diff --git a/roles/1-prep/tasks/computed_vars.yml b/roles/1-prep/tasks/computed_vars.yml
index 5fb7f824d..e775e9fc3 100644
--- a/roles/1-prep/tasks/computed_vars.yml
+++ b/roles/1-prep/tasks/computed_vars.yml
@@ -60,11 +60,12 @@
 # we decided to enable mysql unconditionally
 #  when: elgg_enabled or rachel_enabled or owncloud_enabled or phpmyadmin_enabled or wordpress_enabled or iiab_menu_install
 
-- name: Turn on mongodb if sugarizer enabled
-  set_fact:
-    mongodb_install: True
-    mongodb_enabled: True
-  when: sugarizer_enabled
+# Commenting out MongoDB on a trial basis, for a more basic/lightweight Sugarizer, per https://github.com/iiab/iiab/pull/427
+# - name: Turn on mongodb if sugarizer enabled
+#   set_fact:
+#     mongodb_install: True
+#     mongodb_enabled: True
+#   when: sugarizer_enabled
 
 # There might be other db's
 - name: Turn on postgresql if moodle or pathagar enabled
diff --git a/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml b/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml
index 25844896a..12936476d 100644
--- a/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
      - { path: '/library/dbdata/mongodb' }
      - { path: '/var/log/mongodb' }
 
-
 - name: Create systemd files
   template: src={{ item.src }}
             dest={{ item.dest }}
@@ -38,7 +37,6 @@
       - { name: mongodb }
   when: mongodb_enabled
 
-
 - name: disable services
   service: name={{ item.name }}
            enabled=no
@@ -47,6 +45,20 @@
       - { name: mongodb }
   when: not mongodb_enabled
 
+# See https://github.com/iiab/iiab/issues/254 for other attempts to eliminate
+# these 256MB files. Brute Force Idea: rm /var/lib/mongodb/journal/prealloc.*
+- name: find /var/lib/mongodb/prealloc.* files to delete
+  find:
+    paths: /var/lib/mongodb/journal
+    patterns: prealloc.*
+  register: files_to_delete
+
+- name: delete prealloc files
+  file:
+    path: "{{ item.path }}"
+    state: absent
+  with_items: "{{ files_to_delete.files }}"
+
 - name: add mongodb to service list
   ini_file: dest='{{ service_filelist }}'
             section=mongodb
diff --git a/roles/sugarizer/meta/main.yml b/roles/sugarizer/meta/main.yml
index 60cc7431a..e3fcddc52 100644
--- a/roles/sugarizer/meta/main.yml
+++ b/roles/sugarizer/meta/main.yml
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 dependencies:
-   - { role: mongodb, tags: ['generic','mongodb'], when: sugarizer_install }
+#    - { role: mongodb, tags: ['generic','mongodb'], when: sugarizer_install }
diff --git a/roles/sugarizer/templates/sugarizer.service.j2 b/roles/sugarizer/templates/sugarizer.service.j2
index 23e5a9206..fd5f17e40 100644
--- a/roles/sugarizer/templates/sugarizer.service.j2
+++ b/roles/sugarizer/templates/sugarizer.service.j2
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [unit]
 Description=Node.js Sugarizer Server
-Requires=After=mongodb.service       # Requires the mongodb service to run first
+# Requires=After=mongodb.service       # Requires the mongodb service to run first
 
 [Service]
 WorkingDirectory={{ sugarizer_location }}/sugarizer/server/