diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/LogonPanel.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/LogonPanel.java
index 3034295c9..38784f3be 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/LogonPanel.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/LogonPanel.java
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ public class LogonPanel extends JPanel
         String password = new String(_password.getPassword()).trim();
 
         String server = _ctx.getClient().getHostname();
-        int port = _ctx.getClient().getPort();
+        int port = _ctx.getClient().getPorts()[0];
         String msg = MessageBundle.tcompose("m.logging_on",
                                             server, String.valueOf(port));
         _status.append(_msgs.xlate(msg) + "\n");
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApp.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApp.java
index 1a7678841..e81b34381 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApp.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApp.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: MiCasaApp.java,v 1.15 2004/08/27 02:12:49 mdb Exp $
+// $Id$
 //
 // Narya library - tools for developing networked games
 // Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class MiCasaApp
         _client.init(_frame);
     }
 
-    public void run (String server, int port, String username, String password)
+    public void run (String server, String username, String password)
     {
         // position everything and show the frame
         _frame.setSize(800, 600);
@@ -76,9 +76,8 @@ public class MiCasaApp
 
         Client client = _client.getContext().getClient();
 
-        // pass them on to the client
-        Log.info("Using [server=" + server + ", port=" + port + "].");
-        client.setServer(server, port);
+        Log.info("Using [server=" + server + ".");
+        client.setServer(server, Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
 
         // configure the client with some credentials and logon
         if (username != null && password != null) {
@@ -95,18 +94,8 @@ public class MiCasaApp
         if (args.length > 0) {
             server = args[0];
         }
-
-        int port = Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT;
-        if (args.length > 1) {
-            try {
-                port = Integer.parseInt(args[1]);
-            } catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-                Log.warning("Invalid port specification '" + args[1] + "'.");
-            }
-        }
-
-        String username = (args.length > 2) ? args[2] : null;
-        String password = (args.length > 3) ? args[3] : null;
+        String username = (args.length > 1) ? args[1] : null;
+        String password = (args.length > 2) ? args[2] : null;
 
         MiCasaApp app = new MiCasaApp();
         try {
@@ -118,7 +107,7 @@ public class MiCasaApp
         }
 
         // and run it
-        app.run(server, port, username, password);
+        app.run(server, username, password);
     }
 
     protected MiCasaClient _client;
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApplet.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApplet.java
index 03a5cdcf4..f9ef0ff48 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApplet.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaApplet.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: MiCasaApplet.java,v 1.9 2004/08/27 02:12:49 mdb Exp $
+// $Id$
 //
 // Narya library - tools for developing networked games
 // Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public class MiCasaApplet extends Applet
             Client client = _client.getContext().getClient();
 
             // indicate which server to which we should connect
-            client.setServer(server, Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT);
+            client.setServer(server, Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
 
             // create and set our credentials
             client.setCredentials(
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaClient.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaClient.java
index 3f7510abd..6a7304024 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaClient.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/client/MiCasaClient.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class MiCasaClient
         createContextServices();
 
         // for test purposes, hardcode the server info
-        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT);
+        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
 
         // keep this for later
         _frame = frame;
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/server/MiCasaServer.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/server/MiCasaServer.java
index c743b5bde..801572f8a 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/server/MiCasaServer.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/server/MiCasaServer.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: MiCasaServer.java,v 1.9 2004/08/27 02:12:52 mdb Exp $
+// $Id$
 //
 // Narya library - tools for developing networked games
 // Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ package com.threerings.micasa.server;
 
 import com.threerings.crowd.server.CrowdServer;
 import com.threerings.parlor.server.ParlorManager;
-import com.threerings.presents.client.Client;
 
 import com.threerings.micasa.Log;
 import com.threerings.micasa.lobby.LobbyRegistry;
@@ -61,20 +60,6 @@ public class MiCasaServer extends CrowdServer
         Log.info("MiCasa server initialized.");
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Returns the port on which the connection manager will listen for
-     * client connections.
-     */
-    protected int getListenPort ()
-    {
-        int port = Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT;
-        try {
-            port = Integer.parseInt(System.getProperty("port"));
-        } catch (Exception e) {
-        }
-        return port;
-    }
-
     public static void main (String[] args)
     {
         MiCasaServer server = new MiCasaServer();
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java
index eb2989de0..7d65ff1a2 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java
@@ -113,26 +113,14 @@ public class SimulatorApp
     {
         // configure and display the main frame
         JFrame frame = _frame.getFrame();
-        // position everything and show the frame
         frame.setSize(800, 600);
         SwingUtil.centerWindow(frame);
         frame.setVisible(true);
 
         // start up the client
         Client client = _client.getParlorContext().getClient();
-
-        // obtain the port information from system properties
-        int port = Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT;
-        String portstr = System.getProperty("port");
-        if (portstr != null) {
-            try {
-                port = Integer.parseInt(portstr);
-            } catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-                Log.warning("Invalid port specification '" + portstr + "'.");
-            }
-        }
-        Log.info("Connecting to localhost:" + port + ".");
-        client.setServer("localhost", port);
+        Log.info("Connecting to localhost.");
+        client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
 
         // we want to exit when we logged off or failed to log on
         client.addClientObserver(new ClientAdapter() {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java
index 4541bb3f1..4990298e4 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ import com.threerings.presents.net.PongResponse;
  */
 public class Client
 {
-    /** The default port on which the server listens for client
+    /** The default ports on which the server listens for client
      * connections. */
-    public static final int DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT = 47624;
+    public static final int[] DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS = { 47624 };
 
     /**
      * Constructs a client object with the supplied credentials and
@@ -115,15 +115,15 @@ public class Client
     }
     
     /**
-     * Configures the client to communicate with the server on the
-     * supplied hostname/port combination.
+     * Configures the client to communicate with the server on the supplied
+     * hostname and set of ports (which will be tried in succession).
      *
      * @see #logon
      */
-    public void setServer (String hostname, int port)
+    public void setServer (String hostname, int[] ports)
     {
         _hostname = hostname;
-        _port = port;
+        _ports = ports;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -148,9 +148,9 @@ public class Client
      * Returns the port on which this client is currently configured to
      * connect to the server.
      */
-    public int getPort ()
+    public int[] getPorts ()
     {
-        return _port;
+        return _ports;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -519,6 +519,19 @@ public class Client
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Called by the {@link Communicator} if it is experiencing trouble logging
+     * on but is still trying fallback strategies.
+     */
+    protected void reportLogonTribulations (final LogonException cause)
+    {
+        _runQueue.postRunnable(new Runnable() {
+            public void run () {
+                notifyObservers(CLIENT_FAILED_TO_LOGON, cause);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     /**
      * Called by the invocation director when it successfully subscribes
      * to the client object immediately following logon.
@@ -731,8 +744,8 @@ public class Client
     /** The game server host. */
     protected String _hostname;
 
-    /** The port on which we connect to the game server. */
-    protected int _port;
+    /** The ports on which we connect to the game server. */
+    protected int[] _ports;
 
     /** Our list of client observers. */
     protected ObserverList _observers =
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/ClientObserver.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/ClientObserver.java
index bc20e4bb2..7996fb17a 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/ClientObserver.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/ClientObserver.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ClientObserver.java,v 1.9 2004/08/27 02:20:18 mdb Exp $
+// $Id$
 //
 // Narya library - tools for developing networked games
 // Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
@@ -53,6 +53,14 @@ public interface ClientObserver extends SessionObserver
      * Called if anything fails during the logon attempt. This could be a
      * network failure, authentication failure or otherwise. The exception
      * provided will indicate the cause of the failure.
+     *
+     * @param cause an exception indicating the cause of the logon failure.
+     * <em>Note:</em> this may be a {@link LogonException} and if so, the
+     * caller <em>must</em> check {@link LogonException#isStillInProgress} to
+     * find out if the logon process has totally failed or if we are simply
+     * reporting intermediate status (we might be falling back to an
+     * alternative port or delaying our auto-retry attempt due to server
+     * overload).
      */
     public void clientFailedToLogon (Client client, Exception cause);
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java
index d93fab00b..1698ad773 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java
@@ -27,10 +27,12 @@ import java.io.InterruptedIOException;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.nio.channels.SocketChannel;
 
+import java.net.ConnectException;
 import java.net.InetAddress;
 import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
 
 import com.samskivert.swing.RuntimeAdjust;
+import com.samskivert.util.IntListUtil;
 import com.samskivert.util.LoopingThread;
 import com.samskivert.util.Queue;
 import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@ import com.threerings.io.ObjectInputStream;
 import com.threerings.io.ObjectOutputStream;
 
 import com.threerings.presents.Log;
+import com.threerings.presents.data.AuthCodes;
 import com.threerings.presents.dobj.DObjectManager;
 import com.threerings.presents.net.AuthRequest;
 import com.threerings.presents.net.AuthResponse;
@@ -429,17 +432,34 @@ public class Communicator
 
             // look up the address of the target server
             InetAddress host = InetAddress.getByName(_client.getHostname());
-            int port = _client.getPort();
 
-            // establish a socket connection to said server
-            Log.debug("Connecting [host=" + host + ", port=" + port + "].");
-            InetSocketAddress addr = new InetSocketAddress(host, port);
-            try {
-                _channel = SocketChannel.open(addr);
-            } catch (IOException ioe) {
-                Log.warning("Error opening [addr=" + addr + "].");
-                throw ioe; // rethrow
+            // obtain the list of available ports on which to attempt our
+            // client connection and determine our preferred port
+            String pportKey = _client.getHostname() + ".preferred_port";
+            int[] ports = _client.getPorts();
+            int pport = PresentsPrefs.config.getValue(pportKey, ports[0]);
+            int ppidx = Math.max(0, IntListUtil.indexOf(ports, pport));
+
+            // try connecting on each of the ports in succession
+            for (int ii = 0; ii < ports.length; ii++) {
+                int port = ports[(ii+ppidx)%ports.length];
+                Log.info("Connecting [host=" + host + ", port=" + port + "].");
+                InetSocketAddress addr = new InetSocketAddress(host, port);
+                try {
+                    _channel = SocketChannel.open(addr);
+                    PresentsPrefs.config.setValue(pportKey, port);
+                    break;
+                } catch (IOException ioe) {
+                    if (ioe instanceof ConnectException && ii < ports.length) {
+                        _client.reportLogonTribulations(
+                            new LogonException(
+                                AuthCodes.TRYING_NEXT_PORT, true));
+                        continue; // try the next port
+                    }
+                    throw ioe;
+                }
             }
+
             _channel.configureBlocking(true);
 
             // our messages are framed (preceded by their length), so we
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/LogonException.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/LogonException.java
index 3c0951503..d35e87c94 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/LogonException.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/LogonException.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: LogonException.java,v 1.4 2004/08/27 02:20:18 mdb Exp $
+// $Id$
 //
 // Narya library - tools for developing networked games
 // Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
@@ -33,6 +33,34 @@ public class LogonException extends Exception
      */
     public LogonException (String code)
     {
-        super(code);
+        this(code, false);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs a logon exception with the supplied logon failure code.
+     *
+     * @param stillInProgress indicates that the logon attempt has not totally
+     * failed, rather we are still trying but want to report that our initial
+     * attempt did not work and that we're falling back to alternative methods.
+     */
+    public LogonException (String code, boolean stillInProgress)
+    {
+        super(code);
+        _stillInProgress = stillInProgress;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if this exception is reporting an intermediate status
+     * rather than total logon failure. The client may be falling back to an
+     * alternative port or delaying an auto-retry attempt due to server
+     * overload. If this method returns true, the client <em>should not</em>
+     * allow additional calls to {@link Client#logon} as the current attempt is
+     * still in progress.
+     */
+    public boolean isStillInProgress ()
+    {
+        return _stillInProgress;
+    }
+
+    protected boolean _stillInProgress;
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/data/AuthCodes.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/data/AuthCodes.java
index 39a87a46a..cc1ffc655 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/data/AuthCodes.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/data/AuthCodes.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: AuthCodes.java,v 1.3 2004/08/27 02:20:19 mdb Exp $
+// $Id$
 //
 // Narya library - tools for developing networked games
 // Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
@@ -39,4 +39,8 @@ public interface AuthCodes
 
     /** A code indicating that the server is not available at the moment. */
     public static final String SERVER_UNAVAILABLE = "m.server_unavailable";
+
+    /** A code indicating that we failed to connect to the server on a port and
+     * are trying the next port in the list. */
+    public static final String TRYING_NEXT_PORT = "m.trying_next_port";
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsServer.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsServer.java
index 0bcf6bc3c..206bf3e43 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsServer.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsServer.java
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ public class PresentsServer
      */
     protected int[] getListenPorts ()
     {
-        return new int[] { Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT };
+        return Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberApp.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberApp.java
index a98b04a81..50ddcc021 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberApp.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberApp.java
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ public class JabberApp
         _client.init(_frame);
     }
 
-    public void run (String server, int port, String username, String password,
-        int roomId)
+    public void run (
+        String server, String username, String password, int roomId)
     {
         // position everything and show the frame
         _frame.setSize(800, 600);
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ public class JabberApp
         Client client = _client.getContext().getClient();
 
         // pass them on to the client
-        Log.info("Using [server=" + server + ", port=" + port + "].");
-        client.setServer(server, port);
+        Log.info("Using [server=" + server + "].");
+        client.setServer(server, Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
 
         // configure the client with some credentials and logon
         if (username != null && password != null) {
@@ -80,18 +80,8 @@ public class JabberApp
         if (args.length > 0) {
             server = args[0];
         }
-
-        int port = Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT;
-        if (args.length > 1) {
-            try {
-                port = Integer.parseInt(args[1]);
-            } catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-                Log.warning("Invalid port specification '" + args[1] + "'.");
-            }
-        }
-
-        String username = (args.length > 2) ? args[2] : null;
-        String password = (args.length > 3) ? args[3] : null;
+        String username = (args.length > 1) ? args[1] : null;
+        String password = (args.length > 2) ? args[2] : null;
         int roomId = 2;
         if (args.length > 4) {
             try {
@@ -111,7 +101,7 @@ public class JabberApp
         }
 
         // and run it
-        app.run(server, port, username, password, roomId);
+        app.run(server, username, password, roomId);
     }
 
     protected JabberClient _client;
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberClient.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberClient.java
index 5ffc171d5..f2b4c5244 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberClient.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/JabberClient.java
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public class JabberClient
         createContextServices();
 
         // for test purposes, hardcode the server info
-        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT);
+        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
         _client.addClientObserver(this);
 
         // keep this for later
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/TestClient.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/TestClient.java
index 89ff526b7..9bf6e3667 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/TestClient.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/TestClient.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public class TestClient
         _client.addClientObserver(this);
 
         // for test purposes, hardcode the server info
-        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT);
+        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
     }
 
     public void run ()
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberApp.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberApp.java
index 663709519..ebb28092c 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberApp.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberApp.java
@@ -95,13 +95,13 @@ public class JabberApp extends JmeApp
         return true;
     }
 
-    public void run (String server, int port, String username, String password)
+    public void run (String server, String username, String password)
     {
         Client client = _client.getContext().getClient();
 
         // pass them on to the client
-        Log.info("Using [server=" + server + ", port=" + port + "].");
-        client.setServer(server, port);
+        Log.info("Using [server=" + server + ".");
+        client.setServer(server, Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
 
         // configure the client with some credentials and logon
         if (username != null && password != null) {
@@ -136,15 +136,6 @@ public class JabberApp extends JmeApp
             server = args[0];
         }
 
-        int port = Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT;
-        if (args.length > 1) {
-            try {
-                port = Integer.parseInt(args[1]);
-            } catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-                Log.warning("Invalid port specification '" + args[1] + "'.");
-            }
-        }
-
         // load up the default BUI stylesheet
         try {
             InputStream stin = JabberApp.class.getClassLoader().
@@ -157,12 +148,12 @@ public class JabberApp extends JmeApp
             System.exit(-1);
         }
 
-        String username = (args.length > 2) ? args[2] : null;
-        String password = (args.length > 3) ? args[3] : null;
+        String username = (args.length > 1) ? args[1] : null;
+        String password = (args.length > 2) ? args[2] : null;
 
         JabberApp app = new JabberApp();
         app.init();
-        app.run(server, port, username, password);
+        app.run(server, username, password);
     }
 
     protected JabberClient _client;
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberClient.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberClient.java
index ad8817faf..2fc854f94 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberClient.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/jme/client/JabberClient.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class JabberClient
         createContextServices(app);
 
         // for test purposes, hardcode the server info
-        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT);
+        _client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
         _client.addClientObserver(this);
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.java
index 589708334..0836db116 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.java
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ public class TestClient
         Client client = new Client(creds, tclient);
         tclient.setClient(client);
         client.addClientObserver(tclient);
-        client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORT);
+        client.setServer("localhost", Client.DEFAULT_SERVER_PORTS);
         client.logon();
         // start up our event processing loop
         tclient.run();