diff --git a/copyparty/__init__.py b/copyparty/__init__.py
index 3e0ec43d..4b01eae3 100644
--- a/copyparty/__init__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__init__.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ import os
 PY2 = sys.version_info[0] == 2
 if PY2:
     sys.dont_write_bytecode = True
+    unicode = unicode
+else:
+    unicode = str
 
 WINDOWS = False
 if platform.system() == "Windows":
diff --git a/copyparty/__main__.py b/copyparty/__main__.py
index fb969600..72137b7d 100644
--- a/copyparty/__main__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__main__.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import threading
 import traceback
 from textwrap import dedent
 
-from .__init__ import E, WINDOWS, VT100, PY2
+from .__init__ import E, WINDOWS, VT100, PY2, unicode
 from .__version__ import S_VERSION, S_BUILD_DT, CODENAME
 from .svchub import SvcHub
 from .util import py_desc, align_tab, IMPLICATIONS, alltrace
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ try:
 except:
     HAVE_SSL = False
 
+printed = ""
+
 
 class RiceFormatter(argparse.HelpFormatter):
     def _get_help_string(self, action):
@@ -61,8 +63,15 @@ class Dodge11874(RiceFormatter):
         super(Dodge11874, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
+def lprint(*a, **ka):
+    global printed
+
+    printed += " ".join(unicode(x) for x in a) + ka.get("end", "\n")
+    print(*a, **ka)
+
+
 def warn(msg):
-    print("\033[1mwarning:\033[0;33m {}\033[0m\n".format(msg))
+    lprint("\033[1mwarning:\033[0;33m {}\033[0m\n".format(msg))
 
 
 def ensure_locale():
@@ -73,7 +82,7 @@ def ensure_locale():
     ]:
         try:
             locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, x)
-            print("Locale:", x)
+            lprint("Locale:", x)
             break
         except:
             continue
@@ -94,7 +103,7 @@ def ensure_cert():
 
     try:
         if filecmp.cmp(cert_cfg, cert_insec):
-            print(
+            lprint(
                 "\033[33m  using default TLS certificate; https will be insecure."
                 + "\033[36m\n  certificate location: {}\033[0m\n".format(cert_cfg)
             )
@@ -123,7 +132,7 @@ def configure_ssl_ver(al):
     if "help" in sslver:
         avail = [terse_sslver(x[6:]) for x in flags]
         avail = " ".join(sorted(avail) + ["all"])
-        print("\navailable ssl/tls versions:\n  " + avail)
+        lprint("\navailable ssl/tls versions:\n  " + avail)
         sys.exit(0)
 
     al.ssl_flags_en = 0
@@ -143,7 +152,7 @@ def configure_ssl_ver(al):
 
     for k in ["ssl_flags_en", "ssl_flags_de"]:
         num = getattr(al, k)
-        print("{}: {:8x} ({})".format(k, num, num))
+        lprint("{}: {:8x} ({})".format(k, num, num))
 
     # think i need that beer now
 
@@ -160,13 +169,13 @@ def configure_ssl_ciphers(al):
         try:
             ctx.set_ciphers(al.ciphers)
         except:
-            print("\n\033[1;31mfailed to set ciphers\033[0m\n")
+            lprint("\n\033[1;31mfailed to set ciphers\033[0m\n")
 
     if not hasattr(ctx, "get_ciphers"):
-        print("cannot read cipher list: openssl or python too old")
+        lprint("cannot read cipher list: openssl or python too old")
     else:
         ciphers = [x["description"] for x in ctx.get_ciphers()]
-        print("\n  ".join(["\nenabled ciphers:"] + align_tab(ciphers) + [""]))
+        lprint("\n  ".join(["\nenabled ciphers:"] + align_tab(ciphers) + [""]))
 
     if is_help:
         sys.exit(0)
@@ -249,17 +258,18 @@ def run_argparse(argv, formatter):
         ),
     )
     # fmt: off
-    ap.add_argument("-c", metavar="PATH", type=str, action="append", help="add config file")
-    ap.add_argument("-nc", metavar="NUM", type=int, default=64, help="max num clients")
-    ap.add_argument("-j", metavar="CORES", type=int, default=1, help="max num cpu cores")
-    ap.add_argument("-a", metavar="ACCT", type=str, action="append", help="add account, USER:PASS; example [ed:wark")
-    ap.add_argument("-v", metavar="VOL", type=str, action="append", help="add volume, SRC:DST:FLAG; example [.::r], [/mnt/nas/music:/music:r:aed")
-    ap.add_argument("-ed", action="store_true", help="enable ?dots")
-    ap.add_argument("-emp", action="store_true", help="enable markdown plugins")
-    ap.add_argument("-mcr", metavar="SEC", type=int, default=60, help="md-editor mod-chk rate")
-    ap.add_argument("--dotpart", action="store_true", help="dotfile incomplete uploads")
-    ap.add_argument("--sparse", metavar="MiB", type=int, default=4, help="up2k min.size threshold (mswin-only)")
-    ap.add_argument("--urlform", metavar="MODE", type=str, default="print,get", help="how to handle url-forms; examples: [stash], [save,get]")
+    ap2 = ap.add_argument_group('general options')
+    ap2.add_argument("-c", metavar="PATH", type=str, action="append", help="add config file")
+    ap2.add_argument("-nc", metavar="NUM", type=int, default=64, help="max num clients")
+    ap2.add_argument("-j", metavar="CORES", type=int, default=1, help="max num cpu cores")
+    ap2.add_argument("-a", metavar="ACCT", type=str, action="append", help="add account, USER:PASS; example [ed:wark")
+    ap2.add_argument("-v", metavar="VOL", type=str, action="append", help="add volume, SRC:DST:FLAG; example [.::r], [/mnt/nas/music:/music:r:aed")
+    ap2.add_argument("-ed", action="store_true", help="enable ?dots")
+    ap2.add_argument("-emp", action="store_true", help="enable markdown plugins")
+    ap2.add_argument("-mcr", metavar="SEC", type=int, default=60, help="md-editor mod-chk rate")
+    ap2.add_argument("--dotpart", action="store_true", help="dotfile incomplete uploads")
+    ap2.add_argument("--sparse", metavar="MiB", type=int, default=4, help="up2k min.size threshold (mswin-only)")
+    ap2.add_argument("--urlform", metavar="MODE", type=str, default="print,get", help="how to handle url-forms; examples: [stash], [save,get]")
 
     ap2 = ap.add_argument_group('network options')
     ap2.add_argument("-i", metavar="IP", type=str, default="0.0.0.0", help="ip to bind (comma-sep.)")
@@ -286,6 +296,7 @@ def run_argparse(argv, formatter):
 
     ap2 = ap.add_argument_group('logging options')
     ap2.add_argument("-q", action="store_true", help="quiet")
+    ap2.add_argument("-lo", metavar="PATH", type=str, help="logfile, example: cpp-%%Y-%%m%%d-%%H%%M%%S.txt.xz")
     ap2.add_argument("--log-conn", action="store_true", help="print tcp-server msgs")
     ap2.add_argument("--ihead", metavar="HEADER", action='append', help="dump incoming header")
     ap2.add_argument("--lf-url", metavar="RE", type=str, default=r"^/\.cpr/|\?th=[wj]$", help="dont log URLs matching")
@@ -348,7 +359,7 @@ def main(argv=None):
     desc = py_desc().replace("[", "\033[1;30m[")
 
     f = '\033[36mcopyparty v{} "\033[35m{}\033[36m" ({})\n{}\033[0m\n'
-    print(f.format(S_VERSION, CODENAME, S_BUILD_DT, desc))
+    lprint(f.format(S_VERSION, CODENAME, S_BUILD_DT, desc))
 
     ensure_locale()
     if HAVE_SSL:
@@ -362,7 +373,7 @@ def main(argv=None):
             continue
 
         msg = "\033[1;31mWARNING:\033[0;1m\n  {} \033[0;33mwas replaced with\033[0;1m {} \033[0;33mand will be removed\n\033[0m"
-        print(msg.format(dk, nk))
+        lprint(msg.format(dk, nk))
         argv[idx] = nk
         time.sleep(2)
 
@@ -416,7 +427,7 @@ def main(argv=None):
 
     # signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, sighandler)
 
-    SvcHub(al).run()
+    SvcHub(al, argv, printed).run()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/copyparty/authsrv.py b/copyparty/authsrv.py
index 76cc4c17..1a473bb4 100644
--- a/copyparty/authsrv.py
+++ b/copyparty/authsrv.py
@@ -10,13 +10,14 @@ import hashlib
 import threading
 
 from .__init__ import WINDOWS
-from .util import IMPLICATIONS, uncyg, undot, Pebkac, fsdec, fsenc, statdir, nuprint
+from .util import IMPLICATIONS, uncyg, undot, Pebkac, fsdec, fsenc, statdir
 
 
 class VFS(object):
     """single level in the virtual fs"""
 
-    def __init__(self, realpath, vpath, uread=[], uwrite=[], uadm=[], flags={}):
+    def __init__(self, log, realpath, vpath, uread=[], uwrite=[], uadm=[], flags={}):
+        self.log = log
         self.realpath = realpath  # absolute path on host filesystem
         self.vpath = vpath  # absolute path in the virtual filesystem
         self.uread = uread  # users who can read this
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ class VFS(object):
                 return self.nodes[name].add(src, dst)
 
             vn = VFS(
+                self.log,
                 os.path.join(self.realpath, name) if self.realpath else None,
                 "{}/{}".format(self.vpath, name).lstrip("/"),
                 self.uread,
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@ class VFS(object):
 
         # leaf does not exist; create and keep permissions blank
         vp = "{}/{}".format(self.vpath, dst).lstrip("/")
-        vn = VFS(src, vp)
+        vn = VFS(self.log, src, vp)
         vn.dbv = self.dbv or self
         self.nodes[dst] = vn
         return vn
@@ -181,7 +183,7 @@ class VFS(object):
         """return user-readable [fsdir,real,virt] items at vpath"""
         virt_vis = {}  # nodes readable by user
         abspath = self.canonical(rem)
-        real = list(statdir(nuprint, scandir, lstat, abspath))
+        real = list(statdir(self.log, scandir, lstat, abspath))
         real.sort()
         if not rem:
             for name, vn2 in sorted(self.nodes.items()):
@@ -209,7 +211,10 @@ class VFS(object):
         )
 
         if seen and not fsroot.startswith(seen[-1]) and fsroot in seen:
-            print("bailing from symlink loop,\n  {}\n  {}".format(seen[-1], fsroot))
+            self.log(
+                "vfs.walk",
+                "bailing from symlink loop,\n  {}\n  {}".format(seen[-1], fsroot),
+            )
             return
 
         seen = seen[:] + [fsroot]
@@ -474,7 +479,7 @@ class AuthSrv(object):
                         )
                     except:
                         m = "\n\033[1;31m\nerror in config file {} on line {}:\n\033[0m"
-                        print(m.format(cfg_fn, self.line_ctr))
+                        self.log(m.format(cfg_fn, self.line_ctr), 1)
                         raise
 
         # case-insensitive; normalize
@@ -490,10 +495,10 @@ class AuthSrv(object):
 
         if not mount:
             # -h says our defaults are CWD at root and read/write for everyone
-            vfs = VFS(os.path.abspath("."), "", ["*"], ["*"])
+            vfs = VFS(self.log_func, os.path.abspath("."), "", ["*"], ["*"])
         elif "" not in mount:
             # there's volumes but no root; make root inaccessible
-            vfs = VFS(None, "")
+            vfs = VFS(self.log_func, None, "")
             vfs.flags["d2d"] = True
 
         maxdepth = 0
@@ -505,7 +510,13 @@ class AuthSrv(object):
             if dst == "":
                 # rootfs was mapped; fully replaces the default CWD vfs
                 vfs = VFS(
-                    mount[dst], dst, mread[dst], mwrite[dst], madm[dst], mflags[dst]
+                    self.log_func,
+                    mount[dst],
+                    dst,
+                    mread[dst],
+                    mwrite[dst],
+                    madm[dst],
+                    mflags[dst],
                 )
                 continue
 
@@ -788,7 +799,7 @@ class AuthSrv(object):
                         msg = [x[1] for x in files]
 
                     if msg:
-                        nuprint("\n".join(msg))
+                        self.log("\n" + "\n".join(msg))
 
                 if n_bads and flag_p:
                     raise Exception("found symlink leaving volume, and strict is set")
diff --git a/copyparty/httpcli.py b/copyparty/httpcli.py
index 26b9ba6f..64b15c02 100644
--- a/copyparty/httpcli.py
+++ b/copyparty/httpcli.py
@@ -13,15 +13,12 @@ import ctypes
 from datetime import datetime
 import calendar
 
-from .__init__ import E, PY2, WINDOWS, ANYWIN
+from .__init__ import E, PY2, WINDOWS, ANYWIN, unicode
 from .util import *  # noqa  # pylint: disable=unused-wildcard-import
 from .authsrv import AuthSrv
 from .szip import StreamZip
 from .star import StreamTar
 
-if not PY2:
-    unicode = str
-
 
 NO_CACHE = {"Cache-Control": "no-cache"}
 NO_STORE = {"Cache-Control": "no-store; max-age=0"}
diff --git a/copyparty/mtag.py b/copyparty/mtag.py
index aa8f6826..d71975bb 100644
--- a/copyparty/mtag.py
+++ b/copyparty/mtag.py
@@ -7,12 +7,9 @@ import json
 import shutil
 import subprocess as sp
 
-from .__init__ import PY2, WINDOWS
+from .__init__ import PY2, WINDOWS, unicode
 from .util import fsenc, fsdec, uncyg, REKOBO_LKEY
 
-if not PY2:
-    unicode = str
-
 
 def have_ff(cmd):
     if PY2:
diff --git a/copyparty/svchub.py b/copyparty/svchub.py
index 2dd711bd..c943609b 100644
--- a/copyparty/svchub.py
+++ b/copyparty/svchub.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import re
 import os
 import sys
 import time
+import shlex
 import threading
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 import calendar
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ class SvcHub(object):
     put() can return a queue (if want_reply=True) which has a blocking get() with the response.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, args):
+    def __init__(self, args, argv, printed):
         self.args = args
 
         self.ansi_re = re.compile("\033\\[[^m]*m")
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ class SvcHub(object):
         self.next_day = 0
 
         self.log = self._log_disabled if args.q else self._log_enabled
+        self.logf = self._setup_logfile(argv, printed) if args.lo else None
 
         # initiate all services to manage
         self.asrv = AuthSrv(self.args, self.log, False)
@@ -69,6 +71,33 @@ class SvcHub(object):
 
         self.broker = Broker(self)
 
+    def _setup_logfile(self, argv, printed):
+        dt = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(time.time())
+        fn = self.args.lo
+        for fs in "YmdHMS":
+            fs = "%" + fs
+            if fs in fn:
+                fn = fn.replace(fs, dt.strftime(fs))
+
+        try:
+            import lzma
+
+            lh = lzma.open(fn, "wt", encoding="utf-8", errors="replace", preset=0)
+
+        except:
+            import codecs
+
+            lh = codecs.open(fn, "w", encoding="utf-8", errors="replace")
+
+        argv = [sys.executable] + argv
+        if hasattr(shlex, "quote"):
+            argv = [shlex.quote(x) for x in argv]
+        else:
+            argv = ['"{}"'.format(x) for x in argv]
+
+        lh.write("argv: " + " ".join(argv) + "\n\n" + printed)
+        return lh
+
     def run(self):
         thr = threading.Thread(target=self.tcpsrv.run, name="svchub-main")
         thr.daemon = True
@@ -99,8 +128,15 @@ class SvcHub(object):
             print("nailed it", end="")
         finally:
             print("\033[0m")
+            if self.logf:
+                self.logf.close()
 
     def _log_disabled(self, src, msg, c=0):
+        if self.logf:
+            ts = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(time.time())
+            ts = ts.strftime("%Y-%m%d-%H%M%S.%f")[:-3]
+            self.logf.write("{} [{}] {}\n".format(ts, src, msg))
+
         pass
 
     def _log_enabled(self, src, msg, c=0):
@@ -144,6 +180,9 @@ class SvcHub(object):
                 except:
                     print(msg.encode("ascii", "replace").decode(), end="")
 
+            if self.logf:
+                self.logf.write(msg)
+
     def check_mp_support(self):
         vmin = sys.version_info[1]
         if WINDOWS:
diff --git a/copyparty/tcpsrv.py b/copyparty/tcpsrv.py
index 78e94679..0ae1b483 100644
--- a/copyparty/tcpsrv.py
+++ b/copyparty/tcpsrv.py
@@ -66,7 +66,10 @@ class TcpSrv(object):
         for srv in self.srv:
             srv.listen(self.args.nc)
             ip, port = srv.getsockname()
-            self.log("tcpsrv", "listening @ {0}:{1}".format(ip, port))
+            msg = "listening @ {0}:{1}".format(ip, port)
+            self.log("tcpsrv", msg)
+            if self.args.q:
+                print(msg)
 
         while not self.stopping:
             if self.args.log_conn:
diff --git a/copyparty/th_srv.py b/copyparty/th_srv.py
index dbd3424b..113875f8 100644
--- a/copyparty/th_srv.py
+++ b/copyparty/th_srv.py
@@ -9,15 +9,11 @@ import hashlib
 import threading
 import subprocess as sp
 
-from .__init__ import PY2
+from .__init__ import PY2, unicode
 from .util import fsenc, runcmd, Queue, Cooldown, BytesIO, min_ex
 from .mtag import HAVE_FFMPEG, HAVE_FFPROBE, ffprobe
 
 
-if not PY2:
-    unicode = str
-
-
 HAVE_PIL = False
 HAVE_HEIF = False
 HAVE_AVIF = False
diff --git a/copyparty/up2k.py b/copyparty/up2k.py
index 17128b57..9216337f 100644
--- a/copyparty/up2k.py
+++ b/copyparty/up2k.py
@@ -342,7 +342,15 @@ class Up2k(object):
             for k, v in flags.items()
         ]
         if a:
-            self.log(" ".join(sorted(a)) + "\033[0m")
+            vpath = "?"
+            for k, v in self.asrv.vfs.all_vols.items():
+                if v.realpath == ptop:
+                    vpath = k
+
+            if vpath:
+                vpath += "/"
+
+            self.log("/{} {}".format(vpath, " ".join(sorted(a))), "35")
 
         reg = {}
         path = os.path.join(histpath, "up2k.snap")
@@ -413,7 +421,7 @@ class Up2k(object):
         self.pp.msg = "a{} {}".format(self.pp.n, cdir)
         histpath = self.asrv.vfs.histtab[top]
         ret = 0
-        g = statdir(self.log, not self.args.no_scandir, False, cdir)
+        g = statdir(self.log_func, not self.args.no_scandir, False, cdir)
         for iname, inf in sorted(g):
             abspath = os.path.join(cdir, iname)
             lmod = int(inf.st_mtime)
diff --git a/copyparty/util.py b/copyparty/util.py
index 21cffe25..19e7d47d 100644
--- a/copyparty/util.py
+++ b/copyparty/util.py
@@ -979,8 +979,7 @@ def statdir(logger, scandir, lstat, top):
                     try:
                         yield [fsdec(fh.name), fh.stat(follow_symlinks=not lstat)]
                     except Exception as ex:
-                        msg = "scan-stat: \033[36m{} @ {}"
-                        logger(msg.format(repr(ex), fsdec(fh.path)))
+                        logger(src, "stat {} @ {}".format(repr(ex), fsdec(fh.path)), 6)
         else:
             src = "listdir"
             fun = os.lstat if lstat else os.stat
@@ -989,11 +988,10 @@ def statdir(logger, scandir, lstat, top):
                 try:
                     yield [fsdec(name), fun(abspath)]
                 except Exception as ex:
-                    msg = "list-stat: \033[36m{} @ {}"
-                    logger(msg.format(repr(ex), fsdec(abspath)))
+                    logger(src, "stat {} @ {}".format(repr(ex), fsdec(abspath)), 6)
 
     except Exception as ex:
-        logger("{}: \033[31m{} @ {}".format(src, repr(ex), top))
+        logger(src, "{} @ {}".format(repr(ex), top), 1)
 
 
 def unescape_cookie(orig):
@@ -1035,7 +1033,7 @@ def guess_mime(url, fallback="application/octet-stream"):
     if ";" not in ret:
         if ret.startswith("text/") or ret.endswith("/javascript"):
             ret += "; charset=UTF-8"
-    
+
     return ret