diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 05cb458..09749d9 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,17 +1,19 @@
 from setuptools import setup
 from pathlib import Path
-
-# Available at setup time due to pyproject.toml
-from pybind11.setup_helpers import Pybind11Extension, build_ext
-from pybind11 import get_cmake_dir
-
-import sys
+import sys, os
 
 __version__ = "2022.1"
 
 this_directory = Path(__file__).parent
 long_description = (this_directory / "README.md").read_text()
 
+# append local pybind11 directory to find the required files
+sys.path.append(os.path.join(this_directory, 'pybind11'))
+
+# Available at setup time due to pyproject.toml (not working on older systems)
+from pybind11.setup_helpers import Pybind11Extension, build_ext
+from pybind11 import get_cmake_dir
+
 ext_modules = [
     Pybind11Extension("pymoos",
         ["src/pyMOOS.cpp"],
diff --git a/src/pyMOOS.cpp b/src/pyMOOS.cpp
index 4cddd95..aa1b819 100644
--- a/src/pyMOOS.cpp
+++ b/src/pyMOOS.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ class AsyncCommsWrapper : public MOOS::MOOSAsyncCommClient {
                    dfTime);
         return BASE::Post(M);
     }
+	/* do a MOOSDB server request */
+    bool ServerRequest(const std::string& sKey, double dfTime) {
+        CMOOSMsg M(MOOS_SERVER_REQUEST, sKey, dfTime);
+		M.m_sOriginatingCommunity = GetCommunityName();
+        return BASE::Post(M);
+    }
 
     static bool on_connect_delegate(void * pParam) {
         MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper * pMe =
@@ -75,6 +81,17 @@ class AsyncCommsWrapper : public MOOS::MOOSAsyncCommClient {
         return true;
     }
 
+    static bool on_disconnect_delegate(void * pParam) {
+        MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper * pMe =
+                static_cast<MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper*> (pParam);
+        return pMe->on_disconnect();
+    }
+    bool SetOnDisconnectCallback(py::object func) {
+        BASE::SetOnDisconnectCallBack(on_disconnect_delegate, this);
+        on_disconnect_object_ = func;
+        return true;
+    }
+
     bool Close(bool nice){
         bool bResult = false;
 
@@ -110,6 +127,26 @@ class AsyncCommsWrapper : public MOOS::MOOSAsyncCommClient {
 
     }
 
+    bool on_disconnect() {
+
+        bool bResult = false;
+
+        PyGILState_STATE gstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
+        try {
+            py::object result = on_disconnect_object_();
+            bResult = py::bool_(result);
+        } catch (const py::error_already_set& e) {
+            PyGILState_Release(gstate);
+            throw pyMOOSException(
+                  "OnDisconnect:: caught an exception thrown in python callback");
+        }
+
+        PyGILState_Release(gstate);
+
+        return bResult;
+
+    }
+
     bool SetOnMailCallback(py::object func) {
         BASE::SetOnMailCallBack(on_mail_delegate, this);
         on_mail_object_ = func;
@@ -207,6 +244,7 @@ class AsyncCommsWrapper : public MOOS::MOOSAsyncCommClient {
 
     /** callback functions (stored) */
     py::object on_connect_object_;
+    py::object on_disconnect_object_;
     py::object on_mail_object_;
 
     /** close connection flag */
@@ -460,21 +498,31 @@ PYBIND11_MODULE(pymoos, m) {
                     "Fetch incoming mail as a vector.")
         .def("set_on_connect_callback",
                     &MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper::SetOnConnectCallback,
-                    "Set the user supplied on_connect callback. This callback, "
-                    "when set, will be invoked when a connection to the server "
-                    "is made. It is a good plan to register for notifications "
+                    "Set the user supplied on_connect callback. This callback,\n"
+                    "when set, will be invoked when a connection to the server\n"
+                    "is made. It is a good plan to register for notifications\n"
+                    "of variables in this callback.",
+                    py::arg("func"))
+        .def("set_on_disconnect_callback",
+                    &MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper::SetOnDisconnectCallback,
+                    "Set the user supplied on_disconnect callback. This callback,\n"
+                    "when set, will be invoked when the connection to the server\n"
+                    "is lost. It is a good plan to register for notifications\n"
                     "of variables in this callback.",
                     py::arg("func"))
         .def("set_on_mail_callback",
                     &MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper::SetOnMailCallback,
-                    "Set the user supplied on_mail callback. If you want rapid "
+                    "Set the user supplied on_mail callback. If you want rapid\n"
                     "response, use V10 active callbacks.",
                     py::arg("func"))
         .def("notify_binary", &MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper::NotifyBinary,
                     "Notify binary data. (specific to pymoos.)",
                     py::arg("name"), py::arg("binary_data"), py::arg("time")=-1)
+		.def("server_request", &MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper::ServerRequest,
+                    "Do a MOOSDB server request. (specific to pymoos.)",
+                    py::arg("key"), py::arg("time")=-1)
         .def("add_active_queue", &MOOS::AsyncCommsWrapper::AddActiveQueue,
-                    "Register a custom callback for a particular message."
+                    "Register a custom callback for a particular message.\n"
                     "This will be called in it's own thread.",
                     py::arg("queue_name"), py::arg("func"))
         .def("remove_message_route_to_active_queue",