diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index 40896b3..c983f46 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ config :tres,
   callback_args: []
 
 config :logger,
-  level: :info,
+  level: :debug,
   format: "$date $time [$level] $metadata$message\n",
   metadata: [:application],
   handle_otp_reports: true
diff --git a/lib/tres/secure_channel.ex b/lib/tres/secure_channel.ex
index 1917634..8e7ffc8 100644
--- a/lib/tres/secure_channel.ex
+++ b/lib/tres/secure_channel.ex
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannel do
 
   @process_flags [
     trap_exit: true,
-    message_queue_data: :on_heap
+    message_queue_data: :off_heap
   ]
 
   @supported_version 4
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannel do
 
   defp initiate_hello_handshake(state_data) do
     send_hello(state_data)
-    ref = :erlang.send_after(@hello_handshake_timeout, self(), :hello_timeout)
+    ref = Process.send_after(self(), :hello_timeout, @hello_handshake_timeout)
     {:keep_state, %{state_data | timer_ref: ref}}
   end
 
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannel do
   defp initiate_features_handshake(state_data) do
     new_xid = State.increment_transaction_id(state_data.xid)
     send_features(new_xid, state_data)
-    ref = :erlang.send_after(@features_handshake_timeout, self(), :features_timeout)
+    ref = Process.send_after(self(), :features_timeout, @features_handshake_timeout)
     {:keep_state, %{state_data | timer_ref: ref}}
   end
 
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannel do
   end
 
   defp start_periodic_idle_check do
-    :erlang.send_after(@ping_interval, self(), :idle_check)
+    Process.send_after(self(), :idle_check, @ping_interval)
   end
 
   defp maybe_ping(state_data) do
@@ -463,10 +463,10 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannel do
     false
   end
 
-  defp send_ping(%State{xid: x_agent} = state_data) do
-    xid = State.increment_transaction_id(x_agent)
+  defp send_ping(%State{xid: table_ref} = state_data) do
+    xid = State.increment_transaction_id(table_ref)
     send_echo_request(xid, "", state_data)
-    ping_ref = :erlang.send_after(@ping_timeout, self(), :ping_timeout)
+    ping_ref = Process.send_after(self(), :ping_timeout, @ping_timeout)
     %{state_data | ping_timer_ref: ping_ref, ping_xid: xid}
   end
 
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannel do
   defp maybe_cancel_timer(ref) when not is_reference(ref), do: :ok
 
   defp maybe_cancel_timer(ref) do
-    :erlang.cancel_timer(ref)
+    Process.cancel_timer(ref)
     :ok
   end
 
diff --git a/lib/tres/secure_channel_state.ex b/lib/tres/secure_channel_state.ex
index 4d1c29b..cbb91f6 100644
--- a/lib/tres/secure_channel_state.ex
+++ b/lib/tres/secure_channel_state.ex
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannelState do
     socket = Keyword.get(options, :socket)
     transport = Keyword.get(options, :transport)
     {:ok, {ip_addr, port}} = :inet.peername(socket)
-    {:ok, xid_agent} = Agent.start_link(fn -> 0 end)
+    {:ok, table_ref} = create_counter()
     kv_ref = XACT_KV.create()
 
     %SecureChannelState{
@@ -38,20 +38,31 @@ defmodule Tres.SecureChannelState do
       transport: transport,
       ip_addr: :inet.ntoa(ip_addr),
       port: port,
-      xid: xid_agent,
+      xid: table_ref,
       xact_kv_ref: kv_ref
     }
   end
 
-  def increment_transaction_id(xid_agent) do
-    Agent.get_and_update(xid_agent, &{&1 + 1, &1 + 1})
+  def increment_transaction_id(table_ref) do
+    :ets.update_counter(table_ref, :datapath_xid, {2, 1, 0xffffffff, 0})
   end
 
-  def set_transaction_id(xid_agent, xid) do
-    Agent.update(xid_agent, fn _ -> xid end)
+  def set_transaction_id(table_ref, xid) do
+    :ets.insert(table_ref, {:datapath_xid, xid})
   end
 
-  def get_transaction_id(xid_agent) do
-    Agent.get(xid_agent, & &1)
+  def get_transaction_id(table_ref) do
+    case :ets.lookup(table_ref, :datapath_xid) do
+      [{_, xid} | _] -> xid
+    end
+  end
+
+  # private functions
+
+  @spec create_counter() :: reference()
+  defp create_counter do
+    table_ref = :ets.new(:xid_counter, [:set, :private])
+    _ = :ets.insert(table_ref, {:datapath_xid, 0})
+    {:ok, table_ref}
   end
 end