diff --git a/app/main.go b/app/main.go
index a6b9a8bcc..10b3f4196 100644
--- a/app/main.go
+++ b/app/main.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"log/syslog"
+	"math/rand"
 	"net/http"
 	_ "net/http/pprof"
 	"os"
@@ -60,11 +61,11 @@ func main() {
 		log.SetOutput(f)
 	}
 
-	log.Printf("app starting, version %s", version)
+	id := strconv.FormatInt(rand.Int63(), 16)
+	log.Printf("app starting, version %s, id %s", version, id)
 
 	// Collector deals with the probes, and generates merged reports.
-	xfer.MaxBackoff = 10 * time.Second
-	c := xfer.NewCollector(*batch)
+	c := xfer.NewCollector(*batch, id)
 	defer c.Stop()
 
 	r := newStaticResolver(probes, c.Add)
diff --git a/experimental/bridge/main.go b/experimental/bridge/main.go
index 020c89a2c..b0d2b8ed1 100644
--- a/experimental/bridge/main.go
+++ b/experimental/bridge/main.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Collector deals with the probes, and generates a single merged report
 	// every second.
-	c := xfer.NewCollector(*batch)
+	c := xfer.NewCollector(*batch, "id")
 	for _, addr := range fixedAddresses {
 		c.Add(addr)
 	}
diff --git a/experimental/graphviz/main.go b/experimental/graphviz/main.go
index 7aa189a7d..df57ceb2d 100644
--- a/experimental/graphviz/main.go
+++ b/experimental/graphviz/main.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 
 	xfer.MaxBackoff = 10 * time.Second
-	c := xfer.NewCollector(*batch)
+	c := xfer.NewCollector(*batch, "id")
 	for _, addr := range strings.Split(*probes, ",") {
 		c.Add(addr)
 	}
diff --git a/experimental/oneshot/main.go b/experimental/oneshot/main.go
index 8c7ef5e65..5404761c3 100644
--- a/experimental/oneshot/main.go
+++ b/experimental/oneshot/main.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Collector deals with the probes, and generates merged reports.
 	xfer.MaxBackoff = 1 * time.Second
-	c := xfer.NewCollector(1 * time.Second)
+	c := xfer.NewCollector(1*time.Second, "id")
 	for _, addr := range strings.Split(*probes, ",") {
 		c.Add(addr)
 	}
diff --git a/xfer/collector.go b/xfer/collector.go
index 351309a80..a7e49d879 100644
--- a/xfer/collector.go
+++ b/xfer/collector.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ const (
 var (
 	// MaxBackoff is the maximum time between connect retries.
 	// It's exported so it's externally configurable.
-	MaxBackoff = 2 * time.Minute
+	MaxBackoff = 1 * time.Minute
 
 	// This is extracted out for mocking.
 	tick = time.Tick
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ type realCollector struct {
 	add    chan string
 	remove chan string
 	quit   chan struct{}
+	id     string
 }
 
 // NewCollector produces and returns a report collector.
-func NewCollector(batchTime time.Duration) Collector {
+func NewCollector(batchTime time.Duration, id string) Collector {
 	c := &realCollector{
 		in:     make(chan report.Report),
 		out:    make(chan report.Report),
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ func NewCollector(batchTime time.Duration) Collector {
 		add:    make(chan string),
 		remove: make(chan string),
 		quit:   make(chan struct{}),
+		id:     id,
 	}
 	go c.loop(batchTime)
 	return c
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ func (c *realCollector) loop(batchTime time.Duration) {
 		wg.Add(1)
 		go func(quit chan struct{}) {
 			defer wg.Done()
-			reportCollector(ip, c.in, quit)
+			c.reportCollector(ip, quit)
 		}(addrs[ip])
 	}
 
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ func (c *realCollector) Stop() {
 
 // reportCollector is the loop to connect to a single Probe. It'll keep
 // running until the quit channel is closed.
-func reportCollector(ip string, col chan<- report.Report, quit <-chan struct{}) {
+func (c *realCollector) reportCollector(ip string, quit <-chan struct{}) {
 	backoff := initialBackoff / 2
 	for {
 		backoff *= 2
@@ -183,6 +185,11 @@ func reportCollector(ip string, col chan<- report.Report, quit <-chan struct{})
 		}()
 
 		// Connection accepted.
+		if err := gob.NewEncoder(conn).Encode(HandshakeRequest{ID: c.id}); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("handshake error: %v", err)
+			break
+		}
+
 		dec := gob.NewDecoder(conn)
 		for {
 			var report report.Report
@@ -199,7 +206,7 @@ func reportCollector(ip string, col chan<- report.Report, quit <-chan struct{})
 			}
 
 			select {
-			case col <- report:
+			case c.in <- report:
 			case <-quit:
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/xfer/collector_test.go b/xfer/collector_test.go
index 7154aaa83..97f67f651 100644
--- a/xfer/collector_test.go
+++ b/xfer/collector_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ func TestCollector(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { tick = oldTick }()
 
 	// Build a collector
-	collector := NewCollector(time.Second)
+	collector := NewCollector(time.Second, "id")
 	defer collector.Stop()
 
 	concreteCollector, ok := collector.(*realCollector)
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func TestCollector(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCollectorQuitWithActiveConnections(t *testing.T) {
-	c := NewCollector(time.Second)
+	c := NewCollector(time.Second, "id")
 	c.Add("1.2.3.4:56789")
 	c.Stop()
 }
diff --git a/xfer/merge_test.go b/xfer/merge_test.go
index b5cbe93e2..2bfe4e603 100644
--- a/xfer/merge_test.go
+++ b/xfer/merge_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestMerge(t *testing.T) {
 	defer p2.Close()
 
 	batchTime := 100 * time.Millisecond
-	c := xfer.NewCollector(batchTime)
+	c := xfer.NewCollector(batchTime, "id")
 	c.Add(p1Addr)
 	c.Add(p2Addr)
 	defer c.Stop()
diff --git a/xfer/publisher.go b/xfer/publisher.go
index 183841ccf..d8c3294c2 100644
--- a/xfer/publisher.go
+++ b/xfer/publisher.go
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ type TCPPublisher struct {
 	closer io.Closer
 }
 
+// HandshakeRequest contains the unique ID of the connecting app.
+type HandshakeRequest struct {
+	ID string
+}
+
 // NewTCPPublisher listens for connections on listenAddress. Only one client
 // is accepted at a time; other clients are accepted, but disconnected right
 // away. Reports published via publish() will be written to the connected
@@ -68,20 +73,20 @@ func (p *TCPPublisher) loop(incoming <-chan net.Conn) {
 			}
 
 			// Don't allow multiple connections from the same remote host.
-			host, _, err := net.SplitHostPort(conn.RemoteAddr().String())
+			listenerID, err := getListenerID(conn)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Printf("incoming connection: %s: %v (dropped)", conn.RemoteAddr(), err)
 				conn.Close()
 				continue
 			}
-			if _, ok := activeConns[host]; ok {
+			if _, ok := activeConns[listenerID]; ok {
 				log.Printf("duplicate connection: %s (dropped)", conn.RemoteAddr())
 				conn.Close()
 				continue
 			}
 
-			log.Printf("connection initiated: %s", conn.RemoteAddr())
-			activeConns[host] = connEncoder{conn, gob.NewEncoder(conn)}
+			log.Printf("connection initiated: %s (%s)", conn.RemoteAddr(), listenerID)
+			activeConns[listenerID] = connEncoder{conn, gob.NewEncoder(conn)}
 
 		case msg, ok := <-p.msg:
 			if !ok {
@@ -99,6 +104,15 @@ func (p *TCPPublisher) loop(incoming <-chan net.Conn) {
 	}
 }
 
+func getListenerID(c net.Conn) (string, error) {
+	var req HandshakeRequest
+	if err := gob.NewDecoder(c).Decode(&req); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	return req.ID, nil
+}
+
 func fwd(ln net.Listener) chan net.Conn {
 	c := make(chan net.Conn)
 
diff --git a/xfer/publisher_test.go b/xfer/publisher_test.go
index 3e770dfe1..12fed6ac0 100644
--- a/xfer/publisher_test.go
+++ b/xfer/publisher_test.go
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ func TestTCPPublisher(t *testing.T) {
 	defer conn.Close()
 	time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
 
+	// Send handshake
+	if err := gob.NewEncoder(conn).Encode(xfer.HandshakeRequest{ID: "foo"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Publish a message
 	p.Publish(report.Report{})
 
@@ -69,6 +74,9 @@ func TestPublisherClosesDuplicateConnections(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	defer conn.Close()
+	if err := gob.NewEncoder(conn).Encode(xfer.HandshakeRequest{ID: "foo"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
 
 	// Try to connect the same listener
@@ -76,6 +84,10 @@ func TestPublisherClosesDuplicateConnections(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	// Send handshake
+	if err := gob.NewEncoder(dupconn).Encode(xfer.HandshakeRequest{ID: "foo"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	defer dupconn.Close()
 
 	// Publish a message