def start(self):
        """
        Start the daemon
        """
        # Check for a pidfile to see if the daemon already runs
        pid = None
        if os.path.exists(self.pidfile):
            try:
                pf = file(self.pidfile,'r')
                pid = int(pf.read().strip())
                pf.close()
            except IOError:
                pid = None

        if pid:
            message = "pidfile %s already exist. Daemon already running?\n"
            sys.stderr.write(message % self.pidfile)
            sys.exit(1)

        # Start the daemon
        self.daemonize()
        self.run()