diff --git a/libknet/tests/api_knet_send_loopback.c b/libknet/tests/api_knet_send_loopback.c
index 1f91c0fb..12d5a63f 100644
--- a/libknet/tests/api_knet_send_loopback.c
+++ b/libknet/tests/api_knet_send_loopback.c
@@ -1,300 +1,385 @@
 /*
  * Copyright (C) 2016 Red Hat, Inc.  All rights reserved.
  *
  * Authors: Fabio M. Di Nitto <fabbione@kronosnet.org>
  *
  * This software licensed under GPL-2.0+, LGPL-2.0+
  */
 
 #include "config.h"
 
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 #include "libknet.h"
 
 #include "internals.h"
 #include "netutils.h"
 #include "test-common.h"
 
 static int private_data;
 
 static void sock_notify(void *pvt_data,
 			int datafd,
 			int8_t channel,
 			uint8_t tx_rx,
 			int error,
 			int errorno)
 {
 	return;
 }
 
+static int dhost_filter(void *pvt_data,
+			const unsigned char *outdata,
+			ssize_t outdata_len,
+			uint8_t tx_rx,
+			knet_node_id_t this_host_id,
+			knet_node_id_t src_host_id,
+			int8_t *dst_channel,
+			knet_node_id_t *dst_host_ids,
+			size_t *dst_host_ids_entries)
+{
+	dst_host_ids[0] = 1;
+	*dst_host_ids_entries = 1;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
 static void test(void)
 {
 	knet_handle_t knet_h;
 	int logfds[2];
 	int datafd = 0;
 	int8_t channel = 0;
 	struct knet_link_status link_status;
 	char send_buff[KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE];
 	char recv_buff[KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE];
 	ssize_t send_len = 0;
 	int recv_len = 0;
 	int savederrno;
 	struct sockaddr_storage lo;
 
 	memset(&lo, 0, sizeof(struct sockaddr_storage));
 
 	if (knet_strtoaddr("127.0.0.1", "50000", &lo, sizeof(struct sockaddr_storage)) < 0) {
 		printf("Unable to convert loopback to sockaddr: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 	memset(send_buff, 0, sizeof(send_buff));
 
 	setup_logpipes(logfds);
 
 	knet_h = knet_handle_new(1, logfds[1], KNET_LOG_DEBUG);
 
 	if (!knet_h) {
 		printf("knet_handle_new failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 
 	printf("Test configuring multiple links with loopback\n");
 
 	if (knet_handle_enable_sock_notify(knet_h, &private_data, sock_notify) < 0) {
 		printf("knet_handle_enable_sock_notify failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
         }
 
 	datafd = 0;
 	channel = -1;
 
 	if (knet_handle_add_datafd(knet_h, &datafd, &channel) < 0) {
 		printf("knet_handle_add_datafd failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_host_add(knet_h, 1) < 0) {
 		printf("knet_host_add failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_link_set_config(knet_h, 1, 0, KNET_TRANSPORT_LOOPBACK, &lo, &lo, 0) < 0) {
 		printf("Unable to configure link: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_link_set_config(knet_h, 1, 1, KNET_TRANSPORT_LOOPBACK, &lo, &lo, 0) == 0) {
 		printf("Managed to configure two LOOPBACK links - this is wrong\n");
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 	printf("Test configuring UDP link after loopback\n");
 
 	if (knet_link_set_config(knet_h, 1, 1, KNET_TRANSPORT_UDP, &lo, &lo, 0) == 0) {
 		printf("Managed to configure UDP and LOOPBACK links together: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 	printf("Test configuring UDP link before loopback\n");
 
 	if (knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0) < 0) {
 		printf("Failed to clear existing LOOPBACK link: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_link_set_config(knet_h, 1, 0, KNET_TRANSPORT_UDP, &lo, &lo, 0) < 0) {
 		printf("Failed to configure UDP link for testing: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_link_set_config(knet_h, 1, 1, KNET_TRANSPORT_LOOPBACK, &lo, &lo, 0) == 0) {
 		printf("Managed to configure LOOPBACK link after UDP: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 	printf("Test knet_send with valid data\n");
 
 	if (knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0) < 0) {
 		printf("Failed to clear existing UDP link: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_link_set_config(knet_h, 1, 0, KNET_TRANSPORT_LOOPBACK, &lo, &lo, 0) < 0) {
 		printf("Failed configure LOOPBACK link for sending: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 1) < 0) {
 		printf("knet_link_set_enable failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (knet_handle_setfwd(knet_h, 1) < 0) {
 		printf("knet_handle_setfwd failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
 		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	while(knet_h->host_index[1]->status.reachable != 1) {
 		printf("waiting host to be reachable\n");
 		sleep(1);
 	}
 
 	send_len = knet_send(knet_h, send_buff, KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE, channel);
 	if (send_len <= 0) {
 		printf("knet_send failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
 		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (send_len != sizeof(send_buff)) {
 		printf("knet_send sent only %zd bytes: %s\n", send_len, strerror(errno));
 		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
 		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 
 	sleep(1);
 
 	recv_len = knet_recv(knet_h, recv_buff, KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE, channel);
 	savederrno = errno;
 	if (recv_len != send_len) {
 		printf("knet_recv received only %d bytes: %s (errno: %d)\n", recv_len, strerror(errno), errno);
 		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
 		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		if ((is_helgrind()) && (recv_len == -1) && (savederrno == EAGAIN)) {
 			printf("helgrind exception. this is normal due to possible timeouts\n");
 			exit(PASS);
 		}
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (memcmp(recv_buff, send_buff, KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE)) {
 		printf("recv and send buffers are different!\n");
 		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
 		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	/* A sanity check on the stats */
 	if (knet_link_get_status(knet_h, 1, 0, &link_status, sizeof(link_status)) < 0) {
 		printf("knet_link_get_status failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
 		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 		close_logpipes(logfds);
 		exit(FAIL);
 	}
 
 	if (link_status.stats.tx_data_packets != 1 ||
 	    link_status.stats.rx_data_packets != 0 ||
 	    link_status.stats.tx_data_bytes != KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE) {
 	    printf("stats look wrong: tx_packets: %lu (%lu bytes), rx_packets: %lu (%lu bytes)\n",
 		   link_status.stats.tx_data_packets,
 		   link_status.stats.tx_data_bytes,
 		   link_status.stats.rx_data_packets,
 		   link_status.stats.rx_data_bytes);
 	}
 
 	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 
+
+	printf("Test knet_send with only localhost\n");
+
+	if (knet_handle_enable_filter(knet_h, NULL, dhost_filter) < 0) {
+		printf("knet_handle_enable_filter failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
+		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
+		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
+		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
+		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
+		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
+		close_logpipes(logfds);
+		exit(FAIL);
+	}
+	send_len = knet_send(knet_h, send_buff, KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE, channel);
+	if (send_len <= 0) {
+		printf("knet_send failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
+		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
+		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
+		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
+		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
+		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
+		close_logpipes(logfds);
+		exit(FAIL);
+	}
+
+	if (send_len != sizeof(send_buff)) {
+		printf("knet_send sent only %zd bytes: %s\n", send_len, strerror(errno));
+		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
+		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
+		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
+		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
+		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
+		close_logpipes(logfds);
+		exit(FAIL);
+	}
+
+	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
+
+	sleep(1);
+
+	recv_len = knet_recv(knet_h, recv_buff, KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE, channel);
+	savederrno = errno;
+	if (recv_len != send_len) {
+		printf("knet_recv received only %d bytes: %s (errno: %d)\n", recv_len, strerror(errno), errno);
+		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
+		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
+		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
+		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
+		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
+		close_logpipes(logfds);
+		if ((is_helgrind()) && (recv_len == -1) && (savederrno == EAGAIN)) {
+			printf("helgrind exception. this is normal due to possible timeouts\n");
+			exit(PASS);
+		}
+		exit(FAIL);
+	}
+
+	if (memcmp(recv_buff, send_buff, KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE)) {
+		printf("recv and send buffers are different!\n");
+		knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
+		knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
+		knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
+		knet_handle_free(knet_h);
+		flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
+		close_logpipes(logfds);
+		exit(FAIL);
+	}
+
 	knet_link_set_enable(knet_h, 1, 0, 0);
 	knet_link_clear_config(knet_h, 1, 0);
 	knet_host_remove(knet_h, 1);
 	knet_handle_free(knet_h);
 	flush_logs(logfds[0], stdout);
 	close_logpipes(logfds);
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
 	need_root();
 
 	test();
 
 	return PASS;
 }
diff --git a/libknet/threads_tx.c b/libknet/threads_tx.c
index 960b00cb..2913727b 100644
--- a/libknet/threads_tx.c
+++ b/libknet/threads_tx.c
@@ -1,647 +1,651 @@
 /*
  * Copyright (C) 2010-2017 Red Hat, Inc.  All rights reserved.
  *
  * Authors: Fabio M. Di Nitto <fabbione@kronosnet.org>
  *          Federico Simoncelli <fsimon@kronosnet.org>
  *
  * This software licensed under GPL-2.0+, LGPL-2.0+
  */
 
 #include "config.h"
 
 #include <math.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <sys/uio.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 
 #include "compat.h"
 #include "crypto.h"
 #include "host.h"
 #include "link.h"
 #include "logging.h"
 #include "transports.h"
 #include "threads_common.h"
 #include "threads_heartbeat.h"
 #include "threads_tx.h"
 #include "netutils.h"
 
 /*
  * SEND
  */
 
 static int _dispatch_to_links(knet_handle_t knet_h, struct knet_host *dst_host, struct knet_mmsghdr *msg, int msgs_to_send)
 {
 	int link_idx, msg_idx, sent_msgs, prev_sent, progress;
 	int err = 0, savederrno = 0;
 	unsigned int i;
 	struct knet_mmsghdr *cur;
 	struct knet_link *cur_link;
 
 	for (link_idx = 0; link_idx < dst_host->active_link_entries; link_idx++) {
 		sent_msgs = 0;
 		prev_sent = 0;
 		progress = 1;
 
 		cur_link = &dst_host->link[dst_host->active_links[link_idx]];
 
 		if (cur_link->transport_type == KNET_TRANSPORT_LOOPBACK) {
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		msg_idx = 0;
 		while (msg_idx < msgs_to_send) {
 			msg[msg_idx].msg_hdr.msg_name = &cur_link->dst_addr;
 
 			for (i=0; i<msg[msg_idx].msg_hdr.msg_iovlen; i++) {
 				cur_link->status.stats.tx_data_bytes += msg[msg_idx].msg_hdr.msg_iov[i].iov_len;
 			}
 			cur_link->status.stats.tx_data_packets++;
 			msg_idx++;
 		}
 
 retry:
 		cur = &msg[prev_sent];
 
 		sent_msgs = _sendmmsg(dst_host->link[dst_host->active_links[link_idx]].outsock,
 				      &cur[0], msgs_to_send - prev_sent, MSG_DONTWAIT | MSG_NOSIGNAL);
 		savederrno = errno;
 
 		err = knet_h->transport_ops[dst_host->link[dst_host->active_links[link_idx]].transport_type]->transport_tx_sock_error(knet_h, dst_host->link[dst_host->active_links[link_idx]].outsock, sent_msgs, savederrno);
 		switch(err) {
 			case -1: /* unrecoverable error */
 				cur_link->status.stats.tx_data_errors++;
 				goto out_unlock;
 				break;
 			case 0: /* ignore error and continue */
 				break;
 			case 1: /* retry to send those same data */
 				cur_link->status.stats.tx_data_retries++;
 				goto retry;
 				break;
 		}
 
 		prev_sent = prev_sent + sent_msgs;
 
 		if ((sent_msgs >= 0) && (prev_sent < msgs_to_send)) {
 			if ((sent_msgs) || (progress)) {
 				if (sent_msgs) {
 					progress = 1;
 				} else {
 					progress = 0;
 				}
 #ifdef DEBUG
 				log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to send all (%d/%d) data packets to host %s (%u) link %s:%s (%u)",
 					  sent_msgs, msg_idx,
 					  dst_host->name, dst_host->host_id,
 					  dst_host->link[dst_host->active_links[link_idx]].status.dst_ipaddr,
 					  dst_host->link[dst_host->active_links[link_idx]].status.dst_port,
 					  dst_host->link[dst_host->active_links[link_idx]].link_id);
 #endif
 				goto retry;
 			}
 			if (!progress) {
 				savederrno = EAGAIN;
 				err = -1;
 				goto out_unlock;
 			}
 		}
 
 		if ((dst_host->link_handler_policy == KNET_LINK_POLICY_RR) &&
 		    (dst_host->active_link_entries > 1)) {
 			uint8_t cur_link_id = dst_host->active_links[0];
 
 			memmove(&dst_host->active_links[0], &dst_host->active_links[1], KNET_MAX_LINK - 1);
 			dst_host->active_links[dst_host->active_link_entries - 1] = cur_link_id;
 
 			break;
 		}
 	}
 
 out_unlock:
 	errno = savederrno;
 	return err;
 }
 
 static int _parse_recv_from_sock(knet_handle_t knet_h, ssize_t inlen, int8_t channel, int is_sync)
 {
 	ssize_t outlen, frag_len;
 	struct knet_host *dst_host;
 	knet_node_id_t dst_host_ids_temp[KNET_MAX_HOST];
 	size_t dst_host_ids_entries_temp = 0;
 	knet_node_id_t dst_host_ids[KNET_MAX_HOST];
 	size_t dst_host_ids_entries = 0;
 	int bcast = 1;
 	struct knet_hostinfo *knet_hostinfo;
 	struct iovec iov_out[PCKT_FRAG_MAX][2];
 	int iovcnt_out = 2;
 	uint8_t frag_idx;
 	unsigned int temp_data_mtu;
 	size_t host_idx;
 	int send_mcast = 0;
 	struct knet_header *inbuf;
 	int savederrno = 0;
 	int err = 0;
 	seq_num_t tx_seq_num;
 	struct knet_mmsghdr msg[PCKT_FRAG_MAX];
 	int msgs_to_send, msg_idx;
 	unsigned int i;
 	int send_local = 0;
 
 	inbuf = knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf;
 
 	if ((knet_h->enabled != 1) &&
 	    (inbuf->kh_type != KNET_HEADER_TYPE_HOST_INFO)) { /* data forward is disabled */
 		log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Received data packet but forwarding is disabled");
 		savederrno = ECANCELED;
 		err = -1;
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}
 
 	/*
 	 * move this into a separate function to expand on
 	 * extra switching rules
 	 */
 	switch(inbuf->kh_type) {
 		case KNET_HEADER_TYPE_DATA:
 			if (knet_h->dst_host_filter_fn) {
 				bcast = knet_h->dst_host_filter_fn(
 						knet_h->dst_host_filter_fn_private_data,
 						(const unsigned char *)inbuf->khp_data_userdata,
 						inlen,
 						KNET_NOTIFY_TX,
 						knet_h->host_id,
 						knet_h->host_id,
 						&channel,
 						dst_host_ids_temp,
 						&dst_host_ids_entries_temp);
 				if (bcast < 0) {
 					log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Error from dst_host_filter_fn: %d", bcast);
 					savederrno = EFAULT;
 					err = -1;
 					goto out_unlock;
 				}
 
 				if ((!bcast) && (!dst_host_ids_entries_temp)) {
 					log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Message is unicast but no dst_host_ids_entries");
 					savederrno = EINVAL;
 					err = -1;
 					goto out_unlock;
 				}
 			}
 
 			/* Send to localhost if appropriate and enabled */
 			if (knet_h->has_loop_link) {
 				send_local = 0;
 				if (bcast) {
 					send_local = 1;
 				} else {
 					for (i=0; i< dst_host_ids_entries_temp; i++) {
 						if (dst_host_ids_temp[i] == knet_h->host_id) {
 							send_local = 1;
 						}
 					}
 				}
 				if (send_local) {
 					const unsigned char *buf = inbuf->khp_data_userdata;
 					ssize_t buflen = inlen;
 					struct knet_link *local_link;
 
 					local_link = knet_h->host_index[knet_h->host_id]->link;
 
 				local_retry:
 					err = write(knet_h->sockfd[channel].sockfd[knet_h->sockfd[channel].is_created], buf, buflen);
 					if (err < 0) {
 						log_err(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TRANSP_LOOPBACK, "send local failed. error=%s\n", strerror(errno));
 						local_link->status.stats.tx_data_errors++;
 					}
 					if (err > 0 && err < buflen) {
 						log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TRANSP_LOOPBACK, "send local incomplete=%d bytes of %ld\n", err, inlen);
 						local_link->status.stats.tx_data_retries++;
 						buf += err;
 						buflen -= err;
 						usleep(KNET_THREADS_TIMERES / 16);
 						goto local_retry;
 					}
 					if (err == buflen) {
 						local_link->status.stats.tx_data_packets++;
 						local_link->status.stats.tx_data_bytes += inlen;
 					}
 				}
 			}
 			break;
 		case KNET_HEADER_TYPE_HOST_INFO:
 			knet_hostinfo = (struct knet_hostinfo *)inbuf->khp_data_userdata;
 			if (knet_hostinfo->khi_bcast == KNET_HOSTINFO_UCAST) {
 				bcast = 0;
 				dst_host_ids_temp[0] = knet_hostinfo->khi_dst_node_id;
 				dst_host_ids_entries_temp = 1;
 				knet_hostinfo->khi_dst_node_id = htons(knet_hostinfo->khi_dst_node_id);
 			}
 			break;
 		default:
 			log_warn(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Receiving unknown messages from socket");
 			savederrno = ENOMSG;
 			err = -1;
 			goto out_unlock;
 			break;
 	}
 
 	if (is_sync) {
 		if ((bcast) ||
 		    ((!bcast) && (dst_host_ids_entries_temp > 1))) {
 			log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "knet_send_sync is only supported with unicast packets for one destination");
 			savederrno = E2BIG;
 			err = -1;
 			goto out_unlock;
 		}
 	}
 
 	/*
 	 * check destinations hosts before spending time
 	 * in fragmenting/encrypting packets to save
-	 * time processing data for unrechable hosts.
+	 * time processing data for unreachable hosts.
 	 * for unicast, also remap the destination data
 	 * to skip unreachable hosts.
 	 */
 
 	if (!bcast) {
 		dst_host_ids_entries = 0;
 		for (host_idx = 0; host_idx < dst_host_ids_entries_temp; host_idx++) {
 			dst_host = knet_h->host_index[dst_host_ids_temp[host_idx]];
 			if (!dst_host) {
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (dst_host->status.reachable) {
+			if (!(dst_host->host_id == knet_h->host_id &&
+			     knet_h->has_loop_link) &&
+			    dst_host->status.reachable) {
 				dst_host_ids[dst_host_ids_entries] = dst_host_ids_temp[host_idx];
 				dst_host_ids_entries++;
 			}
 		}
 		if (!dst_host_ids_entries) {
 			savederrno = EHOSTDOWN;
 			err = -1;
 			goto out_unlock;
 		}
 	} else {
 		send_mcast = 0;
 		for (dst_host = knet_h->host_head; dst_host != NULL; dst_host = dst_host->next) {
-			if (dst_host->status.reachable) {
+			if (!(dst_host->host_id == knet_h->host_id &&
+			      knet_h->has_loop_link) &&
+			    dst_host->status.reachable) {
 				send_mcast = 1;
 				break;
 			}
 		}
 		if (!send_mcast) {
 			savederrno = EHOSTDOWN;
 			err = -1;
 			goto out_unlock;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (!knet_h->data_mtu) {
 		/*
 		 * using MIN_MTU_V4 for data mtu is not completely accurate but safe enough
 		 */
 		log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX,
 			  "Received data packet but data MTU is still unknown."
 			  " Packet might not be delivered."
 			  " Assuming mininum IPv4 mtu (%d)",
 			  KNET_PMTUD_MIN_MTU_V4);
 		temp_data_mtu = KNET_PMTUD_MIN_MTU_V4;
 	} else {
 		/*
 		 * take a copy of the mtu to avoid value changing under
 		 * our feet while we are sending a fragmented pckt
 		 */
 		temp_data_mtu = knet_h->data_mtu;
 	}
 
 	/*
 	 * prepare the outgoing buffers
 	 */
 
 	frag_len = inlen;
 	frag_idx = 0;
 
 	inbuf->khp_data_bcast = bcast;
 	inbuf->khp_data_frag_num = ceil((float)inlen / temp_data_mtu);
 	inbuf->khp_data_channel = channel;
 
 	if (pthread_mutex_lock(&knet_h->tx_seq_num_mutex)) {
 		log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to get seq mutex lock");
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}
 	knet_h->tx_seq_num++;
 	/*
 	 * force seq_num 0 to detect a node that has crashed and rejoining
 	 * the knet instance. seq_num 0 will clear the buffers in the RX
 	 * thread
 	 */
 	if (knet_h->tx_seq_num == 0) {
 		knet_h->tx_seq_num++;
 	}
 	/*
 	 * cache the value in locked context
 	 */
 	tx_seq_num = knet_h->tx_seq_num;
 	inbuf->khp_data_seq_num = htons(knet_h->tx_seq_num);
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&knet_h->tx_seq_num_mutex);
 
 	/*
 	 * forcefully broadcast a ping to all nodes every SEQ_MAX / 8
 	 * pckts.
 	 * this solves 2 problems:
 	 * 1) on TX socket overloads we generate extra pings to keep links alive
 	 * 2) in 3+ nodes setup, where all the traffic is flowing between node 1 and 2,
 	 *    node 3+ will be able to keep in sync on the TX seq_num even without
 	 *    receiving traffic or pings in betweens. This avoids issues with
 	 *    rollover of the circular buffer
 	 */
 
 	if (tx_seq_num % (SEQ_MAX / 8) == 0) {
 		_send_pings(knet_h, 0);
 	}
 
 	if (inbuf->khp_data_frag_num > 1) {
 		while (frag_idx < inbuf->khp_data_frag_num) {
 			/*
 			 * set the iov_base
 			 */
 			iov_out[frag_idx][0].iov_base = (void *)knet_h->send_to_links_buf[frag_idx];
 			iov_out[frag_idx][0].iov_len = KNET_HEADER_DATA_SIZE;
 			iov_out[frag_idx][1].iov_base = inbuf->khp_data_userdata + (temp_data_mtu * frag_idx);
 
 			/*
 			 * set the len
 			 */
 			if (frag_len > temp_data_mtu) {
 				iov_out[frag_idx][1].iov_len = temp_data_mtu;
 			} else {
 				iov_out[frag_idx][1].iov_len = frag_len;
 			}
 
 			/*
 			 * copy the frag info on all buffers
 			 */
 			knet_h->send_to_links_buf[frag_idx]->kh_type = inbuf->kh_type;
 			knet_h->send_to_links_buf[frag_idx]->khp_data_seq_num = inbuf->khp_data_seq_num;
 			knet_h->send_to_links_buf[frag_idx]->khp_data_frag_num = inbuf->khp_data_frag_num;
 			knet_h->send_to_links_buf[frag_idx]->khp_data_bcast = inbuf->khp_data_bcast;
 			knet_h->send_to_links_buf[frag_idx]->khp_data_channel = inbuf->khp_data_channel;
 
 			frag_len = frag_len - temp_data_mtu;
 			frag_idx++;
 		}
 		iovcnt_out = 2;
 	} else {
 		iov_out[frag_idx][0].iov_base = (void *)inbuf;
 		iov_out[frag_idx][0].iov_len = frag_len + KNET_HEADER_DATA_SIZE;
 		iovcnt_out = 1;
 	}
 
 	if (knet_h->crypto_instance) {
 		frag_idx = 0;
 		while (frag_idx < inbuf->khp_data_frag_num) {
 			if (crypto_encrypt_and_signv(
 					knet_h,
 					iov_out[frag_idx], iovcnt_out,
 					knet_h->send_to_links_buf_crypt[frag_idx],
 					&outlen) < 0) {
 				log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to encrypt packet");
 				savederrno = ECHILD;
 				err = -1;
 				goto out_unlock;
 			}
 			iov_out[frag_idx][0].iov_base = knet_h->send_to_links_buf_crypt[frag_idx];
 			iov_out[frag_idx][0].iov_len = outlen;
 			frag_idx++;
 		}
 		iovcnt_out = 1;
 	}
 
 	memset(&msg, 0, sizeof(msg));
 
 	msgs_to_send = inbuf->khp_data_frag_num;
 
 	msg_idx = 0;
 
 	while (msg_idx < msgs_to_send) {
 		msg[msg_idx].msg_hdr.msg_namelen = sizeof(struct sockaddr_storage);
 		msg[msg_idx].msg_hdr.msg_iov = &iov_out[msg_idx][0];
 		msg[msg_idx].msg_hdr.msg_iovlen = iovcnt_out;
 		msg_idx++;
 	}
 
 	if (!bcast) {
 		for (host_idx = 0; host_idx < dst_host_ids_entries; host_idx++) {
 			dst_host = knet_h->host_index[dst_host_ids[host_idx]];
 
 			err = _dispatch_to_links(knet_h, dst_host, &msg[0], msgs_to_send);
 			savederrno = errno;
 			if (err) {
 				goto out_unlock;
 			}
 		}
 	} else {
 		for (dst_host = knet_h->host_head; dst_host != NULL; dst_host = dst_host->next) {
 			if (dst_host->status.reachable) {
 				err = _dispatch_to_links(knet_h, dst_host, &msg[0], msgs_to_send);
 				savederrno = errno;
 				if (err) {
 					goto out_unlock;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 out_unlock:
 	errno = savederrno;
 	return err;
 }
 
 int knet_send_sync(knet_handle_t knet_h, const char *buff, const size_t buff_len, const int8_t channel)
 {
 	int savederrno = 0, err = 0;
 
 	if (!knet_h) {
 		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (buff == NULL) {
 		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (buff_len <= 0) {
 		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (buff_len > KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE) {
 		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (channel < 0) {
 		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (channel >= KNET_DATAFD_MAX) {
 		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	savederrno = pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&knet_h->global_rwlock);
 	if (savederrno) {
 		log_err(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to get read lock: %s",
 			strerror(savederrno));
 		errno = savederrno;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (!knet_h->sockfd[channel].in_use) {
 		savederrno = EINVAL;
 		err = -1;
 		goto out;
 	}
 
 	savederrno = pthread_mutex_lock(&knet_h->tx_mutex);
 	if (savederrno) {
 		log_err(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to get TX mutex lock: %s",
 			strerror(savederrno));
 		err = -1;
 		goto out;
 	}
 
 	knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf->kh_type = KNET_HEADER_TYPE_DATA;
 	memmove(knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf->khp_data_userdata, buff, buff_len);
 	err = _parse_recv_from_sock(knet_h, buff_len, channel, 1);
 	savederrno = errno;
 
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&knet_h->tx_mutex);
 
 out:
 	pthread_rwlock_unlock(&knet_h->global_rwlock);
 
 	errno = savederrno;
 	return err;
 }
 
 static void _handle_send_to_links(knet_handle_t knet_h, struct msghdr *msg, int sockfd, int8_t channel, int type)
 {
 	ssize_t inlen = 0;
 	int savederrno = 0, docallback = 0;
 
 	if ((channel >= 0) &&
 	    (channel < KNET_DATAFD_MAX) &&
 	    (!knet_h->sockfd[channel].is_socket)) {
 		inlen = readv(sockfd, msg->msg_iov, 1);
 	} else {
 		inlen = recvmsg(sockfd, msg, MSG_DONTWAIT | MSG_NOSIGNAL);
 	}
 
 	if (inlen == 0) {
 		savederrno = 0;
 		docallback = 1;
 		goto out;
 	}
 	if (inlen < 0) {
 		savederrno = errno;
 		docallback = 1;
 		goto out;
 	}
 
 	knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf->kh_type = type;
 	_parse_recv_from_sock(knet_h, inlen, channel, 0);
 
 out:
 	if (inlen < 0) {
 		struct epoll_event ev;
 
 		memset(&ev, 0, sizeof(struct epoll_event));
 
 		if (epoll_ctl(knet_h->send_to_links_epollfd,
 			      EPOLL_CTL_DEL, knet_h->sockfd[channel].sockfd[knet_h->sockfd[channel].is_created], &ev)) {
 			log_err(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to del datafd %d from linkfd epoll pool: %s",
 				knet_h->sockfd[channel].sockfd[0], strerror(savederrno));
 		} else {
 			knet_h->sockfd[channel].has_error = 1;
 		}
 
 	}
 
 	if (docallback) {
 		knet_h->sock_notify_fn(knet_h->sock_notify_fn_private_data,
 				       knet_h->sockfd[channel].sockfd[0],
 				       channel,
 				       KNET_NOTIFY_TX,
 				       inlen,
 				       savederrno);
 	}
 }
 
 void *_handle_send_to_links_thread(void *data)
 {
 	knet_handle_t knet_h = (knet_handle_t) data;
 	struct epoll_event events[KNET_EPOLL_MAX_EVENTS];
 	int i, nev, type;
 	int8_t channel;
 	struct iovec iov_in;
 	struct msghdr msg;
 	struct sockaddr_storage address;
 
 	memset(&iov_in, 0, sizeof(iov_in));
 	iov_in.iov_base = (void *)knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf->khp_data_userdata;
 	iov_in.iov_len = KNET_MAX_PACKET_SIZE;
 
 	memset(&msg, 0, sizeof(struct msghdr));
 	msg.msg_name = &address;
 	msg.msg_namelen = sizeof(struct sockaddr_storage);
 	msg.msg_iov = &iov_in;
 	msg.msg_iovlen = 1;
 
 	knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf->kh_version = KNET_HEADER_VERSION;
 	knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf->khp_data_frag_seq = 0;
 	knet_h->recv_from_sock_buf->kh_node = htons(knet_h->host_id);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < PCKT_FRAG_MAX; i++) {
 		knet_h->send_to_links_buf[i]->kh_version = KNET_HEADER_VERSION;
 		knet_h->send_to_links_buf[i]->khp_data_frag_seq = i + 1;
 		knet_h->send_to_links_buf[i]->kh_node = htons(knet_h->host_id);
 	}
 
 	while (!shutdown_in_progress(knet_h)) {
 		nev = epoll_wait(knet_h->send_to_links_epollfd, events, KNET_EPOLL_MAX_EVENTS + 1, -1);
 
 		if (pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&knet_h->global_rwlock) != 0) {
 			log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to get read lock");
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		for (i = 0; i < nev; i++) {
 			if (events[i].data.fd == knet_h->hostsockfd[0]) {
 				type = KNET_HEADER_TYPE_HOST_INFO;
 				channel = -1;
 			} else {
 				type = KNET_HEADER_TYPE_DATA;
 				for (channel = 0; channel < KNET_DATAFD_MAX; channel++) {
 					if ((knet_h->sockfd[channel].in_use) &&
 					    (knet_h->sockfd[channel].sockfd[knet_h->sockfd[channel].is_created] == events[i].data.fd)) {
 						break;
 					}
 				}
 			}
 			if (pthread_mutex_lock(&knet_h->tx_mutex) != 0) {
 				log_debug(knet_h, KNET_SUB_TX, "Unable to get mutex lock");
 				continue;
 			}
 			_handle_send_to_links(knet_h, &msg, events[i].data.fd, channel, type);
 			pthread_mutex_unlock(&knet_h->tx_mutex);
 		}
 		pthread_rwlock_unlock(&knet_h->global_rwlock);
 	}
 
 	return NULL;
 }