diff --git a/ais/fspathrgrp.go b/ais/fspathrgrp.go
index afb36ce813..4e4d7790fa 100644
--- a/ais/fspathrgrp.go
+++ b/ais/fspathrgrp.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/cmn/debug"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/cmn/nlog"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/core"
-	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/ext/dsort"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/fs"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/ios"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/res"
@@ -62,12 +61,6 @@ func (g *fsprungroup) attachMpath(mpath string, label ios.Label) (addedMi *fs.Mo
 }
 
 func (g *fsprungroup) _postAdd(action string, mi *fs.Mountpath) {
-	// NOTE:
-	// - currently, dsort doesn't handle (add/enable/disable/detach mountpath) at runtime
-	// - consider integrating via `xreg.LimitedCoexistence`
-	// - review all xact.IsMountpath(kind) == true
-	dsort.Managers.AbortAll(fmt.Errorf("%q %s", action, mi))
-
 	fspathsConfigAddDel(mi.Path, true /*add*/)
 	go func() {
 		if cmn.GCO.Get().Resilver.Enabled {
@@ -134,10 +127,6 @@ func (g *fsprungroup) doDD(action string, flags uint64, mpath string, dontResilv
 	if err != nil || rmi == nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-
-	// NOTE: above
-	dsort.Managers.AbortAll(fmt.Errorf("%q %s", action, rmi))
-
 	if numAvail == 0 {
 		nlog.Errorf("%s: lost (via %q) the last available mountpath %q", g.t.si, action, rmi)
 		g.postDD(rmi, action, nil /*xaction*/, nil /*error*/) // go ahead to disable/detach
diff --git a/ais/prxnotif.go b/ais/prxnotif.go
index 8cb3238710..d7a2ec0ae1 100644
--- a/ais/prxnotif.go
+++ b/ais/prxnotif.go
@@ -353,9 +353,9 @@ func (n *notifs) housekeep(int64) time.Duration {
 	now := time.Now().UnixNano()
 	n.fin.mtx.Lock()
 	for _, nl := range n.fin.m {
-		timeout := hk.DelOldIval
+		timeout := hk.OldAgeNotif
 		if nl.Kind() == apc.ActList {
-			timeout = hk.OldAgeLsoNotif
+			timeout = hk.OldAgeNotifLso
 		}
 		if time.Duration(now-nl.EndTime()) > timeout {
 			n.fin.del(nl, true /*locked*/)
diff --git a/ais/tgtec.go b/ais/tgtec.go
index d2e9b15fb0..e31a649f81 100644
--- a/ais/tgtec.go
+++ b/ais/tgtec.go
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ func (t *target) httpecpost(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	action := apiItems[0]
 	switch action {
 	case apc.ActEcOpen:
-		ec.ECM.OpenStreams()
+		ec.ECM.OpenStreams(false /*with refc*/)
 	case apc.ActEcClose:
-		ec.ECM.CloseStreams()
+		ec.ECM.CloseStreams(false /*with refc*/)
 	default:
 		t.writeErr(w, r, errActEc(action))
 	}
diff --git a/ais/txn.go b/ais/txn.go
index bd1fc0e3a2..967644738c 100644
--- a/ais/txn.go
+++ b/ais/txn.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 
 // GC
 const (
-	gcTxnsInterval   = time.Hour
 	gcTxnsNumKeep    = 16
 	gcTxnsTimeotMult = 10
 
@@ -157,7 +156,7 @@ func (txns *transactions) init(t *target) {
 	txns.t = t
 	txns.m = make(map[string]txn, 8)
 	txns.rendezvous.m = make(map[string]rndzvs, 8)
-	hk.Reg("txn"+hk.NameSuffix, txns.housekeep, gcTxnsInterval)
+	hk.Reg("txn"+hk.NameSuffix, txns.housekeep, hk.DelOldIval)
 }
 
 func (txns *transactions) begin(txn txn, nlps ...core.NLP) (err error) {
@@ -339,15 +338,15 @@ func (txns *transactions) housekeep(int64) (d time.Duration) {
 		orphans []txn
 		config  = cmn.GCO.Get()
 	)
-	d = gcTxnsInterval
+	d = hk.DelOldIval
 	txns.mtx.Lock()
 	l := len(txns.m)
 	if l == 0 {
 		txns.mtx.Unlock()
 		return
 	}
-	if l > max(gcTxnsNumKeep*4, 16) {
-		d = gcTxnsInterval / 10
+	if l > max(gcTxnsNumKeep<<2, 32) {
+		d >>= 2
 	}
 	now := time.Now()
 	for _, txn := range txns.m {
diff --git a/ec/manager.go b/ec/manager.go
index 1c19908dff..4168ab028c 100644
--- a/ec/manager.go
+++ b/ec/manager.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func initManager() error {
 	}
 
 	if ECM.bmd.IsECUsed() { // TODO -- FIXME: remove
-		ECM.OpenStreams()
+		ECM.OpenStreams(false)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ func cbReq(hdr *transport.ObjHdr, _ io.ReadCloser, _ any, err error) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (mgr *Manager) OpenStreams() {
+func (mgr *Manager) OpenStreams(withRefc bool) {
+	if withRefc {
+		mgr._refc.Inc()
+	}
 	if !mgr.bundleEnabled.CAS(false, true) {
 		return
 	}
@@ -119,7 +122,10 @@ func (mgr *Manager) OpenStreams() {
 	mgr.respBundle.Store(bundle.New(client, respSbArgs))
 }
 
-func (mgr *Manager) CloseStreams() {
+func (mgr *Manager) CloseStreams(withRefc bool) {
+	if withRefc {
+		mgr._refc.Dec()
+	}
 	if !mgr.bundleEnabled.CAS(true, false) {
 		return
 	}
@@ -320,9 +326,9 @@ func (mgr *Manager) BMDChanged() error {
 
 	// TODO -- FIXME: remove
 	if newBMD.IsECUsed() && !oldBMD.IsECUsed() {
-		mgr.OpenStreams()
+		mgr.OpenStreams(false)
 	} else if !newBMD.IsECUsed() && oldBMD.IsECUsed() {
-		mgr.CloseStreams()
+		mgr.CloseStreams(false)
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/ext/dload/dispatcher.go b/ext/dload/dispatcher.go
index 659def6cfc..48ca7f15f7 100644
--- a/ext/dload/dispatcher.go
+++ b/ext/dload/dispatcher.go
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ type (
 		// Certification check is disabled for now and does not depend on cluster settings.
 		clientH   *http.Client
 		clientTLS *http.Client
+
+		once sync.Once // newInfoStore upon the first execution
 	}
 )
 
@@ -68,7 +70,6 @@ func Init(tstats stats.Tracker, db kvdb.Driver, clientConf *cmn.ClientConf) {
 	{
 		g.tstats = tstats
 		g.db = db
-		g.store = newInfoStore(db)
 	}
 	xreg.RegNonBckXact(&factory{})
 }
diff --git a/ext/dload/xact.go b/ext/dload/xact.go
index f1e48317d9..4c85aac798 100644
--- a/ext/dload/xact.go
+++ b/ext/dload/xact.go
@@ -169,6 +169,11 @@ func (*factory) New(args xreg.Args, _ *meta.Bck) xreg.Renewable {
 func (p *factory) Start() error {
 	xdl := newXact(p)
 	p.xctn = xdl
+
+	g.once.Do(func() {
+		g.store = newInfoStore(g.db)
+	})
+
 	go xdl.Run(nil)
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/ext/dsort/dsort.go b/ext/dsort/dsort.go
index c9421ae13d..4653c3630d 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/dsort.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/dsort.go
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ func (m *Manager) participateInRecordDistribution(targetOrder meta.Nodes) (curre
 			)
 			group.Go(func() error {
 				var (
-					buf, slab = g.mm.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
+					buf, slab = g.mem.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
 					msgpw     = msgp.NewWriterBuf(w, buf)
 				)
 				defer slab.Free(buf)
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ func (m *Manager) _dist(si *meta.Snode, s []*shard.Shard, order map[string]*shar
 	)
 	group.Go(func() error {
 		var (
-			buf, slab = g.mm.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
+			buf, slab = g.mem.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
 			msgpw     = msgp.NewWriterBuf(w, buf)
 			md        = &CreationPhaseMetadata{Shards: s, SendOrder: order}
 		)
diff --git a/ext/dsort/dsort_general.go b/ext/dsort/dsort_general.go
index d063a6fc6f..9a58097ce7 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/dsort_general.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/dsort_general.go
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ func (ds *dsorterGeneral) loadLocal(w io.Writer, obj *shard.RecordObj) (written
 	)
 
 	if storeType != shard.SGLStoreType { // SGL does not need buffer as it is buffer itself
-		buf, slab = g.mm.AllocSize(obj.Size)
+		buf, slab = g.mem.AllocSize(obj.Size)
 	}
 
 	defer func() {
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ func (ds *dsorterGeneral) recvResp(hdr *transport.ObjHdr, object io.Reader, err
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	buf, slab := g.mm.AllocSize(hdr.ObjAttrs.Size)
+	buf, slab := g.mem.AllocSize(hdr.ObjAttrs.Size)
 	writer.n, writer.err = io.CopyBuffer(writer.w, object, buf)
 	writer.wg.Done()
 	slab.Free(buf)
diff --git a/ext/dsort/dsort_mem.go b/ext/dsort/dsort_mem.go
index 973d6e2f5f..f9b81baf09 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/dsort_mem.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/dsort_mem.go
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func (c *rwConnector) connectReader(key string, r io.Reader, size int64) (err er
 	c.mu.Unlock()
 
 	if !all {
-		rw.sgl = g.mm.NewSGL(size)
+		rw.sgl = g.mem.NewSGL(size)
 		_, err = io.Copy(rw.sgl, r)
 		rw.wgr.Done()
 		return
diff --git a/ext/dsort/handler.go b/ext/dsort/handler.go
index f91f34ea4f..53b382600d 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/handler.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/handler.go
@@ -405,9 +405,9 @@ func TargetHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	case apc.Start:
 		tstartHandler(w, r)
 	case apc.Records:
-		Managers.recordsHandler(w, r)
+		g.mg.recordsHandler(w, r)
 	case apc.Shards:
-		Managers.shardsHandler(w, r)
+		g.mg.shardsHandler(w, r)
 	case apc.Abort:
 		tabortHandler(w, r)
 	case apc.Remove:
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ func tinitHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	managerUUID := apiItems[0]
-	m, err := Managers.Add(managerUUID) // NOTE: returns manager locked iff err == nil
+	m, err := g.mg.Add(managerUUID) // NOTE: returns manager locked iff err == nil
 	if err != nil {
 		cmn.WriteErr(w, r, err)
 		return
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ func tstartHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	managerUUID := apiItems[0]
-	m, exists := Managers.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := g.mg.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("invalid request: job %q does not exist", managerUUID)
 		cmn.WriteErrMsg(w, r, s, http.StatusNotFound)
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ func (m *Manager) errHandler(err error) {
 // shardsHandler is the handler for the HTTP endpoint /v1/sort/shards.
 // A valid POST to this endpoint results in a new shard being created locally based on the contents
 // of the incoming request body. The shard is then sent to the correct target in the cluster as per HRW.
-func (managers *ManagerGroup) shardsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func (mg *managerGroup) shardsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if !checkHTTPMethod(w, r, http.MethodPost) {
 		return
 	}
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ func (managers *ManagerGroup) shardsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reque
 		return
 	}
 	managerUUID := apiItems[0]
-	m, exists := managers.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := mg.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("invalid request: job %q does not exist", managerUUID)
 		cmn.WriteErrMsg(w, r, s, http.StatusNotFound)
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ func (managers *ManagerGroup) shardsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reque
 	}
 
 	var (
-		buf, slab   = g.mm.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
+		buf, slab   = g.mem.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
 		tmpMetadata = &CreationPhaseMetadata{}
 	)
 	defer slab.Free(buf)
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ func (managers *ManagerGroup) shardsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reque
 // recordsHandler is the handler /v1/sort/records.
 // A valid POST to this endpoint updates this target's dsortManager.Records with the
 // []Records from the request body, along with some related state variables.
-func (managers *ManagerGroup) recordsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+func (mg *managerGroup) recordsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if !checkHTTPMethod(w, r, http.MethodPost) {
 		return
 	}
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ func (managers *ManagerGroup) recordsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 		return
 	}
 	managerUUID := apiItems[0]
-	m, exists := managers.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := mg.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("invalid request: job %q does not exist", managerUUID)
 		cmn.WriteErrMsg(w, r, s, http.StatusNotFound)
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ func (managers *ManagerGroup) recordsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 	}
 
 	var (
-		buf, slab = g.mm.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
+		buf, slab = g.mem.AllocSize(serializationBufSize)
 		records   = shard.NewRecords(int(d))
 	)
 	defer slab.Free(buf)
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ func tabortHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	managerUUID := apiItems[0]
-	m, exists := Managers.Get(managerUUID, true /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := g.mg.Get(managerUUID, true /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("%s: [dsort] %s does not exist", core.T, managerUUID)
 		cmn.WriteErrMsg(w, r, s, http.StatusNotFound)
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ func tremoveHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	managerUUID := apiItems[0]
-	if err := Managers.Remove(managerUUID); err != nil {
+	if err := g.mg.Remove(managerUUID); err != nil {
 		cmn.WriteErr(w, r, err)
 		return
 	}
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ func tlistHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	w.Write(cos.MustMarshal(Managers.List(regex, onlyActive)))
+	w.Write(cos.MustMarshal(g.mg.List(regex, onlyActive)))
 }
 
 // /v1/sort/metrics.
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ func tmetricsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	managerUUID := apiItems[0]
-	m, exists := Managers.Get(managerUUID, true /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := g.mg.Get(managerUUID, true /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("%s: [dsort] %s does not exist", core.T, managerUUID)
 		cmn.WriteErrMsg(w, r, s, http.StatusNotFound)
@@ -763,7 +763,7 @@ func tfiniHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	managerUUID, tid := apiItems[0], apiItems[1]
-	m, exists := Managers.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := g.mg.Get(managerUUID, false /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("invalid request: job %q does not exist", managerUUID)
 		cmn.WriteErrMsg(w, r, s, http.StatusNotFound)
diff --git a/ext/dsort/manager.go b/ext/dsort/manager.go
index 5ebac736b1..7df6442d34 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/manager.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/manager.go
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ const (
 type (
 	global struct {
 		tstats stats.Tracker
-		mm     *memsys.MMSA
+		mem    *memsys.MMSA
+
+		// internal
+		mg   *managerGroup
+		once sync.Once // reg housekeep upon the first usage
 	}
 	buildingShardInfo struct {
 		shardName string
@@ -80,7 +84,7 @@ type (
 		Metrics     *Metrics       `json:"metrics"`
 		Pars        *parsedReqSpec `json:"pars"`
 
-		mg                 *ManagerGroup // parent
+		mg                 *managerGroup // parent
 		mu                 sync.Mutex
 		smap               *meta.Smap
 		recm               *shard.RecordManager
@@ -134,14 +138,14 @@ func Pinit(si core.Node, config *cmn.Config) {
 }
 
 func Tinit(tstats stats.Tracker, db kvdb.Driver, config *cmn.Config) {
-	Managers = NewManagerGroup(db, false)
+	g.mg = newManagerGroup(db)
 
 	xreg.RegBckXact(&factory{})
 
-	debug.Assert(g.mm == nil) // only once
+	debug.Assert(g.mem == nil) // only once
 	{
 		g.tstats = tstats
-		g.mm = core.T.PageMM()
+		g.mem = core.T.PageMM()
 	}
 	fs.CSM.Reg(ct.DsortFileType, &ct.DsortFile{})
 	fs.CSM.Reg(ct.DsortWorkfileType, &ct.DsortFile{})
diff --git a/ext/dsort/manager_group.go b/ext/dsort/manager_group.go
index f2a66d195f..cd3ae2e8ba 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/manager_group.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/manager_group.go
@@ -25,31 +25,25 @@ const (
 	managersKey     = "managers"
 )
 
-var Managers *ManagerGroup
-
-// ManagerGroup abstracts multiple dsort managers into single struct.
-type ManagerGroup struct {
+// managerGroup abstracts multiple dsort managers into single struct.
+type managerGroup struct {
 	mtx      sync.Mutex // Synchronizes reading managers field and db access
 	managers map[string]*Manager
 	db       kvdb.Driver
 }
 
-// NewManagerGroup returns new, initialized manager group.
-func NewManagerGroup(db kvdb.Driver, skipHk bool) *ManagerGroup {
-	mg := &ManagerGroup{
+func newManagerGroup(db kvdb.Driver) *managerGroup {
+	mg := &managerGroup{
 		managers: make(map[string]*Manager, 1),
 		db:       db,
 	}
-	if !skipHk {
-		hk.Reg(apc.ActDsort+hk.NameSuffix, mg.housekeep, hk.DayInterval)
-	}
 	return mg
 }
 
 // Add new, non-initialized manager with given managerUUID to manager group.
 // Returned manager is locked, it's caller responsibility to unlock it.
 // Returns error when manager with specified managerUUID already exists.
-func (mg *ManagerGroup) Add(managerUUID string) (*Manager, error) {
+func (mg *managerGroup) Add(managerUUID string) (*Manager, error) {
 	mg.mtx.Lock()
 	defer mg.mtx.Unlock()
 	if _, exists := mg.managers[managerUUID]; exists {
@@ -64,7 +58,7 @@ func (mg *ManagerGroup) Add(managerUUID string) (*Manager, error) {
 	return manager, nil
 }
 
-func (mg *ManagerGroup) List(descRegex *regexp.Regexp, onlyActive bool) []JobInfo {
+func (mg *managerGroup) List(descRegex *regexp.Regexp, onlyActive bool) []JobInfo {
 	mg.mtx.Lock()
 	defer mg.mtx.Unlock()
 
@@ -113,7 +107,7 @@ func (mg *ManagerGroup) List(descRegex *regexp.Regexp, onlyActive bool) []JobInf
 // exist and user requested persisted lookup, it looks for it in persistent
 // storage and returns it if found. Returns false if does not exist, true
 // otherwise.
-func (mg *ManagerGroup) Get(managerUUID string, inclArchived bool) (*Manager, bool) {
+func (mg *managerGroup) Get(managerUUID string, inclArchived bool) (*Manager, bool) {
 	mg.mtx.Lock()
 	defer mg.mtx.Unlock()
 
@@ -132,7 +126,7 @@ func (mg *ManagerGroup) Get(managerUUID string, inclArchived bool) (*Manager, bo
 }
 
 // Remove the managerUUID from history. Used for reducing clutter. Fails if process hasn't been cleaned up.
-func (mg *ManagerGroup) Remove(managerUUID string) error {
+func (mg *managerGroup) Remove(managerUUID string) error {
 	mg.mtx.Lock()
 	defer mg.mtx.Unlock()
 
@@ -153,7 +147,7 @@ func (mg *ManagerGroup) Remove(managerUUID string) error {
 //
 // When error occurs during moving manager to persistent storage, manager is not
 // removed from memory.
-func (mg *ManagerGroup) persist(managerUUID string) {
+func (mg *managerGroup) persist(managerUUID string) {
 	mg.mtx.Lock()
 	defer mg.mtx.Unlock()
 	manager, exists := mg.managers[managerUUID]
@@ -170,16 +164,7 @@ func (mg *ManagerGroup) persist(managerUUID string) {
 	delete(mg.managers, managerUUID)
 }
 
-func (mg *ManagerGroup) AbortAll(err error) {
-	mg.mtx.Lock()
-	defer mg.mtx.Unlock()
-
-	for _, manager := range mg.managers {
-		manager.abort(err)
-	}
-}
-
-func (mg *ManagerGroup) housekeep(int64) time.Duration {
+func (mg *managerGroup) housekeep(int64) time.Duration {
 	const (
 		retryInterval   = time.Hour // retry interval in case error occurred
 		regularInterval = hk.DayInterval
diff --git a/ext/dsort/mem_watcher.go b/ext/dsort/mem_watcher.go
index 7f858dbc61..7493ab181a 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/mem_watcher.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/mem_watcher.go
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (mw *memoryWatcher) watchReserved() {
 func (mw *memoryWatcher) watchExcess(memStat sys.MemStat) {
 	defer mw.excess.wg.Done()
 
-	buf, slab := g.mm.Alloc()
+	buf, slab := g.mem.Alloc()
 	defer slab.Free(buf)
 
 	lastMemoryUsage := memStat.ActualUsed
diff --git a/ext/dsort/xact.go b/ext/dsort/xact.go
index 83baa0c167..ca1288d45f 100644
--- a/ext/dsort/xact.go
+++ b/ext/dsort/xact.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/cmn/debug"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/core"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/core/meta"
+	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/hk"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/xact"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/xact/xreg"
 )
@@ -40,6 +41,11 @@ func (p *factory) Start() error {
 	debug.Assert(ok)
 	p.xctn = &xaction{args: args}
 	p.xctn.InitBase(p.UUID(), apc.ActDsort, args.BckTo /*compare w/ tcb and tco*/)
+
+	g.once.Do(func() {
+		hk.Reg(apc.ActDsort+hk.NameSuffix, g.mg.housekeep, hk.DayInterval)
+	})
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -60,7 +66,7 @@ func (*xaction) Run(*sync.WaitGroup) { debug.Assert(false) }
 // - Manager.abort(errs ...error) legacy, and
 // - xaction.Abort, to implement the corresponding interface and uniformly support `api.AbortXaction`
 func (r *xaction) Abort(err error) (ok bool) {
-	m, exists := Managers.Get(r.ID(), false /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := g.mg.Get(r.ID(), false /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		return
 	}
@@ -75,7 +81,7 @@ func (r *xaction) Snap() (snap *core.Snap) {
 	snap = &core.Snap{}
 	r.ToSnap(snap)
 
-	m, exists := Managers.Get(r.ID(), true /*incl. archived*/)
+	m, exists := g.mg.Get(r.ID(), true /*incl. archived*/)
 	if !exists {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/hk/common_durations.go b/hk/common_durations.go
index 39ad0fd133..f1276f1014 100644
--- a/hk/common_durations.go
+++ b/hk/common_durations.go
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Package hk provides mechanism for registering cleanup
 // functions which are invoked at specified intervals.
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION. All rights reserved.
  */
 package hk
 
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@ import "time"
 // common cleanup-related durations
 
 const (
-	DelOldIval      = 8 * time.Minute // hk interval: cleanup old
-	PruneActiveIval = 2 * time.Minute // hk interval: prune active
+	DelOldIval      = 24 * time.Minute // hk-cleanup old xactions; old transactions
+	PruneActiveIval = 2 * time.Minute  // hk-prune active xactions; cleanup notifs
 
-	OldAgeLso      = time.Minute      // when list-objects is considered old
-	OldAgeLsoNotif = 10 * time.Second // notifications-wise
-	OldAgeX        = time.Hour        // all other X
+	//
+	// when things are considered _old_
+	//
+	OldAgeLso      = time.Minute      // list-objects
+	OldAgeNotif    = 3 * time.Minute  // old notifications
+	OldAgeNotifLso = 10 * time.Second // ditto lso
+	OldAgeX        = time.Hour        // xactions
 )
diff --git a/reb/globrun.go b/reb/globrun.go
index 639303b7ae..d0d153b0c2 100644
--- a/reb/globrun.go
+++ b/reb/globrun.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/cmn/prob"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/core"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/core/meta"
+	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/ec"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/fs"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/transport"
 	"github.com/NVIDIA/aistore/transport/bundle"
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ func (reb *Reb) RunRebalance(smap *meta.Smap, id int64, notif *xact.NotifXact, t
 	reb.mu.Unlock()
 
 	logHdr := reb.logHdr(id, smap, true /*initializing*/)
-	nlog.Infoln(logHdr + ": initializing")
+	nlog.Infoln(logHdr, "initializing")
 
 	bmd := core.T.Bowner().Get()
 	rargs := &rebArgs{id: id, smap: smap, config: cmn.GCO.Get(), ecUsed: bmd.IsECUsed()}
@@ -221,6 +222,9 @@ func (reb *Reb) RunRebalance(smap *meta.Smap, id int64, notif *xact.NotifXact, t
 
 	// At this point, only one rebalance is running
 
+	if rargs.ecUsed {
+		ec.ECM.OpenStreams(true /*with refc*/)
+	}
 	onGFN()
 
 	tstats.SetFlag(cos.NodeAlerts, cos.Rebalancing)
@@ -242,6 +246,9 @@ func (reb *Reb) RunRebalance(smap *meta.Smap, id int64, notif *xact.NotifXact, t
 	tstats.ClrFlag(cos.NodeAlerts, cos.Rebalancing)
 
 	offGFN()
+	if rargs.ecUsed {
+		ec.ECM.CloseStreams(true /*with refc*/)
+	}
 }
 
 // To optimize goroutine creation:
diff --git a/xact/xreg/xreg.go b/xact/xreg/xreg.go
index 8b02e3cd9e..5a93eb6516 100644
--- a/xact/xreg/xreg.go
+++ b/xact/xreg/xreg.go
@@ -457,8 +457,12 @@ func (r *registry) hkDelOld(int64) time.Duration {
 	}
 	r.entries.mtx.RUnlock()
 
-	if len(toRemove) == 0 {
-		return hk.DelOldIval
+	d, ll := hk.DelOldIval, len(toRemove)
+	if l-ll > keepOldThreshold<<1 {
+		d >>= 1
+	}
+	if ll == 0 {
+		return d
 	}
 
 	// cleanup
@@ -467,7 +471,8 @@ func (r *registry) hkDelOld(int64) time.Duration {
 		r.entries.del(id)
 	}
 	r.entries.mtx.Unlock()
-	return hk.DelOldIval
+
+	return d
 }
 
 func (r *registry) renewByID(entry Renewable, bck *meta.Bck) (rns RenewRes) {