diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 730d855a..9d31aba8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ clean:
 	rm -rf $(TOOLS) test/test @* *.[ao] *.[ls]o *~ tmp.db/* *.gcov *.log *.err
 
 check:	test/test
-	test/test --pathname=tmp.db --basic --dont-cleanup-after && ./mdbx_chk -vn tmp.db
+	test/test --pathname=tmp.db --dont-cleanup-after basic && ./mdbx_chk -vn tmp.db
 
 mdbx.o: $(MDBX_SRC) Makefile
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -c src/mdbx.c -o $@
diff --git a/test/cases.cc b/test/cases.cc
index a24838c6..09da2103 100644
--- a/test/cases.cc
+++ b/test/cases.cc
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ void configure_actor(unsigned &lastid, const actor_testcase testcase,
       if (i->is_waitable(params.waitfor_nops)) {
         if (i->signal_nops && i->signal_nops != params.waitfor_nops)
           failure("Previous waitable actor (id=%u) already linked on %u-ops\n",
-                  i->id, i->signal_nops);
-        wait4id = i->id;
+                  i->actor_id, i->signal_nops);
+        wait4id = i->actor_id;
         i->signal_nops = params.waitfor_nops;
         break;
       }
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ void configure_actor(unsigned &lastid, const actor_testcase testcase,
       failure("No previous waitable actor for %u-ops\n", params.waitfor_nops);
   }
 
-  unsigned long id = 0;
+  unsigned id = 0;
   if (!id_cstr || strcmp(id_cstr, "auto") == 0)
     id = lastid + 1;
   else {
@@ -47,23 +47,26 @@ void configure_actor(unsigned &lastid, const actor_testcase testcase,
   }
 
   if (id < 1 || id > ACTOR_ID_MAX)
-    failure("Invalid actor-id %lu\n", id);
+    failure("Invalid actor-id %u\n", id);
   lastid = id;
 
+  log_trace("configure_actor: %u for %s", id, testcase2str(testcase));
   global::actors.emplace_back(actor_config(testcase, params, id, wait4id));
   global::databases.insert(params.pathname_db);
 }
 
-bool testcase_setup(const char *casename, const actor_params &params,
+void testcase_setup(const char *casename, actor_params &params,
                     unsigned &lastid) {
-  log_notice("testcase_setup(%s): TODO", casename);
-
   if (strcmp(casename, "basic") == 0) {
+    log_notice(">>> testcase_setup(%s)", casename);
     configure_actor(lastid, ac_hill, nullptr, params);
-    return true;
+    configure_actor(lastid, ac_jitter, nullptr, params);
+    configure_actor(lastid, ac_jitter, nullptr, params);
+    configure_actor(lastid, ac_jitter, nullptr, params);
+    log_notice("<<< testcase_setup(%s): done", casename);
+  } else {
+    failure("unknown testcase `%s`", casename);
   }
-
-  return false;
 }
 
 /* TODO */
diff --git a/test/config.cc b/test/config.cc
index b1f73368..92e078b2 100644
--- a/test/config.cc
+++ b/test/config.cc
@@ -32,26 +32,23 @@ bool parse_option(int argc, char *const argv[], int &narg, const char *option,
   if (!value) {
     if (current[optlen + 2] == '=')
       failure("Option '--%s' doen't accept any value\n", option);
-    narg += 1;
     return true;
   }
 
   *value = nullptr;
   if (current[optlen + 2] == '=') {
     *value = &current[optlen + 3];
-    narg += 1;
     return true;
   }
 
-  if (narg + 1 < argc && strncmp("--", argv[narg + 1], 2)) {
+  if (narg + 1 < argc && strncmp("--", argv[narg + 1], 2) != 0) {
     *value = argv[narg + 1];
-    narg += 2;
+    ++narg;
     return true;
   }
 
   if (default_value) {
     *value = default_value;
-    narg += 1;
     return true;
   }
 
@@ -184,11 +181,16 @@ bool parse_option(int argc, char *const argv[], int &narg, const char *option,
   const char *value_cstr = NULL;
   if (!parse_option(argc, argv, narg, option, &value_cstr, "yes")) {
     const char *current = argv[narg];
-    if (strncmp(current, "--no-", 5) || strcmp(current + 5, option))
-      return false;
-    value = false;
-    narg += 1;
-    return true;
+    if (strncmp(current, "--no-", 5) == 0 && strcmp(current + 5, option) == 0) {
+      value = false;
+      return true;
+    }
+    if (strncmp(current, "--dont-", 7) == 0 &&
+        strcmp(current + 7, option) == 0) {
+      value = false;
+      return true;
+    }
+    return false;
   }
 
   if (!value_cstr) {
@@ -266,8 +268,8 @@ void dump(const char *title) {
   logging::local_suffix indent(title);
 
   for (auto i = global::actors.begin(); i != global::actors.end(); ++i) {
-    log_info("#%u, testcase %s, id/table %u\n", i->order,
-             testcase2str(i->testcase), i->id);
+    log_info("#%u, testcase %s, space_id/table %u\n", i->actor_id,
+             testcase2str(i->testcase), i->space_id);
     indent.push();
 
     if (i->params.loglevel) {
@@ -284,8 +286,8 @@ void dump(const char *title) {
 
     log_info("seed %u\n", i->params.seed);
 
-    if (i->params.test_nrecords)
-      log_info("records %u\n", i->params.test_nrecords);
+    if (i->params.test_nops)
+      log_info("iterations/records %u\n", i->params.test_nops);
     else
       dump_duration("duration", i->params.test_duration);
 
@@ -319,10 +321,10 @@ void dump(const char *title) {
     indent.pop();
   }
 
-  dump_duration("timeout", global::config::timeout);
+  dump_duration("timeout", global::config::timeout_duration_seconds);
   log_info("cleanup: before %s, after %s\n",
-           global::config::dont_cleanup_before ? "No" : "Yes",
-           global::config::dont_cleanup_after ? "No" : "Yes");
+           global::config::cleanup_before ? "Yes" : "No",
+           global::config::cleanup_after ? "Yes" : "No");
 }
 
 } /* namespace config */
@@ -332,10 +334,10 @@ void dump(const char *title) {
 using namespace config;
 
 actor_config::actor_config(actor_testcase testcase, const actor_params &params,
-                           unsigned id, unsigned wait4id)
+                           unsigned space_id, unsigned wait4id)
     : params(params) {
-  this->id = id;
-  this->order = (unsigned)global::actors.size();
+  this->space_id = space_id;
+  this->actor_id = 1 + (unsigned)global::actors.size();
   this->testcase = testcase;
   this->wait4id = wait4id;
   signal_nops = 0;
diff --git a/test/config.h b/test/config.h
index 38bc0b22..c0a04f93 100644
--- a/test/config.h
+++ b/test/config.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ struct actor_params_pod {
   unsigned seed;
 
   unsigned test_duration;
-  unsigned test_nrecords;
+  unsigned test_nops;
   unsigned nrepeat;
   unsigned nthreads;
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ struct actor_params_pod {
 };
 
 struct actor_config_pod {
-  unsigned id, order;
+  unsigned actor_id, space_id;
   actor_testcase testcase;
   unsigned wait4id;
   unsigned signal_nops;
@@ -123,8 +123,8 @@ struct actor_config : public config::actor_config_pod {
 
   bool wanna_event4signalling() const { return true /* TODO ? */; }
 
-  actor_config(actor_testcase testcase, const actor_params &params, unsigned id,
-               unsigned wait4id);
+  actor_config(actor_testcase testcase, const actor_params &params,
+               unsigned space_id, unsigned wait4id);
 
   actor_config(const char *str) {
     if (!deserialize(str, *this))
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ struct actor_config : public config::actor_config_pod {
   bool is_waitable(size_t nops) const {
     switch (testcase) {
     case ac_hill:
-      if (!params.test_nrecords || params.test_nrecords >= nops)
+      if (!params.test_nops || params.test_nops >= nops)
         return true;
     default:
       return false;
diff --git a/test/dead.cc b/test/dead.cc
index 7afa042d..f713b8b3 100644
--- a/test/dead.cc
+++ b/test/dead.cc
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ bool testcase_deadread::setup() {
 }
 
 bool testcase_deadread::run() {
-  /* TODO */
+  db_open();
+  txn_begin(true);
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ bool testcase_deadread::teardown() {
   cursor_guard.release();
   txn_guard.release();
   db_guard.release();
-  return true;
+  return inherited::teardown();
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@ bool testcase_deadwrite::setup() {
 }
 
 bool testcase_deadwrite::run() {
-  /* TODO */
+  db_open();
+  txn_begin(false);
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -57,5 +59,5 @@ bool testcase_deadwrite::teardown() {
   cursor_guard.release();
   txn_guard.release();
   db_guard.release();
-  return true;
+  return inherited::teardown();
 }
diff --git a/test/hill.cc b/test/hill.cc
index 98a7b82c..0a7d2fd7 100644
--- a/test/hill.cc
+++ b/test/hill.cc
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ bool testcase_hill::setup() {
 }
 
 bool testcase_hill::run() {
-  mdbx_open();
+  db_open();
   /* TODO */
   return true;
 }
diff --git a/test/jitter.cc b/test/jitter.cc
index 00385362..4129de75 100644
--- a/test/jitter.cc
+++ b/test/jitter.cc
@@ -19,13 +19,47 @@ bool testcase_jitter::setup() {
   if (!inherited::setup())
     return false;
 
-  /* TODO */
-
   log_trace("<< setup");
   return true;
 }
 
-bool testcase_jitter::run() { return true; }
+bool testcase_jitter::run() {
+  while (should_continue()) {
+    jitter_delay();
+    db_open();
+
+    if (flipcoin()) {
+      jitter_delay();
+      txn_begin(true);
+      jitter_delay();
+      txn_end(false);
+    }
+
+    jitter_delay();
+    txn_begin(mode_readonly());
+    jitter_delay();
+    if (!mode_readonly()) {
+      /* TODO:
+       *  - db_sequence()
+       *  - db_setsize()
+       *  ...
+       */
+    }
+    txn_end(false);
+
+    if (flipcoin()) {
+      jitter_delay();
+      txn_begin(true);
+      jitter_delay();
+      txn_end(false);
+    }
+
+    jitter_delay();
+    db_close();
+    report(1);
+  }
+  return true;
+}
 
 bool testcase_jitter::teardown() {
   log_trace(">> teardown");
diff --git a/test/main.cc b/test/main.cc
index 8853ea2f..385b5050 100644
--- a/test/main.cc
+++ b/test/main.cc
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void actor_params::set_defaults(void) {
   seed = 1;
 
   test_duration = 0;
-  test_nrecords = 1000;
+  test_nops = 1000;
   nrepeat = 1;
   nthreads = 1;
 
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ void actor_params::set_defaults(void) {
 
   max_readers = 42;
   max_tables = 42;
+
+  global::config::timeout_duration_seconds = 0 /* infinite */;
+  global::config::dump_config = true;
+  global::config::cleanup_before = true;
+  global::config::cleanup_after = true;
 }
 
 namespace global {
@@ -72,12 +77,15 @@ std::unordered_map<unsigned, actor_config *> events;
 std::unordered_map<mdbx_pid_t, actor_config *> pid2actor;
 std::set<std::string> databases;
 unsigned nactors;
+chrono::time start_motonic;
+chrono::time deadline_motonic;
+bool singlemode;
 
 namespace config {
-unsigned timeout;
+unsigned timeout_duration_seconds;
 bool dump_config;
-bool dont_cleanup_before;
-bool dont_cleanup_after;
+bool cleanup_before;
+bool cleanup_after;
 } /* namespace config */
 
 } /* namespace global */
@@ -121,122 +129,154 @@ int main(int argc, char *const argv[]) {
   logging::setup((logging::loglevel)params.loglevel, "main");
   unsigned lastid = 0;
 
-  if (argc == 2 && strncmp(argv[1], "--case=", 7) == 0) {
-    const char *casename = argv[1] + 7;
-    if (!testcase_setup(casename, params, lastid))
-      failure("unknown testcase `%s`", casename);
-  } else {
-    for (int i = 1; i < argc;) {
-      const char *value = nullptr;
-      if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "basic", nullptr)) {
-        bool ok = testcase_setup("basic", params, lastid);
-        assert(ok);
-        (void)ok;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "race", nullptr)) {
-        bool ok = testcase_setup("race", params, lastid);
-        assert(ok);
-        (void)ok;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "bench", nullptr)) {
-        bool ok = testcase_setup("bench", params, lastid);
-        assert(ok);
-        (void)ok;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "pathname",
-                                      params.pathname_db) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "mode", params.mode_flags,
-                                      config::mode_bits) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "table",
-                                      params.table_flags, config::table_bits) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "size", params.size,
-                                      config::binary, 4096 * 4) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "seed", params.seed,
-                                      config::no_scale) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "repeat", params.nrepeat,
-                                      config::no_scale) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "threads", params.nthreads,
-                                      config::no_scale, 1, 64) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "timeout",
-                                      global::config::timeout, config::duration,
-                                      1) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "keylen.min",
-                                      params.keylen_min, config::no_scale, 0,
-                                      params.keylen_max) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "keylen.max",
-                                      params.keylen_max, config::no_scale,
-                                      params.keylen_min,
-                                      mdbx_get_maxkeysize(0)) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "datalen.min",
-                                      params.datalen_min, config::no_scale, 0,
-                                      params.datalen_max) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "datalen.max",
-                                      params.datalen_max, config::no_scale,
-                                      params.datalen_min, MDBX_MAXDATASIZE) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "batch.read",
-                                      params.batch_read, config::no_scale, 1) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "batch.write",
-                                      params.batch_write, config::no_scale,
-                                      1) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "delay", params.delaystart,
-                                      config::duration) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "wait4ops",
-                                      params.waitfor_nops, config::decimal) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "drop",
-                                      params.drop_table) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "dump-config",
-                                      global::config::dump_config) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "dont-cleanup-before",
-                                      global::config::dont_cleanup_before) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "dont-cleanup-after",
-                                      global::config::dont_cleanup_after) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "max-readers",
-                                      params.max_readers, config::no_scale, 1,
-                                      255) ||
-                 config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "max-tables",
-                                      params.max_tables, config::no_scale, 1,
-                                      INT16_MAX) ||
-                 false) {
-        continue;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "no-delay", nullptr)) {
-        params.delaystart = 0;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "no-wait", nullptr)) {
-        params.waitfor_nops = 0;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "duration",
-                                      params.test_duration, config::duration,
-                                      1)) {
-        params.test_nrecords = 0;
-        continue;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "records",
-                                      params.test_nrecords, config::decimal,
-                                      1)) {
-        params.test_duration = 0;
-        continue;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "hill", &value)) {
-        configure_actor(lastid, ac_hill, value, params);
-        continue;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "jitter", nullptr)) {
-        configure_actor(lastid, ac_jitter, value, params);
-        continue;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "dead.reader", nullptr)) {
-        configure_actor(lastid, ac_deadread, value, params);
-        continue;
-      } else if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, i, "dead.writer", nullptr)) {
-        configure_actor(lastid, ac_deadwrite, value, params);
-        continue;
-      } else {
-        failure("Unknown option '%s'\n", argv[i]);
-      }
+  for (int narg = 1; narg < argc; ++narg) {
+    const char *value = nullptr;
+
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "case", &value)) {
+      testcase_setup(value, params, lastid);
+      continue;
     }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "pathname", params.pathname_db))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "mode", params.mode_flags,
+                             config::mode_bits))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "table", params.table_flags,
+                             config::table_bits))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "size", params.size,
+                             config::binary, 4096 * 4))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "seed", params.seed,
+                             config::no_scale))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "repeat", params.nrepeat,
+                             config::no_scale))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "threads", params.nthreads,
+                             config::no_scale, 1, 64))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "timeout",
+                             global::config::timeout_duration_seconds,
+                             config::duration, 1))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "keylen.min", params.keylen_min,
+                             config::no_scale, 0, params.keylen_max))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "keylen.max", params.keylen_max,
+                             config::no_scale, params.keylen_min,
+                             mdbx_get_maxkeysize(0)))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "datalen.min",
+                             params.datalen_min, config::no_scale, 0,
+                             params.datalen_max))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "datalen.max",
+                             params.datalen_max, config::no_scale,
+                             params.datalen_min, MDBX_MAXDATASIZE))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "batch.read", params.batch_read,
+                             config::no_scale, 1))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "batch.write",
+                             params.batch_write, config::no_scale, 1))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "delay", params.delaystart,
+                             config::duration))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "wait4ops", params.waitfor_nops,
+                             config::decimal))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "drop", params.drop_table))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "dump-config",
+                             global::config::dump_config))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "cleanup-before",
+                             global::config::cleanup_before))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "cleanup-after",
+                             global::config::cleanup_after))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "max-readers",
+                             params.max_readers, config::no_scale, 1, 255))
+      continue;
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "max-tables", params.max_tables,
+                             config::no_scale, 1, INT16_MAX))
+      continue;
+
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "no-delay", nullptr)) {
+      params.delaystart = 0;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "no-wait", nullptr)) {
+      params.waitfor_nops = 0;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "duration", params.test_duration,
+                             config::duration, 1)) {
+      params.test_nops = 0;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "nops", params.test_nops,
+                             config::decimal, 1)) {
+      params.test_duration = 0;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "hill", &value)) {
+      configure_actor(lastid, ac_hill, value, params);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "jitter", nullptr)) {
+      configure_actor(lastid, ac_jitter, value, params);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "dead.reader", nullptr)) {
+      configure_actor(lastid, ac_deadread, value, params);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (config::parse_option(argc, argv, narg, "dead.writer", nullptr)) {
+      configure_actor(lastid, ac_deadwrite, value, params);
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (*argv[narg] != '-')
+      testcase_setup(argv[narg], params, lastid);
+    else
+      failure("Unknown option '%s'\n", argv[narg]);
   }
 
   if (global::config::dump_config)
     config::dump();
 
+  //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  if (global::actors.empty()) {
+    log_notice("no testcase(s) configured, exiting");
+    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+  }
+
   bool failed = false;
-  if (global::actors.size()) {
+  global::start_motonic = chrono::now_motonic();
+  global::deadline_motonic.fixedpoint =
+      (global::config::timeout_duration_seconds == 0)
+          ? chrono::infinite().fixedpoint
+          : global::start_motonic.fixedpoint +
+                chrono::from_seconds(global::config::timeout_duration_seconds)
+                    .fixedpoint;
+
+  if (global::config::cleanup_before)
+    cleanup();
+
+  if (global::actors.size() == 1) {
+    logging::setup("main");
+    global::singlemode = true;
+    if (!test_execute(global::actors.front()))
+      failed = true;
+  } else {
     logging::setup("overlord");
 
-    if (!global::config::dont_cleanup_before)
-      cleanup();
-
+    log_trace("=== preparing...");
     log_trace(">> osal_setup");
     osal_setup(global::actors);
     log_trace("<< osal_setup");
@@ -250,58 +290,60 @@ int main(int argc, char *const argv[]) {
         log_trace(">> killall_actors");
         osal_killall_actors();
         log_trace("<< killall_actors");
-        failure("Failed to start actor #%u (%s)\n", a.order, test_strerror(rc));
+        failure("Failed to start actor #%u (%s)\n", a.actor_id,
+                test_strerror(rc));
       }
       global::pid2actor[pid] = &a;
     }
 
+    log_trace("=== ready to start...");
     atexit(osal_killall_actors);
     log_trace(">> wait4barrier");
     osal_wait4barrier();
     log_trace("<< wait4barrier");
-  }
 
-  time_t timestamp_start = time(nullptr);
-  size_t left = global::actors.size();
-
-  while (left > 0) {
-    unsigned timeout = INT_MAX;
-    if (global::config::timeout) {
-      time_t timestamp_now = time(nullptr);
-      if (timestamp_now - timestamp_start > global::config::timeout)
-        timeout = 0;
-      else
-        timeout = global::config::timeout -
-                  (unsigned)(timestamp_now - timestamp_start);
-    }
-
-    mdbx_pid_t pid;
-    int rc = osal_actor_poll(pid, timeout);
-    if (rc)
-      failure("Poll error: %s (%d)\n", test_strerror(rc), rc);
-
-    if (pid) {
-      actor_status status = osal_actor_info(pid);
-      actor_config *actor = global::pid2actor.at(pid);
-      if (!actor)
-        continue;
-
-      log_info("actor #%u, id %d, pid %u: %s\n", actor->order, actor->id, pid,
-               status2str(status));
-      if (status > as_running) {
-        left -= 1;
-        if (status != as_successful)
-          failed = true;
+    size_t left = global::actors.size();
+    log_trace("=== polling...");
+    while (left > 0) {
+      unsigned timeout_seconds_left = INT_MAX;
+      chrono::time now_motonic = chrono::now_motonic();
+      if (now_motonic.fixedpoint >= global::deadline_motonic.fixedpoint)
+        timeout_seconds_left = 0;
+      else {
+        chrono::time left_motonic;
+        left_motonic.fixedpoint =
+            global::deadline_motonic.fixedpoint - now_motonic.fixedpoint;
+        timeout_seconds_left = left_motonic.seconds();
+      }
+
+      mdbx_pid_t pid;
+      int rc = osal_actor_poll(pid, timeout_seconds_left);
+      if (rc)
+        failure("Poll error: %s (%d)\n", test_strerror(rc), rc);
+
+      if (pid) {
+        actor_status status = osal_actor_info(pid);
+        actor_config *actor = global::pid2actor.at(pid);
+        if (!actor)
+          continue;
+
+        log_info("actor #%u, id %d, pid %u: %s\n", actor->actor_id,
+                 actor->space_id, pid, status2str(status));
+        if (status > as_running) {
+          left -= 1;
+          if (status != as_successful)
+            failed = true;
+        }
+      } else {
+        if (timeout_seconds_left == 0)
+          failure("Timeout\n");
       }
-    } else {
-      if (global::config::timeout &&
-          time(nullptr) - timestamp_start > global::config::timeout)
-        failure("Timeout\n");
     }
+    log_trace("=== done...");
   }
 
-  log_notice("OVERALL: %s\n", failed ? "Failed" : "Successful");
-  if (!global::config::dont_cleanup_before) {
+  log_notice("RESULT: %s\n", failed ? "Failed" : "Successful");
+  if (global::config::cleanup_before) {
     if (failed)
       log_info("skip cleanup");
     else
diff --git a/test/osal-unix.cc b/test/osal-unix.cc
index 5e475705..2ab3a7aa 100644
--- a/test/osal-unix.cc
+++ b/test/osal-unix.cc
@@ -24,11 +24,11 @@
 struct shared_t {
   pthread_barrier_t barrier;
   pthread_mutex_t mutex;
-  pthread_cond_t conds[0];
+  size_t conds_size;
+  pthread_cond_t conds[1];
 };
 
 static shared_t *shared;
-static std::unordered_map<unsigned, pthread_cond_t *> events;
 
 void osal_wait4barrier(void) {
   assert(shared != nullptr && shared != MAP_FAILED);
@@ -65,13 +65,8 @@ void osal_setup(const std::vector<actor_config> &actors) {
   if (rc)
     failure_perror("pthread_condattr_setpshared()", rc);
 
-  size_t n = 0;
-  for (const auto &a : actors)
-    if (a.wanna_event4signalling())
-      ++n;
-
   shared = (shared_t *)mmap(
-      nullptr, sizeof(shared_t) + n * sizeof(pthread_cond_t),
+      nullptr, sizeof(shared_t) + actors.size() * sizeof(pthread_cond_t),
       PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED | MAP_ANONYMOUS, -1, 0);
   if (MAP_FAILED == (void *)shared)
     failure_perror("mmap(shared_conds)", errno);
@@ -84,24 +79,15 @@ void osal_setup(const std::vector<actor_config> &actors) {
   if (rc)
     failure_perror("pthread_barrier_init(shared)", rc);
 
-  auto a = actors.begin();
+  const size_t n = actors.size() + 1;
   for (size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
     pthread_cond_t *event = &shared->conds[i];
     rc = pthread_cond_init(event, &condattr);
     if (rc)
       failure_perror("pthread_cond_init(shared)", rc);
-
-    unsigned id = 0;
-    while (a != actors.end()) {
-      if (a->wanna_event4signalling()) {
-        id = a->id;
-        break;
-      }
-      ++a;
-    }
-    assert(id != 0);
-    events[id] = event;
+    log_trace("osal_setup: event(shared pthread_cond) %zu -> %p", i, event);
   }
+  shared->conds_size = actors.size() + 1;
 
   pthread_barrierattr_destroy(&barrierattr);
   pthread_condattr_destroy(&condattr);
@@ -110,7 +96,10 @@ void osal_setup(const std::vector<actor_config> &actors) {
 
 void osal_broadcast(unsigned id) {
   assert(shared != nullptr && shared != MAP_FAILED);
-  int rc = pthread_cond_broadcast(events.at(id));
+  log_trace("osal_broadcast: event %u", id);
+  if (id >= shared->conds_size)
+    failure("osal_broadcast: id > limit");
+  int rc = pthread_cond_broadcast(shared->conds + id);
   if (rc)
     failure_perror("sem_post(shared)", rc);
 }
@@ -118,11 +107,15 @@ void osal_broadcast(unsigned id) {
 int osal_waitfor(unsigned id) {
   assert(shared != nullptr && shared != MAP_FAILED);
 
+  log_trace("osal_waitfor: event %u", id);
+  if (id >= shared->conds_size)
+    failure("osal_waitfor: id > limit");
+
   int rc = pthread_mutex_lock(&shared->mutex);
   if (rc != 0)
     failure_perror("pthread_mutex_lock(shared)", rc);
 
-  rc = pthread_cond_wait(events.at(id), &shared->mutex);
+  rc = pthread_cond_wait(shared->conds + id, &shared->mutex);
   if (rc && rc != EINTR)
     failure_perror("pthread_cond_wait(shared)", rc);
 
@@ -173,6 +166,7 @@ int osal_actor_start(const actor_config &config, mdbx_pid_t &pid) {
   if (pid < 0)
     return errno;
 
+  log_trace("osal_actor_start: fork pid %i for %u", pid, config.actor_id);
   childs[pid] = as_running;
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/test/osal-windows.cc b/test/osal-windows.cc
index fc3445cc..8a93b247 100644
--- a/test/osal-windows.cc
+++ b/test/osal-windows.cc
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 #include "test.h"
 
-static std::unordered_map<unsigned, HANDLE> events;
+static std::vector<HANDLE> events;
 static HANDLE hBarrierSemaphore, hBarrierEvent;
 
 static int waitstatus2errcode(DWORD result) {
@@ -63,15 +63,17 @@ static HANDLE make_inharitable(HANDLE hHandle) {
 }
 
 void osal_setup(const std::vector<actor_config> &actors) {
-  size_t n = 0;
-  for (const auto &a : actors) {
-    if (a.wanna_event4signalling()) {
-      HANDLE hEvent = CreateEvent(NULL, TRUE, FALSE, NULL);
-      if (!hEvent)
-        failure_perror("CreateEvent()", GetLastError());
-      hEvent = make_inharitable(hEvent);
-      events[a.id] = hEvent;
-    }
+  assert(events.empty());
+  const size_t n = actors.size() + 1;
+  events.reserve(n);
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
+    HANDLE hEvent = CreateEvent(NULL, TRUE, FALSE, NULL);
+    if (!hEvent)
+      failure_perror("CreateEvent()", GetLastError());
+    hEvent = make_inharitable(hEvent);
+    log_trace("osal_setup: event %zu -> %p", i, hEvent);
+    events.push_back(hEvent);
   }
 
   hBarrierSemaphore = CreateSemaphore(NULL, 0, (LONG)actors.size(), NULL);
@@ -86,11 +88,13 @@ void osal_setup(const std::vector<actor_config> &actors) {
 }
 
 void osal_broadcast(unsigned id) {
+  log_trace("osal_broadcast: event %u", id);
   if (!SetEvent(events.at(id)))
     failure_perror("SetEvent()", GetLastError());
 }
 
 int osal_waitfor(unsigned id) {
+  log_trace("osal_waitfor: event %u", id);
   DWORD rc = WaitForSingleObject(events.at(id), INFINITE);
   return waitstatus2errcode(rc);
 }
diff --git a/test/test.cc b/test/test.cc
index 45e59ceb..28290c46 100644
--- a/test/test.cc
+++ b/test/test.cc
@@ -53,25 +53,37 @@ const char *status2str(actor_status status) {
 
 static void mdbx_debug_logger(int type, const char *function, int line,
                               const char *msg, va_list args) {
-  logging::loglevel level = logging::trace;
+  logging::loglevel level = logging::info;
+  if (type & MDBX_DBG_EXTRA)
+    level = logging::extra;
+  if (type & MDBX_DBG_TRACE)
+    level = logging::trace;
   if (type & MDBX_DBG_PRINT)
-    level = logging::info;
+    level = logging::verbose;
+
   if (type & MDBX_DBG_ASSERT) {
-    log_error("libmdbx assertion failure: %s, %d",
+    log_error("mdbx: assertion failure: %s, %d",
               function ? function : "unknown", line);
     level = logging::failure;
   }
 
-  output(level, msg, args);
+  if (logging::output(level, "mdbx: "))
+    logging::feed(msg, args);
   if (type & MDBX_DBG_ASSERT)
     abort();
 }
 
-void testcase::mdbx_prepare() {
-  log_trace(">> mdbx_prepare");
+void testcase::db_prepare() {
+  log_trace(">> db_prepare");
+  assert(!db_guard);
 
-  int rc = mdbx_setup_debug(MDBX_DBG_DNT, mdbx_debug_logger, MDBX_DBG_DNT);
-  log_info("libmdbx debug-flags: 0x%02x", rc);
+  int mdbx_dbg_opts = MDBX_DBG_ASSERT;
+  if (config.params.loglevel <= logging::trace)
+    mdbx_dbg_opts |= MDBX_DBG_TRACE;
+  if (config.params.loglevel <= logging::verbose)
+    mdbx_dbg_opts |= MDBX_DBG_PRINT;
+  int rc = mdbx_setup_debug(mdbx_dbg_opts, mdbx_debug_logger, MDBX_DBG_DNT);
+  log_info("set mdbx debug-opts: 0x%02x", rc);
 
   MDB_env *env = nullptr;
   rc = mdbx_env_create(&env);
@@ -97,83 +109,163 @@ void testcase::mdbx_prepare() {
   if (rc != MDB_SUCCESS)
     failure_perror("mdbx_env_set_mapsize()", rc);
 
-  log_trace("<< mdbx_prepare");
+  log_trace("<< db_prepare");
 }
 
-void testcase::mdbx_open() {
-  log_trace(">> mdbx_open");
+void testcase::db_open() {
+  log_trace(">> db_open");
+
+  if (!db_guard)
+    db_prepare();
   int rc = mdbx_env_open(db_guard.get(), config.params.pathname_db.c_str(),
                          (unsigned)config.params.mode_flags, 0640);
   if (rc != MDB_SUCCESS)
     failure_perror("mdbx_env_open()", rc);
-  log_trace("<< mdbx_open");
+
+  log_trace("<< db_open");
 }
 
-void testcase::mdbx_close() {
-  log_trace(">> mdbx_close");
+void testcase::db_close() {
+  log_trace(">> db_close");
   cursor_guard.reset();
   txn_guard.reset();
   db_guard.reset();
-  log_trace("<< mdbx_close");
+  log_trace("<< db_close");
+}
+
+void testcase::txn_begin(bool readonly) {
+  log_trace(">> txn_begin(%s)", readonly ? "read-only" : "read-write");
+  assert(!txn_guard);
+
+  MDB_txn *txn = nullptr;
+  int rc =
+      mdbx_txn_begin(db_guard.get(), nullptr, readonly ? MDB_RDONLY : 0, &txn);
+  if (rc != MDB_SUCCESS)
+    failure_perror("mdbx_txn_begin()", rc);
+  txn_guard.reset(txn);
+
+  log_trace("<< txn_begin(%s)", readonly ? "read-only" : "read-write");
+}
+
+void testcase::txn_end(bool abort) {
+  log_trace(">> txn_end(%s)", abort ? "abort" : "commit");
+  assert(txn_guard);
+
+  MDB_txn *txn = txn_guard.release();
+  if (abort) {
+    int rc = mdbx_txn_abort(txn);
+    if (rc != MDB_SUCCESS)
+      failure_perror("mdbx_txn_abort()", rc);
+  } else {
+    int rc = mdbx_txn_commit(txn);
+    if (rc != MDB_SUCCESS)
+      failure_perror("mdbx_txn_commit()", rc);
+  }
+
+  log_trace("<< txn_end(%s)", abort ? "abort" : "commit");
 }
 
 bool testcase::wait4start() {
   if (config.wait4id) {
     log_trace(">> wait4start(%u)", config.wait4id);
+    assert(!global::singlemode);
     int rc = osal_waitfor(config.wait4id);
     if (rc) {
       log_trace("<< wait4start(%u), failed %s", config.wait4id,
                 test_strerror(rc));
       return false;
     }
-    return true;
   } else {
-    log_trace("== wait4start(not needed)");
-    return true;
+    log_trace("== skip wait4start: not needed");
   }
+
+  if (config.params.delaystart) {
+    int rc = osal_delay(config.params.delaystart);
+    if (rc) {
+      log_trace("<< delay(%u), failed %s", config.params.delaystart,
+                test_strerror(rc));
+      return false;
+    }
+  } else {
+    log_trace("== skip delay: not needed");
+  }
+
+  return true;
 }
 
 void testcase::report(size_t nops_done) {
-  if (config.signal_nops && !signalled && config.signal_nops <= nops_done) {
-    log_trace(">> signal(n-ops %zu)", nops_done);
-    osal_broadcast(config.id);
+  nops_completed += nops_done;
+  log_verbose("== complete +%zu iteration, total %zu done", nops_done,
+              nops_completed);
+
+  if (config.signal_nops && !signalled &&
+      config.signal_nops <= nops_completed) {
+    log_trace(">> signal(n-ops %zu)", nops_completed);
+    if (!global::singlemode)
+      osal_broadcast(config.actor_id);
     signalled = true;
-    log_trace("<< signal(n-ops %zu)", nops_done);
+    log_trace("<< signal(n-ops %zu)", nops_completed);
   }
 }
 
 void testcase::signal() {
   if (!signalled) {
     log_trace(">> signal(forced)");
-    osal_broadcast(config.id);
+    if (!global::singlemode)
+      osal_broadcast(config.actor_id);
     signalled = true;
     log_trace("<< signal(forced)");
   }
 }
 
 bool testcase::setup() {
-  mdbx_prepare();
-  return wait4start();
+  db_prepare();
+  if (!wait4start())
+    return false;
+
+  start_timestamp = chrono::now_motonic();
+  return true;
 }
 
 bool testcase::teardown() {
   log_trace(">> testcase::teardown");
   signal();
-  mdbx_close();
+  db_close();
   log_trace("<< testcase::teardown");
   return true;
 }
 
+bool testcase::should_continue() const {
+  bool result = true;
+
+  if (config.params.test_duration) {
+    chrono::time since;
+    since.fixedpoint =
+        chrono::now_motonic().fixedpoint - start_timestamp.fixedpoint;
+    if (since.seconds() >= config.params.test_duration)
+      result = false;
+  }
+
+  if (config.params.test_nops && nops_completed >= config.params.test_nops)
+    result = false;
+
+  return result;
+}
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 bool test_execute(const actor_config &config) {
   const mdbx_pid_t pid = osal_getpid();
-  logging::setup((logging::loglevel)config.params.loglevel,
-                 format("child_%u.%u", config.order, config.id));
 
-  log_trace(">> wait4barrier");
-  osal_wait4barrier();
-  log_trace("<< wait4barrier");
+  if (global::singlemode) {
+    logging::setup(format("single_%s", testcase2str(config.testcase)));
+  } else {
+    logging::setup((logging::loglevel)config.params.loglevel,
+                   format("child_%u.%u", config.actor_id, config.space_id));
+    log_trace(">> wait4barrier");
+    osal_wait4barrier();
+    log_trace("<< wait4barrier");
+  }
 
   try {
     std::unique_ptr<testcase> test;
@@ -206,7 +298,7 @@ bool test_execute(const actor_config &config) {
       return true;
     }
   } catch (const std::exception &pipets) {
-    failure("Exception: %s", pipets.what());
+    failure("***** Exception: %s *****", pipets.what());
   }
   return false;
 }
diff --git a/test/test.h b/test/test.h
index 093b9251..bb7764ba 100644
--- a/test/test.h
+++ b/test/test.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 bool test_execute(const actor_config &config);
 std::string thunk_param(const actor_config &config);
-bool testcase_setup(const char *casename, const actor_params &params,
+void testcase_setup(const char *casename, actor_params &params,
                     unsigned &lastid);
 void configure_actor(unsigned &lastid, const actor_testcase testcase,
                      const char *id_cstr, const actor_params &params);
@@ -36,12 +36,16 @@ extern std::vector<actor_config> actors;
 extern std::unordered_map<unsigned, actor_config *> events;
 extern std::unordered_map<mdbx_pid_t, actor_config *> pid2actor;
 extern std::set<std::string> databases;
+extern unsigned nactors;
+extern chrono::time start_motonic;
+extern chrono::time deadline_motonic;
+extern bool singlemode;
 
 namespace config {
-extern unsigned timeout;
+extern unsigned timeout_duration_seconds;
 extern bool dump_config;
-extern bool dont_cleanup_before;
-extern bool dont_cleanup_after;
+extern bool cleanup_before;
+extern bool cleanup_after;
 } /* namespace config */
 
 } /* namespace global */
@@ -80,19 +84,28 @@ protected:
   scoped_cursor_guard cursor_guard;
   bool signalled;
 
-  void mdbx_prepare();
-  void mdbx_open();
-  void mdbx_close();
+  size_t nops_completed;
+  chrono::time start_timestamp;
+
+  void db_prepare();
+  void db_open();
+  void db_close();
+  void txn_begin(bool readonly);
+  void txn_end(bool abort);
 
   bool wait4start();
   void report(size_t nops_done);
   void signal();
+  bool should_continue() const;
+
+  bool mode_readonly() const {
+    return (config.params.mode_flags & MDB_RDONLY) ? true : false;
+  }
 
 public:
   testcase(const actor_config &config, const mdbx_pid_t pid)
-      : config(config), pid(pid) {
-    logging::setup(format("%s_%u.%u", testcase2str(config.testcase),
-                          config.order, config.id));
+      : config(config), pid(pid), nops_completed(0) {
+    start_timestamp.reset();
   }
 
   virtual bool setup();