diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 28bc3db39..513547a47 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ rvm: 2.2.4
 env:
   global:
     - USE_TESTING_TIMEOUTS: "true"
-    - OPENSTUDIO_VERSION=2.8.0 OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA=55665635f0
+    - OPENSTUDIO_VERSION=2.8.1 OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA=809785b98f OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT=-rc1
     - DOCKER_COMPOSE_VERSION=1.21.1
 
 gemfile:
@@ -56,13 +56,14 @@ jobs:
         - BUILD_TYPE=docker
       before_script:
         # remove the .git in the .dockerignore so coverage can be reported correctly to coveralls
+        - export OPENSTUDIO_TAG=$(ruby -e "load 'server/app/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb'; print OpenstudioServer::VERSION+OpenstudioServer::VERSION_EXT")
         - sed -i -E "s/.git//g" .dockerignore
         - docker volume create --name=osdata
         - docker images --all
         - docker --version
         - docker-compose --version
         - docker-compose -f docker-compose.test.yml pull
-        - docker-compose -f docker-compose.test.yml build
+        - docker-compose -f docker-compose.test.yml build --build-arg OPENSTUDIO_VERSION=$OPENSTUDIO_TAG
       script:
         - docker-compose -f docker-compose.test.yml run web && docker-compose stop
       after_script:
@@ -80,11 +81,12 @@ jobs:
       env:
         - BUILD_TYPE=docker
       before_script:
+        - export OPENSTUDIO_TAG=$(ruby -e "load 'server/app/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb'; print OpenstudioServer::VERSION+OpenstudioServer::VERSION_EXT")
         - docker images --all
         - docker --version
         - docker-compose --version
         - docker volume create --name=osdata
-        - docker-compose build web
+        - docker-compose build --build-arg OPENSTUDIO_VERSION=$OPENSTUDIO_TAG web
         - docker-compose build rserve
       script: ./docker/deployment/scripts/deploy_docker.sh
 
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 017dd9e74..674a39ef1 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 # TO_BUILD_AND_RUN: docker-compose up
 # NOTES:            Currently this is one big dockerfile and non-optimal.
 
-
-ARG OPENSTUDIO_VERSION=2.8.0
+#may include suffix
+ARG OPENSTUDIO_VERSION
 FROM nrel/openstudio:$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION as base
 MAINTAINER Nicholas Long nicholas.long@nrel.gov
 
diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index 4f74f486f..7bcab27ac 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@ version: 1.0.{build}-{branch}
 
 environment:
   USE_TESTING_TIMEOUTS: "true"
-  OPENSTUDIO_VERSION: 2.8.0
-  OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA: 55665635f0
+  OPENSTUDIO_VERSION: 2.8.1
+  OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA: 809785b98f
+  OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT: -rc1
   OPENSTUDIO_TEST_EXE: C:\projects\openstudio\bin\openstudio.exe
 
   
diff --git a/bin/openstudio_meta b/bin/openstudio_meta
index 01444ff5e..ad13bdf13 100755
--- a/bin/openstudio_meta
+++ b/bin/openstudio_meta
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class InstallGems
     rake_bin = File.absolute_path('./../gems/bin/rake/')
     sys_cmds = []
 
-    sys_cmds << "#{$ruby_path} #{RbConfig::CONFIG['prefix']}/bin/gem install --no-env-shebang bundler -v 1.14.4"
+    sys_cmds << "#{$ruby_path} #{RbConfig::CONFIG['prefix']}/bin/gem install --no-env-shebang bundler -v 1.17.1"
     if /darwin/.match(RUBY_PLATFORM)
       sys_cmds << "#{$ruby_path} #{bundler_bin} config build.nokogiri --use-system-libraries --with-xml2-lib=/usr/lib --with-xml2-include=/usr/include"
     end
diff --git a/ci/appveyor/setup.cmd b/ci/appveyor/setup.cmd
index 8001ee7ad..81765f4ee 100644
--- a/ci/appveyor/setup.cmd
+++ b/ci/appveyor/setup.cmd
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 set PATH=C:\Program Files\Git\mingw64\bin;C:\projects\openstudio\bin;%PATH%
-echo Downloading and Installing OpenStudio (%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%.%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA%)
-curl -SLO --insecure https://s3.amazonaws.com/openstudio-builds/%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%/OpenStudio-%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%.%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA%-Windows.exe
-OpenStudio-%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%.%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA%-Windows.exe --script ci/appveyor/install-windows.qs
+echo Downloading and Installing OpenStudio (%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT%.%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA%)
+curl -SLO --insecure https://s3.amazonaws.com/openstudio-builds/%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%/OpenStudio-%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT%.%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA%-Windows.exe
+OpenStudio-%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION%%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT%.%OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA%-Windows.exe --script ci/appveyor/install-windows.qs
 move C:\openstudio C:\projects\openstudio
 dir C:\projects\openstudio
 dir C:\projects\openstudio\Ruby
diff --git a/ci/travis/setup.sh b/ci/travis/setup.sh
index 93605a5b1..9a3ce7837 100755
--- a/ci/travis/setup.sh
+++ b/ci/travis/setup.sh
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ else
         cp mongodb-osx-x86_64-3.4.18/bin/* /usr/local/bin/
 
         # Install openstudio -- Use the install script that is in this repo now, the one on OpenStudio/develop has changed
-        curl -SLO --insecure https://s3.amazonaws.com/openstudio-builds/$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION/OpenStudio-$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION.$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA-Darwin.zip
-        unzip OpenStudio-$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION.$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA-Darwin.zip
+        curl -SLO --insecure https://s3.amazonaws.com/openstudio-builds/$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION/OpenStudio-$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT.$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA-Darwin.zip
+        unzip OpenStudio-$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT.$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA-Darwin.zip
         sed -i -e "s|REPLACEME|$HOME/openstudio|" ci/travis/install-mac.qs
         rm -rf $HOME/openstudio
         # Will install into $HOME/openstudio and RUBYLIB will be $HOME/openstudio/Ruby
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ else
         sudo apt-get update
         sudo apt-get install -y pv tree
         mkdir -p reports/rspec
-        sudo ./docker/deployment/scripts/install_openstudio.sh $OPENSTUDIO_VERSION $OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA
+        # AP: this appears to only be used for Travis/Linux so we should move it out of the docker/deployment/scripts dir
+        sudo ./docker/deployment/scripts/install_openstudio.sh $OPENSTUDIO_VERSION $OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_SHA $OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT
     fi
 
     ruby "${TRAVIS_BUILD_DIR}/bin/openstudio_meta" install_gems --with_test_develop --debug --verbose --use_cached_gems
diff --git a/docker/deployment/scripts/deploy_docker.sh b/docker/deployment/scripts/deploy_docker.sh
index 9d1b0fcf0..2963963b7 100755
--- a/docker/deployment/scripts/deploy_docker.sh
+++ b/docker/deployment/scripts/deploy_docker.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ if [ "${TRAVIS_BRANCH}" == "develop" ]; then
     IMAGETAG=develop
 elif [ "${TRAVIS_BRANCH}" == "nrcan-master" ]; then
     # NRCAN is still using pre 2.4.1 version of Server. This will break when they upgrade.
-    IMAGETAG="$(ruby -e "load 'server/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb'; print OpenstudioServer::VERSION+OpenstudioServer::VERSION_EXT")-nrcan"
+    IMAGETAG="$(ruby -e "load 'server/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb'; print OpenstudioServer::VERSION")-nrcan"
 elif [ "${TRAVIS_BRANCH}" == "master" ]; then
     # Retrieve the version number from rails
     IMAGETAG="$(ruby -e "load 'server/app/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb'; print OpenstudioServer::VERSION+OpenstudioServer::VERSION_EXT")"
diff --git a/docker/deployment/scripts/install_openstudio.sh b/docker/deployment/scripts/install_openstudio.sh
index 643cc44d2..5172a1d70 100755
--- a/docker/deployment/scripts/install_openstudio.sh
+++ b/docker/deployment/scripts/install_openstudio.sh
@@ -7,12 +7,15 @@
 
 OPENSTUDIO_VERSION=$1
 OPENSTUDIO_SHA=$2
+OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT=$3
 
 if [ ! -z ${OPENSTUDIO_VERSION} ] && [ ! -z ${OPENSTUDIO_SHA} ]; then
-    echo "Installing OpenStudio ${OPENSTUDIO_VERSION}.${OPENSTUDIO_SHA}"
+    # OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT may be empty
+    OPENSTUDIO_DOWNLOAD_FILENAME=OpenStudio-$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION_EXT.$OPENSTUDIO_SHA-Linux.deb
+    
+    echo "Installing OpenStudio ${OPENSTUDIO_DOWNLOAD_FILENAME}"
 
     OPENSTUDIO_DOWNLOAD_BASE_URL=https://s3.amazonaws.com/openstudio-builds/$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION
-    OPENSTUDIO_DOWNLOAD_FILENAME=OpenStudio-$OPENSTUDIO_VERSION.$OPENSTUDIO_SHA-Linux.deb
     OPENSTUDIO_DOWNLOAD_URL=$OPENSTUDIO_DOWNLOAD_BASE_URL/$OPENSTUDIO_DOWNLOAD_FILENAME
 
     # Install gdebi, then download and install OpenStudio, then clean up.
@@ -29,6 +32,6 @@ if [ ! -z ${OPENSTUDIO_VERSION} ] && [ ! -z ${OPENSTUDIO_SHA} ]; then
         && rm -rf /usr/SketchUpPlugin \
         && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 else
-    echo "Must pass in the OpenStudio version and sha to be installed (e.g. install_openstudio.sh 2.4.0 f58a3e1808)"
+    echo "Must pass in the OpenStudio version, and sha to be installed (e.g. install_openstudio.sh 2.4.0 f58a3e1808)"
     exit 9
 fi
diff --git a/server/app/jobs/dj_jobs/run_simulate_data_point.rb b/server/app/jobs/dj_jobs/run_simulate_data_point.rb
index fd38910cf..8aa54ae72 100644
--- a/server/app/jobs/dj_jobs/run_simulate_data_point.rb
+++ b/server/app/jobs/dj_jobs/run_simulate_data_point.rb
@@ -195,8 +195,22 @@ def perform
             cmd = "#{Utility::Oss.oscli_cmd(@sim_logger)} --verbose run --workflow '#{osw_path}' --debug"
             process_log = File.join(simulation_dir, 'oscli_simulation.log')
             @sim_logger.info "Running workflow using cmd #{cmd} and writing log to #{process_log}"
-
-            pid = Process.spawn({ 'BUNDLE_GEMFILE' => nil, 'BUNDLE_PATH' => nil }, cmd, [:err, :out] => [process_log, 'w'])
+            oscli_env_unset = { 
+              'BUNDLE_GEMFILE' => nil, 
+              'BUNDLE_PATH' => nil, 
+              'RUBYLIB' => nil, 
+              'RUBYOPT' => nil, 
+              'BUNDLE_BIN_PATH' => nil, 
+              'BUNDLER_VERSION' => nil,
+              'BUNDLER_ORIG_PATH' => nil,
+              'BUNDLER_ORIG_MANPATH' => nil, 
+              'GEM_PATH' => nil,
+              'GEM_HOME' => nil,
+              'BUNDLE_GEMFILE' => nil,
+              'BUNDLE_PATH' => nil,
+              'BUNDLE_WITHOUT' => nil
+            }
+            pid = Process.spawn(oscli_env_unset, cmd, [:err, :out] => [process_log, 'w'])
 
             # timeout the process if it doesn't return in 4 hours
             Timeout.timeout(14400) do
diff --git a/server/app/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb b/server/app/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb
index bce720acb..af295fd10 100644
--- a/server/app/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb
+++ b/server/app/lib/openstudio_server/version.rb
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 module OpenstudioServer
   VERSION = '2.8.1'.freeze
   # format should be ^.*\-{1}[a-z]+[0-9]+
-  # for example: -rc0, -beta6, -customusecase0
-  VERSION_EXT = '-rc0'.freeze # with preceding - or +
+  # for example: -rc1, -beta6, -customusecase0
+  VERSION_EXT = '-rc1'.freeze # with preceding - or +
+  OS_SHA = '809785b98f'
 end
diff --git a/server/spec/features/dj_run_simulation_data_point_spec.rb b/server/spec/features/dj_run_simulation_data_point_spec.rb
index 81fe526c4..c062115f8 100644
--- a/server/spec/features/dj_run_simulation_data_point_spec.rb
+++ b/server/spec/features/dj_run_simulation_data_point_spec.rb
@@ -163,6 +163,10 @@
     a = RestClient.get "http://#{host}/data_points/#{datapoint_id}.json"
     a = JSON.parse(a, symbolize_names: true)
     puts a
+    
+    # l = RestClient.get "http://#{host}/data_points/#{datapoint_id}/download_result_file?filename=#{datapoint_id}.log"
+    # expect(l).to eq('hack to inspect oscli output')
+
     expect(a[:data_point][:name]).to eq('Test Datapoint')
     expect(a[:data_point][:status_message]).to eq('completed normal')
     expect(a[:data_point][:status]).to eq('completed')
diff --git a/spec/tests/openstudio_meta_spec.rb b/spec/tests/openstudio_meta_spec.rb
index 25786c656..dd8ab5b68 100644
--- a/spec/tests/openstudio_meta_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/tests/openstudio_meta_spec.rb
@@ -250,6 +250,8 @@ class LocalRspecTest
       end
     end
     data_points.each do |data_point|
+      # l = RestClient.get "http://localhost:8080/data_points/#{data_point[:_id]}/download_result_file?filename=#{data_point[:_id]}.log"
+      # expect(l).to eq('hack to view oscli output')
       a = RestClient.get "http://localhost:8080/data_points/#{data_point[:_id]}.json"
       a = JSON.parse(a, symbolize_names: true)
       expect(a[:data_point][:status_message]).to eq('completed normal')