diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b0aaef2..37296b7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ core:
 		lib/tiny-cloud/init \
 		lib/tiny-cloud/mdev \
 		lib/tiny-cloud/tiny-cloud.conf
+	install -Dm644 -t "$(PREFIX)"/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data" \
+		lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/missing \
+		lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/script \
+		lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/unknown
 	install -Dm644 lib/tiny-cloud/tiny-cloud.conf \
 		"$(PREFIX)"/etc/tiny-cloud.conf
 	install -Dm755 -t "$(PREFIX)"/sbin \
@@ -60,6 +64,8 @@ alpine:
 	install -Dm644 -t $(PREFIX)/lib/tiny-cloud/cloud/alpine \
 		lib/tiny-cloud/cloud/alpine/init
 	ln -s ../nocloud/imds $(PREFIX)/lib/tiny-cloud/cloud/alpine/imds
+	install -Dm644 -t "$(PREFIX)"/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data" \
+		lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/alpine-config
 
 check: tests/Kyuafile Kyuafile
 	kyua test || (kyua report --verbose && exit 1)
diff --git a/lib/mdev/nvme-ebs-links b/lib/mdev/nvme-ebs-links
index 7005c5f..1eee876 100755
--- a/lib/mdev/nvme-ebs-links
+++ b/lib/mdev/nvme-ebs-links
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # vim:set ts=2 et:
 
+# NOTE: The mdev-conf APK handles this now, but only for xvd or sd links (not
+#   both)
+
 : "${LIBDIR:=$PREFIX/lib}"
 . "$LIBDIR/tiny-cloud/common"
 
diff --git a/lib/tiny-cloud/common b/lib/tiny-cloud/common
index ce0dd1a..51256af 100644
--- a/lib/tiny-cloud/common
+++ b/lib/tiny-cloud/common
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@
 
 log() {
     local facility="local7"
-    local stderr
+    local stderr init
     local tag=$(basename "$0")
     while [ "${1#-}" != "$1" ]; do
         case "$1" in
+            -i) init=1 ;;   # TODO: value = indent?
             -f) facility="$2"; shift ;;
             -s) stderr=-s ;;
             -t) tag="$tag/$2"; shift ;;
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ log() {
     [ -z "$DEBUG" ] && [ "$level" = debug ] && return
     shift
 
+    [ -n "$init" ] && echo "$@" >&2
     logger $stderr -p "$facility.$level" -t "$tag[$$]" "$@"
     case "$level" in
         crit|alert|emerg) exit 1 ;;
diff --git a/lib/tiny-cloud/init b/lib/tiny-cloud/init
index 8f37744..6e8d2fa 100644
--- a/lib/tiny-cloud/init
+++ b/lib/tiny-cloud/init
@@ -68,23 +68,22 @@ init__install_hotplugs() {
         . "$LIBDIR/tiny-cloud/$HOTPLUG_TYPE"
     fi
 
-    printf ': ' >&2
     for module in $HOTPLUG_MODULES; do
-        result='?'
+        result='unknown'
         level='err'
-        printf "$module" >&2
-        log info "$phase $ACTION $module"
+        printf "      >> " >&2
+        log -i -t "$phase/$ACTION" info "$module: installing"
         if type "mod__$module" | grep -q -w "function"; then
             if "mod__$module"; then
-                result='+'
+                result='installed'
                 level='info'
             else
-                result='!'
+                result='failed'
                 rc=1
             fi
         fi
-        printf '(%s) ' $result >&2
-        log "$level" "$phase $ACTION $module ($result)"
+        printf "      >> " >&2
+        log -i -t "$phase/$ACTION" info "$module: $result"
     done
     return $rc
 }
@@ -145,8 +144,7 @@ auto_detect_ethernet_interface() {
 
 init__set_default_interfaces() {
     if [ -f "$ROOT"/etc/network/interfaces ]; then
-        echo "already set up" >&2
-        log info "$phase $ACTION - already set up"
+        log -i -t "$phase" info "$ACTION: already set up"
         return
     fi
 
@@ -171,8 +169,7 @@ init__create_default_user() {
     local user="$CLOUD_USER"
     # don't do anything if it already exists
     if getent passwd "$user" >/dev/null; then
-        echo "already exists" >&2
-        log info "$phase $ACTION - already exists"
+        log -i -t "$phase" info "$ACTION: already exists"
         return
     fi
 
@@ -202,15 +199,13 @@ init__enable_sshd() {
 init__set_hostname() {
     local fqdn=$(imds @hostname)
     if [ -z "$fqdn" ]; then
-        echo "no hostname set" >&2
-        log info "No hostname set"
+        log -i -t "$phase" info "$ACTION: no hostname set"
         return
     fi
 
     local host="${fqdn%%\.*}"
     if [ -z "$host" ]; then
-        echo "$hostname is not a valid FQDN" >&2
-        log err "$fqdn is not a valid FQDN"
+        log -i -t "$phase" warn "$ACTION: invalid hostname '$fqdn'"
         return 1
     fi
 
@@ -224,8 +219,7 @@ init__set_ssh_keys() {
     local user="$CLOUD_USER"
     local pwent="$(getent passwd "$user")"
     if [ -z "$pwent" ]; then
-        echo "failed to find $user" >&2
-        log err "Failed to find user $user"
+        log -i -t "$phase" err "$ACTION: failed to find user $user"
         return 1
     fi
     local group=$(echo "$pwent" | cut -d: -f4)
@@ -246,7 +240,7 @@ init__set_ssh_keys() {
 init__save_userdata() {
     local userdata="$TINY_CLOUD_VAR/user-data"
     if [ -f "$userdata" ]; then
-        log info "user-data already saved"
+        log -i -t "$phase" info "$ACTION: user-data already saved"
         return
     fi
     local tmpfile=$(mktemp "$userdata.XXXXXX")
@@ -285,7 +279,6 @@ fi
 
 ### load user-data type-specific init functions / vars (potentially overriding)
 
-# this should be non-overrideable, but need this before we...
 userdata_type() {
     if [ ! -f "$TINY_CLOUD_VAR/user-data" ]; then
         echo missing
@@ -303,4 +296,3 @@ USERDATA_TYPE="$(userdata_type)"
 if [ -f "$LIBDIR/tiny-cloud/user-data/$USERDATA_TYPE" ]; then
     . "$LIBDIR/tiny-cloud/user-data/$USERDATA_TYPE"
 fi
-# TODO: some indication that the user-data type is unsupported?
diff --git a/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/missing b/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/missing
index 1fd1556..cbb9c2c 100644
--- a/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/missing
+++ b/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/missing
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 # Missing UserData Functions
 # vim:set ts=4 et ft=sh:
 
-# TODO: what to do if we have NO user-data yet
+init__missing_userdata() {
+    log -i -t "$phase" notice "$ACTION: no user-data found"
+}
+
+INIT_ACTIONS_MAIN="missing_userdata ${INIT_ACTIONS_MAIN}"
diff --git a/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/unknown b/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/unknown
index 4d1be1a..14ed827 100644
--- a/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/unknown
+++ b/lib/tiny-cloud/user-data/unknown
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 # Unknown UserData Functions
 # vim:set ts=4 et ft=sh:
 
-# TODO: this would probably be mostly NOOPs
+init__unknown_userdata() {
+    local type="$(userdata_type)"
+    log -i -t "$phase" warn "$ACTION: unable to process '$type' user-data"
+}
+
+INIT_ACTIONS_MAIN="unknown_userdata ${INIT_ACTIONS_MAIN}"
diff --git a/sbin/tiny-cloud b/sbin/tiny-cloud
index 822611b..1938d8c 100755
--- a/sbin/tiny-cloud
+++ b/sbin/tiny-cloud
@@ -34,13 +34,12 @@ while true; do
             case "$1" in
                 complete)   # indicate bootstrap is done
                     init__bootstrap_complete
-                    log warn 'bootstrap marked complete';;
+                    log -i notice 'bootstrap marked complete';;
                 incomplete) # indicate bootstrap isn't done
                     bootstrap_incomplete
-                    log warn 'bootstrap marked incomplete';;
+                    log -i warn 'bootstrap marked incomplete';;
                 *) usage >&2; exit 1;;
             esac
-            printf ' bootstrap marked "%s"\n' "$1" >&2
             exit 0;;
         -s|--setup) # just openrc for now
             for phase in -early -net '' -final; do
@@ -67,8 +66,7 @@ esac
 
 # is initial bootstrap already done?
 if [ -f "$TINY_CLOUD_VAR/.bootstrap-complete" ]; then
-    printf ' already bootstrapped\n' >&2
-    log info "$phase - already bootstrapped"
+    log -i -t "$phase" info "already bootstrapped"
     exit 0;
 fi
 
@@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ INIT_ACTIONS_FINAL="${INIT_ACTIONS_FINAL} bootstrap_complete"
 
 case "$phase" in
     early)  INIT_ACTIONS="$INIT_ACTIONS_EARLY";;
-    net) INIT_ACTIONS="$INIT_ACTIONS_NET";;
+    net)    INIT_ACTIONS="$INIT_ACTIONS_NET";;
     main)   INIT_ACTIONS="$INIT_ACTIONS_MAIN";;
     final)  INIT_ACTIONS="$INIT_ACTIONS_FINAL";;
     *)      usage >&2; exit 1
@@ -101,23 +99,23 @@ esac
 
 for ACTION in $INIT_ACTIONS; do
     if skip_action "$ACTION"; then
-        printf '\n  -- %s : [SKIP]' $ACTION >&2
-        log warn "$phase - $ACTION - SKIPPED"
+        printf '\n   -- ' >&2
+        log -i -t "$phase" notice "$ACTION: skipped"
         continue
     fi
-    printf '\n  ++ %s ' $ACTION >&2
-    log info "$phase - $ACTION - START"
-    RESULT="UNKNOWN"
+    printf '\n   ++ ' >&2
+    log -i -t "$phase" info "$ACTION"
+    RESULT="unknown"
     LEVEL="err"
     if type "init__$ACTION" | grep -q -w "function"; then
         if "init__$ACTION" "$@"; then
-            RESULT="DONE"
+            RESULT="done"
             LEVEL="info"
         else
-            RESULT="FAIL"
+            RESULT="failed"
         fi
     fi
-    printf ': [%s]' $RESULT >&2
-    log "$LEVEL" "$phase - $ACTION - $RESULT"
+    printf '   ++ ' >&2
+    log -i -t "$phase" "$LEVEL" "$ACTION: $RESULT"
 done
 echo >&2
diff --git a/tests/init-early.test b/tests/init-early.test
index b3b1302..43c0fe5 100755
--- a/tests/init-early.test
+++ b/tests/init-early.test
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ expand_root_partition_body() {
 
 install_hotplugs_fail_body() {
 	CLOUD=aws atf_check -s not-exit:0 \
-		-e match:"vnic_eth_hotplug\(!\)" \
+		-e match:"vnic_eth_hotplug: failed" \
 		sh -c ". $lib; HOTPLUG_MODULES='vnic_eth_hotplug'; init__install_hotplugs"
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/init-final.test b/tests/init-final.test
index d75cf6c..8b8a514 100755
--- a/tests/init-final.test
+++ b/tests/init-final.test
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ userdata_type_body() {
 			-o match:"unknown" \
 			sh -c ". \"$lib\"; userdata_type"
 
+		echo "#alpine-config" > var/lib/cloud/user-data
+		CLOUD="$c" atf_check \
+			-o match:"alpine-config" \
+			sh -c ". \"$lib\"; userdata_type"
+
 		echo "#!/bin/sh" > var/lib/cloud/user-data
 		CLOUD="$c" atf_check -s exit:0 \
 			-o match:"script" \
diff --git a/tests/init-main.test b/tests/init-main.test
index 0cfe770..ed5c012 100755
--- a/tests/init-main.test
+++ b/tests/init-main.test
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ save_userdata_compressed_body() {
 		fake_userdata_nocloud < tmpfile
 
 		CLOUD="nocloud" atf_check \
+			-e 'ignore' \
 			sh -c ". \"$lib\"; init__save_userdata"
 
 		if ! grep "^#userdata" var/lib/cloud/user-data; then
diff --git a/tests/tiny-cloud-alpine.test b/tests/tiny-cloud-alpine.test
index 0229381..0ef1437 100755
--- a/tests/tiny-cloud-alpine.test
+++ b/tests/tiny-cloud-alpine.test
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ set_network_config_network_interfaces_body() {
 
 	atf_check \
 		-o match:"rc-update" \
-		-e match:"set_network_interfaces .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"set_network_interfaces: done" \
 		tiny-cloud early
 	atf_check \
 		-o match:"auto eth1" \
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ set_network_config_auto_body() {
 
 	atf_check \
 		-o match:"rc-update" \
-		-e match:"set_network_interfaces .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"set_network_interfaces: done" \
 		tiny-cloud early
 	atf_check \
 		-o match:"auto eth1" \
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ userdata_bootcmd_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_bootcmd .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_bootcmd: done" \
 		-o match:"^foo$" -o match:"^bar$" \
 		tiny-cloud main
 }
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ userdata_ntp_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_ntp .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_ntp: done" \
 		-o match:"apk add.*chrony" \
 		-o match:"rc-update .*chronyd" \
 		-o match:"rc-service .*chronyd" \
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ userdata_ntp_busybox_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_ntp .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_ntp: done" \
 		-o not-match:"apk add" \
 		-o match:"rc-update .*ntpd" \
 		-o match:"rc-service .*ntpd" \
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ userdata_ntp_openntpd_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_ntp .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_ntp: done" \
 		-o match:"apk add.*openntpd" \
 		-o match:"rc-update .*openntpd" \
 		-o match:"rc-service .*openntpd" \
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ userdata_apk_cache_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_apk_cache .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_apk_cache: done" \
 		-o ignore \
 		tiny-cloud main
 	atf_check -o match:"$PWD/var/cache/apk" readlink -f etc/apk/cache
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ userdata_apk_repositories_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_apk_repositories .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_apk_repositories: done" \
 		-o ignore \
 		tiny-cloud main
 	atf_check -o match:"^/srv/packages/main$" \
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ userdata_apk_repositories_version_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_apk_repositories .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_apk_repositories: done" \
 		-o ignore \
 		tiny-cloud main
 	atf_check -o match:"^https://cdn.alpinelinux.org/edge/main$" \
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ userdata_apk_repositories_version_auto_edge_body() {
 
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_apk_repositories .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_apk_repositories: done" \
 		-o ignore \
 		tiny-cloud main
 	atf_check -o match:"^https://cdn.alpinelinux.org/edge/main$" \
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ userdata_packages_body() {
 	EOF
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_packages .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_packages: done" \
 		-o match:"apk add .*tmux" \
 		-o match:"apk add .*vim" \
 		tiny-cloud main
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ userdata_runcmd_body() {
 	# run net phase to extract the user data
 	atf_check -e ignore -o ignore tiny-cloud net
 	atf_check \
-		-e match:"userdata_runcmd .*DONE" \
+		-e match:"userdata_runcmd: done" \
 		-o match:"^foo$" -o match:"^bar$" \
 		tiny-cloud final
 }
diff --git a/tests/tiny-cloud.test b/tests/tiny-cloud.test
index 157c97d..f48e2af 100755
--- a/tests/tiny-cloud.test
+++ b/tests/tiny-cloud.test
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ no_metadata_early_body() {
 	fake_netcat
 	for provider in $PROVIDERS; do
 		CLOUD="$provider" atf_check \
-			-e not-match:"UNKNOWN" \
+			-e not-match:"unknown" \
 			-e not-match:"not found" \
 			-e not-match:"o such file" \
 			-o match:"rc-update add.*sshd" \
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ no_userdata_net_body() {
 	fake_netcat
 	for provider in $PROVIDERS; do
 		CLOUD="$provider" atf_check \
-			-e not-match:"UNKNOWN" \
-			-e match:"save_userdata.*DONE" \
+			-e not-match:"unknown" \
+			-e match:"save_userdata.*done" \
 			tiny-cloud net
 	done
 }
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ no_userdata_main_body() {
 		# we should not set empty hostname
 		# we should not create .ssh dir for non-existing user
 		CLOUD="$provider" atf_check \
-			-e not-match:"UNKNOWN" \
+			-e not-match:"unknown" \
 			-o not-match:"hostname.*-F" \
 			-o not-match:"chown.*/\.ssh" \
 			tiny-cloud main
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@ no_userdata_final_body() {
 	fake_netcat
 	for provider in $PROVIDERS; do
 		CLOUD="$provider" atf_check \
-			-e not-match:"UNKNOWN" \
-			-e match:"bootstrap_complete .*" \
+			-e not-match:"unknown" \
+			-e match:"bootstrap_complete: done" \
 			tiny-cloud final
 		CLOUD="$provider" atf_check \
-			-e match:"bootstrap marked.*incomplete" \
+			-e match:"bootstrap marked incomplete" \
 			tiny-cloud --bootstrap incomplete
 	done
 }