diff --git a/artiq/browser/files.py b/artiq/browser/files.py
index e03f26483..339c12d34 100644
--- a/artiq/browser/files.py
+++ b/artiq/browser/files.py
@@ -188,17 +188,27 @@ class FilesDock(QtWidgets.QDockWidget):
             except:
                 logger.warning("unable to read metadata from %s",
                                info.filePath(), exc_info=True)
-            rd = dict()
+
+            rd = {}
             if "archive" in f:
-                rd = {k: (True, v[()]) for k, v in f["archive"].items()}
+                def visitor(k, v):
+                    if isinstance(v, h5py.Dataset):
+                        rd[k] = (True, v[()])
+
+                f["archive"].visititems(visitor)
+
             if "datasets" in f:
-                for k, v in f["datasets"].items():
-                    if k in rd:
-                        logger.warning("dataset '%s' is both in archive and "
-                                       "outputs", k)
-                    rd[k] = (True, v[()])
-            if rd:
-                self.datasets.init(rd)
+                def visitor(k, v):
+                    if isinstance(v, h5py.Dataset):
+                        if k in rd:
+                            logger.warning("dataset '%s' is both in archive "
+                                           "and outputs", k)
+                        rd[k] = (True, v[()])
+
+                f["datasets"].visititems(visitor)
+
+            self.datasets.init(rd)
+
         self.dataset_changed.emit(info.filePath())
 
     def list_activated(self, idx):
diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/comm.py b/artiq/coredevice/comm.py
deleted file mode 100644
index fb70a59b5..000000000
--- a/artiq/coredevice/comm.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-import sys
-import socket
-import logging
-
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-
-def set_keepalive(sock, after_idle, interval, max_fails):
-    if sys.platform.startswith("linux"):
-        sock.setsockopt(socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_KEEPALIVE, 1)
-        sock.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_KEEPIDLE, after_idle)
-        sock.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_KEEPINTVL, interval)
-        sock.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_KEEPCNT, max_fails)
-    elif sys.platform.startswith("win") or sys.platform.startswith("cygwin"):
-        # setting max_fails is not supported, typically ends up being 5 or 10
-        # depending on Windows version
-        sock.ioctl(socket.SIO_KEEPALIVE_VALS,
-                   (1, after_idle * 1000, interval * 1000))
-    else:
-        logger.warning("TCP keepalive not supported on platform '%s', ignored",
-                       sys.platform)
-
-
-def initialize_connection(host, port):
-    sock = socket.create_connection((host, port))
-    set_keepalive(sock, 10, 10, 3)
-    logger.debug("connected to %s:%d", host, port)
-    return sock
diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py b/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py
index 34151288f..c89b874f1 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ from fractions import Fraction
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 from artiq.coredevice import exceptions
-from artiq.coredevice.comm import initialize_connection
 from artiq import __version__ as software_version
 from artiq import __artiq_dir__ as artiq_dir
 
+from sipyco.keepalive import create_connection
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ class CommKernel:
     def open(self):
         if hasattr(self, "socket"):
             return
-        self.socket = initialize_connection(self.host, self.port)
+        self.socket = create_connection(self.host, self.port)
         self.socket.sendall(b"ARTIQ coredev\n")
         endian = self._read(1)
         if endian == b"e":
diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/comm_mgmt.py b/artiq/coredevice/comm_mgmt.py
index 793b44a75..539643751 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/comm_mgmt.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/comm_mgmt.py
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ from enum import Enum
 import logging
 import struct
 
-from artiq.coredevice.comm import initialize_connection
-
+from sipyco.keepalive import create_connection
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ class CommMgmt:
     def open(self):
         if hasattr(self, "socket"):
             return
-        self.socket = initialize_connection(self.host, self.port)
+        self.socket = create_connection(self.host, self.port)
         self.socket.sendall(b"ARTIQ management\n")
         endian = self._read(1)
         if endian == b"e":
diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/comm_moninj.py b/artiq/coredevice/comm_moninj.py
index a6b95983e..b5c2ee40d 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/comm_moninj.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/comm_moninj.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ import asyncio
 import logging
 import struct
 from enum import Enum
-from .comm import set_keepalive
+
+from sipyco.keepalive import async_open_connection
 
 __all__ = ["TTLProbe", "TTLOverride", "CommMonInj"]
 
@@ -28,8 +29,13 @@ class CommMonInj:
         self.disconnect_cb = disconnect_cb
 
     async def connect(self, host, port=1383):
-        self._reader, self._writer = await asyncio.open_connection(host, port)
-        set_keepalive(self._writer.transport.get_extra_info('socket'), 1, 1, 3)
+        self._reader, self._writer = await async_open_connection(
+            host,
+            port,
+            after_idle=1,
+            interval=1,
+            max_fails=3,
+        )
 
         try:
             self._writer.write(b"ARTIQ moninj\n")