def ensure_dir_exists(dir)
      unless Dir.exist?(dir)
        begin
          Dir.mkdir(dir)
        rescue IOError => e
          PEROBS.log.fatal "Cannote create DB directory '#{dir}': #{e.message}"
        end
      end
    end
def ensure_dir_exists(dir)
      unless Dir.exist?(dir)
        begin
          Dir.mkdir(dir)
        rescue IOError => e
          PEROBS.log.fatal "Cannote create DB directory '#{dir}': #{e.message}"
        end
      end
    end
Ensure that we have a directory to store the DB items.