diff --git a/httperf/configure.ac b/httperf/configure.ac
index 0a1e5c4..eaf7700 100755
--- a/httperf/configure.ac
+++ b/httperf/configure.ac
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([idleconn],
 	[enable_idleconn=$enableval],
 	[enable_idleconn=no])
 
+if test "$enable_idleconn" = "yes"; then
+AC_CHECK_LIB([event],
+	[event_init],
+	,
+	[AC_MSG_ERROR([libevent is required to build idleconn])])
+fi
+
+
 AM_CONDITIONAL(IDLECONN, 
 	[test "x$enable_idleconn" = xyes])
 
@@ -32,10 +40,6 @@ AM_CONDITIONAL(IDLECONN,
 AC_CHECK_LIB(m, sqrt)
 AC_CHECK_LIB(crypto, main)
 AC_CHECK_LIB(ssl, SSL_version, , AC_MSG_WARN([SSL Disabled]) )
-AC_CHECK_LIB([event],
-		[event_init],
-		,
-		[AC_MSG_ERROR([libevent is required to build idleconn])])
 # The following checks are for solaris and its ilk
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([getsockopt], [socket])
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([socket], [socket nsl])
diff --git a/httperf/src/conn.c b/httperf/src/conn.c
index d42ea0e..8013129 100755
--- a/httperf/src/conn.c
+++ b/httperf/src/conn.c
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/conn.h b/httperf/src/conn.h
index c66a0d3..656d8e8 100755
--- a/httperf/src/conn.h
+++ b/httperf/src/conn.h
@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ typedef struct Conn
 #ifdef HAVE_SSL
     SSL *ssl;			/* SSL connection info */
 #endif
-    struct event ev_read, ev_write;
   }
 Conn;
 
diff --git a/httperf/src/core.c b/httperf/src/core.c
index c14469b..53fa4b5 100755
--- a/httperf/src/core.c
+++ b/httperf/src/core.c
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>	/* after sys/types.h for BSD (in generic_types.h) */
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
@@ -73,6 +72,7 @@
 static int      running = 1;
 static int      iteration;
 static u_long   max_burst_len;
+static fd_set   rdfds, wrfds;
 static int      min_sd = 0x7fffffff, max_sd = 0, alloced_sd_to_conn = 0;
 static struct timeval select_timeout;
 static struct sockaddr_in myaddr;
@@ -134,8 +134,6 @@ static u_int    syscall_count[SC_NUM_SYSCALLS];
     while (errno == EINTR);			\
   }
 #endif
-static void conn_handle_read_event(int sd, short ev, void *a);
-static void conn_handle_write_event(int sd, short ev, void *a);
 
 struct hash_entry {
 	const char     *hostname;
@@ -274,34 +272,6 @@ port_get(void)
 	return port;
 }
 
-static void
-conn_read_set(Conn *s)
-{
-	if (s->sd > -1)
-		event_add(&s->ev_read, NULL);
-}
-
-static void
-conn_read_clear(Conn *s)
-{
-	if (s->sd > -1)
-		event_del(&s->ev_read);
-}
-
-static void
-conn_write_set(Conn *s)
-{
-	if (s->sd > -1)
-		event_add(&s->ev_write, NULL);
-}
-
-static void
-conn_write_clear(Conn *s)
-{
-	if (s->sd > -1)
-		event_del(&s->ev_write);
-}
-
 static void
 conn_failure(Conn * s, int err)
 {
@@ -327,9 +297,11 @@ conn_timeout(struct Timer *t, Any_Type arg)
 		c = 0;
 		if (s->sd >= 0) {
 			now = timer_now();
-			if (s->recvq && now >= s->recvq->timeout)
+			if (FD_ISSET(s->sd, &rdfds)
+				&& s->recvq && now >= s->recvq->timeout)
 				c = s->recvq;
-			else if (s->sendq && now >= s->sendq->timeout)
+			else if (FD_ISSET(s->sd, &wrfds)
+				&& s->sendq && now >= s->sendq->timeout)
 				c = s->sendq;
 		}
 		if (DBG > 0) {
@@ -347,11 +319,18 @@ conn_timeout(struct Timer *t, Any_Type arg)
 }
 
 static void
-set_active_shared(Conn * s)
+set_active(Conn * s, fd_set * fdset)
 {
+ 	int             sd = s->sd;
 	Any_Type        arg;
 	Time            timeout;
 
+	FD_SET(sd, fdset);
+	if (sd < min_sd)
+		min_sd = sd;
+	if (sd >= max_sd)
+		max_sd = sd;
+
 	if (s->watchdog)
 		return;
 
@@ -368,32 +347,6 @@ set_active_shared(Conn * s)
 	}
 }
 
-static void
-set_active_read(Conn *s)
-{
-	int sd = s->sd;
-
-	conn_read_set(s);
-	if (sd < min_sd)
-		min_sd = sd;
-	if (sd >= max_sd)
-		max_sd = sd;
-	set_active_shared(s);
-}
-
-static void
-set_active_write(Conn *s)
-{
-	int sd = s->sd;
-
-	conn_write_set(s);
-	if (sd < min_sd)
-		min_sd = sd;
-	if (sd >= max_sd)
-		max_sd = sd;
-	set_active_shared(s);
-}
-
 static void
 do_send(Conn * conn)
 {
@@ -481,7 +434,7 @@ do_send(Conn * conn)
 			 */
 			call->timeout =
 			    param.timeout ? timer_now() + param.timeout : 0.0;
-			set_active_write(conn);
+			set_active(conn, &wrfds);
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -491,7 +444,7 @@ do_send(Conn * conn)
 		conn->sendq = call->sendq_next;
 		if (!conn->sendq) {
 			conn->sendq_tail = 0;
-			conn_write_clear(conn);
+			FD_CLR(sd, &wrfds);
 		}
 		arg.l = 0;
 		event_signal(EV_CALL_SEND_STOP, (Object *) call, arg);
@@ -515,7 +468,7 @@ do_send(Conn * conn)
 		call->timeout = param.timeout + param.think_timeout;
 		if (call->timeout > 0.0)
 			call->timeout += timer_now();
-		set_active_read(conn);
+		set_active(conn, &rdfds);
 		if (conn->state < S_REPLY_STATUS)
 			conn->state = S_REPLY_STATUS;	/* expecting reply
 							 * status */
@@ -538,7 +491,7 @@ recv_done(Call * call)
 
 	conn->recvq = call->recvq_next;
 	if (!conn->recvq) {
-		conn_read_clear(conn);
+		FD_CLR(conn->sd, &rdfds);
 		conn->recvq_tail = 0;
 	}
 	/*
@@ -649,7 +602,7 @@ do_recv(Conn * s)
 	while (buf_len > 0);
 
 	if (s->recvq)
-		set_active_read(c->conn);
+		set_active(c->conn, &rdfds);
 }
 
 struct sockaddr_in *
@@ -698,6 +651,8 @@ core_init(void)
 	struct rlimit   rlimit;
 
 	memset(&hash_table, 0, sizeof(hash_table));
+	memset(&rdfds, 0, sizeof(rdfds));
+	memset(&wrfds, 0, sizeof(wrfds));
 	memset(&myaddr, 0, sizeof(myaddr));
 	memset(&port_free_map, 0xff, sizeof(port_free_map));
 
@@ -734,15 +689,12 @@ core_init(void)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	/* Disable the FD_SETSIZE check for now - perhaps only enforce on libevent select()? */
-#if 0
 	if (rlimit.rlim_max > FD_SETSIZE) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "%s: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; "
 			"limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE\n",
 			prog_name);
 		rlimit.rlim_max = FD_SETSIZE;
 	}
-#endif
 
 	rlimit.rlim_cur = rlimit.rlim_max;
 	if (setrlimit(RLIMIT_NOFILE, &rlimit) < 0) {
@@ -789,12 +741,14 @@ core_ssl_connect(Conn * s)
 					(reason ==
 					 SSL_ERROR_WANT_READ) ? "read" :
 					"write");
-			if (reason == SSL_ERROR_WANT_READ) {
-				conn_write_clear(s);
-				set_active_read(s);
-			} else if (reason == SSL_ERROR_WANT_WRITE) {
-				conn_read_clear(s);
-				set_active_write(s);
+			if (reason == SSL_ERROR_WANT_READ
+			    && !FD_ISSET(s->sd, &rdfds)) {
+				FD_CLR(s->sd, &wrfds);
+				set_active(s, &rdfds);
+			} else if (reason == SSL_ERROR_WANT_WRITE
+				   && !FD_ISSET(s->sd, &wrfds)) {
+				FD_CLR(s->sd, &rdfds);
+				set_active(s, &wrfds);
 			}
 			return;
 		}
@@ -905,8 +859,6 @@ core_connect(Conn * s)
 	}
 
 	s->sd = sd;
-	event_set(&s->ev_read, sd, EV_READ | EV_PERSIST, conn_handle_read_event, s);
-	event_set(&s->ev_write, sd, EV_WRITE | EV_PERSIST, conn_handle_write_event, s);
 	if (sd >= alloced_sd_to_conn) {
 		size_t          size, old_size;
 
@@ -987,7 +939,7 @@ core_connect(Conn * s)
 		 * connection establishment.  
 		 */
 		s->state = S_CONNECTING;
-		set_active_write(s);
+		set_active(s, &wrfds);
 		if (param.timeout > 0.0) {
 			arg.vp = s;
 			assert(!s->watchdog);
@@ -1088,7 +1040,7 @@ core_send(Conn * conn, Call * call)
 			return -1;
 		call->timeout =
 		    param.timeout ? timer_now() + param.timeout : 0.0;
-		set_active_write(conn);
+		set_active(conn, &wrfds);
 	} else {
 		conn->sendq_tail->sendq_next = call;
 		conn->sendq_tail = call;
@@ -1145,8 +1097,8 @@ core_close(Conn * conn)
 	if (sd >= 0) {
 		close(sd);
 		sd_to_conn[sd] = 0;
-		conn_read_clear(conn);
-		conn_write_clear(conn);
+		FD_CLR(sd, &wrfds);
+		FD_CLR(sd, &rdfds);
 	}
 	if (conn->myport > 0)
 		port_put(conn->myport);
@@ -1159,60 +1111,99 @@ core_close(Conn * conn)
 	conn_dec_ref(conn);
 }
 
-static void
-conn_handle_read_event(int sd, short ev, void *a)
-{
-	Conn *conn = sd_to_conn[sd];
-
-	conn_inc_ref(conn);
-
-	if (conn->watchdog) {
-		timer_cancel(conn->watchdog);
-		conn->watchdog = 0;
-	}
-
-	if (conn->recvq)
-		do_recv(conn);
-
-	conn_dec_ref(conn);
-}
-
-static void
-conn_handle_write_event(int sd, short ev, void *a)
-{
-	Conn *conn = sd_to_conn[sd];
-	Any_Type arg;
-
-	conn_inc_ref(conn);
-
-	if (conn->watchdog) {
-		timer_cancel(conn->watchdog);
-		conn->watchdog = 0;
-	}
-
-	if (conn->state == S_CONNECTING) {
-#ifdef HAVE_SSL
-		if (param.use_ssl)
-			core_ssl_connect (conn);
-		else {
-#endif
-			conn_write_clear(conn);
-			conn->state = S_CONNECTED;
-			arg.l = 0;
-			event_signal(EV_CONN_CONNECTED, (Object *) conn, arg);
-		}
-	} else if (conn->sendq)
-		do_send(conn);
-
-	conn_dec_ref(conn);
-}
-
 void
 core_loop(void)
 {
+	int        is_readable, is_writable, n, sd, bit, min_i, max_i, i = 0;
+	fd_set     readable, writable;
+	fd_mask    mask;
+	Any_Type   arg;
+	Conn      *conn;
+ 
 	while (running) {
-		timer_tick();
-		(void) event_loop(EVLOOP_ONCE);
+	    struct timeval  tv = select_timeout;
+
+	    timer_tick();
+
+	    readable = rdfds;
+	    writable = wrfds;
+	    min_i = min_sd / NFDBITS;
+	    max_i = max_sd / NFDBITS;
+
+	    SYSCALL(SELECT,	n = select(max_sd + 1, &readable, &writable, 0, &tv));
+
+	    ++iteration;
+
+	    if (n <= 0) {
+	        if (n < 0) {
+	            fprintf(stderr, "%s.core_loop: select failed: %s\n", prog_name, strerror(errno));
+	            exit(1);
+	        }
+	        continue;
+	    }
+
+	    while (n > 0) {
+	        /*
+	         * find the index of the fdmask that has something
+	         * going on: 
+	         */
+	        do {
+	            ++i;
+	            if (i > max_i)
+	                i = min_i;
+
+	            assert(i <= max_i);
+	            mask = readable.fds_bits[i] | writable.fds_bits[i];
+	        } while (!mask);
+	        bit = 0;
+	        sd = i * NFDBITS + bit;
+	        do {
+	            if (mask & 1) {
+	                --n;
+	                is_readable = (FD_ISSET(sd, &readable) && FD_ISSET(sd, &rdfds));
+	                is_writable = (FD_ISSET(sd, &writable) && FD_ISSET(sd, &wrfds));
+	                
+	                if (is_readable || is_writable) {
+	                    /*
+	                     * only handle sockets that
+	                     * haven't timed out yet
+	                     */
+	                    conn = sd_to_conn[sd];
+	                    conn_inc_ref(conn);
+
+	                    if (conn->watchdog) {
+	                        timer_cancel(conn->watchdog);
+	                        conn->watchdog = 0;
+	                    }
+	                    if (conn->state == S_CONNECTING) {
+#ifdef HAVE_SSL
+	                        if (param.use_ssl)
+	                             core_ssl_connect(conn);
+	                        else
+#endif
+	                        if (is_writable) {
+	                            FD_CLR(sd, &wrfds);
+	                            conn->state = S_CONNECTED;
+	                            arg.l = 0;
+	                            event_signal(EV_CONN_CONNECTED, (Object*)conn, arg);
+	                        }
+	                    } else {
+	                        if (is_writable && conn->sendq)
+	                            do_send(conn);
+	                        if (is_readable && conn->recvq)
+	                            do_recv(conn);
+	                    }
+	                    
+	                    conn_dec_ref(conn);
+	                    
+	                    if (n > 0)
+	                         timer_tick();
+	                }
+	            }
+	            mask = ((u_long) mask) >> 1;
+	            ++sd;
+	        } while (mask);
+	    }
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/call_seq.c b/httperf/src/gen/call_seq.c
index d134fbc..fc0474b 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/call_seq.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/call_seq.c
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/conn_rate.c b/httperf/src/gen/conn_rate.c
index 9d828d0..ccba89a 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/conn_rate.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/conn_rate.c
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/sess_cookie.c b/httperf/src/gen/sess_cookie.c
index c6db263..89db2b5 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/sess_cookie.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/sess_cookie.c
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/session.c b/httperf/src/gen/session.c
index c2d9af3..e89df42 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/session.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/session.c
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
 #include <object.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/uri_wlog.c b/httperf/src/gen/uri_wlog.c
index 19b5d34..0a639eb 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/uri_wlog.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/uri_wlog.c
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/wsess.c b/httperf/src/gen/wsess.c
index 70d9f26..015f8ab 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/wsess.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/wsess.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/wsesslog.c b/httperf/src/gen/wsesslog.c
index 9819d90..6296ca6 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/wsesslog.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/wsesslog.c
@@ -83,7 +83,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/gen/wsesspage.c b/httperf/src/gen/wsesspage.c
index 65c543b..ea1a1a6 100755
--- a/httperf/src/gen/wsesspage.c
+++ b/httperf/src/gen/wsesspage.c
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/http.c b/httperf/src/http.c
index 03778fa..9d3bf45 100755
--- a/httperf/src/http.c
+++ b/httperf/src/http.c
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
-
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/httperf.c b/httperf/src/httperf.c
index 1bc792c..0a70b24 100755
--- a/httperf/src/httperf.c
+++ b/httperf/src/httperf.c
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>	/* after sys/types.h for BSD (in generic_types.h) */
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
@@ -274,9 +273,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	param.ssl_reuse = 1;
 #endif
 
-	/* setup event stuff early */
-	event_init();
-
 	/*
 	 * get program name: 
 	 */
diff --git a/httperf/src/object.c b/httperf/src/object.c
index 3cbf0b7..c458c37 100755
--- a/httperf/src/object.c
+++ b/httperf/src/object.c
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/stat/basic.c b/httperf/src/stat/basic.c
index 1fe20fe..f076ce6 100755
--- a/httperf/src/stat/basic.c
+++ b/httperf/src/stat/basic.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/stat/print_reply.c b/httperf/src/stat/print_reply.c
index e07e828..ee28bcb 100755
--- a/httperf/src/stat/print_reply.c
+++ b/httperf/src/stat/print_reply.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>
diff --git a/httperf/src/stat/sess_stat.c b/httperf/src/stat/sess_stat.c
index cfcc110..dee2957 100755
--- a/httperf/src/stat/sess_stat.c
+++ b/httperf/src/stat/sess_stat.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <generic_types.h>
-#include <event.h>
 
 #include <object.h>
 #include <timer.h>