diff --git a/omaha/client/client.go b/omaha/client/client.go
index 3be8c44..1cbf163 100644
--- a/omaha/client/client.go
+++ b/omaha/client/client.go
@@ -19,12 +19,22 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/satori/go.uuid"
 
 	"github.com/coreos/go-omaha/omaha"
 )
 
+const (
+	defaultClientVersion = "go-omaha"
+
+	// periodic update check and ping intervals
+	pingFuzz     = 10 * time.Minute
+	pingDelay    = 7 * time.Minute  // first check after 2-12 minutes
+	pingInterval = 45 * time.Minute // check in every 40-50 minutes
+)
+
 // Client supports managing multiple apps using a single server.
 type Client struct {
 	apiClient     *httpClient
@@ -33,6 +43,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	userID        string
 	sessionID     string
 	isMachine     bool
+	sentPing      bool
 	apps          map[string]*AppClient
 }
 
@@ -53,7 +64,7 @@ func New(serverURL, userID string) (*Client, error) {
 
 	c := &Client{
 		apiClient:     newHTTPClient(),
-		clientVersion: "go-omaha",
+		clientVersion: defaultClientVersion,
 		userID:        userID,
 		sessionID:     uuid.NewV4().String(),
 		apps:          make(map[string]*AppClient),
@@ -93,6 +104,16 @@ func (c *Client) SetClientVersion(clientVersion string) {
 	c.clientVersion = clientVersion
 }
 
+// NextPing returns a timer channel that will fire when the next update
+// check or ping should be sent.
+func (c *Client) NextPing() <-chan time.Time {
+	d := pingDelay
+	if c.sentPing {
+		d = pingInterval
+	}
+	return FuzzyAfter(d, pingFuzz)
+}
+
 // AppClient gets the application client for the given application ID.
 func (c *Client) AppClient(appID string) (*AppClient, error) {
 	if app, ok := c.apps[appID]; ok {
@@ -163,6 +184,8 @@ func (ac *AppClient) UpdateCheck() (*omaha.UpdateResponse, error) {
 	app.AddPing()
 	app.AddUpdateCheck()
 
+	ac.sentPing = true
+
 	appResp, err := ac.doReq(ac.apiEndpoint, req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -192,6 +215,8 @@ func (ac *AppClient) Ping() error {
 	app := req.Apps[0]
 	app.AddPing()
 
+	ac.sentPing = true
+
 	appResp, err := ac.doReq(ac.apiEndpoint, req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/omaha/client/error.go b/omaha/client/error.go
index 2132295..9e1a80e 100644
--- a/omaha/client/error.go
+++ b/omaha/client/error.go
@@ -18,14 +18,40 @@ import (
 	"encoding/xml"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
+	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"time"
 )
 
 var (
 	bodySizeError  = errors.New("http response exceeded 1MB")
 	bodyEmptyError = errors.New("http response was empty")
+
+	// default parameters for expNetBackoff
+	backoffStart = time.Second
+	backoffTries = 7
 )
 
+// retries and exponentially backs off for temporary network errors
+func expNetBackoff(f func() error) error {
+	var (
+		backoff = backoffStart
+		tries   = backoffTries
+	)
+	for {
+		err := f()
+		tries--
+		if tries <= 0 {
+			return err
+		}
+		if neterr, ok := err.(net.Error); !ok || !neterr.Temporary() {
+			return err
+		}
+		FuzzySleep(backoff, backoff)
+		backoff *= 2
+	}
+}
+
 // xml doesn't return the standard io.ErrUnexpectedEOF so check for both.
 func isUnexpectedEOF(err error) bool {
 	if xerr, ok := err.(*xml.SyntaxError); ok {
diff --git a/omaha/client/error_test.go b/omaha/client/error_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b7bd6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/omaha/client/error_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// Copyright 2017 CoreOS, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package client
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	// use quicker backoff for testing
+	backoffStart = time.Millisecond
+	backoffTries = 3
+}
+
+type tmpErr struct{}
+
+func (e tmpErr) Error() string   { return "fake temporary error" }
+func (e tmpErr) Temporary() bool { return true }
+func (e tmpErr) Timeout() bool   { return false }
+
+func TestExpNetBackoff(t *testing.T) {
+	tries := 0
+	err := expNetBackoff(func() error {
+		tries++
+		if tries < 2 {
+			return tmpErr{}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if tries != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected # of tries: %d", tries)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/omaha/client/example_test.go b/omaha/client/example_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a7a076
--- /dev/null
+++ b/omaha/client/example_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// Copyright 2017 CoreOS, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package client
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	//"os/signal"
+	"syscall"
+
+	"github.com/coreos/go-omaha/omaha"
+)
+
+func Example() {
+	// Launch a dummy server for our client to talk to.
+	s, err := omaha.NewTrivialServer("127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer s.Destroy()
+	go s.Serve()
+
+	// Configure our client. userID should be random but preserved
+	// across restarts. version is the current version of our app.
+	var (
+		serverURL = "http://" + s.Addr().String()
+		userID    = "8b10fc6d-30ca-49b2-b1a2-8185f03d522b"
+		appID     = "5ca607f8-61b5-4692-90ce-30380ba05a98"
+		version   = "1.0.0"
+	)
+	c, err := NewAppClient(serverURL, userID, appID, version)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Client version is the name and version of this updater.
+	c.SetClientVersion("example-0.0.1")
+
+	// Use SIGUSR1 to trigger immediate update checks.
+	sigc := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	//signal.Notify(sigc, syscall.SIGUSR1)
+	sigc <- syscall.SIGUSR1 // Fake it
+
+	//for {
+	var source string
+	select {
+	case <-sigc:
+		source = "ondemandupdate"
+	case <-c.NextPing():
+		source = "scheduler"
+	}
+
+	// TODO: pass source to UpdateCheck
+	_ = source
+	// If updates are disabled call c.Ping() instead.
+	update, err := c.UpdateCheck()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		//continue
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Download new application version.
+	c.Event(&omaha.EventRequest{
+		Type:   omaha.EventTypeUpdateDownloadFinished,
+		Result: omaha.EventResultSuccess,
+	})
+
+	// Install new application version here.
+	c.Event(&omaha.EventRequest{
+		Type:   omaha.EventTypeUpdateComplete,
+		Result: omaha.EventResultSuccess,
+	})
+
+	// Restart, new application is now running.
+	c.SetVersion(update.Manifest.Version)
+	c.Event(&omaha.EventRequest{
+		Type:   omaha.EventTypeUpdateComplete,
+		Result: omaha.EventResultSuccessReboot,
+	})
+
+	//}
+
+	// Output:
+	// omaha: update status noupdate
+}
diff --git a/omaha/client/fuzzytime.go b/omaha/client/fuzzytime.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca9669f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/omaha/client/fuzzytime.go
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Copyright 2017 CoreOS, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package client
+
+import (
+	"math/rand"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	// Ensure seeding the prng is never forgotten, that would defeat
+	// the whole point of using fuzzy timers to guard against a DoS.
+	rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
+}
+
+// FuzzyDuration randomizes the duration d within the range specified
+// by fuzz. Specifically the value range is: [d-(fuzz/2), d+(fuzz/2)]
+// The result will never be negative.
+func FuzzyDuration(d, fuzz time.Duration) time.Duration {
+	if fuzz < 0 {
+		return d
+	}
+	// apply range [-fuzz/2, fuzz/2]
+	d += time.Duration(rand.Int63n(int64(fuzz)+1) - (int64(fuzz) / 2))
+	if d < 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+// FuzzyAfter waits for the fuzzy duration to elapse and then sends the
+// current time on the returned channel. See FuzzyDuration.
+func FuzzyAfter(d, fuzz time.Duration) <-chan time.Time {
+	return time.After(FuzzyDuration(d, fuzz))
+}
+
+// FuzzySleep pauses the current goroutine for the fuzzy duration d.
+// See FuzzyDuration.
+func FuzzySleep(d, fuzz time.Duration) {
+	time.Sleep(FuzzyDuration(d, fuzz))
+}
diff --git a/omaha/client/fuzzytime_test.go b/omaha/client/fuzzytime_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a6631d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/omaha/client/fuzzytime_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+// Copyright 2017 CoreOS, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package client
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestFuzzyDuration(t *testing.T) {
+	const d = time.Minute
+	for i := 0; i < 1000; i++ {
+		f := FuzzyDuration(d, d)
+		if f < d/2 {
+			t.Errorf("%d < %d", f, d/2)
+		} else if f > d+d/2 {
+			t.Errorf("%d > %d", f, d+d/2)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/omaha/client/http.go b/omaha/client/http.go
index 2db32f4..13e4a7b 100644
--- a/omaha/client/http.go
+++ b/omaha/client/http.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/xml"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"time"
 
@@ -28,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	defaultTimeout = 90 * time.Second
-	defaultTries   = 7
 )
 
 // httpClient extends the standard http.Client to support xml encoding
@@ -79,14 +77,10 @@ func (hc *httpClient) Omaha(url string, req *omaha.Request) (resp *omaha.Respons
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("omaha: failed to encode request: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	for i := 0; i < defaultTries; i++ {
+	expNetBackoff(func() error {
 		resp, err = hc.doPost(url, buf.Bytes())
-		if neterr, ok := err.(net.Error); ok && neterr.Temporary() {
-			// TODO(marineam): add exponential backoff
-			continue
-		}
-		break
-	}
+		return err
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("omaha: request failed: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/omaha/client/machine_linux.go b/omaha/client/machine_linux.go
index 3661318..a666d99 100644
--- a/omaha/client/machine_linux.go
+++ b/omaha/client/machine_linux.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func NewMachineClient(serverURL string) (*Client, error) {
 
 	c := &Client{
 		apiClient:     newHTTPClient(),
-		clientVersion: "go-omaha",
+		clientVersion: defaultClientVersion,
 		userID:        string(machineID),
 		sessionID:     string(bootID),
 		isMachine:     true,