diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-flux-artifacts.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-flux-artifacts.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d35772c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-flux-artifacts.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+name: ci-flux-artifacts
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: read
+
+jobs:
+  spindle-flux-ubuntu:
+    name: Testsuite (Flux, Ubuntu)
+    environment: Spindle CI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out Spindle
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd
+
+      - name: Setup Docker Compose
+        uses: docker/setup-compose-action@16feee727cbdc83b6a014e6cc26fec4a79bcf30c
+        with:
+          version: latest
+
+      - name: Build spindle-flux-ubuntu image
+        id: flux-ubuntu-build
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-flux-ubuntu
+          docker compose --progress=plain build
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-flux-ubuntu up
+        id: flux-ubuntu-up
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-flux-ubuntu
+          docker compose up -d --wait --wait-timeout 60
+
+      - name: Verify munge works in spindle-flux-ubuntu
+        id: flux-ubuntu-munge
+        run: |
+          docker exec node-1 bash -c 'munge -n | unmunge'
+
+      - name: Run spindle-flux-ubuntu testsuite
+        id: flux-ubuntu-testsuite
+        run: |
+          docker exec node-1 bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 flux alloc --nodes=${workers} ./runTests --nodes=${workers} --tasks-per-node=3'
+
+#      - name: Configure host core_pattern for coredumps
+#        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+#        run: |
+#          sudo sysctl -w kernel.core_pattern='core.%p'
+#
+#      - name: Run spindle-flux-ubuntu crash tests
+#        run: |
+#          docker exec node-1 bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 flux alloc --nodes=${workers} ./run_crash_tests.sh --launcher=flux --nodes=${workers} --scratch=/shared/spindle_crash_test'
+
+      - name: Collect Spindle logs from container
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p spindle-logs
+          docker cp node-1:/Spindle-build/testsuite/. spindle-logs/ || echo "Log collection failed"
+          ls -la spindle-logs/
+
+      - name: Upload Spindle logs
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: spindle-logs-flux
+          path: spindle-logs/spindle_output.*
+          retention-days: 7
+          if-no-files-found: warn
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-flux-ubuntu down
+        id: flux-ubuntu-down
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-flux-ubuntu
+          docker compose down
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-serial-arm64-artifacts.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-serial-arm64-artifacts.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dd6fea1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-serial-arm64-artifacts.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+name: ci-serial-arm64-artifacts
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: read
+
+jobs:
+  spindle-serial-ubuntu_arm64:
+    name: Testsuite (Serial, Ubuntu, arm64)
+    environment: Spindle CI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04-arm
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out Spindle
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd
+
+      - name: Setup Docker Compose
+        uses: docker/setup-compose-action@16feee727cbdc83b6a014e6cc26fec4a79bcf30c
+        with:
+          version: latest
+
+      - name: Build spindle-serial-ubuntu image
+        id: serial-ubuntu-build
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu
+          docker compose --progress=plain build
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-serial-ubuntu up
+        id: serial-ubuntu-up
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu
+          docker compose up -d
+
+      - name: Verify munge works in spindle-serial-ubuntu
+        id: serial-ubuntu-munge
+        run: |
+          docker exec spindlenode bash -c 'munge -n | unmunge'
+
+      - name: Run spindle-serial-ubuntu testsuite
+        id: serial-ubuntu-testsuite
+        run: |
+          docker exec spindlenode bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./runTests'
+
+#      - name: Configure host core_pattern for coredumps
+#        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+#        run: |
+#          sudo sysctl -w kernel.core_pattern='core.%p'
+#
+#      - name: Run spindle-serial-ubuntu crash tests
+#        run: |
+#          docker exec spindlenode bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./run_crash_tests.sh --launcher=serial --scratch=/tmp/spindle_crash_test'
+
+      - name: Collect Spindle logs from container
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p spindle-logs
+          docker cp spindlenode:/Spindle-build/testsuite/. spindle-logs/ || echo "Log collection failed"
+          ls -la spindle-logs/
+
+      - name: Upload Spindle logs
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: spindle-logs-serial-arm64
+          path: spindle-logs/spindle_output.*
+          retention-days: 7
+          if-no-files-found: warn
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-serial-ubuntu down
+        id: serial-ubuntu-down
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu
+          docker compose down
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-serial-x86-artifacts.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-serial-x86-artifacts.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d8dd05a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-serial-x86-artifacts.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+name: ci-serial-x86-artifacts
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: read
+
+jobs:
+  spindle-serial-ubuntu_x86:
+    name: Testsuite (Serial, Ubuntu, x86)
+    environment: Spindle CI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out Spindle
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd
+
+      - name: Setup Docker Compose
+        uses: docker/setup-compose-action@16feee727cbdc83b6a014e6cc26fec4a79bcf30c
+        with:
+          version: latest
+
+      - name: Build spindle-serial-ubuntu image
+        id: serial-ubuntu-build
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu
+          docker compose --progress=plain build
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-serial-ubuntu up
+        id: serial-ubuntu-up
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu
+          docker compose up -d
+
+      - name: Verify munge works in spindle-serial-ubuntu
+        id: serial-ubuntu-munge
+        run: |
+          docker exec spindlenode bash -c 'munge -n | unmunge'
+
+      - name: Run spindle-serial-ubuntu testsuite
+        id: serial-ubuntu-testsuite
+        run: |
+          docker exec spindlenode bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./runTests'
+
+#      - name: Configure host core_pattern for coredumps
+#        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+#        run: |
+#          sudo sysctl -w kernel.core_pattern='core.%p'
+#
+#      - name: Run spindle-serial-ubuntu crash tests
+#        run: |
+#          docker exec spindlenode bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./run_crash_tests.sh --launcher=serial --scratch=/tmp/spindle_crash_test'
+
+      - name: Collect Spindle logs from container
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p spindle-logs
+          docker cp spindlenode:/Spindle-build/testsuite/. spindle-logs/ || echo "Log collection failed"
+          ls -la spindle-logs/
+
+      - name: Upload Spindle logs
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: spindle-logs-serial-x86
+          path: spindle-logs/spindle_output.*
+          retention-days: 7
+          if-no-files-found: warn
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-serial-ubuntu down
+        id: serial-ubuntu-down
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu
+          docker compose down
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-artifacts.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-artifacts.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bc96ac16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-artifacts.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+name: ci-slurm-artifacts
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: read
+
+jobs:
+  spindle-slurm-ubuntu:
+    name: Testsuite (Slurm rshlaunch, Ubuntu)
+    environment: Spindle CI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out Spindle
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd
+
+      - name: Setup Docker Compose
+        uses: docker/setup-compose-action@16feee727cbdc83b6a014e6cc26fec4a79bcf30c
+        with:
+          version: latest
+
+      - name: Login to GitHub Container Registry
+        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+        uses: docker/login-action@650006c6eb7dba73a995cc03b0b2d7f5ca915bee
+        with:
+          registry: ghcr.io
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Generate MariaDB configuration
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-mariadb
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing
+          ./generate_config.sh
+
+      - name: Build spindle-slurm-ubuntu image
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-build
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing
+          docker compose --progress=plain build
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-slurm-ubuntu up
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-up
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing
+          docker compose up -d --wait --wait-timeout 120
+
+      - name: Verify munge works in spindle-slurm-ubuntu
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-munge
+        run: |
+          docker exec slurm-head bash -c 'munge -n | unmunge'
+
+      - name: Run spindle-slurm-ubuntu testsuite
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-testsuite
+        run: |
+          docker exec slurm-head bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && salloc -n${workers} -N${workers} SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./runTests ${workers}'
+
+#      - name: Configure host core_pattern for coredumps
+#        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+#        run: |
+#          sudo sysctl -w kernel.core_pattern='core.%p'
+#
+#      - name: Run spindle-slurm-ubuntu crash tests
+#        run: |
+#          docker exec slurm-head bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./run_crash_tests.sh --launcher=slurm --nodes=${workers} --scratch=/shared/spindle_crash_test'
+
+      - name: Collect Spindle logs from container
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p spindle-logs
+          docker cp slurm-head:/Spindle-build/testsuite/. spindle-logs/ || echo "Log collection failed"
+          ls -la spindle-logs/
+
+      - name: Upload Spindle logs
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: spindle-logs-slurm
+          path: spindle-logs/spindle_output.*
+          retention-days: 7
+          if-no-files-found: warn
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-slurm-ubuntu down
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-down
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing
+          docker compose down
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-plugin-artifacts.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-plugin-artifacts.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f38a480
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-plugin-artifacts.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+name: ci-slurm-plugin-artifacts
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: read
+
+jobs:
+  spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu:
+    name: Testsuite (Slurm Plugin, Ubuntu)
+    environment: Spindle CI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out Spindle
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd
+
+      - name: Setup Docker Compose
+        uses: docker/setup-compose-action@16feee727cbdc83b6a014e6cc26fec4a79bcf30c
+        with:
+          version: latest
+
+      - name: Login to GitHub Container Registry
+        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+        uses: docker/login-action@650006c6eb7dba73a995cc03b0b2d7f5ca915bee
+        with:
+          registry: ghcr.io
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Generate MariaDB configuration
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-mariadb
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin
+          ./generate_config.sh
+
+      - name: Build spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu image
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-build
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin
+          docker compose --progress=plain build
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu up
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-up
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin
+          docker compose up -d --wait --wait-timeout 120
+
+      - name: Verify munge works in spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-munge
+        run: |
+          docker exec slurm-plugin-head bash -c 'munge -n | unmunge'
+
+      - name: Run spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu testsuite
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-testsuite
+        run: |
+          docker exec slurm-plugin-head bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && salloc -n${workers} -N${workers} SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./runTests ${workers}'
+
+      - name: Run spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu session testsuite
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-testsuite-sessions
+        run: |
+          docker exec slurm-plugin-head bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && salloc -n${workers} -N${workers} --spindle-session SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./runTests ${workers}'
+
+#      - name: Configure host core_pattern for coredumps
+#        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+#        run: |
+#          sudo sysctl -w kernel.core_pattern='core.%p'
+#
+#      - name: Run spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu crash tests
+#        run: |
+#          docker exec slurm-plugin-head bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./run_crash_tests.sh --launcher=slurm-plugin --nodes=${workers} --scratch=/shared/spindle_crash_test'
+
+      - name: Collect Spindle logs from container
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p spindle-logs
+          docker cp slurm-plugin-head:/Spindle-build/testsuite/. spindle-logs/ || echo "Log collection failed"
+          ls -la spindle-logs/
+
+      - name: Upload Spindle logs
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: spindle-logs-slurm-plugin
+          path: spindle-logs/spindle_output.*
+          retention-days: 7
+          if-no-files-found: warn
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-slurm-plugin-ubuntu down
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-down
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin
+          docker compose down
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-srun-artifacts.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-srun-artifacts.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..068fb06c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-slurm-srun-artifacts.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+name: ci-slurm-srun-artifacts
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: read
+
+jobs:
+  spindle-slurm-srun-ubuntu:
+    name: Testsuite (Slurm srun, Ubuntu)
+    environment: Spindle CI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out Spindle
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd
+
+      - name: Setup Docker Compose
+        uses: docker/setup-compose-action@16feee727cbdc83b6a014e6cc26fec4a79bcf30c
+        with:
+          version: latest
+
+      - name: Login to GitHub Container Registry
+        if: ${{ !env.ACT }}
+        uses: docker/login-action@650006c6eb7dba73a995cc03b0b2d7f5ca915bee
+        with:
+          registry: ghcr.io
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Generate MariaDB configuration
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-mariadb
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun
+          ./generate_config.sh
+
+      - name: Build spindle-slurm-ubuntu image
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-build
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun
+          docker compose --progress=plain build
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-slurm-ubuntu up
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-up
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun
+          docker compose up -d --wait --wait-timeout 120
+
+      - name: Verify munge works in spindle-slurm-srun-ubuntu
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-munge
+        run: |
+          docker exec slurm-srun-head bash -c 'munge -n | unmunge'
+
+      - name: Run spindle-slurm-srun-ubuntu testsuite
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-testsuite
+        run: |
+          docker exec slurm-srun-head bash -c 'cd Spindle-build/testsuite && salloc -n${workers} -N${workers} SPINDLE_DEBUG=3 ./runTests ${workers}'
+
+      - name: Collect Spindle logs from container
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p spindle-logs
+          docker cp slurm-srun-head:/Spindle-build/testsuite/. spindle-logs/ || echo "Log collection failed"
+          ls -la spindle-logs/
+
+      - name: Upload Spindle logs
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: spindle-logs-slurm-srun
+          path: spindle-logs/spindle_output.*
+          retention-days: 7
+          if-no-files-found: warn
+
+      - name: Bring spindle-slurm-ubuntu down
+        id: slurm-ubuntu-down
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          cd containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun
+          docker compose down
diff --git a/config.h.in b/config.h.in
index 121c551f..54fa292b 100644
--- a/config.h.in
+++ b/config.h.in
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@
 /* Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache directories */
 #undef CACHEPATHS
 
-/* Back-end directory for communication and housekeeping */
-#undef COMMPATH
+/* Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end communication and
+   housekeeping */
+#undef COMMPATHS
 
 /* Define if were using biter for client/server communication */
 #undef COMM_BITER
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ac8d1434..1503b981 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ with_default_num_ports
 with_localstorage
 with_cachepaths
 with_cachepath
-with_commpath
+with_commpaths
 with_default_local_prefix
 with_testrm
 with_rm
@@ -1598,8 +1598,8 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-cachepaths=DIR   Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache
                           directories
 ,
-  --with-compath=DIR      Back-end directory for communication and
-                          housekeeping
+  --with-compaths=DIR     Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end
+                          communication and housekeeping
   --with-default-local-prefix=DIRS
                           Colon-seperated list of directories that Spindle
                           will not cache files out of
@@ -16691,11 +16691,11 @@ if test "${with_cachepath+set}" = set; then :
 fi
 
 
-# Check whether --with-commpath was given.
-if test "${with_commpath+set}" = set; then :
-  withval=$with_commpath; COMMPATH=${withval}
+# Check whether --with-commpaths was given.
+if test "${with_commpaths+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_commpaths; COMMPATHS=${withval}
 else
-  COMMPATH=$DEFAULT_LOC
+  COMMPATHS=$DEFAULT_LOC
 fi
 
 
@@ -16703,7 +16703,7 @@ fi
 if test "${with_default_local_prefix+set}" = set; then :
   withval=$with_default_local_prefix; SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX=${withval}
 else
-  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATH"
+  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATHS"
 fi
 
 
@@ -16723,7 +16723,7 @@ _ACEOF
 
 
 cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define COMMPATH "$COMMPATH"
+#define COMMPATHS "$COMMPATHS"
 _ACEOF
 
 
diff --git a/configure.common.ac b/configure.common.ac
index baa9c0a9..010b050f 100644
--- a/configure.common.ac
+++ b/configure.common.ac
@@ -29,18 +29,18 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(cachepath,
             [[],[]],
             [AC_MSG_ERROR(use --with-cachepaths=DIRS (plural) instead of --with-cachepath=DIR to specify one or more cache paths)],
             [])
-AC_ARG_WITH(commpath,
-            [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-compath=DIR],[Back-end directory for communication and housekeeping])],
-            [COMMPATH=${withval}],
-            [COMMPATH=$DEFAULT_LOC])
+AC_ARG_WITH(commpaths,
+            [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-compaths=DIR],[Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end communication and housekeeping])],
+            [COMMPATHS=${withval}],
+            [COMMPATHS=$DEFAULT_LOC])
 AC_ARG_WITH(default-local-prefix,
             [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-default-local-prefix=DIRS],[Colon-seperated list of directories that Spindle will not cache files out of])],
             [SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX=${withval}],
-            [SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATH"])
+            [SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATHS"])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SPINDLE_PORT],[$SPINDLE_PORT],[The default port for Spindle])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([NUM_COBO_PORTS],[$NUM_COBO_PORTS],[Number of ports for COBO to search for an open port])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SPINDLE_MAX_PORT],[$(($SPINDLE_PORT + $NUM_COBO_PORTS - 1))],[The maximum port value])
-AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([COMMPATH],"[$COMMPATH]",[Back-end directory for communication and housekeeping])
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([COMMPATHS],"[$COMMPATHS]",[Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end communication and housekeeping])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([CACHEPATHS],"[$CACHEPATHS]",[Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache directories])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX],"[$SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX]",[The default colon-separated list of directories that Spindle will not cache files out of])
 
diff --git a/containers/spindle-flux-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh b/containers/spindle-flux-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh
index a63b5d8d..454bca88 100755
--- a/containers/spindle-flux-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh
+++ b/containers/spindle-flux-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ set -euxo pipefail
 
 mkdir -p /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
 cd /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
-/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=flux --enable-flux-plugin --with-cachepaths=/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpath=/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
+/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=flux --enable-flux-plugin --with-cachepaths=/bad_cachepath:/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpaths=/bad_commpath:/tmp/commpaths CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
 make -j$(nproc)
 make install
 
diff --git a/containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh b/containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh
index 1022ba14..c18c202d 100755
--- a/containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh
+++ b/containers/spindle-serial-ubuntu/scripts/build_spindle.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ set -euxo pipefail
 
 mkdir -p /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
 cd /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
-/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=serial --with-cachepaths=/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpath=/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
+/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=serial --with-cachepaths=/bad_cachepath:/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpaths=/bad_commpath:/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
 make -j$(nproc)
 make install
 
diff --git a/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin/scripts/build_spindle.sh b/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin/scripts/build_spindle.sh
index 2b36be90..c214630d 100755
--- a/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin/scripts/build_spindle.sh
+++ b/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-plugin/scripts/build_spindle.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ set -euxo pipefail
 
 mkdir -p /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
 cd /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
-/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=slurm-plugin --enable-slurm-plugin --with-cachepaths=/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpath=/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
+/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=slurm-plugin --enable-slurm-plugin --with-cachepaths=/bad_cachepath:/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpaths=/bad_commpath:/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
 make -j$(nproc)
 make install
 
diff --git a/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun/scripts/build_spindle.sh b/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun/scripts/build_spindle.sh
index 125fe2eb..165de7c9 100755
--- a/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun/scripts/build_spindle.sh
+++ b/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing-srun/scripts/build_spindle.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ set -euxo pipefail
 
 mkdir -p /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
 cd /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
-/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=slurm --with-cachepaths=/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpath=/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
+/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=slurm --with-cachepaths=/bad_cachepath:/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpaths=/bad_commpath:/tmp/commpath:/bar CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
 make -j$(nproc)
 make install
 
diff --git a/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing/scripts/build_spindle.sh b/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing/scripts/build_spindle.sh
index 7fcb48e3..7cdf58dd 100755
--- a/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing/scripts/build_spindle.sh
+++ b/containers/spindle-slurm-ubuntu/testing/scripts/build_spindle.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ set -euxo pipefail
 
 mkdir -p /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
 cd /home/${USER}/Spindle-build
-/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=slurm --with-rsh-launch --with-rsh-cmd=/usr/bin/ssh --with-cachepaths=/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpath=/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
+/home/${USER}/Spindle/configure --prefix=/home/${USER}/Spindle-inst --enable-sec-munge --with-rm=slurm --with-rsh-launch --with-rsh-cmd=/usr/bin/ssh --with-cachepaths=/bad_cachepath:/tmp/commpath/cachepath --with-commpaths=/bad_commpath:/tmp/commpath CFLAGS="-O2 -g" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -g"
 make -j$(nproc)
 make install
 
diff --git a/src/client/beboot/spindle_bootstrap.c b/src/client/beboot/spindle_bootstrap.c
index e769fe4c..b814c5e2 100644
--- a/src/client/beboot/spindle_bootstrap.c
+++ b/src/client/beboot/spindle_bootstrap.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
 #include "client_api.h"
 #include "exec_util.h"
 #include "shmcache.h"
+#include "parseloc.h"
 
 #include "config.h"
 
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ static int rankinfo[4]={-1,-1,-1,-1};
 number_t number;
 static int use_cache;
 static unsigned int cachesize;
-static char *commpath, *number_s, *symbolic_commpath;
+static char *commpath, *number_s, *commpaths;
 static char **cmdline;
 static char *executable;
 static char *client_lib;
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ static int parse_cmdline(int argc, char *argv[])
       daemon_args[i - 3] = NULL;
    }
 
-   symbolic_commpath = argv[i++];
+   commpaths = argv[i++];
    i++; // Skip over candidate_cachepaths.
    number_s = argv[i++];
    number = (number_t) strtoul(number_s, NULL, 0);
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ static int parse_cmdline(int argc, char *argv[])
    return 0;
 }
 
-static void launch_daemon(char *commpath)
+static void launch_daemon( void )
 {
    /*grand-child fork, then execv daemon.  By grand-child forking we ensure that
      the app won't get confused by seeing an unknown process as a child. */
@@ -192,11 +193,6 @@ static void launch_daemon(char *commpath)
    char unique_file[MAX_PATH_LEN+1];
    char buffer[32];
 
-   result = spindle_mkdir(commpath);
-   if (result == -1) {
-      debug_printf("Exiting due to spindle_mkdir error\n");
-      exit(-1);
-   }
    snprintf(unique_file, MAX_PATH_LEN, "%s/spindle_daemon_pid", commpath);
    unique_file[MAX_PATH_LEN] = '\0';
    fd = open(unique_file, O_CREAT | O_EXCL | O_WRONLY, 0600);
@@ -352,14 +348,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
       }
    }
 
-   char *orig_commpath = parse_location(symbolic_commpath, number);
-   if (!orig_commpath) {
-      return -1;
+   if( -1 == getFirstValidPath( commpaths, &commpath, number ) ){
+       return -1;
    }
-   commpath = realize(orig_commpath);
 
    if (daemon_args) {
-      launch_daemon(commpath);
+      launch_daemon();
    }
    
    result = establish_connection();
diff --git a/src/client/client_comlib/client_api.c b/src/client/client_comlib/client_api.c
index cec31051..07735226 100644
--- a/src/client/client_comlib/client_api.c
+++ b/src/client/client_comlib/client_api.c
@@ -40,42 +40,31 @@ static struct lock_t comm_lock;
 
 
 int send_cachepath_query( int fd, char **chosen_realized_cachepath, char **chosen_parsed_cachepath){
-   int retries = 0, max_retries = 1000, rc = 0;
-   struct timespec delay_between_retries = { .tv_sec = 0, .tv_nsec = 1000000 };
+   int rc = 0;
    ldcs_message_t message;
-   char buffer[MAX_PATH_LEN+1];
+   char buffer[2*(MAX_PATH_LEN+1)];
    buffer[MAX_PATH_LEN] = '\0';
 
 
-   do{
-       message.header.type = LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH_REQUEST;
-       message.header.len = 0;
-       message.data = buffer;
-
-       COMM_LOCK;
-
-       debug_printf3("sending message of type: CHOSEN_CACHEPATH_REQUEST.\n" );
-       rc = client_send_msg(fd, &message);
-       if( rc != 0 ){
-           return rc;
-       }
-       rc = client_recv_msg_static(fd, &message, LDCS_READ_BLOCK);
-       if( rc != 0 ){
-           return rc;
-       }
-
-       COMM_UNLOCK;
-
-       if( message.header.type == LDCS_MSG_NO_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS_YET ){
-           if( retries++ >= max_retries ){
-               break;
-           }
-           nanosleep( &delay_between_retries, NULL );
-           continue;
-       }
-       break;
+   message.header.type = LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH_REQUEST;
+   message.header.len = 0;
+   message.data = buffer;
+   
+   debug_printf3("sending message of type: CHOSEN_CACHEPATH_REQUEST.\n" );
+   COMM_LOCK;
 
-   }while( 1 );
+   rc = client_send_msg(fd, &message);
+   if( rc != 0 ){
+      COMM_UNLOCK;
+      return rc;
+   }
+   rc = client_recv_msg_static(fd, &message, LDCS_READ_BLOCK);
+   if( rc != 0 ){
+      COMM_UNLOCK;      
+      return rc;
+   }
+   
+   COMM_UNLOCK;
 
    if (message.header.type != LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH || message.header.len > MAX_PATH_LEN) {
       err_printf("Got unexpected message of type %d\n", (int) message.header.type);
diff --git a/src/client/config.h.in b/src/client/config.h.in
index 044ca9e1..2869ccd7 100644
--- a/src/client/config.h.in
+++ b/src/client/config.h.in
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@
 /* Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache directories */
 #undef CACHEPATHS
 
-/* Back-end directory for communication and housekeeping */
-#undef COMMPATH
+/* Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end communication and
+   housekeeping */
+#undef COMMPATHS
 
 /* Define if were using biter for client/server communication */
 #undef COMM_BITER
diff --git a/src/client/configure b/src/client/configure
index eb84ee07..7a59cba7 100755
--- a/src/client/configure
+++ b/src/client/configure
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ with_default_num_ports
 with_localstorage
 with_cachepaths
 with_cachepath
-with_commpath
+with_commpaths
 with_default_local_prefix
 with_testrm
 with_rm
@@ -1540,8 +1540,8 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-cachepaths=DIR   Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache
                           directories
 ,
-  --with-compath=DIR      Back-end directory for communication and
-                          housekeeping
+  --with-compaths=DIR     Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end
+                          communication and housekeeping
   --with-default-local-prefix=DIRS
                           Colon-seperated list of directories that Spindle
                           will not cache files out of
@@ -12616,11 +12616,11 @@ if test "${with_cachepath+set}" = set; then :
 fi
 
 
-# Check whether --with-commpath was given.
-if test "${with_commpath+set}" = set; then :
-  withval=$with_commpath; COMMPATH=${withval}
+# Check whether --with-commpaths was given.
+if test "${with_commpaths+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_commpaths; COMMPATHS=${withval}
 else
-  COMMPATH=$DEFAULT_LOC
+  COMMPATHS=$DEFAULT_LOC
 fi
 
 
@@ -12628,7 +12628,7 @@ fi
 if test "${with_default_local_prefix+set}" = set; then :
   withval=$with_default_local_prefix; SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX=${withval}
 else
-  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATH"
+  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATHS"
 fi
 
 
@@ -12648,7 +12648,7 @@ _ACEOF
 
 
 cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define COMMPATH "$COMMPATH"
+#define COMMPATHS "$COMMPATHS"
 _ACEOF
 
 
diff --git a/src/fe/config.h.in b/src/fe/config.h.in
index 615997be..2ab5066c 100644
--- a/src/fe/config.h.in
+++ b/src/fe/config.h.in
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@
 /* Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache directories */
 #undef CACHEPATHS
 
-/* Back-end directory for communication and housekeeping */
-#undef COMMPATH
+/* Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end communication and
+   housekeeping */
+#undef COMMPATHS
 
 /* Define if were using biter for client/server communication */
 #undef COMM_BITER
diff --git a/src/fe/configure b/src/fe/configure
index 4c11bdc7..43bec26e 100755
--- a/src/fe/configure
+++ b/src/fe/configure
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ with_default_num_ports
 with_localstorage
 with_cachepaths
 with_cachepath
-with_commpath
+with_commpaths
 with_default_local_prefix
 with_testrm
 with_rm
@@ -1578,8 +1578,8 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-cachepaths=DIR   Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache
                           directories
 ,
-  --with-compath=DIR      Back-end directory for communication and
-                          housekeeping
+  --with-compaths=DIR     Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end
+                          communication and housekeeping
   --with-default-local-prefix=DIRS
                           Colon-seperated list of directories that Spindle
                           will not cache files out of
@@ -16466,11 +16466,11 @@ if test "${with_cachepath+set}" = set; then :
 fi
 
 
-# Check whether --with-commpath was given.
-if test "${with_commpath+set}" = set; then :
-  withval=$with_commpath; COMMPATH=${withval}
+# Check whether --with-commpaths was given.
+if test "${with_commpaths+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_commpaths; COMMPATHS=${withval}
 else
-  COMMPATH=$DEFAULT_LOC
+  COMMPATHS=$DEFAULT_LOC
 fi
 
 
@@ -16478,7 +16478,7 @@ fi
 if test "${with_default_local_prefix+set}" = set; then :
   withval=$with_default_local_prefix; SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX=${withval}
 else
-  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATH"
+  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATHS"
 fi
 
 
@@ -16498,7 +16498,7 @@ _ACEOF
 
 
 cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define COMMPATH "$COMMPATH"
+#define COMMPATHS "$COMMPATHS"
 _ACEOF
 
 
diff --git a/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.cc b/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.cc
index 1b9d9ade..02235648 100644
--- a/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.cc
+++ b/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.cc
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ using namespace std;
 #define SPINDLE_NUM_PORTS_STR "250"
 #endif
 
-#if defined(COMMPATH)
-#define SPINDLE_COMMPATH_STR COMMPATH
+#if defined(COMMPATHS)
+#define SPINDLE_COMMPATHS_STR COMMPATHS
 #else
-#define SPINDLE_COMMPATH_STR "$TMPDIR"
+#define SPINDLE_COMMPATHS_STR "$TMPDIR"
 #endif
 
 #if defined(CACHEPATHS)
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ void initOptionsList()
      "Provides a text file containing a white-space separated list of files that should be relocated to each node before execution begins" },
    { confStrip, "strip", shortStrip, groupMisc, cvBool, {}, "true", 
      "Strip debug and symbol information from binaries before distributing them." },
-   { confCommPath, "commpath", shortCommPath, groupMisc, cvString, {}, SPINDLE_COMMPATH_STR,
+   { confCommPaths, "commpaths", shortCommPaths, groupMisc, cvString, {}, SPINDLE_COMMPATHS_STR,
      "Back-end directory communication and housekeeping.  Should be a non-shared location such as a ramdisk." },
    { confCachePaths, "cachepaths", shortCachePaths, groupMisc, cvString, {}, SPINDLE_CACHEPATHS_STR,
      "Colon-separated list of candidate paths for cached libraries."},
@@ -743,11 +743,8 @@ bool ConfigMap::toSpindleArgs(spindle_args_t &args, bool alloc_strs) const
          case confNumPorts:
             args.num_ports = numresult;
             break;
-         case confCommPath: {
-            string path = strresult + "/spindle.$NUMBER";
-            args.commpath = strdup(path.c_str());
-            break;
-         }
+         case confCommPaths:
+            __attribute__((fallthrough));   // gcc-specific
          case confCachePaths:{
             // Paramemter values are colon-separated lists of paths.
             // Append "/spindle.$NUMBER" to each path in the list.
@@ -760,10 +757,15 @@ bool ConfigMap::toSpindleArgs(spindle_args_t &args, bool alloc_strs) const
                idx = paths.find(":", idx + number_var_with_colon.size());
             };
             paths += number_var_without_colon;
-            args.candidate_cachepaths = strdup(paths.c_str());
+            if( name == confCommPaths ){
+                args.commpaths = strdup(paths.c_str());
+            }else if( name == confCachePaths ){
+                args.candidate_cachepaths = strdup(paths.c_str());
+            }
             break;
          }
          case confCachePrefix:
+            __attribute__((fallthrough));   // gcc-specific
          case confPythonPrefix:
             if (args.pythonprefix)
                args.pythonprefix = getstr(string(args.pythonprefix) + string(":") + strresult, true);
diff --git a/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.h b/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.h
index ec3c8135..f679a5d5 100644
--- a/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.h
+++ b/src/fe/startup/config_mgr.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ enum SpindleConfigID {
    confCmdlineNewgroup,
    confPort,
    confNumPorts,
-   confCommPath,
+   confCommPaths,
    confCachePaths,
    confCachePrefix,
    confPythonPrefix,
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ enum CmdlineShortOptions {
    shortAuditType = 'k',
    shortRelocSO = 'l',
    shortNoClean = 'n',
-   shortCommPath = 'o',
+   shortCommPaths = 'o',
    shortPush = 'p',
    shortPull = 'q',
    shortPythonPrefix = 'r',
diff --git a/src/fe/startup/parse_launcher.cc b/src/fe/startup/parse_launcher.cc
index 4484e998..e8226b73 100644
--- a/src/fe/startup/parse_launcher.cc
+++ b/src/fe/startup/parse_launcher.cc
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
 #include <set>
 #include <string>
 #include <map>
-
+#include "parseloc.h"
 #include "spindle_launch.h"
 #include "spindle_debug.h"
 #include "config.h"
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ void ModifyArgv::modifyCmdLine()
    snprintf(options_str, 32, "%lu", (unsigned long) params->opts);
    string options(options_str);
    
+   getFirstValidPath( params->commpaths, &( params->commpath ), params->number );
    string commpath(params->commpath);
    
    char number_str[32];
diff --git a/src/fe/startup/spindle_fe.cc b/src/fe/startup/spindle_fe.cc
index a038e201..9e5b7577 100644
--- a/src/fe/startup/spindle_fe.cc
+++ b/src/fe/startup/spindle_fe.cc
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ static const char *logging_file = NULL;
 #endif
 static const char spindle_bootstrap[] = LIBEXECDIR "/spindle_bootstrap";
 static bool sendAndWaitForAlive();
-static void determineCachepathConsensus();
 
 #define STARTUP_TIMEOUT 60
 
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ static int pack_data(spindle_args_t *args, void* &buffer, unsigned &buffer_size)
    buffer_size += sizeof(number_t);
    buffer_size += sizeof(opt_t);
    buffer_size += sizeof(unique_id_t);
-   buffer_size += args->commpath ? strlen(args->commpath) + 1 : 1;
+   buffer_size += args->commpaths ? strlen(args->commpaths) + 1 : 1;
    buffer_size += args->candidate_cachepaths ? strlen(args->candidate_cachepaths) + 1 : 1;
    buffer_size += args->pythonprefix ? strlen(args->pythonprefix) + 1 : 1;
    buffer_size += args->preloadfile ? strlen(args->preloadfile) + 1 : 1;
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ static int pack_data(spindle_args_t *args, void* &buffer, unsigned &buffer_size)
    pack_param(args->use_launcher, buf, pos);
    pack_param(args->startup_type, buf, pos);
    pack_param(args->shm_cache_size, buf, pos);
-   pack_param(args->commpath, buf, pos);
+   pack_param(args->commpaths, buf, pos);
    pack_param(args->candidate_cachepaths, buf, pos);
    pack_param(args->pythonprefix, buf, pos);
    pack_param(args->preloadfile, buf, pos);
@@ -232,7 +231,7 @@ int getApplicationArgsFE(spindle_args_t *params, int *spindle_argc, char ***spin
       (*spindle_argv)[n++] = strdup(numports_s);
       (*spindle_argv)[n++] = strdup(uniqueid_s);
    }
-   (*spindle_argv)[n++] = strdup(params->commpath);
+   (*spindle_argv)[n++] = strdup(params->commpaths);
    (*spindle_argv)[n++] = strdup(params->candidate_cachepaths);
    (*spindle_argv)[n++] = strdup(number_s);
    (*spindle_argv)[n++] = strdup(opt_s);
@@ -398,11 +397,11 @@ int spindleInitFE(const char **hosts, spindle_args_t *params)
    
    /* Start FE server */
    debug_printf("spindle_args_t { number = %lu; port = %u; num_ports = %u; opts = %lu; unique_id = %lu; "
-                "use_launcher = %u; startup_type = %u; shm_cache_size = %u; commpath = %s; "
+                "use_launcher = %u; startup_type = %u; shm_cache_size = %u; commpaths = %s; "
                 "cachepaths = %s; "
                 "pythonprefix = %s; preloadfile = %s; bundle_timeout_ms = %u; bundle_cachesize_kb = %u }\n",
                 (unsigned long) params->number, params->port, params->num_ports, params->opts, params->unique_id,
-                params->use_launcher, params->startup_type, params->shm_cache_size, params->commpath,
+                params->use_launcher, params->startup_type, params->shm_cache_size, params->commpaths,
                 params->candidate_cachepaths,
                 params->pythonprefix, params->preloadfile, params->bundle_timeout_ms,
                 params->bundle_cachesize_kb);
@@ -433,7 +432,6 @@ int spindleInitFE(const char **hosts, spindle_args_t *params)
 
    /* Wait for servers to indicate startup */
    sendAndWaitForAlive();
-   determineCachepathConsensus();
 
    return 0;   
 }
@@ -490,17 +488,6 @@ void markRSHPidReapedFE()
    clear_fe_rsh_pid();
 }
 
-static void determineCachepathConsensus( void ){
-   ldcs_message_t consensus_req_msg;
-   consensus_req_msg.header.type = LDCS_MSG_REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS;
-   consensus_req_msg.header.len = 0;
-   consensus_req_msg.data = NULL;
-   int result = ldcs_audit_server_fe_broadcast(&consensus_req_msg, NULL);
-   if (result == -1) {
-      debug_printf("Failure sending cachepath consensus message\n");
-   }
-}
-
 static bool sendAndWaitForAlive()
 {
    int result;
diff --git a/src/flux/flux-spindle.c b/src/flux/flux-spindle.c
index dd00aa32..9517e523 100644
--- a/src/flux/flux-spindle.c
+++ b/src/flux/flux-spindle.c
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ static int sp_getopts (flux_shell_t *shell, struct spindle_ctx *ctx)
     int numa = 0;
     const char *relocaout = NULL, *reloclibs = NULL, *relocexec = NULL, *relocpython = NULL;
     const char *followfork = NULL, *preload = NULL, *level = NULL;
-    const char *pyprefix = NULL, *commpath = NULL;
+    const char *pyprefix = NULL, *commpaths = NULL;
     char *numafiles = NULL, *cachepaths = NULL;
 
     if (flux_shell_getopt_unpack (shell, "spindle", "o", &opts) < 0)
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ static int sp_getopts (flux_shell_t *shell, struct spindle_ctx *ctx)
                         "reloc-exec", &relocexec,
                         "reloc-python", &relocpython,
                         "python-prefix", &pyprefix,
-                        "commpath", &commpath,
+                        "commpaths", &commpaths,
                         "numa", &numa,
                         "numa-files", &numafiles,
                         "preload", &preload,
@@ -466,8 +466,8 @@ static int sp_getopts (flux_shell_t *shell, struct spindle_ctx *ctx)
     if( cachepaths ){
         ctx->params.candidate_cachepaths = cachepaths;
     }
-    if (commpath) {
-       ctx->params.commpath = (char *) commpath;
+    if (commpaths) {
+       ctx->params.commpaths = (char *) commpaths;
     }
     if (level) {
        if (strcmp(level, "high") == 0) {
diff --git a/src/flux/sessionmgr.c b/src/flux/sessionmgr.c
index 17027163..a936c46b 100644
--- a/src/flux/sessionmgr.c
+++ b/src/flux/sessionmgr.c
@@ -106,27 +106,14 @@ char **strip_start_from_argv(int argc, char **argv)
    return new_argv;
 }
 
-extern char *parse_location(char *loc, int number);
-extern int spindle_mkdir(char *orig_path);
-
-#if !defined(COMMPATH)
-#error COMMPATH must be defined in config.h
-#endif
+#define SESSIONPATH "/tmp/spindle/session"
 const char *get_session_dir()
 {
-   int result;
-   char *dir;
-   dir = parse_location((char *) (COMMPATH "/spindle_session"), 0);
-   if (!dir) {
-      spindle_debug_printf(1, "ERROR: Could not parse directory for spindle session location from %s/spindle_session\n", COMMPATH);
-      return NULL;
-   }
-      
-   result = spindle_mkdir(dir);
-   if (result == -1) {
-      spindle_debug_printf(1, "ERROR: Could not mkdir spindle session location at %s\n", dir);
-      free(dir);
-      return NULL;
-   }
-   return dir;
+   /* This function was originally designed to return a realized version of COMMPATH.
+    *   Since then, COMMPATH has been replaced by COMMPATHS, which can be modified by
+    *   the user on a per-job basis and uses the number_t number as part of the path
+    *   name.  Sessions are designed to span multiple jobs, and thus shouldn't be
+    *   piggybacking on COMMPATHS.  For now, we'll put in a hardcoded directory.
+    */
+   return strdup(SESSIONPATH);
 }
diff --git a/src/include/ldcs_api.h b/src/include/ldcs_api.h
index 0bcd8f40..2b261a56 100644
--- a/src/include/ldcs_api.h
+++ b/src/include/ldcs_api.h
@@ -85,10 +85,8 @@ typedef enum {
    LDCS_MSG_PICKONE_RESP,
    LDCS_MSG_ALIVE_REQ,
    LDCS_MSG_ALIVE_RESP,
-   LDCS_MSG_REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS,
    LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH_REQUEST,
    LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH,
-   LDCS_MSG_NO_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS_YET,
    LDCS_MSG_UNKNOWN
 } ldcs_message_ids_t;
 
diff --git a/src/include/spindle_launch.h b/src/include/spindle_launch.h
index ca7b8d3d..ac256a39 100644
--- a/src/include/spindle_launch.h
+++ b/src/include/spindle_launch.h
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ typedef struct {
    /* The local-disk location for communication and housekeeping. */
    char *commpath;
 
+   /* The initial colon-separated list of commpath candidates. */
+   char *commpaths;
+
    /* Path[s] for cached libraries. */
    char *candidate_cachepaths;  /* Colon-separated list of candidate paths (max 64) */
 
diff --git a/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.c b/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.c
index 1afdf2e8..6b3a6b1c 100644
--- a/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.c
+++ b/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.c
@@ -181,7 +181,6 @@ static int handle_setup_alias(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, char *pathname, cha
 static int handle_client_dirlists_req(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc);
 static int handle_close_client_query(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc);
 static int handle_alive_msg(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, ldcs_message_t *msg);
-static int handle_cachepath_consensus(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, ldcs_message_t *msg);
 static int handle_chosen_cachepath_request(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc);
 
 extern void getValidCachePathByIndex( uint64_t validBitIdx, char **realizedCachePath, char **parsedCachePath, char **symbolicCachePath );
@@ -1997,8 +1996,6 @@ int handle_server_message(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, node_peer_t peer, ldcs_
       case LDCS_MSG_ALIVE_REQ:
       case LDCS_MSG_ALIVE_RESP:
          return handle_alive_msg(procdata, msg);
-      case LDCS_MSG_REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS:
-         return handle_cachepath_consensus(procdata, msg);
       default:
          err_printf("Received unexpected message from node: %d\n", (int) msg->header.type);
          assert(0);
@@ -2961,35 +2958,26 @@ static int handle_client_pickone_msg(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc, ldcs
 }
 
 /**
- * Handle LDCS_MSG_REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS to determine which cachepaths are
- * available across all of the servers.
+ * Determine which cachepaths are available across all of the servers.
  */
-static int cachepath_consensus_reached;
-static int handle_cachepath_consensus(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, ldcs_message_t *msg){
-
+int handle_cachepath_consensus(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata)
+{
     int num_children = ldcs_audit_server_md_get_num_children(procdata);
 
-    debug_printf( "Processing REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS.\n" );
+    debug_printf( "Calculating cachepath consensus.\n" );
     debug_printf3( "  procdata->cachepath_bitidx = %#"PRIx64"\n", procdata->cachepath_bitidx );
     debug_printf3( "  procdata->cachepaths       = %s\n", procdata->cachepaths );
     debug_printf3( "  procdata->cachepath        = %s [should be null]\n", procdata->cachepath  );
     debug_printf3( "  procdata->commpath         = %s\n", procdata->commpath );
     debug_printf3( "  num_children               = %d\n", num_children );
 
-    if (num_children) {
-        spindle_broadcast(procdata, msg);
-        debug_printf3( "Successfully broadcast REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS\n" );
-        msgbundle_force_flush(procdata);
-        debug_printf3( "Successfully flushed the broadcast of REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS\n" );
-    }
-
     ldcs_audit_server_md_allreduce_AND( &procdata->cachepath_bitidx );
     debug_printf3( "The consensus value for procdata->cachepath_bitidx is:  %#"PRIx64"\n", procdata->cachepath_bitidx );
 
-    if( procdata->cachepath_bitidx == 0 ){
-       err_printf("No valid cachepath path available.  Falling back to \"commpath\" path (%s).\n", procdata->commpath);
+    if( procdata->cachepath_bitidx == 0 ) {
+       debug_printf("No valid cachepath path available.  Falling back to \"commpath\" path (%s).\n", procdata->commpath);
        procdata->cachepath = procdata->commpath;
-    }else{
+    } else {
         getValidCachePathByIndex( procdata->cachepath_bitidx,
                 &procdata->cachepath,
                 &procdata->parsed_cachepath,
@@ -3003,14 +2991,10 @@ static int handle_cachepath_consensus(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, ldcs_messag
     ldcs_audit_server_filemngt_init(procdata->cachepath, procdata->commpath);
 
     test_printf("<internal> cachepath=%s\n", procdata->cachepath);
-    cachepath_consensus_reached = 1;
     return 0;
 }
 
-/**
- * Handle LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH_REQUEST
- */
-static int handle_chosen_cachepath_request(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc){
+static int handle_chosen_cachepath_request(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc) {
    ldcs_message_t msg;
    int connid;
    ldcs_client_t *client;
@@ -3022,18 +3006,12 @@ static int handle_chosen_cachepath_request(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc
       return 0;
 
 
-   if( cachepath_consensus_reached ){
-       msg.header.type = LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH;
-       msg.header.len = strlen(procdata->cachepath) + 1 + strlen(procdata->parsed_cachepath) + 1;
-       msg.data = calloc( 1, msg.header.len );
-       strcpy( msg.data, procdata->cachepath );
-       strcpy( &msg.data[ strlen(procdata->cachepath)+1 ], procdata->parsed_cachepath );
-   }else{
-       msg.header.type = LDCS_MSG_NO_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS_YET;
-       msg.header.len = 0;
-       msg.data = NULL;
-   }
-
+   msg.header.type = LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH;
+   msg.header.len = strlen(procdata->cachepath) + 1 + strlen(procdata->parsed_cachepath) + 1;
+   msg.data = calloc( 1, msg.header.len );
+   strcpy( msg.data, procdata->cachepath );
+   strcpy( &msg.data[ strlen(procdata->cachepath)+1 ], procdata->parsed_cachepath );
+   
    ldcs_send_msg(connid, &msg);
    free( msg.data );
    procdata->server_stat.clientmsg.cnt++;
diff --git a/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.h b/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.h
index 8702316c..790e52b3 100644
--- a/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.h
+++ b/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_handlers.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ int handle_server_error(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, node_peer_t peer);
 int handle_client_message(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc, ldcs_message_t *msg);
 int handle_client_start(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc);
 int handle_client_end(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata, int nc);
+int handle_cachepath_consensus(ldcs_process_data_t *procdata);
 int exit_note_cb(int infd, int serverid, void *data);
 
 
diff --git a/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_process.c b/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_process.c
index b6ecdbff..7e32337d 100644
--- a/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_process.c
+++ b/src/server/auditserver/ldcs_audit_server_process.c
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ void stopprofile()
 
 int ldcs_audit_server_process(spindle_args_t *args)
 {
-   int serverid, fd;
+   int serverid, fd, result;
 
    startprofile(args);
 
@@ -198,7 +198,20 @@ int ldcs_audit_server_process(spindle_args_t *args)
    if (ldcs_process_data.opts & OPT_PROCCLEAN)
       init_cleanup_proc(ldcs_process_data.cachepath, ldcs_process_data.commpath);
 
-   debug_printf3("Initializing connections for clients at %s and %lu\n",
+   /* Calculate location of cache */
+   debug_printf2("Calculating cache path location\n");
+   determineValidCachePaths(
+           &ldcs_process_data.cachepath_bitidx,
+           ldcs_process_data.cachepaths,
+           ldcs_process_data.number );
+   result = handle_cachepath_consensus(&ldcs_process_data);
+   if (result == -1) {
+      err_printf("Could not determine cachepath consensus\n");
+      return -1;
+   }   
+
+   /* Setup connections for clients to start connecting */
+   debug_printf2("Initializing connections for clients at %s and %lu\n",
                  ldcs_process_data.commpath, (unsigned long) ldcs_process_data.number);
    serverid = ldcs_create_server(ldcs_process_data.commpath, ldcs_process_data.number);
    if (serverid == -1) {
@@ -231,10 +244,7 @@ int ldcs_audit_server_process(spindle_args_t *args)
    if (fd != -1) {
       ldcs_listen_register_fd(fd, serverid, forceExitCB, (void *) &ldcs_process_data);
    }
-   determineValidCachePaths(
-           &ldcs_process_data.cachepath_bitidx,
-           ldcs_process_data.cachepaths,
-           ldcs_process_data.number );
+   
    return 0;
 }  
 
diff --git a/src/server/comlib/ldcs_api_util.c b/src/server/comlib/ldcs_api_util.c
index af101815..28a3d90c 100644
--- a/src/server/comlib/ldcs_api_util.c
+++ b/src/server/comlib/ldcs_api_util.c
@@ -91,10 +91,8 @@ char* _message_type_to_str (ldcs_message_ids_t type) {
       STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_PICKONE_RESP);
       STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_ALIVE_REQ);
       STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_ALIVE_RESP);      
-      STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_REQUEST_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS);
       STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH_REQUEST);
       STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_CHOSEN_CACHEPATH);
-      STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_NO_CACHEPATH_CONSENSUS_YET);
       STR_CASE(LDCS_MSG_UNKNOWN);
    }
    return "unknown";
diff --git a/src/server/config.h.in b/src/server/config.h.in
index 24040627..97bc7ce9 100644
--- a/src/server/config.h.in
+++ b/src/server/config.h.in
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@
 /* Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache directories */
 #undef CACHEPATHS
 
-/* Back-end directory for communication and housekeeping */
-#undef COMMPATH
+/* Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end communication and
+   housekeeping */
+#undef COMMPATHS
 
 /* Define if were using biter for client/server communication */
 #undef COMM_BITER
diff --git a/src/server/configure b/src/server/configure
index 83bff908..1b9bfd96 100755
--- a/src/server/configure
+++ b/src/server/configure
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ with_default_num_ports
 with_localstorage
 with_cachepaths
 with_cachepath
-with_commpath
+with_commpaths
 with_default_local_prefix
 with_testrm
 with_rm
@@ -1575,8 +1575,8 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-cachepaths=DIR   Colon-separated list of potential back-end cache
                           directories
 ,
-  --with-compath=DIR      Back-end directory for communication and
-                          housekeeping
+  --with-compaths=DIR     Colon-separated list of candidate paths for back-end
+                          communication and housekeeping
   --with-default-local-prefix=DIRS
                           Colon-seperated list of directories that Spindle
                           will not cache files out of
@@ -16463,11 +16463,11 @@ if test "${with_cachepath+set}" = set; then :
 fi
 
 
-# Check whether --with-commpath was given.
-if test "${with_commpath+set}" = set; then :
-  withval=$with_commpath; COMMPATH=${withval}
+# Check whether --with-commpaths was given.
+if test "${with_commpaths+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_commpaths; COMMPATHS=${withval}
 else
-  COMMPATH=$DEFAULT_LOC
+  COMMPATHS=$DEFAULT_LOC
 fi
 
 
@@ -16475,7 +16475,7 @@ fi
 if test "${with_default_local_prefix+set}" = set; then :
   withval=$with_default_local_prefix; SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX=${withval}
 else
-  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATH"
+  SPINDLE_LOCAL_PREFIX="$DEFAULT_LOCAL_PREFIX:$COMMPATHS"
 fi
 
 
@@ -16495,7 +16495,7 @@ _ACEOF
 
 
 cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define COMMPATH "$COMMPATH"
+#define COMMPATHS "$COMMPATHS"
 _ACEOF
 
 
diff --git a/src/server/startup/spindle_be.cc b/src/server/startup/spindle_be.cc
index d5a234a1..17e072f6 100644
--- a/src/server/startup/spindle_be.cc
+++ b/src/server/startup/spindle_be.cc
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ static int unpack_data(spindle_args_t *args, void *buffer, int buffer_size)
    unpack_param(args->use_launcher, buf, pos);
    unpack_param(args->startup_type, buf, pos);
    unpack_param(args->shm_cache_size, buf, pos);
-   unpack_param(args->commpath, buf, pos);
+   unpack_param(args->commpaths, buf, pos);
    unpack_param(args->candidate_cachepaths, buf, pos);
    unpack_param(args->pythonprefix, buf, pos);
    unpack_param(args->preloadfile, buf, pos);
@@ -146,17 +146,14 @@ int spindleRunBE(unsigned int port, unsigned int num_ports, unique_id_t unique_i
    assert(args.port == port);
    
    
-   /* Expand environment variables in commpath. */
-   char *new_commpath = parse_location(args.commpath, args.number);
-   if (!new_commpath) {
-      err_printf("Failed to convert commpath %s\n", args.commpath);
-      if (args.startup_type == startup_external)
-        LOGGING_FINI;
-      return -1;
+   /* Find the first valid commpath in the commpaths list. */
+   if( -1 == getFirstValidPath( args.commpaths, &( args.commpath ), args.number ) ){
+       // Failed.
+       err_printf("Failed to find valid commpath in %s\n", args.commpaths);
+       if (args.startup_type == startup_external)
+            LOGGING_FINI;
+       return -1;
    }
-   debug_printf("Translated commpath from %s to %s\n", args.commpath, new_commpath);
-   free(args.commpath);
-   args.commpath = strdup(new_commpath);
 
    result = ldcs_audit_server_process(&args);
    if (result == -1) {
diff --git a/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.am b/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.am
index 489dffcb..f712463b 100644
--- a/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.am
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ lib_LTLIBRARIES = libspindleslurm.la
 libver=`$(top_srcdir)/LIB_VERSION spindleslurm`
 
 libspindleslurm_la_SOURCES = encode_decode.c plugin_utils.c slurm_plugin.c $(top_srcdir)/src/utils/spindle_mkdir.c $(top_srcdir)/src/utils/parseloc.c
-libspindleslurm_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -I$(top_srcdir)/src/include -I$(top_srcdir)/src/logging -DUSE_PLUGIN_DEBUG -DDEBUG -DCUSTOM_GETENV -DCUSTOM_GETENV_FREE -DSCONTROL_BIN="$(SCONTROL_ABSPATH)" -DSINFO_BIN="$(SINFO_ABSPATH)" -DSPINDLE_DO_EXPORT
+libspindleslurm_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -I$(top_srcdir)/src/utils -I$(top_srcdir)/src/include -I$(top_srcdir)/src/logging -DUSE_PLUGIN_DEBUG -DDEBUG -DCUSTOM_GETENV -DCUSTOM_GETENV_FREE -DSCONTROL_BIN="$(SCONTROL_ABSPATH)" -DSINFO_BIN="$(SINFO_ABSPATH)" -DSPINDLE_DO_EXPORT
 libspindleslurm_la_LDFLAGS = $(AM_LDFLAGS) -ldl -version-info $(libver)
 libspindleslurm_la_LIBADD = $(top_builddir)/src/server/startup/libspindlebe.la $(top_builddir)/src/fe/startup/libspindlefe.la
 libspindleslurm_la_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) -fvisibility=hidden
diff --git a/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.in b/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.in
index a7fe188f..8d3f3643 100644
--- a/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.in
+++ b/src/slurm_plugin/Makefile.in
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ top_srcdir = @top_srcdir@
 lib_LTLIBRARIES = libspindleslurm.la
 libver = `$(top_srcdir)/LIB_VERSION spindleslurm`
 libspindleslurm_la_SOURCES = encode_decode.c plugin_utils.c slurm_plugin.c $(top_srcdir)/src/utils/spindle_mkdir.c $(top_srcdir)/src/utils/parseloc.c
-libspindleslurm_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -I$(top_srcdir)/src/include -I$(top_srcdir)/src/logging -DUSE_PLUGIN_DEBUG -DDEBUG -DCUSTOM_GETENV -DCUSTOM_GETENV_FREE -DSCONTROL_BIN="$(SCONTROL_ABSPATH)" -DSINFO_BIN="$(SINFO_ABSPATH)" -DSPINDLE_DO_EXPORT
+libspindleslurm_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -I$(top_srcdir)/src/utils -I$(top_srcdir)/src/include -I$(top_srcdir)/src/logging -DUSE_PLUGIN_DEBUG -DDEBUG -DCUSTOM_GETENV -DCUSTOM_GETENV_FREE -DSCONTROL_BIN="$(SCONTROL_ABSPATH)" -DSINFO_BIN="$(SINFO_ABSPATH)" -DSPINDLE_DO_EXPORT
 libspindleslurm_la_LDFLAGS = $(AM_LDFLAGS) -ldl -version-info $(libver)
 libspindleslurm_la_LIBADD = $(top_builddir)/src/server/startup/libspindlebe.la $(top_builddir)/src/fe/startup/libspindlefe.la
 libspindleslurm_la_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) -fvisibility=hidden
diff --git a/src/slurm_plugin/plugin_utils.c b/src/slurm_plugin/plugin_utils.c
index f77531e4..0a8f0eaf 100644
--- a/src/slurm_plugin/plugin_utils.c
+++ b/src/slurm_plugin/plugin_utils.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <pwd.h>
 #include "plugin_utils.h"
+#include "parseloc.h"
 
 #if !defined(STR)
 #define XSTR(X) #X
@@ -297,33 +298,6 @@ int isFEHost(char **hostlist, unsigned int num_hosts)
    (void) error;
    return feresult;      
 }
-
-static char* locSpecificDir(spindle_args_t *params) 
-{
-   char *dir = NULL, *expanded_dir = NULL, *realized_dir = NULL;
-   
-   dir = params->commpath;
-   if (!dir) {
-      sdprintf(1, "ERROR: Location not filled in\n");
-      goto done;
-   }
-   expanded_dir = parse_location(dir, params->number);
-   if (!expanded_dir) {
-      sdprintf(1, "ERROR: Could not expand file-system dir %s\n", dir);
-      goto done;
-   }
-   realized_dir = realize(expanded_dir);
-   if (!realized_dir) {
-      sdprintf(1, "ERROR: Could not turn dir to a real path\n");
-   }
-
-  done:
-   if (expanded_dir)
-      free(expanded_dir);
-
-   return realized_dir;
-}
-
 #define SOCKET_PREFIX "spFE"
 
 static char* exitSocketPath(spindle_args_t *params)
@@ -332,11 +306,11 @@ static char* exitSocketPath(spindle_args_t *params)
    char session_id_str[32];
    size_t socket_path_len;
 
-   realized_dir = locSpecificDir(params);
-   if (!realized_dir) {
+   if( -1 == getFirstValidPath( params->commpaths, &( params->commpath ), params->number )){
       err_printf("Could not get real path for FE exit socket\n");
       goto done;
    }
+   realized_dir = strdup( params->commpath );
 
    snprintf(session_id_str, sizeof(session_id_str), "%lu", (unsigned long) params->number);
 
@@ -525,7 +499,10 @@ int isBEProc(spindle_args_t *params, unsigned int exit_phase)
    int beproc_result = -1;
    int fd = -1, error;
    
-   realized_dir = locSpecificDir(params);
+   if( -1 == getFirstValidPath( params->commpaths, &( params->commpath ), params->number ) ){
+        return -1;
+   }
+   realized_dir = strdup( params->commpath );
 
    gethostname(hostname, sizeof(hostname));
    hostname[sizeof(hostname)-1] = '\0';
diff --git a/src/slurm_plugin/slurm_plugin.c b/src/slurm_plugin/slurm_plugin.c
index 0989299c..7a2099a1 100644
--- a/src/slurm_plugin/slurm_plugin.c
+++ b/src/slurm_plugin/slurm_plugin.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
 
 #include "spindle_launch.h"
 #include "plugin_utils.h"
-
+#include "parseloc.h"
 #include "config.h"
 
 #define SPINDLE_USE_SESSION "SPINDLE_USE_SESSION"
@@ -704,7 +704,6 @@ static unique_id_t getUniqueID(spank_t spank, int session_enabled)
 static int fillInArgs(spank_t spank, spindle_args_t *args, int argc, char **argv, unique_id_t unique_id, int session_enabled)
 {
    int result;
-   char *symbolic_commpath, *orig_commpath;
    char *err_string;
 
    args->unique_id = unique_id;
@@ -732,12 +731,9 @@ static int fillInArgs(spank_t spank, spindle_args_t *args, int argc, char **argv
    }
 
 
-   symbolic_commpath = args->commpath;
-   orig_commpath = parse_location(symbolic_commpath, args->number);
-   if( !orig_commpath ){
+   if( -1 == getFirstValidPath( args->commpaths, &( args->commpath ), args->number ) ){
        return -1;
    }
-   args->commpath = realize(orig_commpath);
 
    current_spank = spank;
 
diff --git a/src/utils/parseloc.c b/src/utils/parseloc.c
index bdf5ca1f..01183d01 100644
--- a/src/utils/parseloc.c
+++ b/src/utils/parseloc.c
@@ -370,6 +370,24 @@ void determineValidCachePaths( uint64_t *validBitIdx, char *origPathList, number
     free( pathList );
 }
 
+int getFirstValidPath( char *origPathList, char **firstValidPath, number_t number ){
+    char *saveptr, *candidatePath, *pathList = strdup( origPathList );
+    int rc = 0;
+
+    candidatePath = strtok_r( pathList, ":", &saveptr );
+    while( NULL != candidatePath ){
+        rc = validateCandidatePath( candidatePath, firstValidPath, NULL, NULL, number );
+        if( 1 == rc ){ // success
+            break;
+        }
+        *firstValidPath = NULL;
+        candidatePath = strtok_r( NULL, ":", &saveptr );
+    }
+    free(pathList);
+
+    return (1 == rc) ? 0 : -1;
+}
+
 void getValidCachePathByIndex( uint64_t validBitIdx, char **realizedCachePath, char **parsedCachePath, char **symbolicCachePath ){
     uint64_t bitoffset = 0;
     if (!validBitIdx){
diff --git a/src/utils/parseloc.h b/src/utils/parseloc.h
index a99409c3..5100364e 100644
--- a/src/utils/parseloc.h
+++ b/src/utils/parseloc.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ int is_local_prefix(const char *path, char **local_prefixes);
 int validateCandidatePath( char *candidatePath, char **realizedPath, char **parsedPath, char **symbolicPath, number_t number );
 void determineValidCachePaths( uint64_t *validBitIdx, char *origPathList, number_t number );
 void getValidCachePathByIndex( uint64_t validBitIdx, char **realizedCachePath, char **parsedCachePath, char **symbolicCachePath );
-
+int getFirstValidPath( char *origPathList, char **firstValidPath, number_t number );
 #if defined(__cplusplus)
 }
 #endif