diff --git a/apps/ramp-server/db.R b/apps/ramp-server/db.R
index 91a7073..13decb8 100644
--- a/apps/ramp-server/db.R
+++ b/apps/ramp-server/db.R
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ username <- config$db_username
 conpass <- config$db_password
 port <- config$db_port
 
+print("in db.R... config host:")
+print(host)
+print(dbname)
+
 #pkg.globals <- setConnectionToRaMP(dbname=dbname,username=username,conpass=conpass,host = host)
 
 # this call is used specifically for connection to MySQL/MariaDB databases.
diff --git a/apps/ramp-server/runRamp.R b/apps/ramp-server/runRamp.R
index 090e94c..1bdf0d4 100644
--- a/apps/ramp-server/runRamp.R
+++ b/apps/ramp-server/runRamp.R
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
+
 ramp_api <- plumber::plumb("plumber.R")
+
+# sets up mysql connection
 source("db.R")
-ramp_api$run(host = "127.0.0.1", port = 5762)
 
+# starts api
+ramp_api$run(host = "127.0.0.1", port = 5762)