diff --git a/dbconn/src/bincache.rs b/dbconn/src/bincache.rs
index 542604e..d15f944 100644
--- a/dbconn/src/bincache.rs
+++ b/dbconn/src/bincache.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,130 @@
+use crate::ErrConv;
 use err::Error;
+use futures_util::{Future, Stream, StreamExt};
+use items::TimeBinned;
+use netpod::log::*;
+use netpod::{ChannelTyped, NanoRange, PreBinnedPatchCoord, PreBinnedPatchIterator, PreBinnedPatchRange, ScyllaConfig};
 use scylla::Session as ScySession;
+use std::pin::Pin;
 
-pub async fn search_channel_scylla<BINC>(_scy: &ScySession) -> Result<(), Error>
-where
-    BINC: Clone,
-{
-    todo!()
+pub async fn read_cached_scylla(
+    chn: &ChannelTyped,
+    coord: &PreBinnedPatchCoord,
+    scy: &ScySession,
+) -> Result<Option<Box<dyn TimeBinned>>, Error> {
+    let _ = coord;
+    let series = chn.series_id()?;
+    let res = scy.query_iter("", (series as i64,)).await.err_conv()?;
+    let _ = res;
+    // TODO look for the data. Based on the ChannelTyped we know what type the caller expects.
+    err::todoval()
+}
+
+pub async fn write_cached_scylla(
+    chn: &ChannelTyped,
+    coord: &PreBinnedPatchCoord,
+    data: &dyn TimeBinned,
+    scy: &ScySession,
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let _ = coord;
+    let _ = data;
+    let series = chn.series_id()?;
+    let res = scy.query_iter("", (series as i64,)).await.err_conv()?;
+    let _ = res;
+    // TODO write the data.
+    err::todoval()
+}
+
+// TODO must indicate to the caller whether it is safe to cache this (complete).
+pub async fn fetch_uncached_data(
+    chn: ChannelTyped,
+    coord: PreBinnedPatchCoord,
+    scy: &ScySession,
+) -> Result<Option<Box<dyn TimeBinned>>, Error> {
+    info!("fetch_uncached_data");
+    let range = coord.patch_range();
+    // TODO why the extra plus one?
+    let bin = match PreBinnedPatchRange::covering_range(range, coord.bin_count() + 1) {
+        Ok(Some(range)) => fetch_uncached_higher_res_prebinned(&chn, &range, scy).await,
+        Ok(None) => fetch_uncached_binned_events(&chn, &coord.patch_range(), scy).await,
+        Err(e) => Err(e),
+    }?;
+    err::todoval()
+}
+
+pub fn fetch_uncached_data_box(
+    chn: &ChannelTyped,
+    coord: &PreBinnedPatchCoord,
+    scy: &ScySession,
+) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<Option<Box<dyn TimeBinned>>, Error>> + Send>> {
+    let scy = unsafe { &*(scy as *const _) };
+    Box::pin(fetch_uncached_data(chn.clone(), coord.clone(), scy))
+}
+
+pub async fn fetch_uncached_higher_res_prebinned(
+    chn: &ChannelTyped,
+    range: &PreBinnedPatchRange,
+    scy: &ScySession,
+) -> Result<Box<dyn TimeBinned>, Error> {
+    let mut aggt = None;
+    let patch_it = PreBinnedPatchIterator::from_range(range.clone());
+    for patch in patch_it {
+        let coord = PreBinnedPatchCoord::new(patch.bin_t_len(), patch.patch_t_len(), patch.ix());
+        let mut stream = pre_binned_value_stream_with_scy(chn, &coord, scy).await?;
+        while let Some(item) = stream.next().await {
+            let item = item?;
+            // TODO here I will need some new API to aggregate (time-bin) trait objects.
+            // Each TimeBinned must provide some way to do that...
+            // I also need an Aggregator which does not know before the first item what output type it will produce.
+            let _ = item;
+            if aggt.is_none() {
+                aggt = Some(item.aggregator_new());
+            }
+            let aggt = aggt.as_mut().unwrap();
+            aggt.ingest(item.as_time_binnable_dyn());
+        }
+    }
+    let mut aggt = aggt.unwrap();
+    let res = aggt.result();
+    Ok(res)
+}
+
+pub async fn fetch_uncached_binned_events(
+    chn: &ChannelTyped,
+    range: &NanoRange,
+    scy: &ScySession,
+) -> Result<Box<dyn TimeBinned>, Error> {
+    // TODO ask Scylla directly, do not go through HTTP.
+    // Refactor the event fetch stream code such that I can use that easily here.
+    err::todoval()
+}
+
+pub async fn pre_binned_value_stream_with_scy(
+    chn: &ChannelTyped,
+    coord: &PreBinnedPatchCoord,
+    scy: &ScySession,
+) -> Result<Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Result<Box<dyn TimeBinned>, Error>> + Send>>, Error> {
+    info!("pre_binned_value_stream_with_scy  {chn:?}  {coord:?}");
+    let range = err::todoval();
+    if let Some(item) = read_cached_scylla(chn, &range, &scy).await? {
+        Ok(Box::pin(futures_util::stream::iter([Ok(item)])))
+    } else {
+        let bin = fetch_uncached_data_box(chn, coord, scy).await?;
+        Ok(Box::pin(futures_util::stream::empty()))
+    }
+}
+
+pub async fn pre_binned_value_stream(
+    chn: &ChannelTyped,
+    coord: &PreBinnedPatchCoord,
+    scyconf: &ScyllaConfig,
+) -> Result<Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Result<Box<dyn TimeBinned>, Error>> + Send>>, Error> {
+    info!("pre_binned_value_stream  {chn:?}  {coord:?}  {scyconf:?}");
+    let scy = scylla::SessionBuilder::new()
+        .known_nodes(&scyconf.hosts)
+        .use_keyspace(&scyconf.keyspace, true)
+        .build()
+        .await
+        .err_conv()?;
+    pre_binned_value_stream_with_scy(chn, coord, &scy).await
 }
diff --git a/disk/src/binned.rs b/disk/src/binned.rs
index 0229587..c5ef750 100644
--- a/disk/src/binned.rs
+++ b/disk/src/binned.rs
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ impl ChannelExecFunction for BinnedJsonChannelExec {
         let perf_opts = PerfOpts { inmem_bufcap: 512 };
         let souter = match PreBinnedPatchRange::covering_range(self.query.range().clone(), self.query.bin_count()) {
             Ok(Some(pre_range)) => {
-                debug!("BinnedJsonChannelExec  found pre_range: {pre_range:?}");
+                info!("BinnedJsonChannelExec  found pre_range: {pre_range:?}");
                 if range.grid_spec.bin_t_len() < pre_range.grid_spec.bin_t_len() {
                     let msg = format!(
                         "BinnedJsonChannelExec  incompatible ranges:\npre_range: {pre_range:?}\nrange: {range:?}"
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ impl ChannelExecFunction for BinnedJsonChannelExec {
                 Ok(Box::pin(s) as Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Result<Bytes, Error>> + Send>>)
             }
             Ok(None) => {
-                debug!("BinnedJsonChannelExec  no covering range for prebinned, merge from remotes instead {range:?}");
+                info!("BinnedJsonChannelExec  no covering range for prebinned, merge from remotes instead {range:?}");
                 // TODO let BinnedQuery provide the DiskIoTune and pass to RawEventsQuery:
                 let evq = RawEventsQuery::new(
                     self.query.channel().clone(),
@@ -392,6 +392,7 @@ impl ChannelExecFunction for BinnedJsonChannelExec {
     }
 
     fn empty() -> Self::Output {
+        info!("BinnedJsonChannelExec  fn empty");
         Box::pin(futures_util::stream::empty())
     }
 }
diff --git a/disk/src/binned/binnedfrompbv.rs b/disk/src/binned/binnedfrompbv.rs
index fbdf262..19df69c 100644
--- a/disk/src/binned/binnedfrompbv.rs
+++ b/disk/src/binned/binnedfrompbv.rs
@@ -32,14 +32,9 @@ pub struct FetchedPreBinned<TBT> {
 }
 
 impl<TBT> FetchedPreBinned<TBT> {
-    pub fn new(query: &PreBinnedQuery, node_config: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        let nodeix = node_ix_for_patch(&query.patch(), &query.channel(), &node_config.node_config.cluster);
-        let node = &node_config.node_config.cluster.nodes[nodeix as usize];
-        let mut url = {
-            let host = &node.host;
-            let port = node.port;
-            Url::parse(&format!("http://{host}:{port}/api/4/prebinned"))?
-        };
+    pub fn new(query: &PreBinnedQuery, host: String, port: u16) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        // TODO should not assume http:
+        let mut url = Url::parse(&format!("http://{host}:{port}/api/4/prebinned"))?;
         query.append_to_url(&mut url);
         let ret = Self {
             uri: Uri::from_str(&url.to_string()).map_err(Error::from_string)?,
@@ -201,8 +196,10 @@ where
                         disk_stats_every.clone(),
                         report_error,
                     );
+                    let nodeix = node_ix_for_patch(&query.patch(), &query.channel(), &node_config.node_config.cluster);
+                    let node = &node_config.node_config.cluster.nodes[nodeix as usize];
                     let ret: Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = _> + Send>> =
-                        match FetchedPreBinned::<TBT>::new(&query, &node_config) {
+                        match FetchedPreBinned::<TBT>::new(&query, node.host.clone(), node.port.clone()) {
                             Ok(stream) => Box::pin(stream.map(move |q| (pix, q))),
                             Err(e) => {
                                 error!("error from PreBinnedValueFetchedStream::new {e:?}");
diff --git a/disk/src/binned/pbv.rs b/disk/src/binned/pbv.rs
index e47504a..540e59e 100644
--- a/disk/src/binned/pbv.rs
+++ b/disk/src/binned/pbv.rs
@@ -185,10 +185,17 @@ where
                         disk_stats_every.clone(),
                         report_error,
                     );
+                    let nodeix = crate::cache::node_ix_for_patch(
+                        &query.patch(),
+                        &query.channel(),
+                        &node_config.node_config.cluster,
+                    );
+                    let node = &node_config.node_config.cluster.nodes[nodeix as usize];
                     let ret =
                         FetchedPreBinned::<<<ENP as EventsNodeProcessor>::Output as TimeBinnableType>::Output>::new(
                             &query,
-                            &node_config,
+                            node.host.clone(),
+                            node.port.clone(),
                         )?;
                     Ok(ret)
                 }
diff --git a/disk/src/binned/prebinned.rs b/disk/src/binned/prebinned.rs
index 17c638f..fe5d4d7 100644
--- a/disk/src/binned/prebinned.rs
+++ b/disk/src/binned/prebinned.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use crate::decode::{
     LittleEndian, NumFromBytes,
 };
 use bytes::Bytes;
+use dbconn::bincache::pre_binned_value_stream;
 use err::Error;
 use futures_core::Stream;
 use futures_util::StreamExt;
@@ -13,19 +14,21 @@ use items::numops::{BoolNum, NumOps, StringNum};
 use items::{
     Appendable, Clearable, EventsNodeProcessor, Framable, FrameType, PushableIndex, Sitemty, TimeBinnableType,
 };
-use netpod::{AggKind, ByteOrder, NodeConfigCached, ScalarType, Shape};
+use netpod::log::*;
+use netpod::{AggKind, ByteOrder, ChannelTyped, NodeConfigCached, ScalarType, Shape};
 use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
 use serde::Serialize;
 use std::pin::Pin;
 
-fn make_num_pipeline_nty_end_evs_enp<NTY, END, EVS, ENP>(
-    _shape: Shape,
+async fn make_num_pipeline_nty_end_evs_enp<NTY, END, EVS, ENP>(
+    scalar_type: ScalarType,
+    shape: Shape,
     agg_kind: AggKind,
     _event_value_shape: EVS,
     _events_node_proc: ENP,
     query: PreBinnedQuery,
     node_config: &NodeConfigCached,
-) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Box<dyn Framable>> + Send>>
+) -> Result<Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Box<dyn Framable>> + Send>>, Error>
 where
     NTY: NumOps + NumFromBytes<NTY, END> + Serialize + 'static,
     END: Endianness + 'static,
@@ -36,17 +39,43 @@ where
     Sitemty<<<ENP as EventsNodeProcessor>::Output as TimeBinnableType>::Output>:
         Framable + FrameType + DeserializeOwned,
 {
-    let ret = PreBinnedValueStream::<NTY, END, EVS, ENP>::new(query, agg_kind, node_config);
-    let ret = StreamExt::map(ret, |item| Box::new(item) as Box<dyn Framable>);
-    Box::pin(ret)
+    if let Some(scyconf) = &node_config.node_config.cluster.cache_scylla {
+        info!("~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  make_num_pipeline_nty_end_evs_enp using scylla as cache");
+        let chn = ChannelTyped {
+            channel: query.channel().clone(),
+            scalar_type,
+            shape,
+        };
+        let stream = pre_binned_value_stream(&chn, query.patch(), scyconf).await?;
+        let stream = stream.map(|x| {
+            //
+            match x {
+                Ok(k) => {
+                    let g = Box::new(k) as Box<dyn Framable>;
+                    g
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    let u: Sitemty<items::scalarevents::ScalarEvents<f32>> = Err(e);
+                    Box::new(u) as Box<dyn Framable>
+                }
+            }
+        });
+        let stream = Box::pin(stream) as Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Box<dyn Framable>> + Send>>;
+        Ok(stream)
+    } else {
+        let ret = PreBinnedValueStream::<NTY, END, EVS, ENP>::new(query, agg_kind, node_config);
+        let ret = StreamExt::map(ret, |item| Box::new(item) as Box<dyn Framable>);
+        Ok(Box::pin(ret))
+    }
 }
 
-fn make_num_pipeline_nty_end<NTY, END>(
+async fn make_num_pipeline_nty_end<NTY, END>(
+    scalar_type: ScalarType,
     shape: Shape,
     agg_kind: AggKind,
     query: PreBinnedQuery,
     node_config: &NodeConfigCached,
-) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Box<dyn Framable>> + Send>>
+) -> Result<Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Box<dyn Framable>> + Send>>, Error>
 where
     NTY: NumOps + NumFromBytes<NTY, END> + Serialize + 'static,
     END: Endianness + 'static,
@@ -59,6 +88,7 @@ where
                 AggKind::TimeWeightedScalar | AggKind::DimXBins1 => {
                     let events_node_proc = <<EventValuesDim0Case<NTY> as EventValueShape<NTY, END>>::NumXAggToSingleBin as EventsNodeProcessor>::create(shape.clone(), agg_kind.clone());
                     make_num_pipeline_nty_end_evs_enp::<NTY, END, _, _>(
+                        scalar_type,
                         shape,
                         agg_kind,
                         evs,
@@ -66,10 +96,12 @@ where
                         query,
                         node_config,
                     )
+                    .await
                 }
                 AggKind::DimXBinsN(_) => {
                     let events_node_proc = <<EventValuesDim0Case<NTY> as EventValueShape<NTY, END>>::NumXAggToNBins as EventsNodeProcessor>::create(shape.clone(), agg_kind.clone());
                     make_num_pipeline_nty_end_evs_enp::<NTY, END, _, _>(
+                        scalar_type,
                         shape,
                         agg_kind,
                         evs,
@@ -77,6 +109,7 @@ where
                         query,
                         node_config,
                     )
+                    .await
                 }
                 AggKind::Plain => {
                     panic!();
@@ -94,6 +127,7 @@ where
                 AggKind::TimeWeightedScalar | AggKind::DimXBins1 => {
                     let events_node_proc = <<EventValuesDim1Case<NTY> as EventValueShape<NTY, END>>::NumXAggToSingleBin as EventsNodeProcessor>::create(shape.clone(), agg_kind.clone());
                     make_num_pipeline_nty_end_evs_enp::<NTY, END, _, _>(
+                        scalar_type,
                         shape,
                         agg_kind,
                         evs,
@@ -101,10 +135,12 @@ where
                         query,
                         node_config,
                     )
+                    .await
                 }
                 AggKind::DimXBinsN(_) => {
                     let events_node_proc = <<EventValuesDim1Case<NTY> as EventValueShape<NTY, END>>::NumXAggToNBins as EventsNodeProcessor>::create(shape.clone(), agg_kind.clone());
                     make_num_pipeline_nty_end_evs_enp::<NTY, END, _, _>(
+                        scalar_type,
                         shape,
                         agg_kind,
                         evs,
@@ -112,6 +148,7 @@ where
                         query,
                         node_config,
                     )
+                    .await
                 }
                 AggKind::Plain => {
                     panic!();
@@ -130,35 +167,41 @@ where
 }
 
 macro_rules! match_end {
-    ($nty:ident, $end:expr, $shape:expr, $agg_kind:expr, $query:expr, $node_config:expr) => {
+    ($nty:ident, $end:expr, $scalar_type:expr, $shape:expr, $agg_kind:expr, $query:expr, $node_config:expr) => {
         match $end {
-            ByteOrder::LE => make_num_pipeline_nty_end::<$nty, LittleEndian>($shape, $agg_kind, $query, $node_config),
-            ByteOrder::BE => make_num_pipeline_nty_end::<$nty, BigEndian>($shape, $agg_kind, $query, $node_config),
+            ByteOrder::LE => {
+                make_num_pipeline_nty_end::<$nty, LittleEndian>($scalar_type, $shape, $agg_kind, $query, $node_config)
+                    .await
+            }
+            ByteOrder::BE => {
+                make_num_pipeline_nty_end::<$nty, BigEndian>($scalar_type, $shape, $agg_kind, $query, $node_config)
+                    .await
+            }
         }
     };
 }
 
-fn make_num_pipeline(
+async fn make_num_pipeline(
     scalar_type: ScalarType,
     byte_order: ByteOrder,
     shape: Shape,
     agg_kind: AggKind,
     query: PreBinnedQuery,
     node_config: &NodeConfigCached,
-) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Box<dyn Framable>> + Send>> {
+) -> Result<Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Box<dyn Framable>> + Send>>, Error> {
     match scalar_type {
-        ScalarType::U8 => match_end!(u8, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::U16 => match_end!(u16, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::U32 => match_end!(u32, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::U64 => match_end!(u64, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::I8 => match_end!(i8, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::I16 => match_end!(i16, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::I32 => match_end!(i32, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::I64 => match_end!(i64, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::F32 => match_end!(f32, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::F64 => match_end!(f64, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::BOOL => match_end!(BoolNum, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
-        ScalarType::STRING => match_end!(StringNum, byte_order, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::U8 => match_end!(u8, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::U16 => match_end!(u16, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::U32 => match_end!(u32, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::U64 => match_end!(u64, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::I8 => match_end!(i8, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::I16 => match_end!(i16, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::I32 => match_end!(i32, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::I64 => match_end!(i64, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::F32 => match_end!(f32, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::F64 => match_end!(f64, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::BOOL => match_end!(BoolNum, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
+        ScalarType::STRING => match_end!(StringNum, byte_order, scalar_type, shape, agg_kind, query, node_config),
     }
 }
 
@@ -191,6 +234,7 @@ pub async fn pre_binned_bytes_for_http(
         query.clone(),
         node_config,
     )
+    .await?
     .map(|item| match item.make_frame() {
         Ok(item) => Ok(item.freeze()),
         Err(e) => Err(e),
diff --git a/disk/src/binned/query.rs b/disk/src/binned/query.rs
index 98e5778..03881c2 100644
--- a/disk/src/binned/query.rs
+++ b/disk/src/binned/query.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use err::Error;
 use http::request::Parts;
 use netpod::query::{agg_kind_from_binning_scheme, binning_scheme_append_to_url, CacheUsage};
+use netpod::timeunits::SEC;
 use netpod::{
     channel_append_to_url, channel_from_pairs, AggKind, AppendToUrl, ByteSize, Channel, PreBinnedPatchCoord,
     ScalarType, Shape,
@@ -52,11 +53,11 @@ impl PreBinnedQuery {
             pairs.insert(j.to_string(), k.to_string());
         }
         let pairs = pairs;
-        let bin_t_len = pairs
+        let bin_t_len: u64 = pairs
             .get("binTlen")
             .ok_or_else(|| Error::with_msg("missing binTlen"))?
             .parse()?;
-        let patch_t_len = pairs
+        let patch_t_len: u64 = pairs
             .get("patchTlen")
             .ok_or_else(|| Error::with_msg("missing patchTlen"))?
             .parse()?;
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ impl PreBinnedQuery {
             .ok_or_else(|| Error::with_msg("missing shape"))
             .map(|x| Shape::from_url_str(&x))??;
         let ret = Self {
-            patch: PreBinnedPatchCoord::new(bin_t_len, patch_t_len, patch_ix),
+            patch: PreBinnedPatchCoord::new(bin_t_len * SEC, patch_t_len * SEC, patch_ix),
             channel: channel_from_pairs(&pairs)?,
             scalar_type,
             shape,
@@ -148,9 +149,10 @@ impl AppendToUrl for PreBinnedQuery {
         self.patch.append_to_url(url);
         binning_scheme_append_to_url(&self.agg_kind, url);
         channel_append_to_url(url, &self.channel);
+        self.shape.append_to_url(url);
+        self.scalar_type.append_to_url(url);
         let mut g = url.query_pairs_mut();
-        g.append_pair("scalarType", &format!("{:?}", self.scalar_type));
-        g.append_pair("shape", &format!("{:?}", self.shape));
+        // TODO add also impl AppendToUrl for these if applicable:
         g.append_pair("cacheUsage", &format!("{}", self.cache_usage.query_param_value()));
         g.append_pair("diskIoBufferSize", &format!("{}", self.disk_io_buffer_size));
         g.append_pair("diskStatsEveryKb", &format!("{}", self.disk_stats_every.bytes() / 1024));
diff --git a/httpret/src/channelconfig.rs b/httpret/src/channelconfig.rs
index 9ad9267..9524614 100644
--- a/httpret/src/channelconfig.rs
+++ b/httpret/src/channelconfig.rs
@@ -24,66 +24,71 @@ pub struct ChConf {
     pub shape: Shape,
 }
 
-pub async fn chconf_from_events_binary(_q: &PlainEventsQuery, _conf: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
-    err::todoval()
+pub async fn chconf_from_database(channel: &Channel, ncc: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
+    if channel.backend != ncc.node_config.cluster.backend {
+        warn!(
+            "mismatched backend  {}  vs  {}",
+            channel.backend, ncc.node_config.cluster.backend
+        );
+    }
+    // This requires the series id.
+    let series = channel.series.ok_or_else(|| {
+        Error::with_msg_no_trace(format!("needs a series id  {:?}", channel))
+            .add_public_msg(format!("series id of channel not supplied"))
+    })?;
+    // TODO use a common already running worker pool for these queries:
+    let dbconf = &ncc.node_config.cluster.database;
+    let dburl = format!(
+        "postgresql://{}:{}@{}:{}/{}",
+        dbconf.user, dbconf.pass, dbconf.host, dbconf.port, dbconf.name
+    );
+    let (pgclient, pgconn) = tokio_postgres::connect(&dburl, tokio_postgres::NoTls)
+        .await
+        .err_conv()?;
+    tokio::spawn(pgconn);
+    let res = pgclient
+        .query(
+            "select scalar_type, shape_dims from series_by_channel where series = $1",
+            &[&(series as i64)],
+        )
+        .await
+        .err_conv()?;
+    if res.len() == 0 {
+        warn!("can not find channel information for series {series}");
+        let e = Error::with_public_msg_no_trace(format!("can not find channel information for series {series}"));
+        Err(e)
+    } else if res.len() > 1 {
+        error!("multiple channel information for series {series}");
+        let e = Error::with_public_msg_no_trace(format!("can not find channel information for series {series}"));
+        Err(e)
+    } else {
+        let row = res.first().unwrap();
+        let scalar_type = ScalarType::from_dtype_index(row.get::<_, i32>(0) as u8)?;
+        // TODO can I get a slice from psql driver?
+        let shape = Shape::from_scylla_shape_dims(&row.get::<_, Vec<i32>>(1))?;
+        let ret = ChConf { scalar_type, shape };
+        Ok(ret)
+    }
+}
+
+pub async fn chconf_from_events_binary(q: &PlainEventsQuery, ncc: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
+    chconf_from_database(q.channel(), ncc).await
 }
 
 pub async fn chconf_from_events_json(q: &PlainEventsQuery, ncc: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
-    if q.channel().backend != ncc.node_config.cluster.backend {
-        warn!(
-            "Mismatched backend  {}  VS  {}",
-            q.channel().backend,
-            ncc.node_config.cluster.backend
-        );
-    }
-    if let Some(_conf) = &ncc.node_config.cluster.scylla {
-        // This requires the series id.
-        let series = q
-            .channel()
-            .series
-            .ok_or_else(|| Error::with_msg_no_trace(format!("needs a series id")))?;
-        // TODO use a common already running worker pool for these queries:
-        let dbconf = &ncc.node_config.cluster.database;
-        let dburl = format!(
-            "postgresql://{}:{}@{}:{}/{}",
-            dbconf.user, dbconf.pass, dbconf.host, dbconf.port, dbconf.name
-        );
-        let (pgclient, pgconn) = tokio_postgres::connect(&dburl, tokio_postgres::NoTls)
-            .await
-            .err_conv()?;
-        tokio::spawn(pgconn);
-        let res = pgclient
-            .query(
-                "select scalar_type, shape_dims from series_by_channel where series = $1",
-                &[&(series as i64)],
-            )
-            .await
-            .err_conv()?;
-        if res.len() == 0 {
-            error!("can not find channel for series {series}");
-            err::todoval()
-        } else if res.len() > 1 {
-            error!("can not find channel for series {series}");
-            err::todoval()
-        } else {
-            let row = res.first().unwrap();
-            let scalar_type = ScalarType::from_dtype_index(row.get::<_, i32>(0) as u8)?;
-            // TODO can I get a slice from psql driver?
-            let shape = Shape::from_scylla_shape_dims(&row.get::<_, Vec<i32>>(1))?;
-            let ret = ChConf { scalar_type, shape };
-            Ok(ret)
-        }
-    } else {
-        err::todoval()
-    }
+    chconf_from_database(q.channel(), ncc).await
 }
 
-pub async fn chconf_from_prebinned(_q: &PreBinnedQuery, _conf: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
-    err::todoval()
+pub async fn chconf_from_prebinned(q: &PreBinnedQuery, _ncc: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
+    let ret = ChConf {
+        scalar_type: q.scalar_type().clone(),
+        shape: q.shape().clone(),
+    };
+    Ok(ret)
 }
 
-pub async fn chconf_from_binned(_q: &BinnedQuery, _conf: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
-    err::todoval()
+pub async fn chconf_from_binned(q: &BinnedQuery, ncc: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<ChConf, Error> {
+    chconf_from_database(q.channel(), ncc).await
 }
 
 pub struct ChannelConfigHandler {}
diff --git a/httpret/src/err.rs b/httpret/src/err.rs
index 5bf532e..cc22a7d 100644
--- a/httpret/src/err.rs
+++ b/httpret/src/err.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ impl Error {
     pub fn public_msg(&self) -> Option<&Vec<String>> {
         self.0.public_msg()
     }
+
+    pub fn add_public_msg(self, msg: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Error(self.0.add_public_msg(msg))
+    }
 }
 
 impl fmt::Debug for Error {
diff --git a/httpret/src/httpret.rs b/httpret/src/httpret.rs
index 4bcf022..ca9417e 100644
--- a/httpret/src/httpret.rs
+++ b/httpret/src/httpret.rs
@@ -419,7 +419,10 @@ async fn binned(req: Request<Body>, node_config: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<Re
 async fn binned_inner(req: Request<Body>, node_config: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<Response<Body>, Error> {
     let (head, _body) = req.into_parts();
     let url = Url::parse(&format!("dummy:{}", head.uri))?;
-    let query = BinnedQuery::from_url(&url)?;
+    let query = BinnedQuery::from_url(&url).map_err(|e| {
+        let msg = format!("can not parse query: {}", e.msg());
+        e.add_public_msg(msg)
+    })?;
     let chconf = chconf_from_binned(&query, node_config).await?;
     let desc = format!("binned-BEG-{}-END-{}", query.range().beg / SEC, query.range().end / SEC);
     let span1 = span!(Level::INFO, "httpret::binned", desc = &desc.as_str());
@@ -463,7 +466,10 @@ async fn binned_json(
 async fn prebinned(req: Request<Body>, node_config: &NodeConfigCached) -> Result<Response<Body>, Error> {
     match prebinned_inner(req, node_config).await {
         Ok(ret) => Ok(ret),
-        Err(e) => Ok(response(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST).body(Body::from(e.msg().to_string()))?),
+        Err(e) => {
+            error!("fn prebinned: {e:?}");
+            Ok(response(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST).body(Body::from(e.msg().to_string()))?)
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/items/src/items.rs b/items/src/items.rs
index bd495ef..3354382 100644
--- a/items/src/items.rs
+++ b/items/src/items.rs
@@ -291,6 +291,19 @@ where
     }
 }
 
+impl<T> Framable for Box<T>
+where
+    T: Framable + ?Sized,
+{
+    fn typeid(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.as_ref().typeid()
+    }
+
+    fn make_frame(&self) -> Result<BytesMut, Error> {
+        self.as_ref().make_frame()
+    }
+}
+
 pub trait EventsNodeProcessor: Send + Unpin {
     type Input;
     type Output: Send + Unpin + DeserializeOwned + WithTimestamps + TimeBinnableType + ByteEstimate;
@@ -399,6 +412,20 @@ pub trait TimeBinnableType:
     fn aggregator(range: NanoRange, bin_count: usize, do_time_weight: bool) -> Self::Aggregator;
 }
 
+/// Provides a time-binned representation of the implementing type.
+/// In contrast to `TimeBinnableType` this is meant for trait objects.
+pub trait TimeBinnableDyn {}
+
+pub trait TimeBinnableDynAggregator: Send {
+    fn ingest(&mut self, item: &dyn TimeBinnableDyn);
+    fn result(&mut self) -> Box<dyn TimeBinned>;
+}
+
+pub trait TimeBinned: Framable + Send + TimeBinnableDyn {
+    fn aggregator_new(&self) -> Box<dyn TimeBinnableDynAggregator>;
+    fn as_time_binnable_dyn(&self) -> &dyn TimeBinnableDyn;
+}
+
 // TODO should get I/O and tokio dependence out of this crate
 pub trait ReadableFromFile: Sized {
     fn read_from_file(file: File) -> Result<ReadPbv<Self>, Error>;
diff --git a/netpod/src/netpod.rs b/netpod/src/netpod.rs
index a7655a7..ad63073 100644
--- a/netpod/src/netpod.rs
+++ b/netpod/src/netpod.rs
@@ -319,6 +319,13 @@ impl ScalarType {
     }
 }
 
+impl AppendToUrl for ScalarType {
+    fn append_to_url(&self, url: &mut Url) {
+        let mut g = url.query_pairs_mut();
+        g.append_pair("scalarType", self.to_variant_str());
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct SfDatabuffer {
     pub data_base_path: PathBuf,
@@ -450,6 +457,7 @@ pub struct Cluster {
     #[serde(rename = "fileIoBufferSize", default)]
     pub file_io_buffer_size: FileIoBufferSize,
     pub scylla: Option<ScyllaConfig>,
+    pub cache_scylla: Option<ScyllaConfig>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -519,12 +527,49 @@ pub struct NodeStatus {
     pub archiver_appliance_status: Option<NodeStatusArchiverAppliance>,
 }
 
+/**
+Describes a "channel" which is a time-series with a unique name within a "backend".
+In the near future, each channel should have assigned a unique id within a "backend".
+Also the concept of "backend" should be split into "facility" and some optional other identifier
+for cases like post-mortem, or to differentiate between channel-access and bsread for cases where
+the same channel-name is delivered via different methods.
+*/
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Channel {
+    // TODO ideally, all channels would have a unique id. For scylla backends, we require the id.
+    // In the near future, we should also require a unique id for "databuffer" backends, indexed in postgres.
+    pub series: Option<u64>,
+    // "backend" is currently used in the existing systems for multiple purposes:
+    // it can indicate the facility (eg. sf-databuffer, hipa, ...) but also some special subsystem (eg. sf-rf-databuffer).
     pub backend: String,
     pub name: String,
-    // TODO ideally, all channels would have a unique id. For scylla backends, we require the id.
-    pub series: Option<u64>,
+}
+
+impl Channel {
+    pub fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.name
+    }
+
+    pub fn series_id(&self) -> Result<u64, Error> {
+        self.series
+            .ok_or_else(|| Error::with_msg_no_trace(format!("no series id in channel")))
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+
+*/
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ChannelTyped {
+    pub channel: Channel,
+    pub scalar_type: ScalarType,
+    pub shape: Shape,
+}
+
+impl ChannelTyped {
+    pub fn series_id(&self) -> Result<u64, Error> {
+        self.channel.series_id()
+    }
 }
 
 pub struct HostPort {
@@ -548,12 +593,6 @@ impl HostPort {
     }
 }
 
-impl Channel {
-    pub fn name(&self) -> &str {
-        &self.name
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct FilePos {
     pub pos: u64,
@@ -925,6 +964,13 @@ impl Shape {
     }
 }
 
+impl AppendToUrl for Shape {
+    fn append_to_url(&self, url: &mut Url) {
+        let mut g = url.query_pairs_mut();
+        g.append_pair("shape", &format!("{:?}", self.to_scylla_vec()));
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_shape_serde() {
     let s = serde_json::to_string(&Shape::Image(42, 43)).unwrap();
@@ -1074,16 +1120,14 @@ impl PreBinnedPatchGridSpec {
 
 impl std::fmt::Debug for PreBinnedPatchGridSpec {
     fn fmt(&self, fmt: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> std::fmt::Result {
-        write!(
-            fmt,
-            "PreBinnedPatchGridSpec {{ bin_t_len: {:?}, patch_t_len(): {:?} }}",
-            self.bin_t_len / SEC,
-            self.patch_t_len() / SEC,
-        )
+        fmt.debug_struct("PreBinnedPatchGridSpec")
+            .field("bin_t_len", &(self.bin_t_len / SEC))
+            .field("patch_t_len", &(self.patch_t_len() / SEC))
+            .finish_non_exhaustive()
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct PreBinnedPatchRange {
     pub grid_spec: PreBinnedPatchGridSpec,
     pub offset: u64,
@@ -1218,8 +1262,8 @@ impl PreBinnedPatchCoord {
 impl AppendToUrl for PreBinnedPatchCoord {
     fn append_to_url(&self, url: &mut Url) {
         let mut g = url.query_pairs_mut();
-        g.append_pair("patchTlen", &format!("{}", self.spec.patch_t_len()));
-        g.append_pair("binTlen", &format!("{}", self.spec.bin_t_len()));
+        g.append_pair("patchTlen", &format!("{}", self.spec.patch_t_len() / SEC));
+        g.append_pair("binTlen", &format!("{}", self.spec.bin_t_len() / SEC));
         g.append_pair("patchIx", &format!("{}", self.ix()));
     }
 }
@@ -1932,6 +1976,7 @@ pub struct EventQueryJsonStringFrame(pub String);
 
 /**
 Provide basic information about a channel, especially it's shape.
+Also, byte-order is important for clients that process the raw databuffer event data (python data_api3).
 */
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ChannelInfo {
@@ -1990,6 +2035,7 @@ pub fn test_cluster() -> Cluster {
             pass: "testingdaq".into(),
         },
         scylla: None,
+        cache_scylla: None,
         run_map_pulse_task: false,
         is_central_storage: false,
         file_io_buffer_size: Default::default(),
@@ -2023,6 +2069,7 @@ pub fn sls_test_cluster() -> Cluster {
             pass: "testingdaq".into(),
         },
         scylla: None,
+        cache_scylla: None,
         run_map_pulse_task: false,
         is_central_storage: false,
         file_io_buffer_size: Default::default(),
@@ -2056,6 +2103,7 @@ pub fn archapp_test_cluster() -> Cluster {
             pass: "testingdaq".into(),
         },
         scylla: None,
+        cache_scylla: None,
         run_map_pulse_task: false,
         is_central_storage: false,
         file_io_buffer_size: Default::default(),