diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 415d164..46226a0 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -18,6 +18,23 @@
             ],
             "console": "integratedTerminal"
         },
+        {
+            "name": "gosync-remote",
+            "type": "go",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "mode": "auto",
+            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/main.go",
+            "args": [
+                "192.168.1.11:/share/music/Fu Manchu/*",
+                "/tmp",
+                "--password",
+                "$Velvet90",
+                "--concurrency",
+                "4",
+                "--verbose",
+            ],
+            "console": "integratedTerminal"
+        },
         {
             "name": "gosync-root",
             "type": "go",
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fa53692..929d095 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,9 +14,14 @@ a simple wrapper for concurrent rsync processes written in golang
 
 ### options
 
-| short | long          | description                                 |
-| ----- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
-| -u    | --user        | set user for ssh / rsync                    |
-| -p    | --password    | set password for ssh / rsync                |
-| -c    | --concurrency | set limit for concurrent rsync processes    |
-| -v    | --verbose     | enable verbose / debug output               |
\ No newline at end of file
+| short | long          | description                                     | default             |
+| ----- | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |
+| -u    | --user        | set user for ssh / rsync                        |                     |
+| -p    | --password    | set password for ssh / rsync                    |                     |
+| -c    | --concurrency | set limit for concurrent rsync processes        | number of cpu cores |
+| -d    | --delay       | set the delay between rsync connections (in ms) | 100                 |
+| -v    | --verbose     | enable verbose / debug output                   |                     |
+
+### troubleshooting
+
+if you experience errors like `kex_exchange_identification: read: Connection reset by peer` it may be helpful to increase the default delay (100ms) between rsync connections or decrease the concurrency.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/settings/arguments.go b/settings/arguments.go
index 5fc5380..f290c66 100644
--- a/settings/arguments.go
+++ b/settings/arguments.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 	"velvettear/gosync/help"
 	"velvettear/gosync/log"
 )
@@ -31,17 +32,24 @@ func Initialize() {
 			fallthrough
 		case "--concurrency":
 			index++
-			var concurrency int
 			if index < len(os.Args) {
-				tmp, error := strconv.Atoi(os.Args[index])
-				if error == nil {
-					concurrency = tmp
+				concurrency, error := strconv.Atoi(os.Args[index])
+				if error != nil {
+					break
 				}
+				setConcurrency(concurrency)
 			}
-			if concurrency == 0 {
-				concurrency = runtime.NumCPU()
+		case "-d":
+			fallthrough
+		case "--delay":
+			index++
+			if index < len(os.Args) {
+				delay, error := strconv.Atoi(os.Args[index])
+				if error != nil {
+					break
+				}
+				setDelay(time.Duration(delay) * time.Millisecond)
 			}
-			setConcurrency(concurrency)
 		case "-p":
 			fallthrough
 		case "--password":
@@ -74,4 +82,15 @@ func Initialize() {
 			log.Fatal("given source does not exist", source)
 		}
 	}
+	setDefaults()
+}
+
+// unexported function(s)
+func setDefaults() {
+	if Concurrency == 0 {
+		setConcurrency(runtime.NumCPU())
+	}
+	if Delay == 0 {
+		setDelay(100)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/settings/variables.go b/settings/variables.go
index 045859d..fbd66df 100644
--- a/settings/variables.go
+++ b/settings/variables.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package settings
 import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 	"velvettear/gosync/log"
 )
 
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ var Verbose bool
 var Source string
 var Target string
 var Concurrency int
+var Delay time.Duration
 var Password string
 var User string
 
@@ -57,6 +59,13 @@ func setConcurrency(concurrency int) {
 	log.Debug("set concurrency", strconv.Itoa(Concurrency))
 }
 
+func setDelay(delay time.Duration) {
+	Delay = delay
+	ms := Delay.Milliseconds()
+	derp := strconv.FormatInt(ms, 10)
+	log.Debug("set delay", derp)
+}
+
 func setPassword(password string) {
 	Password = password
 	log.Debug("set password", Password)
diff --git a/tools/rsync.go b/tools/rsync.go
index 75378e2..04c9dfb 100644
--- a/tools/rsync.go
+++ b/tools/rsync.go
@@ -17,17 +17,20 @@ import (
 	"github.com/vbauerster/mpb/v8/decor"
 )
 
-var transferSize float64
+var transferSize int64
+
+const byteToMegabyte = 1048576
+const megabyteToGigabyte = 1024
 
 // exported function(s)
 func Transfer() {
-	transferSize = 0
 	sourcefiles := getSourceFiles()
 	sourcefilesCount := len(sourcefiles)
 	if sourcefilesCount <= 0 {
 		log.Info("nothing to do - exiting...")
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
+	sourceFileSize, sourceFileSizeName := humanizeBytes(getSourceFileSize())
 	var waitgroup sync.WaitGroup
 	waitgroup.Add(sourcefilesCount)
 	barcontainer := mpb.New(
@@ -35,45 +38,37 @@ func Transfer() {
 	)
 	timestamp := time.Now()
 	counter := 0
-	totalbar := createProgressBar(barcontainer, "Total", int64(0), int64(sourcefilesCount), sourcefilesCount+1, true)
+	totalbar := createProgressBar(barcontainer, strconv.FormatFloat(sourceFileSize, 'f', 2, 64)+sourceFileSizeName+" 󰇙 Total", int64(0), int64(sourcefilesCount), sourcefilesCount+1, true)
 	concurrency := settings.Concurrency
 	if concurrency == 0 {
 		concurrency = sourcefilesCount
 	}
+	first := true
 	channel := make(chan struct{}, concurrency)
-	for index, file := range sourcefiles {
+	for file, size := range sourcefiles {
 		channel <- struct{}{}
-		if index > 0 {
-			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+		if !first {
+			time.Sleep(settings.Delay)
+		} else {
+			first = false
 		}
-		go func(index int, file string) {
+		go func(file string, size int64) {
 			defer waitgroup.Done()
-			stats, error := os.Stat(file)
-			if error != nil {
-				log.Warning("encountered an error getting file size", error.Error())
-				return
-			}
-			bar := createProgressBar(barcontainer, filepath.Base(file), stats.Size(), int64(100), index, false)
+			bar := createProgressBar(barcontainer, filepath.Base(file), size, int64(100), counter, false)
 			if transferFile(bar, file) {
 				counter++
 			}
 			totalbar.Increment()
 			<-channel
-		}(index, file)
+		}(file, size)
 	}
 	barcontainer.Wait()
 	timeDifference := time.Since(timestamp)
-	transferSpeedName := "bytes/sec"
-	transferSpeed := transferSize / timeDifference.Seconds()
-	if transferSpeed > 1048576 {
-		transferSpeed = transferSpeed / 1048576
-		transferSpeedName = "mb/s"
-	}
-	transferSizeName := "bytes"
-	if transferSize > 1048576 {
-		transferSize = transferSize / 1048576
-		transferSizeName = "mb"
-	}
+	transferSpeedName := "B/sec"
+	transferSpeed := float64(transferSize) / timeDifference.Seconds()
+	transferSpeed, transferSpeedName = humanizeBytes(int64(transferSpeed))
+	transferSpeedName += "/s"
+	transferSize, transferSizeName := humanizeBytes(transferSize)
 	log.InfoTimed("transferred "+strconv.Itoa(counter)+" files, "+strconv.Itoa(int(transferSize))+" "+transferSizeName+" ("+strconv.FormatFloat(transferSpeed, 'f', 2, 64)+" "+transferSpeedName+")", timestamp.UnixMilli())
 }
 
@@ -84,11 +79,18 @@ func transferFile(bar *mpb.Bar, file string) bool {
 	if len(settings.Password) > 0 {
 		arguments = append(arguments, "-p", settings.Password)
 	}
-	arguments = append(arguments, "rsync", "-avz", "--mkpath", file)
-	if len(settings.User) > 0 {
-		target = settings.User + "@" + target
+	if settings.SourceIsRemote() {
+		remote, _, _ := strings.Cut(settings.Source, ":")
+		file = remote + ":" + file
+		if len(settings.User) > 0 {
+			file = settings.User + "@" + file
+		}
+	} else {
+		if len(settings.User) > 0 {
+			target = settings.User + "@" + target
+		}
 	}
-	arguments = append(arguments, target, "--progress")
+	arguments = append(arguments, "rsync", "-avz", "--mkpath", file, target, "--progress")
 	cmd := exec.Command("sshpass", arguments...)
 	stdout, stdoutError := cmd.StdoutPipe()
 	stderr, stderrError := cmd.StderrPipe()
@@ -123,7 +125,7 @@ func transferFile(bar *mpb.Bar, file string) bool {
 				_, tmp, _ := strings.Cut(lowerline, "sent")
 				tmp, _, _ = strings.Cut(tmp, "bytes")
 				tmp = strings.ReplaceAll(strings.TrimSpace(tmp), ".", "")
-				bytes, error := strconv.ParseFloat(tmp, 64)
+				bytes, error := strconv.ParseInt(tmp, 10, 64)
 				if error != nil {
 					log.Fatal("encountered an error converting the transferred bytes to int", error.Error())
 				}
@@ -173,6 +175,9 @@ func getTargetLocation(sourceFile string) string {
 		return filepath.Join(settings.Target, filepath.Base(sourceFile))
 	}
 	source, _ := strings.CutSuffix(settings.Source, "/*")
+	if settings.SourceIsRemote() {
+		_, source, _ = strings.Cut(settings.Source, ":")
+	}
 	return filepath.Join(settings.Target, strings.Replace(sourceFile, filepath.Dir(source), "", 1))
 }
 
@@ -191,7 +196,7 @@ func createProgressBar(barcontainer *mpb.Progress, name string, size int64, max
 	defaultBarAppend := mpb.AppendDecorators(
 		decor.OnCompleteMeta(decor.Elapsed(decor.ET_STYLE_GO, decor.WCSyncSpaceR), colorize(yellow)),
 		decor.OnComplete(
-			decor.Name("|", decor.WCSyncSpaceR), "",
+			decor.Name("󰇙", decor.WCSyncSpaceR), "",
 		),
 		decor.OnComplete(
 			decor.Percentage(decor.WCSyncSpaceR), "",
@@ -233,3 +238,17 @@ func colorize(c *color.Color) func(string) string {
 		return c.Sprint(s)
 	}
 }
+
+func humanizeBytes(bytes int64) (float64, string) {
+	name := "B"
+	size := float64(bytes)
+	if size >= byteToMegabyte {
+		name = "MB"
+		size = size / byteToMegabyte
+	}
+	if size >= megabyteToGigabyte {
+		name = "GB"
+		size = size / megabyteToGigabyte
+	}
+	return size, name
+}
diff --git a/tools/scanner.go b/tools/scanner.go
index f77e1f4..d7f0316 100644
--- a/tools/scanner.go
+++ b/tools/scanner.go
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 package tools
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -11,30 +14,84 @@ import (
 	"velvettear/gosync/settings"
 )
 
-var sourceFiles []string
+var sourceFiles map[string]int64
 
 // unexported function(s)
-func getSourceFiles() []string {
+func getSourceFiles() map[string]int64 {
 	timestamp := time.Now()
+	sourceFiles = map[string]int64{}
 	if settings.SourceIsRemote() {
-
+		log.Info("getting the list of remote source files...")
+		error := fillRemoteSourceFiles()
+		if error != nil {
+			log.Fatal("encountered an error getting the list of remote source files", error.Error())
+		}
 	} else {
 		source, _ := strings.CutSuffix(settings.Source, "/*")
 		stats, error := os.Stat(source)
 		if error != nil {
-			log.Error("encountered an error getting the stats for the source", error.Error())
+			log.Fatal("encountered an error getting stats for source", error.Error())
 		}
 		if stats.IsDir() {
 			log.Info("scanning source...", source)
 			filepath.WalkDir(source, fillSourceFiles)
 		} else {
-			sourceFiles = append(sourceFiles, settings.Source)
+			sourceFiles[settings.Source] = stats.Size()
 		}
 	}
 	log.InfoTimed("found "+strconv.Itoa(len(sourceFiles))+" source files", timestamp.UnixMilli())
 	return sourceFiles
 }
 
+func fillRemoteSourceFiles() error {
+	var arguments []string
+	if len(settings.Password) > 0 {
+		arguments = append(arguments, "-p", settings.Password)
+	}
+	arguments = append(arguments, "ssh")
+	remote, path, _ := strings.Cut(settings.Source, ":")
+	path, _ = strings.CutSuffix(path, "/*")
+	if len(settings.User) > 0 {
+		remote = settings.User + "@" + remote
+	}
+	arguments = append(arguments, remote, "find", "\""+path+"\"", "-type", "f", "-exec", "du", "-b", "{}", "\\;")
+	cmd := exec.Command("sshpass", arguments...)
+	stdout, stdoutError := cmd.StdoutPipe()
+	stderr, stderrError := cmd.StderrPipe()
+	cmd.Start()
+	if stdoutError != nil {
+		return stdoutError
+	}
+	if stderrError != nil {
+		return stderrError
+	}
+	outBytes, stdoutError := io.ReadAll(stdout)
+	if stdoutError != nil {
+		return stdoutError
+	}
+	errorBytes, stderrError := io.ReadAll(stderr)
+	if stderrError != nil {
+		return stderrError
+	}
+	cmd.Wait()
+	error := strings.TrimSpace(string(errorBytes))
+	if len(error) > 0 {
+		return errors.New(error)
+	}
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(string(outBytes), "\n") {
+		if !strings.Contains(line, "\t") {
+			continue
+		}
+		parts := strings.Split(line, "\t")
+		size, error := strconv.ParseInt(parts[0], 10, 64)
+		if error != nil {
+			log.Warning("encountered an error getting the file size for file '"+path+"'", error.Error())
+		}
+		sourceFiles[parts[1]] = size
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func fillSourceFiles(path string, dir fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -42,6 +99,19 @@ func fillSourceFiles(path string, dir fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
 	if dir.IsDir() {
 		return nil
 	}
-	sourceFiles = append(sourceFiles, path)
+	stats, error := os.Stat(path)
+	if error != nil {
+		log.Fatal("encountered an error getting stats for file", error.Error())
+		return nil
+	}
+	sourceFiles[path] = stats.Size()
 	return nil
 }
+
+func getSourceFileSize() int64 {
+	var total int64
+	for _, size := range sourceFiles {
+		total += size
+	}
+	return total
+}
diff --git a/tools/ssh.go b/tools/ssh.go
index fd8a997..da9533d 100644
--- a/tools/ssh.go
+++ b/tools/ssh.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import (
 func TestConnection() error {
 	var remote string
 	if settings.SourceIsRemote() {
-		remote, _, _ = strings.Cut(settings.Target, ":")
+		remote, _, _ = strings.Cut(settings.Source, ":")
 	} else if settings.TargetIsRemote() {
 		remote, _, _ = strings.Cut(settings.Target, ":")
 	} else {
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@ func TestConnection() error {
 		arguments = append(arguments, "-p", settings.Password)
 	}
 	arguments = append(arguments, "ssh")
-
 	if len(settings.User) > 0 {
 		remote = settings.User + "@" + remote
 	}
-	arguments = append(arguments, remote, "'exit'")
+	arguments = append(arguments, remote, "exit")
 	cmd := exec.Command("sshpass", arguments...)
 	stdout, stdoutError := cmd.StdoutPipe()
 	stderr, stderrError := cmd.StderrPipe()