public function checkIn() {
        $now = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');
        $serverRow = $this->_fetchServerRow();

        if (!$serverRow) {
            $serverRow = $this->createRow();
            $serverRow->hostname = gethostname();
            $lastCheckIn = $now;
        } else {
            $lastCheckIn = $serverRow->modified;
        }

        //  set the modified date manually, to make sure the record is updated.
        $serverRow->modified = $now;
        $serverId = $serverRow->save();

        return array(
            $serverId,
            $lastCheckIn
        );
    }