diff --git a/core/node/status.go b/core/node/status.go
index fdb2178d3..11b6219c4 100644
--- a/core/node/status.go
+++ b/core/node/status.go
@@ -18,6 +18,15 @@ type (
 		IsLeader     bool                        `json:"is_leader"`
 		IsOverloaded bool                        `json:"is_overloaded"`
 		BootedAt     time.Time                   `json:"booted_at"`
+
+		// LeftAt is the last time the nmon advanced the last_shutdown file,
+		// i.e. the last time it proved it was alive and rejoined.
+		LeftAt time.Time `json:"left_at"`
+
+		// RejoinedAt is the time nmon state transitioned from rejoin to idle.
+		// This happens either when the rejoin_grace_period expires or when
+		// we received data from all peers.
+		RejoinedAt time.Time `json:"rejoined_at"`
 	}
 
 	// Instances groups instances configuration digest and status
diff --git a/core/object/text/kw/node/pool.drbd.max_peers b/core/object/text/kw/node/pool.drbd.max_peers
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b3c8af512
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/object/text/kw/node/pool.drbd.max_peers
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+The integer value to use in `create-md --max-peers <n>`.
+
+The driver ensures the value is not lesser than the number of instances.
diff --git a/core/object/text/kw/node/pool.drbd.max_peers.default b/core/object/text/kw/node/pool.drbd.max_peers.default
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6e85be761
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/object/text/kw/node/pool.drbd.max_peers.default
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+(nodes_count*2)-1
diff --git a/daemon/daemondata/daemon_hb.go b/daemon/daemondata/daemon_hb.go
index 7b4209f3e..5fa6659d0 100644
--- a/daemon/daemondata/daemon_hb.go
+++ b/daemon/daemondata/daemon_hb.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/opensvc/om3/v3/core/clusternode"
 	"github.com/opensvc/om3/v3/daemon/daemonsubsystem"
 	"github.com/opensvc/om3/v3/daemon/hbcache"
 	"github.com/opensvc/om3/v3/daemon/msgbus"
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ func (d *data) setHbMsgType(node string, msgType string) {
 			Node:          node,
 			From:          previous,
 			To:            msgType,
-			Nodes:         append([]string{}, d.clusterData.Cluster.Config.Nodes...),
+			Nodes:         clusternode.Get(),
 			JoinedNodes:   joinedNodes,
 			InstalledGens: d.deepCopyLocalGens(),
 		}, pubsub.Label{"node", node})
diff --git a/daemon/daemondata/data_init.go b/daemon/daemondata/data_init.go
index de11fe06a..774a25c2c 100644
--- a/daemon/daemondata/data_init.go
+++ b/daemon/daemondata/data_init.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func newNodeData(localNode string) node.Node {
 		Monitor: node.Monitor{
 			LocalExpect:  node.MonitorLocalExpectNone,
 			GlobalExpect: node.MonitorGlobalExpectNone,
-			State:        node.MonitorStateInit, // this prevents imon orchestration
+			State:        node.MonitorStateRejoin, // this prevents imon orchestration
 		},
 		Stats: node.Stats{},
 		Status: node.Status{
diff --git a/daemon/daemondata/get_hb_msg_type.go b/daemon/daemondata/get_hb_msg_type.go
index 29a472748..3b7280a97 100644
--- a/daemon/daemondata/get_hb_msg_type.go
+++ b/daemon/daemondata/get_hb_msg_type.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package daemondata
 import (
 	"context"
 
+	"github.com/opensvc/om3/v3/core/clusternode"
 	"github.com/opensvc/om3/v3/core/node"
 	"github.com/opensvc/om3/v3/util/xmap"
 )
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ func (t T) GetHbMessageType() HbMessageType {
 func (o opGetHbMessageType) call(ctx context.Context, d *data) error {
 	o.result <- HbMessageType{
 		Type:        d.hbMessageType,
-		Nodes:       d.clusterData.Cluster.Config.Nodes,
+		Nodes:       clusternode.Get(),
 		JoinedNodes: xmap.Keys(d.hbGens[d.localNode]),
 		Gens:        d.deepCopyLocalGens(),
 	}
diff --git a/daemon/daemondata/main_test.go b/daemon/daemondata/main_test.go
index 84bb61c81..49aeaafde 100644
--- a/daemon/daemondata/main_test.go
+++ b/daemon/daemondata/main_test.go
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func TestDaemonData(t *testing.T) {
 		refreshed := bus.ClusterNodeData(localNode)
 		assert.NotNil(t, refreshed)
 		assert.Equal(t, uint64(1), refreshed.Status.Gen[localNode])
-		assert.Equal(t, node.MonitorStateInit, refreshed.Monitor.State)
+		assert.Equal(t, node.MonitorStateRejoin, refreshed.Monitor.State)
 	})
 	require.False(t, t.Failed()) // fail on first error
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func TestDaemonData(t *testing.T) {
 		initial.GlobalExpectUpdatedAt = time.Now()
 
 		refreshed := *node.MonitorData.GetByNode(localNode)
-		require.Equal(t, node.MonitorStateInit, refreshed.State, "State changed !")
+		require.Equal(t, node.MonitorStateRejoin, refreshed.State, "State changed !")
 		require.Equal(t, initialUpdated, refreshed.StateUpdatedAt, "StateUpdated changed !")
 		require.Equal(t, initialStateUpdated, refreshed.StateUpdatedAt, "StateUpdated changed !")
 		require.Equal(t, node.MonitorGlobalExpectNone, refreshed.GlobalExpect, "GlobalExpect changed !")
diff --git a/daemon/imon/main.go b/daemon/imon/main.go
index 6786f2020..a5c37ee44 100644
--- a/daemon/imon/main.go
+++ b/daemon/imon/main.go
@@ -169,6 +169,11 @@ type (
 
 		// standbyResourceOrchestrate is the orchestrationResource for regular resources
 		regularResourceOrchestrate orchestrationResource
+
+		// isPeerFrozenMerged remembers we already mirrored locally a peer instance freeze
+		// that happened during this daemon last blackout (crash time => rejoin).
+		// i.e. this boolean shortcuts the t.mergePeerFrozen func.
+		isPeerFrozenMerged bool
 	}
 
 	// cmdOrchestrate can be used from post action go routines
@@ -371,6 +376,7 @@ func (t *Manager) worker(initialNodes []string) {
 		<-t.delayTimer.C
 	}
 
+	t.mergePeerFrozen()
 	t.initRelationAvailStatus()
 	t.initResourceMonitor()
 	t.initLocalResourceFiles()
diff --git a/daemon/imon/main_cmd.go b/daemon/imon/main_cmd.go
index 645a3d646..0b2b7706e 100644
--- a/daemon/imon/main_cmd.go
+++ b/daemon/imon/main_cmd.go
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ func (t *Manager) onMyInstanceStatusUpdated(srcNode string, srcCmd *msgbus.Insta
 		return
 	}
 	t.instStatus[srcCmd.Node] = srcCmd.Value
+	t.mergePeerFrozen()
 	t.clearStonith(srcCmd.Node, srcCmd.Value.Avail)
 	t.handleResourceFiles(srcCmd)
 }
@@ -1161,10 +1162,56 @@ func (t *Manager) initResourceMonitor() {
 	t.change = true
 }
 
-func (t *Manager) onNodeRejoin(c *msgbus.NodeRejoin) {
-	if c.IsUpgrading {
+func (t *Manager) mergePeerFrozen() {
+	if t.isPeerFrozenMerged {
+		return
+	}
+	leftAt := t.nodeStatus[t.localhost].LeftAt
+	rejoinedAt := t.nodeStatus[t.localhost].RejoinedAt
+	if leftAt.IsZero() || rejoinedAt.IsZero() {
+		// we will do that on NodeRejoin event
+		t.log.Tracef("not rejoined yet, defer merge peer frozen")
 		return
 	}
+	if len(t.instStatus) < 2 {
+		t.log.Tracef("not enough instances, delay merge peer frozen")
+		return
+	}
+	instStatus, ok := t.instStatus[t.localhost]
+	if !ok {
+		t.log.Tracef("local instance status is not evaluated yet, defer merge peer frozen")
+		return
+	}
+	if !instStatus.FrozenAt.IsZero() {
+		t.log.Tracef("local instance is already frozen, skip merge peer frozen")
+		return
+	}
+	if t.state.GlobalExpect == instance.MonitorGlobalExpectUnfrozen {
+		t.log.Tracef("global expect is unfrozen, skip merge peer frozen")
+		return
+	}
+	if t.instConfig.ActorConfig != nil && t.instConfig.ActorConfig.Orchestrate != "ha" {
+		t.log.Tracef("object is not a ha actor, skip merge peer frozen")
+		return
+	}
+	for peer, peerStatus := range t.instStatus {
+		if peer == t.localhost {
+			continue
+		}
+		if peerStatus.FrozenAt.After(leftAt) && peerStatus.FrozenAt.Before(rejoinedAt) {
+			msg := fmt.Sprintf("freeze %s instance because peer %s instance was frozen while this daemon was down", t.path, peer)
+			if err := t.queueFreeze(); err != nil {
+				t.log.Errorf("%s: %s", msg, err)
+			} else {
+				t.isPeerFrozenMerged = true
+				t.log.Infof(msg)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *Manager) onNodeRejoin(c *msgbus.NodeRejoin) {
 	if len(t.instStatus) < 2 {
 		// no need to merge frozen if the object has a single instance
 		return
@@ -1190,7 +1237,7 @@ func (t *Manager) onNodeRejoin(c *msgbus.NodeRejoin) {
 		if peerStatus.FrozenAt.After(c.LastShutdownAt) {
 			msg := fmt.Sprintf("Freeze %s instance because peer %s instance was frozen while this daemon was down", t.path, peer)
 			if err := t.queueFreeze(); err != nil {
-				t.log.Infof("%s: %s", msg, err)
+				t.log.Errorf("%s: %s", msg, err)
 			} else {
 				t.log.Infof(msg)
 			}
diff --git a/daemon/nmon/main.go b/daemon/nmon/main.go
index 9132f2440..02f992ab9 100644
--- a/daemon/nmon/main.go
+++ b/daemon/nmon/main.go
@@ -170,12 +170,12 @@ func NewManager(drainDuration time.Duration, subQS pubsub.QueueSizer) *Manager {
 		state: node.Monitor{
 			LocalExpect:  node.MonitorLocalExpectNone,
 			GlobalExpect: node.MonitorGlobalExpectNone,
-			State:        node.MonitorStateInit, // this prevents imon orchestration
+			State:        node.MonitorStateRejoin, // this prevents imon orchestration
 		},
 		previousState: node.Monitor{
 			LocalExpect:  node.MonitorLocalExpectNone,
 			GlobalExpect: node.MonitorGlobalExpectNone,
-			State:        node.MonitorStateInit,
+			State:        node.MonitorStateRejoin,
 		},
 		cmdC:        make(chan any),
 		poolC:       make(chan any, 1),
@@ -268,6 +268,11 @@ func (t *Manager) Start(parent context.Context) error {
 	t.setArbitratorConfig()
 
 	t.startSubscriptions()
+
+	if clusterConfig := cluster.ConfigData.Get(); clusterConfig != nil {
+		t.clusterConfig = *clusterConfig
+	}
+
 	t.wg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
 		defer t.wg.Done()
@@ -359,9 +364,19 @@ func (t *Manager) startRejoin() {
 	l := missingNodes(hbMessageType.Nodes, hbMessageType.JoinedNodes)
 	if (hbMessageType.Type == "patch") && len(l) == 0 {
 		// Skip the rejoin state phase.
+		t.log.Infof("we are late to the party, immediate rejoin")
+		leftAt := file.ModTime(rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown)
 		t.rejoinTicker = time.NewTicker(time.Second)
 		t.rejoinTicker.Stop()
+		t.nodeStatus.LeftAt = leftAt
+		t.nodeStatus.RejoinedAt = time.Now()
+		_ = os.Unsetenv("OPENSVC_AGENT_UPGRADE")
 		t.transitionTo(node.MonitorStateIdle)
+		t.publisher.Pub(&msgbus.NodeRejoin{
+			Nodes:          hbMessageType.Nodes,
+			LastShutdownAt: leftAt,
+			IsUpgrading:    os.Getenv("OPENSVC_AGENT_UPGRADE") != "",
+		}, t.labelLocalhost)
 	} else {
 		// Begin the rejoin state phase.
 		// Arm the re-join grace period ticker.
@@ -376,9 +391,9 @@ func (t *Manager) startRejoin() {
 func (t *Manager) touchLastShutdown() {
 	// remember the last shutdown date via a file mtime
 	if err := file.Touch(rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown, time.Now()); err != nil {
-		t.log.Errorf("touch %s: %s", rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown, err)
+		t.log.Warnf("touch %s: %s", rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown, err)
 	} else {
-		t.log.Infof("touch %s", rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown)
+		t.log.Tracef("touch %s", rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -431,10 +446,16 @@ func (t *Manager) worker() {
 
 	statsTicker := time.NewTicker(statsInterval)
 	defer statsTicker.Stop()
+
 	arbitratorTicker := time.NewTicker(arbitratorInterval)
 	defer arbitratorTicker.Stop()
 	defer t.touchLastShutdown()
 
+	// lastShutdownFileTouchTicker is used to periodically touch LastShutdown file
+	// when the daemon is in a state where rejoinTicker has been stopped
+	lastShutdownFileTouchTicker := time.NewTicker(10 * time.Second)
+	defer lastShutdownFileTouchTicker.Stop()
+
 	// TODO refreshSanPaths should be refreshed on events,  on ticker ?
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -496,29 +517,48 @@ func (t *Manager) worker() {
 			t.onArbitratorTicker()
 		case <-t.rejoinTicker.C:
 			t.onRejoinGracePeriodExpire()
+		case <-lastShutdownFileTouchTicker.C:
+			t.onLastShutdownFileTouchTicker()
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (t *Manager) onRejoinGracePeriodExpire() {
+func (t *Manager) onLastShutdownFileTouchTicker() {
+	if t.state.State == node.MonitorStateRejoin {
+		return
+	}
+	t.touchLastShutdown()
+}
+
+func (t *Manager) nodeFreeze() (bool, error) {
 	nodeFrozenFile := filepath.Join(rawconfig.Paths.Var, "node", "frozen")
-	frozen := file.ModTime(nodeFrozenFile)
-	if frozen.Equal(time.Time{}) {
-		f, err := os.OpenFile(nodeFrozenFile, os.O_RDONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0666)
+	frozenAt := file.ModTime(nodeFrozenFile)
+	if !frozenAt.IsZero() {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(nodeFrozenFile, os.O_RDONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0666)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
+		return true, err
+	}
+	return true, nil
+}
+
+func (t *Manager) onRejoinGracePeriodExpire() {
+	changed, err := t.nodeFreeze()
+	msg := "rejoin grace period expired"
+	if changed {
 		if err != nil {
-			t.log.Errorf("rejoin grace period expired: freeze node: %s", err)
-			t.rejoinTicker.Reset(2 * time.Second)
-			return
-		}
-		t.log.Infof("rejoin grace period expired: freeze node")
-		if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
-			t.log.Errorf("rejoin grace period expired: freeze node: %s", err)
+			t.log.Errorf("%s: freezing local node: %s", msg, err)
 			t.rejoinTicker.Reset(2 * time.Second)
 			return
 		}
+		t.log.Infof("%s: local node has been frozen", msg)
 		t.transitionTo(node.MonitorStateIdle)
 	} else {
-		t.log.Infof("rejoin grace period expired: the node is already frozen")
+		t.log.Infof("%s: local node is already frozen", msg)
 		t.transitionTo(node.MonitorStateIdle)
 	}
 	t.rejoinTicker.Stop()
diff --git a/daemon/nmon/main_cmd.go b/daemon/nmon/main_cmd.go
index 9b2284321..fe06c1cfb 100644
--- a/daemon/nmon/main_cmd.go
+++ b/daemon/nmon/main_cmd.go
@@ -340,11 +340,14 @@ func (t *Manager) onHeartbeatMessageTypeUpdated(c *msgbus.HeartbeatMessageTypeUp
 		return
 	}
 	t.rejoinTicker.Stop()
+	leftAt := file.ModTime(rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown)
 	t.publisher.Pub(&msgbus.NodeRejoin{
 		Nodes:          c.Nodes,
-		LastShutdownAt: file.ModTime(rawconfig.Paths.LastShutdown),
+		LastShutdownAt: leftAt,
 		IsUpgrading:    os.Getenv("OPENSVC_AGENT_UPGRADE") != "",
 	}, t.labelLocalhost)
+	t.nodeStatus.LeftAt = leftAt
+	t.nodeStatus.RejoinedAt = time.Now()
 	_ = os.Unsetenv("OPENSVC_AGENT_UPGRADE")
 	t.transitionTo(node.MonitorStateIdle)
 }
@@ -357,13 +360,10 @@ func (t *Manager) onNodeRejoin(c *msgbus.NodeRejoin) {
 		// no need to merge frozen on a single node cluster
 		return
 	}
-	if !t.nodeStatus.FrozenAt.IsZero() {
-		// already frozen
-		return
-	}
 	if t.state.GlobalExpect == node.MonitorGlobalExpectUnfrozen {
 		return
 	}
+	var frozenPeers []string
 	for _, peer := range t.clusterConfig.Nodes {
 		if peer == t.localhost {
 			continue
@@ -373,14 +373,29 @@ func (t *Manager) onNodeRejoin(c *msgbus.NodeRejoin) {
 			continue
 		}
 		if peerStatus.FrozenAt.After(c.LastShutdownAt) {
-			if err := t.crmFreeze(); err != nil {
-				t.log.Infof("node freeze error: %s", err)
-			} else {
-				t.log.Infof("node freeze because peer %s was frozen while this daemon was down", peer)
-			}
-			return
+			frozenPeers = append(frozenPeers, peer)
 		}
 	}
+
+	var msg string
+	switch len(frozenPeers) {
+	case 0:
+		// no peer frozen while this daemon was shutdown
+		return
+	case 1:
+		msg = fmt.Sprintf("peer %s was frozen while this daemon was down", frozenPeers[0])
+	default:
+		msg = fmt.Sprintf("peers %s were frozen while this daemon was down", frozenPeers)
+	}
+
+	changed, err := t.nodeFreeze()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.log.Errorf("%s: freezing local node: %s", msg, err)
+	} else if changed {
+		t.log.Infof("%s: local node has been frozen", msg)
+	} else {
+		t.log.Infof("%s: local node is already frozen", msg)
+	}
 }
 
 func (t *Manager) onOrchestrate(c cmdOrchestrate) {
diff --git a/util/logging/logging.go b/util/logging/logging.go
index 658273c21..95b4ddef4 100644
--- a/util/logging/logging.go
+++ b/util/logging/logging.go
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func Configure(config Config) error {
 
 	if config.WithCaller {
 		// skip one more for plog wrappers
-		logger = logger.With().CallerWithSkipFrameCount(zerolog.CallerSkipFrameCount + 1).Logger()
+		logger = logger.With().CallerWithSkipFrameCount(zerolog.CallerSkipFrameCount + 2).Logger()
 	}
 
 	log.Logger = logger
diff --git a/util/logreader/main.go b/util/logreader/main.go
index 007dfb20d..ce10861fe 100644
--- a/util/logreader/main.go
+++ b/util/logreader/main.go
@@ -314,33 +314,45 @@ func renderEvent(e streamlog.Event, node string, streamIndex int, numStreams int
 		w.FormatFieldValue = func(i any) string { return "" }
 
 		// Determine prefix based on stream index
-		prefix := ""
-		if node != "" {
-			prefixes := []string{"⣇", "⣸"}
-			runePosition := streamIndex / 2
-			paddingWidth := (numStreams)/2 + 1
-
-			var terminator string
-
-			// test if last rune is not filled with streams
-			if numStreams%2 != 0 && streamIndex == numStreams-1 {
-				prefix = "⡇"
+		var prefix string
+		if node != "" && numStreams > 1 {
+			// Format a prefix helping the reader grap wich node emited the entry:
+			//
+			//   ⣇⡀ node1: foo
+			//   ⣸⡀ node2: foo
+			//   ⣀⡇ node3: foo
+			//
+			runes := []rune("⣇⣸⣀⡀⡇")
+			runeA := runes[0]
+			runeB := runes[1]
+			runeZ := runes[2]
+			runeHalfZ := runes[3]
+			runeHalfA := runes[4]
+
+			streamPosition := streamIndex / 2
+			paddedWidth := (numStreams + 1) / 2
+			evenStreamCount := numStreams%2 == 0
+			evenStreamIndex := streamIndex%2 == 0
+			prefix = strings.Repeat("⣀", paddedWidth)
+			runeset := []rune(prefix)
+
+			if evenStreamIndex {
+				runeset[streamPosition] = runeA
 			} else {
-				prefix = prefixes[streamIndex%2]
-				if numStreams%2 != 0 {
-					terminator = "⡀"
-				} else {
-					terminator = "⣀"
+				runeset[streamPosition] = runeB
+			}
+
+			if !evenStreamCount {
+				switch runeset[paddedWidth-1] {
+				case runeA:
+					runeset[paddedWidth-1] = runeHalfA
+				case runeZ:
+					runeset[paddedWidth-1] = runeHalfZ
 				}
 			}
 
-			// Pad prefix to the calculated width
-			prefix = strings.Repeat("⣀", runePosition) + prefix
+			prefix = string(runeset)
 
-			if n := paddingWidth - runePosition - 2; n > 0 {
-				prefix += strings.Repeat("⣀", paddingWidth-runePosition-2)
-			}
-			prefix += terminator
 		}
 
 		w.FormatMessage = func(i any) string {