diff --git a/coordinator/config.lua b/coordinator/config.lua
index 7ea6ea2..66edbc7 100644
--- a/coordinator/config.lua
+++ b/coordinator/config.lua
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ config.SOUNDER_VOLUME = 1.0
 -- true for 24 hour time on main view screen
 config.TIME_24_HOUR = true
 
+-- disable flow view (for legacy layouts)
+config.DISABLE_FLOW_VIEW = false
+
 -- log path
 config.LOG_PATH = "/log.txt"
 -- log mode
@@ -33,6 +36,6 @@ config.LOG_PATH = "/log.txt"
 --  1 = NEW (replaces existing file on start)
 config.LOG_MODE = 0
 -- true to log verbose debug messages
-config.LOG_DEBUG = false
+config.LOG_DEBUG = true
 
 return config
diff --git a/coordinator/coordinator.lua b/coordinator/coordinator.lua
index 36636bc..93f39b1 100644
--- a/coordinator/coordinator.lua
+++ b/coordinator/coordinator.lua
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ end
 
 -- configure monitor layout
 ---@param num_units integer number of units expected
+---@param disable_flow_view boolean disable flow view (legacy)
 ---@return boolean success, monitors_struct? monitors
-function coordinator.configure_monitors(num_units)
+function coordinator.configure_monitors(num_units, disable_flow_view)
     ---@class monitors_struct
     local monitors = {
         primary = nil,
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ function coordinator.configure_monitors(num_units)
     end
 
     -- we need a certain number of monitors (1 per unit + 1 primary display + 1 flow display)
-    local num_displays_needed = num_units + 2
+    local num_displays_needed = num_units + util.trinary(disable_flow_view, 1, 2)
     if #names < num_displays_needed then
         local message = "not enough monitors connected (need " .. num_displays_needed .. ")"
         println(message)
@@ -125,27 +126,29 @@ function coordinator.configure_monitors(num_units)
     -- FLOW MONITOR DISPLAY --
     --------------------------
 
-    local iface_flow_display = settings.get("FLOW_DISPLAY")  ---@type boolean|string|nil
+    if not disable_flow_view then
+        local iface_flow_display = settings.get("FLOW_DISPLAY")  ---@type boolean|string|nil
 
-    if not util.table_contains(names, iface_flow_display) then
-        println("flow monitor display is not connected")
-        local response = dialog.ask_y_n("would you like to change it", true)
-        if response == false then return false end
-        iface_flow_display = nil
+        if not util.table_contains(names, iface_flow_display) then
+            println("flow monitor display is not connected")
+            local response = dialog.ask_y_n("would you like to change it", true)
+            if response == false then return false end
+            iface_flow_display = nil
+        end
+
+        while iface_flow_display == nil and #available > 0 do
+            iface_flow_display = ask_monitor(available)
+        end
+
+        if type(iface_flow_display) ~= "string" then return false end
+
+        settings.set("FLOW_DISPLAY", iface_flow_display)
+        util.filter_table(available, function (x) return x ~= iface_flow_display end)
+
+        monitors.flow = ppm.get_periph(iface_flow_display)
+        monitors.flow_name = iface_flow_display
     end
 
-    while iface_flow_display == nil and #available > 0 do
-        iface_flow_display = ask_monitor(available)
-    end
-
-    if type(iface_flow_display) ~= "string" then return false end
-
-    settings.set("FLOW_DISPLAY", iface_flow_display)
-    util.filter_table(available, function (x) return x ~= iface_flow_display end)
-
-    monitors.flow = ppm.get_periph(iface_flow_display)
-    monitors.flow_name = iface_flow_display
-
     -------------------
     -- UNIT DISPLAYS --
     -------------------
diff --git a/coordinator/iocontrol.lua b/coordinator/iocontrol.lua
index e4ff9b5..577b8e6 100644
--- a/coordinator/iocontrol.lua
+++ b/coordinator/iocontrol.lua
@@ -338,11 +338,21 @@ function iocontrol.fp_has_speaker(has_speaker) io.fp.ps.publish("has_speaker", h
 function iocontrol.fp_link_state(state) io.fp.ps.publish("link_state", state) end
 
 -- report monitor connection state
----@param id integer unit ID or 0 for main
+---@param id string|integer unit ID for unit monitor, "main" for main monitor, or "flow" for flow monitor
 function iocontrol.fp_monitor_state(id, connected)
-    local name = "main_monitor"
-    if id > 0 then name = "unit_monitor_" .. id end
-    io.fp.ps.publish(name, connected)
+    local name = nil
+
+    if id == "main" then
+        name = "main_monitor"
+    elseif id == "flow" then
+        name = "flow_monitor"
+    elseif type(id) == "number" then
+        name = "unit_monitor_" .. id
+    end
+
+    if name ~= nil then
+        io.fp.ps.publish(name, connected)
+    end
 end
 
 -- report PKT firmware version and PKT session connection state
diff --git a/coordinator/renderer.lua b/coordinator/renderer.lua
index b4709b6..0ab0174 100644
--- a/coordinator/renderer.lua
+++ b/coordinator/renderer.lua
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ local engine = {
         main_display = nil, ---@type graphics_element|nil
         flow_display = nil, ---@type graphics_element|nil
         unit_displays = {}
-    }
+    },
+    disable_flow_view = false
 }
 
 -- init a display to the "default", but set text scale to 0.5
@@ -50,13 +51,20 @@ local function _init_display(monitor)
     end
 end
 
+-- disable the flow view
+---@param disable boolean
+function renderer.legacy_disable_flow_view(disable)
+    engine.disable_flow_view = disable
+end
+
 -- link to the monitor peripherals
 ---@param monitors monitors_struct
 function renderer.set_displays(monitors)
     engine.monitors = monitors
 
     -- report to front panel as connected
-    iocontrol.fp_monitor_state(0, true)
+    iocontrol.fp_monitor_state("main", engine.monitors.primary ~= nil)
+    iocontrol.fp_monitor_state("flow", engine.monitors.flow ~= nil)
     for i = 1, #engine.monitors.unit_displays do iocontrol.fp_monitor_state(i, true) end
 end
 
@@ -64,7 +72,7 @@ end
 function renderer.init_displays()
     -- init primary and flow monitors
     _init_display(engine.monitors.primary)
-    _init_display(engine.monitors.flow)
+    if not engine.disable_flow_view then _init_display(engine.monitors.flow) end
 
     -- init unit displays
     for _, monitor in ipairs(engine.monitors.unit_displays) do
@@ -91,6 +99,14 @@ function renderer.validate_main_display_width()
     return w == 164
 end
 
+-- check flow display width
+---@nodiscard
+---@return boolean width_okay
+function renderer.validate_flow_display_width()
+    local w, _ = engine.monitors.flow.getSize()
+    return w == 164
+end
+
 -- check display sizes
 ---@nodiscard
 ---@return boolean valid all unit display dimensions OK
diff --git a/coordinator/startup.lua b/coordinator/startup.lua
index f22326b..0633eba 100644
--- a/coordinator/startup.lua
+++ b/coordinator/startup.lua
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ local function main()
     iocontrol.init_fp(COORDINATOR_VERSION, comms.version)
 
     -- setup monitors
-    local configured, monitors = coordinator.configure_monitors(config.NUM_UNITS)
+    local configured, monitors = coordinator.configure_monitors(config.NUM_UNITS, config.DISABLE_FLOW_VIEW == true)
     if not configured or monitors == nil then
         println("startup> monitor setup failed")
         log.fatal("monitor configuration failed")
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ local function main()
     end
 
     -- init renderer
+    renderer.legacy_disable_flow_view(config.DISABLE_FLOW_VIEW == true)
     renderer.set_displays(monitors)
     renderer.init_displays()
 
@@ -99,6 +100,10 @@ local function main()
         println("startup> main display must be 8 blocks wide")
         log.fatal("main display not wide enough")
         return
+    elseif (config.DISABLE_FLOW_VIEW ~= true) and not renderer.validate_flow_display_width() then
+        println("startup> flow display must be 8 blocks wide")
+        log.fatal("flow display not wide enough")
+        return
     elseif not renderer.validate_unit_display_sizes() then
         println("startup> one or more unit display dimensions incorrect; they must be 4x4 blocks")
         log.fatal("unit display dimensions incorrect")
diff --git a/coordinator/ui/layout/front_panel.lua b/coordinator/ui/layout/front_panel.lua
index 207e213..11fe172 100644
--- a/coordinator/ui/layout/front_panel.lua
+++ b/coordinator/ui/layout/front_panel.lua
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ local function init(panel, num_units)
     local main_monitor = LED{parent=monitors,label="MAIN MONITOR",colors=cpair(colors.green,colors.green_off)}
     main_monitor.register(ps, "main_monitor", main_monitor.update)
 
+    local flow_monitor = LED{parent=monitors,label="FLOW MONITOR",colors=cpair(colors.green,colors.green_off)}
+    flow_monitor.register(ps, "flow_monitor", flow_monitor.update)
+
     monitors.line_break()
 
     for i = 1, num_units do