diff --git a/scripts/base/frameworks/input/main.bro b/scripts/base/frameworks/input/main.bro
index 7e581070e6..445f947106 100644
--- a/scripts/base/frameworks/input/main.bro
+++ b/scripts/base/frameworks/input/main.bro
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ export {
 
 		## Read mode to use for this stream
 		mode: Mode &default=default_mode;
+
+		## Automatically start the input stream after the first filter has been added
+		autostart: bool &default=T;
 	};
 
 	## TableFilter description type used for the `add_tablefilter` method.
diff --git a/src/input/Manager.cc b/src/input/Manager.cc
index d4e5cdaee9..4438a07c6c 100644
--- a/src/input/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/input/Manager.cc
@@ -214,6 +214,10 @@ ReaderFrontend* Manager::CreateStream(EnumVal* id, RecordVal* description)
 	}
 
 	EnumVal* reader = description->LookupWithDefault(rtype->FieldOffset("reader"))->AsEnumVal();
+	EnumVal* mode = description->LookupWithDefault(rtype->FieldOffset("mode"))->AsEnumVal();
+	Val *autostart = description->LookupWithDefault(rtype->FieldOffset("autostart"));	
+	bool do_autostart = ( autostart->InternalInt() == 1 );
+	Unref(autostart); // Ref'd by LookupWithDefault
 	
 	ReaderFrontend* reader_obj = new ReaderFrontend(reader->InternalInt());
 	assert(reader_obj);
@@ -229,16 +233,7 @@ ReaderFrontend* Manager::CreateStream(EnumVal* id, RecordVal* description)
 
 	readers.push_back(info);
 
-	reader_obj->Init(source);
-	/* if ( success == false ) {
-		assert( RemoveStream(id) );
-		return 0;
-	} */
-	reader_obj->Update();
-	/* if ( success == false ) {
-		assert ( RemoveStream(id) );
-		return 0;
-	} */
+	reader_obj->Init(source, mode->InternalInt(), do_autostart);
 	
 	return reader_obj;
 	
@@ -785,7 +780,7 @@ int Manager::SendEntryTable(const ReaderFrontend* reader, const int id, const Va
 	//reporter->Error("Hashing %d val fields", i->num_val_fields);
 	HashKey* valhash = 0;
 	if ( filter->num_val_fields > 0 ) 
-		HashValues(filter->num_val_fields, vals+filter->num_idx_fields);
+		valhash = HashValues(filter->num_val_fields, vals+filter->num_idx_fields);
 
 	//reporter->Error("Result: %d", (uint64_t) valhash->Hash());
 	
@@ -794,6 +789,13 @@ int Manager::SendEntryTable(const ReaderFrontend* reader, const int id, const Va
 	InputHash *h = filter->lastDict->Lookup(idxhash);
 	if ( h != 0 ) {
 		// seen before
+		
+		valhash->Hash();
+		
+		h->valhash->Hash();
+		
+
+
 		if ( filter->num_val_fields == 0 || h->valhash->Hash() == valhash->Hash() ) {
 			// ok, exact duplicate
 			filter->lastDict->Remove(idxhash);
diff --git a/src/input/ReaderBackend.cc b/src/input/ReaderBackend.cc
index 5cb4fe34f2..cfc74d33a8 100644
--- a/src/input/ReaderBackend.cc
+++ b/src/input/ReaderBackend.cc
@@ -185,24 +185,42 @@ void ReaderBackend::SendEntry(int id, Value* *vals)
 	SendOut(new SendEntryMessage(frontend, id, vals));
 }
 
-bool ReaderBackend::Init(string arg_source) 
+bool ReaderBackend::Init(string arg_source, int mode, bool arg_autostart) 
 {
 	source = arg_source;
+	autostart = arg_autostart;
+	SetName("InputReader/"+source);
 
 	// disable if DoInit returns error.
-	disabled = !DoInit(arg_source);
+	disabled = !DoInit(arg_source, mode);
 
 	if ( disabled ) {
+		Error("Init failed");
 		DisableFrontend();
 	}
 
 	return !disabled;
 }
 
+bool ReaderBackend::StartReading() {
+	int success = DoStartReading();
+	
+	if ( success == false ) {
+		DisableFrontend();
+	} 
+
+	return success;
+}
+
 bool ReaderBackend::AddFilter(int id, int arg_num_fields,
 					   const Field* const * arg_fields) 
 {
-	return DoAddFilter(id, arg_num_fields, arg_fields);
+	bool success = DoAddFilter(id, arg_num_fields, arg_fields);
+	if ( success && autostart) {
+		autostart = false;
+		return StartReading();
+	}
+	return success;
 }
 
 bool ReaderBackend::RemoveFilter(int id) 
@@ -230,4 +248,12 @@ void ReaderBackend::DisableFrontend()
 	SendOut(new DisableMessage(frontend));
 }
 
+bool ReaderBackend::DoHeartbeat(double network_time, double current_time)
+{
+	MsgThread::DoHeartbeat(network_time, current_time);
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+
 }
diff --git a/src/input/ReaderBackend.h b/src/input/ReaderBackend.h
index c6fbaac715..e34db3e559 100644
--- a/src/input/ReaderBackend.h
+++ b/src/input/ReaderBackend.h
@@ -51,9 +51,24 @@ public:
 	 * @param fields An array of size \a num_fields with the log fields.
 	 * The methods takes ownership of the array.
 	 * 
+	 * @param mode the opening mode for the input source
+	 *
+	 * @param autostart automatically start the input source after the first filter has been added
+	 *
 	 * @return False if an error occured.
 	 */
-	bool Init(string arg_source);
+	bool Init(string arg_source, int mode, bool autostart);
+
+	/**
+	 * One-time start method of the reader.
+	 *
+	 * This method is called from the scripting layer, after all filters have been added.
+	 * No data should be read before this method is called.
+	 *
+	 * If autostart in Init is set to true, this method is called automatically by the backend after
+	 * the first filter has been added.
+	 */
+	bool StartReading();
 
 	/**
 	 * Add an input filter to the input stream
@@ -107,7 +122,8 @@ protected:
     	// Methods that have to be overwritten by the individual readers
 	
 	/**
-	 * Reader-specific intialization method.
+	 * Reader-specific intialization method. Note that data may only be read from the input source
+	 * after the Start function has been called.
 	 *
 	 * A reader implementation must override this method. If it returns
 	 * false, it will be assumed that a fatal error has occured that
@@ -115,7 +131,19 @@ protected:
 	 * disabled and eventually deleted. When returning false, an
 	 * implementation should also call Error() to indicate what happened.
 	 */
-	virtual bool DoInit(string arg_sources) = 0;
+	virtual bool DoInit(string arg_sources, int mode) = 0;
+
+	/**
+	 * Reader-specific start method. After this function has been called, data may be read from
+	 * the input source and be sent to the specified filters
+	 *
+	 * A reader implementation must override this method.
+	 * If it returns false, it will be assumed that a fatal error has occured
+	 * that prevents the reader from further operation; it will then be
+	 * disabled and eventually deleted. When returning false, an implementation
+	 * should also call Error to indicate what happened.
+	 */
+	virtual bool DoStartReading() = 0;
 
 	/**
 	 * Reader-specific method to add a filter.
@@ -225,7 +253,14 @@ protected:
 	 * @param id the input filter id for which the values are sent
 	 */
 	void EndCurrentSend(int id);
-	
+
+	/**
+	 * Triggered by regular heartbeat messages from the main thread.
+	 *
+	 * This method can be overridden but once must call
+	 * ReaderBackend::DoHeartbeat().
+	 */
+	virtual bool DoHeartbeat(double network_time, double current_time);	
 
 private:
 	// Frontend that instantiated us. This object must not be access from
@@ -238,7 +273,8 @@ private:
 
 	// For implementing Fmt().
 	char* buf;
-	unsigned int buf_len;    
+	unsigned int buf_len;
+	bool autostart;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/input/ReaderFrontend.cc b/src/input/ReaderFrontend.cc
index 0fdf90d9ad..f7fc23bf72 100644
--- a/src/input/ReaderFrontend.cc
+++ b/src/input/ReaderFrontend.cc
@@ -12,14 +12,16 @@ namespace input {
 class InitMessage : public threading::InputMessage<ReaderBackend>
 {
 public:
-	InitMessage(ReaderBackend* backend, const string source)
+	InitMessage(ReaderBackend* backend, const string source, const int mode, const bool autostart)
 		: threading::InputMessage<ReaderBackend>("Init", backend),
-		source(source) { }
+		source(source), mode(mode), autostart(autostart) { }
 
-	virtual bool Process() { return Object()->Init(source); }
+	virtual bool Process() { return Object()->Init(source, mode, autostart); }
 
 private:
 	const string source;
+	const int mode;
+	const bool autostart;
 };
 
 class UpdateMessage : public threading::InputMessage<ReaderBackend>
@@ -42,6 +44,16 @@ public:
 	virtual bool Process() { Object()->Finish(); return true; }
 };
 
+class StartReadingMessage : public threading::InputMessage<ReaderBackend>
+{
+public:
+	StartReadingMessage(ReaderBackend* backend)
+		: threading::InputMessage<ReaderBackend>("StartReading", backend)
+		 { }
+
+	virtual bool Process() { Object()->StartReading(); return true; }
+};
+
 class AddFilterMessage : public threading::InputMessage<ReaderBackend>
 {
 public:
@@ -83,17 +95,17 @@ ReaderFrontend::ReaderFrontend(bro_int_t type) {
 ReaderFrontend::~ReaderFrontend() {
 }
 
-void ReaderFrontend::Init(string arg_source) {
+void ReaderFrontend::Init(string arg_source, int mode, bool autostart) {
 	if ( disabled )
 		return;
 
 	if ( initialized )
-		reporter->InternalError("writer initialize twice");
+		reporter->InternalError("reader initialize twice");
 
 	source = arg_source;
 	initialized = true;
 
-	backend->SendIn(new InitMessage(backend, arg_source));
+	backend->SendIn(new InitMessage(backend, arg_source, mode, autostart));
 } 
 
 void ReaderFrontend::Update() {
@@ -132,6 +144,13 @@ string ReaderFrontend::Name() const
 	return ty_name + "/" + source;
 }
 
+void ReaderFrontend::StartReading() {
+	if ( disabled ) 
+		return;
+
+	backend->SendIn(new StartReadingMessage(backend));
+}
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/input/ReaderFrontend.h b/src/input/ReaderFrontend.h
index c29071612d..d67ca299c0 100644
--- a/src/input/ReaderFrontend.h
+++ b/src/input/ReaderFrontend.h
@@ -49,7 +49,18 @@ public:
 	 * See ReaderBackend::Init() for arguments.
 	 * This method must only be called from the main thread.
 	 */	
-	void Init(string arg_source);
+	void Init(string arg_source, int mode, bool autostart);
+
+	/**
+	 * Start the reader.
+	 *
+	 * This methods starts the reader, after all necessary filters have been added.
+	 * It is not necessary to call this function, if autostart has been set.
+	 * If autostart has been set, the reader will be initialized automatically after the first filter has been added
+	 *
+	 * This method must only be called from the main thread.
+	 */
+	void StartReading();
 
 	/**
 	 * Force an update of the current input source. Actual action depends on
diff --git a/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc b/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc
index 095d74bf11..cd1723e5e4 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc
+++ b/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc
@@ -8,10 +8,14 @@
 
 #include "../../threading/SerializationTypes.h"
 
+#define MANUAL 0
+#define REREAD 1
+
 using namespace input::reader;
 using threading::Value;
 using threading::Field;
 
+
 FieldMapping::FieldMapping(const string& arg_name, const TypeTag& arg_type, int arg_position) 
 	: name(arg_name), type(arg_type)
 {
@@ -75,16 +79,41 @@ void Ascii::DoFinish()
 	}
 }
 
-bool Ascii::DoInit(string path)
+bool Ascii::DoInit(string path, int arg_mode)
 {
+	started = false;
 	fname = path;
+	mode = arg_mode;
 	
 	file = new ifstream(path.c_str());
 	if ( !file->is_open() ) {
-		Error(Fmt("cannot open %s", fname.c_str()));
+		Error(Fmt("Init: cannot open %s", fname.c_str()));
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	if ( ( mode != MANUAL ) && (mode != REREAD) ) {
+		Error(Fmt("Unsupported read mode %d for source %s", mode, path.c_str()));
+		return false;
+	} 	
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+bool Ascii::DoStartReading() {
+	if ( started == true ) {
+		Error("Started twice");
+		return false;
+	}	
+
+	started = true;
+	switch ( mode ) {
+		case MANUAL:
+			DoUpdate();
+			break;
+		default:
+			assert(false);
+	}
+
 	return true;
 }
 
@@ -132,7 +161,7 @@ bool Ascii::ReadHeader() {
 
 	map<string, uint32_t> fields;
 
-	// construcr list of field names.
+	// construct list of field names.
 	istringstream splitstream(line);
 	int pos=0;
 	while ( splitstream ) {
@@ -146,6 +175,7 @@ bool Ascii::ReadHeader() {
 
 
 	for ( map<int, Filter>::iterator it = filters.begin(); it != filters.end(); it++ ) {
+		(*it).second.columnMap.clear();
 			
 		for ( unsigned int i = 0; i < (*it).second.num_fields; i++ ) {
 			const Field* field = (*it).second.fields[i];
@@ -372,7 +402,6 @@ Value* Ascii::EntryToVal(string s, FieldMapping field) {
 
 // read the entire file and send appropriate thingies back to InputMgr
 bool Ascii::DoUpdate() {
-	 
 	// dirty, fix me. (well, apparently after trying seeking, etc - this is not that bad)
 	if ( file && file->is_open() ) {
 		file->close();
@@ -418,6 +447,7 @@ bool Ascii::DoUpdate() {
 				fit != (*it).second.columnMap.end();
 				fit++ ){
 
+
 				if ( (*fit).position > pos || (*fit).secondary_position > pos ) {
 					Error(Fmt("Not enough fields in line %s. Found %d fields, want positions %d and %d", line.c_str(), pos,  (*fit).position, (*fit).secondary_position));
 					return false;
@@ -455,6 +485,7 @@ bool Ascii::DoUpdate() {
 
 	}
 
+
 	//file->clear(); // remove end of file evil bits
 	//file->seekg(0, ios::beg); // and seek to start.
 
@@ -463,3 +494,22 @@ bool Ascii::DoUpdate() {
 	}
 	return true;
 }
+
+bool Ascii::DoHeartbeat(double network_time, double current_time)
+{
+	ReaderBackend::DoHeartbeat(network_time, current_time);
+
+	switch ( mode ) {
+		case MANUAL:
+			// yay, we do nothing :)
+			break;
+		case REREAD:
+
+
+		default:
+			assert(false);
+	}
+
+	return true;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/input/readers/Ascii.h b/src/input/readers/Ascii.h
index a3bf5c21a6..766716e29d 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/Ascii.h
+++ b/src/input/readers/Ascii.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public:
     
 protected:
 	
-	virtual bool DoInit(string path);
+	virtual bool DoInit(string path, int mode);
 
 	virtual bool DoAddFilter( int id, int arg_num_fields, const threading::Field* const* fields );
 
@@ -48,9 +48,13 @@ protected:
 	virtual void DoFinish();
 
 	virtual bool DoUpdate();
+
+	virtual bool DoStartReading();
     
 private:
 
+	virtual bool DoHeartbeat(double network_time, double current_time);
+
 	struct Filter {
 		unsigned int num_fields;
 
@@ -84,6 +88,10 @@ private:
 
 	string unset_field;
 
+	int mode;
+
+	bool started;
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/threading/Manager.cc b/src/threading/Manager.cc
index 7b571e753c..472d10139a 100644
--- a/src/threading/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/threading/Manager.cc
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ void Manager::Process()
 
 		Message* msg = t->RetrieveOut();
 
-		if ( msg->Process() && network_time )
+		if ( msg->Process() ) //&& network_time ) // FIXME: ask robin again if he needs this. makes input interface not work in bro_init.
 			did_process = true;
 
 		else
diff --git a/src/types.bif b/src/types.bif
index 1529319197..e2a47a7ece 100644
--- a/src/types.bif
+++ b/src/types.bif
@@ -186,9 +186,9 @@ enum ID %{
 %}
 
 enum Mode %{
-	MANUAL,
-	REREAD,
-	STREAM,
+	MANUAL = 0,
+	REREAD = 1,
+	STREAM = 2,
 %}
 
 module GLOBAL;
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/basic.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/basic.bro
index 3b75220625..156898edca 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/basic.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/basic.bro
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ event bro_init()
 	# first read in the old stuff into the table...
 	Input::create_stream(A::INPUT, [$source="input.log"]);
 	Input::add_tablefilter(A::INPUT, [$name="ssh", $idx=Idx, $val=Val, $destination=servers]);
-	Input::force_update(A::INPUT);
 	Input::remove_tablefilter(A::INPUT, "ssh");
 	Input::remove_stream(A::INPUT);
 }
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/event.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/event.bro
index a07f0934a0..41eba1613c 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/event.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/event.bro
@@ -38,5 +38,4 @@ event bro_init()
 {
 	Input::create_stream(A::INPUT, [$source="input.log"]);
 	Input::add_eventfilter(A::INPUT, [$name="input", $fields=Val, $ev=line]);
-	Input::force_update(A::INPUT);
 }
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-norecord.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-norecord.bro
index 712a877960..bcbba05a3e 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-norecord.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-norecord.bro
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ event bro_init()
 	# first read in the old stuff into the table...
 	Input::create_stream(A::INPUT, [$source="input.log"]);
 	Input::add_tablefilter(A::INPUT, [$name="input", $idx=Idx, $val=Val, $destination=servers, $want_record=F]);
-	Input::force_update(A::INPUT);
 }
 
 event Input::update_finished(id: Input::ID) {
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-record.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-record.bro
index 7b62ddcddd..1c532ba6a9 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-record.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/onecolumn-record.bro
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ event bro_init()
 	# first read in the old stuff into the table...
 	Input::create_stream(A::INPUT, [$source="input.log"]);
 	Input::add_tablefilter(A::INPUT, [$name="input", $idx=Idx, $val=Val, $destination=servers]);
-	Input::force_update(A::INPUT);
 }
 
 event Input::update_finished(id: Input::ID) {
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/port.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/port.bro
index 65d73c54f7..801d6bac3f 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/port.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/port.bro
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ event bro_init()
 	# first read in the old stuff into the table...
 	Input::create_stream(A::INPUT, [$source="input.log"]);
 	Input::add_tablefilter(A::INPUT, [$name="input", $idx=Idx, $val=Val, $destination=servers]);
-	Input::force_update(A::INPUT);
 	print servers[1.2.3.4];
 	print servers[1.2.3.5];
 	print servers[1.2.3.6];
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/predicate.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/predicate.bro
index bc1ab89bb2..009911e6a8 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/predicate.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/predicate.bro
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ event bro_init()
 	Input::add_tablefilter(A::INPUT, [$name="input", $idx=Idx, $val=Val, $destination=servers, $want_record=F,
 				$pred(typ: Input::Event, left: Idx, right: bool) = { return right; }
 				]);
-	Input::force_update(A::INPUT);
 }
 
 event Input::update_finished(id: Input::ID) {
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/tableevent.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/tableevent.bro
index 36e8171689..0c86ac94b8 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/tableevent.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/tableevent.bro
@@ -44,5 +44,4 @@ event bro_init()
 {
 	Input::create_stream(A::LOG, [$source="input.log"]);
 	Input::add_tablefilter(A::LOG, [$name="input", $idx=Idx, $val=Val, $destination=destination, $want_record=F,$ev=line]);
-	Input::force_update(A::LOG);
 }
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/twofilters.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/twofilters.bro
index d5bff0c5bb..260f73e58f 100644
--- a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/twofilters.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/input/twofilters.bro
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ global done: bool = F;
 event bro_init()
 {
 	# first read in the old stuff into the table...
-	Input::create_stream(A::INPUT, [$source="input.log"]);
+	Input::create_stream(A::INPUT, [$source="input.log", $autostart=F]);
 	Input::add_tablefilter(A::INPUT, [$name="input", $idx=Idx, $val=Val, $destination=destination1, $want_record=F,
 				$pred(typ: Input::Event, left: Idx, right: bool) = { return right; }
 				]);