fixes to the merge algorithm based on the actual implementation
fixes to the merge algorithm based on the actual implementation

nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome,nmc-probe/emulab-nome