db tweaks

- sessions autocommit
- ping_connection guards against connection timeouts
- adjusted session usage to use db.transaction when writing
Merge pull request #651 from seandst/db-module-is-less-terrible

db tweaks
Automated Service Dialog
Merge pull request #644 from sshveta/servicedialog2

Automate Service Dialog
Fix 'not all arguments converted during string formatting' TypeError
typo causing KeyErro when accesing to DB
Merge pull request #676 from mfalesni/jenkins_fixes

Jenkins fixes