diff --git a/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.cpp b/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.cpp
index 01c3b74c8..3652d3a80 100644
--- a/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.cpp
+++ b/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.cpp
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ multiSlsDetector::multiSlsDetector(int id) :  slsDetectorUtils(), shmId(-1)
 
     thisMultiDetector->receiver_read_freq = 0;
     thisMultiDetector->acquiringFlag = false;
+    thisMultiDetector->externalgui = false;
     thisMultiDetector->alreadyExisting=1;
   }
 
@@ -3589,11 +3590,11 @@ string multiSlsDetector::getNetworkParameter(networkParameter p) {
 string multiSlsDetector::setNetworkParameter(networkParameter p, string s){
 
 	// disable data streaming before changing zmq port (but only if they were on)
-	/*int prev_streaming = 0;*/
-	if (p == RECEIVER_STREAMING_PORT) {
-		/*prev_streaming = getStreamingSocketsCreatedInClient();*/
-		enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(0);
-	}
+	int prev_streaming = 0;
+  	if (p == RECEIVER_STREAMING_PORT) {
+		prev_streaming = getStreamingSocketsCreatedInClient();
+  		enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(0);
+  	}
 
 	if (s.find('+')==string::npos) {
 
@@ -3646,11 +3647,11 @@ string multiSlsDetector::setNetworkParameter(networkParameter p, string s){
 		}
 
 	}
-/*
+
 	//enable data streaming if it was on
 	if (p == RECEIVER_STREAMING_PORT && prev_streaming)
 		enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(1);
-*/
+
 	return getNetworkParameter(p);
 
 } 
@@ -5873,8 +5874,10 @@ int multiSlsDetector::getStreamingSocketsCreatedInClient() {
 
 int multiSlsDetector::enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(int enable){
 
-	if(enable >= 0){
-		/*if(dataSocketsStarted != enable){*/
+	//create client sockets only if no external gui
+	if (!thisMultiDetector->externalgui) {
+		if(enable >= 0){
+
 			//destroy data threads
 			if(dataSocketsStarted)
 				createReceivingDataSockets(true);
@@ -5889,12 +5892,10 @@ int multiSlsDetector::enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(int enable){
 					return -1;
 				}
 			}
-		/*}*/
-
+		}
 	}
 
 
-
 	int ret=-100;
 	if(!threadpool){
 		cout << "Error in creating threadpool. Exiting" << endl;
@@ -5927,9 +5928,10 @@ int multiSlsDetector::enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(int enable){
 		}
 	}
 
-	if(ret != dataSocketsStarted)
-		ret = -1;
-
+	if (!thisMultiDetector->externalgui) {
+		if (ret != dataSocketsStarted)
+			ret = -1;
+	}
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -6245,3 +6247,12 @@ void multiSlsDetector::setAcquiringFlag(bool b){
 bool multiSlsDetector::getAcquiringFlag(){
 	return thisMultiDetector->acquiringFlag;
 }
+
+
+void multiSlsDetector::setExternalGuiFlag(bool b){
+	thisMultiDetector->externalgui = b;
+}
+
+bool multiSlsDetector::getExternalGuiFlag(){
+	return thisMultiDetector->externalgui;
+}
diff --git a/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.h b/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.h
index 3a095a20d..258bfa933 100644
--- a/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.h
+++ b/slsDetectorSoftware/multiSlsDetector/multiSlsDetector.h
@@ -201,6 +201,9 @@ class multiSlsDetector  : public slsDetectorUtils {
     /** flag for acquiring */
     bool acquiringFlag;
 
+    /** external gui */
+    bool externalgui;
+
   } sharedMultiSlsDetector;
 
 
@@ -1442,6 +1445,19 @@ class multiSlsDetector  : public slsDetectorUtils {
    */
   bool getAcquiringFlag();
 
+  /**
+     Set external gui flag in shared memory
+     \param b set external gui flag
+   */
+  void setExternalGuiFlag(bool b=false);
+
+  /**
+     Get external gui flag from shared memory
+     \returns external gui flag
+   */
+  bool getExternalGuiFlag();
+
+
 
 private:
 
diff --git a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.cpp b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.cpp
index 6d63bcb77..792b86e0a 100644
--- a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.cpp
+++ b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.cpp
@@ -9074,3 +9074,15 @@ void slsDetector::setAcquiringFlag(bool b){
 bool slsDetector::getAcquiringFlag(){
 	return thisDetector->acquiringFlag;
 }
+
+
+void slsDetector::setExternalGuiFlag(bool b){
+	pthread_mutex_lock(&ms);
+	parentDet->setExternalGuiFlag(b);
+	pthread_mutex_unlock(&ms);
+}
+
+bool slsDetector::getExternalGuiFlag(){
+	return parentDet->getExternalGuiFlag();
+}
+
diff --git a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.h b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.h
index d6005448b..07a92ab14 100644
--- a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.h
+++ b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetector.h
@@ -1884,6 +1884,18 @@ class slsDetector : public slsDetectorUtils, public energyConversion {
    */
   bool getAcquiringFlag();
 
+  /**
+     Set external gui flag in shared memory
+     \param b set external gui flag
+   */
+  void setExternalGuiFlag(bool b=false);
+
+  /**
+     Get external gui flag from shared memory
+     \returns external gui flag
+   */
+  bool getExternalGuiFlag();
+
  
  protected:
  
diff --git a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorCommand.cpp b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorCommand.cpp
index 6d89fc56c..d3c49ff9c 100644
--- a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorCommand.cpp
+++ b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorCommand.cpp
@@ -256,9 +256,9 @@ slsDetectorCommand::slsDetectorCommand(slsDetectorUtils *det)  {
 	 */
 
 	/*! \page config
-   - <b> datastream </b>enables/disables the 0MQ data stream (0MQ threads created) from receiver to client. \c Returns \c (int)
+   - <b> externalgui </b>sets/gets external gui flag. 1 sets and enables the 0MQ data stream (0MQ threads created) from receiver to client, while 0 unsets and disables. \c Returns \c (int)
 	 */
-	descrToFuncMap[i].m_pFuncName="datastream"; //
+	descrToFuncMap[i].m_pFuncName="externalgui"; //
 	descrToFuncMap[i].m_pFuncPtr=&slsDetectorCommand::cmdDataStream;
 	i++;
 
@@ -2295,7 +2295,10 @@ string slsDetectorCommand::cmdAcquire(int narg, char *args[], int action) {
 
 
 	myDet->setOnline(ONLINE_FLAG);
-	if (myDet->setReceiverOnline(ONLINE_FLAG) == ONLINE_FLAG) {
+
+	if (myDet->getExternalGuiFlag())
+		myDet->setReceiverOnline(ONLINE_FLAG);
+	else if (myDet->setReceiverOnline(ONLINE_FLAG) == ONLINE_FLAG) {
 		// command line: must be off, if receiver on or there was -1, then
 		if (myDet->enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(-1) != 0){
 			//switch it off, if error
@@ -2469,10 +2472,20 @@ string slsDetectorCommand::cmdDataStream(int narg, char *args[], int action) {
 
 	if (action==PUT_ACTION) {
 		if (!sscanf(args[1],"%d",&ival))
-			return string ("cannot scan datastream mode");
+			return string ("cannot scan externalgui mode");
+		bool bval=ival>0?true:false;
+		bool oldval = myDet->getExternalGuiFlag();
+		myDet->setExternalGuiFlag(bval);
 		myDet->enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(ival);
 	}
-	sprintf(ans,"%d",myDet->enableDataStreamingFromReceiver());
+
+	int retval = myDet->getExternalGuiFlag();
+	//if external gui on and datastreaming off
+	if (retval  && !myDet->enableDataStreamingFromReceiver()) {
+		retval=-1;
+		printf("Error: data streaming in receiver is switched off while external gui flag in shared memory is off.\n");
+	}
+	sprintf(ans,"%d",myDet->getExternalGuiFlag());
 	return string(ans);
 }
 
@@ -2481,9 +2494,9 @@ string slsDetectorCommand::helpDataStream(int narg, char *args[], int action) {
 
 	ostringstream os;
 	if (action==GET_ACTION || action==HELP_ACTION)
-		os << string("datastream \t gets if zmq data stream from receiver is enabled. \n");
+		os << string("externalgui \t gets external gui flag. 1/0 means the 0MQ data stream (0MQ threads created) from receiver to client is enabled/disabled. -1 for inconsistency. \n");
 	if (action==PUT_ACTION || action==HELP_ACTION)
-		os << string("datastream i\t enables/disables the zmq data stream from receiver. \n");
+		os << string("externalgui i\t sets external gui flag. 1/0 means the 0MQ data stream (0MQ threads created) from receiver to client is enabled/disabled. \n");
 	return os.str();
 }
 
@@ -5868,7 +5881,7 @@ string slsDetectorCommand::cmdReceiver(int narg, char *args[], int action) {
 		if (action==PUT_ACTION) {
 			if(!strcasecmp(args[1],"start")) {
 				//to ensure data streaming enable is the same across client and receiver
-				if (receivers == ONLINE_FLAG) {
+				if ((!myDet->getExternalGuiFlag()) && (receivers == ONLINE_FLAG)) {
 					//if it was not off
 					if (myDet->enableDataStreamingFromReceiver(-1) != 0){
 						//switch it off, if error
@@ -5876,7 +5889,7 @@ string slsDetectorCommand::cmdReceiver(int narg, char *args[], int action) {
 							return string("could not disable data streaming in receiver\n");
 						}
 					}
-				}
+					}
 				myDet->startReceiver();
 			}
 			else if(!strcasecmp(args[1],"stop")){
diff --git a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorUtils.h b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorUtils.h
index 655c77d78..0eb80899d 100644
--- a/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorUtils.h
+++ b/slsDetectorSoftware/slsDetector/slsDetectorUtils.h
@@ -846,6 +846,19 @@ virtual int setReceiverFifoDepth(int i = -1)=0;
    */
   virtual bool getAcquiringFlag() = 0;
 
+  /**
+     Set external gui flag in shared memory
+     \param b set external gui flag
+   */
+  virtual void setExternalGuiFlag(bool b=false) = 0;
+
+  /**
+     Get external gui flag from shared memory
+     \returns external gui flag
+   */
+  virtual bool getExternalGuiFlag() = 0;
+
+