diff --git a/server/src/engine/fractal/test_utils.rs b/server/src/engine/fractal/test_utils.rs
index 69e52c42..018ee678 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/fractal/test_utils.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/fractal/test_utils.rs
@@ -32,10 +32,13 @@ use {
     crate::engine::{
         core::GlobalNS,
         data::uuid::Uuid,
-        storage::v1::{
-            header_meta::HostRunMode,
-            memfs::{NullFS, VirtualFS},
-            RawFSInterface,
+        storage::{
+            self,
+            v1::{
+                header_meta::HostRunMode,
+                memfs::{NullFS, VirtualFS},
+                RawFSInterface,
+            },
         },
         txn::gns::GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS,
     },
@@ -75,15 +78,10 @@ impl<Fs: RawFSInterface> TestGlobal<Fs> {
 impl<Fs: RawFSInterface> TestGlobal<Fs> {
     pub fn new_with_driver_id(log_name: &str) -> Self {
         let gns = GlobalNS::empty();
-        let driver = GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS::open_or_reinit_with_name(
-            &gns,
-            log_name,
-            0,
-            HostRunMode::Prod,
-            0,
-        )
-        .unwrap();
-        Self::new(gns, 0, driver)
+        let driver = storage::v1::loader::open_gns_driver(log_name, 0, HostRunMode::Dev, 0, &gns)
+            .unwrap()
+            .into_inner();
+        Self::new(gns, 0, GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS::new(driver))
     }
 }
 
@@ -128,13 +126,13 @@ impl<Fs: RawFSInterface> GlobalInstanceLike for TestGlobal<Fs> {
         space_uuid: Uuid,
         model_name: &str,
         model_uuid: Uuid,
-    ) -> crate::engine::storage::v1::SDSSResult<()> {
+    ) -> storage::v1::SDSSResult<()> {
         // create model dir
-        Fs::fs_create_dir(&crate::engine::storage::v1::loader::SEInitState::model_dir(
+        Fs::fs_create_dir(&storage::v1::loader::SEInitState::model_dir(
             space_name, space_uuid, model_name, model_uuid,
         ))?;
-        let driver = crate::engine::storage::v1::data_batch::create(
-            &crate::engine::storage::v1::loader::SEInitState::model_path(
+        let driver = storage::v1::data_batch::create(
+            &storage::v1::loader::SEInitState::model_path(
                 space_name, space_uuid, model_name, model_uuid,
             ),
             self.sys_cfg().host_data().settings_version(),
diff --git a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/journal.rs b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/journal.rs
index 7336b932..07a4bc3e 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/journal.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/journal.rs
@@ -41,12 +41,10 @@
   - FIXME(@ohsayan): we will probably (naively) need to dynamically reposition the cursor in case the metadata is corrupted as well
 */
 
-use super::rw::RawFSInterface;
-
 use {
     super::{
         header_impl::{FileSpecifierVersion, HostRunMode, SDSSHeaderRaw},
-        rw::{FileOpen, SDSSFileIO},
+        rw::{FileOpen, RawFSInterface, SDSSFileIO},
         SDSSError, SDSSResult,
     },
     crate::{
@@ -59,34 +57,6 @@ use {
 const CRC: crc::Crc<u32> = crc::Crc::<u32>::new(&crc::CRC_32_ISO_HDLC);
 const RECOVERY_BLOCK_AUTO_THRESHOLD: usize = 5;
 
-/// A journal to `/dev/null` (app. level impl)
-#[cfg(test)]
-pub fn null_journal<TA: JournalAdapter>(
-    log_file_name: &str,
-    log_kind: FileSpecifier,
-    log_kind_version: FileSpecifierVersion,
-    host_setting_version: u32,
-    host_run_mode: HostRunMode,
-    host_startup_counter: u64,
-    _: &TA::GlobalState,
-) -> JournalWriter<super::memfs::NullFS, TA> {
-    let FileOpen::Created(journal) =
-        SDSSFileIO::<super::memfs::NullFS>::open_or_create_perm_rw::<false>(
-            log_file_name,
-            FileScope::Journal,
-            log_kind,
-            log_kind_version,
-            host_setting_version,
-            host_run_mode,
-            host_startup_counter,
-        )
-        .unwrap()
-    else {
-        panic!()
-    };
-    JournalWriter::new(journal, 0, true).unwrap()
-}
-
 pub fn open_journal<TA: JournalAdapter, Fs: RawFSInterface>(
     log_file_name: &str,
     log_kind: FileSpecifier,
@@ -95,7 +65,7 @@ pub fn open_journal<TA: JournalAdapter, Fs: RawFSInterface>(
     host_run_mode: HostRunMode,
     host_startup_counter: u64,
     gs: &TA::GlobalState,
-) -> SDSSResult<JournalWriter<Fs, TA>> {
+) -> SDSSResult<FileOpen<JournalWriter<Fs, TA>>> {
     macro_rules! open_file {
         ($modify:literal) => {
             SDSSFileIO::<Fs>::open_or_create_perm_rw::<$modify>(
@@ -116,11 +86,13 @@ pub fn open_journal<TA: JournalAdapter, Fs: RawFSInterface>(
         open_file!(true)
     }?;
     let file = match f {
-        FileOpen::Created(f) => return JournalWriter::new(f, 0, true),
-        FileOpen::Existing(file, _) => file,
+        FileOpen::Created(f) => return Ok(FileOpen::Created(JournalWriter::new(f, 0, true)?)),
+        FileOpen::Existing((file, _header)) => file,
     };
     let (file, last_txn) = JournalReader::<TA, Fs>::scroll(file, gs)?;
-    JournalWriter::new(file, last_txn, false)
+    Ok(FileOpen::Existing(JournalWriter::new(
+        file, last_txn, false,
+    )?))
 }
 
 /// The journal adapter
diff --git a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/loader.rs b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/loader.rs
index 1fad9678..b73c6fef 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/loader.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/loader.rs
@@ -28,13 +28,20 @@ use crate::engine::{
     core::GlobalNS,
     data::uuid::Uuid,
     fractal::{FractalModelDriver, ModelDrivers, ModelUniqueID},
-    storage::v1::{batch_jrnl, header_meta::HostRunMode, LocalFS, SDSSErrorContext, SDSSResult},
-    txn::gns::GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS,
+    storage::v1::{
+        batch_jrnl, header_meta,
+        journal::{self, JournalWriter},
+        rw::{FileOpen, RawFSInterface},
+        LocalFS, SDSSErrorContext, SDSSResult,
+    },
+    txn::gns::{GNSAdapter, GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS},
 };
 
 const GNS_FILE_PATH: &str = "gns.db-tlog";
+const GNS_LOG_VERSION_CODE: u32 = 0;
 
 pub struct SEInitState {
+    pub new_instance: bool,
     pub txn_driver: GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS<super::LocalFS>,
     pub model_drivers: ModelDrivers<LocalFS>,
     pub gns: GlobalNS,
@@ -42,11 +49,13 @@ pub struct SEInitState {
 
 impl SEInitState {
     pub fn new(
+        new_instance: bool,
         txn_driver: GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS<super::LocalFS>,
         model_drivers: ModelDrivers<LocalFS>,
         gns: GlobalNS,
     ) -> Self {
         Self {
+            new_instance,
             txn_driver,
             model_drivers,
             gns,
@@ -54,37 +63,47 @@ impl SEInitState {
     }
     pub fn try_init(
         host_setting_version: u32,
-        host_run_mode: HostRunMode,
+        host_run_mode: header_meta::HostRunMode,
         host_startup_counter: u64,
     ) -> SDSSResult<Self> {
         let gns = GlobalNS::empty();
-        let gns_txn_driver = GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS::<LocalFS>::open_or_reinit_with_name(
-            &gns,
+        let gns_txn_driver = open_gns_driver(
             GNS_FILE_PATH,
             host_setting_version,
             host_run_mode,
             host_startup_counter,
+            &gns,
         )?;
+        let new_instance = gns_txn_driver.is_created();
         let mut model_drivers = ModelDrivers::new();
-        for (space_name, space) in gns.spaces().read().iter() {
-            let space_uuid = space.get_uuid();
-            for (model_name, model) in space.models().read().iter() {
-                let path = Self::model_path(space_name, space_uuid, model_name, model.get_uuid());
-                let persist_driver = match batch_jrnl::reinit(&path, model) {
-                    Ok(j) => j,
-                    Err(e) => {
-                        return Err(e.with_extra(format!(
-                            "failed to restore model data from journal in `{path}`"
-                        )))
-                    }
-                };
-                let _ = model_drivers.insert(
-                    ModelUniqueID::new(space_name, model_name, model.get_uuid()),
-                    FractalModelDriver::init(persist_driver),
-                );
+        if !new_instance {
+            // this is an existing instance, so read in all data
+            for (space_name, space) in gns.spaces().read().iter() {
+                let space_uuid = space.get_uuid();
+                for (model_name, model) in space.models().read().iter() {
+                    let path =
+                        Self::model_path(space_name, space_uuid, model_name, model.get_uuid());
+                    let persist_driver = match batch_jrnl::reinit(&path, model) {
+                        Ok(j) => j,
+                        Err(e) => {
+                            return Err(e.with_extra(format!(
+                                "failed to restore model data from journal in `{path}`"
+                            )))
+                        }
+                    };
+                    let _ = model_drivers.insert(
+                        ModelUniqueID::new(space_name, model_name, model.get_uuid()),
+                        FractalModelDriver::init(persist_driver),
+                    );
+                }
             }
         }
-        Ok(SEInitState::new(gns_txn_driver, model_drivers, gns))
+        Ok(SEInitState::new(
+            new_instance,
+            GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS::new(gns_txn_driver.into_inner()),
+            model_drivers,
+            gns,
+        ))
     }
     pub fn model_path(
         space_name: &str,
@@ -109,3 +128,21 @@ impl SEInitState {
         format!("data/{space_name}-{space_uuid}")
     }
 }
+
+pub fn open_gns_driver<Fs: RawFSInterface>(
+    path: &str,
+    host_setting_version: u32,
+    host_run_mode: header_meta::HostRunMode,
+    host_startup_counter: u64,
+    gns: &GlobalNS,
+) -> SDSSResult<FileOpen<JournalWriter<Fs, GNSAdapter>>> {
+    journal::open_journal::<GNSAdapter, Fs>(
+        path,
+        header_meta::FileSpecifier::GNSTxnLog,
+        header_meta::FileSpecifierVersion::__new(GNS_LOG_VERSION_CODE),
+        host_setting_version,
+        host_run_mode,
+        host_startup_counter,
+        gns,
+    )
+}
diff --git a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/memfs.rs b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/memfs.rs
index adce7539..9dd11fa9 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/memfs.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/memfs.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ use {
     crate::engine::{
         storage::v1::{
             rw::{
-                RawFSInterface, RawFileInterface, RawFileInterfaceExt, RawFileInterfaceRead,
-                RawFileInterfaceWrite, RawFileInterfaceWriteExt, RawFileOpen,
+                FileOpen, RawFSInterface, RawFileInterface, RawFileInterfaceExt,
+                RawFileInterfaceRead, RawFileInterfaceWrite, RawFileInterfaceWriteExt,
             },
             SDSSResult,
         },
@@ -123,10 +123,10 @@ impl RawFSInterface for VirtualFS {
         // create new file
         let file = VirtualFS::fs_fopen_or_create_rw(to)?;
         match file {
-            RawFileOpen::Created(mut c) => {
+            FileOpen::Created(mut c) => {
                 c.fw_write_all(&data)?;
             }
-            RawFileOpen::Existing(mut e) => {
+            FileOpen::Existing(mut e) => {
                 e.fw_truncate_to(0)?;
                 e.fw_write_all(&data)?;
             }
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ impl RawFSInterface for VirtualFS {
     fn fs_delete_dir_all(fpath: &str) -> super::SDSSResult<()> {
         delete_dir(fpath, true)
     }
-    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(fpath: &str) -> super::SDSSResult<super::rw::RawFileOpen<Self::File>> {
+    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(fpath: &str) -> super::SDSSResult<super::rw::FileOpen<Self::File>> {
         let mut vfs = VFS.write();
         // components
         let (target_file, components) = split_target_and_components(fpath);
@@ -213,13 +213,13 @@ impl RawFSInterface for VirtualFS {
                 VNode::File(f) => {
                     f.read = true;
                     f.write = true;
-                    Ok(RawFileOpen::Existing(VFileDescriptor(fpath.into())))
+                    Ok(FileOpen::Existing(VFileDescriptor(fpath.into())))
                 }
                 VNode::Dir(_) => return err_item_is_not_file(),
             },
             Entry::Vacant(v) => {
                 v.insert(VNode::File(VFile::new(true, true, vec![], 0)));
-                Ok(RawFileOpen::Created(VFileDescriptor(fpath.into())))
+                Ok(FileOpen::Created(VFileDescriptor(fpath.into())))
             }
         }
     }
@@ -535,8 +535,8 @@ impl RawFSInterface for NullFS {
     fn fs_delete_dir_all(_: &str) -> SDSSResult<()> {
         Ok(())
     }
-    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(_: &str) -> SDSSResult<RawFileOpen<Self::File>> {
-        Ok(RawFileOpen::Created(NullFile))
+    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(_: &str) -> SDSSResult<FileOpen<Self::File>> {
+        Ok(FileOpen::Created(NullFile))
     }
     fn fs_fopen_rw(_: &str) -> SDSSResult<Self::File> {
         Ok(NullFile)
diff --git a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/rw.rs b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/rw.rs
index b040f142..fbabc1b8 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/rw.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/rw.rs
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@
  *
 */
 
-use std::marker::PhantomData;
-
 use {
     super::{
         header_impl::{
@@ -40,35 +38,45 @@ use {
     std::{
         fs::{self, File},
         io::{BufReader, BufWriter, Read, Seek, SeekFrom, Write},
+        marker::PhantomData,
     },
 };
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 /// Log whether
-pub enum FileOpen<F> {
-    Created(F),
-    Existing(F, SDSSHeader),
+pub enum FileOpen<CF, EF = CF> {
+    Created(CF),
+    Existing(EF),
 }
 
-impl<F> FileOpen<F> {
-    pub fn into_existing(self) -> Option<(F, SDSSHeader)> {
+impl<CF, EF> FileOpen<CF, EF> {
+    pub const fn is_created(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::Created(_))
+    }
+    pub const fn is_existing(&self) -> bool {
+        !self.is_created()
+    }
+    pub fn into_existing(self) -> Option<EF> {
         match self {
-            Self::Existing(f, h) => Some((f, h)),
+            Self::Existing(e) => Some(e),
             Self::Created(_) => None,
         }
     }
-    pub fn into_created(self) -> Option<F> {
+    pub fn into_created(self) -> Option<CF> {
         match self {
             Self::Created(f) => Some(f),
-            Self::Existing(_, _) => None,
+            Self::Existing(_) => None,
         }
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub enum RawFileOpen<F> {
-    Created(F),
-    Existing(F),
+impl<F> FileOpen<F> {
+    pub fn into_inner(self) -> F {
+        match self {
+            Self::Created(f) => f,
+            Self::Existing(f) => f,
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// The specification for a file system interface (our own abstraction over the fs)
@@ -94,7 +102,7 @@ pub trait RawFSInterface {
     /// This will:
     /// - Create a file if it doesn't exist
     /// - Open a file it it does exist
-    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(fpath: &str) -> SDSSResult<RawFileOpen<Self::File>>;
+    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(fpath: &str) -> SDSSResult<FileOpen<Self::File>>;
     /// Open an existing file
     fn fs_fopen_rw(fpath: &str) -> SDSSResult<Self::File>;
     /// Create a new file
@@ -179,7 +187,7 @@ impl RawFSInterface for LocalFS {
     fn fs_delete_dir_all(fpath: &str) -> SDSSResult<()> {
         cvt(fs::remove_dir_all(fpath))
     }
-    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(fpath: &str) -> SDSSResult<RawFileOpen<Self::File>> {
+    fn fs_fopen_or_create_rw(fpath: &str) -> SDSSResult<FileOpen<Self::File>> {
         let f = File::options()
             .create(true)
             .read(true)
@@ -187,9 +195,9 @@ impl RawFSInterface for LocalFS {
             .open(fpath)?;
         let md = f.metadata()?;
         if md.len() == 0 {
-            Ok(RawFileOpen::Created(f))
+            Ok(FileOpen::Created(f))
         } else {
-            Ok(RawFileOpen::Existing(f))
+            Ok(FileOpen::Existing(f))
         }
     }
     fn fs_fcreate_rw(fpath: &str) -> SDSSResult<Self::File> {
@@ -485,10 +493,10 @@ impl<Fs: RawFSInterface> SDSSFileIO<Fs> {
         host_setting_version: u32,
         host_run_mode: HostRunMode,
         host_startup_counter: u64,
-    ) -> SDSSResult<FileOpen<Self>> {
+    ) -> SDSSResult<FileOpen<Self, (Self, SDSSHeader)>> {
         let f = Fs::fs_fopen_or_create_rw(file_path)?;
         match f {
-            RawFileOpen::Created(f) => {
+            FileOpen::Created(f) => {
                 let f = Self::_sdss_fcreate(
                     file_scope,
                     file_specifier,
@@ -500,14 +508,14 @@ impl<Fs: RawFSInterface> SDSSFileIO<Fs> {
                 )?;
                 Ok(FileOpen::Created(f))
             }
-            RawFileOpen::Existing(f) => {
+            FileOpen::Existing(f) => {
                 let (f, header) = Self::_sdss_fopen::<REWRITE_MODIFY_COUNTER>(
                     f,
                     file_scope,
                     file_specifier,
                     file_specifier_version,
                 )?;
-                Ok(FileOpen::Existing(header, f))
+                Ok(FileOpen::Existing((header, f)))
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/batch.rs b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/batch.rs
index 5f63a1ef..e38d4113 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/batch.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/batch.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ fn pkey(v: impl Into<Datacell>) -> PrimaryIndexKey {
     PrimaryIndexKey::try_from_dc(v.into()).unwrap()
 }
 
-fn open_file(fpath: &str) -> FileOpen<SDSSFileIO<VirtualFS>> {
+fn open_file(
+    fpath: &str,
+) -> FileOpen<SDSSFileIO<VirtualFS>, (SDSSFileIO<VirtualFS>, super::super::header_impl::SDSSHeader)>
+{
     SDSSFileIO::open_or_create_perm_rw::<false>(
         fpath,
         FileScope::DataBatch,
@@ -71,7 +74,7 @@ fn open_file(fpath: &str) -> FileOpen<SDSSFileIO<VirtualFS>> {
 fn open_batch_data(fpath: &str, mdl: &Model) -> DataBatchPersistDriver<VirtualFS> {
     match open_file(fpath) {
         FileOpen::Created(f) => DataBatchPersistDriver::new(f, true),
-        FileOpen::Existing(f, _) => {
+        FileOpen::Existing((f, _header)) => {
             let mut dbr = DataBatchRestoreDriver::new(f).unwrap();
             dbr.read_data_batch_into_model(mdl).unwrap();
             DataBatchPersistDriver::new(dbr.into_file(), false)
diff --git a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/rw.rs b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/rw.rs
index ff70d03a..4df4ce87 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/rw.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/rw.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ fn create_delete() {
         )
         .unwrap();
         match f {
-            FileOpen::Existing(_, _) => panic!(),
+            FileOpen::Existing(_) => panic!(),
             FileOpen::Created(_) => {}
         };
     }
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ fn create_delete() {
     )
     .unwrap();
     let h = match open {
-        FileOpen::Existing(_, header) => header,
+        FileOpen::Existing((_, header)) => header,
         _ => panic!(),
     };
     assert_eq!(h.gr_mdr().file_scope(), FileScope::Journal);
diff --git a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/tx.rs b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/tx.rs
index 01c24403..5bf01ec0 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/tx.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/storage/v1/tests/tx.rs
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ fn open_log(
         1,
         &db,
     )
+    .map(|v| v.into_inner())
 }
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/server/src/engine/txn/gns/mod.rs b/server/src/engine/txn/gns/mod.rs
index 85905315..07479d46 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/txn/gns/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/engine/txn/gns/mod.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ use {
             data::uuid::Uuid,
             mem::BufferedScanner,
             storage::v1::{
-                self, header_meta,
                 inf::{self, PersistObject},
                 JournalAdapter, JournalWriter, LocalFS, RawFSInterface, SDSSResult,
             },
@@ -64,35 +63,18 @@ pub type GNSTransactionDriverNullZero =
 #[cfg(test)]
 pub type GNSTransactionDriverVFS = GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS<VirtualFS>;
 
-const CURRENT_LOG_VERSION: u32 = 0;
-
 /// The GNS transaction driver is used to handle DDL transactions
-pub struct GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS<F: RawFSInterface = LocalFS> {
-    journal: JournalWriter<F, GNSAdapter>,
+pub struct GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS<Fs: RawFSInterface = LocalFS> {
+    journal: JournalWriter<Fs, GNSAdapter>,
 }
 
 impl<Fs: RawFSInterface> GNSTransactionDriverAnyFS<Fs> {
+    pub fn new(journal: JournalWriter<Fs, GNSAdapter>) -> Self {
+        Self { journal }
+    }
     pub fn __journal_mut(&mut self) -> &mut JournalWriter<Fs, GNSAdapter> {
         &mut self.journal
     }
-    pub fn open_or_reinit_with_name(
-        gns: &GlobalNS,
-        log_file_name: &str,
-        host_setting_version: u32,
-        host_run_mode: header_meta::HostRunMode,
-        host_startup_counter: u64,
-    ) -> TransactionResult<Self> {
-        let journal = v1::open_journal(
-            log_file_name,
-            header_meta::FileSpecifier::GNSTxnLog,
-            header_meta::FileSpecifierVersion::__new(CURRENT_LOG_VERSION),
-            host_setting_version,
-            host_run_mode,
-            host_startup_counter,
-            gns,
-        )?;
-        Ok(Self { journal })
-    }
     /// Attempts to commit the given event into the journal, handling any possible recovery triggers and returning
     /// errors (if any)
     pub fn try_commit<GE: GNSEvent>(&mut self, gns_event: GE) -> TransactionResult<()> {