Added javadocs and simplified the reactive fwd app in attempt to find the glitch; no dice
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostId.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostId.java
index c406954..170e2a2 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostId.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/HostId.java
@@ -42,10 +42,19 @@
      * @param vlanId vlan identifier
      * @return host identifier
      */
-    // FIXME: replace vlanId long with a rich data-type, e.g. VLanId or something like that
     public static HostId hostId(MACAddress mac, VLANID vlanId) {
         // FIXME: use more efficient means of encoding
         return hostId("nic" + ":" + mac + "/" + vlanId);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Creates a device id using the supplied MAC and default VLAN.
+     *
+     * @param mac mac address
+     * @return host identifier
+     */
+    public static HostId hostId(MACAddress mac) {
+        return hostId(mac, VLANID.vlanId(VLANID.UNTAGGED));
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/packet/impl/SimplePacketManager.java b/core/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/packet/impl/SimplePacketManager.java
index 637ada8..53c3fbc 100644
--- a/core/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/packet/impl/SimplePacketManager.java
+++ b/core/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/trivial/packet/impl/SimplePacketManager.java
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@
 import org.onlab.onos.net.provider.AbstractProviderService;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
-
 /**
  * Provides a basic implementation of the packet SB & NB APIs.
- *
  */
 @Component(immediate = true)
 @Service
@@ -43,7 +41,6 @@
 
     private final Map<Integer, PacketProcessor> processors = new TreeMap<>();
 
-
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
         log.info("Started");
@@ -62,19 +59,20 @@
 
     @Override
     public void removeProcessor(PacketProcessor processor) {
+        checkNotNull(processor, "Processor cannot be null");
         processors.values().remove(processor);
     }
 
     @Override
     public void emit(OutboundPacket packet) {
+        checkNotNull(packet, "Packet cannot be null");
         final Device device = deviceService.getDevice(packet.sendThrough());
         final PacketProvider packetProvider = getProvider(device.providerId());
         packetProvider.emit(packet);
     }
 
     @Override
-    protected PacketProviderService createProviderService(
-            PacketProvider provider) {
+    protected PacketProviderService createProviderService(PacketProvider provider) {
         return new InternalPacketProviderService(provider);
     }