diff --git a/.github/workflows/pytest.yml b/.github/workflows/pytest.yml
index 7a8890a..6109d8b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pytest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pytest.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           pip install -r requirements.txt
+
+      - name: Setup MPI
+        uses: mpi4py/setup-mpi@v1
+         
       - name: Run tests with pytest
         run: pytest 
 
diff --git a/delta/data_models/base_models.py b/delta/data_models/base_models.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4794370
--- /dev/null
+++ b/delta/data_models/base_models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#-*- coding: UTF-8 -*-
+
+"""Base classes."""
+
+import numpy as np
+
+class twod_chunk():
+    """Base class for two-dimensional data.
+
+    This defines the interface only.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, data):
+        # We should ensure that the data is contiguous so that we can remove this from
+        # if not data.flags.contiguous:
+        self.chunk_data = np.require(data, dtype=np.float64, requirements=['C', 'O', 'W', 'A'])
+        assert(self.chunk_data.flags.contiguous)
+
+    @property
+    def data(self):
+        """Common interface to data."""
+        return self.chunk_data
+
+    @property
+    def shape(self):
+        """Forwards to self.chunk_data.shape."""
+        return self.chunk_data.shape
diff --git a/delta/data_models/kstar_ecei.py b/delta/data_models/kstar_ecei.py
index 9aadd3f..c7537d5 100644
--- a/delta/data_models/kstar_ecei.py
+++ b/delta/data_models/kstar_ecei.py
@@ -11,10 +11,11 @@
 import logging
 import numpy as np
 
+from data_models.base_models import twod_chunk
 from data_models.channels_2d import channel_2d, channel_range, num_to_vh
 
 
-class ecei_chunk():
+class ecei_chunk(twod_chunk):
     """Class that represents a time-chunk of ECEI data.
     
     This class provides the following interface.
@@ -37,7 +38,6 @@ class ecei_chunk():
     """
 
     def __init__(self, data, tb, params=None, num_v=24, num_h=8):
-        # TODO: remove rarr and zarr and make them computable from params
         """Creates an ecei_chunk from a give dataset.
 
         The first dimension indices channels, the second dimension indices time.
@@ -71,16 +71,18 @@ def __init__(self, data, tb, params=None, num_v=24, num_h=8):
         Returns:
             None
         """
+        
+        super().__init__(data)  # Initializes data member
         self.logger = logging.getLogger("simple")
         # Data should have more than 1 dimension, last dimension is time
         assert(data.ndim > 1)
         #
         self.num_v, self.num_h = num_v, num_h
 
-        # We should ensure that the data is contiguous so that we can remove this from
-        # if not data.flags.contiguous:
-        self.ecei_data = np.require(data, dtype=np.float64, requirements=['C', 'O', 'W', 'A'])
-        assert(self.ecei_data.flags.contiguous)
+        # # We should ensure that the data is contiguous so that we can remove this from
+        # # if not data.flags.contiguous:
+        # self.ecei_data = np.require(data, dtype=np.float64, requirements=['C', 'O', 'W', 'A'])
+        # assert(self.ecei_data.flags.contiguous)
 
         # Time-base for the chunk
         self.tb = tb
@@ -105,15 +107,6 @@ def __init__(self, data, tb, params=None, num_v=24, num_h=8):
         # bad_channels is used as a mask and has shape=(nchannels)
         self.bad_channels = np.zeros((self.num_h * self.num_v), dtype=bool)
 
-    @property
-    def data(self):
-        """Common interface to data."""
-        return self.ecei_data
-
-    @property
-    def shape(self):
-        """Forwards to self.ecei_data.shape."""
-        return self.ecei_data.shape
 
     def mark_bad_channels(self, verbose=False):
         """Mark bad channels.
@@ -173,7 +166,7 @@ def create_ft(self, fft_data, params):
                              freqs=None, params=params)
 
 
-class ecei_chunk_ft():
+class ecei_chunk_ft(twod_chunk):
     """Represents a fourier-transformed time-chunk of ECEI data."""
 
     def __init__(self, data, tb, freqs, params=None, axis_ch=0, axis_t=1, num_v=24, num_h=8):
@@ -200,7 +193,7 @@ def __init__(self, data, tb, freqs, params=None, axis_ch=0, axis_t=1, num_v=24,
         Returns:
             None
         """
-        self.data = data
+        super().__init__(data)  # Initializes data
         self.tb = tb
         self.freqs = freqs
         self.params = params
@@ -209,15 +202,6 @@ def __init__(self, data, tb, freqs, params=None, axis_ch=0, axis_t=1, num_v=24,
         self.num_v = num_v
         self.num_h = num_h
 
-    # @property
-    # def data(self):
-    #     """Common interface to data."""
-    #     return self.data
-
-    @property
-    def shape(self):
-        """Forwards to self.ecei_data.shape."""
-        return self.data.shape
 
 
 def channel_range_from_str(range_str):
diff --git a/delta/middleman.py b/delta/middleman.py
index df206f7..eae3ba8 100644
--- a/delta/middleman.py
+++ b/delta/middleman.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def main():
 
     with open(args.config, "r") as df:
         cfg = json.load(df)
-    timeout = 60
+    timeout = 120
 
     # The middleman uses both a reader and a writer. Each is configured with using
     # their respective section of the config file. Therefore some keys are duplicated,
diff --git a/delta/streaming/adios_helpers.py b/delta/streaming/adios_helpers.py
index abd2a5f..8e07203 100644
--- a/delta/streaming/adios_helpers.py
+++ b/delta/streaming/adios_helpers.py
@@ -14,12 +14,4 @@ def gen_channel_name(channel_id: int, rank: int):
     """Generates a channel ID for readers."""
     return f"ch{channel_id:04d}_r{rank:03d}"
 
-def gen_channel_name_v2(shotnr: int, channel_rg: str):
-    """Generates a channel ID using channel range strings. (see analysis/channels.py)"""
-    return f"{shotnr:05d}_ch{channel_rg:s}"
-
-
-def gen_channel_name_v3(prefix: str, shotnr: int, channel_rg: str):
-    return f"{prefix}/{shotnr:05d}_ch{channel_rg:s}"
-
 # End of file adios_helpers.py
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/delta/streaming/reader_mpi.py b/delta/streaming/reader_mpi.py
index d574040..7954adc 100644
--- a/delta/streaming/reader_mpi.py
+++ b/delta/streaming/reader_mpi.py
@@ -11,18 +11,23 @@
 from streaming.stream_stats import stream_stats
 
 
-class reader_base():
+class reader_gen():
     def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
         """Initializes the generic reader base class.
 
-        Arguments:
+        Args:
             cfg (dict):
-                delta config dictionary
+                delta config dict
             stream_name (str):
-                ADIOS2 name of the stream
+                Name of the data stream to read
 
         Returns:
-            None
+            A class instance
+
+        Used keys from cfg_all:
+            * transport.engine - Defines the `ADIOS2 engine <https://adios2.readthedocs.io/en/latest/engines/engines.html#supported-engines>`_
+            * transport.params - Passed to `SetParameters <https://adios2.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api_full/api_full.html?highlight=setparameters#_CPPv4N6adios22IO13SetParametersERKNSt6stringE>`_
+  
         """
         comm  = MPI.COMM_SELF
         self.rank = comm.Get_rank()
@@ -32,6 +37,8 @@ def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
         self.logger = logging.getLogger("simple")
 
         self.IO = self.adios.DeclareIO(gen_io_name(self.rank))
+        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg["engine"])
+        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg["params"])
         # Keeps track of the past chunk sizes. This allows to construct a dummy time base
         self.reader = None
         self.stream_name = stream_name
@@ -143,27 +150,4 @@ def Get(self, varname: str, save: bool=False):
         return time_chunk
 
 
-class reader_gen(reader_base):
-    """I don't know why we have this derived class - RK 2020-12-02."""
-    def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
-        """Instantiates a reader.
-
-        Args:
-            cfg (dict):
-                delta config dict
-            stream_name (str):
-                Name of the data stream to read
-
-        Returns:
-            A class instance
-
-        Used keys from cfg_all:
-            * transport.engine - Defines the `ADIOS2 engine <https://adios2.readthedocs.io/en/latest/engines/engines.html#supported-engines>`_
-            * transport.params - Passed to `SetParameters <https://adios2.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api_full/api_full.html?highlight=setparameters#_CPPv4N6adios22IO13SetParametersERKNSt6stringE>`_
-        """
-        super().__init__(cfg, stream_name)
-        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg["engine"])
-        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg["params"])
-        self.reader = None
-
 # End of file reader_mpi.py
diff --git a/delta/streaming/reader_nompi.py b/delta/streaming/reader_nompi.py
index 80c379b..5c98f69 100644
--- a/delta/streaming/reader_nompi.py
+++ b/delta/streaming/reader_nompi.py
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@
 from streaming.stream_stats import stream_stats
 
 
-class reader_base():
-    def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
+class reader_gen():
+    def __init__(self, cfg: dict, channel_name: str):
         """Initializes the generic reader base class.
 
         Arguments:
             cfg (dict):
                 delta config dictionary
-            stream_name (str):
+            channel_name (str):
                 ADIOS2 name of the stream
 
         Returns:
@@ -26,9 +26,11 @@ def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
         self.logger = logging.getLogger("simple")
 
         self.IO = self.adios.DeclareIO(gen_io_name(0))
+        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg["engine"])
+        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg["params"])
         # Keeps track of the past chunk sizes. This allows to construct a dummy time base
         self.reader = None
-        self.stream_name = stream_name
+        self.channel_name = channel_name
 
     def Open(self, multi_channel_id=None):
         """Opens a new channel.
@@ -39,13 +41,13 @@ def Open(self, multi_channel_id=None):
         if multi_channel_id is not None:
             self.channel_name = "%s_%02d"%(self.channel_name, multi_channel_id)
 
-        self.logger.info(f"Waiting to receive channel name {self.stream_name}")
+        self.logger.info(f"Waiting to receive channel name {self.channel_name}")
         if self.reader is None:
-            self.reader = self.IO.Open(self.stream_name, adios2.Mode.Read)
+            self.reader = self.IO.Open(self.channel_name, adios2.Mode.Read)
             # attrs = self.IO.InquireAttribute("cfg")
         else:
             pass
-        self.logger.info(f"Opened channel {self.stream_name}")
+        self.logger.info(f"Opened channel {self.channel_name}")
         # self.logger.info(f"-> attrs = {attrs.DataString()}")
 
         return None
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ def get_attrs(self, attrsname: str):
         stream_attrs = json.loads(attrs.DataString()[0])
         #except ValueError as e:
         #    self.logger.error(f"Could not load attributes from stream: {e}")
-        #    raise ValueError(f"Failed to load attributes {attrsname} from {self.stream_name}")
+        #    raise ValueError(f"Failed to load attributes {attrsname} from {self.channel_name}")
 
         self.logger.info(f"Loaded attributes: {stream_attrs}")
         # TODO: Clean up naming conventions for stream attributes
@@ -137,27 +139,4 @@ def Get(self, varname: str, save: bool=False):
         return time_chunk
 
 
-class reader_gen(reader_base):
-    """I don't know why we have this derived class - RK 2020-12-02."""
-    def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
-        """Instantiates a reader.
-
-        Args:
-            cfg (dict):
-                delta config dict
-            stream_name (str):
-                Name of the data stream to read
-
-        Returns:
-            A class instance
-
-        Used keys from cfg_all:
-            * transport.engine - Defines the `ADIOS2 engine <https://adios2.readthedocs.io/en/latest/engines/engines.html#supported-engines>`_
-            * transport.params - Passed to `SetParameters <https://adios2.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api_full/api_full.html?highlight=setparameters#_CPPv4N6adios22IO13SetParametersERKNSt6stringE>`_
-        """
-        super().__init__(cfg, stream_name)
-        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg["engine"])
-        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg["params"])
-        self.reader = None
-
 # End of file reader_mpi.py
diff --git a/delta/streaming/writer_nompi.py b/delta/streaming/writer_nompi.py
index 729a293..782d995 100644
--- a/delta/streaming/writer_nompi.py
+++ b/delta/streaming/writer_nompi.py
@@ -13,13 +13,12 @@
 from streaming.adios_helpers import gen_io_name
 
 
-class writer_base():
+class writer_gen():
     """Generc base class for all ADIOS2 writers."""
-    def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
+    def __init__(self, cfg: dict, channel_name: str):
         """Initialize writer_base."""
         # comm = MPI.COMM_WORLD
-        self.rank = 0 # comm.Get_rank()
-        # self.size = comm.Get_size()
+        self.rank = 0 
         self.logger = logging.getLogger("simple")
 
         self.adios = adios2.ADIOS()
@@ -31,7 +30,11 @@ def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
         self.shape = None
 
         # Generate a descriptive channel name
-        self.stream_name = stream_name
+        self.channel_name = channel_name
+
+        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg_transport["engine"])
+        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg_transport["params"])
+
 
         # To generate statistics
         self.stats = stream_stats()
@@ -85,7 +88,7 @@ def DefineAttributes(self, attrsname: str, attrs: dict):
     def Open(self):
         """Opens a new channel."""
         if self.writer is None:
-            self.writer = self.IO.Open(self.stream_name, adios2.Mode.Write)
+            self.writer = self.IO.Open(self.channel_name, adios2.Mode.Write)
 
     def Close(self):
         """Wrapper for Close."""
@@ -143,31 +146,4 @@ def transfer_stats(self):
 
         return stats_str
 
-
-class writer_gen(writer_base):
-    """I don't know why this is here - RK 2020-11-29."""
-    def __init__(self, cfg_transport, stream_name):
-        """Instantiates a writer.
-
-        Control Adios method and params through transport section cfg
-
-        Args:
-            cfg_transport (dict):
-                This corresponds to the transport section.
-            stream_name (str):
-                Name for the adios data stream
-
-        Returns:
-            None
-        """
-        super().__init__(cfg_transport, stream_name)
-        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg_transport["engine"])
-        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg_transport["params"])
-
-        if cfg_transport["engine"].lower() == "dataman":
-            cfg_transport["params"].update(Port=str(int(cfg_transport["params"]["Port"]) +
-                                           self.rank))
-
-
-# End of file writers.py
-
+# End of file writers.py
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/delta/streaming/writers.py b/delta/streaming/writers.py
index 6bc7fa7..2f6d45d 100644
--- a/delta/streaming/writers.py
+++ b/delta/streaming/writers.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 from streaming.adios_helpers import gen_io_name
 
 
-class writer_base():
+class writer_gen():
     """Generc base class for all ADIOS2 writers."""
-    def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
+    def __init__(self, cfg_transport: dict, channel_name: str):
         """Initialize writer_base."""
         comm = MPI.COMM_WORLD
         self.rank = comm.Get_rank()
@@ -33,8 +33,16 @@ def __init__(self, cfg: dict, stream_name: str):
         self.shape = None
 
         # Generate a descriptive channel name
-        self.stream_name = stream_name
+        self.channel_name = channel_name
 
+        # Set IO parameters
+        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg_transport["engine"])
+        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg_transport["params"])
+
+        if cfg_transport["engine"].lower() == "dataman":
+            cfg_transport["params"].update(Port=str(int(cfg_transport["params"]["Port"]) +
+                                           self.rank))
+                                           
         # To generate statistics
         self.stats = stream_stats()
 
@@ -87,7 +95,7 @@ def DefineAttributes(self, attrsname: str, attrs: dict):
     def Open(self):
         """Opens a new channel."""
         if self.writer is None:
-            self.writer = self.IO.Open(self.stream_name, adios2.Mode.Write)
+            self.writer = self.IO.Open(self.channel_name, adios2.Mode.Write)
 
     def Close(self):
         """Wrapper for Close."""
@@ -146,30 +154,4 @@ def transfer_stats(self):
         return stats_str
 
 
-class writer_gen(writer_base):
-    """I don't know why this is here - RK 2020-11-29."""
-    def __init__(self, cfg_transport, stream_name):
-        """Instantiates a writer.
-
-        Control Adios method and params through transport section cfg
-
-        Args:
-            cfg_transport (dict):
-                This corresponds to the transport section.
-            stream_name (str):
-                Name for the adios data stream
-
-        Returns:
-            None
-        """
-        super().__init__(cfg_transport, stream_name)
-        self.IO.SetEngine(cfg_transport["engine"])
-        self.IO.SetParameters(cfg_transport["params"])
-
-        if cfg_transport["engine"].lower() == "dataman":
-            cfg_transport["params"].update(Port=str(int(cfg_transport["params"]["Port"]) +
-                                           self.rank))
-
-
-# End of file writers.py
-
+# End of file writers.py
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index 517fe27..dedf5a6 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 log_cli = True
 testpaths =
     tests
-addopts = --ignore=tests/test_executor.py
+addopts = --ignore=tests/test_executor.py --ignore=tests/test_writer_multichannel.py
diff --git a/tests/test_writer_multichannel.py b/tests/test_writer_multichannel.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d391acc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_writer_multichannel.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#-*- Encoding: UTF-8 -*-
+
+"""Uses writers in multi-channel setting.
+
+Command
+
+```
+$ python test_writer_mulitchannel.py
+```
+
+"""
+
+from mpi4py import MPI
+import adios2
+import numpy as np
+
+import sys
+sys.path.append("/global/homes/r/rkube/repos/delta/delta")
+from streaming.writers import writer_gen
+from streaming.adios_helpers import gen_channel_name
+from data_models.base_models import twod_chunk
+
+comm = MPI.COMM_WORLD
+rank = comm.Get_rank()
+size = comm.Get_size()
+
+
+# Define config section for transport
+cfg_transport = {
+    "datapath": "tmp_nersc",
+    "engine": "BP4",
+    "params":
+    {
+      "IPAddress": "128.55.205.18",
+      "Timeout": "120",
+      "Port": "50001",
+      "TransportMode": "fast"
+    }
+}
+
+channel_name = gen_channel_name(2408, rank)
+data = np.random.normal(rank + 1.0, 0.1, size=(192, 10_000))
+
+if rank == 0:
+    print("==================I am test_writer_multichannel===================")
+print(f"rank {rank:d} / size {size:d}. Channel_name = {channel_name}")
+
+w = writer_gen(cfg_transport, channel_name)
+w.DefineVariable("dummy", (192, 10_000), np.float64)
+w.Open()
+w.DefineAttributes("strem_attrs", {"test": "yes"})
+
+for tstep in range(1, 5):
+    data = np.random.normal(100.0 * (rank + 1) + tstep, 0.1, size=(192, 10_000))
+    chunk = twod_chunk(data)
+
+    w.BeginStep()
+    w.put_data(chunk)
+    w.EndStep()
+
+w.writer.Close()