diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/ApiConstants.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/ApiConstants.java
index 219b6fde..2dd17322 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/ApiConstants.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/ApiConstants.java
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ public class ApiConstants {
     public static String getReferer(ContainerRequest ctx) { return ctx.getHeaderString(REFERER); }
 
     public static final String DETECT_LOCALE = "detect";
+    public static final String DETECT_TIMEZONE = "detect";
 
     public static List<String> getLocales(ContainerRequest ctx, String defaultLocale) {
         final List<String> locales = new ArrayList<>();
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/dao/bill/AccountPaymentMethodDAO.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/dao/bill/AccountPaymentMethodDAO.java
index d9257e78..29fa0784 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/dao/bill/AccountPaymentMethodDAO.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/dao/bill/AccountPaymentMethodDAO.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 
 import static org.cobbzilla.util.daemon.ZillaRuntime.now;
 import static org.cobbzilla.wizard.resources.ResourceUtil.invalidEx;
+import static org.hibernate.criterion.Restrictions.*;
 
 @Repository @Slf4j
 public class AccountPaymentMethodDAO extends AccountOwnedEntityDAO<AccountPaymentMethod> {
@@ -42,6 +43,14 @@ public class AccountPaymentMethodDAO extends AccountOwnedEntityDAO<AccountPaymen
         return findByFields("account", account, "paymentMethodType", PaymentMethodType.promotional_credit, "deleted", null);
     }
 
+    public List<AccountPaymentMethod> findByAccountAndNotPromoAndNotDeleted(String account) {
+        return list(criteria().add(and(
+                eq("account", account),
+                ne("paymentMethodType", PaymentMethodType.promotional_credit),
+                isNull("deleted")
+        )));
+    }
+
     public List<AccountPaymentMethod> findByAccountAndCloud(String accountUuid, String cloud) {
         return findByFields("account", accountUuid, "cloud", cloud);
     }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/model/bill/AccountPlan.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/model/bill/AccountPlan.java
index 17f084b1..2fd36711 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/model/bill/AccountPlan.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/model/bill/AccountPlan.java
@@ -163,16 +163,16 @@ public class AccountPlan extends IdentifiableBase implements HasNetwork {
     public boolean hasForkHost () { return !empty(forkHost); }
 
     @Transient @Getter @Setter private transient Boolean syncPassword = null;
-    public boolean syncPassword () { return bool(syncPassword); }
+    public boolean syncPassword () { return syncPassword == null || syncPassword; }
 
     @Transient @Getter @Setter private Boolean launchLock;
     public boolean launchLock() { return bool(launchLock); }
 
     @Transient @Getter @Setter private transient Boolean sendErrors = null;
-    public boolean sendErrors () { return bool(sendErrors); }
+    public boolean sendErrors () { return sendErrors == null || sendErrors; }
 
     @Transient @Getter @Setter private transient Boolean sendMetrics = null;
-    public boolean sendMetrics () { return bool(sendMetrics); }
+    public boolean sendMetrics () { return sendMetrics == null || sendMetrics; }
 
     public BubbleNetwork bubbleNetwork(Account account,
                                        BubbleDomain domain,
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/account/AccountOwnedResource.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/account/AccountOwnedResource.java
index 0dd8ccf2..bae25fc1 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/account/AccountOwnedResource.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/account/AccountOwnedResource.java
@@ -151,13 +151,14 @@ public class AccountOwnedResource<E extends HasAccount, DAO extends AccountOwned
 
         if (!canCreate(req, ctx, caller, request)) return invalid("err.cannotCreate", "Create entity not allowed", request.getName());
 
-        final E toCreate = setReferences(ctx, caller, instantiate(getEntityClass(), request).setAccount(getAccountUuid(ctx)));
+        final E toCreate = setReferences(ctx, req, caller, instantiate(getEntityClass(), request).setAccount(getAccountUuid(ctx)));
         return ok(daoCreate(toCreate));
     }
 
     protected Object daoCreate(E toCreate) { return getDao().create(toCreate); }
 
     protected E setReferences(ContainerRequest ctx, Account caller, E e) { return e; }
+    protected E setReferences(ContainerRequest ctx, Request req, Account caller, E e) { return setReferences(ctx, caller, e); }
 
     @POST @Path("/{id}")
     public Response update(@Context ContainerRequest ctx,
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPaymentMethodsResource.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPaymentMethodsResource.java
index e893d021..794f4e5e 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPaymentMethodsResource.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPaymentMethodsResource.java
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ package bubble.resources.bill;
 
 import bubble.dao.bill.AccountPaymentMethodDAO;
 import bubble.dao.bill.AccountPlanDAO;
+import bubble.dao.bill.BubblePlanDAO;
 import bubble.model.account.Account;
 import bubble.model.bill.AccountPaymentMethod;
 import bubble.model.bill.AccountPlan;
+import bubble.model.bill.BubblePlan;
 import bubble.resources.account.AccountOwnedResource;
 import bubble.server.BubbleConfiguration;
 import lombok.extern.slf4j.Slf4j;
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ public class AccountPaymentMethodsResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountP
 
     public static final String PARAM_ALL = "all";
 
+    @Autowired private BubblePlanDAO planDAO;
     @Autowired private AccountPlanDAO accountPlanDAO;
     @Autowired private BubbleConfiguration configuration;
 
@@ -78,7 +81,9 @@ public class AccountPaymentMethodsResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountP
     @Override protected Object daoCreate(AccountPaymentMethod apm) {
         if (apm.hasPreferredPlan()) {
             final Account account = accountDAO.findByUuid(apm.getAccount());
-            accountDAO.update(account.setPreferredPlan(apm.getPreferredPlan()));
+            final BubblePlan plan = planDAO.findById(apm.getPreferredPlan());
+            if (plan == null) throw invalidEx("err.plan.notFound", "plan not found: "+apm.getPreferredPlan());
+            accountDAO.update(account.setPreferredPlan(plan.getUuid()));
         }
         return super.daoCreate(apm);
     }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java
index 76f93c7a..ddda5533 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java
@@ -101,11 +101,18 @@ public class AccountPlansResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountPlan, Acco
         return super.canDelete(ctx, caller, found);
     }
 
-    @Override protected AccountPlan setReferences(ContainerRequest ctx, Account caller, AccountPlan request) {
+    @Override protected AccountPlan setReferences(ContainerRequest ctx, Request req, Account caller, AccountPlan request) {
+
+        // ensure we have latest account settings (preferredPlan/etc)
+        caller = accountDAO.findByUuid(caller.getUuid());
 
         final ValidationResult errors = new ValidationResult();
-        if (!request.hasTimezone()) errors.addViolation("err.timezone.required");
-        if (!request.hasLocale()) errors.addViolation("err.locale.required");
+        if (!request.hasTimezone() || request.getTimezone().equals(DETECT_TIMEZONE)) {
+            request.setTimezone(geoService.getTimeZone(caller, getRemoteHost(req)).getStandardName());
+        }
+        if (!request.hasLocale() || request.getLocale().equals(DETECT_LOCALE)) {
+            request.setLocale(geoService.getFirstLocale(account, getRemoteHost(req), normalizeLangHeader(req)));
+        }
         request.setAccount(caller.getUuid());
 
         if (request.hasSshKey()) {
@@ -115,17 +122,25 @@ public class AccountPlansResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountPlan, Acco
             } else {
                 request.setSshKey(sshKey.getUuid());
             }
+        } else if (configuration.isSageLauncher()) {
+            final List<AccountSshKey> sshKeys = sshKeyDAO.findByAccount(caller.getUuid());
+            if (empty(sshKeys)) {
+                request.setSshKey(null);
+            } else {
+                request.setSshKey(sshKeys.get(0).getUuid());
+            }
         } else {
             request.setSshKey(null); // if it's an empty string, make it null (see simple_network test)
         }
 
-        final BubbleDomain domain = domainDAO.findByAccountAndId(caller.getUuid(), request.getDomain());
+        BubbleDomain domain = domainDAO.findByAccountAndId(caller.getUuid(), request.getDomain());
         if (domain == null) {
-            log.info("setReferences: domain not found: "+request.getDomain()+" for caller: "+caller.getUuid());
-            errors.addViolation("err.domain.required");
+            final List<BubbleDomain> domains = domainDAO.findByAccount(caller.getUuid());
+            if (empty(domains)) return die("setReferences: no domains found for account: "+caller.getUuid());
+            domain = domains.get(0);
+            request.setDomain(domain.getUuid());
         } else {
             request.setDomain(domain.getUuid());
-
             final BubbleNetwork existingNetwork = networkDAO.findByNameAndDomainName(request.getName(), domain.getName());
             if (existingNetwork != null) errors.addViolation("err.name.networkNameAlreadyExists");
         }
@@ -138,7 +153,15 @@ public class AccountPlansResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountPlan, Acco
                 if (!validateRegexMatches(HOST_PATTERN, forkHost)) {
                     errors.addViolation("err.forkHost.invalid");
                 } else if (domain != null && !forkHost.endsWith("."+domain.getName())) {
-                    errors.addViolation("err.forkHost.domainMismatch");
+                    final BubbleDomain foundDomain = domainDAO.findByAccount(caller.getUuid()).stream()
+                            .filter(d -> forkHost.equals("." + d.getName()))
+                            .findFirst().orElse(null);
+                    if (foundDomain == null) {
+                        errors.addViolation("err.forkHost.domain.notFound");
+                    } else {
+                        request.setDomain(foundDomain.getUuid());
+                    }
+
                 } else if (domain != null) {
                     request.setName(domain.networkFromFqdn(forkHost, errors));
                     validateName(request, errors);
@@ -146,11 +169,8 @@ public class AccountPlansResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountPlan, Acco
             }
         } else {
             if (!request.hasNickname()) {
-                if (request.hasName()) {
-                    request.setNickname(request.getName());
-                } else {
-                    errors.addViolation("err.name.required");
-                }
+                if (!request.hasName()) request.setName(newNetworkName());
+                request.setNickname(request.getName());
             }
             if (request.hasNickname() && request.getNickname().length() > NAME_MAXLEN) {
                 errors.addViolation("err.name.tooLong");
@@ -160,9 +180,14 @@ public class AccountPlansResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountPlan, Acco
         }
         log.info("setReferences: after calling validateName, request.name="+request.getName());
 
-        final BubblePlan plan = planDAO.findByAccountOrParentAndId(caller, request.getPlan());
+        BubblePlan plan = planDAO.findByAccountOrParentAndId(caller, request.getPlan());
         if (plan == null) {
-            errors.addViolation("err.plan.required");
+            plan = planDAO.findByUuid(caller.getPreferredPlan());
+            if (plan == null) {
+                errors.addViolation("err.plan.required");
+            } else {
+                request.setPlan(plan.getUuid());
+            }
         } else {
             request.setPlan(plan.getUuid());
         }
@@ -189,22 +214,26 @@ public class AccountPlansResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountPlan, Acco
         AccountPaymentMethod paymentMethod = null;
         if (configuration.paymentsEnabled()) {
             if (!request.hasPaymentMethodObject()) {
-                errors.addViolation("err.paymentMethod.required");
-            } else {
-                if (request.getPaymentMethodObject().hasUuid()) {
-                    paymentMethod = paymentMethodDAO.findByUuid(request.getPaymentMethodObject().getUuid());
-                    if (paymentMethod == null) errors.addViolation("err.purchase.paymentMethodNotFound");
+                final List<AccountPaymentMethod> paymentMethods = paymentMethodDAO.findByAccountAndNotPromoAndNotDeleted(caller.getUuid());
+                if (empty(paymentMethods)) {
+                    errors.addViolation("err.paymentMethod.required");
                 } else {
-                    paymentMethod = request.getPaymentMethodObject();
+                    request.setPaymentMethodObject(paymentMethods.get(0));
                 }
-                if (paymentMethod != null && plan != null) {
-                    if (paymentMethod.hasPromotion() || paymentMethod.getPaymentMethodType() == PaymentMethodType.promotional_credit) {
-                        // cannot pay with a promo credit, must supply another payment method.
-                        // promos will be applied at purchase, and may result in no charge to this payment method
-                        errors.addViolation("err.purchase.paymentMethodNotFound");
-                    } else {
-                        paymentMethod.setAccount(caller.getUuid()).validate(errors, configuration);
-                    }
+            }
+            if (request.getPaymentMethodObject().hasUuid()) {
+                paymentMethod = paymentMethodDAO.findByUuid(request.getPaymentMethodObject().getUuid());
+                if (paymentMethod == null) errors.addViolation("err.purchase.paymentMethodNotFound");
+            } else {
+                paymentMethod = request.getPaymentMethodObject();
+            }
+            if (paymentMethod != null && plan != null) {
+                if (paymentMethod.hasPromotion() || paymentMethod.getPaymentMethodType() == PaymentMethodType.promotional_credit) {
+                    // cannot pay with a promo credit, must supply another payment method.
+                    // promos will be applied at purchase, and may result in no charge to this payment method
+                    errors.addViolation("err.purchase.paymentMethodNotFound");
+                } else {
+                    paymentMethod.setAccount(caller.getUuid()).validate(errors, configuration);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/NodeLauncher.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/NodeLauncher.java
index 30a5b7eb..c013a527 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/NodeLauncher.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/NodeLauncher.java
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package bubble.service.cloud;
 import bubble.model.cloud.BubbleNetwork;
 import bubble.model.cloud.BubbleNode;
 import bubble.notify.NewNodeNotification;
+import bubble.server.BubbleConfiguration;
 import lombok.AllArgsConstructor;
 import lombok.extern.slf4j.Slf4j;
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ public class NodeLauncher implements Runnable {
     private final AtomicReference<String> lock;
     private final StandardNetworkService networkService;
     private final NodeLaunchMonitor launchMonitor;
+    private final BubbleConfiguration configuration;
 
     @Override public void run() {
         final String networkUuid = newNodeRequest.getNetwork();
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ public class NodeLauncher implements Runnable {
                                 die("NodeLauncher.run: unknown launch exception (type="+launchException.getType()+"): "+shortError(launchException), launchException);
                         }
                     } else {
-                        die("NodeLauncher.run: fatal launch exception: " + shortError(exception), exception);
+                        if (!configuration.testMode()) die("NodeLauncher.run: fatal launch exception: " + shortError(exception), exception);
                     }
                 }
                 if (node != null && node.isRunning()) {
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/StandardNetworkService.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/StandardNetworkService.java
index 585bc5b2..b5513902 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/StandardNetworkService.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/service/cloud/StandardNetworkService.java
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ public class StandardNetworkService implements NetworkService {
 
     public void backgroundNewNode(NewNodeNotification newNodeRequest, final String existingLock) {
         final AtomicReference<String> lock = new AtomicReference<>(existingLock);
-        daemon(new NodeLauncher(newNodeRequest, lock, this, launchMonitor));
+        daemon(new NodeLauncher(newNodeRequest, lock, this, launchMonitor, configuration));
     }
 
     public boolean stopNetwork(final BubbleNetwork network) {
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/resources/messages b/bubble-server/src/main/resources/messages
index 35f36a84..7ddb8f71 160000
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/resources/messages
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/resources/messages
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 35f36a84d84cb1f73dd8cc1f18e044657675b7f9
+Subproject commit 7ddb8f71fc43a5b5ce1056944e1f1876ee586f14
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase.java b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase.java
index d29583f0..b15b1dc8 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase.java
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ public abstract class ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase extends BubbleModelTestBase {
         super.beforeStart(server);
     }
 
+    public void mockNetwork(RestServer<BubbleConfiguration> server) {
+        final BubbleConfiguration configuration = server.getConfiguration();
+        configuration.setSpringContextPath("classpath:/spring-mock-network.xml");
+        configuration.getStaticAssets().setLocalOverride(null);
+    }
+
     public String getDefaultDomain() { return "example.com"; }
 
     @Override protected String[] getSqlPostScripts() { return hasExistingDb ? null : super.getSqlPostScripts(); }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/payment/PaymentTestBase.java b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/payment/PaymentTestBase.java
index b01b4759..dbb6081a 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/payment/PaymentTestBase.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/payment/PaymentTestBase.java
@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@ public class PaymentTestBase extends ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase {
     @Override protected String getManifest() { return "manifest-test"; }
 
     @Override public void beforeStart(RestServer<BubbleConfiguration> server) {
-        final BubbleConfiguration configuration = server.getConfiguration();
-        configuration.setSpringContextPath("classpath:/spring-mock-network.xml");
-        configuration.getStaticAssets().setLocalOverride(null);
+        mockNetwork(server);
         super.beforeStart(server);
     }
 
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java
index f64aca39..4c95574f 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ public class NetworkTest extends NetworkTestBase {
 
     @Test public void testRegions        () throws Exception { modelTest("network/network_regions"); }
     @Test public void testGetNetworkKeys () throws Exception { modelTest("network/network_keys"); }
+    @Test public void testMinimalLaunch () throws Exception { modelTest("network/minimal_launch"); }
 
 }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTestBase.java b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTestBase.java
index 07d967cc..23573db2 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTestBase.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTestBase.java
@@ -4,10 +4,17 @@
  */
 package bubble.test.system;
 
+import bubble.server.BubbleConfiguration;
 import bubble.test.ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase;
+import org.cobbzilla.wizard.server.RestServer;
 
 public class NetworkTestBase extends ActivatedBubbleModelTestBase {
 
     @Override protected String getManifest() { return "manifest-network"; }
 
+    @Override public void beforeStart(RestServer<BubbleConfiguration> server) {
+        mockNetwork(server);
+        super.beforeStart(server);
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/minimal_launch.json b/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/minimal_launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a4135db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/minimal_launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+[
+  {
+    "comment": "create another account and login",
+    "include": "new_account",
+    "params": {
+      "email": "min_launch@example.com",
+      "verifyEmail": true
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "list plans",
+    "request": { "uri": "plans" },
+    "response": {
+      "store": "plans",
+      "check": [
+        {"condition": "json.length > 0"}
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "add a payment method and preferred plan",
+    "before": "stripe_tokenize_card",
+    "request": {
+      "uri": "me/paymentMethods",
+      "method": "put",
+      "entity": {
+        "paymentMethodType": "credit",
+        "paymentInfo": "{{stripeToken}}",
+        "preferredPlan": "{{plans.[0].name}}"
+      }
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "add account plan",
+    "request": {
+      "uri": "me/plans",
+      "method": "put",
+      "entity": {}
+    },
+    "response": { "store": "plan" }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "start the network. sets up the first node, which does the rest",
+    "request": {
+      "uri": "me/networks/{{ plan.name }}/actions/start",
+      "method": "post"
+    },
+    "response": {
+      "store": "<<networkVar>>"
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "list networks, verify new network is starting",
+    "before": "sleep 10s",
+    "request": { "uri": "me/networks" },
+    "response": {
+      "check": [
+        {"condition": "json.length === 1"},
+        {"condition": "json[0].getName() === '{{plan.name}}'"},
+        {"condition": "json[0].getState().name() === 'starting'"}
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+]
\ No newline at end of file