         ttl   : 2*REGISTER_INTERVAL_S
         cb    : (err) ->
             if err
+                database_is_working = false
                 winston.debug("Error registering with database - #{err}")
             else
+                database_is_working = true
                 winston.debug("Successfully registered with database.")
             cb?(err)
 

                            winston.debug("possible issue -- requested to set cookie #{query.set}, but cookie not defined")
                res.end('')
            when "alive"
                res.end('')
            when "proxy"
                res.end("testing the proxy server -- #{pathname}")

                _server_stats_cache = stats


database_is_working = false
register_hub = (cb) ->
    database.update
        table : 'hub_servers'
