             get_snapshots
                 project_id : opts.project_id
                 cb         : (err, snapshots) ->
-                        v = ([snaps[0], host] for host, snaps of snapshots when snaps?.length >=1)
+                        # randomize so not all in DC0...
+                        v = ([snaps[0], Math.random(), host] for host, snaps of snapshots when snaps?.length >=1)
                         v.sort()
                         v.reverse()
+                        v = ([x[0], x[2]] for x in v)
                         dbg("v = #{misc.to_json(v)}")
                         if v.length == 0
                             # nothing to do -- project never opened

            dbg("mount filesystem")
            execute_on
                host    : opts.host
                timeout : 15  # relatively small timeout due to zfs deadlocks -- just move onto another host
                command : "sudo zfs set mountpoint=#{mountpoint(opts.project_id)} #{filesystem(opts.project_id)}&&sudo zfs mount #{filesystem(opts.project_id)}"
                cb      : (err, output) ->
                    if err

            dbg("test login")
            execute_on
                host    : opts.host
                timeout : 30
                user    : username(opts.project_id)
                command : "pwd"
                cb      : (err, output) ->
