diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index 21cf41e..bb87885 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 #include <glob.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 
+double db_layout = 2.0;
+
+
+int db_upgrade(d_char **error);
 
 int srv_open(char *basedir)
 /* opens a server */
@@ -47,13 +51,10 @@ int srv_open(char *basedir)
             char *host;
             char *prefix;
             char *dbglvl;
-            char *layout;
-            double f = 0.0;
 
             host   = xs_dict_get(srv_config, "host");
             prefix = xs_dict_get(srv_config, "prefix");
             dbglvl = xs_dict_get(srv_config, "dbglevel");
-            layout = xs_dict_get(srv_config, "layout");
 
             if (host == NULL || prefix == NULL)
                 error = xs_str_new("ERROR: cannot get server data");
@@ -67,10 +68,7 @@ int srv_open(char *basedir)
                     error = xs_fmt("DEBUG level set to %d from environment", dbglevel);
                 }
 
-                if (!layout || (f = xs_number_get(layout)) != 2.0)
-                    error = xs_fmt("ERROR: unsupported old disk layout %f\n", f);
-                else
-                    ret = 1;
+                ret = db_upgrade(&error);
             }
 
         }
@@ -1238,3 +1236,55 @@ void purge_all(void)
         }
     }
 }
+
+
+int db_upgrade(d_char **error)
+{
+    int ret = 1;
+    int changed = 0;
+    double f = 0.0;
+
+    do {
+        char *layout = xs_dict_get(srv_config, "layout");
+
+        f = xs_number_get(layout);
+
+        if (f < 2.0) {
+            *error = xs_fmt("ERROR: unsupported old disk layout %lf\n", f);
+            ret    = 0;
+            break;
+        }
+/*        else
+        if (f < 2.1) {
+            srv_log(xs_dup("upgrading db layout to version 2.1"));
+
+            xs *dir = xs_fmt("%s/object", srv_basedir);
+            mkdir(dir, 0755);
+
+            xs *nv = xs_number_new(2.1);
+            srv_config = xs_dict_set(srv_config, "layout", nv);
+            changed++;
+        }*/
+    } while (f < db_layout);
+
+    if (f > db_layout) {
+        *error = xs_fmt("ERROR: unknown future version %lf\n", f);
+        ret    = 0;
+    }
+
+    if (changed) {
+        /* upgrade the configuration file */
+        xs *fn = xs_fmt("%s/server.json", srv_basedir);
+        FILE *f;
+
+        if ((f = fopen(fn, "w")) != NULL) {
+            xs *j = xs_json_dumps_pp(srv_config, 4);
+            fwrite(j, strlen(j), 1, f);
+            fclose(f);
+        }
+        else
+            ret = 0;
+    }
+
+    return ret;
+}
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index 390d4c6..4221de5 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #define USER_AGENT "snac/" VERSION
 
+extern double db_layout;
 extern d_char *srv_basedir;
 extern d_char *srv_config;
 extern d_char *srv_baseurl;
diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
index 582a2f6..58c2246 100644
--- a/utils.c
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ const char *default_srv_config = "{"
     "\"prefix\":               \"\","
     "\"address\":              \"127.0.0.1\","
     "\"port\":                 8001,"
-    "\"layout\":               2,"
+    "\"layout\":               0.0,"
     "\"dbglevel\":             0,"
     "\"queue_retry_minutes\":  2,"
     "\"queue_retry_max\":      10,"
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ int initdb(const char *basedir)
 
     srv_config = xs_json_loads(default_srv_config);
 
+    xs *layout = xs_number_new(db_layout);
+    srv_config = xs_dict_set(srv_config, "layout", layout);
+
     printf("Network address [%s]:\n", xs_dict_get(srv_config, "address"));
     {
         xs *i = xs_strip(xs_readline(stdin));
@@ -148,6 +151,9 @@ int initdb(const char *basedir)
     xs *udir = xs_fmt("%s/user", srv_basedir);
     mkdir(udir, 0755);
 
+    xs *odir = xs_fmt("%s/object", srv_basedir);
+    mkdir(odir, 0755);
+
     xs *gfn = xs_fmt("%s/greeting.html", srv_basedir);
     if ((f = fopen(gfn, "w")) == NULL) {
         printf("ERROR: cannot create '%s'\n", gfn);