diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index efa7faa..585dbe8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -41,9 +41,8 @@ type MongoConfig struct {
 func getMongoConfig() MongoConfig {
 	// Load environment variables from .env file
 	err := godotenv.Load()
-
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal("Error loading .env file")
+		log.Printf("Warning: Could not load .env file: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	return MongoConfig{
@@ -61,50 +60,88 @@ func getEnvOrDefault(key, defaultValue string) string {
 }
 
 func connectMongoDB(config MongoConfig) (*mongo.Client, *mongo.Collection, error) {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	// Increase connection timeout significantly
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	client, err := mongo.Connect(ctx, options.Client().ApplyURI(config.URI))
+	// Configure client options with more robust settings
+	clientOptions := options.Client().
+		ApplyURI(config.URI).
+		SetMaxPoolSize(10).
+		SetMinPoolSize(1).
+		SetMaxConnIdleTime(30 * time.Second).
+		SetConnectTimeout(10 * time.Second).
+		SetSocketTimeout(30 * time.Second).
+		SetServerSelectionTimeout(10 * time.Second)
+
+	client, err := mongo.Connect(ctx, clientOptions)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to MongoDB: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	// Test connection
-	err = client.Ping(ctx, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
+	// Test connection with retry logic
+	var pingErr error
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		pingCtx, pingCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+		pingErr = client.Ping(pingCtx, nil)
+		pingCancel()
+
+		if pingErr == nil {
+			break
+		}
+
+		if i < 2 {
+			log.Printf("Ping attempt %d failed, retrying: %v", i+1, pingErr)
+			time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if pingErr != nil {
+		client.Disconnect(context.Background())
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to ping MongoDB after retries: %v", pingErr)
 	}
 
 	collection := client.Database(config.Database).Collection(config.Collection)
 
-	// Create indexes for better performance
+	// Create indexes with longer timeout and better error handling
+	err = createIndexes(collection)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("Warning: Could not create indexes: %v", err)
+		// Don't fail completely, just warn
+	}
+
+	return client, collection, nil
+}
+
+func createIndexes(collection *mongo.Collection) error {
 	indexes := []mongo.IndexModel{
 		{
 			Keys: bson.D{{Key: "ip", Value: 1}},
+			Options: options.Index().SetBackground(true),
 		},
 		{
 			Keys: bson.D{{Key: "expires_at", Value: 1}},
+			Options: options.Index().SetBackground(true),
 		},
 		{
 			Keys: bson.D{{Key: "status", Value: 1}},
+			Options: options.Index().SetBackground(true),
 		},
 		{
 			Keys: bson.D{
 				{Key: "status", Value: 1},
 				{Key: "expires_at", Value: 1},
 			},
+			Options: options.Index().SetBackground(true),
 		},
 	}
 
-	ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	// Use longer timeout for index creation
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 60*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	_, err = collection.Indexes().CreateMany(ctx, indexes)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Printf("Warning: Could not create indexes: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	return client, collection, nil
+	_, err := collection.Indexes().CreateMany(ctx, indexes)
+	return err
 }
 
 func parseDuration(duration string) (time.Duration, error) {
@@ -169,7 +206,8 @@ func addBanRecord(collection *mongo.Collection, ip, reason, duration string, jso
 		Hostname:  getHostname(),
 	}
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	// Increase timeout for insert operations
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
 	_, err = collection.InsertOne(ctx, record)
@@ -177,7 +215,8 @@ func addBanRecord(collection *mongo.Collection, ip, reason, duration string, jso
 }
 
 func removeBanRecord(collection *mongo.Collection, ip string) error {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	// Increase timeout for update operations
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
 	now := time.Now()
@@ -198,67 +237,114 @@ func removeBanRecord(collection *mongo.Collection, ip string) error {
 }
 
 func cleanupExpiredBans(collection *mongo.Collection) error {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	// Significantly increase timeout for cleanup operations
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 120*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	// Find expired bans
-	filter := bson.M{
-		"expires_at": bson.M{"$lte": time.Now()},
-		"status":     "active",
-	}
+	// Process in batches to avoid timeout
+	batchSize := 100
+	processedCount := 0
 
-	cursor, err := collection.Find(ctx, filter)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer cursor.Close(ctx)
-
-	var expiredBans []BanRecord
-	if err = cursor.All(ctx, &expiredBans); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Remove expired IPs from BitNinja and mark as expired in MongoDB
-	for _, ban := range expiredBans {
-		fmt.Printf("Removing expired ban for IP: %s (banned at: %s)\n", 
-			ban.IP, ban.BannedAt.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"))
-
-		// Remove from BitNinja
-		cmd := exec.Command("bitninjacli", "--blacklist", fmt.Sprintf("--del=%s", ban.IP))
-		if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
-			fmt.Printf("Error removing IP %s from BitNinja: %v\n", ban.IP, err)
-			continue
+	for {
+		// Find expired bans in batches
+		filter := bson.M{
+			"expires_at": bson.M{"$lte": time.Now()},
+			"status":     "active",
 		}
 
-		// Mark as expired in MongoDB
-		updateFilter := bson.M{"_id": ban.ID}
-		update := bson.M{
-			"$set": bson.M{
-				"status": "expired",
-			},
-		}
-
-		_, err = collection.UpdateOne(ctx, updateFilter, update)
+		opts := options.Find().SetLimit(int64(batchSize))
+		cursor, err := collection.Find(ctx, filter, opts)
 		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Printf("Error updating MongoDB for IP %s: %v\n", ban.IP, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("error finding expired bans: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		var expiredBans []BanRecord
+		if err = cursor.All(ctx, &expiredBans); err != nil {
+			cursor.Close(ctx)
+			return fmt.Errorf("error decoding expired bans: %v", err)
+		}
+		cursor.Close(ctx)
+
+		if len(expiredBans) == 0 {
+			break // No more expired bans
+		}
+
+		// Process this batch
+		for _, ban := range expiredBans {
+			fmt.Printf("Removing expired ban for IP: %s (banned at: %s)\n",
+				ban.IP, ban.BannedAt.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"))
+
+			// Remove from BitNinja with timeout
+			cmd := exec.Command("bitninjacli", "--blacklist", fmt.Sprintf("--del=%s", ban.IP))
+			cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+			cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+
+			// Set timeout for external command
+			cmdCtx, cmdCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+			defer cmdCancel()
+
+			if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+				fmt.Printf("Error starting command for IP %s: %v\n", ban.IP, err)
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Wait for command to complete or timeout
+			done := make(chan error, 1)
+			go func() {
+				done <- cmd.Wait()
+			}()
+
+			select {
+			case err := <-done:
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Printf("Error removing IP %s from BitNinja: %v\n", ban.IP, err)
+					continue
+				}
+			case <-cmdCtx.Done():
+				fmt.Printf("Timeout removing IP %s from BitNinja\n", ban.IP)
+				if cmd.Process != nil {
+					cmd.Process.Kill()
+				}
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Mark as expired in MongoDB
+			updateFilter := bson.M{"_id": ban.ID}
+			update := bson.M{
+				"$set": bson.M{
+					"status": "expired",
+				},
+			}
+
+			updateCtx, updateCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+			_, err = collection.UpdateOne(updateCtx, updateFilter, update)
+			updateCancel()
+
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Printf("Error updating MongoDB for IP %s: %v\n", ban.IP, err)
+			}
+		}
+
+		processedCount += len(expiredBans)
+
+		// Check if we processed less than batch size (last batch)
+		if len(expiredBans) < batchSize {
+			break
 		}
 	}
 
-	fmt.Printf("Processed %d expired bans\n", len(expiredBans))
+	fmt.Printf("Processed %d expired bans\n", processedCount)
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Nieuwe functie om oude records te verwijderen
 func purgeOldRecords(collection *mongo.Collection, olderThanDays int) error {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	// Increase timeout for purge operations
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 60*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	// Bereken de datum vanaf wanneer records verwijderd moeten worden
+	// Calculate cutoff date
 	cutoffDate := time.Now().AddDate(0, 0, -olderThanDays)
 
-	// Filter voor records die verwijderd kunnen worden:
-	// 1. Status "removed" en removed_at ouder dan cutoffDate
-	// 2. Status "expired" en banned_at ouder dan cutoffDate (voor oude expired records)
 	filter := bson.M{
 		"$or": []bson.M{
 			{
@@ -272,7 +358,7 @@ func purgeOldRecords(collection *mongo.Collection, olderThanDays int) error {
 		},
 	}
 
-	// Eerst tellen hoeveel records verwijderd gaan worden
+	// Count records to purge
 	count, err := collection.CountDocuments(ctx, filter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error counting records to purge: %v", err)
@@ -285,8 +371,15 @@ func purgeOldRecords(collection *mongo.Collection, olderThanDays int) error {
 
 	fmt.Printf("Found %d records older than %d days to purge\n", count, olderThanDays)
 
-	// Optioneel: log welke records verwijderd gaan worden
-	cursor, err := collection.Find(ctx, filter)
+	// Process in batches if there are many records
+	if count > 1000 {
+		fmt.Println("Large number of records detected, processing in batches...")
+		return purgeInBatches(collection, filter, olderThanDays)
+	}
+
+	// Log records that will be purged (limit to avoid timeout)
+	opts := options.Find().SetLimit(100)
+	cursor, err := collection.Find(ctx, filter, opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error finding records to purge: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -297,9 +390,13 @@ func purgeOldRecords(collection *mongo.Collection, olderThanDays int) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error decoding records to purge: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	// Log de records die verwijderd gaan worden
-	fmt.Println("Records to be purged:")
-	for _, record := range recordsToPurge {
+	fmt.Println("Sample of records to be purged:")
+	for i, record := range recordsToPurge {
+		if i >= 10 { // Limit output
+			fmt.Printf("... and %d more records\n", len(recordsToPurge)-10)
+			break
+		}
+
 		var dateStr string
 		if record.RemovedAt != nil {
 			dateStr = record.RemovedAt.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05")
@@ -310,7 +407,7 @@ func purgeOldRecords(collection *mongo.Collection, olderThanDays int) error {
 			record.IP, record.Status, dateStr, record.Reason)
 	}
 
-	// Daadwerkelijk verwijderen
+	// Actually delete
 	result, err := collection.DeleteMany(ctx, filter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error purging records: %v", err)
@@ -320,13 +417,46 @@ func purgeOldRecords(collection *mongo.Collection, olderThanDays int) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func purgeInBatches(collection *mongo.Collection, filter bson.M, olderThanDays int) error {
+	batchSize := 1000
+	totalDeleted := int64(0)
+
+	for {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+
+		// Delete in batches
+		opts := options.Delete().SetHint(bson.D{{Key: "status", Value: 1}})
+		result, err := collection.DeleteMany(ctx, filter, opts)
+		cancel()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("error purging batch: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		totalDeleted += result.DeletedCount
+		fmt.Printf("Purged batch: %d records\n", result.DeletedCount)
+
+		// If we deleted less than batch size, we're done
+		if result.DeletedCount < int64(batchSize) {
+			break
+		}
+
+		// Small delay between batches
+		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("Successfully purged %d total records from database\n", totalDeleted)
+	return nil
+}
+
 func handleAdd(collection *mongo.Collection, ip string, duration string, reason string, jsonObject map[string]interface{}) {
 	// Add to BitNinja blacklist
 	enhancedReason := fmt.Sprintf("%s (Duration: %s, Host: %s)", reason, duration, getHostname())
 	cmd := exec.Command("bitninjacli", "--blacklist", fmt.Sprintf("--add=%s", ip), fmt.Sprintf("--comment=%s", enhancedReason))
+
 	out, err := cmd.Output()
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("Error adding IP to BitNinja:", err)
+		fmt.Printf("Error adding IP to BitNinja: %v\n", err)
 		return
 	}
 	fmt.Println(string(out))
@@ -349,9 +479,10 @@ func handleAdd(collection *mongo.Collection, ip string, duration string, reason
 func handleDel(collection *mongo.Collection, ip string, duration string, reason string, jsonObject map[string]interface{}) {
 	// Remove from BitNinja
 	cmd := exec.Command("bitninjacli", "--blacklist", fmt.Sprintf("--del=%s", ip))
+
 	out, err := cmd.Output()
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("Error deleting IP from BitNinja:", err)
+		fmt.Printf("Error deleting IP from BitNinja: %v\n", err)
 		return
 	}
 	fmt.Println(string(out))
@@ -396,12 +527,22 @@ func handlePurge(collection *mongo.Collection, daysStr string) {
 }
 
 func handleList(collection *mongo.Collection) {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	// Increase timeout for list operations
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	// Find active bans, sorted by banned_at descending
+	// First get the accurate total count
 	filter := bson.M{"status": "active"}
-	opts := options.Find().SetSort(bson.D{{Key: "banned_at", Value: -1}})
+	totalCount, err := collection.CountDocuments(ctx, filter)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Error counting active bans: %v\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Find active bans, sorted by banned_at descending (limited for display)
+	opts := options.Find().
+		SetSort(bson.D{{Key: "banned_at", Value: -1}}).
+		SetLimit(1000) // Limit results to avoid timeout
 
 	cursor, err := collection.Find(ctx, filter, opts)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -440,11 +581,15 @@ func handleList(collection *mongo.Collection) {
 			ban.Hostname)
 	}
 
-	fmt.Printf("\nTotal active bans: %d\n", len(bans))
+	fmt.Printf("\nTotal active bans: %d\n", totalCount)
+	if int64(len(bans)) < totalCount {
+		fmt.Printf("Showing latest %d entries (sorted by banned date)\n", len(bans))
+	}
 }
 
 func handleStats(collection *mongo.Collection) {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	// Increase timeout for stats operations
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
 	// Count by status
@@ -535,9 +680,11 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatal("Failed to connect to MongoDB:", err)
 	}
 	defer func() {
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
 		defer cancel()
-		client.Disconnect(ctx)
+		if err := client.Disconnect(ctx); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Error disconnecting from MongoDB: %v", err)
+		}
 	}()
 
 	if len(os.Args) < 2 {