diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index d2812b6..80f7c42 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
         "parallel",
         "colors",
         "textutils",
-        "shell"
+        "shell",
+        "settings",
+        "window"
     ]
 }
diff --git a/coordinator/config.lua b/coordinator/config.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57cabf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/coordinator/config.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+local config = {}
+
+-- port of the SCADA supervisor
+config.SCADA_SV_PORT = 16100
+-- port to listen to incoming packets from supervisor
+config.SCADA_SV_LISTEN = 16101
+-- listen port for SCADA coordinator API access
+config.SCADA_API_LISTEN = 16200
+-- expected number of reactor units
+config.NUM_UNITS = 4
+-- log path
+config.LOG_PATH = "/log.txt"
+-- log mode
+--  0 = APPEND (adds to existing file on start)
+--  1 = NEW (replaces existing file on start)
+config.LOG_MODE = 0
+-- crypto config
+config.SECURE = true
+-- must be common between all devices
+config.PASSWORD = "testpassword!"
+
+return config
diff --git a/coordinator/coordinator.lua b/coordinator/coordinator.lua
index a6bf236..76c9824 100644
--- a/coordinator/coordinator.lua
+++ b/coordinator/coordinator.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,141 @@
+
 local comms = require("scada-common.comms")
+local log = require("scada-common.log")
+local ppm = require("scada-common.ppm")
+local util = require("scada-common.util")
+
+local dialog = require("coordinator.util.dialog")
+
+local print = util.print
+local println = util.println
+local print_ts = util.print_ts
+local println_ts = util.println_ts
 
 local coordinator = {}
 
+local function ask_monitor(names)
+    println("available monitors:")
+    for i = 1, #names do
+        print(" " .. names[i])
+    end
+    println("")
+    println("select a monitor or type c to cancel")
+
+    local iface = dialog.ask_options(names, "c")
+
+    if iface ~= false and iface ~= nil then
+        util.filter_table(names, function (x) return x ~= iface end)
+    end
+
+    return iface
+end
+
+function coordinator.configure_monitors(num_units)
+    ---@class monitors_struct
+    local monitors = {
+        primary = nil,
+        unit_displays = {}
+    }
+
+    local monitors_avail = ppm.get_monitor_list()
+    local names = {}
+
+    -- get all interface names
+    for iface, _ in pairs(monitors_avail) do
+        table.insert(names, iface)
+    end
+
+    -- we need a certain number of monitors (1 per unit + 1 primary display)
+    if #names ~= num_units + 1 then
+        println("not enough monitors connected (need " .. num_units + 1 .. ")")
+        log.warning("insufficient monitors present (need " .. num_units + 1 .. ")")
+        return false
+    end
+
+    -- attempt to load settings
+    settings.load("/coord.settings")
+
+    ---------------------
+    -- PRIMARY DISPLAY --
+    ---------------------
+
+    local iface_primary_display = settings.get("PRIMARY_DISPLAY")
+
+    if not util.table_contains(names, iface_primary_display) then
+        println("primary display is not connected")
+        local response = dialog.ask_y_n("would you like to change it", true)
+        if response == false then return false end
+        iface_primary_display = nil
+    end
+
+    while iface_primary_display == nil and #names > 0 do
+        -- lets get a monitor
+        iface_primary_display = ask_monitor(names)
+    end
+
+    if iface_primary_display == false then return false end
+
+    settings.set("PRIMARY_DISPLAY", iface_primary_display)
+    util.filter_table(names, function (x) return x ~= iface_primary_display end)
+
+    monitors.primary = ppm.get_periph(iface_primary_display)
+
+    -------------------
+    -- UNIT DISPLAYS --
+    -------------------
+
+    local unit_displays = settings.get("UNIT_DISPLAYS")
+
+    if unit_displays == nil then
+        unit_displays = {}
+        for i = 1, num_units do
+            local display = nil
+
+            while display == nil and #names > 0 do
+                -- lets get a monitor
+                println("please select monitor for unit " .. i)
+                display = ask_monitor(names)
+            end
+
+            if display == false then return false end
+
+            unit_displays[i] = display
+        end
+    else
+        -- make sure all displays are connected
+        for i = 1, num_units do
+---@diagnostic disable-next-line: need-check-nil
+            local display = unit_displays[i]
+
+            if not util.table_contains(names, display) then
+                local response = dialog.ask_y_n("unit display " .. i .. " is not connected, would you like to change it?", true)
+                if response == false then return false end
+                display = nil
+            end
+
+            while display == nil and #names > 0 do
+                -- lets get a monitor
+                display = ask_monitor(names)
+            end
+
+            if display == false then return false end
+
+            unit_displays[i] = display
+        end
+    end
+
+    settings.set("UNIT_DISPLAYS", unit_displays)
+    settings.save("/coord.settings")
+
+    for i = 1, #unit_displays do
+        monitors.unit_displays[i] = ppm.get_periph(unit_displays[i])
+    end
+
+    return true, monitors
+end
+
 -- coordinator communications
-coordinator.coord_comms = function ()
+function coordinator.coord_comms()
     local self = {
         reactor_struct_cache = nil
     }
diff --git a/coordinator/renderer.lua b/coordinator/renderer.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57553ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/coordinator/renderer.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+local log = require("scada-common.log")
+local util = require("scada-common.util")
+
+local renderer = {}
+
+local engine = {
+    monitors = nil,
+    dmesg_window = nil
+}
+
+---@param monitors monitors_struct
+function renderer.set_displays(monitors)
+    engine.monitors = monitors
+end
+
+function renderer.reset()
+    -- reset primary monitor
+    engine.monitors.primary.setTextScale(0.5)
+    engine.monitors.primary.setTextColor(colors.white)
+    engine.monitors.primary.setBackgroundColor(colors.black)
+    engine.monitors.primary.clear()
+    engine.monitors.primary.setCursorPos(1, 1)
+
+    -- reset unit displays
+    for _, monitor in pairs(engine.monitors.unit_displays) do
+        monitor.setTextScale(0.5)
+        monitor.setTextColor(colors.white)
+        monitor.setBackgroundColor(colors.black)
+        monitor.clear()
+        monitor.setCursorPos(1, 1)
+    end
+end
+
+function renderer.init_dmesg()
+    local disp_x, disp_y = engine.monitors.primary.getSize()
+    engine.dmesg_window = window.create(engine.monitors.primary, 1, 1, disp_x, disp_y)
+
+    log.direct_dmesg(engine.dmesg_window)
+end
+
+return renderer
diff --git a/coordinator/startup.lua b/coordinator/startup.lua
index aa65be4..25a6c5e 100644
--- a/coordinator/startup.lua
+++ b/coordinator/startup.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ local util = require("scada-common.util")
 
 local config = require("coordinator.config")
 local coordinator = require("coordinator.coordinator")
+local renderer = require("coordinator.renderer")
 
 local COORDINATOR_VERSION = "alpha-v0.1.2"
 
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ local println = util.println
 local print_ts = util.print_ts
 local println_ts = util.println_ts
 
-log.init("/log.txt", log.MODE.APPEND)
+log.init(config.LOG_PATH, config.LOG_MODE)
 
 log.info("========================================")
 log.info("BOOTING coordinator.startup " .. COORDINATOR_VERSION)
@@ -28,10 +29,31 @@ println(">> SCADA Coordinator " .. COORDINATOR_VERSION .. " <<")
 -- mount connected devices
 ppm.mount_all()
 
-local modem = ppm.get_wireless_modem()
-
--- we need a modem
-if modem == nil then
-    println("please connect a wireless modem")
+-- setup monitors
+local configured, monitors = coordinator.configure_monitors(config.NUM_UNITS)
+if not configured then
+    println("boot> monitor setup failed")
+    log.fatal("monitor configuration failed")
     return
 end
+
+log.info("monitors ready, dmesg input incoming...")
+
+-- init renderer
+renderer.set_displays(monitors)
+renderer.reset()
+renderer.init_dmesg()
+
+log.dmesg("displays connected and reset", "GRAPHICS", colors.green)
+log.dmesg("system start on " .. os.date("%c"), "SYSTEM", colors.cyan)
+log.dmesg("starting " .. COORDINATOR_VERSION, "BOOT", colors.blue)
+
+-- get the communications modem
+local modem = ppm.get_wireless_modem()
+if modem == nil then
+    println("boot> wireless modem not found")
+    log.fatal("no wireless modem on startup")
+    return
+end
+
+log.dmesg("wireless modem connected", "COMMS", colors.purple)
diff --git a/coordinator/util/dialog.lua b/coordinator/util/dialog.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca9a8fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/coordinator/util/dialog.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+local completion = require("cc.completion")
+
+local util = require("scada-common.util")
+
+local print = util.print
+local println = util.println
+local print_ts = util.print_ts
+local println_ts = util.println_ts
+
+local dialog = {}
+
+function dialog.ask_y_n(question, default)
+    print(question)
+
+    if default == true then
+        print(" (Y/n)? ")
+    else
+        print(" (y/N)? ")
+    end
+
+    local response = read(nil, nil)
+
+    if response == "" then
+        return default
+    elseif response == "Y" or response == "y" then
+        return true
+    elseif response == "N" or response == "n" then
+        return false
+    else
+        return nil
+    end
+end
+
+function dialog.ask_options(options, cancel)
+    print("> ")
+    local response = read(nil, nil, function(text) return completion.choice(text, options) end)
+
+    if response == cancel then return false end
+
+    if util.table_contains(options, response) then
+        return response
+    else return nil end
+end
+
+return dialog
diff --git a/scada-common/log.lua b/scada-common/log.lua
index 2fa0b32..791b11b 100644
--- a/scada-common/log.lua
+++ b/scada-common/log.lua
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ log.init = function (path, write_mode, dmesg_redirect)
     end
 end
 
+-- direct dmesg output to a monitor/window
+---@param window table window or terminal reference
+log.direct_dmesg = function (window)
+    _log_sys.dmesg_out = window
+end
+
 -- private log write function
 ---@param msg string
 local _log = function (msg)
@@ -84,9 +90,16 @@ local _log = function (msg)
     end
 end
 
--- write a message to the dmesg output
----@param msg string message to write
-local _write = function (msg)
+-- dmesg style logging for boot because I like linux-y things
+---@param msg string message
+---@param tag? string log tag
+---@param tag_color? integer log tag color
+log.dmesg = function (msg, tag, tag_color)
+    msg = util.strval(msg)
+    tag = tag or ""
+    tag = util.strval(tag)
+
+    local t_stamp = string.format("%12.2f", os.clock())
     local out = _log_sys.dmesg_out
     local out_w, out_h = out.getSize()
 
@@ -116,11 +129,43 @@ local _write = function (msg)
         end
     end
 
+    -- start output with tag and time, assuming we have enough width for this to be on one line
+    local cur_x, cur_y = out.getCursorPos()
+
+    if cur_x > 1 then
+        if cur_y == out_h then
+            out.scroll(1)
+            out.setCursorPos(1, cur_y)
+        else
+            out.setCursorPos(1, cur_y + 1)
+        end
+    end
+
+    -- colored time
+    local initial_color = out.getTextColor()
+    out.setTextColor(colors.white)
+    out.write("[")
+    out.setTextColor(colors.lightGray)
+    out.write(t_stamp)
+    out.setTextColor(colors.white)
+    out.write("] ")
+
+    -- colored tag
+    if tag ~= "" then
+        out.write("[")
+        out.setTextColor(tag_color)
+        out.write(tag)
+        out.setTextColor(colors.white)
+        out.write("] ")
+    end
+
+    out.setTextColor(initial_color)
+
     -- output message
     for i = 1, #lines do
-        local cur_x, cur_y = out.getCursorPos()
+        cur_x, cur_y = out.getCursorPos()
 
-        if cur_x > 1 then
+        if i > 1 and cur_x > 1 then
             if cur_y == out_h then
                 out.scroll(1)
                 out.setCursorPos(1, cur_y)
@@ -131,15 +176,8 @@ local _write = function (msg)
 
         out.write(lines[i])
     end
-end
 
--- dmesg style logging for boot because I like linux-y things
----@param msg string message
----@param show_term? boolean whether or not to show on terminal output
-log.dmesg = function (msg, show_term)
-    local message = string.format("[%10.3f] ", os.clock()) .. util.strval(msg)
-    if show_term then _write(message) end
-    _log(message)
+    _log("[" .. t_stamp .. "] " .. tag .. " " .. msg)
 end
 
 -- log debug messages
diff --git a/scada-common/ppm.lua b/scada-common/ppm.lua
index b42731b..5b65f47 100644
--- a/scada-common/ppm.lua
+++ b/scada-common/ppm.lua
@@ -317,8 +317,16 @@ end
 
 -- list all connected monitors
 ---@return table monitors
-ppm.list_monitors = function ()
-    return ppm.get_all_devices("monitor")
+ppm.get_monitor_list = function ()
+    local list = {}
+
+    for iface, device in pairs(_ppm_sys.mounts) do
+        if device.type == "monitor" then
+            list[iface] = device
+        end
+    end
+
+    return list
 end
 
 return ppm