diff --git a/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/populate.py b/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/populate.py
index bc42975e45139f6387f7e20e3bbcd9661447f564..671fba35fcf444def92a7250f789ab31b8774581 100644
--- a/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/populate.py
+++ b/SAS/TMSS/backend/src/tmss/tmssapp/populate.py
@@ -503,7 +503,9 @@ def populate_connectors():
         # wrapper func to silently skip duplicates
         for task_template in TaskTemplate.objects.filter(name=task_template_name).all():
             try:
-                TaskConnectorType.objects.create(task_template=task_template, **kwargs)
+                connector = TaskConnectorType.objects.create(task_template=task_template, **kwargs)
+                logger.info('created task_type_connector id: %s role: %s datatype: %s dataformat: %s  iotype: %s task_template=\'%s-v%s\'',
+                            connector.id, connector.role.value, connector.datatype.value, connector.dataformat.value, connector.iotype.value, connector.task_template.name, connector.task_template.version)
             except IntegrityError:
                 # skipping duplicate
                 pass
diff --git a/SAS/TMSS/client/lib/populate.py b/SAS/TMSS/client/lib/populate.py
index c0648f5bbde0ae9fd97853210990c8213d6b5ad0..0ccf9a63eeb21fa615bbe2169b4c66a73d9b29a4 100644
--- a/SAS/TMSS/client/lib/populate.py
+++ b/SAS/TMSS/client/lib/populate.py
@@ -12,9 +12,15 @@ def populate_main():
 
     # Check the invocation arguments
     parser = OptionParser('%prog [options]', description='upload the templates to TMSS')
-    parser.add_option('-d', '--dir', dest='schema_dir', type='string',
+
+    group = OptionGroup(parser, 'Populate options')
+    parser.add_option_group(group)
+    group.add_option('-s', '--schemas', action="store_true", dest="schemas", default=False, help='upload the templates and schemas in the given <schemas_dir> to TMSS, default: %default')
+    group.add_option('-d', '--schemas_dir', dest='schemas_dir', type='string',
                       default=os.path.expandvars('$LOFARROOT/share/tmss/schemas'),
                       help='''directory path containing the schemas, default: '%default')''')
+    group.add_option('-c', '--connectors', action="store_true", dest="connectors", default=False, help='create the default task_connector_types for all known task_templates in TMSS, default: %default')
+    group.add_option('-p', '--permissions', action="store_true", dest="permissions", default=False, help='create the default permissions for TMSS, default: %default')
 
     group = OptionGroup(parser, 'Django options')
     parser.add_option_group(group)
@@ -23,15 +29,22 @@ def populate_main():
 
     (options, args) = parser.parse_args()
 
-    # when called from the commandline, don't use parallel uploading to make the log lines sequential/readable
-    populate_schemas(options.schema_dir, options.rest_credentials, parallel=False)
+    if options.schemas:
+        # when called from the commandline (like in this case), don't use parallel uploading to make the log lines sequential/readable
+        populate_schemas(options.schemas_dir, options.rest_credentials, parallel=False)
+
+    if options.connectors or options.permissions:
+        # now that the schema's were uploaded, let's populate the dependent task connectors, and the permissions
+        from lofar.sas.tmss.tmss import setup_and_check_tmss_django_database_connection_and_exit_on_error
+        setup_and_check_tmss_django_database_connection_and_exit_on_error(options.dbcredentials)
 
-    # now that the schema's were uploaded, let's populate the dependend task connectors, and the permissions
-    from lofar.sas.tmss.tmss import setup_and_check_tmss_django_database_connection_and_exit_on_error
-    setup_and_check_tmss_django_database_connection_and_exit_on_error(options.dbcredentials)
+        if options.connectors:
+            from lofar.sas.tmss.tmss.tmssapp.populate import populate_connectors
+            populate_connectors()
 
-    from lofar.sas.tmss.tmss.tmssapp.populate import populate_connectors
-    populate_connectors()
+        if options.permissions:
+            from lofar.sas.tmss.tmss.tmssapp.populate import populate_permissions
+            populate_permissions()
 
 
 def populate_schemas(schema_dir: str=None, dbcreds_name: str=None, parallel: bool=True):