diff --git a/src/global_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt b/src/global_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt
index eaf5c11c2..892bfd6e5 100644
--- a/src/global_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/global_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@ include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/../common/cmake/Common.cmake)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -Werror -Wall")
 
 add_executable(global_scheduler global_scheduler.cc global_scheduler_algorithm.cc)
-target_link_libraries(global_scheduler common ${HIREDIS_LIB} ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB})
+target_link_libraries(global_scheduler common ${HIREDIS_LIB} ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
diff --git a/src/local_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt b/src/local_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt
index 12ee85c27..f4168ce3b 100644
--- a/src/local_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/local_scheduler/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -62,18 +62,18 @@ add_library(local_scheduler_client STATIC local_scheduler_client.cc)
 add_dependencies(local_scheduler_client gen_local_scheduler_fbs)
 
 if(APPLE)
-  target_link_libraries(local_scheduler_library "-undefined dynamic_lookup" local_scheduler_client common ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB})
+  target_link_libraries(local_scheduler_library "-undefined dynamic_lookup" local_scheduler_client common ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
 else(APPLE)
-  target_link_libraries(local_scheduler_library local_scheduler_client common ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB})
+  target_link_libraries(local_scheduler_library local_scheduler_client common ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
 endif(APPLE)
 
 add_dependencies(local_scheduler_library gen_local_scheduler_fbs)
 
 add_executable(local_scheduler local_scheduler.cc local_scheduler_algorithm.cc)
-target_link_libraries(local_scheduler local_scheduler_client common ${HIREDIS_LIB} ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ray_static ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} -lpthread)
+target_link_libraries(local_scheduler local_scheduler_client common ${HIREDIS_LIB} ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ray_static ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} -lpthread ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
 
 add_executable(local_scheduler_tests test/local_scheduler_tests.cc local_scheduler.cc local_scheduler_algorithm.cc)
-target_link_libraries(local_scheduler_tests local_scheduler_client common ${HIREDIS_LIB} ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ray_static ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} -lpthread)
+target_link_libraries(local_scheduler_tests local_scheduler_client common ${HIREDIS_LIB} ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ray_static ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} -lpthread ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
 target_compile_options(local_scheduler_tests PUBLIC "-DLOCAL_SCHEDULER_TEST")
 
 install(TARGETS local_scheduler_library DESTINATION ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/local_scheduler)
diff --git a/src/plasma/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plasma/CMakeLists.txt
index 56c79f9c3..9332fbeb0 100644
--- a/src/plasma/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plasma/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ project(plasma)
 # Recursively include common
 include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/../common/cmake/Common.cmake)
 
-set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} --std=c99 -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=500 -D_POSIX_C_SOURCE=200809L -O3")
-set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} --std=c++11 -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=500 -D_POSIX_C_SOURCE=200809L -O3 -Werror -Wall")
+set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} --std=c99 -O3")
+set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} --std=c++11 -O3 -Werror -Wall")
 
 if(UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
   link_libraries(rt)
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -fPIC")
 add_executable(plasma_manager
   plasma_manager.cc)
 
-target_link_libraries(plasma_manager common ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ray_static ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} -lpthread)
+target_link_libraries(plasma_manager common ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ray_static ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} -lpthread ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
 
 define_test(client_tests "")
 define_test(manager_tests "" plasma_manager.cc)
+target_link_libraries(manager_tests ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
diff --git a/src/ray/gcs/CMakeLists.txt b/src/ray/gcs/CMakeLists.txt
index 5c75984d9..a3df33102 100644
--- a/src/ray/gcs/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/ray/gcs/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ add_custom_command(
 
 add_custom_target(gen_gcs_fbs DEPENDS ${GCS_FBS_OUTPUT_FILES})
 
-ADD_RAY_TEST(client_test STATIC_LINK_LIBS ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} gtest gtest_main pthread)
+ADD_RAY_TEST(client_test STATIC_LINK_LIBS ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} gtest gtest_main pthread ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
 ADD_RAY_TEST(asio_test STATIC_LINK_LIBS ray_static ${PLASMA_STATIC_LIB} ${ARROW_STATIC_LIB} gtest gtest_main pthread ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY})
 
 install(FILES
diff --git a/src/ray/gcs/client.cc b/src/ray/gcs/client.cc
index 21f504582..646e475de 100644
--- a/src/ray/gcs/client.cc
+++ b/src/ray/gcs/client.cc
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ Status Attach(plasma::EventLoop &event_loop) {
   return Status::OK();
 }
 
+Status AsyncGcsClient::Attach(boost::asio::io_service &io_service) {
+  asio_client_.reset(
+      new RedisAsioClient(io_service, context_->async_context()));
+  return Status::OK();
+}
+
 ObjectTable &AsyncGcsClient::object_table() {
   return *object_table_;
 }
diff --git a/src/ray/gcs/client.h b/src/ray/gcs/client.h
index 643ca3e99..b464be89c 100644
--- a/src/ray/gcs/client.h
+++ b/src/ray/gcs/client.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "plasma/events.h"
 #include "ray/id.h"
 #include "ray/status.h"
+#include "ray/gcs/asio.h"
 #include "ray/gcs/tables.h"
 #include "ray/util/logging.h"
 
@@ -22,7 +23,12 @@ class RAY_EXPORT AsyncGcsClient {
   ~AsyncGcsClient();
 
   Status Connect(const std::string &address, int port);
+  /// Attach this client to a plasma event loop. Note that only
+  /// one event loop should be attached at a time.
   Status Attach(plasma::EventLoop &event_loop);
+  /// Attach this client to an asio event loop. Note that only
+  /// one event loop should be attached at a time.
+  Status Attach(boost::asio::io_service &io_service);
 
   inline FunctionTable &function_table();
   // TODO: Some API for getting the error on the driver
@@ -51,6 +57,7 @@ class RAY_EXPORT AsyncGcsClient {
   std::unique_ptr<ObjectTable> object_table_;
   std::unique_ptr<TaskTable> task_table_;
   std::shared_ptr<RedisContext> context_;
+  std::unique_ptr<RedisAsioClient> asio_client_;
 };
 
 class SyncGcsClient {
diff --git a/src/ray/gcs/client_test.cc b/src/ray/gcs/client_test.cc
index f59ec6c98..b717f7f77 100644
--- a/src/ray/gcs/client_test.cc
+++ b/src/ray/gcs/client_test.cc
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ extern "C" {
 
 namespace ray {
 
-aeEventLoop *loop;
-
 class TestGcs : public ::testing::Test {
  public:
   TestGcs() {
@@ -21,11 +19,43 @@ class TestGcs : public ::testing::Test {
     job_id_ = UniqueID::from_random();
   }
 
+  virtual ~TestGcs(){};
+
+  virtual void Start() = 0;
+
+  virtual void Stop() = 0;
+
  protected:
   gcs::AsyncGcsClient client_;
   UniqueID job_id_;
 };
 
+TestGcs *test;
+
+class TestGcsWithAe : public TestGcs {
+ public:
+  TestGcsWithAe() {
+    loop_ = aeCreateEventLoop(1024);
+    RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.context()->AttachToEventLoop(loop_));
+  }
+  ~TestGcsWithAe() override { aeDeleteEventLoop(loop_); }
+  void Start() override { aeMain(loop_); }
+  void Stop() override { aeStop(loop_); }
+
+ private:
+  aeEventLoop *loop_;
+};
+
+class TestGcsWithAsio : public TestGcs {
+ public:
+  TestGcsWithAsio() { RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.Attach(io_service_)); }
+  void Start() override { io_service_.run(); }
+  void Stop() override { io_service_.stop(); }
+
+ private:
+  boost::asio::io_service io_service_;
+};
+
 void ObjectAdded(gcs::AsyncGcsClient *client,
                  const UniqueID &id,
                  std::shared_ptr<ObjectTableDataT> data) {
@@ -36,21 +66,28 @@ void Lookup(gcs::AsyncGcsClient *client,
             const UniqueID &id,
             std::shared_ptr<ObjectTableDataT> data) {
   ASSERT_EQ(data->managers, std::vector<std::string>({"A", "B"}));
-  aeStop(loop);
+  test->Stop();
 }
 
-TEST_F(TestGcs, TestObjectTable) {
-  loop = aeCreateEventLoop(1024);
-  RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.context()->AttachToEventLoop(loop));
+void TestObjectTable(const UniqueID &job_id, gcs::AsyncGcsClient &client) {
   auto data = std::make_shared<ObjectTableDataT>();
   data->managers.push_back("A");
   data->managers.push_back("B");
   ObjectID object_id = ObjectID::from_random();
   RAY_CHECK_OK(
-      client_.object_table().Add(job_id_, object_id, data, &ObjectAdded));
-  RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.object_table().Lookup(job_id_, object_id, &Lookup));
-  aeMain(loop);
-  aeDeleteEventLoop(loop);
+      client.object_table().Add(job_id, object_id, data, &ObjectAdded));
+  RAY_CHECK_OK(client.object_table().Lookup(job_id, object_id, &Lookup));
+  test->Start();
+}
+
+TEST_F(TestGcsWithAe, TestObjectTable) {
+  test = this;
+  TestObjectTable(job_id_, client_);
+}
+
+TEST_F(TestGcsWithAsio, TestObjectTable) {
+  test = this;
+  TestObjectTable(job_id_, client_);
 }
 
 void TaskAdded(gcs::AsyncGcsClient *client,
@@ -69,7 +106,7 @@ void TaskLookupAfterUpdate(gcs::AsyncGcsClient *client,
                            const TaskID &id,
                            std::shared_ptr<TaskTableDataT> data) {
   ASSERT_EQ(data->scheduling_state, SchedulingState_LOST);
-  aeStop(loop);
+  test->Stop();
 }
 
 void TaskUpdateCallback(gcs::AsyncGcsClient *client,
@@ -80,25 +117,32 @@ void TaskUpdateCallback(gcs::AsyncGcsClient *client,
                                            &TaskLookupAfterUpdate));
 }
 
-TEST_F(TestGcs, TestTaskTable) {
-  loop = aeCreateEventLoop(1024);
-  RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.context()->AttachToEventLoop(loop));
+void TestTaskTable(const UniqueID &job_id, gcs::AsyncGcsClient &client) {
   auto data = std::make_shared<TaskTableDataT>();
   data->scheduling_state = SchedulingState_SCHEDULED;
   DBClientID local_scheduler_id =
       DBClientID::from_binary("abcdefghijklmnopqrst");
   data->scheduler_id = local_scheduler_id.binary();
   TaskID task_id = TaskID::from_random();
-  RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.task_table().Add(job_id_, task_id, data, &TaskAdded));
-  RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.task_table().Lookup(job_id_, task_id, &TaskLookup));
+  RAY_CHECK_OK(client.task_table().Add(job_id, task_id, data, &TaskAdded));
+  RAY_CHECK_OK(client.task_table().Lookup(job_id, task_id, &TaskLookup));
   auto update = std::make_shared<TaskTableTestAndUpdateT>();
   update->test_scheduler_id = local_scheduler_id.binary();
   update->test_state_bitmask = SchedulingState_SCHEDULED;
   update->update_state = SchedulingState_LOST;
-  RAY_CHECK_OK(client_.task_table().TestAndUpdate(job_id_, task_id, update,
-                                                  &TaskUpdateCallback));
-  aeMain(loop);
-  aeDeleteEventLoop(loop);
+  RAY_CHECK_OK(client.task_table().TestAndUpdate(job_id, task_id, update,
+                                                 &TaskUpdateCallback));
+  test->Start();
+}
+
+TEST_F(TestGcsWithAe, TestTaskTable) {
+  test = this;
+  TestTaskTable(job_id_, client_);
+}
+
+TEST_F(TestGcsWithAsio, TestTaskTable) {
+  test = this;
+  TestTaskTable(job_id_, client_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace
diff --git a/src/ray/gcs/redis_context.h b/src/ray/gcs/redis_context.h
index b8842c45d..a731335b1 100644
--- a/src/ray/gcs/redis_context.h
+++ b/src/ray/gcs/redis_context.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class RedisContext {
                   uint8_t *data,
                   int64_t length,
                   int64_t callback_index);
+  redisAsyncContext *async_context() { return async_context_; }
 
  private:
   redisContext *context_;