diff --git a/commands.py b/commands.py
index b80d565..47c1d06 100644
--- a/commands.py
+++ b/commands.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def frappy_start(**services):
     all_cfg = {}
     new_cfg = []
     remove_cfg = []
-    for service in SERVICES:
+    for service in reversed(SERVICES):
         secnode = session.devices.get('se_' + service)
         cfginfo = services.get(service)
         if cfginfo is None:
diff --git a/devices.py b/devices.py
index 48a80f4..b9a0d65 100644
--- a/devices.py
+++ b/devices.py
@@ -78,9 +78,14 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
         'magneticfield': Param(
             'config for magnetic field', type=anytype, default={}),
         'rotation_z': Param(
-            'config for sample rotation', type=anytype, default={}),
+            'config for sample rotation (to be used as a3)',
+            type=anytype, default={}),
+        'stick_rotation': Param(
+            'config for stick rotation (not necessarily to be used as a3)',
+            type=anytype, default={}),
         'nodes': Param(
-            'list of names of potential SEC nodes', type=listof(str), default=[]),
+            'list of names of potential SEC nodes',
+            type=listof(str), default=[]),
     }
 
     meanings = list(parameters)
@@ -89,7 +94,7 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
     def remove_aliases(self):
         for meaning in self.meanings:
             info = getattr(self, meaning)
-            aliasnames = info['alias']
+            aliasnames = info.get('alias', [])
             if isinstance(aliasnames, str):
                 aliasnames = [aliasnames]
             for aliasname in aliasnames:
@@ -103,7 +108,7 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
         result = {}
         for meaning in self.meanings:
             info = getattr(self, meaning)
-            aliasnames = info['alias']
+            aliasnames = info.get('alias', [])
             if isinstance(aliasnames, str):
                 aliasnames = [aliasnames]
             for aliasname in aliasnames:
@@ -139,19 +144,22 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
             info = getattr(self, meaning)
             aliasnames = info.get('alias')
             if aliasnames is None:
-                continue
-            if isinstance(aliasnames, str):
+                aliasnames = []
+            elif isinstance(aliasnames, str):
                 aliasnames = [aliasnames]
             aliascfg = info.get('targets', {})
-            unique = info.get('unique')
-            if unique:
-                aliases = [a for a in unique
+            predefined_alias = info.get('predefined_alias')
+            if predefined_alias:
+                aliases = [a for a in predefined_alias
                            if isinstance(session.devices.get(a), DeviceAlias)]
                 if aliases:
                     if len(aliases) > 1:
                         raise TypeError(f'do know to which of {aliases} {meaning} to assign to')
                     alias_config = session.alias_config.setdefault(aliases[0], [])
                     alias_config.extend(list(aliascfg.items()))
+            elif not aliasnames:
+                session.log.warn("neither 'predefined_alias' nor 'alias' configured. skip %s", meaning)
+                continue
             importance_list = sample_devices.get(meaning, [])
             importance_list.extend([(nr, nam) for nam, nr in aliascfg.items() if nam in session.devices])
             importance_list = sorted(importance_list, reverse=True)
@@ -172,14 +180,15 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                         session.log.debug('create alias %r -> %r', aliasname, devname)
                         aliasdev = session.createDevice(aliasname, recreate=True, explicit=True)
                     aliasdev.alias = devname
-                # only the first item of aliasnames is added to the envlist
-                aliasname = aliasnames[0]
-                to_remove.add(devname)
-                to_remove.add(aliasname)
-                if devname not in newenv and info.get('envlist', True):
-                    # example: when 'temperature' and 'temperature_regulation' are the
-                    # same device, the first one is kept
-                    newenv[devname] = aliasname
+                if aliasnames:
+                    # only the first item of aliasnames is added to the envlist
+                    aliasname = aliasnames[0]
+                    to_remove.add(devname)
+                    to_remove.add(aliasname)
+                    if devname not in newenv and info.get('envlist', True):
+                        # example: when 'temperature' and 'temperature_regulation' are the
+                        # same device, the first one is kept
+                        newenv[devname] = aliasname
                 break
             else:
                 to_remove.union(aliasnames)
@@ -299,6 +308,7 @@ class FrappyNode(SecNodeDevice, Moveable):
         else:
             self.disable()
         if running_cfg:
+            self._disconnect()
             self._service_manager.do_stop(ins, self.service)
         is_cfg = cfg and ':' not in cfg
         if is_cfg:
diff --git a/setups/frappy.py b/setups/frappy.py
index 97607f4..90eb81b 100644
--- a/setups/frappy.py
+++ b/setups/frappy.py
@@ -33,15 +33,19 @@ devices = dict(
             'alias': ['B', 'magfield'],
             'targets': {'se_mf': 20},
         },
-        rotation_z = {
+        rotation_z={
             # possible names of the instruments main omega alias
             # only one of these must be an alias, and this is then used
-            'unique': ['a3', 'om'],
+            'predefined_alias': ['a3', 'om'],
+            'targets': {'se_om': 20},
+            'envlist': False,
+        },
+        stick_rotation={
             'alias': 'dom',
             'targets': {'se_om': 20, 'se_stickrot': 19},
             'envlist': False,
         }
-   )
+    )
 )
 
 startupcode = '''