diff --git a/proxstar/__init__.py b/proxstar/__init__.py
index e9254f5..c877ca2 100644
--- a/proxstar/__init__.py
+++ b/proxstar/__init__.py
@@ -38,17 +38,10 @@ with open('proxmox_ssh_key', 'w') as key:
 
 ssh_tunnels = []
 
-retry = 0
-while retry < 5:
-    try:
-        auth = OIDCAuthentication(
-            app,
-            issuer=app.config['OIDC_ISSUER'],
-            client_registration_info=app.config['OIDC_CLIENT_CONFIG'])
-        break
-    except:
-        retry += 1
-        time.sleep(2)
+auth = OIDCAuthentication(
+    app,
+    issuer=app.config['OIDC_ISSUER'],
+    client_registration_info=app.config['OIDC_CLIENT_CONFIG'])
 
 redis_conn = Redis(app.config['REDIS_HOST'], app.config['REDIS_PORT'])
 q = Queue(connection=redis_conn)
diff --git a/proxstar/starrs.py b/proxstar/starrs.py
index 8a95155..fa0d0a7 100644
--- a/proxstar/starrs.py
+++ b/proxstar/starrs.py
@@ -42,18 +42,22 @@ def renew_ip(starrs, addr):
     return results
 
 
+# Use various STARRS stored procedures to make sure the hostname is valid/available
 def check_hostname(starrs, hostname):
     c = starrs.cursor()
     try:
+        # Check for invalid characters in hostname
         c.execute("BEGIN")
         c.callproc("api.initialize", ('root', ))
         c.callproc("api.validate_name", (hostname, ))
         c.execute("COMMIT")
+        # Validate the entire domain name using Data::Validate::Domain
         c.execute("BEGIN")
         c.callproc("api.initialize", ('root', ))
         c.callproc("api.validate_domain", (hostname, 'csh.rit.edu'))
         valid = c.fetchall()[0][0]
         c.execute("COMMIT")
+        # Check if the hostname is available (checks A/SRV/CNAME records)
         c.execute("BEGIN")
         c.callproc("api.initialize", ('root', ))
         c.callproc("api.check_dns_hostname", (hostname, 'csh.rit.edu'))
@@ -61,6 +65,13 @@ def check_hostname(starrs, hostname):
         if not c.fetchall()[0][0]:
             available = True
         c.execute("COMMIT")
+        # Check if the system name is taken
+        c.execute("BEGIN")
+        c.callproc("api.initialize", ('root', ))
+        c.callproc("api.get_system", (hostname, ))
+        if c.fetchall():
+            available = False
+        c.execute("COMMIT")
     except (psycopg2.InternalError):
         valid = False
         available = False
diff --git a/proxstar/user.py b/proxstar/user.py
index 9e2cbdc..6bda641 100644
--- a/proxstar/user.py
+++ b/proxstar/user.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class User(object):
             if 'status' in vm:
                 vm = VM(vm['vmid'])
                 if vm.status == 'running' or vm.status == 'paused':
-                    usage['cpu'] += int(vm.cpu * vm.config.get('sockets', 1))
+                    usage['cpu'] += int(vm.cpu)
                     usage['mem'] += (int(vm.mem) / 1024)
                 for disk in vm.disks:
                     usage['disk'] += int(disk[1])
diff --git a/proxstar/vm.py b/proxstar/vm.py
index 4592654..4ba709e 100644
--- a/proxstar/vm.py
+++ b/proxstar/vm.py
@@ -99,11 +99,19 @@ class VM(object):
 
     @lazy_property
     def info(self):
+        return self.get_info()
+
+    @retry(wait=wait_fixed(2), stop=stop_after_attempt(5))
+    def get_info(self):
         proxmox = connect_proxmox()
         return proxmox.nodes(self.node).qemu(self.id).status.current.get()
 
     @lazy_property
     def config(self):
+        return self.get_config()
+
+    @retry(wait=wait_fixed(2), stop=stop_after_attempt(5))
+    def get_config(self):
         proxmox = connect_proxmox()
         return proxmox.nodes(self.node).qemu(self.id).config.get()