQL query may be wrong",__FILE__,__LINE__);
@@ -408,9 +419,7 @@ unsigned long Database::cleanDB()
     //we do it always because if we don't submit stats it stills appears on the logs
     sql="SELECT SUM(blocked) FROM greylist WHERE expires<strftime('%s','now') AND passed=0;";
     spamcount=getIntValue(sql);
-    #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    cout << "We have processed " << spamcount << " spam emails in the last 4 hours" << endl;
-    #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+    LINF("We have processed " + Utils::ulongtostr(spamcount) + " spam emails in the last 4 hours");
 
     //at last, delete them from the database
     doQuery("DELETE FROM greylist WHERE expires<strftime('%s','now');");
diff --git a/src/Exception.cpp b/src/Exception.cpp
index 46021d2..fce365b 100644
--- a/src/Exception.cpp
+++ b/src/Exception.cpp
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ extern LOGGER_CLASS hermes_log;
 Exception::Exception(string p_error,string p_file,unsigned p_line)
 {
   error=p_error;
-  #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-  hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_ERR,p_error);
-  #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
   #ifdef NOTIFY_EXCEPTIONS
   if(cfg.getNotifyTo()!="")
   {
@@ -37,7 +34,7 @@ Exception::Exception(string p_error,string p_file,unsigned p_line)
     }
     catch(NotifyException &e)
     {
-      cout << string(e) << endl;
+      LERR(e);
     }
   }
   #endif //NOTIFY_EXCEPTIONS
diff --git a/src/Logger.h b/src/Logger.h
index ef99716..d0df798 100644
--- a/src/Logger.h
+++ b/src/Logger.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class Logger
 {
   public:
     virtual ~Logger(){}; //empty destructor, not creating anything
-    virtual void addMessage(int,string)=0;
+    virtual void addMessage(string,int,int,string)=0;
 };
 
 #ifndef WIN32
diff --git a/src/Proxy.cpp b/src/Proxy.cpp
index f32f52f..13b6992 100644
--- a/src/Proxy.cpp
+++ b/src/Proxy.cpp
@@ -36,10 +36,6 @@ void Proxy::setOutside(Socket& p_outside)
  */
 void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
 {
-  #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-  string debugLog="\r\n";
-  #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-
   #ifdef HAVE_SPF
   Spf spf_checker;
   #endif //HAVE_SPF
@@ -76,10 +72,7 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
         sleep(cfg.getBannerDelayTime());
         if(outside.canRead(0))  //if we have data waiting before the server gives us a 220 then quit, it's spam
         {
-          #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-          cout << peer_address << " sent data before 220, exiting..." << endl;
-          #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-          hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_INFO,"421 (data_before_banner) (ip:"+peer_address+")");
+          LINF("421 (data_before_banner) (ip:"+peer_address+")");
           sleep(20); // but first let's annoy spammers once more
           outside.writeLine("421 Stop sending data before we show you the banner");
           return;
@@ -101,9 +94,6 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
       if(outside.canRead(0.2))  //client wants to send something to server
       {
         strtemp=outside.readLine();
-        #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-        debugLog+="c> "+strtemp+"\r\n";
-        #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
         if(outside.isClosed())
           return;
         if(strtemp.length()>10&&"mail from:"==Utils::strtolower(strtemp.substr(0,10)))
@@ -147,9 +137,7 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
             code="421";
             mechanism="greylist";
             message=code+" Greylisted!! Please try again in a few minutes.";
-            #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-            cout << "Checking " << mechanism << endl;
-            #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	    LINF("checking " + mechanism);
           }
           #ifdef HAVE_SPF
           else if(cfg.getQuerySpf()&&!authenticated&&!spf_checker.query(peer_address,ehlostr,from))
@@ -157,9 +145,7 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
             code=cfg.getReturnTempErrorOnReject()?"421":"550";
             mechanism="spf";
             message=code+" You do not seem to be allowed to send email for that particular domain.";
-            #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-            cout << "Checking " << mechanism << endl;
-            #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	    LINF("checking " + mechanism);
           }
           #endif //HAVE_SPF
           //check blacklist
@@ -168,9 +154,7 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
             code=cfg.getReturnTempErrorOnReject()?"421":"550";
             mechanism="allowed-domain-per-ip";
             message=code+" You do not seem to be allowed to send email to that particular domain from that address.";
-            #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-            cout << "Checking " << mechanism << endl;
-            #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	    LINF("checking " + mechanism);
           }
           //check rbl
           else if(!cfg.getDnsBlacklistDomains().empty()&&!authenticated&&Utils::listed_on_dns_lists(cfg.getDnsBlacklistDomains(),cfg.getDnsBlacklistPercentage(),peer_address))
@@ -178,27 +162,21 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
             code=cfg.getReturnTempErrorOnReject()?"421":"550";
             mechanism="dnsbl";
             message=code+" You are listed on some DNS blacklists. Get delisted before trying to send us email.";
-            #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-            cout << "Checking " << mechanism << endl;
-            #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	    LINF("checking " + mechanism);
           }
           else if(cfg.getRejectNoReverseResolution()&&!authenticated&&""==resolvedname)
           {
             code=cfg.getReturnTempErrorOnReject()?"421":"550";
             mechanism="no reverse resolution";
             message=code+" Your IP address does not resolve to a hostname.";
-            #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-            cout << "Checking " << mechanism << endl;
-            #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	    LINF("checking " + mechanism);
           }
           else if(cfg.getCheckHeloAgainstReverse()&&!authenticated&&ehlostr!=resolvedname)
           {
             code=cfg.getReturnTempErrorOnReject()?"421":"550";
             mechanism="helo differs from resolved name";
             message=code+" Your IP hostname doesn't match your envelope hostname.";
-            #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-            cout << "Checking " << mechanism << endl;
-            #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	    LINF("checking " + mechanism);
           }
           else
             code="250";
@@ -208,10 +186,7 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
           strlog.insert(0,code+" ");
 
           //log the connection
-          #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-          cout << strlog << endl;
-          #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-          hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_INFO,strlog);
+          LINF(strlog);
 
           //if we didn't accept the email, punish spammers
           if("250"!=code)
@@ -231,21 +206,17 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
           #ifdef HAVE_SSL
             try
             {
-              #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-              cout << peer_address << " enabled starttls, using secure comunications!!!"  << endl;
-              #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	      LINF("STARTTLS issued by remote, TLS enabled");
               outside.writeLine("220 You can speak now, line is secure!!");
               outside.enableSSL(true);
             }
             catch(Exception &e)
             {
-              #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-              cout << string(e) << endl;
-              #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-              hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_DEBUG,string(e));
+              LERR(e);
             }
           #else
             outside.writeLine("454 TLS temporarily not available");
+	    LINF("STARTTLS issued by remote, TLS was not enabled because this build lacks SSL support");
           #endif //HAVE_SSL
           strtemp="";
         }
@@ -257,9 +228,6 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
       if(inside.canRead(0.2))  //server wants to send something to client
       {
         strtemp=inside.readLine();
-        #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-        debugLog+="s> "+strtemp+"\r\n";
-        #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
         if(inside.isClosed())
           return;
         string code=strtemp.substr(0,3); //all responses by the server start with a code
@@ -319,16 +287,9 @@ void Proxy::run(string &peer_address)
   }
   catch(Exception &e)  //any exception will close both connections
   {
-    #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    cout << e << endl;
-    try
-    {
-      throw Exception(string(e)+debugLog+"\r\n",__FILE__,__LINE__);
-    }
-    catch(Exception &ex){}
-    #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+    LERR(e);
     if(last_state<SMTP_STATE_WAIT_FOR_DATA)
-      hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_INFO,"421 (throttling) from "+(""==from?"no-from":from)+" (ip:"+peer_address+", hostname:"+(""==resolvedname?"not-resolved":resolvedname)+", ehlo:"+(""==ehlostr?"no-ehlo":ehlostr)+") -> to "+(""==to?"no-to":to));
+      LINF("421 (probably-throttling) from "+(""==from?"no-from":from)+" (ip:"+peer_address+", hostname:"+(""==resolvedname?"not-resolved":resolvedname)+", ehlo:"+(""==ehlostr?"no-ehlo":ehlostr)+") -> to "+(""==to?"no-to":to));
     return;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/Socket.cpp b/src/Socket.cpp
index d768116..8e9e7dd 100644
--- a/src/Socket.cpp
+++ b/src/Socket.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ SSL_CTX *Socket::ssl_ctx_client=NULL;
 #endif //HAVE_SSL
 
 extern Configfile cfg;
+extern LOGGER_CLASS hermes_log;
 
 Socket::Socket():fd(-1)
 #ifdef HAVE_SSL
@@ -254,6 +255,9 @@ string Socket::readLine()
       s<<c;
   }
   while(c!=10&&!isClosed());
+
+  LDEB("r>" + s.str());
+
   return s.str();
 }
 
@@ -298,6 +302,7 @@ void Socket::writeLine(string s)
 
   s+="\r\n";
 
+  LDEB("w>"+s);
   writeBytes((void *)s.c_str(),s.length());
 }
 
diff --git a/src/UnixLogger.cpp b/src/UnixLogger.cpp
index c6c8a86..a2d90fa 100644
--- a/src/UnixLogger.cpp
+++ b/src/UnixLogger.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
  */
 #include "UnixLogger.h"
 
+extern __thread unsigned long connection_id;
+extern Configfile cfg;
+
 UnixLogger::UnixLogger()
 {
   openlog("hermes",LOG_NDELAY,LOG_MAIL);
@@ -29,7 +32,12 @@ UnixLogger::~UnixLogger()
   closelog();
 }
 
-void UnixLogger::addMessage(int loglevel,string logmessage)
+void UnixLogger::addMessage(string file,int line,int loglevel,string logmessage)
 {
-  syslog(loglevel,logmessage.c_str());
+  string message;
+
+  message=file+":"+Utils::inttostr(line)+" [" + Utils::inttostr(connection_id) + "] " + logmessage;
+  if(false==cfg.getBackground())
+    cout << message << endl;
+  syslog(loglevel,message.c_str());
 }
diff --git a/src/UnixLogger.h b/src/UnixLogger.h
index 07ca02e..5f4898b 100644
--- a/src/UnixLogger.h
+++ b/src/UnixLogger.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class UnixLogger: public Logger
   public:
     UnixLogger();
     ~UnixLogger();
-    void addMessage(int,string);
+    void addMessage(string,int,int,string);
 };
 
 #endif //UNIXLOGGER_H
diff --git a/src/Utils.cpp b/src/Utils.cpp
index 74cc889..5cf9d2a 100644
--- a/src/Utils.cpp
+++ b/src/Utils.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "Utils.h"
 
 extern Configfile cfg;
+extern LOGGER_CLASS hermes_log;
 
 //--------------------
 // string functions:
@@ -40,6 +41,21 @@ string Utils::inttostr(int integer)
   return s.str();
 }
 
+/**
+ * convert unsigned long to string
+ *
+ * @param number number to convert
+ *
+ * @return string the number converted to stringtype
+ *
+ */
+string Utils::ulongtostr(unsigned long number)
+{
+  stringstream s;
+  s << number;
+  return s.str();
+}
+
 /**
  * return lowercase version of s
  *
@@ -445,27 +461,30 @@ bool Utils::listed_on_dns_lists(list<string>& dns_domains,unsigned char percenta
     {
       Socket::resolve(reversedip+dns_domain);
       times_listed++;
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-      cout << ip << " listed on " << dns_domain << endl;
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      LINF(ip + " listed on " + dns_domain);
     }
     catch(Exception &e)
     {
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-      cout << ip << " NOT listed on " << dns_domain << endl;
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      LINF(ip + " NOT listed on " + dns_domain);
     }
 
     checked_lists++;
 
     if((times_listed*100/number_of_lists)>=percentage)
+    {
+      LINF("ip " + ip + " listed on " + Utils::ulongtostr(times_listed) + " out of " + Utils::ulongtostr(checked_lists) + " checked servers, out of " + Utils::ulongtostr(number_of_lists) + ". threshold is " + Utils::ulongtostr(percentage) + "% -> return true");
       return true;
+    }
     //if we have checked a number of lists that make it impossible for this function
     //to return true, then return false
     if((checked_lists*100/number_of_lists)>100-percentage)
+    {
+      LINF("ip " + ip + " listed on " + Utils::ulongtostr(times_listed) + " out of " + Utils::ulongtostr(checked_lists) + " checked servers, out of " + Utils::ulongtostr(number_of_lists) + ". threshold is " + Utils::ulongtostr(percentage) + "% -> return false");
       return false;
+    }
   }
 
+  LINF("ip " + ip + " listed on " + Utils::ulongtostr(times_listed) + " out of " + Utils::ulongtostr(checked_lists) + " checked servers, out of " + Utils::ulongtostr(number_of_lists) + ". threshold is " + Utils::ulongtostr(percentage) + "% -> return false");
   return false;
 }
 
@@ -589,3 +608,16 @@ string Utils::gethostname()
 
   return string(buf);
 }
+
+void Utils::write_pid(string file,pid_t pid)
+{
+  FILE *f;
+
+  f=fopen(file.c_str(),"w");
+  if(NULL==f)
+    throw Exception(_("Couldn't open file ")+file+_(" to write the pidfile"),__FILE__,__LINE__);
+
+  fprintf(f,"%d\n",pid);
+  fclose(f);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/Utils.h b/src/Utils.h
index 2e3e55a..42190d5 100644
--- a/src/Utils.h
+++ b/src/Utils.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ class Utils
     static string strtolower(string);
     static string trim(string);
     static string inttostr(int);
+    static string ulongtostr(unsigned long);
 
     //email-related utilities
     static string getmail(string&);
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ class Utils
     static string errnotostrerror(int);
     static string rfc2821_date(time_t *timestamp=NULL);
     static string gethostname();
+    static void write_pid(string,pid_t);
 };
 
 #endif //UTILS_H
diff --git a/src/hermes.cpp b/src/hermes.cpp
index 21a4f05..cfce035 100644
--- a/src/hermes.cpp
+++ b/src/hermes.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ using namespace std;
 void *thread_main(void *);
 void *cleaner_thread_run(void *);
 void exit_requested(int);
-void write_pid(string,pid_t);
 
 //global var to know when we have to exit
 bool quit=false;
@@ -57,6 +56,10 @@ Configfile cfg;
 //our logger
 LOGGER_CLASS hermes_log;
 
+//this variable is thread-local to allow having a unique id per-thread which we can
+//print at the start of log messages
+__thread unsigned long connection_id;
+
 list<pthread_t> children;
 
 #ifdef HAVE_SSL
@@ -106,13 +109,11 @@ main
   }
   catch(Exception &e)
   {
-    cout << string(e) << endl;
+    LERR(e);
     return -1;
   }
 
-  #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    unsigned long nconns=0;
-  #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+  unsigned long nconns=0;
 
   signal(SIGTERM,exit_requested);
   signal(SIGINT,exit_requested);
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ main
 
       if(retval<0)
       {
-        cout << _("Error forking into the background") << Utils::errnotostrerror(errno) << endl;
+        LERR(_("Error forking into the background") + Utils::errnotostrerror(errno));
         return -1;
       }
     }
@@ -143,11 +144,11 @@ main
     {
       try
       {
-        write_pid(cfg.getPidFile(),getpid());
+        Utils::write_pid(cfg.getPidFile(),getpid());
       }
       catch(Exception &e)
       {
-        hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_ERR,e);
+        LERR(e);
       }
     }
 
@@ -158,13 +159,14 @@ main
       chdir(cfg.getChroot().c_str());
       if(-1==chroot(cfg.getChroot().c_str()))
       {
-        cout << _("Couldn't chroot ") << Utils::errnotostrerror(errno) << endl;
+        LERR(_("Couldn't chroot ") + Utils::errnotostrerror(errno));
         return -1;
       }
       chdir("/");
     }
   #endif //WIN32
 
+  LINF("Starting hermes");
   try
   {
     server.init();
@@ -173,7 +175,7 @@ main
   }
   catch(Exception &e)
   {
-    cout << e << endl;
+    LERR(e);
     return -1; //couldn't bind, exit
   }
 
@@ -207,22 +209,19 @@ main
       int fd=server.accept(&peer_address);
       info.new_fd=fd;
       info.peer_address=peer_address;
+      info.connection_id=++nconns;
       pthread_mutex_lock(&info_stack_mutex);
       info_stack.push(info);
       pthread_mutex_unlock(&info_stack_mutex);
       retval=pthread_create(&thread,&thread_attr,thread_main,(void *)&info_stack);
       if(retval)
       {
-        #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-        cout << _("Error creating thread: ") << Utils::errnotostrerror(retval) << _(". Sleeping 5 seconds before continuing...") << endl;
-        #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	LERR(_("Error creating thread: ") + Utils::errnotostrerror(retval) + _(". Sleeping 5 seconds before continuing..."));
         sleep(5);
       }
       else
       {
-        #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-        cout << "[ " << ++nconns << " ] " << endl;
-        #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+	LDEB("New thread created [" + Utils::ulongtostr(nconns) + "] thread_id: " + Utils::ulongtostr(thread));
         pthread_mutex_lock(&childrenlist_mutex);
         children.push_back(thread);
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&childrenlist_mutex);
@@ -234,22 +233,21 @@ main
   server.close();
 
   // wait for all threads to finish
-  #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-  cout << "Waiting for all threads to finish" << endl;
-  #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+  LINF("Waiting for threads to finish");
   while(children.size())
   {
-    #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    cout << "Threads active:" << children.size() << (char)13;
-    fflush(stdout);
-    #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+    if(false==cfg.getBackground())
+    {
+      cout << "Threads active:" << children.size() << (char)13;
+      fflush(stdout);
+    }
     sleep(1);
   }
   if(cfg.getCleanDb())
     pthread_join(cleaner_thread,NULL);
-  #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-  cout << endl;
-  #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+
+  if(false==cfg.getBackground())
+    cout << endl;
 
   #ifdef HAVE_SPF
   Spf::deinitialize();
@@ -281,7 +279,7 @@ void *cleaner_thread_run(void *)
         unsigned long spamcount;
 
         spamcount=db.cleanDB();
-        hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_DEBUG,"Cleaning database, cleaning "+Utils::inttostr(spamcount)+" blocked spams.");
+        LDEB("Cleaning database, cleaning "+Utils::inttostr(spamcount)+" blocked spams.");
         if(spamcount>0&&cfg.getSubmitStats())
         {
           try
@@ -310,12 +308,13 @@ void *cleaner_thread_run(void *)
           }
           catch(Exception &e)
           {
-            hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_DEBUG,"Exception sending stats: "+string(e));
+            LDEB("Exception sending stats: "+string(e));
           }
         }
         next_run+=3600;
       }
-      #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      if(false==cfg.getBackground())
+      {
         if(!(now%10)) //echo info each 10 seconds
         {
           stringstream ss;
@@ -328,16 +327,14 @@ void *cleaner_thread_run(void *)
           ss << endl;
           cout << ss.str();
         }
-      #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+      }
       sleep(1);
     }
     db.close();
   }
   catch(Exception &e)
   {
-    #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    cout << e << endl;
-    #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+    LERR(e);
   }
   return NULL;
 }
@@ -363,6 +360,7 @@ void *thread_main(void *info_stack)
     ((stack<new_conn_info>*)info_stack)->pop();
     pthread_mutex_unlock(&info_stack_mutex);
 
+    connection_id=peerinfo.connection_id;
     client.setFD(peerinfo.new_fd);
     p.setOutside(client);
     p.run(peerinfo.peer_address);
@@ -370,10 +368,8 @@ void *thread_main(void *info_stack)
   }
   catch(Exception &e)
   {
-    #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    cout << e << endl;
-    #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    hermes_log.addMessage(LOG_DEBUG,e);
+    if(false==cfg.getBackground())
+      LDEB(e);
   }
   return NULL;
 }
@@ -383,26 +379,13 @@ void exit_requested(int)
   if(!quit)
   {
     quit=true;
-    #ifdef REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
-    cout << "Hit control+c again to force-quit" << endl;
-    #endif //REALLY_VERBOSE_DEBUG
+    if(false==cfg.getBackground())
+      cout << "Hit control+c again to force-quit" << endl;
   }
   else
     exit(-1);
 }
 
-void write_pid(string file,pid_t pid)
-{
-  FILE *f;
-
-  f=fopen(file.c_str(),"w");
-  if(NULL==f)
-    throw Exception(_("Couldn't open file ")+file+_(" to write the pidfile"),__FILE__,__LINE__);
-
-  fprintf(f,"%d\n",pid);
-  fclose(f);
-}
-
 #ifdef WIN32
 //pthreads on win32 doesn't provide an operator== for pthread_t
 //and it's also an struct, not an int, so supply one operator== here
diff --git a/src/hermes.h b/src/hermes.h
index 5578b68..58b669b 100644
--- a/src/hermes.h
+++ b/src/hermes.h
@@ -26,11 +26,17 @@
 #include <string>
 
 #define _(x) (x)
+#define LOG(x,y) hermes_log.addMessage(__FILE__,__LINE__,x,y)
+#define LERR(x) LOG(LOG_ERR,x)
+#define LINF(x) LOG(LOG_INFO,x)
+#define LDEB(x) LOG(LOG_DEBUG,x)
+
 
 typedef struct
 {
   int new_fd;
   std::string peer_address;
+  unsigned long connection_id;
 }new_conn_info;
 
 #endif //SMTPPROXY_H