diff --git a/base/application.cpp b/base/application.cpp
index 6e8f1542e..4e4154724 100644
--- a/base/application.cpp
+++ b/base/application.cpp
@@ -82,12 +82,12 @@ void Application::RunEventLoop(void)
 	while (!m_ShuttingDown) {
 		Object::ClearHeldObjects();
 
-		long sleep = Timer::ProcessTimers();
+		double sleep = Timer::ProcessTimers();
 
 		if (m_ShuttingDown)
 			break;
 
-		Event::ProcessEvents(boost::get_system_time() + boost::posix_time::seconds(sleep));
+		Event::ProcessEvents(boost::get_system_time() + boost::posix_time::milliseconds(sleep * 1000));
 	}
 
 	Component::UnloadAll();
diff --git a/base/configobject.cpp b/base/configobject.cpp
index de3e24771..e0e3bf8fb 100644
--- a/base/configobject.cpp
+++ b/base/configobject.cpp
@@ -96,14 +96,14 @@ string ConfigObject::GetSource(void) const
 	return value;
 }
 
-void ConfigObject::SetCommitTimestamp(time_t ts)
+void ConfigObject::SetCommitTimestamp(double ts)
 {
-	GetProperties()->Set("__tx", static_cast<long>(ts));
+	GetProperties()->Set("__tx", ts);
 }
 
-time_t ConfigObject::GetCommitTimestamp(void) const
+double ConfigObject::GetCommitTimestamp(void) const
 {
-	long value = 0;
+	double value = 0;
 	GetProperties()->Get("__tx", &value);
 	return value;
 }
@@ -117,9 +117,7 @@ void ConfigObject::Commit(void)
 	assert(!dobj || dobj == self);
 	m_Container->CheckObject(self);
 
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
-	SetCommitTimestamp(now);
+	SetCommitTimestamp(Utility::GetTime());
 }
 
 void ConfigObject::Unregister(void)
diff --git a/base/configobject.h b/base/configobject.h
index 9b916540b..5f3f48b0c 100644
--- a/base/configobject.h
+++ b/base/configobject.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public:
 	void SetSource(const string& value);
 	string GetSource(void) const;
 
-	time_t GetCommitTimestamp(void) const;
+	double GetCommitTimestamp(void) const;
 
 	void Commit(void);
 	void Unregister(void);
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ private:
 
 	static map<pair<string, string>, Dictionary::Ptr> m_PersistentTags;
 
-	void SetCommitTimestamp(time_t ts);
+	void SetCommitTimestamp(double ts);
 
 	static bool TypeAndNameGetter(const ConfigObject::Ptr& object, pair<string, string> *key);
 	static bool TypePredicate(const ConfigObject::Ptr& object, string type);
diff --git a/base/logger.cpp b/base/logger.cpp
index 4e7f6b830..d9453948f 100644
--- a/base/logger.cpp
+++ b/base/logger.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void Logger::Write(LogSeverity severity, const string& facility,
     const string& message)
 {
 	LogEntry entry;
-	time(&entry.Timestamp);
+	entry.Timestamp = Utility::GetTime();
 	entry.Severity = severity;
 	entry.Facility = facility;
 	entry.Message = message;
diff --git a/base/logger.h b/base/logger.h
index bcbb22051..e5edf3991 100644
--- a/base/logger.h
+++ b/base/logger.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ enum LogSeverity
  * @ingroup base
  */
 struct LogEntry {
-	time_t Timestamp;
+	double Timestamp;
 	LogSeverity Severity;
 	string Facility;
 	string Message;
diff --git a/base/process.cpp b/base/process.cpp
index 0ca2b6ba9..a1b8f43e4 100644
--- a/base/process.cpp
+++ b/base/process.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ void Process::WorkerThreadProc(void)
 
 void Process::InitTask(void)
 {
-	time(&m_Result.ExecutionStart);
+	m_Result.ExecutionStart = Utility::GetTime();
 
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
 	m_FP = _popen(m_Command.c_str(), "r");
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ bool Process::RunTask(void)
 	}
 #endif /* _MSC_VER */
 
-	time(&m_Result.ExecutionEnd);
+	m_Result.ExecutionEnd = Utility::GetTime();
 
 #ifndef _MSC_VER
 	if (WIFEXITED(status)) {
diff --git a/base/process.h b/base/process.h
index 186f03a35..e04b885ac 100644
--- a/base/process.h
+++ b/base/process.h
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ namespace icinga
 
 struct ProcessResult
 {
-	time_t ExecutionStart;
-	time_t ExecutionEnd;
+	double ExecutionStart;
+	double ExecutionEnd;
 	long ExitStatus;
 	string Output;
 };
diff --git a/base/streamlogger.cpp b/base/streamlogger.cpp
index 9475d869b..13f252066 100644
--- a/base/streamlogger.cpp
+++ b/base/streamlogger.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ void StreamLogger::ProcessLogEntry(const LogEntry& entry)
 {
 	char timestamp[100];
 
-	tm tmnow = *localtime(&entry.Timestamp);
+	time_t ts = entry.Timestamp;
+	tm tmnow = *localtime(&ts);
 
 	strftime(timestamp, sizeof(timestamp), "%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S", &tmnow);
 
diff --git a/base/timer.cpp b/base/timer.cpp
index a1ea75230..75b927f62 100644
--- a/base/timer.cpp
+++ b/base/timer.cpp
@@ -36,12 +36,11 @@ Timer::Timer(void)
  *
  * @returns Time when the next timer is due.
  */
-long Timer::ProcessTimers(void)
+double Timer::ProcessTimers(void)
 {
-	long wakeup = 30;
+	double wakeup = 30;
 
-	time_t st;
-	time(&st);
+	double st = Utility::GetTime();
 
 	Timer::CollectionType::iterator prev, i;
 	for (i = m_Timers.begin(); i != m_Timers.end(); ) {
@@ -55,15 +54,14 @@ long Timer::ProcessTimers(void)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		time_t now;
-		time(&now);
+		double now = Utility::GetTime();
 
 		if (timer->m_Next <= now) {
 			timer->Call();
 
 			/* time may have changed depending on how long the
 			 * timer call took - we need to fetch the current time */
-			time(&now);
+			now = Utility::GetTime();
 
 			timer->Reschedule(now + timer->GetInterval());
 		}
@@ -76,8 +74,7 @@ long Timer::ProcessTimers(void)
 
 	assert(wakeup > 0);
 
-	time_t et;
-	time(&et);
+	double et = Utility::GetTime();
 
 	stringstream msgbuf;
 	msgbuf << "Timers took " << et - st << " seconds";
@@ -93,13 +90,11 @@ long Timer::ProcessTimers(void)
  */
 void Timer::Call(void)
 {
-	time_t st;
-	time(&st);
+	double st = Utility::GetTime();
 
 	OnTimerExpired(GetSelf());
 
-	time_t et;
-	time(&et);
+	double et = Utility::GetTime();
 
 	if (et - st > 3) {
 		stringstream msgbuf;
@@ -113,7 +108,7 @@ void Timer::Call(void)
  *
  * @param interval The new interval.
  */
-void Timer::SetInterval(unsigned long interval)
+void Timer::SetInterval(double interval)
 {
 	m_Interval = interval;
 }
@@ -123,7 +118,7 @@ void Timer::SetInterval(unsigned long interval)
  *
  * @returns The interval.
  */
-unsigned long Timer::GetInterval(void) const
+double Timer::GetInterval(void) const
 {
 	return m_Interval;
 }
@@ -139,7 +134,7 @@ void Timer::Start(void)
 
 	m_Timers.push_back(GetSelf());
 
-	Reschedule(time(NULL) + m_Interval);
+	Reschedule(Utility::GetTime() + m_Interval);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -157,7 +152,7 @@ void Timer::Stop(void)
  *
  * @param next The time when this timer should be called again.
  */
-void Timer::Reschedule(time_t next)
+void Timer::Reschedule(double next)
 {
 	m_Next = next;
 }
diff --git a/base/timer.h b/base/timer.h
index 37c029352..2cde7360e 100644
--- a/base/timer.h
+++ b/base/timer.h
@@ -39,21 +39,21 @@ public:
 
 	Timer(void);
 
-	void SetInterval(unsigned long interval);
-	unsigned long GetInterval(void) const;
+	void SetInterval(double interval);
+	double GetInterval(void) const;
 
-	static long ProcessTimers(void);
+	static double ProcessTimers(void);
 
 	void Start(void);
 	void Stop(void);
 
-	void Reschedule(time_t next);
+	void Reschedule(double next);
 
 	boost::signal<void(const Timer::Ptr&)> OnTimerExpired;
 
 private:
-	unsigned long m_Interval; /**< The interval of the timer. */
-	time_t m_Next; /**< When the next event should happen. */
+	double m_Interval; /**< The interval of the timer. */
+	double m_Next; /**< When the next event should happen. */
 
 	static Timer::CollectionType m_Timers;
 
diff --git a/base/utility.cpp b/base/utility.cpp
index c5eb45b73..e2912bfe5 100644
--- a/base/utility.cpp
+++ b/base/utility.cpp
@@ -255,3 +255,18 @@ void Utility::NullDeleter(void *obj)
 {
 	/* Nothing to do here. */
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns the current UNIX timestamp including fractions of seconds.
+ *
+ * @returns The current time.
+ */
+double Utility::GetTime(void)
+{
+	struct timeval tv;
+
+	if (gettimeofday(&tv, NULL) < 0)
+		throw PosixException("gettimeofday() failed", errno);
+
+	return tv.tv_sec + tv.tv_usec / 1000000.0;
+}
diff --git a/base/utility.h b/base/utility.h
index 3f8938335..754e03507 100644
--- a/base/utility.h
+++ b/base/utility.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ public:
 
 	static void NullDeleter(void *obj);
 
+	static double GetTime(void);
+
 private:
 	static bool m_SSLInitialized;
 
diff --git a/cib/checkresult.cpp b/cib/checkresult.cpp
index 81b51db3b..6d5772d9d 100644
--- a/cib/checkresult.cpp
+++ b/cib/checkresult.cpp
@@ -29,50 +29,50 @@ CheckResult::CheckResult(const MessagePart& message)
 	: MessagePart(message)
 { }
 
-void CheckResult::SetScheduleStart(time_t ts)
+void CheckResult::SetScheduleStart(double ts)
 {
-	Set("schedule_start", static_cast<long>(ts));
+	Set("schedule_start", ts);
 }
 
-time_t CheckResult::GetScheduleStart(void) const
+double CheckResult::GetScheduleStart(void) const
 {
-	long value = 0;
+	double value = 0;
 	Get("schedule_start", &value);
-	return static_cast<time_t>(value);
+	return value;
 }
 
-void CheckResult::SetScheduleEnd(time_t ts)
+void CheckResult::SetScheduleEnd(double ts)
 {
-	Set("schedule_end", static_cast<long>(ts));
+	Set("schedule_end", ts);
 }
 
-time_t CheckResult::GetScheduleEnd(void) const
+double CheckResult::GetScheduleEnd(void) const
 {
-	long value = 0;
+	double value = 0;
 	Get("schedule_end", &value);
-	return static_cast<time_t>(value);
+	return value;
 }
 
-void CheckResult::SetExecutionStart(time_t ts)
+void CheckResult::SetExecutionStart(double ts)
 {
-	Set("execution_start", static_cast<long>(ts));
+	Set("execution_start", ts);
 }
 
-time_t CheckResult::GetExecutionStart(void) const
+double CheckResult::GetExecutionStart(void) const
 {
-	long value = 0;
+	double value = 0;
 	Get("execution_start", &value);
-	return static_cast<time_t>(value);
+	return value;
 }
 
-void CheckResult::SetExecutionEnd(time_t ts)
+void CheckResult::SetExecutionEnd(double ts)
 {
-	Set("execution_end", static_cast<long>(ts));
+	Set("execution_end", ts);
 }
 
-time_t CheckResult::GetExecutionEnd(void) const
+double CheckResult::GetExecutionEnd(void) const
 {
-	long value = 0;
+	double value = 0;
 	Get("execution_end", &value);
 	return value;
 }
diff --git a/cib/checkresult.h b/cib/checkresult.h
index 3feba37c5..b3e30c99a 100644
--- a/cib/checkresult.h
+++ b/cib/checkresult.h
@@ -29,17 +29,17 @@ public:
 	CheckResult(void);
 	CheckResult(const MessagePart& message);
 
-	void SetScheduleStart(time_t ts);
-	time_t GetScheduleStart(void) const;
+	void SetScheduleStart(double ts);
+	double GetScheduleStart(void) const;
 
-	void SetScheduleEnd(time_t ts);
-	time_t GetScheduleEnd(void) const;
+	void SetScheduleEnd(double ts);
+	double GetScheduleEnd(void) const;
 
-	void SetExecutionStart(time_t ts);
-	time_t GetExecutionStart(void) const;
+	void SetExecutionStart(double ts);
+	double GetExecutionStart(void) const;
 
-	void SetExecutionEnd(time_t ts);
-	time_t GetExecutionEnd(void) const;
+	void SetExecutionEnd(double ts);
+	double GetExecutionEnd(void) const;
 
 	void SetState(ServiceState state);
 	ServiceState GetState(void) const;
diff --git a/cib/nagioschecktask.cpp b/cib/nagioschecktask.cpp
index b882168eb..ace7aa1b8 100644
--- a/cib/nagioschecktask.cpp
+++ b/cib/nagioschecktask.cpp
@@ -48,9 +48,7 @@ void NagiosCheckTask::ScriptFunc(const ScriptTask::Ptr& task, const vector<Varia
 
 	NagiosCheckTask ct(task, process);
 
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
-	ct.m_Result.SetScheduleStart(now);
+	ct.m_Result.SetScheduleStart(Utility::GetTime());
 
 	process->Start(boost::bind(&NagiosCheckTask::ProcessFinishedHandler, ct));
 }
@@ -92,9 +90,7 @@ void NagiosCheckTask::ProcessFinishedHandler(NagiosCheckTask ct)
 
 	ct.m_Result.SetState(state);
 
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
-	ct.m_Result.SetScheduleEnd(now);
+	ct.m_Result.SetScheduleEnd(Utility::GetTime());
 
 	ct.m_Task->FinishResult(ct.m_Result.GetDictionary());
 }
diff --git a/cib/nullchecktask.cpp b/cib/nullchecktask.cpp
index 20553d340..3f0c0ea9a 100644
--- a/cib/nullchecktask.cpp
+++ b/cib/nullchecktask.cpp
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ void NullCheckTask::ScriptFunc(const ScriptTask::Ptr& task, const vector<Variant
 	if (arguments.size() < 1)
 		throw_exception(invalid_argument("Missing argument: Service must be specified."));
 
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
+	double now = Utility::GetTime();
 
 	CheckResult cr;
 	cr.SetScheduleStart(now);
diff --git a/cib/service.cpp b/cib/service.cpp
index 2cd8d4a2d..9f05eedda 100644
--- a/cib/service.cpp
+++ b/cib/service.cpp
@@ -175,35 +175,48 @@ bool Service::IsReachable(void) const
 	return true;
 }
 
-void Service::SetNextCheck(time_t nextCheck)
+void Service::SetSchedulingOffset(long offset)
 {
-	SetTag("next_check", (long)nextCheck);
+	SetTag("scheduling_offset", offset);
 }
 
-time_t Service::GetNextCheck(void)
+long Service::GetSchedulingOffset(void)
 {
 	long value;
+	if (!GetTag("scheduling_offset", &value)) {
+		value = rand();
+		SetSchedulingOffset(value);
+	}
+	return value;
+}
+
+void Service::SetNextCheck(double nextCheck)
+{
+	SetTag("next_check", nextCheck);
+}
+
+double Service::GetNextCheck(void)
+{
+	double value;
 	if (!GetTag("next_check", &value)) {
-		value = time(NULL) + rand() % GetCheckInterval();
-		SetNextCheck(value);
+		UpdateNextCheck();
+		return GetNextCheck();
 	}
 	return value;
 }
 
 void Service::UpdateNextCheck(void)
 {
-	time_t now, previous, next, interval;
-
-	time(&now);
-	previous = GetNextCheck();
+	double interval;
 
 	if (GetStateType() == StateTypeSoft)
 		interval = GetRetryInterval();
 	else
 		interval = GetCheckInterval();
 
-	next = (now - previous % interval) + interval;
-	SetNextCheck(next);
+	double now = Utility::GetTime();
+	double adj = fmod(now + GetSchedulingOffset(), interval);
+	SetNextCheck(now - adj + interval);
 }
 
 void Service::SetChecker(const string& checker)
@@ -273,12 +286,12 @@ CheckResult Service::GetLastCheckResult(void) const
 	return CheckResult(value);
 }
 
-void Service::SetLastStateChange(time_t ts)
+void Service::SetLastStateChange(double ts)
 {
 	SetTag("last_state_change", static_cast<long>(ts));
 }
 
-time_t Service::GetLastStateChange(void) const
+double Service::GetLastStateChange(void) const
 {
 	long value;
 	if (!GetTag("last_state_change", &value))
@@ -286,14 +299,14 @@ time_t Service::GetLastStateChange(void) const
 	return value;
 }
 
-void Service::SetLastHardStateChange(time_t ts)
+void Service::SetLastHardStateChange(double ts)
 {
-	SetTag("last_hard_state_change", static_cast<long>(ts));
+	SetTag("last_hard_state_change", ts);
 }
 
-time_t Service::GetLastHardStateChange(void) const
+double Service::GetLastHardStateChange(void) const
 {
-	long value;
+	double value;
 	if (!GetTag("last_hard_state_change", &value))
 		value = IcingaApplication::GetInstance()->GetStartTime();
 	return value;
@@ -301,9 +314,6 @@ time_t Service::GetLastHardStateChange(void) const
 
 void Service::ApplyCheckResult(const CheckResult& cr)
 {
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
-
 	ServiceState old_state = GetState();
 	ServiceStateType old_stateType = GetStateType();
 
@@ -330,6 +340,8 @@ void Service::ApplyCheckResult(const CheckResult& cr)
 	SetLastCheckResult(cr);
 
 	if (old_state != GetState()) {
+		double now = Utility::GetTime();
+
 		SetLastStateChange(now);
 
 		if (old_stateType != GetStateType())
diff --git a/cib/service.h b/cib/service.h
index 9c9d650d3..f2c58fe64 100644
--- a/cib/service.h
+++ b/cib/service.h
@@ -63,8 +63,11 @@ public:
 
 	bool IsReachable(void) const;
 
-	void SetNextCheck(time_t nextCheck);
-	time_t GetNextCheck(void);
+	long GetSchedulingOffset(void);
+	void SetSchedulingOffset(long offset);
+	
+	void SetNextCheck(double nextCheck);
+	double GetNextCheck(void);
 	void UpdateNextCheck(void);
 
 	void SetChecker(const string& checker);
@@ -85,11 +88,11 @@ public:
 	void SetLastCheckResult(const CheckResult& result);
 	CheckResult GetLastCheckResult(void) const;
 
-	void SetLastStateChange(time_t ts);
-	time_t GetLastStateChange(void) const;
+	void SetLastStateChange(double ts);
+	double GetLastStateChange(void) const;
 
-	void SetLastHardStateChange(time_t ts);
-	time_t GetLastHardStateChange(void) const;
+	void SetLastHardStateChange(double ts);
+	double GetLastHardStateChange(void) const;
 
 	void ApplyCheckResult(const CheckResult& cr);
 
diff --git a/components/checker/checkercomponent.cpp b/components/checker/checkercomponent.cpp
index 2e17707b7..b47d06b60 100644
--- a/components/checker/checkercomponent.cpp
+++ b/components/checker/checkercomponent.cpp
@@ -60,11 +60,9 @@ void CheckerComponent::Stop(void)
 
 void CheckerComponent::CheckTimerHandler(void)
 {
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
-
 	Logger::Write(LogDebug, "checker", "CheckTimerHandler entered.");
 
+	double now = Utility::GetTime();
 	long tasks = 0;
 
 	while (!m_Services.empty()) {
diff --git a/components/cibsync/cibsynccomponent.cpp b/components/cibsync/cibsynccomponent.cpp
index 59b550957..4d7aecda6 100644
--- a/components/cibsync/cibsynccomponent.cpp
+++ b/components/cibsync/cibsynccomponent.cpp
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ void CIBSyncComponent::CheckResultRequestHandler(const Endpoint::Ptr& sender, co
 	CIB::OnCheckResultReceived(params);
 	service.ApplyCheckResult(cr);
 
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
+	time_t now = Utility::GetTime();
 	CIB::UpdateTaskStatistics(now, 1);
 }
 
diff --git a/components/compat/compatcomponent.cpp b/components/compat/compatcomponent.cpp
index 362cc24f9..471a35529 100644
--- a/components/compat/compatcomponent.cpp
+++ b/components/compat/compatcomponent.cpp
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ void CompatComponent::DumpServiceStatus(ofstream& fp, Service service)
 {
 	string output;
 	string perfdata;
-	time_t schedule_start = -1, schedule_end = -1;
-	time_t execution_start = -1, execution_end = -1;
+	double schedule_start = -1, schedule_end = -1;
+	double execution_start = -1, execution_end = -1;
 	if (service.HasLastCheckResult()) {
 		CheckResult cr = service.GetLastCheckResult();
 		output = cr.GetOutput();
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ void CompatComponent::DumpServiceStatus(ofstream& fp, Service service)
 		perfdata = cr.GetPerformanceDataRaw();
 	}
 
-	time_t execution_time = (execution_end - execution_start);
-	time_t latency = (schedule_end - schedule_start) - execution_time;
+	double execution_time = (execution_end - execution_start);
+	double latency = (schedule_end - schedule_start) - execution_time;
 
 	int state = service.GetState();
 
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ void CompatComponent::StatusTimerHandler(void)
 	ofstream statusfp;
 	statusfp.open("status.dat.tmp", ofstream::out | ofstream::trunc);
 
+	statusfp << std::fixed;
+
 	statusfp << "# Icinga status file" << "\n"
 		 << "# This file is auto-generated. Do not modify this file." << "\n"
 		 << "\n";
@@ -222,6 +224,8 @@ void CompatComponent::StatusTimerHandler(void)
 	ofstream objectfp;
 	objectfp.open("objects.cache.tmp", ofstream::out | ofstream::trunc);
 
+	objectfp << std::fixed;
+
 	objectfp << "# Icinga object cache file" << "\n"
 		 << "# This file is auto-generated. Do not modify this file." << "\n"
 		 << "\n";
diff --git a/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.cpp b/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.cpp
index 3d6ecc943..932894eb3 100644
--- a/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.cpp
+++ b/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.cpp
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ void DiscoveryComponent::ProcessDiscoveryMessage(const string& identity, const D
 
 	ComponentDiscoveryInfo::Ptr info = boost::make_shared<ComponentDiscoveryInfo>();
 
-	time(&(info->LastSeen));
+	info->LastSeen = Utility::GetTime();
 
 	string node;
 	if (message.GetNode(&node) && !node.empty())
@@ -451,8 +451,7 @@ void DiscoveryComponent::DiscoveryTimerHandler(void)
 {
 	EndpointManager::Ptr endpointManager = EndpointManager::GetInstance();
 	
-	time_t now;
-	time(&now);
+	double now = Utility::GetTime();
 
 	/* check whether we have to reconnect to one of our upstream endpoints */
 	ConfigObject::TMap::Range range = ConfigObject::GetObjects("endpoint");
diff --git a/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.h b/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.h
index 331030d5e..1ddf191ad 100644
--- a/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.h
+++ b/components/discovery/discoverycomponent.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public:
 	set<string> Subscriptions;
 	set<string> Publications;
 
-	time_t LastSeen;
+	double LastSeen;
 };
 
 /**