diff --git a/py/execnet/gwmanage.py b/py/execnet/gwmanage.py
index 0d7c0efa1..e32fb3c0a 100644
--- a/py/execnet/gwmanage.py
+++ b/py/execnet/gwmanage.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ from py.__.test import event
 
 
 class GatewaySpec(object):
-    type = "ssh"
     def __init__(self, spec, defaultjoinpath="pyexecnetcache"):
         if spec == "popen" or spec.startswith("popen:"):
             self.address = "popen"
@@ -42,6 +41,7 @@ class GatewaySpec(object):
             parts = spec.split(":", 1)
             self.address = parts.pop(0)
             self.joinpath = parts and parts.pop(0) or ""
+            self.type = "ssh"
         if not self.joinpath and not self.inplacelocal():
             self.joinpath = defaultjoinpath
 
@@ -60,8 +60,15 @@ class GatewaySpec(object):
         elif self.type == "ssh":
             gw = py.execnet.SshGateway(self.address, remotepython=python)
         if self.joinpath:
-            channel = gw.remote_exec("import os ; os.chdir(channel.receive())")
-            channel.send(self.joinpath)
+            channel = gw.remote_exec("""
+                import os 
+                path = %r
+                try:
+                    os.chdir(path)
+                except OSError:
+                    os.mkdir(path)
+                    os.chdir(path)
+            """ % self.joinpath)
             if waitclose:
                 channel.waitclose()
         else:
@@ -74,13 +81,16 @@ class MultiChannel:
     def __init__(self, channels):
         self._channels = channels
 
-    def receive(self):
-        values = []
+    def receive_items(self):
+        items = []
         for ch in self._channels:
-            values.append(ch.receive())
-        return values
+            items.append((ch, ch.receive()))
+        return items
 
-    def wait(self):
+    def receive(self):
+        return [x[1] for x in self.receive_items()]
+
+    def waitclose(self):
         for ch in self._channels:
             ch.waitclose()
 
@@ -91,8 +101,7 @@ class GatewayManager:
             self.spec2gateway[GatewaySpec(spec)] = None
 
     def trace(self, msg):
-        py._com.pyplugins.notify("trace_gatewaymanage", msg)
-        #print "trace", msg
+        py._com.pyplugins.notify("trace", "gatewaymanage", msg)
 
     def makegateways(self):
         for spec, value in self.spec2gateway.items():
@@ -101,6 +110,9 @@ class GatewayManager:
             self.spec2gateway[spec] = spec.makegateway()
 
     def multi_exec(self, source, inplacelocal=True):
+        """ remote execute code on all gateways. 
+            @param inplacelocal=False: don't send code to inplacelocal hosts. 
+        """
         source = py.code.Source(source)
         channels = []
         for spec, gw in self.spec2gateway.items():
@@ -109,10 +121,15 @@ class GatewayManager:
         return MultiChannel(channels)
 
     def multi_chdir(self, basename, inplacelocal=True):
+        """ perform a remote chdir to the given path, may be relative. 
+            @param inplacelocal=False: don't send code to inplacelocal hosts. 
+        """ 
         self.multi_exec("import os ; os.chdir(%r)" % basename, 
-                        inplacelocal=inplacelocal).wait()
+                        inplacelocal=inplacelocal).waitclose()
 
     def rsync(self, source, notify=None, verbose=False, ignores=None):
+        """ perform rsync to all remote hosts. 
+        """ 
         rsync = HostRSync(source, verbose=verbose, ignores=ignores)
         added = False
         for spec, gateway in self.spec2gateway.items():
diff --git a/py/execnet/testing/test_gwmanage.py b/py/execnet/testing/test_gwmanage.py
index fb70de30a..30623db64 100644
--- a/py/execnet/testing/test_gwmanage.py
+++ b/py/execnet/testing/test_gwmanage.py
@@ -155,7 +155,11 @@ class TestGatewayManagerPopen:
         testdir.tmpdir.chdir()
         hellopath = testdir.tmpdir.mkdir("hello")
         hm.makegateways()
-        l = hm.multi_exec("import os ; channel.send(os.getcwd())").receive()
+        l = [x[1] for x in hm.multi_exec(
+                      "import os ; channel.send(os.getcwd())"
+                  ).receive_items()
+            ]
+        paths = [x[1] for x in l]
         assert l == [str(hellopath)] * 2
         py.test.raises(Exception, 'hm.multi_chdir("world", inplacelocal=False)')
         worldpath = hellopath.mkdir("world")
@@ -188,22 +192,25 @@ class TestGatewayManagerPopen:
 
 from py.__.execnet.gwmanage import MultiChannel
 class TestMultiChannel:
-    def test_multichannel_receive(self):
+    def test_multichannel_receive_items(self):
         class pseudochannel:
             def receive(self):
                 return 12
-        multichannel = MultiChannel([pseudochannel(), pseudochannel()])
-        l = multichannel.receive()
-        assert len(l) == 2
-        assert l == [12, 12]
 
-    def test_multichannel_wait(self):
+        pc1 = pseudochannel()
+        pc2 = pseudochannel()
+        multichannel = MultiChannel([pc1, pc2])
+        l = multichannel.receive_items()
+        assert len(l) == 2
+        assert l == [(pc1, 12), (pc2, 12)]
+
+    def test_multichannel_waitclose(self):
         l = []
         class pseudochannel:
             def waitclose(self):
                 l.append(0)
         multichannel = MultiChannel([pseudochannel(), pseudochannel()])
-        multichannel.wait()
+        multichannel.waitclose()
         assert len(l) == 2
 
 
diff --git a/py/test/config.py b/py/test/config.py
index 880bdc47f..7e0572778 100644
--- a/py/test/config.py
+++ b/py/test/config.py
@@ -39,9 +39,17 @@ class Config(object):
         assert isinstance(pytestplugins, py.test._PytestPlugins)
         self.bus = pytestplugins.pyplugins
         self.pytestplugins = pytestplugins
-        self._conftest = Conftest(onimport=self.pytestplugins.consider_conftest)
+        self._conftest = Conftest(onimport=self._onimportconftest)
         self._setupstate = SetupState() 
 
+    def _onimportconftest(self, conftestmodule):
+        self.trace("loaded conftestmodule %r" %(conftestmodule,))
+        self.pytestplugins.consider_conftest(conftestmodule)
+
+    def trace(self, msg):
+        if getattr(self.option, 'traceconfig', None):
+            self.bus.notify("trace", "config", msg) 
+
     def _processopt(self, opt):
         if hasattr(opt, 'default') and opt.dest:
             val = os.environ.get("PYTEST_OPTION_" + opt.dest.upper(), None)
@@ -119,21 +127,18 @@ class Config(object):
         col = Dir(pkgpath, config=self)
         return col._getfsnode(path)
 
-    def getvalue_pathlist(self, name, path=None):
+    def getconftest_pathlist(self, name, path=None):
         """ return a matching value, which needs to be sequence
             of filenames that will be returned as a list of Path
             objects (they can be relative to the location 
             where they were found).
         """
         try:
-            return getattr(self.option, name)
-        except AttributeError:
-            try:
-                mod, relroots = self._conftest.rget_with_confmod(name, path)
-            except KeyError:
-                return None
-            modpath = py.path.local(mod.__file__).dirpath()
-            return [modpath.join(x, abs=True) for x in relroots]
+            mod, relroots = self._conftest.rget_with_confmod(name, path)
+        except KeyError:
+            return None
+        modpath = py.path.local(mod.__file__).dirpath()
+        return [modpath.join(x, abs=True) for x in relroots]
              
     def addoptions(self, groupname, *specs): 
         """ add a named group of options to the current testing session. 
diff --git a/py/test/dsession/dsession.py b/py/test/dsession/dsession.py
index 058b13074..0958dcf62 100644
--- a/py/test/dsession/dsession.py
+++ b/py/test/dsession/dsession.py
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ class DSession(Session):
     def fixoptions(self):
         """ check, fix and determine conflicting options. """
         option = self.config.option 
-        if option.runbrowser and not option.startserver:
-            #print "--runbrowser implies --startserver"
-            option.startserver = True
+        #if option.runbrowser and not option.startserver:
+        #    #print "--runbrowser implies --startserver"
+        #    option.startserver = True
         if self.config.getvalue("dist_boxed") and option.dist:
             option.boxed = True
         # conflicting options
diff --git a/py/test/dsession/hostmanage.py b/py/test/dsession/hostmanage.py
index 5d53c9f4b..5778b6cb5 100644
--- a/py/test/dsession/hostmanage.py
+++ b/py/test/dsession/hostmanage.py
@@ -8,19 +8,34 @@ def getconfighosts(config):
     if config.option.numprocesses:
         hosts = ['localhost'] * config.option.numprocesses
     else:
-        hosts = config.getvalue("dist_hosts")
-        assert hosts is not None
+        hosts = config.option.hosts
+        if not hosts:
+            hosts = config.getvalue("hosts")
+        else:
+            hosts = hosts.split(",")
+    assert hosts is not None
     return hosts
+
+def getconfigroots(config):
+    roots = config.option.rsyncdirs
+    if roots:
+        roots = [py.path.local(x) for x in roots.split(',')]
+    else:
+        roots = []
+    conftestroots = config.getconftest_pathlist("rsyncdirs")
+    if conftestroots:
+        roots.extend(conftestroots)
+    for root in roots:
+        if not root.check():
+            raise ValueError("rsyncdir doesn't exist: %r" %(root,))
+    return roots 
     
 class HostManager(object):
     def __init__(self, config, hosts=None):
         self.config = config 
-        roots = self.config.getvalue_pathlist("rsyncroots")
-        if not roots:
-            roots = self.config.getvalue_pathlist("dist_rsync_roots")
-        self.roots = roots
         if hosts is None:
             hosts = getconfighosts(self.config)
+        self.roots = getconfigroots(config)
         self.gwmanager = GatewayManager(hosts)
 
     def makegateways(self):
@@ -29,6 +44,19 @@ class HostManager(object):
             self.gwmanager.makegateways()
         finally:
             old.chdir()
+        self.trace_hoststatus()
+
+    def trace_hoststatus(self):
+        if self.config.option.debug:
+            for ch, result in self.gwmanager.multi_exec("""
+                import sys, os
+                channel.send((sys.executable, os.getcwd(), sys.path))
+            """).receive_items():
+                self.trace("spec %r, execuable %r, cwd %r, syspath %r" %(
+                    ch.gateway.spec, result[0], result[1], result[2]))
+
+    def config_getignores(self):
+        return self.config.getconftest_pathlist("rsyncignore")
 
     def rsync_roots(self):
         """ make sure that all remote gateways
@@ -42,20 +70,23 @@ class HostManager(object):
         # (for other gateways this chdir is irrelevant)
         self.makegateways()
         options = {
-            'ignores': self.config.getvalue_pathlist("dist_rsync_ignore"),
-            'verbose': self.config.option.verbose
+            'ignores': self.config_getignores(), 
+            'verbose': 1, # self.config.option.verbose
         }
         if self.roots:
             # send each rsync root
             for root in self.roots:
                 self.gwmanager.rsync(root, **options)
         else: 
-            # we transfer our topdir as the root 
-            # but need to be careful regarding 
+            # we transfer our topdir as the root
             self.gwmanager.rsync(self.config.topdir, **options)
+            # and cd into it 
             self.gwmanager.multi_chdir(self.config.topdir.basename, inplacelocal=False)
         self.config.bus.notify("rsyncfinished", event.RsyncFinished())
 
+    def trace(self, msg):
+        self.config.bus.notify("trace", "testhostmanage", msg)
+
     def setup_hosts(self, putevent):
         self.rsync_roots()
         nice = self.config.getvalue("dist_nicelevel")
@@ -64,8 +95,10 @@ class HostManager(object):
                 import os
                 if hasattr(os, 'nice'): 
                     os.nice(%r)
-            """ % nice).wait()
-            
+            """ % nice).waitclose()
+
+        self.trace_hoststatus()
+
         for host, gateway in self.gwmanager.spec2gateway.items():
             host.node = MasterNode(host, 
                                    gateway,
diff --git a/py/test/dsession/testing/test_functional_dsession.py b/py/test/dsession/testing/test_functional_dsession.py
index cd47828e4..22988500f 100644
--- a/py/test/dsession/testing/test_functional_dsession.py
+++ b/py/test/dsession/testing/test_functional_dsession.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ class TestAsyncFunctional:
         ])
 
     def test_dist_some_tests(self, testdir):
-        testdir.makepyfile(conftest="dist_hosts=['localhost']\n")
         p1 = testdir.makepyfile(test_one="""
             def test_1(): 
                 pass
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ class TestAsyncFunctional:
             def test_fail():
                 assert 0
         """)
-        config = testdir.parseconfig('-d', p1)
+        config = testdir.parseconfig('-d', p1, '--hosts=popen')
         dsession = DSession(config)
         eq = EventQueue(config.bus)
         dsession.main([config.getfsnode(p1)])
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ class TestAsyncFunctional:
         assert ev.failed
         # see that the host is really down 
         ev, = eq.geteventargs("hostdown")
-        assert ev.host.address == "localhost"
+        assert ev.host.address == "popen"
         ev, = eq.geteventargs("testrunfinish")
 
     def test_distribution_rsync_roots_example(self, testdir):
@@ -70,8 +69,8 @@ class TestAsyncFunctional:
         subdir = "sub_example_dist"
         sourcedir = self.tmpdir.mkdir("source")
         sourcedir.ensure(subdir, "conftest.py").write(py.code.Source("""
-            dist_hosts = ["localhost:%s"]
-            dist_rsync_roots = ["%s", "../py"]
+            hosts = ["popen:%s"]
+            rsyncdirs = ["%s", "../py"]
         """ % (destdir, tmpdir.join(subdir), )))
         tmpdir.ensure(subdir, "__init__.py")
         tmpdir.ensure(subdir, "test_one.py").write(py.code.Source("""
@@ -102,7 +101,6 @@ class TestAsyncFunctional:
         if not hasattr(os, 'nice'):
             py.test.skip("no os.nice() available")
         testdir.makepyfile(conftest="""
-                dist_hosts=['localhost']
                 dist_nicelevel = 10
         """)
         p1 = testdir.makepyfile("""
@@ -110,7 +108,7 @@ class TestAsyncFunctional:
                 import os
                 assert os.nice(0) == 10
         """)
-        evrec = testdir.inline_run('-d', p1)
+        evrec = testdir.inline_run('-d', p1, '--hosts=popen')
         ev = evrec.getreport('test_nice')
         assert ev.passed
 
diff --git a/py/test/dsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py b/py/test/dsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py
index f32aae590..30047eda7 100644
--- a/py/test/dsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py
+++ b/py/test/dsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 """
 
 import py
-from py.__.test.dsession.hostmanage import HostManager, getconfighosts
+from py.__.test.dsession.hostmanage import HostManager, getconfighosts, getconfigroots
 from py.__.execnet.gwmanage import GatewaySpec as Host
 
 from py.__.test import event
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@ def pytest_pyfuncarg_dest(pyfuncitem):
     return dest 
 
 class TestHostManager:
-    def gethostmanager(self, source, dist_hosts, dist_rsync_roots=None):
-        l = ["dist_hosts = %r" % dist_hosts]
-        if dist_rsync_roots:
-            l.append("dist_rsync_roots = %r" % dist_rsync_roots)
-        source.join("conftest.py").write("\n".join(l))
-        config = py.test.config._reparse([source])
+    def gethostmanager(self, source, hosts, rsyncdirs=None):
+        def opt(optname, l):
+            return '%s=%s' % (optname, ",".join(map(str, l)))
+        args = [opt('--hosts', hosts)]
+        if rsyncdirs:
+            args.append(opt('--rsyncdir', [source.join(x, abs=True) for x in rsyncdirs]))
+        args.append(source)
+        config = py.test.config._reparse(args)
         assert config.topdir == source
         hm = HostManager(config)
         assert hm.gwmanager.spec2gateway
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ class TestHostManager:
     def test_hostmanager_rsync_roots_no_roots(self, source, dest):
         source.ensure("dir1", "file1").write("hello")
         config = py.test.config._reparse([source])
-        hm = HostManager(config, hosts=["localhost:%s" % dest])
+        hm = HostManager(config, hosts=["popen:%s" % dest])
         assert hm.config.topdir == source == config.topdir
         hm.rsync_roots()
         p, = hm.gwmanager.multi_exec("import os ; channel.send(os.getcwd())").receive()
@@ -48,8 +50,8 @@ class TestHostManager:
         dir2 = source.ensure("dir1", "dir2", dir=1)
         dir2.ensure("hello")
         hm = self.gethostmanager(source, 
-            dist_hosts = ["localhost:%s" % dest],
-            dist_rsync_roots = ['dir1']
+            hosts = ["popen:%s" % dest],
+            rsyncdirs = ['dir1']
         )
         assert hm.config.topdir == source
         hm.rsync_roots() 
@@ -61,8 +63,8 @@ class TestHostManager:
         dir2 = source.ensure("dir1", "dir2", dir=1)
         dir2.ensure("hello")
         hm = self.gethostmanager(source, 
-            dist_hosts = ["localhost:%s" % dest],
-            dist_rsync_roots = [str(source)]
+            hosts = ["popen:%s" % dest],
+            rsyncdirs = [str(source)]
         )
         assert hm.config.topdir == source
         hm.rsync_roots()
@@ -77,37 +79,37 @@ class TestHostManager:
         dir2.ensure("hello")
         source.ensure("bogusdir", "file")
         source.join("conftest.py").write(py.code.Source("""
-            dist_rsync_roots = ['dir1/dir2']
+            rsyncdirs = ['dir1/dir2']
         """))
         session = py.test.config._reparse([source]).initsession()
         hm = HostManager(session.config, 
-                         hosts=["localhost:" + str(dest)])
+                         hosts=["popen:" + str(dest)])
         hm.rsync_roots()
         assert dest.join("dir2").check()
         assert not dest.join("dir1").check()
         assert not dest.join("bogus").check()
 
-    def test_hostmanager_rsync_ignore(self, source, dest):
+    def test_hostmanager_rsyncignore(self, source, dest):
         dir2 = source.ensure("dir1", "dir2", dir=1)
         dir5 = source.ensure("dir5", "dir6", "bogus")
         dirf = source.ensure("dir5", "file")
         dir2.ensure("hello")
         source.join("conftest.py").write(py.code.Source("""
-            dist_rsync_ignore = ['dir1/dir2', 'dir5/dir6']
-            dist_rsync_roots = ['dir1', 'dir5']
+            rsyncdirs = ['dir1', 'dir5']
+            rsyncignore = ['dir1/dir2', 'dir5/dir6']
         """))
         session = py.test.config._reparse([source]).initsession()
         hm = HostManager(session.config,
-                         hosts=["localhost:" + str(dest)])
+                         hosts=["popen:" + str(dest)])
         hm.rsync_roots()
         assert dest.join("dir1").check()
         assert not dest.join("dir1", "dir2").check()
         assert dest.join("dir5","file").check()
         assert not dest.join("dir6").check()
 
-    def test_hostmanage_optimise_localhost(self, source, dest):
-        hosts = ["localhost"] * 3
-        source.join("conftest.py").write("dist_rsync_roots = ['a']")
+    def test_hostmanage_optimise_popen(self, source, dest):
+        hosts = ["popen"] * 3
+        source.join("conftest.py").write("rsyncdirs = ['a']")
         source.ensure('a', dir=1)
         config = py.test.config._reparse([source])
         hm = HostManager(config, hosts=hosts)
@@ -116,31 +118,35 @@ class TestHostManager:
             assert gwspec.inplacelocal()
             assert not gwspec.joinpath 
 
-    def test_hostmanage_setup_hosts(self, source):
-        hosts = ["localhost"] * 3
-        source.join("conftest.py").write("dist_rsync_roots = ['a']")
+    def test_hostmanage_setup_hosts_DEBUG(self, source, EventRecorder):
+        hosts = ["popen"] * 2
+        source.join("conftest.py").write("rsyncdirs = ['a']")
         source.ensure('a', dir=1)
-        config = py.test.config._reparse([source])
+        config = py.test.config._reparse([source, '--debug'])
+        assert config.option.debug
         hm = HostManager(config, hosts=hosts)
-        queue = py.std.Queue.Queue()
-        hm.setup_hosts(putevent=queue.put)
+        evrec = EventRecorder(config.bus, debug=True)
+        hm.setup_hosts(putevent=[].append)
         for host in hm.gwmanager.spec2gateway:
-            eventcall = queue.get(timeout=2.0)
-            name, args, kwargs = eventcall
-            assert name == "hostup"
-        for host in hm.gwmanager.spec2gateway:
-            host.node.shutdown()
-        for host in hm.gwmanager.spec2gateway:
-            eventcall = queue.get(timeout=2.0)
-            name, args, kwargs = eventcall
-            print name, args, kwargs
-            assert name == "hostdown"
+            l = evrec.getnamed("trace")
+            print evrec.events
+            assert l 
+        hm.teardown_hosts()
 
-    def XXXtest_ssh_rsync_samehost_twice(self):
-        #XXX we have no easy way to have a temp directory remotely!
+    def test_hostmanage_simple_ssh_test(self, testdir):
+        rp = testdir.mkdir('xyz123')
+        rp.ensure("__init__.py")
+        p = testdir.makepyfile("def test_123(): import xyz123")
+        result = testdir.runpytest(p, '-d', "--hosts=popen", '--rsyncdirs=' + str(rp))
+        assert result.ret == 0
+        assert result.stdout.str().find("1 passed") != -1
+
+    @py.test.mark.xfail("implement double-rsync test")
+    def test_ssh_rsync_samehost_twice(self):
         option = py.test.config.option
         if option.sshhost is None: 
             py.test.skip("no known ssh target, use -S to set one")
+        
         host1 = Host("%s" % (option.sshhost, ))
         host2 = Host("%s" % (option.sshhost, ))
         hm = HostManager(config, hosts=[host1, host2])
@@ -150,8 +156,35 @@ class TestHostManager:
         assert 0
 
 
-def test_getconfighosts():
+def test_getconfighosts_numprocesses():
     config = py.test.config._reparse(['-n3'])
     hosts = getconfighosts(config)
     assert len(hosts) == 3
 
+def test_getconfighosts_disthosts():
+    config = py.test.config._reparse(['--hosts=a,b,c'])
+    hosts = getconfighosts(config)
+    assert len(hosts) == 3
+    assert hosts == ['a', 'b', 'c']
+
+def test_getconfigroots(testdir):
+    config = testdir.parseconfig('--rsyncdirs=' + str(testdir.tmpdir))
+    roots = getconfigroots(config)
+    assert len(roots) == 1
+    assert roots == [testdir.tmpdir]
+
+def test_getconfigroots_with_conftest(testdir):
+    testdir.chdir()
+    p = py.path.local()
+    for bn in 'x y z'.split():
+        p.mkdir(bn)
+    testdir.makeconftest("""
+        rsyncdirs= 'x', 
+    """)
+    config = testdir.parseconfig(testdir.tmpdir, '--rsyncdirs=y,z')
+    roots = getconfigroots(config)
+    assert len(roots) == 3
+    assert py.path.local('y') in roots 
+    assert py.path.local('z') in roots 
+    assert testdir.tmpdir.join('x') in roots 
+
diff --git a/py/test/dsession/testing/test_masterslave.py b/py/test/dsession/testing/test_masterslave.py
index 869c9b5ac..6fc61e97b 100644
--- a/py/test/dsession/testing/test_masterslave.py
+++ b/py/test/dsession/testing/test_masterslave.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class MySetup:
             config = py.test.config._reparse([])
         self.config = config
         self.queue = py.std.Queue.Queue()
-        self.host = GatewaySpec("localhost") 
+        self.host = GatewaySpec("popen") 
         self.gateway = self.host.makegateway()
         self.node = MasterNode(self.host, self.gateway, self.config, putevent=self.queue.put)
         assert not self.node.channel.isclosed()
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
index 235bc6c5c..bfd24116a 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@ class DefaultPlugin:
         group._addoption('-x', '--exitfirst',
                    action="store_true", dest="exitfirst", default=False,
                    help="exit instantly on first error or failed test."),
-        group._addoption('-s', '--nocapture',
-                   action="store_true", dest="nocapture", default=False,
-                   help="disable catching of sys.stdout/stderr output."),
         group._addoption('-k',
             action="store", dest="keyword", default='',
             help="only run test items matching the given "
@@ -47,57 +44,70 @@ class DefaultPlugin:
                  "to run all subsequent tests. ")
         group._addoption('-l', '--showlocals',
                    action="store_true", dest="showlocals", default=False,
-                   help="show locals in tracebacks (disabled by default)."),
+                   help="show locals in tracebacks (disabled by default).")
         group._addoption('--showskipsummary',
                    action="store_true", dest="showskipsummary", default=False,
-                   help="always show summary of skipped tests"), 
-        group._addoption('', '--pdb',
+                   help="always show summary of skipped tests") 
+        group._addoption('--pdb',
                    action="store_true", dest="usepdb", default=False,
-                   help="start pdb (the Python debugger) on errors."),
-        group._addoption('', '--tb',
+                   help="start pdb (the Python debugger) on errors.")
+        group._addoption('--tb',
                    action="store", dest="tbstyle", default='long',
                    type="choice", choices=['long', 'short', 'no'],
-                   help="traceback verboseness (long/short/no)."),
-        group._addoption('', '--fulltrace',
+                   help="traceback verboseness (long/short/no).")
+        group._addoption('--fulltrace',
                    action="store_true", dest="fulltrace", default=False,
-                   help="don't cut any tracebacks (default is to cut)."),
-        group._addoption('', '--nomagic',
-                   action="store_true", dest="nomagic", default=False,
-                   help="refrain from using magic as much as possible."),
-        group._addoption('', '--traceconfig',
-                   action="store_true", dest="traceconfig", default=False,
-                   help="trace considerations of conftest.py files."),
-        group._addoption('-f', '--looponfailing',
-                   action="store_true", dest="looponfailing", default=False,
-                   help="loop on failing test set."),
-        group._addoption('', '--exec',
-                   action="store", dest="executable", default=None,
-                   help="python executable to run the tests with."),
-        group._addoption('-n', '--numprocesses', dest="numprocesses", default=0, 
-                   action="store", type="int", 
-                   help="number of local test processes."),
-        group._addoption('', '--debug',
-                   action="store_true", dest="debug", default=False,
-                   help="turn on debugging information."),
-
-        group = parser.addgroup("experimental", "experimental options")
-        group._addoption('-d', '--dist',
-                   action="store_true", dest="dist", default=False,
-                   help="ad-hoc distribute tests across machines (requires conftest settings)"), 
-        group._addoption('-w', '--startserver',
-                   action="store_true", dest="startserver", default=False,
-                   help="starts local web server for displaying test progress.", 
-                   ),
-        group._addoption('-r', '--runbrowser',
-                   action="store_true", dest="runbrowser", default=False,
-                   help="run browser (implies --startserver)."
-                   ),
+                   help="don't cut any tracebacks (default is to cut).")
+        group._addoption('-s', '--nocapture',
+                   action="store_true", dest="nocapture", default=False,
+                   help="disable catching of sys.stdout/stderr output."),
         group._addoption('--boxed',
                    action="store_true", dest="boxed", default=False,
                    help="box each test run in a separate process"), 
-        group._addoption('--rest',
-                   action='store_true', dest="restreport", default=False,
-                   help="restructured text output reporting."),
+        group._addoption('-f', '--looponfailing',
+                   action="store_true", dest="looponfailing", default=False,
+                   help="loop on failing test set.")
+
+        group = parser.addgroup("test process debugging")
+        group.addoption('--collectonly',
+            action="store_true", dest="collectonly",
+            help="only collect tests, don't execute them."),
+        group.addoption('--traceconfig',
+                   action="store_true", dest="traceconfig", default=False,
+                   help="trace considerations of conftest.py files."),
+        group._addoption('--nomagic',
+                   action="store_true", dest="nomagic", default=False,
+                   help="don't use assert reinterpretation and python traceback cutting. ")
+        group.addoption('--debug',
+                   action="store_true", dest="debug", default=False,
+                   help="generate and show debugging information.")
+
+        group = parser.addgroup("xplatform", "distributed/cross platform testing")
+        group._addoption('-d', '--dist',
+                   action="store_true", dest="dist", default=False,
+                   help="ad-hoc distribute tests across machines (requires conftest settings)") 
+        group._addoption('-n', '--numprocesses', dest="numprocesses", default=0, metavar="num", 
+                   action="store", type="int", 
+                   help="number of local test processes. conflicts with --dist.")
+        group.addoption('--rsyncdirs', dest="rsyncdirs", default=None, metavar="dir1,dir2,...", 
+                   help="comma-separated list of directories to rsync. All those roots will be rsynced "
+                        "into a corresponding subdir on the remote sides. ")
+        group.addoption('--hosts', dest="hosts", default=None, metavar="host1,host2,...", 
+                   help="comma-separated list of host specs to send tests to.")
+        group._addoption('--exec',
+                   action="store", dest="executable", default=None,
+                   help="python executable to run the tests with.")
+        #group._addoption('-w', '--startserver',
+        #           action="store_true", dest="startserver", default=False,
+        #           help="starts local web server for displaying test progress.", 
+        #           ),
+        #group._addoption('-r', '--runbrowser',
+        #           action="store_true", dest="runbrowser", default=False,
+        #           help="run browser (implies --startserver)."
+        #           ),
+        #group._addoption('--rest',
+        #           action='store_true', dest="restreport", default=False,
+        #           help="restructured text output reporting."),
 
     def pytest_configure(self, config):
         self.setsession(config)
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_plugintester.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_plugintester.py
index 0b9b432d2..47e52ad23 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_plugintester.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_plugintester.py
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ class PytestPluginHooks:
     def pyevent(self, eventname, *args, **kwargs):
         """ called for each testing event. """
 
+    def pyevent_trace(self, category, msg):
+        """ called for tracing events events. """
+
     def pyevent_internalerror(self, event):
         """ called for internal errors. """
 
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
index 2ec7050f3..a1235a784 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
@@ -248,10 +248,8 @@ class EventRecorder(object):
         if name == "plugin_registered" and args == (self,):
             return
         if self.debug:
-            print "[event] %s: %s **%s" %(name, ", ".join(map(str, args)), kwargs,)
-        if len(args) == 1:
-            event, = args
-            self.events.append((name, event))
+            print "[event: %s]: %s **%s" %(name, ", ".join(map(str, args)), kwargs,)
+        self.events.append((name,) + tuple(args))
 
     def get(self, cls):
         l = []
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py
index 5cd5e7373..a0e29edcc 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py
@@ -3,11 +3,6 @@ import sys
 
 class TerminalPlugin(object):
     """ Report a test run to a terminal. """
-    def pytest_addoption(self, parser):
-        parser.addoption('--collectonly',
-            action="store_true", dest="collectonly",
-            help="only collect tests, don't execute them."),
-
     def pytest_configure(self, config):
         if config.option.collectonly:
             self.reporter = CollectonlyReporter(config)
@@ -115,6 +110,11 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         if error:
             self.write_line("HostDown %s: %s" %(host, error))
 
+    def pyevent_trace(self, category, msg):
+        if self.config.option.debug or \
+           self.config.option.traceconfig and category.find("config") != -1:
+            self.write_line("[%s] %s" %(category, msg))
+
     def pyevent_itemstart(self, event):
         if self.config.option.verbose:
             info = event.item.repr_metainfo()
@@ -167,14 +167,15 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         rev = py.__pkg__.getrev()
         self.write_line("using py lib: %s <rev %s>" % (
                        py.path.local(py.__file__).dirpath(), rev))
-        plugins = []
-        for x in self.config.pytestplugins._plugins:
-            if isinstance(x, str) and x.startswith("pytest_"):
-                plugins.append(x[7:])
-            else:
-                plugins.append(str(x)) # XXX display conftest plugins more nicely 
-        plugins = ", ".join(plugins) 
-        self.write_line("active plugins: %s" %(plugins,))
+        if self.config.option.traceconfig:
+            plugins = []
+            for x in self.config.pytestplugins._plugins:
+                if isinstance(x, str) and x.startswith("pytest_"):
+                    plugins.append(x[7:])
+                else:
+                    plugins.append(str(x)) # XXX display conftest plugins more nicely 
+            plugins = ", ".join(plugins) 
+            self.write_line("active plugins: %s" %(plugins,))
         for i, testarg in py.builtin.enumerate(self.config.args):
             self.write_line("test object %d: %s" %(i+1, testarg))
 
diff --git a/py/test/session.py b/py/test/session.py
index 3ba4fa005..4bd4d1486 100644
--- a/py/test/session.py
+++ b/py/test/session.py
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ class Session(object):
     def fixoptions(self):
         """ check, fix and determine conflicting options. """
         option = self.config.option 
-        if option.runbrowser and not option.startserver:
-            #print "--runbrowser implies --startserver"
-            option.startserver = True
+        #if option.runbrowser and not option.startserver:
+        #    #print "--runbrowser implies --startserver"
+        #    option.startserver = True
         # conflicting options
         if option.looponfailing and option.usepdb:
             raise ValueError, "--looponfailing together with --pdb not supported."
diff --git a/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py b/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py
index 0e8164b5c..7f82c9a08 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py
@@ -241,13 +241,11 @@ class TestPyTest:
                 def test_skip():
                     py.test.skip("hello")
             """, 
-            conftest="""
-                dist_hosts = ['localhost'] * 3
-            """
         )
-        result = testdir.runpytest(p1, '-d')
+        #result = testdir.runpytest(p1, '-d')
+        result = testdir.runpytest(p1, '-d', '--hosts=popen,popen,popen')
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "HOSTUP: localhost*Python*",
+            "HOSTUP: popen*Python*",
             #"HOSTUP: localhost*Python*",
             #"HOSTUP: localhost*Python*",
             "*2 failed, 1 passed, 1 skipped*",
@@ -273,17 +271,14 @@ class TestPyTest:
                     import os
                     time.sleep(0.5)
                     os.kill(os.getpid(), 15)
-            """, 
-            conftest="""
-                dist_hosts = ['localhost'] * 3
             """
         )
-        result = testdir.runpytest(p1, '-d')
+        result = testdir.runpytest(p1, '-d', '--hosts=popen,popen,popen')
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "*localhost*Python*",
-            "*localhost*Python*",
-            "*localhost*Python*",
-            "HostDown*localhost*TERMINATED*",
+            "*popen*Python*",
+            "*popen*Python*",
+            "*popen*Python*",
+            "HostDown*TERMINATED*",
             "*3 failed, 1 passed, 1 skipped*"
         ])
         assert result.ret == 1
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_config.py b/py/test/testing/test_config.py
index aa013f25b..83e306e59 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/test_config.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import py
 
+
 class TestConfigCmdlineParsing:
     def test_config_cmdline_options(self, testdir):
         testdir.makepyfile(conftest="""
@@ -118,22 +119,18 @@ class TestConfigAPI:
         config = py.test.config._reparse([str(o)])
         assert config.getvalue('x') == 1
 
-    def test_getvalue_pathlist(self, tmpdir):
+    def test_getconftest_pathlist(self, tmpdir):
         somepath = tmpdir.join("x", "y", "z")
         p = tmpdir.join("conftest.py")
         p.write("pathlist = ['.', %r]" % str(somepath))
         config = py.test.config._reparse([p])
-        assert config.getvalue_pathlist('notexist') is None
-        pl = config.getvalue_pathlist('pathlist')
+        assert config.getconftest_pathlist('notexist') is None
+        pl = config.getconftest_pathlist('pathlist')
         print pl
         assert len(pl) == 2
         assert pl[0] == tmpdir
         assert pl[1] == somepath
 
-        config.option.mypathlist = [py.path.local()]
-        pl = config.getvalue_pathlist('mypathlist')
-        assert pl == [py.path.local()]
-
     def test_setsessionclass_and_initsession(self, testdir):
         from py.__.test.config import Config 
         config = Config()
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_pytestplugin.py b/py/test/testing/test_pytestplugin.py
index b955fc1d4..d5b560a37 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/test_pytestplugin.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_pytestplugin.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class TestBootstrapping:
 
     def test_config_sets_conftesthandle_onimport(self, testdir):
         config = testdir.parseconfig([])
-        assert config._conftest._onimport == config.pytestplugins.consider_conftest 
+        assert config._conftest._onimport == config._onimportconftest
 
     def test_consider_conftest_deps(self, testdir):
         mod = testdir.makepyfile("pytest_plugins='xyz'").pyimport()