diff --git a/iiab-install b/iiab-install
index dd6711709..867472a36 100755
--- a/iiab-install
+++ b/iiab-install
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function version_gt() { [ "$(printf '%s\n' "$@" | sort -V | head -1)" != "$1" ];
 # updates on 4.9.41-v7+ broke bridging, WiFi AP & OpenVPN in Oct/Nov 2017.
 CURR_KERN=`uname -r`
 echo "Found Kernel "$CURR_KERN""
-if [ "$OS" == "raspbian" ] && version_gt $MIN_RPI_KERN $CURR_KERN; then
+if [ "$OS" == "raspbian" ] && version_gt $MIN_RPI_KERN $CURR_KERN ; then
     echo -e "\nEXITING: Kernel "$MIN_RPI_KERN" or higher required with Raspbian."
     echo "PLEASE RUN 'apt update' then 'apt install raspberrypi-kernel' then reboot."
     echo "IIAB INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS: https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-Installation"
@@ -54,11 +54,19 @@ fi
 # Verify that a recent enough version of Ansible is installed.  See #449.  The
 # "include:" command was inconsistently implemented prior to Ansible 2.4.x.x
 CURR_ANSIBLE_VER=0
-if [[ `type -P ansible` ]]; then
-    CURR_ANSIBLE_VER=`ansible --version | head -1 | sed -e 's/.* //'`
+#if [ $(grep ubuntu /etc/apt/sources.list) ]; then  # FAILS when multiple lines returned, due to single square brackets
+#if grep -q ubuntu /etc/apt/sources.list ; then     # Works: bypasses need for "> /dev/null" thanks to "grep -q" (quiet)
+#if command -v ansible > /dev/null ; then  # Works But Wordy!
+#if [[ $(command -v ansible) ]]; then      # Also Works! $(...) nests more easily than backticks
+#if [[ `which ansible` ]]; then            # "which" misses built-in commands like cd, and is RISKY per https://stackoverflow.com/questions/592620/check-if-a-program-exists-from-a-bash-script
+#if [[ `type -P ansible` ]]; then          # "type -P" isn't POSIX compliant; it misses built-in commands like "cd"
+if [[ `command -v ansible` ]]; then        # "command -v" is POSIX compliant; it catches built-in commands like "cd"
+    #CURR_ANSIBLE_VER=`ansible --version | head -1 | sed -e 's/.* //'`
+    #CURR_ANSIBLE_VER=`ansible --version | head -1 | cut -f 2 -d " "`
+    CURR_ANSIBLE_VER=`ansible --version | head -1 | awk '{print $2}'`  # to match scripts/ansible
     echo "Found Ansible "$CURR_ANSIBLE_VER""
 fi
-if version_gt $MIN_ANSIBLE_VER $CURR_ANSIBLE_VER; then
+if version_gt $MIN_ANSIBLE_VER $CURR_ANSIBLE_VER ; then
     echo -e "\nEXITING: Ansible "$MIN_ANSIBLE_VER" or higher required."
     echo "PLEASE RUN './scripts/ansible' to install the latest Ansible from PPA or RPM."
     echo "'ansible --version' and 'apt -a list ansible' can also be useful here.  Try"
@@ -71,7 +79,7 @@ fi
 # (in /etc/iiab/iiab.env) of the highest completed Stage.  Avoid repetition!
 STAGE=0
 if [ -f /etc/iiab/iiab.env ]; then
-    if [[ `grep STAGE= /etc/iiab/iiab.env` ]]; then
+    if grep -q STAGE= /etc/iiab/iiab.env ; then
         source /etc/iiab/iiab.env
         echo "Extracted STAGE="$STAGE" (counter) from /etc/iiab/iiab.env"
         if ! [ "$STAGE" -eq "$STAGE" ] 2> /dev/null; then
@@ -83,7 +91,7 @@ if [ -f /etc/iiab/iiab.env ]; then
         fi
     fi
 # if XSCE is present resolveconf will not be
-    if [[ `grep XSCE /etc/iiab/iiab.env` ]]; then
+    if grep -q XSCE /etc/iiab/iiab.env ; then
         STAGE=0
         rm /etc/iiab/iiab.env
         echo "Removed /etc/iiab/iiab.env effectively resetting STAGE (counter)."
diff --git a/iiab-network b/iiab-network
index b7b42b7d1..3b3b634f1 100755
--- a/iiab-network
+++ b/iiab-network
@@ -5,48 +5,71 @@ CWD=`pwd`
 export ANSIBLE_LOG_PATH="$CWD/iiab-network.log"
 
 if [ ! -f iiab-network.yml ]; then
-    echo "IIAB Playbook not found."
-    echo "Please run this command from the top level of the git repo."
+    echo "iiab-network.yml not found in current directory."
+    echo "Please rerun this command from the top level of the git repo."
     echo "Exiting."
     exit 1
 fi
 
 if [ ! -f /etc/iiab/config_vars.yml ]; then
+    echo "Creating stub /etc/iiab/config_vars.yml"
     mkdir -p /etc/iiab
     echo "{}" > /etc/iiab/config_vars.yml
 fi
 
 OS="unknown"   # will be overridden below, if /etc/iiab/iiab.env is legit
 if [ -f /etc/iiab/iiab.env ]; then
+    echo "Running /etc/iiab/iiab.env"
     source /etc/iiab/iiab.env
 fi
 
+echo "Ansible will now run iiab-network.yml -- monitor log file iiab-network.log"
 Start=`date`
 ansible-playbook -i ansible_hosts iiab-network.yml --connection=local
 End=`date`
 
+
 # Record critical diagnostics to [/opt/iiab/iiab/]iiab-network.log
 echo "" >> iiab-network.log
+
 # redhat path
-if [ "OS" == "centos" ] || [  "OS" == "fedora" ]; then
+# Paul Armstrong's Shell Style Guide (https://google.github.io/styleguide/shell.xml)
+# prefers "if [[ ... ]]; then" for REGEXP's.  Many others prefer "if [ ... ];" then.
+# Each approach is sometimes necessary in my experience, working differently indeed.
+if [ "$OS" == "centos" ] || [ "$OS" == "fedora" ]; then
     ls -la /etc/sys*/net*/ifcfg* >> iiab-network.log
 fi
-# Ubuntu desktop might be using NM - split out.
-if [ $(which nmcli) ]; then
+
+# Ubuntu desktop/others might be using NM (NetworkManager) - split out.
+#if [ $(grep ubuntu /etc/apt/sources.list) ]; then  # FAILS when multiple lines returned, due to single square brackets
+#if grep -q ubuntu /etc/apt/sources.list ; then     # Works: bypasses need for "> /dev/null" thanks to "grep -q" (quiet)
+#if command -v nmcli > /dev/null ; then  # Works But Wordy!
+#if [[ $(command -v nmcli) ]]; then      # Also Works! $(...) nests more easily than backticks
+#if [[ `which nmcli` ]]; then            # "which" misses built-in commands like cd, and is RISKY per https://stackoverflow.com/questions/592620/check-if-a-program-exists-from-a-bash-script
+#if [[ `type -P nmcli` ]]; then          # "type -P" isn't POSIX compliant; it misses built-in commands like "cd"
+if [[ `command -v nmcli` ]]; then        # "command -v" is POSIX compliant; it catches built-in commands like "cd"
     nmcli d >> iiab-network.log
+    echo >> iiab-network.log
     nmcli c >> iiab-network.log
 fi
-echo "" >> iiab-network.log
+
 ip r >> iiab-network.log
-echo "" >> iiab-network.log
 brctl show >> iiab-network.log
-echo "run start: $Start" >> iiab-network.log
-echo "run end: $End" >> iiab-network.log
-echo "" >> iiab-network.log
-echo "" >> iiab-network.log
+echo >> iiab-network.log
+echo "iiab-network run start: $Start" >> iiab-network.log
+echo "iiab-network run end: $End" >> iiab-network.log
+echo >> iiab-network.log
+echo >> iiab-network.log
+
 
 # Put the same diagnostics on screen, for live operator
+if [[ `command -v nmcli` ]]; then
+    nmcli d
+    echo
+    nmcli c
+fi
 ip r
 brctl show
-echo "run start: $Start"
-echo "run end: $End"
+echo
+echo "iiab-network run start: $Start"
+echo "iiab-network run end: $End"
diff --git a/scripts/ansible b/scripts/ansible
index 44fd751b6..94ebce04e 100755
--- a/scripts/ansible
+++ b/scripts/ansible
@@ -1,27 +1,34 @@
 #!/bin/bash -e
-# required to start loading IIAB with ansible
-GOOD_VER="2.4.2"
-FOUND=""
-FAMILY=""
-VER=""
+
+# Installs or upgrades to the best possible Ansible release, so iiab-install
+# can proceed.  Ensure you're online before running this script!
+
+GOOD_VER="2.4.2"      # Ansible version for OLPC, for pip.
+                      # On other OS's we install/upgrade to the latest Ansible.
+                      # Pin all to 2.4.x in future, if really/truly nec?
+CURR_VER="undefined"
+# FOUND="false"       # NOT USED AS OF 2017-12-12
+# FAMILY="undefined"  # NOT USED AS OF 2017-12-12
 # below are unused for future use
-URL="NA"
+# URL="NA"
+
 export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
-if ! [ $(which ansible-playbook) ]; then
+
+if ! which ansible-playbook ; then
     echo "Installing --- Please Wait"
     if [ -f /etc/centos-release ]; then
         yum -y install ca-certificates nss epel-release
         yum -y install git bzip2 file findutils gzip hg svn sudo tar which unzip xz zip libselinux-python
         yum -y install python-pip python-setuptools python-wheel patch
         yum -y install http://releases.ansible.com/ansible/rpm/release/epel-7-x86_64/ansible-2.4.2.0-1.el7.ans.noarch.rpm
-        FOUND="yes"
-        FAMILY="redhat"
+        # FOUND="true"
+        # FAMILY="redhat"
 #    elif [ -f /etc/fedora-release ]; then
-#        VER=`grep VERSION_ID /etc/*elease | cut -d= -f2`
-#        URL=https://github.com/jvonau/iiab/blob/ansible/vars/fedora-$VER.yml
+#        CURR_VER=`grep VERSION_ID /etc/*elease | cut -d= -f2`
+#        URL=https://github.com/jvonau/iiab/blob/ansible/vars/fedora-$CURR_VER.yml
 #        dnf -y install ansible git bzip2 file findutils gzip hg svn sudo tar which unzip xz zip libselinux-python
 #        dnf -y install python-pip python-setuptools python-wheel patch
-#        FOUND="yes"
+#        FOUND="true"
 #        FAMILY="redhat"
     elif [ -f /etc/olpc-release ]; then
         yum -y install ca-certificates nss
@@ -29,51 +36,53 @@ if ! [ $(which ansible-playbook) ]; then
         yum -y install python-pip python-setuptools python-wheel patch
         pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel #EOL just do it
         pip install ansible==$GOOD_VER --disable-pip-version-check
-        FOUND="yes"
-        FAMILY="olpc"
-    elif [ -f /etc/debian_version ] || [ `grep -qi raspbian /etc/*elease` ]; then
-        if [ ! `grep -qi ansible /etc/apt/sources.list` ] && [ ! -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible ]; then
-            apt-get -y install dirmngr python-pip python-setuptools python-wheel patch
+        # FOUND="true"
+        # FAMILY="olpc"
+    elif [ -f /etc/debian_version ] || (grep -qi raspbian /etc/*elease) ; then
+        if ( ! grep -qi ansible /etc/apt/sources.list) && [ ! -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible ]; then
+            apt -y install dirmngr python-pip python-setuptools python-wheel patch
             echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ansible/ansible/ubuntu xenial main" \
-            >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible.list
+                 >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible.list
             apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 93C4A3FD7BB9C367
         fi
-        FOUND="yes"
-        FAMILY="debian"
-    elif [ `grep -qi ubuntu /etc/lsb-release` ] ||  [ `grep -qi ubuntu /etc/os-release` ]; then
-        apt-get -y install python-pip python-setuptools python-wheel patch
+        # FOUND="true"
+        # FAMILY="debian"
+        # Parens are optional, but greatly clarify :)
+    elif (grep -qi ubuntu /etc/lsb-release) || (grep -qi ubuntu /etc/os-release); then
+        apt -y install python-pip python-setuptools python-wheel patch
         apt-add-repository -y ppa:ansible/ansible
-        FOUND="yes"
-        FAMILY="debian"
-    fi
-    if [ ! $FOUND = "yes" ]; then
-        echo 'WARN: Could not detect distro or distro unsupported'
+        # FOUND="true"
+        # FAMILY="debian"
+    # fi
+    # if [ ! $FOUND = "true" ]; then
+    else
+        echo "WARN: Could not detect distro or distro unsupported"
         exit 1
     fi
 else
-    VER=`ansible --version|head -n 1|cut -f 2 -d " "`
-    echo "Current ansible version installed is $VER"
+    #CURR_VER=`ansible --version | head -n 1 | cut -f 2 -d " "`
+    CURR_VER=`ansible --version | head -1 | awk '{print $2}'`  # to match iiab-install
+    echo "Current ansible version installed is $CURR_VER"
     if [ -f /etc/centos-release ] || [ -f /etc/fedora-release ]; then
         echo "Please use your system's package manager to update ansible"
         exit 0
-    fi
-    if [ -f /etc/olpc-release ]; then
+    elif [ -f /etc/olpc-release ]; then
         echo "Please use pip package manager to update ansible"
         exit 0
-    fi
-    if [[ `grep -qi ansible /etc/apt/sources.list` ]] || [ -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible*.list ]; then
-        echo "repos found"
+    #fi
+    #if [[ `grep -qi ansible /etc/apt/sources.list` ]] || [ -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible*.list ]; then
+    elif (grep -qi ansible /etc/apt/sources.list) || (ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible*.list >/dev/null 2>&1) ; then
+        echo "Ansible repo(s) found within /etc/apt/sources.list*"
     else
         echo "Upstream ansible source repo not found, please uninstall ansible and re-run this script"
         exit 1
     fi
 fi
 
-if [ ! -f /etc/centos-release ] && [ ! -f /etc/fedora-release ] && \
-   [ ! -f /etc/olpc-release ]; then
-    echo "Using OS package manager to check for ansible updates"
-    apt-get -y update
-    apt-get -y install ansible
+if [ ! -f /etc/centos-release ] && [ ! -f /etc/fedora-release ] && [ ! -f /etc/olpc-release ]; then
+    echo "Using apt to check for updates, then install/upgrade ansible"
+    apt update
+    apt -y install ansible
 fi
 
 # needed?