diff --git a/pool/base.php b/pool/base.php
index 583ebcf6..4430a175 100644
--- a/pool/base.php
+++ b/pool/base.php
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ function howlongago($sec)
  return $des;
 }
 #
-function howmanyhrs($tot, $days = false)
+function howmanyhrs($tot, $days = false, $dh = false)
 {
  $sec = round($tot);
  if ($sec < 60)
@@ -118,10 +118,47 @@ function howmanyhrs($tot, $days = false)
 		{
 			$dy = floor($hr / 24);
 			$hr -= $dy * 24;
-			$des = $dy.'d '.$hr.'hr '.$min.'m '.$sec.'s';
+			if ($dh == true)
+			{
+				if ($min >= 30)
+				{
+					$hr++;
+					if ($hr > 23)
+					{
+						$dy++;
+						$hr -= 24;
+					}
+				}
+				$ds = '';
+				if ($dy != 1)
+					$ds = 's';
+				if ($hr == 0)
+					$des = "${dy}day$ds";
+				else
+				{
+					$hs = '';
+					if ($hr != 1)
+						$hs = 's';
+					$des = "${dy}day$ds ${hr}hr$hs";
+				}
+			}
+			else
+				$des = $dy.'d '.$hr.'hr '.$min.'m '.$sec.'s';
 		}
 		else
-			$des = $hr.'hr '.$min.'m '.$sec.'s';
+		{
+			if ($dh == true)
+			{
+				if ($min >= 30)
+					$hr++;
+				$hs = '';
+				if ($hr != 1)
+					$hs = 's';
+				$des = "${hr}hr$hs";
+			}
+			else
+				$des = $hr.'hr '.$min.'m '.$sec.'s';
+		}
 	}
  }
  return $des;
diff --git a/pool/page_payout.php b/pool/page_payout.php
index b6574cea..5990b6fd 100644
--- a/pool/page_payout.php
+++ b/pool/page_payout.php
@@ -14,7 +14,16 @@ function dopayout($data, $user)
  if (isset($data['info']['currndiff']))
   $nd = $data['info']['currndiff'];
  $nv = number_format($nd, 1);
- $nvx = number_format($N*$nd, 1);
+ $nvx = '<b>'.number_format($N*$nd, 1).'</b>';
+ $pd = $data['info']['p_hashrate24hr'];
+ $hr = 'is <b>?</b>';
+ $hrt = '<b>?</b>';
+ if ($pd != '?' && $pd != '' && $pd > 0)
+ {
+	$hr = 'for the last day is roughly <b>'.siprefmt($pd,2).'Hs</b>';
+	if ($nd > 0)
+	 $hrt = '<b>'.howmanyhrs($nd * $N / ($pd / pow(2,32)), true, true).'</b>';
+ }
 
  $pg = "<h1>Payouts</h1>
 <table width=75% cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr><td>
@@ -28,7 +37,16 @@ The $n1 value the pool uses is $t times the network difficulty when the block is
 Transaction fees are included in the miner reward.<br>
 Pool fee is 0.9% of the total.<br><br>
 
-<span class=hdr>How do the payments work?</span><br><br>
+<span class=hdr>PPL${n1}S acts like the reward 'ramps up' when you first start mining.<br>What actually happens?</span><br><br>
+The $n means it takes that long to reward your shares.<br>
+The ramp isn't missing rewards, it's delaying them to reduce variance.<br>
+Each share is rewarded in all the blocks found in the $n after the share.<br>
+That's simply how it reduces variance. Each share's reward is averaged out over the $n after it.<br>
+The pool hash rate $hr which means the $n 'ramp' is roughly $hrt.<br><br>
+
+Continue reading below for more detail about how it works:<br><br>
+
+<span class=hdr>How do the <b>PPL${n1}S</b> payments work?</span><br><br>
 The $n means the pool rewards $t times the expected number of shares, each time a block is found.<br>
 So each share will be paid approximately $ot of it's expected value, in each block it gets a reward,<br>
 but each share is also expected, on average, to be rewarded $t times in blocks found after the share is submitted to the pool.<br>
@@ -48,7 +66,7 @@ A ckpool restart will also end the current shift and start a new shift.<br>
 A network difficulty change will also end the current shift and start a new shift.<br><br>
 
 <span class=hdr>So, what's the $n value?</span><br><br>
-The current Bitcoin network value for $n1d is $nv and thus $n is <b>$nvx</b><br>
+The current Bitcoin network value for $n1d is $nv and thus $n is $nvx<br>
 Bitcoin adjusts the $n1d value every 2016 blocks, which is about every 2 weeks.<br><br>
 When a block is found, the reward process counts back shifts until the total share difficulty included is $n.<br>
 Since shares are summarised into shifts, it will include the full shift at the end of the range counting backwards,<br>
diff --git a/pool/page_usperf.php b/pool/page_usperf.php
index 18961794..d99591b0 100644
--- a/pool/page_usperf.php
+++ b/pool/page_usperf.php
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <?php
 #
-function uspg($nc,$fs)
+function uspg($nc,$ff,$fs)
 {
-$g = "function exf(n,c,xn,x0,x1,y0,y1,ar){if(n==0){var i,st=-1,fi=-1;for(i=0;i<xn;i++){if(st==-1&&ar['lastpayoutstart:'+i]!=''){st=ar['start:'+i]}if(fi==-1&&ar['endmarkextra:'+i].indexOf('Block')==0){fi=ar['end:'+i]}}if(st>=0&&fi>=0){var xs,xf;xs=(st-x0)/(x1-x0);xf=(fi-x0)/(x1-x0);gfs(c,'$fs');gbe(c,xs,0);gln(c,xs,1);gln(c,xf,1);gln(c,xf,0);gle(c);gfl(c)}}}
+$g = "function exf(n,c,xn,x0,x1,y0,y1,ar){if(n==0){var i,st=-1,fi=-1;for(i=0;i<xn;i++){if(st==-1&&ar['lastpayoutstart:'+i]!=''){st=ar['start:'+i]}if(fi==-1&&ar['endmarkextra:'+i].indexOf('Block')==0){fi=ar['end:'+i]}}if(st>=0&&fi>=0){var xs,xf;xs=(st-x0)/(x1-x0);xf=(fi-x0)/(x1-x0);gfs(c,'$fs');gbe(c,xs,0);gln(c,xs,1);gln(c,xf,1);gln(c,xf,0);gle(c);gfl(c);gfz(c,xs,1,0,2,'Last 5Nd Reward \u279c','$ff','left')}}}
 function gdrw(c,d,cbx){gc(c);ghrs(c);gopt(c,cbx);
 gfs(c,'white');gss(c,'#0000c0');glw(c,2);gbd(c);
 var rows=d['rows'],ymin=-1,ymax=0,xmin=-1,xmax=0,tda=[];
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ function dousperf($data, $user)
 	$data = str_replace(array("\\","'"), array("\\\\","\\'"), $ans['DATA']);
 	$data .= $fld_sep . 'cols' . $val_sep . $datacols;
 	$pg .= "<script type='text/javascript'>\n";
-	$pg .= uspg($nc,'#fff0f0');
+	$pg .= uspg($nc,'#ff0000','#fff0f0');
 	$pg .= "\nfunction godrw(f){var cbx=[";
 	$comma = '';
 	foreach ($cbx as $nam => $txt)
diff --git a/src/ckpool.c b/src/ckpool.c
index 01adfc38..ba81394a 100644
--- a/src/ckpool.c
+++ b/src/ckpool.c
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ rewait:
 		ret = 0;
 		goto out;
 	}
-	ret = wait_recv_select(cs->fd, eom ? 0 : *timeout);
+	ret = wait_read_select(cs->fd, eom ? 0 : *timeout);
 	polled = true;
 	if (ret < 1) {
 		if (!ret) {
@@ -616,7 +616,6 @@ out:
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		empty_buffer(cs);
 		dealloc(cs->buf);
-		Close(cs->fd);
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -763,6 +762,8 @@ static const char *rpc_method(const char *rpc_req)
 	return rpc_req;
 }
 
+/* All of these calls are made to bitcoind which prefers open/close instead
+ * of persistent connections so cs->fd is always invalid. */
 json_t *json_rpc_call(connsock_t *cs, const char *rpc_req)
 {
 	float timeout = RPC_TIMEOUT;
@@ -775,8 +776,9 @@ json_t *json_rpc_call(connsock_t *cs, const char *rpc_req)
 
 	/* Serialise all calls in case we use cs from multiple threads */
 	cksem_wait(&cs->sem);
+	cs->fd = connect_socket(cs->url, cs->port);
 	if (unlikely(cs->fd < 0)) {
-		LOGWARNING("FD %d invalid in %s", cs->fd, __func__);
+		LOGWARNING("Unable to connect socket to %s:%s in %s", cs->url, cs->port, __func__);
 		goto out;
 	}
 	if (unlikely(!cs->url)) {
@@ -859,20 +861,8 @@ json_t *json_rpc_call(connsock_t *cs, const char *rpc_req)
 out_empty:
 	empty_socket(cs->fd);
 	empty_buffer(cs);
-	if (!val) {
-		/* Assume that a failed request means the socket will be closed
-		 * and reopen it */
-		Close(cs->fd);
-	}
 out:
-	if (cs->fd < 0) {
-		/* Attempt to reopen a socket that has been closed due to a
-		 * failed request or if the socket was closed while trying to
-		 * read/write to it. */
-		cs->fd = connect_socket(cs->url, cs->port);
-		LOGWARNING("Attempt to reopen socket to %s:%s %ssuccessful",
-			   cs->url, cs->port, cs->fd > 0 ? "" : "un");
-	}
+	Close(cs->fd);
 	free(http_req);
 	dealloc(cs->buf);
 	cksem_post(&cs->sem);
diff --git a/src/generator.c b/src/generator.c
index 560ac7ac..20b0e81b 100644
--- a/src/generator.c
+++ b/src/generator.c
@@ -166,18 +166,18 @@ struct generator_data {
 
 typedef struct generator_data gdata_t;
 
+/* Use a temporary fd when testing server_alive to avoid races on cs->fd */
 static bool server_alive(ckpool_t *ckp, server_instance_t *si, bool pinging)
 {
 	char *userpass = NULL;
 	bool ret = false;
 	connsock_t *cs;
 	gbtbase_t *gbt;
+	int fd;
 
-	cs = &si->cs;
-	/* Has this server already been reconnected? */
-	if (cs->fd > 0)
+	if (si->alive)
 		return true;
-	si->alive = false;
+	cs = &si->cs;
 	if (!extract_sockaddr(si->url, &cs->url, &cs->port)) {
 		LOGWARNING("Failed to extract address from %s", si->url);
 		return ret;
@@ -192,8 +192,8 @@ static bool server_alive(ckpool_t *ckp, server_instance_t *si, bool pinging)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	cs->fd = connect_socket(cs->url, cs->port);
-	if (cs->fd < 0) {
+	fd = connect_socket(cs->url, cs->port);
+	if (fd < 0) {
 		if (!pinging)
 			LOGWARNING("Failed to connect socket to %s:%s !", cs->url, cs->port);
 		return ret;
@@ -214,16 +214,11 @@ static bool server_alive(ckpool_t *ckp, server_instance_t *si, bool pinging)
 		LOGWARNING("Invalid btcaddress: %s !", ckp->btcaddress);
 		goto out;
 	}
-	ret = true;
+	si->alive = ret = true;
+	LOGNOTICE("Server alive: %s:%s", cs->url, cs->port);
 out:
-	if (!ret) {
-		/* Close and invalidate the file handle */
-		Close(cs->fd);
-	} else {
-		si->alive = true;
-		LOGNOTICE("Server alive: %s:%s", cs->url, cs->port);
-		keep_sockalive(cs->fd);
-	}
+	/* Close the file handle */
+	close(fd);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -245,7 +240,7 @@ retry:
 		server_instance_t *si = ckp->servers[i];
 		cs = &si->cs;
 
-		if (si->alive && cs->fd > 0) {
+		if (si->alive) {
 			alive = si;
 			goto living;
 		}
@@ -340,7 +335,7 @@ retry:
 		}
 	} while (!umsg);
 
-	if (unlikely(cs->fd < 0)) {
+	if (unlikely(!si->alive)) {
 		LOGWARNING("%s:%s Bitcoind socket invalidated, will attempt failover", cs->url, cs->port);
 		goto reconnect;
 	}
@@ -355,6 +350,7 @@ retry:
 		if (!gen_gbtbase(cs, gbt)) {
 			LOGWARNING("Failed to get block template from %s:%s",
 				   cs->url, cs->port);
+			si->alive = false;
 			send_unix_msg(umsg->sockd, "Failed");
 			goto reconnect;
 		} else {
@@ -370,6 +366,7 @@ retry:
 		else if (!get_bestblockhash(cs, hash)) {
 			LOGINFO("No best block hash support from %s:%s",
 				cs->url, cs->port);
+			si->alive = false;
 			send_unix_msg(umsg->sockd, "failed");
 		} else {
 			send_unix_msg(umsg->sockd, hash);
@@ -380,11 +377,13 @@ retry:
 		if (si->notify)
 			send_unix_msg(umsg->sockd, "notify");
 		else if ((height = get_blockcount(cs)) == -1) {
+			si->alive = false;
 			send_unix_msg(umsg->sockd,  "failed");
 			goto reconnect;
 		} else {
 			LOGDEBUG("Height: %d", height);
 			if (!get_blockhash(cs, height, hash)) {
+				si->alive = false;
 				send_unix_msg(umsg->sockd, "failed");
 				goto reconnect;
 			} else {
@@ -2766,6 +2765,8 @@ static int server_mode(ckpool_t *ckp, proc_instance_t *pi)
 
 	ckp->servers = ckalloc(sizeof(server_instance_t *) * ckp->btcds);
 	for (i = 0; i < ckp->btcds; i++) {
+		connsock_t *cs;
+
 		ckp->servers[i] = ckzalloc(sizeof(server_instance_t));
 		si = ckp->servers[i];
 		si->url = ckp->btcdurl[i];
@@ -2773,8 +2774,9 @@ static int server_mode(ckpool_t *ckp, proc_instance_t *pi)
 		si->pass = ckp->btcdpass[i];
 		si->notify = ckp->btcdnotify[i];
 		si->id = i;
-		cksem_init(&si->cs.sem);
-		cksem_post(&si->cs.sem);
+		cs = &si->cs;
+		cksem_init(&cs->sem);
+		cksem_post(&cs->sem);
 	}
 
 	create_pthread(&pth_watchdog, server_watchdog, ckp);
diff --git a/src/libckpool.c b/src/libckpool.c
index 4d07fc02..a0557a71 100644
--- a/src/libckpool.c
+++ b/src/libckpool.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #else
 #include <sys/un.h>
 #endif
+#include <sys/epoll.h>
 #include <sys/file.h>
 #include <sys/prctl.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -905,46 +906,18 @@ int wait_close(int sockd, int timeout)
 	return sfd.revents & (POLLHUP | POLLRDHUP | POLLERR);
 }
 
-/* Emulate a select read wait for high fds that select doesn't support.
- * wait_read_select is for unix sockets and _wait_recv_select for regular
- * sockets. */
-int _wait_read_select(int *sockd, float timeout)
+/* Emulate a select read wait for high fds that select doesn't support. */
+int wait_read_select(int sockd, float timeout)
 {
-	struct pollfd sfd;
-	int ret = -1;
+	struct epoll_event event;
+	int epfd, ret;
 
-	if (unlikely(*sockd < 0))
-		goto out;
-	sfd.fd = *sockd;
-	sfd.events = POLLIN | POLLRDHUP;
+	epfd = epoll_create1(EPOLL_CLOEXEC);
+	event.events = EPOLLIN | EPOLLRDHUP | EPOLLONESHOT;
+	epoll_ctl(epfd, EPOLL_CTL_ADD, sockd, &event);
 	timeout *= 1000;
-	ret = poll(&sfd, 1, timeout);
-	if (ret > 0 && sfd.revents & (POLLERR)) {
-		ret = -1;
-		_Close(sockd);
-	}
-out:
-	return ret;
-}
-
-int _wait_recv_select(int *sockd, float timeout)
-{
-	struct pollfd sfd;
-	int ret = -1;
-
-	if (unlikely(*sockd < 0))
-		goto out;
-	sfd.fd = *sockd;
-	sfd.events = POLLIN | POLLRDHUP;
-	timeout *= 1000;
-	ret = poll(&sfd, 1, timeout);
-	/* If POLLRDHUP occurs, we may still have data to read so let recv()
-	 * after this determine if the socket can still be used. */
-	if (ret > 0 && sfd.revents & (POLLHUP | POLLERR)) {
-		ret = -1;
-		_Close(sockd);
-	}
-out:
+	ret = epoll_wait(epfd, &event, 1, timeout);
+	close(epfd);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1018,19 +991,15 @@ out:
 /* Emulate a select write wait for high fds that select doesn't support */
 int wait_write_select(int sockd, float timeout)
 {
-	struct pollfd sfd;
-	int ret = -1;
+	struct epoll_event event;
+	int epfd, ret;
 
-	if (unlikely(sockd < 0))
-		goto out;
-	sfd.fd = sockd;
-	sfd.events = POLLOUT | POLLRDHUP;
-	sfd.revents = 0;
+	epfd = epoll_create1(EPOLL_CLOEXEC);
+	event.events = EPOLLOUT | EPOLLRDHUP | EPOLLONESHOT;
+	epoll_ctl(epfd, EPOLL_CTL_ADD, sockd, &event);
 	timeout *= 1000;
-	ret = poll(&sfd, 1, timeout);
-	if (ret && !(sfd.revents & POLLOUT))
-		ret = -1;
-out:
+	ret = epoll_wait(epfd, &event, 1, timeout);
+	close(epfd);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libckpool.h b/src/libckpool.h
index 222ce26f..9d8ba341 100644
--- a/src/libckpool.h
+++ b/src/libckpool.h
@@ -496,10 +496,7 @@ int _open_unix_server(const char *server_path, const char *file, const char *fun
 int _open_unix_client(const char *server_path, const char *file, const char *func, const int line);
 #define open_unix_client(server_path) _open_unix_client(server_path, __FILE__, __func__, __LINE__)
 int wait_close(int sockd, int timeout);
-int _wait_read_select(int *sockd, float timeout);
-#define wait_read_select(SOCKD, TIMEOUT) _wait_read_select(&(SOCKD), TIMEOUT)
-int _wait_recv_select(int *sockd, float timeout);
-#define wait_recv_select(SOCKD, TIMEOUT) _wait_recv_select(&(SOCKD), TIMEOUT)
+int wait_read_select(int sockd, float timeout);
 int read_length(int sockd, void *buf, int len);
 char *_recv_unix_msg(int sockd, int timeout1, int timeout2, const char *file, const char *func, const int line);
 #define RECV_UNIX_TIMEOUT1 30
diff --git a/src/stratifier.c b/src/stratifier.c
index 958511eb..6fdf72c2 100644
--- a/src/stratifier.c
+++ b/src/stratifier.c
@@ -983,6 +983,8 @@ static void *do_update(void *arg)
 	pthread_detach(pthread_self());
 	rename_proc("updater");
 
+	/* Serialise access to getbase to avoid out of order new block notifies */
+	cksem_wait(&sdata->update_sem);
 retry:
 	buf = send_recv_generator(ckp, "getbase", prio);
 	if (unlikely(!buf)) {
@@ -994,6 +996,8 @@ retry:
 			LOGWARNING("Generator returned failure in update_base, retry #%d", retries);
 			goto retry;
 		}
+		LOGWARNING("Generator failed in update_base after retrying");
+		goto out;
 	}
 	if (unlikely(retries))
 		LOGWARNING("Generator succeeded in update_base after retrying");
@@ -1036,8 +1040,6 @@ retry:
 	json_decref(val);
 	generate_coinbase(ckp, wb);
 
-	/* Serialise access to add_base to avoid out of order new block notifies */
-	cksem_wait(&sdata->update_sem);
 	add_base(ckp, sdata, wb, &new_block);
 	/* Reset the update time to avoid stacked low priority notifies. Bring
 	 * forward the next notify in case of a new block. */
@@ -1045,7 +1047,6 @@ retry:
 	if (new_block)
 		now_t -= ckp->update_interval / 2;
 	sdata->update_time = now_t;
-	cksem_post(&sdata->update_sem);
 
 	if (new_block)
 		LOGNOTICE("Block hash changed to %s", sdata->lastswaphash);
@@ -1053,6 +1054,8 @@ retry:
 	ret = true;
 	LOGINFO("Broadcast updated stratum base");
 out:
+	cksem_post(&sdata->update_sem);
+
 	/* Send a ping to miners if we fail to get a base to keep them
 	 * connected while bitcoind recovers(?) */
 	if (unlikely(!ret)) {
@@ -1206,6 +1209,8 @@ static sdata_t *duplicate_sdata(const sdata_t *sdata)
 
 	/* Give the sbuproxy its own workbase list and lock */
 	cklock_init(&dsdata->workbase_lock);
+	cksem_init(&dsdata->update_sem);
+	cksem_post(&dsdata->update_sem);
 	return dsdata;
 }