diff --git a/tests/lib/subsystem-runner-test.cpp b/tests/lib/subsystem-runner-test.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fb9564eaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lib/subsystem-runner-test.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+/*
+  SubsystemRunner(Test)  -  validate starting and stopping of dependent subsystems
+ 
+  Copyright (C)         Lumiera.org
+    2008,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
+ 
+  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+  License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ 
+  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU General Public License for more details.
+ 
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+ 
+* *****************************************************/
+
+
+#include "lib/test/run.hpp"
+#include "common/subsys.hpp"
+#include "common/subsystem-runner.hpp"
+
+#include "include/symbol.hpp"
+#include "lib/error.hpp"
+#include "lib/query.hpp"
+#include "lib/util.hpp"
+
+#include <tr1/functional>
+#include <iostream>
+
+using std::cout;
+using std::tr1::bind;
+using std::tr1::placeholders::_1;
+using util::isnil;
+using test::Test;
+
+
+namespace lumiera {
+  namespace test  {
+  
+    namespace { // private test classes and data...
+    
+      using query::extractID;
+      
+      /** limit for the randomly selected duration of
+       *  subsystem's running phase (milliseconds) */
+      const uint MAX_RUNNING_TIME_ms = 50;
+      
+      /** the "running" subsystem checks for a
+       *  shutdown request every XX milliseconds */ 
+      const uint TICK_DURATION_ms = 5;
+      
+      
+      /** 
+       * A simulated "Lumiera Subsystem".
+       * It is capable of starting a separate thread,
+       * which may terminate regularly after a random
+       * time, or may fail in various ways. 
+       * The behaviour is controlled by a number of
+       * definitions, given at construction in
+       * logic predicate notation.
+       */
+      class MockSys
+        : public lumiera::Subsys,
+          public Sync<RecursiveLock_NoWait>
+        {
+          bool isUp_;
+          Literal id_;
+          Literal spec_;
+          
+          volatile bool termRequest_;
+          int running_duration_;
+          
+          
+          operator string ()  const { return "MockSys(\""+id_+"\")"; }
+          
+          bool 
+          shouldStart (lumiera::Option&)
+            {
+              Literal startSpec (extractID ("start",spec_));
+              return "true" ==startSpec 
+                  || "fail" ==startSpec
+                  || "throw"==startSpec;
+            }
+          
+          bool
+          start (lumiera::Option&, Subsys::SigTerm termination)
+            {
+              Lock guard (this);
+              if (isUp_) return false;  // already started
+              
+              Literal startSpec (extractID ("start",spec_));
+              ASSERT ("false"!=startSpec);
+              ASSERT (!isnil (startSpec));
+              
+              if ("true"==startSpec) //----simulate successful subsystem start
+                { 
+                  Thread (bind (&MockSys::run, this, termination));
+                  isUp_ = true;
+                }
+              else
+              if ("throw"==startSpec) //---starting flounders
+                throw error::Fatal("simulated failure to start the subsystem");
+              
+              return isUp_;
+            }
+          
+          void
+          triggerShutdown ()  throw()
+            {
+              termRequest_ = true;
+              cout << *this << ": triggerShutdown()\n";
+            }
+          
+          bool 
+          checkRunningState ()  throw()
+            {
+              Lock guard (this);
+              return isUp_;
+            }
+          
+          
+          void
+          run (Subsys::SigTerm termination)  ///< simulates a "running" subsystem
+            {
+              cout << *this << ": start running...\n";
+              
+              Literal runSpec (extractID ("run",spec_));
+              ASSERT (!isnil (startSpec));
+              
+              if ("false"!=runSpec) //----actually hold running state for some time
+                {
+                  running_duration_ = (rand() % MAX_RUNNING_TIME_ms);
+                  Lock wait(this, &MockSys::tick);
+                }
+              
+              Error problemIndicator("simulated Problem killing a subsystem");
+              lumiera_error();   //  reset error state....
+                                //   Note: in real life this actually
+                               //    would be an catched exception! 
+              
+              Lock guard (this);
+              isUp_ = false;
+              
+              termination ("true"==runSpec? 0 : &problemIndicator);
+            }
+          
+          
+          bool
+          tick ()   ///< simulates async termination, either on request or by timing 
+            {
+              Lock sync(this);
+              if (!sync.isTimedWait())
+                {
+                  sync.setTimeout(TICK_DURATION_ms);
+                  running_duration_ += TICK_DURATION_ms;
+                }
+              
+              running_duration_ -= TICK_DURATION_ms;
+              return termRequest_ || running_duration_ <= 0;
+            }
+          
+          
+          
+        public:
+          MockSys(Literal id, Literal spec)
+            : id_(id),
+              spec_(spec),
+              isUp_(false),
+              termRequest_(false),
+              running_duration_(0)
+            { }
+          
+          ~MockSys() { cout << *this << " dead.\n"; }
+        };
+    
+    
+    inline ostream& operator<< (ostream& os, MockSys const& mosi) { return os << string(mosi); }
+
+  
+      
+    } // (End) test classes and data....
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    /**************************************************************************
+     * @test managing start and stop of several dependent "subsystems"
+     *       under various conditions. Using mock-subsystems, which actually
+     *       spawn a thread and finish by themselves and generally behave sane.
+     * 
+     * @see lumiera::Subsys
+     * @see lumiera::SubsystemRunner
+     * @see lumiera::AppState
+     * @see main.cpp
+     */
+    class SubsystemRunner_test : public Test
+      {
+        
+        virtual void
+        run (Arg) 
+          {
+            
+          }
+        
+      };
+    
+      
+    
+    /** Register this test class... */
+    LAUNCHER (SubsystemRunner_test, "function common");
+    
+    
+    
+  } // namespace test
+
+} // namespace lumiera