diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 07a7fd50..8917c08e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,14 +32,30 @@ In a docker environment, the application must be started manually. This is done
 ```
 /var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/entry
 ```
+Note that the entry script will block until the first service stops or until interrupted.
 
 If multiple instances are run from the same machine, additional configuration may be required to differentiate the instances. This is generally the case when using the "sibling container" method for running docker from within a docker container. See the `Configuration` section for more details.
 
 ## Configuration
 Certain configuration options can be adjusted by setting environment variables or by defining these variables in a `.env` file stored in the same directory as the `docker-compose.yml` file. These variables are:
-`APP_PORT`: port mapping for the web app server (default: `3000`)
-`CONTAINER_NAME`: name of the application container (default: `streamline-emr`)
-`DATA_DIR`: directory to be mounted for peristent data (default: `/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/data`)
+`APP_PORT`: port mapping for the web app server
+`CONTAINER_NAME`: name of the application container
+`DATA_DIR`: directory to be mounted for peristent data
 `COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME`: assign the project name associate with the compose file - this avoids conflicts when the "same" compose file is used to manage multiple instances (e.g. when using docker sibling containers)
+`IMAGE`: optional, overrides the default `streamline-emr:2.0` image
 
-Important note when using "sibling containers": the sibling container method uses the host docker socket to provide containers with access to docker. As a result, port mappings and volumne mount points all refer to the host system rather than the container from which the docker command originates.
\ No newline at end of file
+Each instance of the app uses its own `.env` file to specify its configuration. This is automated through the `start` script using information stored in a file `instances.conf`. This file defines two lists:
+`INSTANCES`: a list of unique instance names
+`APP_PORTS`: a corresponding list of port numbers to map to the local host
+
+Important note when using "sibling containers": the sibling container method uses the host docker socket to provide containers with access to docker. As a result, port mappings and volumne mount points all refer to the host system rather than the container from which the docker command originates.
+
+### App Configuration
+An `app.conf` file is required for integration with other Signalytic services. A template is provided which demonstrates integration with the `dbsync` service.
+
+## Scripts
+Several scripts are used to manage app instances, including:
+`entry`: main entry script used to start all configured instances - does not return until a service stops or the process is interrupted.
+`start`: loads configuration details from `instances.conf`, then configures and starts each application instance in a dedicated subfolder
+`stop`: locates and stops all instances, even if no longer defined in `instances.conf`
+`monitor`: checks the status of each instance service and sends data to `bgsystemlog` if possible (loc: `streamline_emr`)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/docker-compose.yml b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/docker-compose.yml
index 1ad963a5..d6153312 100644
--- a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 version: '3.9'
 services:
   streamline-emr:
-    image: streamline-emr:2.0
-    container_name: ${CONTAINER_NAME:-streamline-emr}
+    image: ${IMAGE:-streamline-emr:2.0}
+    container_name: ${CONTAINER_NAME}
     volumes:
-        - "${DATA_DIR:-/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/data}:/var/lib/mysql"
+        - "${DATA_DIR}:/var/lib/mysql"
     ports:
-      - "${APP_PORT:-3000}:80"
\ No newline at end of file
+      - "${APP_PORT}:80"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/entry b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/entry
index 0eeb9dac..86f2f95e 100755
--- a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/entry
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/entry
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-APPROOT="$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")"
+LOCATION="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
 
-echo "entering app root: $APPROOT"
-cd $APPROOT
+# start all instances
+${LOCATION}/start
 
-echo "creating data folder (if necessary)"
-mkdir -p data
+# wait for any service to stop
+pids=()
+for f in $(find ${LOCATION} -mindepth 2 -maxdepth 3 -name docker-compose.yml); do
+  pushd $(dirname $f) > /dev/null
+  docker compose wait streamline-emr &
+  pids+=($!)
+  popd > /dev/null
+done
+echo "waiting on processes: ${pids[@]}"
+wait -n ${pids[@]} > /dev/null
 
-echo "starting app"
-docker compose up
-
-echo "cleaning up"
-docker compose down
-
-echo "done."
+# cleanup
+${LOCATION}/stop
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/monitor b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/monitor
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..e9a6f6cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/monitor
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+LOCATION="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
+
+for f in $(find ${LOCATION} -mindepth 2 -maxdepth 3 -name docker-compose.yml); do
+  pushd $(dirname $f) > /dev/null
+  status=$(docker compose ps --format '{"name":"{{.Names}}","created":"{{.CreatedAt}}","elapsed":"{{.RunningFor}}","state":"{{.State}}","status":"{{.Status}}"}')
+  popd > /dev/null
+  if [ "${status}" ]; then
+    echo $status
+    if command -v bgsystemlog &> /dev/null
+    then
+      bgsystemlog -j streamline_emr -m "'${status}'"
+    fi
+  else
+    echo "no services found"
+  fi
+done
+echo "done."
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/start b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/start
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..3f147d0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/start
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+LOCATION="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
+
+CONF_FILE=${LOCATION}/instances.conf
+INSTANCES_DIR=${LOCATION}/instances
+COMPOSE_FILE=${LOCATION}/docker-compose.yml
+ENV_TEMPLATE=${LOCATION}/template.env
+
+echo "starting all instances"
+
+if [ ! -f "${CONF_FILE}" ]; then
+  echo "missing conf file: ${CONF_FILE}"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "processing config file: ${CONF_FILE}"
+
+# load instance names and port numbers from conf file
+instances=($(sed -n "s/INSTANCES=//p" ${CONF_FILE}))
+ports=($(sed -n "s/APP_PORTS=//p" ${CONF_FILE}))
+for ((i=0;i<${#instances[@]};i++)); do
+
+  # prepare directory and config files for instance
+  instance=$(echo ${instances[$i]} | tr -d '"')
+  port=$(echo ${ports[$i]} | tr -d '"')
+  echo
+  echo "configuring instance $((i+1)) / ${#instances[@]}"
+  echo "  name: ${instance}"
+  echo "  port: ${port}"
+  mkdir -p ${INSTANCES_DIR}/${instance}/data
+  sed -e "s/{{INSTANCE_NAME}}/${instance}/g" -e "s/{{INSTANCE_PORT}}/${port}/g" ${ENV_TEMPLATE} > ${INSTANCES_DIR}/${instance}/.env
+  cp ${COMPOSE_FILE} ${INSTANCES_DIR}/${instance}/
+
+  # start app
+  pushd ${INSTANCES_DIR}/${instance} > /dev/null
+  docker compose up -d --force-recreate
+  popd > /dev/null
+done
+
+echo "done."
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/stop b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/stop
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..a4540aa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/stop
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+LOCATION="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
+
+echo "stopping all instances"
+for f in $(find ${LOCATION} -mindepth 2 -maxdepth 3 -name docker-compose.yml); do
+  pushd $(dirname $f) > /dev/null
+  docker compose down
+  popd > /dev/null
+done
+echo "done."
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.app.conf b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.app.conf
index 5be3965c..a99d451c 100644
--- a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.app.conf
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.app.conf
@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 {
   "name": "Streamline EMR",
-  "database": {
-    "type": "mysql",
-    "version": "mariadb:15.1",
-    "name": "streamline",
-    "source": "streamline-emr",
-    "username": "",
-    "password": "",
-    "db_path": "/var/lib/mysql",
-    "logs_path": "/var/lib/mysql/logs",
-    "log_pattern": "bin.[0-9]*"
-  },
-  "blockgraph": {
-    "district": "",
-    "name": "",
-    "node": "",
-    "location": "",
-    "username": "",
-    "password": ""
+  "dbsync": {
+    "database": {
+      "type": "mysql",
+      "version": "8.0.23",
+      "name": "main",
+      "username": "",
+      "password": "",
+      "db_path": "/var/lib/mysql",
+      "logs_path": "/var/lib/mysql/logs",
+      "log_pattern": "binlog.[0-9]*"
+    },
+    "blockgraph": {
+      "district": "",
+      "name": "",
+      "username": "",
+      "password": ""
+    },
+    "instances": {}
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.env b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.env
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb2ad4be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.env
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME={{INSTANCE_NAME}}
+CONTAINER_NAME=streamline-emr-{{INSTANCE_NAME}}
+DATA_DIR=/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/instances/{{INSTANCE_NAME}}/data
+APP_PORT={{INSTANCE_PORT}}
+#IMAGE=streamline-emr:2.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.instances.conf b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.instances.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1451e354
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/var/signalytic/clientapps/streamline/streamline-emr/template.instances.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+INSTANCES=
+APP_PORTS=
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template.env b/template.env
deleted file mode 100644
index 23e8a83b..00000000
--- a/template.env
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-APP_PORT=3000
-CONTAINER_NAME=streamline-emr-1
-COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME=streamline-emr-1
-DATA_DIR=/path/to/volume/mount/dir
\ No newline at end of file