diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index a249649..a80c1b0 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "distant"
-version = "0.7.0"
+version = "0.8.0"
 dependencies = [
  "bytes",
  "derive_more",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index bb9d0ce..46ea8a9 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 name = "distant"
 description = "Operate on a remote computer through file and process manipulation"
 categories = ["command-line-utilities"]
-version = "0.7.1"
+version = "0.8.0"
 authors = ["Chip Senkbeil <chip@senkbeil.org>"]
 edition = "2018"
 homepage = "https://github.com/chipsenkbeil/distant"
diff --git a/src/cli/opt.rs b/src/cli/opt.rs
index 18a8149..194bb85 100644
--- a/src/cli/opt.rs
+++ b/src/cli/opt.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::{
     cli::subcommand,
     core::{
-        constants::{SESSION_FILE_PATH_STR, SESSION_SOCKET_PATH_STR},
+        constants::{SESSION_FILE_PATH_STR, SESSION_SOCKET_PATH_STR, TIMEOUT_STR},
         data::RequestPayload,
     },
 };
@@ -45,13 +45,18 @@ pub struct CommonOpt {
     #[structopt(short, long, parse(from_occurrences), global = true)]
     pub verbose: u8,
 
-    /// Quiet mode
+    /// Quiet mode, suppresses all logging
     #[structopt(short, long, global = true)]
     pub quiet: bool,
 
     /// Log output to disk instead of stderr
     #[structopt(long, global = true)]
     pub log_file: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Represents the maximum time (in milliseconds) to wait for a network
+    /// request before timing out; a timeout of 0 implies waiting indefinitely
+    #[structopt(short, long, global = true, default_value = &TIMEOUT_STR)]
+    pub timeout: usize,
 }
 
 /// Contains options related sessions
@@ -321,6 +326,11 @@ pub struct LaunchSubcommand {
     #[structopt(flatten)]
     pub session_data: SessionOpt,
 
+    /// If specified, launch will fail when attempting to bind to a unix socket that
+    /// already exists, rather than removing the old socket
+    #[structopt(long)]
+    pub fail_if_socket_exists: bool,
+
     /// Runs in background via daemon-mode (does nothing on windows); only applies
     /// when session is socket
     #[structopt(short, long)]
diff --git a/src/cli/subcommand/action/inner.rs b/src/cli/subcommand/action/inner.rs
index 0ae3c45..0eee16b 100644
--- a/src/cli/subcommand/action/inner.rs
+++ b/src/cli/subcommand/action/inner.rs
@@ -337,5 +337,21 @@ fn format_shell(res: Response) -> ResponseOut {
                 ResponseOut::StderrLine(format!("Proc {} failed", id))
             }
         }
+        ResponsePayload::SystemInfo {
+            family,
+            os,
+            arch,
+            current_dir,
+            main_separator,
+        } => ResponseOut::StdoutLine(format!(
+            concat!(
+                "Family: {:?}\n",
+                "Operating System: {:?}\n",
+                "Arch: {:?}\n",
+                "Cwd: {:?}\n",
+                "Path Sep: {:?}",
+            ),
+            family, os, arch, current_dir, main_separator,
+        )),
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/cli/subcommand/action/mod.rs b/src/cli/subcommand/action/mod.rs
index 1df25bf..928fd4b 100644
--- a/src/cli/subcommand/action/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cli/subcommand/action/mod.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use crate::{
 };
 use derive_more::{Display, Error, From};
 use log::*;
-use tokio::io;
+use tokio::{io, time::Duration};
 
 pub(crate) mod inner;
 
@@ -28,12 +28,15 @@ pub fn run(cmd: ActionSubcommand, opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
     rt.block_on(async { run_async(cmd, opt).await })
 }
 
-async fn run_async(cmd: ActionSubcommand, _opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
+async fn run_async(cmd: ActionSubcommand, opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let timeout = Duration::from_millis(opt.timeout as u64);
+
     match cmd.session {
         SessionInput::Environment => {
             start(
                 cmd,
-                Client::tcp_connect(Session::from_environment()?).await?,
+                Client::tcp_connect_timeout(Session::from_environment()?, timeout).await?,
+                timeout,
             )
             .await
         }
@@ -41,22 +44,40 @@ async fn run_async(cmd: ActionSubcommand, _opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error>
             let path = cmd.session_data.session_file.clone();
             start(
                 cmd,
-                Client::tcp_connect(SessionFile::load_from(path).await?.into()).await?,
+                Client::tcp_connect_timeout(SessionFile::load_from(path).await?.into(), timeout)
+                    .await?,
+                timeout,
+            )
+            .await
+        }
+        SessionInput::Pipe => {
+            start(
+                cmd,
+                Client::tcp_connect_timeout(Session::from_stdin()?, timeout).await?,
+                timeout,
             )
             .await
         }
-        SessionInput::Pipe => start(cmd, Client::tcp_connect(Session::from_stdin()?).await?).await,
         #[cfg(unix)]
         SessionInput::Socket => {
             let path = cmd.session_data.session_socket.clone();
-            start(cmd, Client::unix_connect(path, None).await?).await
+            start(
+                cmd,
+                Client::unix_connect_timeout(path, None, timeout).await?,
+                timeout,
+            )
+            .await
         }
         #[cfg(not(unix))]
         SessionInput::Socket => unreachable!(),
     }
 }
 
-async fn start<T>(cmd: ActionSubcommand, mut client: Client<T>) -> Result<(), Error>
+async fn start<T>(
+    cmd: ActionSubcommand,
+    mut client: Client<T>,
+    timeout: Duration,
+) -> Result<(), Error>
 where
     T: DataStream + 'static,
 {
@@ -78,7 +99,7 @@ where
         is_proc_req = req.payload.is_proc_run();
 
         debug!("Client sending request: {:?}", req);
-        let res = client.send(req).await?;
+        let res = client.send_timeout(req, timeout).await?;
 
         // Store the spawned process id for using in sending stdin (if we spawned a proc)
         proc_id = match &res.payload {
diff --git a/src/cli/subcommand/launch.rs b/src/cli/subcommand/launch.rs
index 70bbd7f..1aef89d 100644
--- a/src/cli/subcommand/launch.rs
+++ b/src/cli/subcommand/launch.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ use tokio::{
     io::{self, AsyncRead, AsyncWrite},
     process::Command,
     sync::{broadcast, mpsc, oneshot, Mutex},
+    time::Duration,
 };
 
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error, From)]
@@ -46,6 +47,8 @@ pub fn run(cmd: LaunchSubcommand, opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
 
     let session_file = cmd.session_data.session_file.clone();
     let session_socket = cmd.session_data.session_socket.clone();
+    let fail_if_socket_exists = cmd.fail_if_socket_exists;
+    let timeout = Duration::from_millis(opt.timeout as u64);
 
     let session = rt.block_on(async { spawn_remote_server(cmd, opt).await })?;
 
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@ pub fn run(cmd: LaunchSubcommand, opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
         }
         SessionOutput::Keep => {
             debug!("Entering interactive loop over stdin");
-            rt.block_on(async { keep_loop(session, mode).await })?
+            rt.block_on(async { keep_loop(session, mode, timeout).await })?
         }
         SessionOutput::Pipe => {
             debug!("Piping session to stdout");
@@ -79,7 +82,9 @@ pub fn run(cmd: LaunchSubcommand, opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
                     //       tokio's runtime doesn't support being transferred from
                     //       parent to child in a fork
                     let rt = tokio::runtime::Runtime::new()?;
-                    rt.block_on(async { socket_loop(session_socket, session).await })?
+                    rt.block_on(async {
+                        socket_loop(session_socket, session, timeout, fail_if_socket_exists).await
+                    })?
                 }
                 Ok(_) => {}
                 Err(x) => return Err(Error::ForkError(x)),
@@ -91,7 +96,9 @@ pub fn run(cmd: LaunchSubcommand, opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
                 "Entering interactive loop over unix socket {:?}",
                 session_socket
             );
-            rt.block_on(async { socket_loop(session_socket, session).await })?
+            rt.block_on(async {
+                socket_loop(session_socket, session, timeout, fail_if_socket_exists).await
+            })?
         }
         #[cfg(not(unix))]
         SessionOutput::Socket => {
@@ -106,9 +113,9 @@ pub fn run(cmd: LaunchSubcommand, opt: CommonOpt) -> Result<(), Error> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn keep_loop(session: Session, mode: Mode) -> io::Result<()> {
+async fn keep_loop(session: Session, mode: Mode, duration: Duration) -> io::Result<()> {
     use crate::cli::subcommand::action::inner;
-    match Client::tcp_connect(session).await {
+    match Client::tcp_connect_timeout(session, duration).await {
         Ok(client) => {
             let config = match mode {
                 Mode::Json => inner::LoopConfig::Json,
@@ -121,11 +128,16 @@ async fn keep_loop(session: Session, mode: Mode) -> io::Result<()> {
 }
 
 #[cfg(unix)]
-async fn socket_loop(socket_path: impl AsRef<Path>, session: Session) -> io::Result<()> {
+async fn socket_loop(
+    socket_path: impl AsRef<Path>,
+    session: Session,
+    duration: Duration,
+    fail_if_socket_exists: bool,
+) -> io::Result<()> {
     // We need to form a connection with the actual server to forward requests
     // and responses between connections
     debug!("Connecting to {} {}", session.host, session.port);
-    let mut client = Client::tcp_connect(session).await?;
+    let mut client = Client::tcp_connect_timeout(session, duration).await?;
 
     // Get a copy of our client's broadcaster so we can have each connection
     // subscribe to it for new messages filtered by tenant
@@ -141,13 +153,19 @@ async fn socket_loop(socket_path: impl AsRef<Path>, session: Session) -> io::Res
                 "Forwarding request of type {} to server",
                 req.payload.as_ref()
             );
-            if let Err(x) = client.fire(req).await {
+            if let Err(x) = client.fire_timeout(req, duration).await {
                 error!("Client failed to send request: {:?}", x);
                 break;
             }
         }
     });
 
+    // Remove the socket file if it already exists
+    if fail_if_socket_exists && socket_path.as_ref().exists() {
+        debug!("Removing old unix socket instance");
+        tokio::fs::remove_file(socket_path.as_ref()).await?;
+    }
+
     // Continue to receive connections over the unix socket, store them in our
     // connection mapping
     debug!("Binding to unix socket: {:?}", socket_path.as_ref());
diff --git a/src/cli/subcommand/listen/handler.rs b/src/cli/subcommand/listen/handler.rs
index ec7d189..107ca0d 100644
--- a/src/cli/subcommand/listen/handler.rs
+++ b/src/cli/subcommand/listen/handler.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::core::{
 };
 use log::*;
 use std::{
+    env,
     error::Error,
     net::SocketAddr,
     path::{Path, PathBuf},
@@ -51,7 +52,8 @@ pub(super) async fn process(
                 depth,
                 absolute,
                 canonicalize,
-            } => dir_read(path, depth, absolute, canonicalize).await,
+                include_root,
+            } => dir_read(path, depth, absolute, canonicalize, include_root).await,
             RequestPayload::DirCreate { path, all } => dir_create(path, all).await,
             RequestPayload::Remove { path, force } => remove(path, force).await,
             RequestPayload::Copy { src, dst } => copy(src, dst).await,
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ pub(super) async fn process(
             RequestPayload::ProcKill { id } => proc_kill(state, id).await,
             RequestPayload::ProcStdin { id, data } => proc_stdin(state, id, data).await,
             RequestPayload::ProcList {} => proc_list(state).await,
+            RequestPayload::SystemInfo {} => system_info().await,
         }
     }
 
@@ -125,12 +128,14 @@ async fn dir_read(
     depth: usize,
     absolute: bool,
     canonicalize: bool,
+    include_root: bool,
 ) -> Result<ResponsePayload, Box<dyn Error>> {
     // Canonicalize our provided path to ensure that it is exists, not a loop, and absolute
     let root_path = tokio::fs::canonicalize(path).await?;
 
-    // Traverse, but don't include root directory in entries (hence min depth 1)
-    let dir = WalkDir::new(root_path.as_path()).min_depth(1);
+    // Traverse, but don't include root directory in entries (hence min depth 1), unless indicated
+    // to do so (min depth 0)
+    let dir = WalkDir::new(root_path.as_path()).min_depth(if include_root { 0 } else { 1 });
 
     // If depth > 0, will recursively traverse to specified max depth, otherwise
     // performs infinite traversal
@@ -140,9 +145,21 @@ async fn dir_read(
     let mut entries = Vec::new();
     let mut errors = Vec::new();
 
+    #[inline]
+    fn map_file_type(ft: std::fs::FileType) -> FileType {
+        if ft.is_dir() {
+            FileType::Dir
+        } else if ft.is_file() {
+            FileType::File
+        } else {
+            FileType::SymLink
+        }
+    }
+
     for entry in dir {
         match entry.map_err(data::Error::from) {
-            Ok(e) => {
+            // For entries within the root, we want to transform the path based on flags
+            Ok(e) if e.depth() > 0 => {
                 // Canonicalize the path if specified, otherwise just return
                 // the path as is
                 let mut path = if canonicalize {
@@ -171,16 +188,20 @@ async fn dir_read(
 
                 entries.push(DirEntry {
                     path,
-                    file_type: if e.file_type().is_dir() {
-                        FileType::Dir
-                    } else if e.file_type().is_file() {
-                        FileType::File
-                    } else {
-                        FileType::SymLink
-                    },
+                    file_type: map_file_type(e.file_type()),
                     depth: e.depth(),
                 });
             }
+
+            // For the root, we just want to echo back the entry as is
+            Ok(e) => {
+                entries.push(DirEntry {
+                    path: e.path().to_path_buf(),
+                    file_type: map_file_type(e.file_type()),
+                    depth: e.depth(),
+                });
+            }
+
             Err(x) => errors.push(x),
         }
     }
@@ -526,3 +547,13 @@ async fn proc_list(state: HState) -> Result<ResponsePayload, Box<dyn Error>> {
             .collect(),
     })
 }
+
+async fn system_info() -> Result<ResponsePayload, Box<dyn Error>> {
+    Ok(ResponsePayload::SystemInfo {
+        family: env::consts::FAMILY.to_string(),
+        os: env::consts::OS.to_string(),
+        arch: env::consts::ARCH.to_string(),
+        current_dir: env::current_dir().unwrap_or_default(),
+        main_separator: std::path::MAIN_SEPARATOR,
+    })
+}
diff --git a/src/core/constants.rs b/src/core/constants.rs
index 18b9541..a0abca3 100644
--- a/src/core/constants.rs
+++ b/src/core/constants.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 use std::{env, path::PathBuf};
 
+/// Represents maximum time (in milliseconds) to wait on a network request
+/// before failing (0 meaning indefinitely)
+pub const TIMEOUT: usize = 15000;
+
 /// Capacity associated with a client broadcasting its received messages that
 /// do not have a callback associated
 pub const CLIENT_BROADCAST_CHANNEL_CAPACITY: usize = 100;
@@ -14,6 +18,8 @@ pub const MAX_PIPE_CHUNK_SIZE: usize = 1024;
 pub const SALT_LEN: usize = 16;
 
 lazy_static::lazy_static! {
+    pub static ref TIMEOUT_STR: String = TIMEOUT.to_string();
+
     /// Represents the path to the global session file
     pub static ref SESSION_FILE_PATH: PathBuf = env::temp_dir().join("distant.session");
     pub static ref SESSION_FILE_PATH_STR: String = SESSION_FILE_PATH.to_string_lossy().to_string();
diff --git a/src/core/data.rs b/src/core/data.rs
index 314ba8a..1042379 100644
--- a/src/core/data.rs
+++ b/src/core/data.rs
@@ -117,6 +117,14 @@ pub enum RequestPayload {
         /// returned, even if canonicalize is flagged as true
         #[structopt(short, long)]
         canonicalize: bool,
+
+        /// Whether or not to include the root directory in the retrieved
+        /// entries
+        ///
+        /// If included, the root directory will also be a canonicalized,
+        /// absolute path and will not follow any of the other flags
+        #[structopt(long)]
+        include_root: bool,
     },
 
     /// Creates a directory on the remote machine
@@ -190,6 +198,9 @@ pub enum RequestPayload {
 
     /// Retrieve a list of all processes being managed by the remote server
     ProcList {},
+
+    /// Retrieve information about the server and the system it is on
+    SystemInfo {},
 }
 
 /// Represents an response to a request performed on the remote machine
@@ -316,6 +327,28 @@ pub enum ResponsePayload {
         /// List of managed processes
         entries: Vec<RunningProcess>,
     },
+
+    /// Response to retrieving information about the server and the system it is on
+    SystemInfo {
+        /// Family of the operating system as described in
+        /// https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/env/consts/constant.FAMILY.html
+        family: String,
+
+        /// Name of the specific operating system as described in
+        /// https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/env/consts/constant.OS.html
+        os: String,
+
+        /// Architecture of the CPI as described in
+        /// https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/env/consts/constant.ARCH.html
+        arch: String,
+
+        /// Current working directory of the running server process
+        current_dir: PathBuf,
+
+        /// Primary separator for path components for the current platform
+        /// as defined in https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/path/constant.MAIN_SEPARATOR.html
+        main_separator: char,
+    },
 }
 
 /// Represents information about a single entry within a directory
diff --git a/src/core/net/mod.rs b/src/core/net/mod.rs
index 9cb9f8a..a01614a 100644
--- a/src/core/net/mod.rs
+++ b/src/core/net/mod.rs
@@ -5,16 +5,19 @@ use crate::core::{
     constants::CLIENT_BROADCAST_CHANNEL_CAPACITY,
     data::{Request, Response},
     session::Session,
+    utils,
 };
 use log::*;
 use std::{
     collections::HashMap,
+    convert,
     sync::{Arc, Mutex},
 };
 use tokio::{
     io,
     net::TcpStream,
     sync::{broadcast, oneshot},
+    time::Duration,
 };
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::BroadcastStream;
 
@@ -53,6 +56,13 @@ impl Client<TcpStream> {
         );
         Self::inner_connect(transport).await
     }
+
+    /// Connect to a remote TCP session, timing out after duration has passed
+    pub async fn tcp_connect_timeout(session: Session, duration: Duration) -> io::Result<Self> {
+        utils::timeout(duration, Self::tcp_connect(session))
+            .await
+            .and_then(convert::identity)
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(unix)]
@@ -72,6 +82,17 @@ impl Client<tokio::net::UnixStream> {
         );
         Self::inner_connect(transport).await
     }
+
+    /// Connect to a proxy unix socket, timing out after duration has passed
+    pub async fn unix_connect_timeout(
+        path: impl AsRef<std::path::Path>,
+        auth_key: Option<Arc<orion::aead::SecretKey>>,
+        duration: Duration,
+    ) -> io::Result<Self> {
+        utils::timeout(duration, Self::unix_connect(path, auth_key))
+            .await
+            .and_then(convert::identity)
+    }
 }
 
 impl<T> Client<T>
@@ -144,6 +165,18 @@ where
             .map_err(|x| TransportError::from(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::ConnectionAborted, x)))
     }
 
+    /// Sends a request and waits for a response, timing out after duration has passed
+    pub async fn send_timeout(
+        &mut self,
+        req: Request,
+        duration: Duration,
+    ) -> Result<Response, TransportError> {
+        utils::timeout(duration, self.send(req))
+            .await
+            .map_err(TransportError::from)
+            .and_then(convert::identity)
+    }
+
     /// Sends a request without waiting for a response
     ///
     /// Any response that would be received gets sent over the broadcast channel instead
@@ -151,6 +184,18 @@ where
         self.t_write.send(req).await
     }
 
+    /// Sends a request without waiting for a response, timing out after duration has passed
+    pub async fn fire_timeout(
+        &mut self,
+        req: Request,
+        duration: Duration,
+    ) -> Result<(), TransportError> {
+        utils::timeout(duration, self.fire(req))
+            .await
+            .map_err(TransportError::from)
+            .and_then(convert::identity)
+    }
+
     /// Clones a new instance of the broadcaster used by the client
     pub fn to_response_broadcaster(&self) -> broadcast::Sender<Response> {
         self.broadcast.clone()
diff --git a/src/core/utils.rs b/src/core/utils.rs
index 8a72308..f708041 100644
--- a/src/core/utils.rs
+++ b/src/core/utils.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,26 @@
-use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
+use std::{
+    future::Future,
+    ops::{Deref, DerefMut},
+    time::Duration,
+};
+use tokio::{io, time};
 
 // Generates a new tenant name
 pub fn new_tenant() -> String {
     format!("tenant_{}{}", rand::random::<u16>(), rand::random::<u8>())
 }
 
+// Wraps a future in a tokio timeout call, transforming the error into
+// an io error
+pub async fn timeout<T, F>(d: Duration, f: F) -> io::Result<T>
+where
+    F: Future<Output = T>,
+{
+    time::timeout(d, f)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|x| io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::TimedOut, x))
+}
+
 /// Wraps a string to provide some friendly read and write methods
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct StringBuf(String);